Can Nonfibrotic Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Be Effectively Identified by Supersonic Shear Imaging?

Supersonic shear imaging (SSI) is a relatively new technique to measure the elasticity of target tissues based on the shear wave propagation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of SSI in discriminating nonfibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from the less severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), NASH with fibrosis, and the normal liver, as well as the relationship between various NAFLD pathologic or biochemical findings and SSI liver elasticity. Rabbits with NAFLD of different degrees were subjected to SSI for liver elasticity measurement. Plasma was collected for biochemical examinations, and liver tissues were harvested for pathologic assessment. Results showed that liver elasticity of rabbits with nonfibrotic NASH was significantly different from that of rabbits with simple steatosis, borderline, NASH with fibrosis, and normal liver (P<0.05) and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of SSI for predicting nonfibrotic NASH and NASH with fibrosis were 0.997 and 0.967, respectively, and the optimal cutoff values were 10.17 kPa and 12.82 kPa, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only fibrosis and inflammation were the independent factors affecting liver elasticity of NAFLD (P≤0.001), while inflammation, steatosis, and ballooning degeneration were all independently related to liver elasticity in rabbits without fibrosis (P<0.01). In addition, alanine aminotransferase was the only biochemical factor independently related to liver elasticity (P≤0.001). Our results indicate that SSI can effectively identify nonfibrotic NASH in rabbits based on the difference in liver elasticity and the difference is related to the various pathologic changes, including fibrosis, inflammation, steatosis, and ballooning degeneration

Danggui-Buxue decoction alleviated vascular senescence in mice exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia through activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

AbstractContext As a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Recent studies indicated that the increased cardiovascular risk in patients with OSA may be mediated by accelerated vascular senescence. Danggui-Buxue decoction (DBD) has been used for treating cardiovascular diseases, but its mechanism of vascular senescence regulation is still unclear.Objective To investigate the effect of DBD on vascular senescence in mice exposed to CIH and to explore the role of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.Materials and methods C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into Normoxia control group (CON), CIH (21%-5% O2, 20 times/h, 8 h/d) exposed group (CIH), and DBD treatment group (intragastrically treated with 2.34, 4.68, or 9.36 g/kg/day of DBD separately for 12 weeks as DBL, DBM, or DBH). Blood pressure, cardiac and vascular function, vascular senescence, inflammation response, oxidative stress, and Nrf2/HO-1 expression were determined.Results DBD (4.68 and 9.36 g/kg) significantly decreased Tail-cuff blood pressure, increased left ventricular systolic function, and alleviated arterial stiffness and vasorelaxation dysfunction in mice exposed to CIH. DBD treatment reduced SA-β-gal activity, decreased p16 (0.68-fold, 0.62-fold), P21 (0.58-fold, 0.52-fold), and p53 expressions (0.67-fold, 0.65-fold), and increased SIRT1 expression (2.22-fold, 2.98-fold) in the aortic. DBD treatment decreased IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α expressions, decreased MDA but increased SOD levels, and increased Nrf2 (1.8-fold, 1.89-fold) and HO-1 (2.25-fold, 2.43-fold) expression.Discussion and conclusions DBD could attenuate vascular senescence accelerated by CIH exposure through inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

Dimethyl Ether Carbonylation to Methyl Acetate over Nanosized Mordenites

Nanosized mordenites were found to show significantly enhanced reaction efficiency in dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation to methyl acetate (MA) because of a greatly facilitated diffusion process. Copper incorporation into the channels of the nanosized mordenites further promoted the reaction rate, selectivity, and stability. Moreover, upon the addition of a small amount of H-2 (5-19 vol %) to the feed gas, deactivation was suppressed during DME carbonylation, whereas the catalyst stability and rate of formation of MA increased

Comparison of the tumor contrast-enhanced index (±s).

*<p><i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. Control group.</p

The biodistribution of docetaxel with different treatment was detected by HPLC.

<p>Mice were intravenously injected with the drugs, and in DN+UE and GDN+UE groups the tumors received additional ultrasonic exposure. Docetaxel content in the tumor of GDN, DN+UE and GDN+UE groups were significantly higher than in DN group (*<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> DN, ^$<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> GDN). In liver tissue, the docetaxel content in the GDN and GDN+UE groups were higher than that in DN group (^#<i>P</i><0.05). ■ tumor, □ liver.</p

Antitumor effect on hepatoma-bearing mice (±s).

*<p><i>P</i><0.05 and **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. M group.</p>#<p><i>P</i><0.05 and ^##<i>P</i><0.01 vs. GDN+UE group.</p

Scanning electron microscopy photograph of GDN (50 000×).

<p>GDN prepared by the method of modified emulsification-solvent evaporation were spheroid in shape with no coalescing, and the mean size was detected as 209.3 nm.</p

Expression of Survivin and Ki67 by real-time quantitative PCR (±s).

*<p><i>P</i><0.05 and **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. M group.</p>#<p><i>P</i><0.05 and ^##<i>P</i><0.01 vs. GDN+UE group.</p

The growth curve of hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts.

<p>The tumor volume increased persistently in model group, while in all the docetaxel treated groups, the tumor volume increment was inhibited, especially in the GDN+UE group.</p

Expression of Ki67 in tumors was detected by immunohistochemistry.

<p>After treatment the expression decreased significantly, especially in the GDN+UE group. A:model, B:DN, C: GDN, D:DN+UE, E:GDN+UE. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058133#pone-0058133-t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a> for further explanation.</p