Systemic immune-inflammation index is associated with aneurysmal wall enhancement in unruptured intracranial fusiform aneurysms

IntroductionInflammation plays a key role in the progression of intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysmal wall enhancement (AWE) correlates well with inflammatory processes in the aneurysmal wall. Understanding the potential associations between blood inflammatory indices and AWE may aid in the further understanding of intracranial aneurysm pathophysiology.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 122 patients with intracranial fusiform aneurysms (IFAs) who underwent both high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and blood laboratory tests. AWE was defined as a contrast ratio of the signal intensity of the aneurysmal wall to that of the pituitary stalk ≥ 0.90. The systemic immune-inflammation (SII) index (neutrophils × platelets/lymphocytes) was calculated from laboratory data and dichotomized based on whether or not the IFA had AWE. Aneurysmal symptoms were defined as sentinel headache or oculomotor nerve palsy. Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to determine how well the SII index was able to predict AWE and aneurysmal symptoms. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to explore the potential associations between variables.ResultsThis study included 95 patients, of whom 24 (25.3%) presented with AWE. After adjusting for baseline differences in neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, leukocytes, and neutrophils in the multivariable logistic regression analysis, smoking history (P = 0.002), aneurysmal symptoms (P = 0.047), maximum diameter (P = 0.048), and SII index (P = 0.022) all predicted AWE. The SII index (P = 0.038) was the only independent predictor of aneurysmal symptoms. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the SII index was able to accurately distinguish IFAs with AWE (area under the curve = 0.746) and aneurysmal symptoms (area under the curve = 0.739).DiscussionAn early elevation in the SII index can independently predict AWE in IFAs and is a potential new biomarker for predicting IFA instability

Resveratrol Reduces the Incidence of Portal Vein System Thrombosis after Splenectomy in a Rat Fibrosis Model

Purpose. To investigate the preventive effect of resveratrol (RES) on the formation of portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) in a rat fibrosis model. Methods. A total of 64 male SD rats, weighing 200–300 g, were divided into five groups: Sham operation, Splenectomy I, Splenectomy II, RES, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), with the former two groups as nonfibrosis controls. Blood samples were subjected to biochemical assays. Platelet apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. All rats were euthanized for PVST detection one week after operation. Results. No PVST occurred in nonfibrosis controls. Compared to Splenectomy II, the incidences of PVST in RES and LMWH groups were significantly decreased (both p<0.05). Two rats in LMWH group died before euthanasia due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage. In RES group, significant decreases in platelet aggregation, platelet radical oxygen species (ROS) production, and increase in platelet nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and platelet apoptosis were observed when compared with Splenectomy II (all p<0.001), while in LMWH group only significant decrease in platelet aggregation was observed. Conclusion. Prophylactic application of RES could safely reduce the incidence of PVST after splenectomy in cirrhotic rat. Regulation of platelet function and induction of platelet apoptosis might be the underlying mechanisms

Resveratrol improves alcoholic fatty liver disease by downregulating HIF-1α expression and mitochondrial ROS production.

Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to be involved in the etiology of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Previous studies had demonstrated that resveratrol (RES) could reduce oxidative stress by different mechanisms. However, the effect of RES on alcohol-induced fatty liver remains unclear. In the present study, a total of 48 male SD rats were divided into three groups: Control, AFLD, and RES groups. Rats were administered with either nothing or 65% vol/vol alcohol (5 ml/kg/day in the first three days, and then 10 ml/kg/day in the following days) with or without RES supplementation (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected and subjected to biochemical assays, histological examination, Western blot, and mitochondrial radical oxygen species (ROS) assays. In RES group, significant decreases in serum ALT and AST concentrations, fat deposition, triglyceride (TG) content, HIF-1α protein expression as well as mitochondrial ROS production in liver were observed when compared with AFLD group (all p <0.05). These results indicated that RES could alleviate the liver injury induced by alcohol and prevent the progression of AFLD. Down regulation of HIF-1α protein expression and mitochondrial ROS production in liver might be, at least part of, the underlying mechanisms

Synthesis of Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Polyglycerol through Thiol-Ene Chemistry and its Application on the Removal of Industrial Dyes

An amphiphilic dodecyl-modified hyperbranched polyglycerol (DSHPG) with the core—shell structure and good solubility in n-hexane is prepared through thiol-ene reaction. The concentration of dye or DSHPG, temperature, contacting time, and molecular weight of DSHPG were taken into consideration to evaluate the transfer capability. It is shown that the extraction effect of this polymer on cationic dyes is better than that on anionic dyes. With malachite green as the experimental dye, the value of removal ratio can be as high as 98.6% in the period of 120 min. This molecular nanocapsules can extract dyes with high extraction rate and good efficiency, and the extraction process can be well described with the pseudo-first-order model. The reusability investigation confirms that the DSHPG can obtain appropriate applications in the extraction of dyes from wastewater due to the high adsorption efficiency and environmental-friendly economy

RES prevents lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in ethanol-fed animals.

<p>Representative images of Oil Red O-stained liver sections from Control (I), AFLD (II), and RES (III) groups. Images are at 400× magnification. (B) The IOD values of Oil Red O staining in the liver of rats. Rats were administered with either nothing or 65% vol/vol alcohol (5 ml/kg/day in the first three days, and then 10 ml/kg/day in the following days) with or without RES supplementation (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Values are represented as the mean ± SD (n = 16) (*<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. Control group; **<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. AFLD group.).</p

Serum ALT and AST levels in different groups (mean±SD).

<p>Serum ALT and AST levels in different groups (mean±SD).</p

RES prevents hepatic macrosteatosis and microsteastosis in ethanol-fed animals.

<p>(A) Representative images of H&E-stained liver sections from Control (I), AFLD (II), and RES (III) groups. Images are at 400× magnification. (B) Fatty liver scores based on degree of lesions. Rats were administered with either nothing or 65% vol/vol alcohol (5 ml/kg/day in the first three days, and then 10 ml/kg/day in the following days) with or without RES supplementation (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Values are represented as the mean ± SD (n = 16) (*<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. Control group; **<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. AFLD group.).</p

RES decreases TG accumulation in ethanol-fed rat livers.

<p>Biochemical analysis for TG accumulation in the indicated groups. Rats were administered with either nothing or 65% vol/vol alcohol (5 ml/kg/day in the first three days, and then 10 ml/kg/day in the following days) with or without RES supplementation (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Values are represented as the mean ± SD (n = 16) (*<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. Control group; **<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. AFLD group.).</p