Quantitative Dixon and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion magnetic resonance imaging parameters in lumbar vertebrae for differentiating aplastic anemia and acute myeloid leukemia

ObjectiveWe sought to evaluate the use of quantitative Dixon (Q-Dixon) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion imaging (IVIM) for the differential diagnosis of aplastic anemia (AA) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).MethodsBetween August 2021 and October 2023, we enrolled 68 diagnosed patients, including 36 patients with AA and 32 patients with AML, as well as 26 normal controls. All patients underwent 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, which included IVIM and T2*-corrected Q-Dixon imaging at the L2–4 level. The iliac crest biopsy’s pathology was used as the diagnostic criterion. The interobserver measurement repeatability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). One-way analysis of variance, Spearman analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used.ResultsThe fat fraction (FF) and perfusion fraction (f) values were statistically significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007). The FF and f values in the AA group were higher than those in the AML group. The true apparent diffusion coefficient (D) value was substantially negatively correlated to the FF and R2* values (r = −0.601, p < 0.001; r = −0.336, p = 0.002). The f value was positively correlated with both FF and pseudo-apparent diffusion coefficient (D*) values (r = 0.376, p < 0.001; r = 0.263, p = 0.017) and negatively correlated with the D value (r = −0.320, p = 0.003). The FF and f values were negatively correlated with the degree of myelodysplasia (r = −0.597, p < 0.001; r = −0.454, p = 0.004), and the D value was positively correlated with the degree of myelodysplasia (r = 0.395, p = 0.001). For the differential diagnosis of AA and AML, the Q-Dixon model’s sensitivity (93.75%) and specificity (84%) confirmed that it outperformed the IVIM model.ConclusionQ-Dixon parameters have the potential to be used as new biomarkers to differentiate AA from AML

Luteal angiogenesis and its control

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is critical to luteal structure and function; In addition, it is a complex and tightly regulated process. Not only does rapid and extensive angiogenesis occur to provide the corpus luteum (CL) with an unusually high blood flow and support its high metabolic rate, but in the absence of pregnancy the luteal vasculature must rapidly regress to enable the next cycle of ovarian activity. This review describes a number of the key endogenous stimulatory and inhibitory factors, which act in a delicate balance to regulate luteal angiogenesis and ultimately luteal function. In vitro luteal angiogenesis cultures have demonstrated critical roles for fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in endothelial cell proliferation and sprouting, whilst other factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) were important modulators in the control of luteal angiogenesis. Post-transcriptional regulation by small non-coding micro-RNAs, is also likely to play a central role in the regulation of luteal angiogenesis. Appropriate luteal angiogenesis requires the coordinated activity of numerous factors expressed by several cell types at different times and this review will also describe the role of perivascular pericytes and the importance of vascular maturation and stability. It is hoped that a better understanding of the critical processes underlying the transition from follicle to CL, and subsequent luteal development will benefit the management of luteal function in the future

Application of colony-stimulating factor 3 in determining the prognosis of high-grade gliomas based on magnetic resonance imaging radiomics

Rationale and objectives: Radiomics is a promising, non-invasive method for determining the prognosis of high-grade glioma (HGG). The connection between radiomics and the HGG prognostic biomarker is still insufficient. Materials and methods: In this study, we collected the pathological, clinical, RNA-sequencing, and enhanced MRI data of HGG from TCIA and TCGA databases. We characterized the prognostic value of CSF3. Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression, subgroup analysis, Spearman analysis, and gene set variation analysis enrichment were used to elucidate the prognostic value of the CSF3 gene and the correlation between CSF3 and tumor features. We used CIBERSORT to analyze the correlation between CSF3 and cancer immune infiltrates. Logistic regression (LR) and support vector machine methods (SVM) were used to build the radiomics models for the prognosis prediction of HGG based on the expression of CSF3. Results: Based on the radiomics score calculated from LR model, 182 patients with HGG from TCGA database were divided into radiomics score (RS) high and low groups. CSF3 expression varied between tumor and normal group tissues. CSF3 expression was found to be a significant risk factor for survival outcomes. A positive association was found between CSF3 expression and immune infiltration. The radiomics model based on both LR and SVM methods showed high clinical practicability. Conclusion: The results showed that CSF3 has a prognostic value in HGG. The developed radiomics models can predict the expression of CSF3, and further validate the predictions of the radiomics models for HGG

Tetramethylpyrazine: A promising drug for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) was originally isolated from the traditional Chinese herb ligusticum and the fermented Japanese food natto and has since been synthesized. TMP has a long history of beneficial effects in the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases. Here we have evaluated the therapeutic effects of TMP on pulmonary hypertension (PH) in animal models and in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Three well‐defined models of PH ‐chronic hypoxia (10% O(2))‐induced PH (HPH), monocrotaline‐induced PH (MCT‐PH) and Sugen 5416/hypoxia‐induced PH (SuHx‐PH) ‐ were used in Sprague‐Dawley rats, and assessed by echocardiography, along with haemodynamic and histological techniques. Primary cultures of rat distal pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were used to study intracellular calcium levels. Western blots and RT‐qPCR assays were also used. In the clinical cohort, patients with PAH or CTEPH were recruited. The effects of TMP were evaluated in all systems. KEY RESULTS: TMP (100 mg·kg(−1)·day(−1)) prevented rats from developing experimental PH and ameliorated three models of established PH: HPH, MCT‐PH and SuHx‐PH. The therapeutic effects of TMP were accompanied by inhibition of intracellular calcium homeostasis in PASMCs. In a small cohort of patients with PAH or CTEPH, oral administration of TMP (100 mg, t.i.d. for 16 weeks) increased the 6‐min walk distance and improved the 1‐min heart rate recovery. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that TMP is a novel and inexpensive medication for treatment of PH. Clinical trial is registered with about:blank (ChiCTR‐IPR‐14005379)

Mechanisms for rescue of corpus luteum during pregnancy: gene expression in bovine corpus luteum following intrauterine pulses of prostaglandins E1 and F2α†

In ruminants, uterine pulses of prostaglandin (PG) F2α characterize luteolysis, while increased PGE2/PGE1 distinguish early pregnancy. This study evaluated intrauterine (IU) infusions of PGF2α and PGE1 pulses on corpus luteum (CL) function and gene expression. Cows on day 10 of estrous cycle received 4 IU infusions (every 6 h; n = 5/treatment) of saline, PGE1 (2 mg PGE1), PGF2α (0.25 mg PGF2α), or PGE1 + PGF2α. A luteal biopsy was collected at 30 min after third infusion for determination of gene expression by RNA-Seq. As expected, IU pulses of PGF2α decreased (P 0.10) compared to saline cows. Increased circulating concentrations of the metabolite of PGF2α (PGFM; after PGF2α and PGE1 + PGF2α) and the metabolite PGE (PGEM; after PGE1 and PGE1 + PGF2α) demonstrated that PGF2α and PGE1 are entering bloodstream after IU infusions. Thus, IU pulses of PGF2α and PGE1 allow determination of changes in luteal gene expression that could be relevant to understanding luteolysis and pregnancy. Unexpectedly, by third pulse of PGE1, there is complete blockade of either PGF2α transport to the CL or PGF2α action by PGE1 resulting in complete inhibition of transcriptomic changes following IU PGF2α pulses