Impact of Cordyceps sinensis on coronary computed tomography angiography image quality and renal function in a beagle model of renal impairment

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the protective effects of Cordyceps sinensis against renal injury induced by low-dose contrast medium (CM) in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) imaging, and to evaluate its efficacy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).MethodsTwenty Beagle dogs with induced renal insufficiency were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 5 per group). Group A received Cordyceps sinensis for 1 week prior to undergoing heart rate-dependent personalized CM CCTA scanning; Group B received Cordyceps sinensis for 1 week followed by conventional dose CM CCTA scanning; Group C did not receive Cordyceps sinensis but underwent HR-dependent CM CCTA scanning; and Group D did not receive Cordyceps sinensis but underwent conventional dose CM CCTA scanning. Renal function was assessed using MRI before and after the intervention, with IVIM (Intravoxel Incoherent Motion) and BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) imaging of the kidneys. Key parameters, including the pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), and R2*values, were quantified. Laboratory renal function markers were measured multiple times before and after the intervention, and their correlation with fMRI parameters was analyzed.ResultsCCTA imaging revealed that the CT values of the major coronary artery branches in all groups met the international diagnostic criteria for coronary arteries. No statistically significant differences in image quality were observed among the four groups (P > 0.05). In Groups A and D, significant changes were observed in renal function parameters, as well as in D, D*, f, and R2* values, both pre- and post-CCTA (P < 0.05). However, Groups B and C exhibited no significant changes pre- and post-CCTA (P > 0.05). A significant correlation was found between MRI parameters and laboratory renal function markers, with excellent inter- and intra-observer reproducibility, and high repeatability in the measurements.ConclusionHR-dependent personalized CM CCTA imaging did not compromise image quality. Administration of Cordyceps sinensis demonstrated a potential protective effect on renal function. The combination of IVIM and BOLD functional MRI offers a reliable, non-invasive approach to assess the protective effects of Cordyceps sinensis on renal injury induced by low-dose CCTA in Beagle dogs

Screening and validation of atherosclerosis PAN-apoptotic immune-related genes based on single-cell sequencing

BackgroundCarotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is a complication of atherosclerosis (AS). PAN-optosome is an inflammatory programmed cell death pathway event regulated by the PAN-optosome complex. CAS’s PAN-optosome-related genes (PORGs) have yet to be studied. Hence, screening the PAN-optosome-related diagnostic genes for treating CAS was vital.MethodsWe introduced transcriptome data to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CAS. Subsequently, WGCNA analysis was utilized to mine module genes about PANoptosis score. We performed differential expression analysis (CAS samples vs. standard samples) to obtain CAS-related differentially expressed genes at the single-cell level. Venn diagram was executed to identify PAN-optosome-related differential genes (POR-DEGs) associated with CAS. Further, LASSO regression and RF algorithm were implemented to were executed to build a diagnostic model. We additionally performed immune infiltration and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) based on diagnostic genes. We verified the accuracy of the model genes by single-cell nuclear sequencing and RT-qPCR validation of clinical samples, as well as in vitro cellular experiments.ResultsWe identified 785 DEGs associated with CAS. Then, 4296 module genes about PANoptosis score were obtained. We obtained the 7365 and 1631 CAS-related DEGs at the single-cell level, respectively. 67 POR-DEGs were retained Venn diagram. Subsequently, 4 PAN-optosome-related diagnostic genes (CNTN4, FILIP1, PHGDH, and TFPI2) were identified via machine learning. Cellular function tests on four genes showed that these genes have essential roles in maintaining arterial cell viability and resisting cellular senescence.ConclusionWe obtained four PANoptosis-related diagnostic genes (CNTN4, FILIP1, PHGDH, and TFPI2) associated with CAS, laying a theoretical foundation for treating CAS

Predictors of poor outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

ObjectiveTo identify the predictors of 3-month outcomes in Chinese patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) receiving conservative management.MethodsFrom October 2013 to May 2016, a total of 5,589 individuals with ICH were screened as part of the CRRICH study (Clinical re-evaluation of removing blood stasis therapy in treating acute intracerebral hemorrhage). Of these, 319 patients were ultimately enrolled. This study constitutes a post analysis of the CRRICH study. Potential predictors of poor outcomes following spontaneous ICH, initially identified through univariate analysis, were further evaluated using an unconditional multiple logistic regression model. Poor outcomes were defined as a modified Rankin scale score > 2 at 90 days post-ICH.ResultsOf the 319 patients (mean age 62.46 ± 0.71 years; male/female ratio 1.8:1), 89 (27.9%) had poor 3-month outcomes. Multivariable analysis showed increased odds of poor outcomes with older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.08; p < 0.001), right hemispheric hemorrhage (OR 2.41; 95% CI 1.26–4.60; p = 0.008), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 3.70; 95% CI 1.80–7.61; p < 0.001), and a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.14–1.29; p < 0.001). Conversely, higher body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.77–0.99; p = 0.015) and shorter symptom-to-admission time (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.62–0.97; p = 0.025) were associated with reduced odds of poor outcomes.ConclusionIn conservatively treated ICH patients, right hemispheric involvement, ventricular hemorrhage, older age, and higher NIHSS score increased poor outcome risks at 3 months, while higher BMI and early admission reduced risks, aiding clinical prognosis prediction

Global marine microbial diversity and its potential in bioprospecting

The past two decades has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of microbial genomes retrieved from marine systems1,2. However, it has remained challenging to translate this marine genomic diversity into biotechnological and biomedical applications3,4. Here we recovered 43,191 bacterial and archaeal genomes from publicly available marine metagenomes, encompassing a wide range of diversity with 138 distinct phyla, redefining the upper limit of marine bacterial genome size and revealing complex trade-offs between the occurrence of CRISPR–Cas systems and antibiotic resistance genes. In silico bioprospecting of these marine genomes led to the discovery of a novel CRISPR–Cas9 system, ten antimicrobial peptides, and three enzymes that degrade polyethylene terephthalate. In vitro experiments confirmed their effectiveness and efficacy. This work provides evidence that global-scale sequencing initiatives advance our understanding of how microbial diversity has evolved in the oceans and is maintained, and demonstrates how such initiatives can be sustainably exploited to advance biotechnology and biomedicine

SCG5 and MITF may be novel markers of copper metabolism immunorelevance in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract The slow-developing neurological disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has no recognized etiology. A bioinformatics investigation verified copper metabolism indicators for AD development. GEO contributed AD-related datasets GSE1297 and GSE5281. Differential expression analysis and WGCNA confirmed biomarker candidate genes. Each immune cell type in AD and control samples was scored using single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) grouping, and expression analysis between control and AD samples discovered copper metabolism indicators that impacted AD progression. We test clinical samples and cellular function to ensure study correctness. Biomarker-targeting miRNAs and lncRNAs were predicted by starBase. Trust website anticipated biomarker-targeting transcription factors. In the end, Cytoscape constructed the TF/miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA networks. The DGIdb database predicted biomarker-targeted drugs. We identified 57 differentially expressed copper metabolism-related genes (DE-CMRGs). Next, fourteen copper metabolism indicators impacting AD progression were identified: CCK, ATP6V1E1, SYT1, LDHA, PAM, HPRT1, SCG5, ATP6V1D, GOT1, NFKBIA, SPHK1, MITF, BRCA1, and CD38. A TF/miRNA-mRNA regulation network was then established with two miRNAs (hsa-miR-34a-5p and 34c-5p), six TFs (NFKB1, RELA, MYC, HIF1A, JUN, and SP1), and four biomarkers. The DGIdb database contained 171 drugs targeting ten copper metabolism-relevant biomarkers (BRCA1, MITF, NFKBIA, CD38, CCK2, HPRT1, SPHK1, LDHA, SCG5, and SYT1). Copper metabolism biomarkers CCK, ATP6V1E1, SYT1, LDHA, PAM, HPRT1, SCG5, ATP6V1D, GOT1, NFKBIA, SPHK1, MITF, BRCA1, and CD38 alter AD progression, laying the groundwork for disease pathophysiology and novel AD diagnostic and treatment

Vascular Morphology has No Direct Relationship with Atherosclerotic Plaque Burden in Patients with Symptomatic Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis

Background:The vascular morphology and the characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) have not been fully studied with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI).Objectives:HR-MRI was applied to investigate vascular morphology and atherosclerotic plaque in patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis.Materials and Methods:A total of 343 patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis were enrolled in this study. All the patients were examined by HR-MRI to analyze the morphology of MCA and the M1 segment (MCA-M1), the characteristics and the location of the plaques.Results:The proportion of L-shaped MCA-M1 decreased, while the proportion of S-shaped MCAM1 increased with age. The anterior plaques were the most common in all the patients. The superior plaques were relatively common in patients with L-shaped and U-shaped MCA-M1, while the inferior plaques were relatively common in patients with inverted U-shaped and S-shaped MCAM1. Among all the plaques, the majority were isointense or heterogeneous. The MCA-M1 morphology had no direct relationship with the common risk factors of atherosclerosis and the clinical outcomes of the patients after 12 months of follow up.Conclusion:The morphology of MCA-M1 is not directly related to the plaque burden or the degree of stenosis in patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis. The morphology of MCA-M1 is not associated with the risk factors of atherosclerosis, or the clinical outcomes of the patients.</jats:sec

Tuberous sclerosis complex: a case report and literature review

Abstract Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder with different initial symptoms and complex clinical manifestations. A 14-year-old female patient presented with persistent fever and severe headache. Medical imaging examinations revealed multiple abnormal intracranial lesions. The patient had previously been misdiagnosed with “encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis” after visiting numerous hospitals. Eventually, by combing the characteristics of the case and genetic testing results, the patient was diagnosed with TSC accompanied by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The purpose of this case report and literature review is to improve understanding of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of TSC so as to avoid misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis, and overtreatment