Novel ultrasound techniques in the identification of vulnerable plaques—an updated review of the literature

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease partly mediated by lipoproteins. The rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and thrombosis are major contributors to the development of acute cardiovascular events. Despite various advances in the treatment of atherosclerosis, there has been no satisfaction in the prevention and assessment of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The identification and classification of vulnerable plaques at an early stage as well as research of new treatments remain a challenge and the ultimate goal in the management of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The specific morphological features of vulnerable plaques, including intraplaque hemorrhage, large lipid necrotic cores, thin fibrous caps, inflammation, and neovascularisation, make it possible to identify and characterize plaques with a variety of invasive and non-invasive imaging techniques. Notably, the development of novel ultrasound techniques has introduced the traditional assessment of plaque echogenicity and luminal stenosis to a deeper assessment of plaque composition and the molecular field. This review will discuss the advantages and limitations of five currently available ultrasound imaging modalities for assessing plaque vulnerability, based on the biological characteristics of the vulnerable plaque, and their value in terms of clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy assessment

Novel KCNJ10 Compound Heterozygous Mutations Causing EAST/SeSAME-Like Syndrome Compromise Potassium Channel Function.

Inwardly rectifying K+ channel 4.1 （Kir4.1）, encoded by KCNJ10 , is a member of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel family. In the brain, Kir4.1 is predominant in astrocytic glia and accounts for the spatial buffering of K+ released by neurons during action potential propagation. A number of studies have shown that mutations in KCNJ10 are associated with SeSAME/EAST syndrome, which is characterized by seizures, ataxia, sensorineural deafness, and electrolyte imbalance. Herein, we identified two siblings presenting with seizures and motor delays in one outbred kindred. Customized targeted-exome sequencing showed that both affected siblings are compound heterozygous for two KCNJ10 missense mutations （NM002241.4: c.601G > A: p.A201T and c.626T > C: p.I209T）. Prediction tools suggested that both amino acid substitutions were deleterious or disease causing. Further functional studies showed that Chinese hamster ovary （CHO） cells expressing either A201T and/or I209T Kir4.1 channels exhibited lower K+ currents, indicating compromised Kir4.1 biological function. Intriguingly, the A201T but not I209T mutation decreased total and cell surface Kir4.1 levels. Kir4.1 channels with the A201T mutation were unstable and degraded through lysosomal pathway. In conclusion, these data indicated that both A201T and I209T mutations disrupt Kir4.1 activity and are the cause of SeSAME/EAST-like syndrome in the siblings

Operation Mode and Energy Consumption Analysis of a New Energy Tower and Ground Source-Coupled Heat Pump System

In order to solve the problems of performance degradation in energy tower heat pump (ETHP) systems under low temperature conditions and soil heat imbalances in ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems in cold regions, a new coupled system of ETHP and GSHP systems (the ET–GSHP system) and its operating mode were proposed. The mathematical model of the system was constructed along with the system’s form and operation scheme. The COP (coefficient of performance) and total energy consumption of the coupled system were then simulated and studied under a number of common operating situations. The heating season is divided into four periods based on varying outdoor ambient temperatures: the first period operates in series mode and has an average outdoor temperature of 2.38 °C; the second period operates in parallel mode and has an average outdoor temperature of −8.56 °C; the third period uses soil source heat pumps to operate separately; and the fourth period operates in series mode and has an average outdoor temperature of −11.32 °C. Operation of the coupled system in four periods was simulated and analyzed, and the operational efficiency and energy saving of the system were analyzed using an actual commercial building in a cold region as an example. The results demonstrate that the ET–GSHP system’s overall energy consumption during the heating period is reduced by 4.34% when compared to the traditional GSHP systems; the system’s COP can maintain a high level throughout the heating period, with an average COP of 3.315; and the soil temperature at the conclusion of the heating period is 25 °C, which is 8.89 °C higher than that of the traditional GSHP system, providing a guarantee of summer heat return. The new ET–GSHP system significantly boosts the efficiency of the system’s operation, achieves effective coupling between various heat sources through multi-stage control, and offers improved energy-saving advantages

Physicochemical Properties and Antibiosis Activity of the Pink Pigment of <i>Erwinia persicina</i> Cp2

The control and management of fungal diseases is a worldwide problem. A variety of microbial pigments have excellent antibacterial effects, and naturally occurring bacterial pigments may help in tackling fungal diseases. In order to explore the basic properties and biological functions of the pink pigment produced by Erwinia persicina Cp2, we used organic solvents to extract the pink pigment, analyzed the physicochemical properties of the pigment, determined the chemical composition using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and selected five pathogenic fungi to study the inhibitory effects of the pink pigment. The results showed that the main component of the pink pigment was usambarensine, which had a good light stability and a good temperature stability at room temperature (2+, and Zn2+ all greatly affect the stability of the pink pigment, while Fe2+ and Fe3+ made the pigment darker. Meanwhile, the pigment could exert a good inhibitory effect against four plant pathogenic fungi: Alternaria solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium proliferatum. However, the inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum. f. sp cucumerinum decreased significantly in the later stages. This study had detected the purification process and antifungal activity on five fungi of the pink pigment of Erwinia persicina Cp2. It lays a theoretical and practical foundation for the production of related biological agents

Stability determination of candidate reference genes in cucumber plants subjected to stresses from Phytophthora melonis

Stable reference genes are indispensable for ensuring the fidelity of determined gene expression levels. However, the expression levels of reference genes are unable to remain constant under all possible experimental conditions. Therefore, the stability determination of reference genes is necessary in an experimental system set. In the preset study, the stability of nine cucumber candidate reference genes (CsACT, CsUBQ, CsEF1&alpha;, CsCYP, Cs&alpha;TU, CsCACS, CsTIP41, CsYSL8 and CsHEL) subjected to stresses from Phytophthora melonis(P. melonis) were determined using four different analysis methods, including Delta Ct, BestKeeper, NormFinder and GeNorm. The study results revealed that CsUBQ and CsCYP were the most stable genes suitable as internal control in cucumber plants under attack by P. melonis condition

CO₂‑Responsive Pillar[5]arene-Based Molecular Recognition in Water: Establishment and Application in Gas-Controlled Self-Assembly and Release

Here we developed a novel CO₂-responsive pillararene-based molecular recognition motif established from a water-soluble pillar[5]­arene and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS). The inclusion complex acted as a supramolecular amphiphile and self-assembled into spherical bilayer vesicles as confirmed by DLS, SEM, and TEM experiments. These vesicles were disrupted upon bubbling N₂ or adding much more SDS to eliminate the inclusion complex. The assembly and disassembly of vesicles were successfully employed in gas and surfactant triggered releases of calcein, a water-soluble dye

Efficacy and pregnancy outcomes of focused ultrasound for cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

AbstractObjective To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of focused ultrasound (FU) in the treatment of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and follow up on pregnancy outcomes in patients.Methods This retrospective study recruited 57 patients aged 20–40 years with cervical HSIL combined with HR-HPV infection who received FU treatment between September 2019 and April 2022. Clinical data of the patients were obtained from hospital records. HSIL cure rate and cumulative HR-HPV clearance rate were assessed after treatment. Patients were followed up on fertility and pregnancy outcomes after treatment by telephone interviews until April 1, 2023.Results During a 6-month follow-up, the HSIL cure rate was 73.7%, and a statistical difference between CIN2 and CIN3 (75.6% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.713) was not present. HSIL -recurrence was not observed during the follow-up period, and the median follow-up duration was 12 months. The cumulative HR-HPV clearance rates at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups were 56.1% and 75.4%, respectively. The median clearance time of HR-HPV was 6 (95% confidence interval, 5.46–6.54) months. The clearance rate was higher in HPV16/18 than in non-HPV16/18 (86.7% vs. 62.9%, p = 0.038). After treatment, the successful pregnancy rate in patients with fertility intentions and spontaneous abortion rate were 73.9% and 5.9%, respectively. Preterm birth, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or low-birth-weight infants were not observed.Conclusion FU treatment can regress HSIL and accelerate HR-HPV clearance in young women of childbearing age with cervical HSIL associated with HR-HPV infection, and has no significant adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes

Rapid Construction and Application of a Vector for Tobacco Ringspot Virus-Induced <i>McPDS</i> Silencing in Bitter Gourd

The aim of this study is to facilitate the construction of virus-induced gene silencing vectors and to provide a reference or positive control for gene silencing in bitter gourd. A recombinant TRSV (tobacco ringspot virus) containing two components, pTRSV1 and pTRSV2, was used in this study. The fragment of the McPDS target was cloned into pTRSV2 via combined enzymic ligation during digestion. The TRSV components were agro-infiltrated into tobacco leaves to grow virus particles, which were then extracted and mechanically inoculated into the bitter gourd plants. The effect of TRSV-McPDS-mediated McPDS gene silencing was evaluated by observing the photo-bleaching phenotype, detecting the TRSV virus, and quantifying the downregulation of MCPDS gene expression and chlorophyll contents. The results showed that all bitter gourd plants infected with the empty TRSV or TRSV-McPDS virus grew and developed normally, with no visible signs of viral disease. However, after seven days of inoculation, only the bitter gourd plants that were inoculated with TRSV-McPDS showed obvious photobleaching in the leaves, stems, and buds. The TRSV-specific fragments were tested out in the systemically infected leaves of bitter gourd. The transcription level of the McPDS gene in the leaves dropped by 84.7%. The chlorophyll content also dropped significantly. These data suggest that the rapidly constructed VIGS vector TRSV-McPDS successfully induced McPDS silencing in bitter gourd. Taken together, the results of this study provide a practical method for vector construction in various VIGS applications, as well as a reference and a positive control for TRSV-induced gene silencing in bitter gourd