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European Journal of Radiology Oct 2023To analyze the computed tomography (CT) findings of idiopathic mesenteric panniculitis and the factors related to its characteristics and to improve the understanding of...
OBJECTIVES
To analyze the computed tomography (CT) findings of idiopathic mesenteric panniculitis and the factors related to its characteristics and to improve the understanding of the disease.
METHODS
The imaging findings of 121 patients with mesenteric panniculitis were retrospectively analyzed, along with related factors such as age, sex, and abdominal visceral fat area.
RESULTS
Among the 121 patients, two had midgut malrotation, and the lesions were located outside the mesentery on the right side of the abdominal cavity, while the lesions in the other patients were located around the mesentery on the left side of the abdominal cavity, presenting as patchy or patchy fuzzy high-density masses. Annulus fibrosus and/or fatty ring signs were also observed in some patients. Scattered soft tissue nodules were observed around the mesentery in 119 patients. Eight patients had intestinal tract traction and retraction, and one patient had secondary intestinal obstruction. Nearly half of the patients had mesenteric vascular changes, and three had mesenteric vascular thrombosis. Among the 121 patients, there were 89 males and 32 females, aged 22-83, with an average age of 52.14 ± 13.53 years. The distribution range of abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) in 121 patients was 79.85-331.65 cm.
CONCLUSION
Mesenteric panniculitis has certain characteristic imaging findings that can be accompanied by often ignored changes in the mesenteric blood vessels and intestinal tubes. Intestinal obstruction and mesenteric vascular thrombosis are rare complications, and their primary causes are often overlooked. Mesenteric panniculitis was correlated with sex, age, and VFA.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Panniculitis, Peritoneal; Retrospective Studies; Intestinal Obstruction; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Thrombosis
PubMed: 37666075
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111071 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2023The present work examined the effect of oral administration of rutin and its combination with metformin, an antidiabetic drug on blood glucose, total cholesterol and...
The present work examined the effect of oral administration of rutin and its combination with metformin, an antidiabetic drug on blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides level and vascular function in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were rendered diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). Rutin and metformin were orally administered to diabetic rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively, for 4 weeks. Plasma analysis was conducted to determine changes in the plasma glucose and lipid levels. Rat aortic ring reactivity in response to endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine, ACh) and endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) relaxants, and to the α1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE) were recorded. Histology of pancreas, liver and kidney were evaluated. In results, rutin and metformin alone and in combination has led to significant improvements in blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to diabetic group. Diabetic aortic rings showed significantly greater contraction in response to PE, and less relaxation in response to ACh and SNP. Treatment with rutin and metformin in combination significantly reduced PE-induced contraction and increased ACh-induced and SNP-induced relaxation in diabetes when compared to rutin or metformin alone. Significant histological improvements were seen with combination therapy. In conclusion, rutin and metformin combination therapy has the most potentiality for restoring blood glucose and lipid level as well as vascular function.
Topics: Rats; Male; Animals; Metformin; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Rutin; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Blood Glucose; Phenylephrine; Acetylcholine; Cholesterol; Lipids; Endothelium, Vascular
PubMed: 37528147
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39442-6 -
Journal of Veterinary Science Sep 2023Kalkitoxin (KT) is an active lipopeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium found in the bed of the coral reef. Although KT suppresses cell division and inflammation,...
BACKGROUND
Kalkitoxin (KT) is an active lipopeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium found in the bed of the coral reef. Although KT suppresses cell division and inflammation, KT's mechanism of action in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is unidentified. Therefore, our main aim was to investigate the impact of KT on vascular calcification for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
OBJECTIVES
Using diverse calcification media, we studied the effect of KT on VSMC calcification and the underlying mechanism of this effect.
METHODS
VSMC was isolated from the 6 weeks ICR mice. Then VSMCs were treated with different concentrations of KT to check the cell viability. Alizarin red and von Kossa staining were carried out to examine the calcium deposition on VSMC. Thoracic aorta of 6 weeks mice were taken and treated with different concentrations of KT, and H and E staining was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to examine KT's effect on VSMC mineralization. Calcium deposition on VSMC was examined with a calcium deposition quantification kit.
RESULTS
Calcium deposition, Alizarin red, and von Kossa staining revealed that KT reduced inorganic phosphate-induced calcification phenotypes. KT also reduced Ca-induced calcification by inhibiting genes that regulate osteoblast differentiation, such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), SMAD family member 4, osterix, collagen 1α, and osteopontin. Also, KT repressed Ca-induced bone morphogenetic protein 2, RUNX-2, collagen 1α, osteoprotegerin, and smooth muscle actin protein expression. Likewise, Alizarin red and von Kossa staining showed that KT markedly decreased the calcification of ring formation in the mouse thoracic aorta.
CONCLUSIONS
This experiment demonstrated that KT decreases vascular calcification and may be developed as a new therapeutic treatment for vascular calcification and arteriosclerosis.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Calcium; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Mice, Inbred ICR; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Signal Transduction; Vascular Calcification
PubMed: 38031648
DOI: 10.4142/jvs.23148 -
Plant Science : An International... Feb 2024Trees play a pivotal role in terrestrial ecosystems as well as being an important natural resource. These attributes are primarily associated with the capacity of trees... (Review)
Review
Trees play a pivotal role in terrestrial ecosystems as well as being an important natural resource. These attributes are primarily associated with the capacity of trees to continuously produce woody tissue from the vascular cambium, a ring of stem cells located just beneath the bark. Long-lived trees are exposed to a myriad of biological and environmental stresses that may result in wounding, leading to a loss of bark and the underlying vascular cambium. This affects both wood formation and the quality of timber arising from the tree. In addition, the exposed wound site is a potential entry point for pathogens that cause disease. In response to wounding, trees have the capacity to regenerate lost or damaged tissues at this site. Investigating gene expression changes associated with different stages of wound healing reveals complex and dynamic changes in the activity of transcription factors, signalling pathways and hormone responses. In this review we summarise these data and discuss how they relate to our current understanding of vascular cambium formation and xylem differentiation during secondary growth. Based on this analysis, a model for wound healing that provides the conceptual foundations for future studies aimed at understanding this intriguing process is proposed.
Topics: Trees; Phloem; Ecosystem; Xylem; Wound Healing
PubMed: 38070652
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111950 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2023Anthocyanins are colored polyphenolic compounds that belong to the flavonoids family and are largely present in many vegetables and fruits. They have been used in... (Review)
Review
Anthocyanins are colored polyphenolic compounds that belong to the flavonoids family and are largely present in many vegetables and fruits. They have been used in traditional medicine in many cultures for a long time. The most common and abundant anthocyanins are those presenting an O-glycosylation at C-3 (C ring) of the flavonoid skeleton to form -O-β-glucoside derivatives. The present comprehensive review summarized recent data on the anticancer properties of cyanidings along with natural sources, phytochemical data, traditional medical applications, molecular mechanisms and recent nanostrategies to increase the bioavailability and anticancer effects of cyanidins. For this analysis, in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies published up to the year 2022 were sourced from scientific databases and search engines such as PubMed/Medline, Google scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley and TRIP database. Cyanidins' antitumor properties are exerted during different stages of carcinogenesis and are based on a wide variety of biological activities. The data gathered and discussed in this review allows for affirming that cyanidins have relevant anticancer activity in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Future research should focus on studies that bring new data on improving the bioavailability of anthocyanins and on conducting detailed translational pharmacological studies to accurately establish the effective anticancer dose in humans as well as the correct route of administration.
Topics: Humans; Anthocyanins; Phytotherapy; Flavonoids; Phytochemicals; Chemoprevention; Neoplasms; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 37121149
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114783 -
Cells Feb 2024Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) pose a significant health risk in diabetic patients, with insufficient revascularization during wound healing being the primary cause. This...
The Combination of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) Modified mRNA Improves Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice: An Ex Vivo and In Vivo Investigation.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) pose a significant health risk in diabetic patients, with insufficient revascularization during wound healing being the primary cause. This study aimed to assess microvessel sprouting and wound healing capabilities using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and a modified fibroblast growth factor (FGF1).
METHODS
An ex vivo aortic ring rodent model and an in vivo wound healing model in diabetic mice were employed to evaluate the microvessel sprouting and wound healing capabilities of VEGF-A and a modified FGF1 both as monotherapies and in combination.
RESULTS
The combination of VEGF-A and FGF1 demonstrated increased vascular sprouting in the ex vivo mouse aortic ring model, and topical administration of a combination of VEGF-A and FGF1 mRNAs formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in mouse skin wounds promoted faster wound closure and increased neovascularization seven days post-surgical wound creation. RNA-sequencing analysis of skin samples at day three post-wound creation revealed a strong transcriptional response of the wound healing process, with the combined treatment showing significant enrichment of genes linked to skin growth.
CONCLUSION
f-LNPs encapsulating VEGF-A and FGF1 mRNAs present a promising approach to improving the scarring process in DFU.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Wound Healing; Diabetic Foot; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38474378
DOI: 10.3390/cells13050414 -
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome Dec 2023Insulin resistance is linked to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and stroke, whereas less is known about adipose tissue specific insulin resistance and outcomes...
BACKGROUND
Insulin resistance is linked to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and stroke, whereas less is known about adipose tissue specific insulin resistance and outcomes after ischemic stroke. This study aimed to estimate the association between adipose tissue specific insulin resistance and prognosis of nondiabetic patients with ischemic stroke.
METHODS
Patients with ischemic stroke without a history of diabetes mellitus in the Third China National Stroke Registry were included. Adipose tissue specific insulin resistance index (Adipo-IR) was calculated by fasting serum insulin and free fatty acids and categorized into 5 groups according to the quintiles. Outcomes included stroke recurrence (ischemic or hemorrhagic), combined vascular events, all-cause death, and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 3-6) at 12 months after stroke onset. We assessed the association between Adipo-IR and risk of prognosis by multivariable Cox/logistic regression models adjusted for potential covariates.
RESULTS
Among 2,222 patients, 69.0% were men with a mean age of 62.5 years. At 12 months, 185 (8.3%) patients had recurrent stroke, 193 (8.7%) had combined vascular events, 58 (2.6%) died, and 250 (11.5%) had a poor outcome. Compared with patients with the lowest quintile, patients with the second, third, fourth, fifth quintiles of the Adipo-IR were associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.77; 95% CI, 1.04-3.03; P = 0.04; HR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.30-3.68; P = 0.003; HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.06-3.21; P = 0.03; HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.20-3.71; P = 0.01, respectively) and marginally associated with an increased risk of combined vascular events ( HR, 1.60; 95%CI, 0.97-2.64; P = 0.07; HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.17-3.13; P = 0.01; HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.96-2.75; P = 0.07; HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.05-3.09; P = 0.03, respectively) at 12 months after adjustment for potential covariates. Adipo-IR was not associated with mortality and poor outcome at 12 months.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that adipose tissue specific insulin resistance is independently associated with recurrent stroke and combined vascular events after acute ischemic stroke in nondiabetic patients.
PubMed: 38041145
DOI: 10.1186/s13098-023-01235-2 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023Identifying biological markers of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and prognosis and exploring the intrinsic connection between these molecular markers and CRC...
Exploration and validation of the Ki67, Her-2, and mutant P53 protein-based risk model, nomogram and lymph node metastasis model for predicting colorectal cancer progression and prognosis.
INTRODUCTIONS
Identifying biological markers of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and prognosis and exploring the intrinsic connection between these molecular markers and CRC progression is underway. However, a single molecular tumor marker is often difficult to assess and predict the progression and prognosis of CRC. Consequently, a combination of tumor-related markers is much needed. Ki67, Her-2, and mutant P53 (MutP53) proteins play pivotal roles in CRC occurrence, progression and prognosis.
METHODS
Based on the expressions by immunochemistry, we developed a risk model, nomogram and lymph node metastasis model by R software and Pythons to explore the value of these proteins in predicting CRC progression, prognosis, and examined the relationship of these proteins with the CRC clinicopathological features from 755 (training set) and 211 CRC (validation set) patients collected from the hospital.
RESULTS
We found that Ki67 expression was significantly correlated with T-stage, N-stage, TNM-stage, vascular invasion, organization differentiation, and adenoma carcinogenesis. Moreover, Her-2 expression was significantly correlated with T-stage, N-stage, TNM-stage, vascular and nerve invasion, pMMR/dMMR, signet ring cell carcinoma, and organization differentiation. MutP53 expression was significantly correlated with T-stage, N-stage, TNM-stage, vascular and nerve invasion, adenoma carcinogenesis, signet ring cell carcinoma, organization differentiation, and pMMR/dMMR. Increased expression of each of the protein indicated a poor prognosis. The established risk model based on the three key proteins showed high predictive value for determining the pathological characteristics and prognosis of CRC and was an independent influencer for prognosis. The nomogram prediction model, which was based on the risk model, after sufficient evaluation, showed more premium clinical value for predicting prognosis. Independent cohort of 211 CRC patients screened from the hospital verified the strong predictive efficacy of these models. The utilization of the XGBoost algorithm in a lymph node metastasis model, which incorporates three crucial proteins, demonstrated a robust predictive capacity for lymph node metastasis.
DISCUSSION
The risk model, nomogram and lymph node metastasis model have all provided valuable insights into the involvement of these three key proteins in the progression and prognosis of CRC. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further screening of effective models that utilize biological markers of CRC.
PubMed: 38074671
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1236441 -
Fluid-structure interactions of peripheral arteries using a coupled in silico and in vitro approach.Computers in Biology and Medicine Oct 2023Vascular compliance is considered both a cause and a consequence of cardiovascular disease and a significant factor in the mid- and long-term patency of vascular grafts....
Vascular compliance is considered both a cause and a consequence of cardiovascular disease and a significant factor in the mid- and long-term patency of vascular grafts. However, the biomechanical effects of localised changes in compliance cannot be satisfactorily studied with the available medical imaging technologies or surgical simulation materials. To address this unmet need, we developed a coupled silico-vitro platform which allows for the validation of numerical fluid-structure interaction results as a numerical model and physical prototype. This numerical one-way and two-way fluid-structure interaction study is based on a three-dimensional computer model of an idealised femoral artery which is validated against patient measurements derived from the literature. The numerical results are then compared with experimental values collected from compliant arterial phantoms via direct pressurisation and ring tensile testing. Phantoms within a compliance range of 1.4-68.0%/100 mmHg were fabricated via additive manufacturing and silicone casting, then mechanically characterised via ring tensile testing and optical analysis under direct pressurisation with moderately statistically significant differences in measured compliance ranging between 10 and 20% for the two methods. One-way fluid-structure interaction coupling underestimated arterial wall compliance by up to 14.7% compared with two-way coupled models. Overall, Solaris™ (Smooth-On) matched the compliance range of the numerical and in vivo patient models most closely out of the tested silicone materials. Our approach is promising for vascular applications where mechanical compliance is especially important, such as the study of diseases which commonly affect arterial wall stiffness, such as atherosclerosis, and the model-based design, surgical training, and optimisation of vascular prostheses.
Topics: Humans; Models, Cardiovascular; Femoral Artery; Computer Simulation; Silicones; Stress, Mechanical
PubMed: 37703711
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107474 -
Plant Signaling & Behavior Dec 2023Plants require sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and mineral ions for their growth and development. Roots in vascular plants sequester water and ions from soil and...
Plants require sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and mineral ions for their growth and development. Roots in vascular plants sequester water and ions from soil and transport them to the aboveground parts of the plant. Due to heterogeneous nature of soil, roots have evolved several regulatory barriers from molecular to organismic level that selectively allows certain ions to enter the vascular tissues for transport according to the physiological and metabolic demands of plant cell. Current literature profusely elaborates about apoplastic barriers, but the possibility of the existence of a symplastic regulation through phosphorous-enriched cells has not been mentioned. Recent investigations on native ion distribution in seedling roots of several species ( and ) identified an ionomic structure termed as "P-ring". The P-ring is composed of a group of phosphorous-rich cells arranged in radial symmetry encircling the vascular tissues. Physiological investigations indicate that the structure is relatively inert to external temperature and ion fluctuations while anatomical studies indicates that they are less likely to be apoplastic in nature. Furthermore, their localization surrounding vascular tissues and in evolutionarily distinct plant lineages might indicate their conserved nature and involvement in ion regulation. Undoubtedly, this is an interesting and important observation that has significant merit for further investigations by the plant science community.
Topics: Seedlings; Phosphorus; Biological Transport; Plant Roots; Water; Soil
PubMed: 37332191
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2217389