Ultrasound Viscosity Imaging in Breast Lesions: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Rationale And Objectives: To explore and validate the clinical value of ultrasound (US) viscosity imaging in differentiating breast lesions by combining with BI-RADS, and then comparing the diagnostic performances with BI-RADS alone.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter, prospective study enrolled participants with breast lesions from June 2021 to November 2022. A development cohort (DC) and validation cohort (VC) were established.

Oncostatin M promotes the ox-LDL-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes via the NF-κB pathway in THP-1 macrophages and promotes the progression of atherosclerosis.

Background: Oncostatin M (OSM) is reported to be involved in many stages of atherosclerosis, including endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and smooth muscle cell migration. This study explored the effects of OSM on foam cell formation and its corresponding molecular mechanisms.

Methods: THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) to induce macrophage differentiation and were then exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).

Efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon versus non-drug-coated balloon combined with bare metal stent implantation in treatment of patients with occlusions of the superficial femoral artery: a retrospective study in clinical practice.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon and non-drug-coated balloon combined with bare metal stent implantation for the treatment of patients with occlusions of the superficial femoral artery.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 83 patients with occlusions of the superficial femoral artery were included. Among them, 41 patients received paclitaxel drug coated balloon treatment combined with bare metal stent implantation treatment (experimental group), the remaining 42 received non-drug-coated balloon treatment (control group).

Characterization of regulatory regions involved in the inducible expression of chiB in Bacillus thuringiensis.

Expression of the chiB gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Bti75 was defined as inducible by the use of transcriptional fusions with the bgaB reporter gene. The transcription start site of the chiB gene was identified as the C base located 132 base pairs upstream of the start codon. Analysis of 5' and 3' deletions of the chiB promoter region revealed that the sequence from position -192 to +36 with respect to the transcription start site was necessary for wild-type levels of inducible expression of the chiB gene.

[Regulation of chitinase genes expression in bacteria].

Chitinases, which can hydrolyze chitin, occur in a wide range of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The derivatives of chitin are potentially useful in several areas such as food processing, medicines, and biological control in agriculture. Some bacteria can uptake and utilize chitin as carbon source by secreting chitinase.