A Combined Scoring Method Based on 18F-FDG PET/CT for Distinguishing Spinal Infection From Malignancy.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the additional value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of early-stage and atypical spinal infections and to find the best combination of indicators from laboratory and imaging systems for higher diagnostic efficiency.

Summary Of Background Data: Diagnosis of early-stage and atypical spinal infections may be challenging for clinicians.

Correlations of peripheral blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio with renal function and prognosis in patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective: To explore the correlations of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) with renal function and prognosis in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: A total of 115 patients with LN (research group) admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University during January 2018 and January 2021 and 60 healthy controls (control group) who concurrently underwent physical examination were included in this study. Peripheral blood NLR and LMR were recorded in both arms.

Liraglutide promotes autophagy by regulating the AMPK/mTOR pathway in a rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure.

Background: We aimed to determine whether the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist liraglutide (LRG) could ameliorate renal function through promoting autophagy via regulating the AMPK/mTOR pathway in a rat remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure.

Methods: Rats were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group) as follows: (1) sham, (2) nephrectomy (NPX), (3) LRG control (LRG control), and (4) LRG treatment (LRG). Except for rats in the sham group, all rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy surgery to establish a remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure.

Fractal features of soil particle size distributions and their potential as an indicator of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion.

To study the fractal dimensions of the soil particle size distributions (PSDs) within different plantations (of Pinus densiflora, Quercus acutissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Larix kaempferi) and evaluate PSDs as an indicator of the likelihood of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion, the soil porosity of 0-20 cm soil layers was measured at different plantations in the Yaoxiang Forest Farm, Shandong Province, China. The results showed that the fractal dimension (D) values varied from 2.59 to 2.

Benazepril hydrochloride improves diabetic nephropathy and decreases proteinuria by decreasing ANGPTL-4 expression.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of benazepril hydrochloride (BH) on proteinuria and ANGPTL-4 expression in a diabetic nephropathy (DN) rat model.

Methods: A total of 72 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC), DN group and BH treatment (BH) groups. The DN model was induced by streptozotocin (STZ).

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and associated factors among the Chinese population in Taian, China.

Background: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated risk factors among the Chinese population in Taian, China.

Methods: A primary care-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Taian, China, from September to December 2012. Participants selected by a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling procedure were interviewed and tested for hematuria, albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other clinical indices.