IL-10 mediates pleural remodeling in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a pivotal anti-inflammatory cytokine, has gotten attention for its involvement in tissue remodeling and organ fibrosis. Pleurisy and subsequent pleural remodeling are recognized as quantifiable indicators of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity. However, the role of IL-10 in SLE-associated pleural remodeling remains unknown.

Weakly supervised real-time instance segmentation for ultrasound images of median nerves.

Medical ultrasound technology has garnered significant attention in recent years, with Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) and carpal tunnel diagnosis (CTS) being two notable examples. Instance segmentation, based on deep learning approaches, is a promising choice to support the analysis of ultrasound data. However, many instance segmentation models cannot achieve the requirement of ultrasound technology e.

BMAL1/p53 mediating bronchial epithelial cell autophagy contributes to PM2.5-aggravated asthma.

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with increased incidence and severity of asthma. PM2.

Inter-transducer variability of ultrasound image quality in obese adults: Qualitative and quantitative comparisons.

Purpose: Acquiring high-quality ultrasound images of deep abdominal organs and vasculatures in obese adults (BMI >30 kg/cm) is considered challenging. The aim of the study was to assess the inter-transducer variability in B-mode and color Doppler image quality from four commercial ultrasound transducers through qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Methods: Four curvilinear transducers on three ultrasound scanners were used to acquire B-mode and color Doppler images of deep abdominal structures in 15 obesity ≥ class II (BMI >35 kg/cm) adults.

Blockade of phosphotyrosine pathways suggesting SH2 superbinder as a novel therapy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and irreversible fibrotic disease with high mortality. Currently, pirfenidone and nintedanib are the only approved drugs for IPF by the U.S.

[Dynamic Changes of Ultrasonographic Images of Zusanli (ST 36) Region During of Acupuncture Needle Stimulation].

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes of ultrosonographic images of Zusanli (ST 36) area during after inserting acupuncture needles, so as to provide objective evidence for clinical .

Methods: Sixty healthy volunteers (30 men and 30 women) were recruited in the present study. The subjects were asked to take a supine position on a test-bed, sterilized disposable filiform needles were perpendicularly inserted into bilateral ST 36 till (without lifting, thrusting and twirling), when, high-resolution ultrasound scanning was conducted over the regional skeletal muscles by using a radio-frequency (5-12 MHz) coil probe (Philips IU Elite Ultrasound Diagnostic Instrument) after smearing a layer of gel at the skin of ST 36.

Effects of Non-Focused Microbubble-Enhanced and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound on Hemostasis in a Rabbit Model of Liver Trauma.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage after trauma to the liver can lead to death. The present study compared the effects of non-focused microbubble-enhanced ultrasound and high-intensity focused ultrasound on hepatic hemostasis in the injured liver. Blood perfusion level, serum liver enzyme levels and the aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase ratio differed between the two types of treatment (all p values < 0.

Shear Wave Elastography of the Spleen for Monitoring Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Function: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of splenic shear wave elastography in monitoring transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) function.

Methods: We measured splenic shear wave velocity (SWV), main portal vein velocity (PVV), and splenic vein velocity (SVV) in 33 patients 1 day before and 3 days to 12 months after TIPS placement. We also measured PVV, SVV, and SWV in 10 of 33 patients with TIPS dysfunction 1 day before and 3 to 6 days after TIPS revision.

Green tagging in displaying color Doppler aliasing: a comparison to standard color mapping in renal artery stenosis.

To quantitatively assess the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of green tagging and standard color flow images in displaying fast flow velocity, we retrospectively reviewed 20 cases of hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis (RAS) detected by renal color Doppler ultrasound and confirmed with digital subtraction angiography. At the site of RAS, blood flow with high velocity that appeared as aliasing on color flow images was computationally analyzed with both green tagging and standard color mapping. To assess the difference in the CNR between normal background flow and the aliased signal as a function of visualizing aliasing between the two color mappings, we used GetColorpixels (Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China) to count the values in the color channels after segmenting color pixels from gray-scale pixels.

Ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction promotes angiogenesis and heart function by inducing myocardial microenvironment change.

The myocardial microenvironment plays a decisive role in the survival, migration and differentiation of stem cells. We studied myocardial micro-environmental changes induced by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) and their influence on the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Various intensities of ultrasound were applied to the anterior chest in canines with myocardial infarction after intravenous injection of microbubbles.

Spleen stiffness and splenoportal venous flow: assessment before and after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement.

Objectives: To prospectively assess changes in spleen stiffness and splenoportal venous flow before and after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated spleen stiffness measured by the mean shear wave velocity with acoustic radiation force impulse imaging and the splenoportal venous velocity with color Doppler sonography in 12 patients (mean age ± SD, 42.6 ± 11.

Liver and spleen stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse elastography for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis and esophageal varices in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of liver and spleen stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis and esophageal varices in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-four participants, of whom 60 were healthy volunteers (classified as stage 0), 66 were patients with chronic hepatitis B who had undergone liver biopsy, and 138 were patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, were enrolled in this study. Median liver and spleen stiffness values (meters per second) from 10 successful measurements per participant were obtained.

Targeted delivery of bone mesenchymal stem cells by ultrasound destruction of microbubbles promotes kidney recovery in acute kidney injury.

The aim of the present study was to explore whether ultrasound microbubble destruction augments site-targeted engraftment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) to kidney tissue and promotes recovery of the kidney in acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats. AKI was induced by the subcutaneous injection of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂). Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following groups after the establishment of rat models of AKI (n = 10): (1) Model group alone (control group); (2) 1.

The stiffness of the liver and spleen on ARFI Imaging pre and post TIPS placement: a preliminary observation.

Purpose: To prospectively assess the stiffness of the liver and spleen with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging pre and post transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement.

Material And Methods: Between February, 2011 and September, 2011, we prospectively measured stiffness of the liver and spleen with mean shear wave velocity (MSV, m/s) on ARFI imaging in 10 healthy volunteers (mean age 32.2 ± 10.

A novel ultrasound microbubble carrying gene and Tat peptide: preparation and characterization.

Rationale And Objectives: Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction is a promising technology for the targeted gene delivery. The purpose of the present study is to prepare a novel lipid ultrasound microbubble-carrying gene and transactivating transcriptional activator (Tat) peptide and to investigate its transfection effect in vivo.

Methods And Materials: Lipid ultrasound microbubbles were prepared using mechanical vibration, and the appearance, distribution, concentration, diameter, and zeta potential of the lipid ultrasound microbubbles were measured.

Transfection efficiency of TDL compound in HUVEC enhanced by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction.

The aim of the present study was to explore the gene transfection efficiency of Tat peptide/plasmid DNA/ liposome (TDL) compound combined with ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Tat peptide, plasmid DNA (pIRES2-EGFP-HGF) and Lipofectamine 2000 were used to prepare the TDL compound. Microbubbles were prepared using mechanic vibration.

Relationship between myocardial ultrasonic integrated backscatter and mitochondria of the myocardium in dogs.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between integrated backscatter (IBS) and mitochondria in arrested myocardium.

Methods: Twelve open-chest dogs were randomly divided into two groups: one group with cardiac arrest in systole and the other with cardiac arrest in diastole. IBS images at parasternal papillary muscle short-axis view were stored at different time frames (0, 30, and 60 min after cardiac arrest).

[Study on the inhibitive effect of Astragalus Injection solution on hepatic fibrosis in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Astragalus Injection solution on rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: HSCs of rats were incubated with various concentrations of Astragalus Injection solution (0 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, 400 mg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell proliferation was detected with 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphennyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay.

[Effect and mechanism of Tanshensu on fibrotic rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Tanshensu on experimental fibrotic rats.

Methods: Pigs serum was used to induce liver fibrosis in Wistar rats. The rats in Tanshensu-treated group were injected peritoneally with Tanshensu solution at the dose of 300 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), and the rats in model-control group and normal-control group received the same volume of double distill water.