Application of molybdenum target X-ray photography in imaging analysis of caudal intervertebral disc degeneration in rats

Value of Molybdenum Target X-Ray and High-Frequency Color Doppler Flow Imaging in Early Diagnosis of Breast Carcinoma: A Comparative Analysis

Background

Breast carcinoma (BC) threatens the physical and mental health of women worldwide, and early diagnosis is important for improving patient outcomes and ensuring successful treatment.

Purpose

This research mainly aims to compare and analyze the value of molybdenum target X-ray and high-frequency color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in the early diagnosis of BC.

Methods

First, 102 patients with suspected early-stage BC (ESBC) admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital were examined by molybdenum target X-ray and CDFI. Based on the pathological findings, the diagnostic efficiency data of the two diagnostic modalities such as positive detection rate (PDR), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), and accuracy (ACC), as well as imaging information like masses, microcalcifications (MCs), axillary lymph node (LN) metastases, and blood flow signal or vascular sign abnormalities were analyzed.

Results

CDFI contributed to higher PDR, PRV, NPV, SEN, and ACC than molybdenum target X-ray in ESBC diagnosis, but similar SPE. The combined diagnosis of molybdenum target X-ray plus CDFI contributed to even higher PDR, PRV, NPV, SEN, and ACC than molybdenum target X-ray alone and higher ACC than CDFI. Imaging inspection revealed that the number of cases of masses, axillary LN metastases, and abnormalities in blood flow signals or vascular signs detected by CDFI was significantly higher than that by molybdenum target X-ray, while the number of MCs was significantly lower.

Conclusion

Molybdenum target X-ray plus CDFI is more effective in the diagnosis of ESBC and plays a complementary role in imaging examination, which can synergistically improve the diagnostic ACC of ESBC and is worthy of clinical promotion.

A novel rat model of vertebral inflammation-induced intervertebral disc degeneration mediated by activating cGAS/STING molecular pathway

In this study, we describe a new rat model of vertebral inflammation-induced caudal intervertebral disc degeneration (VI-IVDD), in which IVD structure was not damaged and controllable segment and speed degeneration was achieved. VI-IVDD model was obtained by placing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the caudal vertebral bodies of rats. Rat experimental groups were set as follows: normal control group, group with a hole drilled in the middle of vertebral body and not filled with LPS (Blank group), group with a hole drilled in the middle of vertebral body and filled with LPS (Mid group), and group with hole drilled in the vertebral body in proximity of IVD and filled with LPS (NIVD group). Radiological results of VI-IVDD rats showed a significant reduction in the intervertebral space height and decrease in MRI T2 signal intensity. Histological stainings also revealed that the more the nucleus pulposus and endplate degenerated, the more the annulus fibrosus structure appeared disorganized. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that the expression of Aggrecan and collagen-II decreased, whereas that of MMP-3 increased in Mid and NIVD groups. Abundant local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected together with increased infiltration of M1 macrophages in Mid and NIVD groups. Apoptosis ratio remarkably enhanced in Mid and NIVD groups. Interestingly, we found a strong activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase /stimulator of interferon gene signalling pathway, which is strictly related to inflammatory and degenerative diseases. In this study, we generated a new, reliable and reproducible IVDD rat model, in which controllable segment and speed degeneration was achieved.

Association and histological characteristics of endplate injury and intervertebral disc degeneration in a rat model

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to construct a rat caudal vertebral body fracture model and to analyze the association and histological characteristics of vertebral body fracture with endplate injury and adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 144 clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were randomly divided into a control, middle vertebral body injury (MI), and endplate injury (EI) groups. A vertebral body fracture with or without endplate injury was developed by either drilling a hole in the middle of a rat caudal vertebral body to create a fracture with an intact endplate or drilling a hole in the vertebral body near the intervertebral disc to create a vertebral body fracture with endplate injury. The histological differences in the adjacent intervertebral discs of vertebral body fractures with or without endplate injury were detected using imaging, non-specific histological staining, immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay.

RESULTS

Imaging results revealed that the EI group showed a significant decrease in intervertebral space height and intervertebral disc T2 signal over time. Non-specific histological staining revealed that in the EI group, the intervertebral disc was degenerative. Immunohistochemistry indicated that Aggrecan and Collagen-II were decreased and inflammatory factors were increased in the EI group. The TUNEL detection found that apoptosis was significantly increased in the EI group as compared with the MI and control groups.

CONCLUSION

In rat caudal vertebral body fractures, a fracture with endplate injury is more likely to induce or accelerate degeneration of adjacent intervertebral discs.