Structural characterization and improves cognitive disorder in ageing mice of a glucomannan from Dendrobium huoshanense

In the present work, a neutral polysaccharide (DHP-2W) with attenuating cognitive disorder was identified from Dendrobium huoshanense and its structure was clarified. The polysaccharide was successfully purified from D. huoshanense by column chromatography and its activity was evaluated. With a molecular weight of 508.934kDa, this polysaccharide is composed of mannose and glucose at a molar ratio of 75.81: 24.19. Structural characterization revealed that DHP-2W has a backbone consisting of 4)-β-D-Manp-(1 and 4)-β-D-Glcp-(1. In vivo experiments revealed that DHP-2W improved cognitive disorder in D-galactose treated mice and relieved oxidative stress and inflammation. DHP-2W attenuates D-galactose-induced cognitive disorder by inhibiting the BCL2/BAX/CASP3 pathway and activating the AMPK/SIRT pathway, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, DHP-2W had a significant effect on regulating the serum levels of Flavin adenine dinucleotide, Shikimic acid, and Kynurenic acid in aged mice. These, in turn, had a positive impact on AMPK/SIRT1 and BCL2/BAX/CASP3, resulting in protective effects against cognitive disorder.

The value of T2-weighted MRI contrast ratio combined with DWI in evaluating the pathological grade of solid lung adenocarcinoma

AIM

To assess the predictive value of T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for determining the pathological grading of solid lung adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical and imaging data from 153 cases of solid lung adenocarcinoma (82 men, 71 women, mean age 63.2 years) confirmed at histopathology in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2017 to May 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Adenocarcinomas were classified into low-grade (G1 and G2) and high-grade (G3) groups following the 2020 pathological grading system proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. The T2-weighted contrast ratio (T2CR), calculated as the T2 signal intensity of the lung mass/nodule divided by the T2 signal intensity of the right rhomboid muscle was utilised. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the MRI images independently, measured the T2CR, and obtained apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare general characteristics (sex, age, maximum diameter), T2CR, and ADC values between the low-grade and high-grade groups. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test determined differences in T2CR and ADC values among the five adenocarcinoma subtypes. Receiver characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, along with area under the curve (AUC) calculation, assessed the effectiveness of each parameter in distinguishing the pathological grade of lung adenocarcinoma. A Z-test was used to compare the AUC values.

RESULTS

Among the 153 patients with adenocarcinoma, 103 had low-grade adenocarcinoma, and 50 had high-grade adenocarcinoma. The agreement between T2CR and ADC observers was good (0.948 and 0.929, respectively). None of the parameters followed a normal distribution (p<0.05). The ADC value was lower in the high-grade adenocarcinoma group compared to the low-grade adenocarcinoma group (p=0.004), while the T2CR value was higher in the high-grade group (p=0.011). Statistically significant differences were observed in maximum diameter and gender between the two groups (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively), while no significant differences were noted in age (p=0.980). Among the five adenocarcinoma subtypes, only the lepidic and micropapillary subtypes displayed statistical differences in ADC values (p=0.047), with the remaining subtypes showing no statistical differences (p>0.05). The AUC values for distinguishing high-grade adenocarcinoma from low-grade adenocarcinoma were 0.645 for ADC and 0.627 for T2CR. Combining T2CR, ADC, sex, and maximum diameter resulted in an AUC of 0.778, sensitivity of 70%, and specificity of 75%. This combination significantly improved diagnostic efficiency compared to T2CR and ADC alone (p=0.008, z = 2.624; p=0.007, z = 2.679).

CONCLUSION

The MRI quantitative parameters are useful for distinguishing the pathological grades of solid lung adenocarcinoma, offering valuable insights for precise lung cancer treatment.

Untargeted Metabolomics Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS/MS Revealed the Differences and Correlations between Different Parts of the Root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall

BACKGROUND

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PLP) is a plant with excellent ornamental and therapeutic value that can be utilized in traditional Chinese medicine as Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR). PRA must undergo the "peeling" process, which involves removing the cork and a portion of the phloem. PLP's biological function is strongly linked to its secondary metabolites, and the distribution of metabolites in different regions of the PLP rhizome causes changes in efficacy when PLP is processed into various therapeutic compounds.

METHODS

The metabolites of the cork (cor), phloem (phl), and xylem (xyl) were examined in the roots of PLP using a metabolomics approach based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS/MS (UPLC-MS/MS), and the differential metabolites were evaluated using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Significant changes were observed among the cor, phl, and xyl samples. In both positive and negative ion modes, a total of 15,429 peaks were detected and 7366 metabolites were identified. A total of 525 cor-phl differential metabolites, 452 cor-xyl differential metabolites, and 328 phl-xyl differential metabolites were evaluated. Flavonoids, monoterpene glycosides, fatty acids, sugar derivatives, and carbohydrates were among the top 50 dissimilar chemicals. The key divergent metabolic pathways include linoleic acid metabolism, galactose metabolism, ABC transporters, arginine biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis.

CONCLUSION

The cor, phl, and xyl of PLP roots exhibit significantly different metabolite types and metabolic pathways; therefore, "peeling" may impact the pharmaceutical effect of PLP. This study represents the first metabolomics analysis of the PLP rhizome, laying the groundwork for the isolation and identification of PLP pharmacological activity, as well as the quality evaluation and efficacy exploration of PLP.

Effective separation of protein from Polygonatum cyrtonema crude polysaccharide utilizing ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium bromide

Extraction of plant polysaccharides often results in a large amount of proteins, which is hard to eliminate from the crude extract, and conventional approaches for deproteinization are time-consuming and often involve hazardous organic solvents. In this study, ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) was used to create an ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) for the separation of the polysaccharide (PcP) and protein extracted from the rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was first applied to assess the feasibility of the ILATPS, and MgSO4 was determined to be the most suitable inorganic salt. By adopting the Taguchi experiment with an L9 (3^4) orthogonal array, it was found that the best condition for the efficient separation of crude PcP was at 25°C, with 1.5 g of TBABr, 15 mg of PcP, and 2.0 g of MgSO4, with the extraction efficiency for the protein and polysaccharide as 98.6% and 93.5%, respectively. The purified PcP was homogeneous, and its weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 7,554 Da. Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated the PcP comprised mannose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 33:13:8:3.5:2:1. This approach offers a practical tactic to purify polysaccharides of plant origin.

Comprehensive analysis of complete chloroplast genome sequence of Plantago asiatica L. (Plantaginaceae)

Plantago asiatica L. is a representative individual species of Plantaginaceae, whose high reputation is owed to its edible and medicinal values. However, the phylogeny and genes of the P. asiatica chloroplast have not yet been well described. Here we report the findings of a comprehensive analysis of the P. asiatica chloroplast genome. The P. asiatica chloroplast genome is 164,992 bp, circular, and has a GC content of 37.98%. The circular genome contains 141 genes, including 8 rRNAs, 38 tRNAs, and 95 protein-coding genes. Seventy-two simple sequence repeats are detected. Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of six related species suggests that a higher similarity exists in the coding region than the non-coding region, and differences in the degree of preservation is smaller between P. asiatica and Plantago depressa than among others. Our phylogenetic analysis illustrates P. asiatica has a relatively close relationship with P. depressa, which was also divided into different clades with Plantago ovata and Plantago lagopus in the genus Plantago. This analysis of the P. asiatica chloroplast genome contributes to an improved deeply understanding of the evolutionary relationships among Plantaginaceae.

RvE1 Promotes Axin2+ Cell Regeneration and Reduces Bacterial Invasion

Vital pulp therapy and root canal therapy (RCT) are the dominant treatment for irreversible pulpitis. While the success rate of these procedures is favorable, they have some limitations. For instance, RCT leads to removing significant dentin in the coronal third of the tooth that increases root-fracture risk, which forces tooth removal. The ideal therapeutic goal is dental pulp regeneration, which is not achievable with RCT. Specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) are well known for inflammatory resolution. The resolution of inflammation and tissue restoration or regeneration is a dynamic and continuous process. SPMs not only have potent immune-modulating functions but also effectively promote tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Resolvins have been shown to promote dental pulp regeneration. The purpose of this study was to explore further the cellular target of Resolvin E1 (RvE1) therapy in dental pulp regeneration and the impact of RvE1 in infected pulps. We investigated the actions of RvE1 on experimentally exposed pulps with or without microbial infection in an Axin2Cre-Dox;Ai14 genetically defined mouse model. Our results showed RvE1 promoted Axin2-tdTomato+ cell expansion and odontoblastic differentiation after direct pulp capping in the mouse, which we used to mimic reversible pulpitis cases in the clinic. In cultured mouse dental pulp stem cells (mDPSCs), RvE1 facilitated Axin2-tdTomato+ cell proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation and also rescued impaired functions after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. In infected pulps exposed to the oral environment for 24 h, RvE1 suppressed inflammatory infiltration, reduced bacterial invasion in root canals, and prevented the development of apical periodontitis, while its proregenerative impact was limited. Collectively, topical treatment with RvE1 facilitated dental pulp regenerative properties by promoting Axin2-expressing cell proliferation and differentiation. It also modulated the resolution of inflammation, reduced infection severity, and prevented apical periodontitis, presenting RvE1 as a novel therapeutic for treating endodontic diseases.

Chemoradiotherapy Combined with Nab-Paclitaxel plus Cisplatin in Patients with Locally Advanced Borderline Resectable or Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase I/II Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) plus cisplatin as the regimen of conversional chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) in locally advanced borderline resectable or unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with locally advanced ESCC (cT3-4, Nany, M0-1, M1 was limited to lymph node metastasis in the supraclavicular area) were enrolled. All the patients received the cCRT of nab-PTX plus cisplatin. After the cCRT, those resectable patients received esophagectomy; those unresectable patients continued to receive the definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). The locoregional control (LRC), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), pathological complete response (pCR), R0 resection rate and adverse events (AEs) were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients with ESCC treated from October 2019 to May 2021 were finally included. The median follow-up time was 30.3 months. The LRC, OS, EFS, DMFS at 1and 2 years were 81.5%, 86.6%, 64.3%, 73.2% and 72.4%, 68.8%, 44.8%, 52.7% respectively. 21 patients (46.7%) received conversional chemoradiotherapy plus surgery (cCRT+S). The pCR rate and R0 resection rate were 47.6% and 84.0%. The LRC rate at 1 and 2 years were 95.0%, 87.1% in cCRT+S patients and 69.3%, 58.7% in dCRT patients respectively (HR, 5.14; 95% CI, 1.10-23.94; P = 0.021). The OS rate at 1 and 2 years were 95.2% and 84.2% in resectable patients compared to 78.8% and 54.4% in unresectable patients (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.10-10.61; P = 0.024). The toxicities during chemoradiotherapy were tolerated, the most common grade 3-4 toxicities were radiation esophagitis (15.6%).

CONCLUSION

Nab-PTX plus cisplatin were effective and safe as the regimen of conversional chemoradiotherapy of ESCC. The patients receiving conversional chemoradiotherapy plus surgery (cCRT+S) were prone to have a better survival.

Poria cocos polysaccharide improves intestinal barrier function and maintains intestinal homeostasis in mice

The function of the intestinal tract is critical to human health. Poria cocos is a widely used functional edible fungus in Asia and has been reported to modulate gastrointestinal function. However, the effects of polysaccharides, the main active constituents of Poria cocos, on the intestinal tract remains unclear and is the focus of the study. Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) were extracted, characterized, and administered to mice by gavage. The results show that PCP used in this study has a typical polysaccharide peak with a molecular weight of 11.583 kDa and is composed primarily of mannose, D-glucosamine hydrochloride, glucose, galactose, and fucose with a molar ratio of 15.308: 0.967: 28.723: 31.631: 23.371. The methylation results suggest that the PCP backbone may be t-Gal(p), 6-Gal(p) and 2,6-Gal(p). The effects of PCP on the mucosal barrier function of the mouse intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) were examined in terms of intestinal physiological status, physical barrier, biochemical barrier, immune barrier, and microbial barrier. The results showed that PCP significantly improved the physiological state of mouse intestine. Moreover, PCP strengthened the intestinal physical barrier by upregulating the expression of intestinal Occludin and ZO-1 and downregulating the levels of serum endotoxin, DAO, D-lactate, and intestinal MPO. Regarding biochemical barrier, PCP could upregulate the expression of MUC2, β-defensin, and SIgA in intestinal tissues. In addition, PCP modulated the immune barrier by increasing IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β, and IFN-γ expression. Besides, PCP increased the level of SCFAs in small intestinal contents. PCP modulates intestinal barrier function by altering the microbial composition of the gut. We also found that PCP could maintain intestinal barrier function by increasing the expression of Wnt/β-Catenin and Lrp5 proteins. Generally, our findings suggested that PCP may be used as a functional food to regulate intestinal mucosal function, thereby enhancing the health of the intestinal and host.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua in China using SSR markers

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Polygonatum genus, belonging to the Liliaceae family, with significant medicinal and nutritional value. In China, this species is a traditional medicinal and edible herb with a long history of application and is widely appreciated by the people. However, as the demand for medicinal herbs continues to grow, excessive harvesting has led to the depletion of wild resources and the risk of genetic erosion. In addition, the chaotic cultivation of varieties and the lack of high quality germplasm resources have led to inconsistent quality of medical materials. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct genetic diversity evaluation of this species and establish a sound conservation plan. This study assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of 96 samples collected from seven regions in China using the simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular marker technology. In this study, a total of 60 alleles (Na) were detected across the 10 polymorphic SSR markers used, with an average of 6.0 alleles generated per locus. The values of polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.3396 to 0.8794, with an average value of 0.6430. The average value of the effective number of alleles (Ne) was 2.761, and the average value of the Shannon's information index (I) was 1.196. The population structure analysis indicates that the Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua germplasm can be classified into three subpopulations (JZ, QY, JD) at the molecular level, which corresponds to the previous subgroups identified based on individual plant phenotypic traits. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) showed that 74% of the genetic variation was between individuals within populations in different regions. The phylogenetic analysis of the 96 germplasm samples divided them into three main populations. The QY and JD subpopulations are largely clustered together, which could be attributed to their mountainous distribution and the local climate environment. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) value was low at 0.065, indicating relatively low population differentiation. The ratio of the genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) between the JZ population and the other two populations (QY and JD) is much higher than the ratio between the QY and JD populations. Based on the clustering results and the ratio of the genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst), it can be inferred that the genetic relationship between the QY and JD subpopulations is closer, with a certain degree of genetic differentiation from the JZ subpopulation. This study supports the conservation of germplasm resources of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua in China and provides new parental material for germplasm genetic improvement and breeding programs.

[Cardiovascular health status of Chinese adults based on "Life's Essential 8" score]

Objective: To assess the cardiovascular health status of adults in China by using the "Life's Essential 8" score, and provide reference for the development and improvement of cardiovascular disease prevention and control policies and measures. Methods: Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance was conducted in 298 counties/districts in 2015 in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) across China, multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select 45 households in each village or neighborhood, and 20 households were further selected to conduct dietary surveys. In this study, a total of 70 093 adults aged ≥20 years who completed the dietary survey and had complete information were included, their cardiovascular health status were assessed by using the "Life's Essential 8" score, a cardiovascular health scoring standard released by the American Heart Association in 2022. All results were adjusted using complex design-based sampling weights to achieve a better estimate of the population. Results: In 2015, the overall cardiovascular health score of Chinese adults aged ≥20 years was 73.3±12.6, the score was significantly higher in women (77.9±11.6) than in men (68.7±11.8), and higher in urban area (74.5±12.8) than in rural area (71.9±12.2), the differences were significant (P<0.001). It was estimated that about 0.25% (95%CI: 0.16%-0.33%) of adults in China had cardiovascular health score of 100, and 33.0% (95%CI: 31.6%-34.3%), 63.2% (95%CI: 62.1%-64.3%), and 3.9% (95%CI: 3.5%-4.2%) of adults had high, moderate and low cardiovascular health scores, respectively. The proportion of those with high cardiovascular health scores was relatively low in men, those with low education level, those with low income, those living in rural areas, and those living in southwest China (P<0.001). Of the eight factors, diet had the lowest mean score (46.0, 95%CI: 44.7-47.3), followed by blood pressure (59.4, 95%CI: 58.2-60.6) and tobacco exposure (61.4, 95%CI: 60.6-62.2). Conclusions: The cardiovascular health status of two-thirds of adult population in China needs to be improved. Diet, tobacco exposure, and blood pressure are the factors affecting the cardiovascular health of Chinese population, to which close attention needs to be paid, and men, rural residents, and those with lower socioeconomic status are key groups in cardiovascular health promotion.

Global ginseng trade networks: structural characteristics and influencing factors

Background: Ginseng is a rare and highly valued Chinese materia medica with a rich trading history and has a wide range of application, including medicine, food, healthcare, and daily chemical production. However, the global trade of ginseng exhibits diverse features and uneven development across different countries and regions. Surprisingly, the intricate network relationship and the underlying characteristics and influencing factors of ginseng trade networks remain unexplored. Methods: This study analyzed ginseng trade data obtained from the UN-Comtrade database and used social network analysis to construct global ginseng trade networks. To elucidate the structural characteristics, we analyzed the indicators of the overall network structure and node attributes. Core-periphery analysis is used to examine the evolutionary patterns within the global ginseng trade networks. Furthermore, we apply the quadratic assignment procedure to investigate the impact and relevance of spatial proximity, cultural differences, economic indicators, population size, technological similarity, and institutional distance. Results: The findings reveal that the global ginseng trade networks exhibit typical small-world and scale-free properties, as well as a core-periphery structure. Several core countries, including China, South Korea, Germany, and the United States, exert significant control over both trade volume and trade partners. South Korea and China initially occupied central positions in the export market due to their resource endowments, their prominence has gradually diminished with the ascendancy of Germany and the United States. According to the core-periphery analysis, the ginseng trade has shown a gradual concentration within specific trade groups comprising core and semi-periphery countries, most of which are along the "Belt and Road" religion. We also found that geographic distance and GDP per capita exert negative effects on ginseng trade, while factors such as land adjacency, technology and economic gap, population size, and institution similarity play significant positive roles. Conclusion: The global ginseng trade has experienced increasing concentration and close linkage among a limited numbers of participants. It is crucial to pay close attention to the relationship between ginseng industry development and resource conservation. Strategies such as expanding trade channels, implementing trade substitution measures, and optimizing the quality and standards of ginseng products can effectively enhance trade security.

Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics reveal Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide effects and potential mechanism of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine -induced damage in GES-1 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dendrobium huoshanense C. Z. Tang et S. J. Cheng is an important edible medicinal plant that thickens the stomach and intestines, and its active ingredient, polysaccharide, can have anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and antitumor effects. However, the gastroprotective effects and potential mechanisms of Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharides (DHP) remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

An N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induced human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) damage model was used in this research, aiming to investigate whether DHP has a protective effect on MNNG-induced GES-1 cell injury and its underlying mechanism based on the combination of multiple methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DHP was extracted using water extraction and alcohol precipitation methods, and the proteins were removed using the Sevag method. The morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy. A MNNG-induced GES-1 cell damage model was developed. Cell viability and proliferation of the experimental cells were investigated using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell nuclear morphology was detected using the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342. Cell scratch wounds and migration were detected using a Transwell chamber. The expression levels of apoptosis proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3) in the experimental cells were detected by Western blotting. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) was performed to investigate the potential mechanism of action of DHP.

RESULTS

The CCK-8 kit analysis showed that DHP increased GES-1 cell viability and ameliorated GES-1 cell injury by MNNG. In addition, scratch assay and Transwell chambers results suggested that DHP improved the MNNG-induced motility and migration ability of GES-1 cells. Likewise, the results of the apoptotic protein assay indicated that DHP had a protective effect against gastric mucosal epithelial cell injury. To further investigate the potential mechanism of action of DHP, we analyzed the metabolite differences between GES-1 cells, GES-1 cells with MNNG-induced injury, and DHP + MMNG-treated cells using UHPLC-HRMS. The results indicated that DHP upregulated 1-methylnicotinamide, famotidine, N4-acetylsulfamethoxazole, acetyl-L-carnitine, choline and cer (d18:1/19:0) metabolites and significantly down-regulated 6-O-desmethyldonepezil, valet hamate, L-cystine, propoxur, and oleic acid.

CONCLUSIONS

DHP may protect against gastric mucosal cell injury through nicotinamide and energy metabolism-related pathways. This research may provide a useful reference for further in-depth studies on the treatment of gastric cancer, precancerous lesions, and other gastric diseases.

Beam Energy Dependence of Triton Production and Yield Ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}) in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the triton (t) production in midrapidity (|y|<0.5) Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7-200  GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The nuclear compound yield ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity (dN_{ch}/dη) and follows a scaling behavior. The dN_{ch}/dη dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3σ and 3.4σ, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1σ. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller p_{T} acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.

Preparation, characterization, antioxidant and antianemia activities of Poria cocos polysaccharide iron (III) complex

As a new natural antioxidant with high safety and non-toxic side effects, polysaccharide can also be used as a critical macromolecular carrier to form a stable iron complex with Fe³⁺. Our previous study has extracted and purified the homogeneous polysaccharide (PCP1C) from Poria cocos. In this study, the PCP1C-iron (III) complex was synthesized by co-thermal synthesis with PCP1C and ferric trichloride. The chelating capacity, iron releasing capacity, and qualitative identification of complex were evaluated. The complex was characterized by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) analysis, particle size distribution, and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antioxidant and iron supplement effects of the complex were also studied in vitro and in the iron deficiency anemia (IDA) rat model. The results showed that the iron content in the PCP1C-iron (III) complex was 28.14% with no free iron, and the iron release rate was 95.3%. The structure analysis showed that the iron core of the PCP1C-iron (III) complex existed in the form of β-FeOOH and the surface of the complex become smooth and particle size increased, which indicated the high iron content of polysaccharide iron and slow release. Furthermore, we found that the PCP1C iron (III) complex had positive scavenging effect on DPPH, ABTS, MDA, and hydroxyl radical in vitro study and significantly increased the levels of red blood cell (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell specific volume (HCT) in IDA rat model. Therefore, our results suggested that the PCP1C-iron (III) complex is expected to develop into a new comprehensive iron supplement and antioxidant.

TRAF3IP2-IL-17 Axis Strengthens the Gingival Defense against Pathogens

Recent genome-wide association studies have suggested novel risk loci associated with periodontitis, which is initiated by dysbiosis in subgingival plaque and leads to destruction of teeth-supporting structures. One such genetic locus was the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 interacting protein 2 (TRAF3IP2), a gene encoding the gate-keeping interleukin (IL)-17 receptor adaptor. In this study, we first determined that carriers of the lead exonic variant rs13190932 within the TRAF3IP2 locus combined with a high plaque microbial burden was associated with more severe periodontitis than noncarriers. We then demonstrated that TRAF3IP2 is essential in the IL-17-mediated CCL2 and IL-8 chemokine production in primary gingival epithelial cells. Further analysis suggested that rs13190932 may serve a surrogate variant for a genuine loss-of-function variant rs33980500 within the same gene. Traf3ip2 null mice (Traf3ip2^-/-) were more susceptible than wild-type (WT) mice to the Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontal alveolar bone loss. Such bone loss was associated with a delayed P. gingivalis clearance and an attenuated neutrophil recruitment in the gingiva of Traf3ip2^-/- mice. Transcriptomic data showed decreased expression of antimicrobial genes, including Lcn2, S100a8, and Defb1, in the Traf3ip2^-/- mouse gingiva in comparison to WT mice prior to or upon P. gingivalis oral challenge. Further 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing analysis identified a distinct microbial community in the Traf3ip2^-/- mouse oral plaque, which was featured by a reduced microbial diversity and an overabundance of Streptococcus genus bacteria. More P. gingivalis was observed in the Traf3ip2^-/- mouse gingiva than WT control animals in a ligature-promoted P. gingivalis invasion model. In agreement, neutrophil depletion resulted in more local gingival tissue invasion by P. gingivalis. Thus, we identified a homeostatic IL-17-TRAF3IP2-neutrophil axis underpinning host defense against a keystone periodontal pathogen.

Protective effects of Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide on D-gal induced PC12 cells and aging mice, in vitro and in vivo studies

Dendrobium huoshanense C. Z. Tang et S. J. Cheng polysaccharide (DHP) is the essential active ingredient of D.huoshanense and has high medicinal value. A high dose of D-galactose (D-gal) is commonly utilized in the aging model establishment. In this study, we explored whether DHP shields PC12 cells and aging mice from D-gal caused damage and the possible mechanism. In vitro experiments, D-gal induced PC12 cells were used to investigate, and then DHP was used for treatment. In vivo experiments, 72 SPF ICR male mice were randomly divided into six groups (control: normal saline; model: D-gal (400 mg/kg); VE group: VE (50 μg/ml); DHP groups: D-gal + DHP (15.6 mg/ml; 31.2 mg/ml; 62.4 mg/ml)). The results showed that DHP could enhance the viability of D-gal injured PC12 cells and prevent cell apoptosis. DHP effectively promoted the transition from phase G0/G1 to phase S and inhibited cell cycle arrest. DHP has a potential neuroprotective effect on D-gal caused cognitive and memory disorders in mice. On the one hand, DHP protects the antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT from excessive ROS buildup. On the other hand, DHP was demonstrated to block the expression of the P53/P21 signaling pathway-related proteins P53, P21, and P16. These results imply that DHP could be a potential neuroprotective agent against aging. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Cognitive and memory decline caused by aging problems has become a problem in recent years. There are many theories about aging, among which oxidative stress is considered to be one of the important pathophysiological parts of various diseases in the aging process. In this study, DHP could not only improve the damage of D-Gal to PC12 cells, but also improve the cognitive and memory impairment caused by D-Gal in mice. In conclusion, this study verified the anti-aging effect of DHP from in vitro and in vivo experiments, and its mechanism may involve the P53/P21 pathway. Therefore, this study indicated that polysaccharides from Dendrobium huoshanense, a traditional Chinese medicine of homologous medicine and food, had potential and industrial value as potential anti-aging drugs.

Efficient Separation of Proteins and Polysaccharides from Dendrobium huoshanense Using Aqueous Two-Phase System with Ionic Liquids

By applying the hydrophilic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C₄mim]Cl), and inorganic salts (K₃PO₄), an ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) was established for the separation of Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharides (DhPs) and proteins. The effects of inorganic salt concentration, IL quantity, crude DhPs concentration, pH value and temperature were studied to achieve the optimal condition. With the best combination of ILATPS (1.75 g K₃PO₄, 1.25 g [C₄mim]Cl, 10 mg crude DhPs and 5.0 mL ddH₂O at pH 7.0 under 25 °C), the extraction efficiency rates for DhPs and proteins were 93.4% and 90.2%, respectively. The processed DhPs retrieved from the lower salt-rich phase comprised mannose, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and galacturonic acid with a molar ratio of 185:71:1.5:1:1 and the molecular weight was 2.14 × 10⁵ Da. This approach is fast, simple and environmentally friendly. It provides a new insight into purifying functional polysaccharides of plant origin.

[Blood glucose levels and the relationship of body mass index and circumference with blood glucose in China]

Objective: To describe and compare blood glucose levels in adults aged 18 years old and above in China and explore the relationship between BMI and waist circumference with blood glucose. Methods: China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance were conducted in 298 counties/districts in China in 2018, covering 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities). A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method selected permanent residents aged 18 years and above. Information on demographics, behavior-related risk factors, BMI, waist circumference, and blood glucose were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire, physical measurement, and laboratory examination. After complex weighting of data, they described the blood glucose levels of people with different characteristics and explored the relationship of BMI and waist circumference with blood glucose by multiple linear regression model analysis. Results: A total of 177 816 adults were included in the study. The average fasting blood glucose and average glycosylated hemoglobin were (5.73±1.46) mmol/L and (5.37±0.83) %, with people aged 60 years old and above group highest than that of other, with males higher than females (P<0.001); and urban was higher slightly than rural for the average of average glycosylated hemoglobin (P<0.001). The average fasting blood glucose and average glycosylated hemoglobin increased with increased BMI and waist circumference (P<0.001). Results from multiple linear regression model analysis showed that: 1) for each increase in BMI unit and waist circumference, the fasting glucose levels increased by 0.019 mmol/L and 0.008 mmol/L (all P<0.001) in those not diagnosed with diabetes, 2) by 0.021 mmol/L (P=0.163) and 0.014 mmol/L (P=0.004) in those newly detected as diabetes, and 3) by 0.028 mmol/L (P=0.088) and 0.023 mmol/L (P<0.001) in those self-reported as having been diagnosed as diabetes, respectively. However, glycosylated hemoglobin levels increased: 1) by 0.015% and 0.006% in those not diagnosed as diabetes (all P<0.001), 2) by 0.050% and 0.019% in those newly detected as diabetes (all P<0.001), and 3) by 0.033% and 0.019% in those self-reported as having been diagnosed as diabetes (all P<0.001), respectively. These associations with waist circumference were more robust than with BMI. Conclusions: Adults not diagnosed with diabetes with abnormal BMI or waist circumference are the key population for prevention and control. Measures improving the awareness rate of waist circumference should be taken to maintain average blood glucose in various groups.

[Blood glucose measurement in Chinese adults, 2018]

Objective: To analyze the status of measuring the blood glucose among Chinese residents aged 18 years and above and to provide a scientific basis for evaluating the Healthy China Initiative. Methods: China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance were conducted in 298 counties/districts in China in 2018, covering 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities). A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method selected permanent residents aged 18 years and above. Questionnaires collected demographic characteristics, blood glucose measurements, and significant chronic disease prevalence. Body measurements were conducted to collect body height, weight, and waist circumference; Fasting venous blood was collected from participants to measure FPG before OGTT-2 h was obtained among participants without a self-reported history of diagnosed diabetes. The analysis included 177 904 residents aged 18 and above. After being weighed, the blood glucose measurement rates of adults in different groups were compared. Results: Among adults who had not been diagnosed with diabetes, The blood glucose measurement rates of regular, prediabetes, and newly detected elevated blood glucose within 12 months were 32.0% (95%CI: 30.5%-33.5%), 39.5% (95%CI: 37.4%-41.6%) and 43.8% (95%CI: 41.0%-46.4%), respectively. The measurement rates were higher in females than males; urban was higher than rural. The blood glucose rates increased with age, education, and BMI. These differences were significant (P<0.05). Among the adults with diabetes, the blood glucose measurement rate within six months was 89.6% (95%CI: 88.4%-90.8%); the measurement rate was higher in females than in males and higher in the west than in east and central regions of China, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Among adults in the study who did not have 1 or 2 or ≥3 major chronic diseases, the blood glucose measurement rates within six months were 19.6% (95%CI: 18.4%-20.7%), 41.8% (95%CI: 40.1%-43.5%), 58.9% (95%CI:57.0%-60.7%),71.9% (95%CI: 69.0%-74.9%), respectively. The blood glucose measurement rate was on the rise and increased with the number of comorbidities (P<0.001). The blood glucose measurement rate of adults who did not have 1 or 2 major chronic diseases was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The blood glucose rates increased with age, education, and BMI and the differences were significant (P<0.05). The blood glucose measurement rate of adults with ≥3 major chronic diseases was higher in females than in males (P<0.001), and there was no difference among other groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: It is necessary to promote blood glucose measurement in residents aged 18 years and above in China. Relevant departments should strengthen the publicity and education to promote regular blood glucose measurement for high-risk populations to improve the efficiency of preventing and treating diabetes and its complications.

[Awareness and influencing factors on weight and waist circumference among adult Chinese residents in 2018]

Objective: To understand the awareness of weight and waist circumference and their influencing factors among residents aged ≥18 years in China and provide a reference for the development of relevant prevention and treatment policies and evaluation of intervention effects. Methods: We selected 298 counties (districts) from the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) which participated in the 2018 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance program and included 194 779 permanent residents aged ≥18 years. To obtain the demographic characteristics of the study population, we used a multi-stage stratified whole-group random sampling method, questionnaires, and physical measurements. In this study, 179 045 people who completed the survey and had complete information on weight and waist circumference awareness were used as the study subjects. The weight awareness rate and waist circumference awareness rate were calculated by gender stratification, age, urban-rural, and education level groups. A multi-factor logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors related to weight and waist circumference awareness of residents aged ≥18 years. Results: The weight awareness rate of adult residents in China in 2018 was 45.4% (95%CI: 41.9%-48.9%), higher among men [46.2% (95%CI: 42.5%-49.8%)] than women [44.6% (95%CI: 41.1%-48.2%)], and in urban areas [54.3% (95%CI: 49.3%-59.3%)]. The highest weight awareness rate appeared in residents with low BMI grouping [49.9% (95%CI: 44.3%-55.6%)], and the weight awareness rate in residents with undiagnosed central obesity, hypertension, and diabetes was higher than that of residents with diagnosed diabetes, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The waist circumference awareness rate of adult residents was 11.6% (95%CI: 9.7%-13.4%), higher in women [12.8% (95%CI: 10.8%-14.8%)] than in men [10.3% (95%CI: 8.6%-12.0%)], higher in urban [14.6% (95%CI: 11.7%-17.4%)] than in rural [8.3% (95%CI: 6.5%-10.2%)], and the waist circumference awareness rate was higher among residents with confirmed diabetes than those with undiagnosed diabetes, with statistically significant differences (P=0.020). The difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The weight and waist circumference awareness rate increased with education level and annual per capita household income. Multi-factor logistic regression analysis suggested that urban, highly educated, high per capita annual household income and health check-up residents may have higher weight and waist circumference awareness rates among adult residents in China. Conclusion: Less than half of the adult residents in China know their weight status, and only about one-tenth know their waist circumference. Rural residents, those with low education levels and low annual per capita household income, and those who are obese need to be given prioritized attention. The relevant government departments should strengthen the popularization of the importance of weight and waist circumference on health and improve the awareness of our residents about their waist circumference and weight.

[Analysis of blood pressure measurement among Chinese adults in 2018]

Objective: To analyze the blood pressure measurement of Chinese adult residents in 2018 and provide a scientific basis for early detection and intervention of hypertension. Methods: In 2018, China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance were conducted in 298 counties (districts) of 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) across the country, using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method to survey permanent residents aged 18 years and above. We selected 184 509 people and carried out a face-to-face questionnaire survey and body measurement method to collect demographic data, major chronic diseases, and blood pressure measurement information of the survey subjects. Blood glucose and blood lipid-related indicators were obtained by laboratory testing. There were 170 551 adult residents included in the study after excluding abnormal and missing data for key variables. After complex weighting, blood pressure detection rates and detection times in people with different blood pressure levels and other diseases were analyzed. SAS 9.4 software was used to perform the χ²-test and trend test. Results: Among adult residents in China, the proportions of those with normal blood pressure, commonly recognized 'high' blood pressure, and newly detected hypertension who had their blood pressure tested within three months were 44.4%, 50.4%, and 52.6%, respectively. The proportions all appeared higher in women than in men (all P<0.05), in urban than in rural areas (all P<0.05), and showed an increasing trend with age (all P<0.001); The proportion of these three populations who had never had their blood pressure measured was 27.6%, 24.2%, and 23.5% respectively. The proportion of people with diagnosed hypertension who had their blood pressure tested within seven days was 44.0%, 51.4% in urban areas, higher than 37.7% in rural areas (P<0.001), and the proportion of people who had their blood pressure tested increased with education, per capita annual income and BMI (all P<0.001). Conclusions: The behavior of regular self-monitoring of blood pressure among adult residents in China still needs to be improved, especially among men and rural areas. Relevant health promotion and education should be strengthened. More targeted policies and measures should be developed to improve blood pressure measurement behavior in people with normal high blood pressure and other high-risk groups to control elevated blood pressure effectively.

MRI-based radiomics analysis in differentiating solid non-small-cell from small-cell lung carcinoma: a pilot study

AIM

To investigate the ability of a T2-weighted (W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics signature to differentiate solid non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) from small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present retrospective study enrolled 152 eligible patients (NSCLC = 125, SCLC = 27). All patients underwent MRI using a 3 T scanner and radiomics features were extracted from T2W MRI. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model was used to identify the optimal radiomics features for the construction of a radiomics model to differentiate solid NSCLC from SCLC. Threefold cross validation repeated 10 times was used for model training and evaluation. The conventional MRI morphology features of the lesions were also evaluated. The performance of the conventional MRI morphological features, and the radiomics signature model and nomogram model (combining radiomics signature with conventional MRI morphological features) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Five optimal features were chosen to build a radiomics signature. There was no significant difference in age, gender, and the largest diameter. The radiomics signature and conventional MRI morphological features (only pleural indentation and lymph node enlargement) were independent predictive factors for differentiating solid NSCLC from SCLC. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) for MRI morphological features, and the radiomics model, and nomogram model was 0.69, 0.85, and 0.90 (ROC), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The T2W MRI-based radiomics signature is a potential non-invasive approach for distinguishing solid NSCLC from SCLC.

Current Advancements in Antitumor Properties and Mechanisms of Medicinal Components in Edible Mushrooms

Edible and medicinal fungi, a group of eukaryotic organisms with numerous varieties, including Coriolus versicolor, Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Grifola frondosa, have been demonstrated to possess a board range of pharmaceutical properties, including anti-virus, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection. Moreover, edible and medicinal fungi have been traditionally consumed as food to provide multiple nutrients and as drugs owing to having the activities of invigorating blood circulation, reinforcing the healthy qi, clearing away heat, and eliminating stasis for thousands of years in China. Malignant tumors, well-known as the second leading cause of death globally, accounted for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Thus, in-depth exploration of strategies to prevent and treat cancer is extremely urgent. A variety of studies have reported that the main bioactive components of edible and medicinal fungi, mainly polysaccharides and triterpenoids, exhibit diverse anticancer activities via multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of cell proliferation and metastasis, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, reversing multidrug resistance, and regulation of immune responses, thus suggesting their substantial potential in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Our review summarizes the research progress on the anticancer properties of edible and medicinal fungi and the underlying molecular mechanism, which may offer a better understanding of this field. Additionally, few studies have reported the safety and efficacy of extracts from edible and medicinal fungi, which may limit their clinical application. In summary, there is a need to continue to explore the use of those extracts and to further validate their safety and efficacy.

Comparison of Sweated and Non-Sweated Ethanol Extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen) Effects on Human and rat Hepatic UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase and Preclinic Herb-Drug Interaction Potential Evaluation

BACKGROUND

The ethanol of Danshen (DEE) preparation has been widely used to treat cardiac-cerebral disease and cancer. Sweating is one of the primary processing methods of Danshen, which greatly influenced its quality and pharmacological properties. Sweated and non-sweated DEE preparation combining with various synthetic drugs, adding up the possibility of herbal-drug interactions.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the effects of sweated and non-sweated DEE on human and rat hepatic UGT enzymes expression and activity and proposed a potential mechanism.

METHODS

The expression of two processed DEE on rat UGT1A, UGT2B and nuclear receptors including pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were investigated after intragastric administration in rats by Western blot. Enzyme activity of DEE and its active ingredients (Tanshinone I, Cryptotanshinone, and Tanshinone I) on UGT isoenzymes was evaluated by quantifying probe substrate metabolism and metabolite formation in vitro using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography.

RESULTS

The two processed DEE (5.40 g/kg) improved UGT1A (P<0.01) and UGT2B (P<0.05) protein expression, and the non-sweated DEE (2.70 g/kg) upregulated UGT2B expression protein (P<0.05), compared with the CMCNa group. On day 28, UGT1A protein expression was increased (P<0.05) both in two processed DEE groups, meanwhile the non-sweated DEE significantly enhanced UGT2B protein expression (P<0.05) on day 21, compared with the CMCNa group. The process underlying this mechanism involved with the activation of nuclear receptors CAR, PXR, and PPARα; In vitro, sweated DEE (0-80 μg/mL) significantly inhibited the activity of human UGT1A7 (P<0.05) and rat UGT1A1, 1A8, and 1A9 (P<0.05). Non-sweated DEE (0-80 μg/mL) dramatically suppressed the activity of human UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A6, 1A7, 2B4, and 2B15, and rat UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A7, and 1A9 (P<0.05); Tanshinone I (0-1 μM) inhibited the activity of human UGT1A3, 1A6, and 1A7 (P<0.01) and rat UGT1A3, 1A6, 1A7, and 1A8 (P<0.05). Cryptotanshinone (0-1 μM) remarkably inhibited the activity of human UGT1A3 and 1A7 (P<0.05) and rat UGT1A7, 1A8, and 1A9 (P<0.05). Nonetheless, Tanshinone IIA (0-2 μM) is not a potent UGT inhibitor both in humans and rats; Additionally, there existed significant differences between two processed DEE in expression of PXR, and the activity of human UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A6, and 2B15 and rat UGT1A3 and 2B15 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The effects of two processed DEE on hepatic UGT enzyme expression and activity were different. Accordingly, the combined usage of related UGTs substrates with DEE and its monomer components preparations may call for caution, depending on the drug's exposure-response relationship and dose adjustment. Besides, it is vital to pay attention to the distinction between sweated and non-sweated Danshen in clinic, which exerted an important influence on its pharmacological activity.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen) in the Treating Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on the Regulator of Metabolic Targets

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly prevalent due to its strong association with increased metabolic syndrome such as cardio- and cerebrovascular disorders and diabetes. Few drugs can meet the growing disease burden of NAFLD. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen) have been used for over 2,000 years in clinical trials to treat NAFLD and metabolic syndrome disease without clarified defined mechanisms. Metabolic targets restored metabolic homeostasis in patients with NAFLD and improved steatosis by reducing the delivery of metabolic substrates to liver as a promising way. Here we systematic review evidence showing that Danshen against NAFLD through diverse and crossing mechanisms based on metabolic targets. A synopsis of the phytochemistry and pharmacokinetic of Danshen and the mechanisms of metabolic targets regulating the progression of NAFLD is initially provided, followed by the pharmacological activity of Danshen in the management NAFLD. And then, the possible mechanisms of Danshen in the management of NAFLD based on metabolic targets are elucidated. Specifically, the metabolic targets c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), nuclear translocation carbohydrate response element–binding protein (ChREBP) related with lipid metabolism pathway, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), cytochrome P450 (CYP) and the others associated with pleiotropic metabolism will be discussed. Finally, providing a critical assessment of the preclinic and clinic model and the molecular mechanism in NAFLD.

Qualitative Proteome-Wide Analysis Reveals the Diverse Functions of Lysine Crotonylation in Dendrobium huoshanense

The lysine crotonylation of histone proteins is a newly identified posttranslational modification with diversified cellular functions. However, there are few reports on lysine crotonylation of non-histone proteins in medicinal plant cells. By using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) coupled with highly sensitive-specific immune-affinity antibody analysis, a whole crotonylation proteome analysis of Dendrobium huoshanense was performed. In total, 1,591 proteins with 4,726 lysine crotonylation sites were identified; among them, 11 conserved motifs were identified. Bioinformatic analyses linked crotonylated proteins to the drought stress response and multiple metabolic pathways, including secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport and catabolism, energy production and conversion, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, translation, and ribosomal structure and biogenesis. This study contributes toward understanding the regulatory mechanism of polysaccharide biosynthesis at the crotonylation level even under abiotic stress.

Lesion Volume in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis is Associated with Perivascular Space Enlargement at the Level of the Basal Ganglia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Perivascular spaces surround the blood vessels of the brain and are involved in neuroimmune functions and clearance of metabolites via the glymphatic system of the brain. Enlarged perivascular spaces could be a marker of dysfunction in these processes and, therefore, are highly relevant to monitoring disease activity in MS. This study aimed to compare the number of enlarged perivascular spaces in people with relapsing MS with MR imaging markers of inflammation and brain atrophy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-nine patients (18 with clinically isolated syndrome, 22 with early and 19 with late relapsing-remitting MS) were scanned longitudinally (mean follow-up duration = 19.6 [SD, 0.5] months) using T2-weighted, T1-weighted, and FLAIR MR imaging. Two expert raters identified and counted enlarged perivascular spaces on T2-weighted MR images from 3 ROIs (the centrum semiovale, basal ganglia, and midbrain). Baseline and change with time in the number of enlarged perivascular spaces were correlated with demographics and lesion and brain volumes.

RESULTS

Late relapsing-remitting MS had a greater average number of enlarged perivascular spaces at baseline at the level of the basal ganglia (72.3) compared with early relapsing-remitting MS (60.5) and clinically isolated syndrome (54.7) (F = 3.4, P = .042), and this finding correlated with lesion volume (R = 0.44, P = .0004) but not brain atrophy (R = -0.16). Enlarged perivascular spaces increased in number with time in all regions, and the rate of increase did not differ among clinical groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Enlarged perivascular spaces at the level of the basal ganglia are associated with greater neuroinflammatory burden, and the rate of enlargement appears constant in patients with relapsing-remitting disease phenotypes.

Aetiology of tinea capitis in China: A multicentre prospective study

BACKGROUND

Tinea capitis is still common in developing countries, such as China. Its pathogen spectrum varies across regions and changes over time.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to clarify the current epidemiological characteristics and pathogen spectrum of tinea capitis in China.

METHODS

A multicentre, prospective descriptive study involving 29 tertiary hospitals in China was conducted. From August 2019 to July 2020, 611 patients with tinea capitis were enrolled. Data concerning demography, risk factors and fungal tests were collected. The pathogens were further identified by morphology or molecular sequencing when necessary in the central laboratory.

RESULTS

Among all enrolled patients, 74.1% of the cases were 2- to 8-year-olds. The children with tinea capitis were mainly boys (56.2%) and more likely to have an animal contact history (57.4% vs. 35.3%, P = 0.012) and zoophilic dermatophyte infection (73.5%). The adults were mainly females (83.3%) and more likely to have anthropophilic agent infection (53.5%). The most common pathogen was zoophilic Microsporum canis (354, 65.2%), followed by anthropophilic Trichophyton violaceum (74, 13.6%). In contrast to the eastern, western and northeastern regions where zoophilic M. canis predominated, anthropophilic T. violaceum predominated in central China (69.2%, P < 0.0001), where the patients had the most tinea at other sites (20.3%) and dermatophytosis contact (25.9%) with the least animal contact (38.8%). Microsporum ferrugineum was the most common anthropophilic agent in the western area, especially in Xinjiang Province.

CONCLUSIONS

Boys aged approximately 5 years were mainly affected. Dermatologists are advised to pay more attention to the different transmission routes and pathogen spectra in different age groups from different regions.

Determination of monosaccharides in Lycium barbarum fruit polysaccharide by an efficient UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS method

INTRODUCTION

Pre-column derivatisation using 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) is a common method for monosaccharide determination. Herein, a specific ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole trap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) method was developed and used for the determination of monosaccharide composition of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP).

OBJECTIVE

Exploration of a new efficient method for monosaccharide determination.

METHODS

In our study, hydrochloric acid was used to hydrolyse the polysaccharide obtained from L. barbarum fruits. Principal component analysis (PCA) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) analysis were used for comprehensive evaluation of the samples. The results showed that LBP was composed of seven monosaccharides: galactose, arabinose, mannose, rhamnose, xylose, ribose, and glucose. The linear relationship of the seven monosaccharides was optimum within a certain concentration range. Quantitative recoveries of the seven monosaccharides from the samples ranged from 94.76% to 102.11%.

RESULTS

A rapid quantitative detection method was established, in which the hydrolysis time was reduced from 12 h to 2 h. By using LBP as one of the indexes to evaluate the quality of L. barbarum, L. barbarum from Zhongning County, Ningxia Province, was identified as having the best quality among the varieties tested.

CONCLUSION

The UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS pre-column derivatisation method used in this study was simple, accurate, and sensitive, with good repeatability, and can be used for quality evaluation and origin distinction of L. barbarum and other medicinal plants.

Application of a BMP2-binding heparan sulphate to promote periodontal regeneration

Periodontitis is the most common inflammatory disease that leads to periodontal defects and tooth loss. Regeneration of alveolar bone and soft tissue in periodontal defects is highly desirable but remains challenging. A heparan sulphate variant (HS3) with enhanced affinity for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) that, when combined with collagen or ceramic biomaterials, enhances bone tissue regeneration in the axial and cranial skeleton in several animal models was reported previously. In the current study, establishing the efficacy of a collagen/HS3 device for the regeneration of alveolar bone and the adjacent periodontal apparatus and related structures was sought. Collagen sponges loaded with phosphate-buffered saline, HS3, BMP2, or HS3 + BMP2 were implanted into surgically-created intra-bony periodontal defects in rat maxillae. At the 6 week end- point the maxillae were decalcified, and the extent of tissue regeneration determined by histomorphometrical analysis. The combination of collagen/HS3, collagen/BMP2 or collagen/HS3 + BMP2 resulted in a three to four-fold increase in bone regeneration and up to a 1.5 × improvement in functional ligament restoration compared to collagen alone. Moreover, the combination of collagen/HS3 + BMP2 improved the alveolar bone height and reduced the amount of epithelial growth in the apical direction. The implantation of a collagen/ HS3 combination device enhanced the regeneration of alveolar bone and associated periodontal tissues at amounts comparable to collagen in combination with the osteogenic factor BMP2. This study highlights the efficacy of a collagen/HS3 combination device for periodontal regeneration that warrants further development as a point-of-care treatment for periodontitis-related bone and soft tissue loss.

Putative genes in alkaloid biosynthesis identified in Dendrobium officinale by correlating the contents of major bioactive metabolites with genes expression between Protocorm-like bodies and leaves

BACKGROUND

Dendrobium officinale, an endangered Chinese herb, possesses extensive therapeutic effects and contains bioactive ingredients such as major polysaccharides, alkaloids, and minimal flavonoids. We first obtained the protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of this plant through tissue culture in order to determine the distribution of the main secondary metabolites in each organelle and the PLBs. We then analyzed the correlation between gene expression level from comparative transcriptome sequencing and metabolite content in different organs to identify putative genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, alkaloids, and flavonoids.

RESULTS

We used seeds as explants for protocorm induction and PLB propagation of D. officinale. The optimal medium formula for PLB propagation was 1/2 MS + α-NAA 0.5 mg·L- 1 + 6-BA 1.0 mg·L- 1 + 2, 4-D 1.5-2.0 mg·L- 1 + potato juice 100 g·L- 1. Stems, PLBs and leaves of D. officinale had the highest content of polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids, respectively. Naringenin was only produced in stem; however, PLBs with high alkaloid content can replace other organs producing alkaloids. The hot water extraction method outperformed the ultrasound-assisted extraction method for extracting polysaccharides from D. officinale. A comparative transcriptome analysis of PLBs and leaves of D. officinale revealed differential expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in polysaccharide, alkaloid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Putative genes encoding enzymes involved in these biosynthetic pathways were identified. Notably, we identified genes encoding the alkaloid biosynthesis enzymes strictosidine β-D-Glucosidase, geissoschizine synthase and vinorine synthase in D. officinale.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of candidate genes encoding enzymes involved in metabolite biosynthesis will help to explore and protect this endangered species and facilitate further analysis of the molecular mechanism of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in D. officinale.

Determination and analysis of monosaccharides in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides from different areas by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole trap tandem mass spectrometry

We wanted to explore a new method for the determination of monosaccharides in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole trap tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, hydrochloric acid was used instead of trifluoroacetic acid to hydrolyze polysaccharides, and hydrolysis time was greatly reduced from 5-9 h to 1 h. The 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone was used for pre-column derivatization of monosaccharides. The parameters of linearity (R²  > 0.999), stability (1.63-2.52%), intra-day and inter-day precision (0.69-0.95%, 1.81-2.77%), repeatability (1.89-2.65%), and recovery (97.63-102.24%) of the method were verified. Satisfactory validation results showed this method could be used to determine the target components. The results indicated the polysaccharide contained glucose, mannose, rhamnose, galactose, ribose, and arabinose. Technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution and principal component analysis were used to build an evaluation model based on the monosaccharide composition. The evaluation results showed that the samples from the Qingyang County of Anhui Province were the best when the monosaccharides were used as the evaluation index. Therefore, a new method was established to detect the monosaccharide content of polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua and comprehensively evaluate the quality of Chinese medicines with polysaccharides as the main active ingredient.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis on White and Blue Flowers of Platycodon grandiflorus to Elucidate Genes Involved in the Biosynthesis of Anthocyanins

BACKGROUND

Platycodon grandiflorus has long been used in Northeast Asia as a food and folk medicine to treat various diseases. The intense blue color of P. grandiflorus corolla is its characteristic feature.

OBJECTIVES

By comparing deep transcriptomic data of P. grandiflorus and its white cultivar, we intended to elucidate the molecular mechanisms concerning the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in this plant.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We sampled blue mature flowers (PgB) and yellow young buds (PgY) of P. grandiflorus. Meanwhile, mature flowers (PgW) of P. grandiflorus white cultivar were also collected for RNA extraction and next-generation sequencing. After high-throughput sequencing, Trinity software was applied for de novo assembly and the resultant 49934 unigenes were subjected for expression analysis and annotation against NR, KEGG, UniProt, and Pfam databases.

RESULTS

In all, 32.77 Gb raw data were generated and the gene expression profile for the flowers of P. grandiflorus was constructed. Pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that genes involved in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were differently expressed.

CONCLUSIONS

The extremely low expression of flavonoid-3',5'-hydroxylase in PgY and PgW was regarded as the reason for the formation of its white cultivar. Our findings provided useful information for further studies into the biosynthetic mechanism of anthocyanins.

Characterization of the chloroplast genome of Verbena officinalis Linn. (Verbenaceae) and its phylogenetic analysis

Verbena officinalis has a long history as a source plant in traditional Chinese medicine. This study adopted next-generation sequencing technology in order to determine complete chloroplast genome of V. officinalis. The results of this investigation showed the chloroplast genome of V. officinalis was 153,286 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (each 25,825 bp), separated by a large single-copy region (LSC) of 84,316 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,320 bp, and the overall GC contents of the chloroplast genome was 39.04%. Additionally, we annotated 83 genes, including 48 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. By creating the phylogenetic tree, relationship between V. officinalis and relevant species was discussed, and the result proved that V. officinalis was closely related to Avicennia marina. The findings of the study will serve as a stepping stone for follow-up researches regarding its chloroplast genome.

Effect of radiomics from different virtual monochromatic images in dual-energy spectral CT on the WHO/ISUP classification of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

AIM

To investigate the effect of radiomics obtained from different virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) in dual-energy spectral computed tomography (CT) on the World Health Organization/International Association for Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) classification of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 99 ccRCC patients who underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT was undertaken. ccRCC was confirmed at surgery or biopsy and graded according to the WHO/ISUP pathological grading criteria as low grade (n=68, grade I and II) or high grade (n=31, grade III and IV). Radiomics risk scores (RRSs) for differentiating high and low grades of ccRCC were constructed from 11 sets of VMI in (40-140 keV, 10 keV interval) the cortical phase. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn and the area under the curves (AUCs) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory power of RRS for each VMI. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of each model and the decision curve was used to analyse its net benefit to patients.

RESULTS

The AUC values for distinguishing low-from high-grade ccRCC with RRS of 40-140 keV VMIs were all >0.920. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the p-values of RRS of VMIs were >0.05, suggesting good fits. In the decision curve analysis, RRS from the 40-140 keV VMIs had similar decision curves and provided better net benefits than considering all patients either as high-grade or low-grade.

CONCLUSIONS

The RRS obtained from multiple VMIs in dual-energy spectral CT have high diagnostic efficiencies for distinguishing between low- and high-grade ccRCC with no significant differences between different VMIs.

A candidate gene identified in converting platycoside E to platycodin D from Platycodon grandiflorus by transcriptome and main metabolites analysis

Platycodin D and platycoside E are two triterpenoid saponins in Platycodon grandiflorus, differing only by two glycosyl groups structurally. Studies have shown β-Glucosidase from bacteria can convert platycoside E to platycodin D, indicating the potential existence of similar enzymes in P. grandiflorus. An L₉(3⁴) orthogonal experiment was performed to establish a protocol for calli induction as follows: the optimal explant is stems with nodes and the optimum medium formula is MS + NAA 1.0 mg/L + 6-BA 0.5 mg/L to obtain callus for experimental use. The platycodin D, platycoside E and total polysaccharides content between callus and plant organs varied wildly. Platycodin D and total polysaccharide content of calli was found higher than that of leaves. While, platycoside E and total polysaccharide content of calli was found lower than that of leaves. Associating platycodin D and platycoside E content with the expression level of genes involved in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis between calli and leaves, three contigs were screened as putative sequences of β-Glucosidase gene converting platycoside E to platycodin D. Besides, we inferred that some transcription factors can regulate the expression of key enzymes involved in triterpernoid saponins and polysaccharides biosynthesis pathway of P. grandiflorus. Totally, a candidate gene encoding enzyme involved in converting platycoside E to platycodin D, and putative genes involved in polysaccharide synthesis in P. grandiflorus had been identified. This study will help uncover the molecular mechanism of triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis in P. grandiflorus.

Doppler-based predictive model for methotrexate resistance in low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with myometrial invasion: prospective study of 147 patients

OBJECTIVES

This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the vascularization characteristics of low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) using Doppler imaging and to develop a predictive model for resistance to methotrexate (MTX).

METHODS

Patients with low-risk GTN receiving primary MTX treatment were enrolled from the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China, from September 2012 to August 2018. The primary endpoint was to develop and internally validate a predictive model for resistance to MTX therapy in these patients. In the training set, clinical features and Doppler hemodynamic parameters before MTX therapy were analyzed using logistic regression to identify independent predictors of MTX resistance, which were integrated into the model. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by leave-one-out cross-validation in the training dataset and internal validation in an independent-sample test dataset.

RESULTS

The entire imaging protocol was completed by 147 eligible patients, of which 110 comprised the training set and 37 the test set. In the training set, cases with myometrial invasion (81.8%; 90/110) showed vascular-enriched areas in the myometrium and high velocity and low impedance ratios of the uterine artery (UtA) compared to cases without myometrial invasion (18.2%; 20/110). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, time-averaged mean velocity in UtA (UtA-TAmean) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) score were identified as independent predictors (P = 0.009 and P = 0.043, respectively) of MTX resistance. The Doppler-based predictive model, developed based on the 90 cases with myometrial invasion, was y = -2.95332 + 0.41696 × FIGO score + 0.03551 × UtA-TAmean. The model showed an area under the curve of 0.757 (95% CI, 0.653-0.862) and the optimal cut-off value was 0.50622, which had 45.2% sensitivity and 96.6% specificity. The model stratified patients with low-risk GTN into low (< 10%), intermediate (10-90%) and high (> 90%) probability of MTX resistance, based on the threshold values of -1.59544 and 0.10046. The model had an accuracy of 74.4% (95% CI, 64.5-82.3%) in the cross-validation and 72.7% (95% CI, 55.8-84.9%) in the internal validation.

CONCLUSIONS

The Doppler-based predictive model, combining a non-invasive marker of tumor vascularity with the FIGO scoring system, can differentiate cases with low from those with high probability of developing MTX resistance and therefore has the potential to guide treatment options in patients with low-risk GTN and myometrial invasion. © 2020 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Characterization of GMPP from Dendrobium huoshanense yielding GDP-D-mannose

Dendrobium huoshanense has been used for centuries in China and its polysaccharides are the main active components in treating loss of body fluids resulting from fever and asthenic symptoms. However, the biosynthetic pathway of polysaccharides in D. huoshanense remains to be elucidated. In this study, we obtained a guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-mannose pyrophosphorylase (DhGMPP) from D. huoshanense and characterized its function to catalyze the conversion of α-D-mannose-phosphate to GDP-D-mannose involved in the production of polysaccharides. DhGMPP, with the open reading frame of 1,245 bp, was isolated from RNA-Seq data of D. huoshanense. Phylogenetic analysis as well as sequence characterization suggested its involvement in the biosynthesis of GDP-D-mannose. In vitro enzyme assay demonstrated that GMPP encoded a pyrophosphorylase that converted α-D-mannose-phosphate and GTP into GDP-D-mannose. Identification of DhGMPP could provide more insights into the mechanism concerning polysaccharide biosynthesis in D. huoshanense and be utilized for enhancing polysaccharide accumulation through metabolic engineering.

Characterization of ecdysteroid biosynthesis in the pond wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata

Ecdysteroids, as the key growth hormones, regulate moulting, metamorphosis and reproduction in arthropods. Ecdysteroid biosynthesis is catalysed by a series of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) encoded by Halloween genes, including spook (spo), phantom (phm), disembodied (dib), shadow (sad) and shade (shd). The ecdysteroid biosynthesis in insects is clear with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) as the main ecdysteroid. However, the information on the major ecdysteroids in arachnids is limited. In this study, Halloween genes spo, dib, sad and shd, but not phm, were identified in the pond wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata. Phylogenetic analysis grouped arachnid and insect Halloween gene products into two CYP450 clades, the CYP2 clan (spo and phm) and the mitochondrial clan (dib, sad, and shd). In P. pseudoannulata, the temporal expression profile of the four Halloween genes in concurrence with spiderling moulting with steady increase in the course of the 2nd instar followed by a rapid dropdown once moulting was completed. Spatially, the four Halloween genes were highly expressed in spiderling abdomen and in the ovaries of female adults. In parallel, ponasterone A (PA), but not 20E, was detected by LC-MS/MS analysis in P. pseudoannulata, and it was demonstrated as a functional ecdysteroid in the spider by accelerating of moulting with PA addition. The present study revealed the different ecdysteroid biosynthesis pathways in spiders and insects.

Role of miR-133a in regulating TGF-β1 signaling pathway in myocardial fibrosis after acute myocardial infarction in rats

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to explore the effect of microRNA-133a (miR-133a) on myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function after myocardial infarction in rats, and to investigate the possible regulatory mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Myocardial infarction model was successfully established in rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. After miR-133a overexpression in rats myocardium, cardiac function was examined by echocardiography. Meanwhile, the degree of myocardial fibrosis was detected by Masson staining. In addition, the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in cardiomyocytes was detected by immunohistochemistry. Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze the expression level of miR-133a in the junction of myocardial infarction. The mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), collagen type 1 (col 1), collagen type 3 (col 3) and α-SMA were measured by qRT-PCR as well. Furthermore, the protein levels of the above genes were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

MiR-133a expression in the infarct border zone of myocardial tissue was significantly decreased on the 28th day after myocardial infarction surgery (p<0.05). In addition, up-regulation of miRNA-133a in myocardial tissue of rats with myocardial infarction could remarkably improve cardiac function and reduce collagen volume fraction. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β1, CTGF, col1, col3, α-SMA in myocardial tissue were obviously decreased after miRNA-133a up-regulation (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Overexpression of miR-133a down-regulates the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF after myocardial infarction. Moreover, this may eventually reduce myocardial collagen deposition, inhibit myocardial fibrosis and improve cardiac function.

Replacing true unenhanced imaging in renal carcinoma with virtual unenhanced images in dual-energy spectral CT: a feasibility study

AIM

To investigate the clinical value of virtual unenhanced (VNC) spectral computed tomography (CT) images to replace the conventional true unenhanced spectral CT images (TNC) in diagnosing renal carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-six cases of renal carcinoma confirmed by histopathology underwent conventional plain CT and contrast-enhanced spectral CT at arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP). VNC images were generated on an AW4.6 workstation. The CT attenuation, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-noise-ratio (SNR) of the renal lesions and normal kidneys, long and short axis diameters of the lesion were measured from the three image sets and analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Two radiologists evaluated image quality subjectively using a five-point score, and lesion signature using a three-point score. Image quality scores were compared statistically and tested for consistency.

RESULTS

The two reviewers had good agreement for subjective evaluation (Kappa>0.70) and there was no difference in the quality of the scores among the three image groups. The lesion signature scores were all above the acceptable level. The CNR and SNR values in VNC were significantly higher than in TNC (p<0.05). VNC images had lower renal noise than in TNC (p<0.05). There was no difference in the long and short axis diameters of the lesion among the three image groups. VNC had higher CT attenuation values for the lesion and kidney than TNC (p<0.05), but the differences were <5 HU.

CONCLUSION

VNC images in spectral CT may be used to replace the conventional plain CT to reduce imaging duration and radiation dose in diagnosing renal carcinoma.

[The value of color doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of impending ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm]

Objective: To study the value of color doppler ultrasonography (CDU) in diagnosis of impending ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (IRAAA). Methods: A total of 35 cases with IRAAA which were identified by CDU in our department from June 2014 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were detected by computed tomographic angiography (CTA). The types, length of the neck of aneurysm, largest diameter, thrombosis, involvement of common iliac artery and impending ruptured conditions were compared. The postoperative patients were followed-up by CDU and CTA (mean time was 2.6 months). Results: Among 35 patients, CDU diagnosed that 5 cases were pararenal types and 30 cases were infrarenal types. CTA showed that 4 cases were pararenal types and 31 cases were infrarenal types. The misdiagnosis rate of CDU was 2.9% (1/35). CDU showed that bilateral common iliac arteries were involved in 21 cases, right common iliac arteries were involved in 3 cases, and left common iliac arteries were involved in 2 cases. CTA detected the same results. There was no statistical difference between CDU and CTA for detection of the largest anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter and the thickness of thrombosis (P values were 0.354, 0.310 and 0.865). There was statistical difference in the detection of the length of the aneurysm's neck (P=0.006). CDU showed 3 cases of focal wall discontinuity, 4 cases of hyperattenuating crescent sign, 3 cases of thrombus fissuration and 2 cases of saclike protuberance, which were consistent with the detection of CTA. CDU showed that locally thin wall of aneurysm was detected in the rest of 23 cases. CTA showed 2 patients were negative. The misdiagnosis rate of CDU was 5.7% (2/35). Three cases did not undergo surgery. Open repairs (OR) were performed in 5 cases. Endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVAR) were performed in 27 cases. The postoperative patients were followed up by CDU and CTA at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. All the artificial blood vessels and stents were patent. Endoleak was observed in 5 cases. Aneurysm sac thrombosis was found in the rest of the cases. Conclusions: CDU plays an important role in the analysis and diagnosis of the size, range, and the impending ruptured symptoms of the aneurysm. It provides a reliable basis for IRAAA screening, diagnosis and postoperative follow-up, and has important clinical value.