Predictive value of placental real-time shear wave elastography combined with 3-dimensional power Doppler index for preeclampsia

This study aimed to investigate the value of placental real-time shear wave elastography combined with three-dimensional power Doppler index (3D-PDI) in the prediction of preeclampsia. We conducted a retrospective study selecting 60 pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia as the experimental group and 60 normal pregnant women as the control group from January 2021 to December 2022. The elastic modulus values of different regions of the placenta and placental 3D-PDI were detected and compared between the two groups. The ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of each parameter, alone or in combination, for preeclampsia. The study findings demonstrated that the elastic modulus values of different regions of the placenta and 3D-PDI of the two groups have statistical significance. The values of SWE, VI, FI, and VFI are different in prediction of preeclampsia, and the combination of various parameters can improve the prediction value. Overall, our study provides a valuable method for the prediction of preeclampsia with the advantages of non-invasiveness, efficiency, and simplicity.

[Clinical significance and mechanism of TBX5 gene in colorectal cancer]

Objective: To examine the expression of T-box5 (TBX5) in colorectal cancer tissues and its clinical significance, and explore the effects of TBX5 on the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells and its mechanism. Methods: The expressions of TBX5 in cancer and adjacent normal tissues were tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the relationship between TBX5 and clinicopathological features and prognosis of colorectal cancer was analyzed. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot were used to detect the expressions of TBX5 in different colorectal cancer cell lines. TBX5 overexpression plasmid was constructed and transfected into human colorectal cancer cell line HT-29, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the activities of transfection HT-29 cells. Cell scratch test and Transwell assay were used to detect the migration and invasion abilities of cells, while RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of PCNA, p21, p16, p27, MMP-2, MMP-7 and TIMP-1. Results: The positive rate of TBX5 protein in colorectal cancer tissues was 24.44% (22/90), significantly lower than 65.56% of adjacent normal tissues (P<0.001). The expression of TBX5 was significantly related to lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion and nerve invasion (P<0.05). The survival period of 22 patients with positive TBX5 expression was (60.2±2.4) months, better than (44.3±2.8) months of 68 patients with negative TBX5 expression (P<0.05). Among human colon cancer cell lines of HT29, SW620, SW480, LOVO and HCT116, the expression of TBX5 in HT29 cells was the weakest. After transfection, the expression of TBX5 in transfection group was significantly higher than those in control group and blank group (P=0.043 and P<0.001). Cell viability in transfection group was significantly lower than those in control group and blank group (both P<0.001). The ratio of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase was increased (P=0.009), while in G(2)/M phase was decreased (P<0.001). Cells' abilities of migration and invasion in transfection group were also significantly decreased (both P<0.001). Overexpression of TBX5 downregulated the expressions of PCNA, MMP-2 and MMP-7, while upregulated the expressions of p21, p16, p27 (P<0.05 for all). TBX5 had marginal effect on the expression of TIMP-1 (P>0.05). Conclusions: Downregulation of TBX5 is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. TBX5 may inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer by inhibiting proliferation, invasion and metastasis related genes.

Effect of renal perfusion and structural heterogeneity on shear wave elastography of the kidney: an in vivo and ex vivo study

Background

To evaluate the effect of perfusion status on elasticity measurements of different compartments in the kidney using shear wave elastography (SWE) both in vivo and ex vivo.

Methods

Thirty-two rabbit kidneys were used to observe the elasticity variation caused by renal artery stenosis and vein ligation in vivo, and six beagle kidneys were studied ex vivo to explore the effect of renal perfusion on elasticity. Supersonic SWE was applied to quantify the elasticity values of different renal compartments (cortex, medulla and sinus). Additionally, histopathological examination was performed to explore the possible mechanisms.

Results

The elasticity of the cortex was higher than that of the medulla, and the elasticity of the sinus was lowest among the compartments in native kidneys. The Young’s modulus (YM) of the cortex, medulla and sinus increased gradually as the duration of renal vein ligation increased, from 16.34 ± 1.01 kPa to 55.06 ± 5.61 kPa, 13.71 ± 1.16 kPa to 39.63 ± 2.91 kPa, and 12.61 ± 0.84 kPa to 29.30 ± 2.04 kPa, respectively. In contrast, the YM of the three compartments respectively decreased with progressive artery stenosis, from 16.34 ± 1.83 kPa to 11.21 ± 1.79 kPa, 13.31 ± 1.67 kPa to 8.07 ± 1.37 kPa, and 12.78 ± 2.66 kPa to 6.72 ± 0.95 kPa. Artery perfusion was the main factor influencing elasticity in ex vivo. The cortical elasticity was more prone to change with renal perfusion both in vivo and ex vivo. Histopathological examination showed progressive changes in the structure and content of the three compartments, consistent with the elasticity variation.

Conclusions

Both the complex structure/anisotropy and the perfusion of the kidney obviously influence the evaluation of renal elasticity. The measurement of SWE should be performed at a specific location along a certain angle or direction, and renal perfusion status should also be taken into account to ensure reproducible detection.