Search

The incidence of diabetes and related mortality rate increase yearly in modern cities. Additionally, elevated glucose levels can result in an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ferroptosis, and the disruption of protective pathways in the heart. These factors collectively heighten the vulnerability of diabetic individuals to myocardial ischemia. Reperfusion therapies have been effectively used in clinical practice. There are limitations to the current clinical methods used to treat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. As a result, reducing post-treatment ischemia/reperfusion injury remains a challenge. Therefore, efforts are underway to provide more efficient therapy. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) has been used for centuries in ancient China to treat cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with rare side effects. Salvianolic acid is a water-soluble phenolic compound with potent antioxidant properties and has the greatest hydrophilic property in Danshen. It has recently been discovered that salvianolic acids A (SAA) and B (SAB) are capable of inhibiting apoptosis by targeting the JNK/Akt pathway and the NF-κB pathway, respectively. This review delves into the most recent discoveries regarding the therapeutic and cardioprotective benefits of salvianolic acid for individuals with diabetes. Salvianolic acid shows great potential in myocardial protection in diabetes mellitus. A thorough understanding of the protective mechanism of salvianolic acid could expand its potential uses in developing medicines for treating diabetes mellitus related myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.

BackgroundIdentification of multigland disease (MGD) in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients is essential for minimally invasive surgical decision-making.ObjectiveTo develop a nomogram based on US findings and clinical factors to predict MGD in PHPT patients.Materials and MethodsPatients with PHPT who underwent surgery between March 2021 and January 2022 were consecutively enrolled. Biochemical and clinicopathologic data were recorded. US images were analyzed to extract US features. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors for MGD. The nomogram was constructed based on the factors. Nomogram performance was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, the Hosmer–Lemeshow test, and decision curve analysis.ResultsA total of 102 PHPT patients were included. 82 (80.4%) had the single-gland disease (SGD) and 20 (19.6%) had MGD. Using multivariate analysis, the MGD was positively correlated with age (OR = 1.033, 96%CI = 0.985-1.092), PTH level (OR = 1.001, 95% CI = 1.000–1.002), MEN-1 (OR = 29.730, 95% CI = 3.089-836.785), US size (OR = 1.198, 95% CI = 0.647–2.088) and US texture (cystic-solid) (OR = 5.357, 95% CI = 0.499–62.912). And negatively correlated with gender (OR = 0.985, 95% CI = 0.190–4.047), calcium level (OR = 0.453, 95% CI = 0.070–2.448), and symptoms(yes) (OR = 0.935, 95%CI = 0.257–3.365). The nomogram showed good discrimination with an AUC of 0.77 (0.68-0.85) and good agreement for predicting MGD in PHPT patients. And 65 points was recommended as a cut-off value with a specificity of 0.94 and a sensitivity of 0.50.ConclusionUS provided useful features for evaluating MGD. Combining the US and clinical features in a nomogram showed good diagnostic performance for predicting MGD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between amino acids related to the urea cycle and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in two independent cross-sectional studies.MethodsWe obtained the medical records of 145 individuals with DN and 596 individuals without DN who attended an annual health examination at Liaoning Medical University First Affiliated Hospital (LMUFAH), China, from May 2015 to August 2016. From April 2018 to April 2019, we collected medical records of another 741 individuals: 338 individuals with DN and 403 individuals without DN from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University (DALIAN), China. Binary logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsIn two independent cross-sectional studies, we observed that citrulline was consistently associated with DN risk [OR (95% CI) of per standard deviation (SD) increase for citrulline in the LMUFAH population: 1.200 (1.006, 1.432); OR (95% CI) of per SD increase for citrulline in the DALIAN population: 1.189 (1.012, 1.396); pooled effect size for citrulline: 1.194 (1.060, 1.345)]. However, ornithine, arginine, and the ratio of arginine to ornithine were consistently unrelated to DN risk, and the ratios of other amino acids in the urea cycle were inconsistently associated with DN risk. ConclusionsCitrulline was consistently associated with DN risk in two independent cross-sectional studies in Chinese adults.

We aimed to evaluate the relevance of large-volume lateral lymph node metastases (LLNMs) at risk of recurrence/persistence in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with LLNMs (N1b). This retrospective study included 448 PTC patients, who had positive LLNMs confirmed by histology and suspected of LLNMs by preoperative ultrasound. According to the number of pathological LLNMs, patients were divided into large-volume LLNM (number of LLNMs >5) and low-volume LLNM (number of LLNMs ≤5). Risk factors of recurrence/persistence in PTC patients with N1b were analyzed. Preoperative ultrasound features of PTC with large-volume LLNM were analyzed. For the patients with a mean follow-up of 44.0 months, the risk of recurrence/persistence was 25.1% in PTC patients with N1b. The recurrence/persistence rate was significantly higher in patients with large-volume LLNM than in patients with low-volume LLNM by multivariate analysis (37.3% vs. 17.1%; HR = 2.451, 95% CI 1.41–4.261, p = 0.001). The 3-year and 5-year recurrence/persistence-free survival for those with large-volume LLNM were 93.2% and 47.2%, respectively. Moreover, we found that multilevel suspected LLNMs and loss of fatty hilum were independent preoperative indicative factors of large-volume LLNM (OR = 6.239, 95% CI 3.547–10.977, p < 0.001; OR = 5.149, 95% CI 1.859–14.261, p = 0.002). In conclusion, multilevel suspected LLNM and loss of fatty hilum on ultrasound tended to be more common in patients with large-volume LLNM. PTC patients with large-volume LLNM are at a higher recurrent/persistent risk than those with low-volume LLNM. Large-volume LLNM may be used to stratify the risk of recurrence/persistence in PTC.

Ultrasonography (US) is one of the most important methods for the management of thyroid nodules, which can be classified as solid, partially cystic, or cystic by composition. The various Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System classifications pay more attention to solid nodules and have reported pertinent US features associated with malignancy. However, the likelihood of malignancy of partially cystic thyroid nodules (PCTNs) is 3.3–17.6%, and few studies have systematically discussed the value of US in differentiating such entities. Therefore, we deemed it necessary to perform a systematic evaluation of US features in recognizing malignant PCTNs. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the value of US features in predicting malignant PCTNs. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to find studies that researched US features of PCTNs and that were published before June 2020. Review Manager 5.3 was used to summarize suspicious US features and calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios. MetaDiSc 1.4 was used to estimate receiver operating characteristic curves and calculate areas under the curves (AUCs). Our review included eight studies with a total of 2,004 PCTNs. Seven features were considered to be associated with malignancy. High specificity (>0.9) was found in nodules with a taller-than-wide shape, those that were spiculated/microlobulated or with an ill-defined margin, those with microcalcification, and a non-smooth rim. Among US features, eccentric configuration, microcalcification, and marked or mild hypoechogenicity were more reliable in predicting malignancy (AUC: 0.9592, 0.8504, and 0.8092, respectively). After meta-analysis, we recommend combining PCTN US features including an eccentric internal solid portion, marked or mild hypoechogenicity, and presence of microcalcification to better identify malignant nodules. More studies are needed to explore and improve the diagnostic value of US in PCTNs.