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Abstract Limited data on the correlation between the perineal body (PB) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are available. The objectives of this study were to quantify the PB using shear wave elastography (SWE) technology with a high-frequency linear array probe to evaluate the relationship between the properties of PB and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This study included 64 women with SUI and 70 female control participants. The length, height, perimeter, and area of PB in all participants were calculated using transperineal ultrasound, and the elasticity of PB was assessed by SWE at rest and during the maximal Valsalva maneuver, respectively. In addition, the comparison of PB parameters between the patients with SUI and the healthy participants was conducted. The transperineal ultrasound and SWE examination was performed in 134 participants, and the elastic modulus values were significantly increased from participants at rest to those during the maximal Valsalva maneuver in all participants (E max : 35.59 versus 53.13 kPa, P

Abstract Early acquired resistance (EAR) to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in lung adenocarcinomas before radiographic advance cannot be perceived by the naked eye. This study aimed to discover and validate a CT radiomic model to precisely identify the EAR. Training cohort (n = 67) and internal test cohort (n = 29) were from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, and external test cohort (n = 29) was from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College. Follow-up CT images at three different times of each patient were collected: (1) baseline images before EGFR-TKIs therapy; (2) first follow-up images after EGFR-TKIs therapy (FFT); (3) EAR images, which were the last follow-up images before radiographic advance. The features extracted from FFT and EAR were used to construct the classic radiomic model. The delta features which were calculated by subtracting the baseline from either FFT or EAR were used to construct the delta radiomic model. The classic radiomic model achieved AUC 0.682 and 0.641 in training and internal test cohorts, respectively. The delta radiomic model achieved AUC 0.730 and 0.704 in training and internal test cohorts, respectively. Over the external test cohort, the delta radiomic model achieved AUC 0.661. The decision curve analysis showed that when threshold of the probability of the EAR to the EGFR-TKIs was between 0.3 and 0.82, the proposed model was more benefit than treating all patients. Based on two central studies, the delta radiomic model derived from the follow-up non-enhanced CT images can help clinicians to identify the EAR to EGFR-TKIs in lung adenocarcinomas before radiographic advance and optimize clinical outcomes.

Abstract The roles of CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been well documented. However, the role of innate immunity in HBV infection remains obscure. Here we examined the effect of activation of innate immunity by polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) on HBV infection. A chronic HBV replication mouse model was established by hydrodynamical injection of pAAV/HBV1.2 plasmid into C57BL/6 mice. We found that HBV did not seem to induce an active NK-cell response in the mouse model. Early PolyI:C treatment markedly decreased serum HBV levels and led to HBV clearance. Following PolyI:C injection, NK cells were activated and accumulated in the liver. Depletion of NK cells markedly attenuated the anti-HBV activity of PolyI:C. Moreover, we found that IFN-γ production from NK cells was essential for the antiviral effect of PolyI:C in the model. Importantly, activation of NK cells by PolyI:C could also lead to HBV suppression in HBV-tolerant mice and HBV-transgenic mice. These results suggest that activated NK cells might suppress HBV and contribute to HBV clearance during natural HBV infection. In addition, therapeutic activation of NK cells may represent a new strategy for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the value of tissue doppler imaging (TDI) and 4D myocardial strain parameters in evaluating left heart function of pregnant women with hypertension and the association between these parameters and relevant factors. Forty-five pregnant women with hypertensive disorder, including 20 with hypertension, 15 with mild preeclampsia, and 10 with severe preeclampsia, were recruited, and their cardiac functions were compared with those of 30 healthy pregnant women as controls. High Left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), Left atrial volume index (LAVI), E/e were observed in hypertensive disorder, while Mitral peak diastolic velocity(E), Early diastolic peak velocity(e), E/A, Left ventricularglobal longitudinal strain (LVGLS), Left ventricularglobal area strain (LVGAS), and Left atrialglobal longitudinal strain (LAGLS) were decreased; for pre-eclampsia, Left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), Left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD-ap), LVESV, LAVI were significantly increased, LVGLS, LAGLS were significantly decreased, Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), A peak, E/e were increased, while E peak, E/A, e, Left ventricle global radial strain (LVGRS), Left ventricle global circumferential strain (LVGCS), LVGAS were decreased but not significantly; for severe preeclampsia, Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), LVESD, LAD-ap, Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LVESV, LAVI, A, and E/e were significantly increased, while LVGLS, LVGRS, LVGCS, LVGAS, LAGLS, E peak, E/A, and e were significantly reduced. TDI combined with 4D myocardial strain parameters can detect early changes in cardiac function of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, with LVGLS, LVGAS, and LAGLS being the most sensitive indicators for early changes. Such findings provide a basis for effective clinical treatment of these symptoms.

Abstract Forest soils are important components of forest ecosystems, and soil quality assessment as a decision-making tool to understand forest soil quality and maintain soil productivity is essential. Various methods of soil quality assessment have been developed, which have occasionally generated inconsistent assessment results between soil types. We assessed the soil quality of five communities (herb, shrub, Quercus acutissima, Pinus thunbergii, and Q. acutissima–P. thunbergii mixed plantation) using two common methods of dry and barren mountains in the Yimeng Mountain area, China. Sixteen soil physical, chemical and biological properties were analysed. The soil quality index was determined using the established minimum data set based on the selection results of principal component analysis and Pearson analysis. Silt, soil total phosphorus (P), soil total nitrogen (N), L-leucine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase and vector length were identified as the most representative indicators for the minimum data set. Linear regression analysis showed that the minimum data set can adequately represent the total data set to quantify the impact of different communities on soil quality (P

Abstract A potted experiment with Populus × euramericana ‘Neva’ was carried out to assess whether there are positive effects of magnetic treatment of saline water (MTSW) on nitrogen metabolism under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Growth properties, nitrogen contents, enzyme activities and metabolite concentrations were determined based on field experiments and laboratory analysis after a 30-day treatment. The results were as follows: (1) Biomass accumulation, root morphological properties and total nitrogen content were improved by MTSW. (2) Magnetization led to a greater increase in nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 −-N) content in roots than in leaves, accompanied by greater NO3 − efflux and activated nitrate reductase. (3) MTSW led to a higher ammonium-nitrogen (NH4 +-N) content and greater uptake of net NH4 + in the leaves than that in the roots. (4) Magnetization stimulated glutamine synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase activities, whereas the concentrations of glutathione and oxidized glutathione were increased in leaves but decreased in roots, and the total glutathione content was increased. Overall, these results indicated some beneficial impacts of MTSW on nitrogen translocation under field conditions, especially for equilibrating the distribution of NO3 −-N and NH4 +-N. Moreover, these findings confirmed the potential of using low-quality water for agriculture.