BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disorder characterized primarily by synovitis and pannus formation in multiple joints, causing joints destruction and irreversible disability in most cases. Early diagnosis and effective therapy monitoring of RA are of importance for achieving the favorable prognosis.MethodsWe first prepared the targeted fluorescence probes, and then explored the feasibility of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence molecular imaging to detect and evaluate the RA via the targeted fluorescence probes by quantitative analysis in this study.ResultsThe targeted fluorescence probes (indocyanine green-liposomes decorated with iRGD peptide [iLPs]) was successfully prepared. The quantitative analysis found that strong fluorescence signal was detected in inflamed paws and the fluorescence signal in iLPs group was 3.03-fold higher than that in non-targeted (indocyanine green-liposomes decorated without iRGD peptide [LPs]) group (P<0.01) at 15 min after injection, whereas the fluorescence signal from iLPs signal can almost not be observed in the non-inflamed paws, showing the high sensitivity and accuracy for arthritis by the NIR fluorescence imaging based on iLPs.ConclusionThe NIR fluorescence imaging by iLPs may facilitate improved arthritis diagnosis and early assessment of the disease progression by providing an in vivo characterization of angiogenesis in inflammatory joint diseases.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of iodine-125 (125I) seeds on the proliferation of primary esophageal fibroblasts in dogs, and to assess the safety and preventive efficacy of 125I seed-pre-loaded esophageal stents in benign restenosis following implantation. Primary fibroblasts were cultured with various 125I seed activities, which were then evaluated using cell proliferation and apoptosis assays as well as cell cycle analysis using Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining and PI staining. Prior to sacrification, animals were submitted to esophageal radiography under digital subtraction angiography. Esophageal tissues were collected and examined for macroscopic, microscopic and pathological alterations. The results demonstrated a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and increased apoptosis following exposure to 125I seeds. G0/G1 fibroblast populations increased in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with 125I seeds, in contrast to cells in S phase. Four weeks following implantation, α-smooth muscle actin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression levels in the experimental group were significantly lower compared with those in the control group; in addition, eight weeks following implantation, esophageal inner diameters were increased in the experimental group. 125I seeds inhibited proliferation of dog esophageal fibroblasts via cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In conclusion, 125I seed-pre-loaded esophageal stents inhibited benign hyperplasia in the upper edge of the stent to a certain extent, which relieved benign restenosis following implantation with a good safety profile.

Background Appendicitis complicated with appendiceal perforation is common among children. The delay in diagnosis of appendicitis is due to children’s varied presentations and their difficulty in communicating symptoms. We aimed to identify clinical factors that aid in predicting acute appendicitis (AA) and perforated appendicitis (PA) among children. Methods This retrospective study involved 215 children aged 12 years and below with the initial diagnosis of AA and PA. Clinical factors studied were demographics, presenting symptoms, body temperature on admission (BTOA), white cell count (WCC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count and urinalysis. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to determine the odds ratio of the statistically significant clinical factors. Results: The mean age of the included children was 7.98 ± 2.37 years. The odds of AA increased by 2.177 times when the age was ≥ 8 years ( P = 0.022), 2.380 times when duration of symptoms ≥ 2 days ( P = 0.011), 2.447 times with right iliac fossa (RIF) pain ( P = 0.007), 2.268 times when BTOA ≥ 38 °C ( P = 0.020) and 2.382 times when neutrophil percentage was ≥ 76% ( P = 0.045). It decreased by 0.409 times with non-RIF pain ( P = 0.007). The odds of PA was increased by 4.672 times when duration of symptoms ≥ 2 days ( P = 0.005), 3.611 times when BTOA ≥ 38 °C ( P = 0.015) and 3.678 times when neutrophil percentage ≥ 76% ( P = 0.016). There was no significant correlation between WCC and ANC with AA and PA. Conclusion Older children with longer duration of symptoms, RIF pain and higher BTOA are more likely to have appendicitis. The risk of appendiceal perforation increases with longer duration of symptoms and higher BTOA.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of X-ray-guided and ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in treating arteriovenous fistula dysfunction. Materials and methods: Data for 219 patients with arteriovenous fistula dysfunction between January 2016 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoints were technical success, clinical success, and primary patency rates. The secondary endpoints were complications and secondary patency rates. Procedure outcomes and both endpoints were evaluated by propensity score analysis. Results: After the propensity score matching, 73 matched pairs of cases were created with 34 pairs of autogenous arteriovenous fistula cases and 39 pairs of prosthetic arteriovenous graft cases. There was no significant difference between the X-ray-guided and ultrasound-guided group, respectively, regarding the technical success rate (84.9% vs 87.7%, p = 0.630), clinical success rate (98.6% vs 97.3%, p = 0.999), and complications (10.9% vs 5.5%, p = 0.228). Although the 6- and 12-month secondary patency rates for the dialysis access between the two groups had significant difference ( p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in primary and secondary patency curves between the two groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: The overall efficacy of ultrasound-guided versus X-ray-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in treating arteriovenous fistula dysfunction might be comparable.