Diagnostic efficacy of intravascular ultrasound combined with Gd2O3‚ÄëEPL contrast agent for patients with atherosclerosis
Authors: Meiying Gao
Shuangli Zhu
Dongxue Bai
Chaoyang Wen
Journal: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Gd2O3-doped mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism eplerenone nanoparticles contrast; atherosclerosis; intravascular ultrasound.
Affiliations: Department of Ultrasonic Medicine, Beijing Royal Integrative Medicine Hospital, Beijing 102206, P.R. China., Department of Ultrasonic Medicine, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing 102206, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease that is pathologically associated with the growth of atherosclerotic plaques and vascular vulnerability. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been used to evaluate and treat cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Gd2O3-doped nanoparticles contrast can be applied for the diagnosis of human diseases. In the present study, eplerenone (EPL), a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, was first doped with Gd2O3 nanoparticles (Gd2O3-EPL), following which its diagnostic efficacy for use in IVUS measurements (Gd2O3-EPL-IVUS) was evaluated for patients suspected with atherosclerosis. Gd2O3-EPL-IVUS presented with higher accuracy and sensitivity compared with IVUS in diagnosing 188 patients with suspected atherosclerosis. Gd2O3-EPL-IVUS exhibited stronger signals associated with plaque morphology compared with aloe IVUS for patients with atherosclerosis. In addition, Gd2O3-EPL-IVUS application resulted in clearer arterial plaque images compared with IVUS by binding mineralocorticoid receptors. Atherosclerosis was subsequently confirmed in all patients using computerized tomography-coronary angiography. Gd2O3-EPL-IVUS showed more accuracy in measuring vessel size, plaque burden and minimal lumen area compared with IVUS analysis alone. In conclusion, these outcomes suggest that Gd2O3-EPL-IVUS is a reliable tool for the evaluation of coronary lesions in patients with atherosclerosis. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 u201cUltrasound contrast agents in current use are typically small (3-5u03bcm diameter) gas-filled bubbles, u2026. The microbubbles contains either air or an inert gas, encapsulated either by a thin shell composed of a biocompatible materials such as lipid, protein, or more recently, synthetic polymer.u201d Jonathon D. Berry, Peter N. Burns and Paul S. Sidhu. https: radiologykey.com microbubble-ultrasound-contrast-agents . In u201cMaterials and methodsu201d section of this article, the authors stated u201cContrast agent. The Gd2O3u2011coated EPL contrast agents were synthesized as described previously (28).u201d However, Ref 28: u201c Shao Y, Tian X, Hu W, Zhang Y, Liu H, He H, Shen Y, Xie F and Li L: The properties of Gd2O3u2011assembled silica nanocomposite targeted nanoprobes and their application in MRI. Biomaterials 33: 6438u20116446, 2012.u201d It is clearly indicated that Gd2O3 was the essential component of the contrast agents for MRI not for ultrasound in this reference article. Also, we can get more information from FDA: u201cGadolinium-based contrast agents (GdCAs) are essential for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).u201d https: www.fda.gov media 107506 download Above all, u201cGd2O3-doped mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism eplerenone nanoparticles contrast (Gd2O3u2011EPL contrast agent)u201d was fabricated by authors as a contrast agent for ultrasound. A u201cpeer-reviewu201d article? Itu2019s a joke! PubMed should issue an intensive expression of concern immediately. , 
 Illogical content in the paper was noted: Patients recruited in this study was 7 months before the official hospital opening. Peking University International Hospital (Beijing, China) was officially opened and started to admit patients on **December 5th, 2014**. However, according to this paper, the recruited patients with suspected atherosclerosis were admitted to the Peking University International Hospital started from** April 2014**. How did the authors get the Ethics approval and Written Informed Consents from the Ethical Committee of the Peking University International Hospital and this cohort of ghost patients? Official website: [https: www.pkuih.edu.cn page public.html?_page.id=Page_ff80808152430b7c0152431632e00021], or [http: www.chinadaily.com.cn m beijing zhongguancun 2014-12 11 content_19063956.htm]. It is necessary that the authors provide all of the raw materials on this study if they had. The content in this paper is quoted below for easy reference: In u201cMaterials and methodsu201d section, the authors stated u201cParticipants. A total of 188 patients (sex, 94 men and 94 women; mean age, 54u00b112 years; age range, 47u201168) with suspected atherosclerosis were admitted to the Peking University International Hospital (Beijing, China) between **April 2014** and May 2016 were recruited into the present study.u201d And, in u201cEthics approval and consent to participateu201d part, the authors declared: u201cThe Ethical Committee of the Peking University International Hospital (approval no. LK**20131018**) approved this study. Written informed consent was provided by all patients.u201d ,