[Progress and controversy in minimally invasive approach to radical cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer]

Surgical treatment is one of the most important forms of treatment in patients with gallbladder cancer. With the development of minimally invasive technology, the feasibility, safety and efficacy of minimally invasive approaches such as laparoscopic or robotic-assisted radical cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer have received continuous attention.For patients with an early T-stage (Tis or T1a), laparoscopic simple cholecystectomy is safe and economical, with a good prognosis for postoperative patients, and it has been widely accepted and performed. Radical resection of advanced gallbladder cancer requires resection of the gallbladder, its liver bed, and other neighboring invaded organs, as well as clearance of regional lymph nodes, which requires experienced gallbladder cancer treatment teams to strictly grasp the indications, select appropriate patients, and formulate a good surgical strategy to ensure the therapeutic effect. Meanwhile, robot-assisted radical resection for gallbladder cancer has been performed in a few centers and shows good clinical potential, but more high-quality studies are needed to further evaluate its value in gallbladder cancer treatment.

[Genome-wide Mendelian randomization study of the pathogenic role of gut microbiota in benign biliary tract diseases]

Objective: To investigate the causal relationship between intestinal flora and benign biliary diseases by genome-wide Mendelian randomization. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. The data from the genome-wide association study of the gut microbiota from 18 340 samples from the MiBioGen consortium were selected as the exposure group,and the data from the genome-wide association study of biliary tract diseases were obtained from the FinnGen consortium R8 as the outcome group. There were 1 491 cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis,32 894 cases of cholelithiasis,3 770 cases of acalculous cholecystitis,and 34 461 cases of cholecystitis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were screened as instrumental variables,and the Mendelian randomization method was used to infer the causal relationship between exposures and outcomes. The inverse variance weighting method (IVW) was used as the main basis, supplemented by heterogeneity,pleiotropy and sensitivity tests. Results: Coprococcus 2 was associated with a reduced risk of cholelithiasis (IVW OR=0.88,95%CI:0.80 to 0.97,P=0.012) and cholecystitis (IVW OR=0.88,95%CI:0.80 to 0.97,P=0.011). Coprococcus 3 was associated with cholelithiasis (IVW OR=1.15,95%CI:1.02 to 1.30,P=0.019) and acalculous cholecystitis(IVW OR=1.48, 95%CI: 1.08 to 2.04,P=0.016) and cholecystitis (IVW OR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.02 to 1.33, P=0.020). Peptococcus was associated with an increased risk of cholelithiasis (IVW OR=1.08, 95%CI:1.02 to 1.13, P=0.005) and cholecystitis (IVW CI=1.07, 95%CI:1.02 to 1.13,P=0.010). Clostridiumsensustricto 1 was associated with an increased risk of cholelithiasis (IVW OR=1.16,95%CI:1.02 to 1.31, P=0.020) and cholecystitis (IVW OR=1.16, 95%CI:1.03 to 1.30, P=0.015). Eubacterium hallii was associated with an increased risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (IVW OR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.03 to 1.99, P=0.033). Eubacterium ruminantium (IVW OR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.76 to 1.00, P=0.043) and Methanobrevibacter (IVW OR=0.81, 95%CI: 0.68 to 0.98, P=0.027) were associated with a reduced risk of acalculous cholecystitis. Conclusions: Eight intestinal bacterial genera maybe play pathogenic roles in benign biliary diseases. Eubacterium hallii can increase the risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Peptococcus and Clostridiumsensustricto 1 can increase the risk of cholelithiasis and generalized cholecystitis. Coprococcus 3 have multiple correlations with biliary stones and inflammation.

Histogram analysis of diffusion kurtosis imaging of deep brain nuclei in Parkinson's disease with different motor subtypes

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic and differential efficacy of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) histogram analysis for different motor subtypes of Parkinson's disease (PD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy PD patients including 40 with postural instability and gait disorder (PIGD) and 30 with tremor-dominant (TD) and 36 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled prospectively and underwent MRI examinations. The regions of interest (ROI) in the deep brain nuclei were delineated and features were extracted on the map of mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (Ka), and radial kurtosis (Kr), respectively. The differences in histogram features between PD patients and HC and between patients with PIGD and TD were compared. The areas under the curve (AUCs) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of all histogram features. The correlations between histogram features and clinical indicators were evaluated.

RESULTS

Some DKI histogram features were significantly different between PD patients and HC, and also different between patients with PIGD and TD (all p<0.05). MK of the substantia nigra pars reticulate (SNprkurtosis), Ka of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) 50 percentile (SNpcP50), and Kr of SNpc 90th percentile showed the highest AUC for distinguishing patients with PIGD from HC. MK-SNpc 10th percentile, Ka-SNpc 25th percentile, and Kr of the head of the caudate nucleus (CN) 90th percentile had the highest AUC for distinguishing patients with TD from HC. MK of the putamen 10th percentile combined with Ka of the bilateral red nucleus RNkurtosis yielded the highest diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.762 for distinguishing patients with PIGD from TD. Certain DKI histogram features were correlated with Hoehn-Yahr (H&Y) stage, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, tremor score, and PIGD score (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

DKI histogram analysis was useful to diagnose and discriminate different motor subtypes of PD. Certain DKI histogram features correlated with clinical indicators.

TTC13 expression and STAT3 activation may form a positive feedback loop to promote ccRCC progression

Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) originates from renal tubular epithelial cells and is mainly classified into three histological types, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) which accounts for about 75% of all kidney cancers and is characterized by its strong invasiveness and poor prognosis. Hence, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of ccRCC to identify effective biomarkers for the early diagnosis and the prognosis prediction.

Methods

The mRNA level of TTC13 was quantified by RT-PCR, while the protein level was determined by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Cell proliferation was measured by cck-8, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The binding of STAT3 to the promoter region of TTC13 was determined by the luciferase reporter assay and chip experiments. STAT3 nuclear translocation was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.

Results

We found that TTC13 was up-regulated in ccRCC, and TTC13 promoted cell proliferation as well as inhibited cell apoptosis and autophagy of ccRCC through wnt/β-catenin and IL6-JAK-STAT3 signaling pathways. Furthermore, TTC13 might play a role in the immune infiltration and immunotherapy of ccRCC. Mechanistically, STAT3 activated the transcription of TTC13 gene.

Conclusions

STAT3 directly regulated TTC13 expression through a positive feedback loop mechanism to promote ccRCC cell proliferation as well as reduce cell apoptosis and autophagy. These findings suggested new and effective therapeutic targets for more accurate and personalized treatment strategies.

A novel murine model of mania

Neuropathological mechanisms of manic syndrome or manic episodes in bipolar disorder remain poorly characterised, as the research progress is severely limited by the paucity of appropriate animal models. Here we developed a novel mania mice model by combining a series of chronic unpredictable rhythm disturbances (CURD), which include disruption of circadian rhythm, sleep deprivation, exposure to cone light, with subsequent interference of followed spotlight, stroboscopic illumination, high-temperature stress, noise disturbance and foot shock. Multiple behavioural and cell biology tests comparing the CURD-model with healthy controls and depressed mice were deployed to validate the model. The manic mice were also tested for the pharmacological effects of various medicinal agents used for treating mania. Finally, we compared plasma indicators of the CURD-model mice and the patients with the manic syndrome. The CURD protocol produced a phenotype replicating manic syndrome. Mice exposed to CURD presented manic behaviours similar to that observed in the amphetamine manic model. These behaviours were distinct from depressive-like behaviours recorded in mice treated with a depression-inducing protocol of chronic unpredictable mild restraint (CUMR). Functional and molecular indicators in the CURD mania model showed multiple similarities with patients with manic syndrome. Treatment with LiCl and valproic acid resulted in behavioural improvements and recovery of molecular indicators. A novel manic mice model induced by environmental stressors and free from genetic or pharmacological interventions is a valuable tool for research into pathological mechanisms of mania.

Leptin Attenuates Fear Memory by Inhibiting Astrocytic NLRP3 Inflammasome in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Model

Accumulating evidence suggests that the activation of nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Astrocytes, the homeostatic cells of the central nervous system are intimately involved into pathophysiology of various mental disorders including PTSD. We demonstrated previously that leptin exerts neuroprotection and ameliorates chronic sleep deprivation-induced depressive-like behaviours. Here, we extended the study of therapeutic effects of leptin to PTSD model mice. We discovered that PTSD is associated with significant activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in astrocytes sorted from GFAP-GFP transgenic mice, while administration of leptin markedly suppressed the activation of astrocytic NLRP3 inflammasome. Leptin effectively improved PTSD-associated behavioural alterations including fear memory, cognitive impairments, and depressive-like behaviours. Therapeutic effects of leptin were mediated by the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in astrocytes. In addition, the PTSD-related activation of NLRP3 inflammasome impairs astrocytic mitochondria suppressing ATP synthesis and leading to an increased ROS production. Leptin reversed mitochondrial inhibition by stimulating STAT3 in astrocytes. We propose leptin as a novel candidate for the pharmacological treatment of PTSD.

Novel pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder studied in transgenic mice

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is very common after exposure to trauma, mental stress or violence. Because objective biological markers for PTSD are lacking, exactly diagnosing PTSD is a challenge for clinical psychologists. In-depth research on the pathogenesis of PTSD is a key for solving this problem. In this work, we used male Thy1-YFP transgenic mice, in which neurons are fluorescently labeled, to research the effects of PTSD on neurons in vivo. We initially discovered that pathological stress associated with PTSD increased the activation of glycogen synthesis kinase-beta (GSK-3β) in neurons and induced the translocation of the transcription factor forkhead box-class O3a (FoxO3a) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which decreased the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and increased mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to trigger neuronal apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Furthermore, the PTSD model mice showed increased freezing and anxiety-like behaviors and more severe decrease of memory and exploratory behavior. Additionally, leptin attenuated neuronal apoptosis by increasing the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which further elevated the expression of UCP2 and inhibited the mitochondrial production of ROS induced by PTSD, thus reducing neuronal apoptosis and ameliorating PTSD-related behaviors. Our study is expected to promote the exploration of PTSD-related pathogenesis in neural cells and the clinical effectiveness of leptin for PTSD.

DNA methylation regulator-based signature for predicting clear cell renal cell carcinoma prognosis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of DNA methylation regulators in the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and to construct a DNA methylation regulator-based signature for predicting patient outcome.

METHODS

Data from the TCGA dataset were downloaded and analyzed to identify differentially expressed DNA methylation regulators and their interaction as well as correlation. Consensus clustering was used to establish groups of ccRCC with distinct clinical outcomes. A prognostic signature based on two sets of DNA methylation regulators was established and validated in an independent cohort.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that the expression levels of DNMT3B, MBD1, SMUG1, DNMT1, DNMT3A, TDG, TET3, MBD2, UHRF2, MBD3, UHRF1, and TET2 were significantly upregulated in ccRCC samples, while UNG, ZBTB4, TET1, ZBTB38, and MECP2 were markedly downregulated. UHRF1 was identified as a hub gene in the DNA methylation regulator interaction network. Significant differences were found regarding overall survival, gender, tumor status, and grade between ccRCC patients in the two risk groups. The prognostic signature, based on two sets of DNA methylation regulators, was an independent prognostic indicator, and these findings were validated in an external, independent cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provides evidence that DNA methylation regulators play a significant role in the prognosis of ccRCC and the developed DNA methylation regulator-based signature could effectively predict patient outcome.

[The value of CMR high-risk attributes in predicting ventricular remodeling in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction]

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of a multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) approach for ventricular remodeling in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with mildly reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study. STEMI patients with acute LVEF>40% after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from October 2019 to September 2021 were enrolled. All patients received acute (3-7 days) and follow-up (3 months) CMR post-PCI. According to absence or presence of ventricular remodeling, patients were divided into ventricular remodeling group and non-ventricular remodeling group. Basic clinical characteristics and CMR indicators were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to explore the predictive performance of CMR high-risk attributes for ventricular remodeling in STEMI patients with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. The predictive value of combining multiple high-risk characteristics of CMR for ventricular remodeling was analyzed and compared with the traditional clinical risk factor model. Results: A total of 123 STEMI patients were enrolled (aged (57.1±11.1) years, 102 (82.9%) males). There were 97 cases (78.9%) patients in the non-ventricular remodeling group and 26 cases (21.1%) in the ventricular remodeling group. After adjustment for clinical risk factors, stroke volume<51.6 ml, global circumferential strain>-13.7%, infarct size>39.2%, microvascular obstruction>0.5%, and myocardial salvage index<43.9 were independently associated with ventricular remodeling in STEMI patients with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. The incidence of ventricular remodeling increased with the increasing number of CMR high-risk attributes (P<0.01). The number of CMR high-risk attributes ≥3 was an independent predictor of adverse remodeling (adjusted OR=5.95, 95 CI%: 2.25-15.72, P<0.01) in STEMI patients with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. Furthermore, the number of CMR high-risk attributes had incremental predictive value over baseline clinical risk factors (area under curve: 0.843 vs. 0.696, P<0.01). Conclusions: In STEMI patients with mild reduced or preserved LVEF, 5 CMR characteristics are associated with ventricular remodeling. The combination of ≥3 CMR high-risk characteristics is an independent predictor of ventricular remodeling, which has incremental predictive value beyond traditional risk factors in this patient cohort.

Efficient Source of Shaped Single Photons Based on an Integrated Diamond Nanophotonic System

An efficient, scalable source of shaped single photons that can be directly integrated with optical fiber networks and quantum memories is at the heart of many protocols in quantum information science. We demonstrate a deterministic source of arbitrarily temporally shaped single-photon pulses with high efficiency [detection efficiency=14.9%] and purity [g^{(2)}(0)=0.0168] and streams of up to 11 consecutively detected single photons using a silicon-vacancy center in a highly directional fiber-integrated diamond nanophotonic cavity. Combined with previously demonstrated spin-photon entangling gates, this system enables on-demand generation of streams of correlated photons such as cluster states and could be used as a resource for robust transmission and processing of quantum information.

[Progress in clinical diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder cancer]

Due to the lack of effective early diagnosis and treatment, gallbladder cancer(GBC) remains a malignant tumor with extremely high malignancy and poor prognosis. Therefore, high quality studies are required to break through the bottleneck in GBC diagnosis and treatment. This article reviewed the domestic and foreign GBC research published in 2021, presenting a comprehensive summary of the important advances in the field of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Latest epidemiological data and risk factors, emerging diagnostic methods of peripheral blood laboratory tests and imaging, new pathologic classification system, hot topics and controversies of surgical treatment as well as the dynamics of systemic treatment of GBC are reviewed in the article. The present findings may contribute to a more efficient means of diagnosis and treatment for GBC and hold the promise of improved outcomes for patients with GBC.

[Multimorbidity in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome: insights from BleeMACS registry]

Objective: To assess the prevalence, pattern and outcome of multimorbidity in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Secondary analysis was performed based on the data from the BleeMACS registry, which was conducted between 2003 and 2014. We stratified elderly patients (≥65 years) according to their multimorbidity. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more chronic diseases in the same individual. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate 1 year event rates for each endpoint, and comparisons between the study groups were performed using the log-rank test. The primary endpoint was net adverse clinical events (NACE), which is a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or bleeding. Results: Of 7 120 evaluable patients, 6 391 (89.8%) were with morbidity (1 594 with 1, 2 156 with 2, and 2 641 with ≥3 morbidity). Patients with morbidity were older, percent of female sex and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes and implantation rate with drug-eluting stents and blood creatine level were higher compared to patients without morbidity. Compared with the patients without morbidity, the proportion of participants with oral anticoagulant increased in proportion to increased number of morbidities (5.8% vs. 6.4% with 1 morbidity, 7.3% with 2 morbidities, 9.0% with ≥3 morbidities, P trend<0.01) and the proportion of participants with clopidogrel prescription decreased in proportion to increased number of morbidity (91.9% vs. 89.7% with 1 morbidity, 87.9% with 2 morbidities, 88.6% with ≥3 morbidities, P trend = 0.01). During 1 year follow-up, compared with those with no morbidity, the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of risk of NACE for those with 1, 2, and ≥ 3 morbidities was 1.18 (0.86-1.64), 1.49 (1.10-2.02), and 2.74 (2.06-3.66), respectively (P < 0.01). Multimorbidity was not associated with an increased risk of bleeding of various organs (P>0.05). Conclusion: Multimorbidity is common in elderly patients with ACS. These patients might benefit from coordinated and integrated multimorbidity management by multidisciplinary teams.

Elevated SNRPA1, as a Promising Predictor Reflecting Severe Clinical Outcome via Effecting Tumor Immunity for ccRCC, Is Related to Cell Invasion, Metastasis, and Sunitinib Sensitivity

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of renal carcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis and notorious for its immune dysfunction characteristic. SNRPA1 is a spliceosome component responsible for processing pre-mRNA into mRNA, while the biological effect of SNRPA1 in ccRCC remains elusive. The aim of this study was to decipher the effect of SNRPA1 on clinical effect and tumor immunity for ccRCC patients. Multi-databases were collected to evaluate the different expression, prognostic value, DNA methylation, tumor immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity of SNRPA1 on ccRCC. IHC was utilized to validate the expression and prognostic value of SNRPA1 in ccRCC patients from the SMMU cohort. The knockout expression of SNRPA by sgRNA plasmid inhibited the cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis ability and significantly increased the sensitivity of sunitinib treatment. In addition, we explored the role of SNRPA1 in pan-cancer level. The results indicated that SNRPA1 was differentially expressed in most cancer types. SNRPA1 may significantly influence the prognosis of multiple cancer types, especially in ccRCC patients. Notably, SNRPA1 was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint inhibitory genes. In addition, the aggressive and immune inhibitory effects shown in SNRPA1 overexpression and the effect of SNRPA1 on ccRCC cell line invasion, metastasis, and drug sensitivity in vitro were observed. Moreover, SNRPA1 was related to Myc, MTORC, G2M, E2F, and DNA repair pathways in various cancer types. In all, SNRPA1 may prove to be a new biomarker for prognostic prediction, effect tumor immunity, and drug susceptibility in ccRCC.

Oral Microbiota Changes Contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mice

The oral microbiota has been implicated in various neurologic conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a category of neurodevelopmental disorders defined by core behavioral impairments. Recent data propose the etiopathogenetic role of intestinal microbiota in ASD. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the oral microbiota contributes to the pathogenesis of ASD. On the basis of microbial changes detected in the oral cavity of children with ASD, we transferred oral microbiota from donors with ASD and typical development (TD) into an antibiotic-mediated microbiota-depleted mouse model and found that the ASD microbiota is sufficient to induce ASD-like behaviors, such as impaired social behavior. Mice receiving oral microbiota from the ASD donor showed significantly different microbiota structures in their oral cavity and intestinal tract as compared with those receiving TD microbiota and those not receiving any bacterium. The prefrontal cortex of ASD microbiota recipient mice displayed an alternative transcriptional profile with significant upregulation of serotonin-related gene expression, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and TGF-β signaling pathway relative to that in TD microbiota recipient mice. The expression of serotonin-related genes was significantly increased in ASD microbiota recipient mice and was associated with selective autistic behaviors and changes in abundance of specific oral microbiota, including species of Bacteroidetes [G-7], Porphyromonas, and Tannerella. Machine learning based on the causal inference method confirmed a contributing role of Porphyromonas sp. HMT 930 in ASD. Taken together, the oral microbiota of children with ASD can lead to ASD-like behaviors, differences in microbial community structures, and altered neurosignaling activities in recipient mice; this highlights the mouth-microbial-brain connections in the development of neuropathology and provides a novel strategy to fully understand the etiologic mechanism of ASD.

Establishment of a Prognostic Prediction and Drug Selection Model for Patients with Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma by Multiomics Data Analysis

METHODS

This study was based on the multiomics data (including mRNA, lncRNA, miRNA, methylation, and WES) of 258 ccRCC patients from TCGA database. Firstly, we screened the feature values that had impact on the prognosis and obtained two subtypes. Then, we used 10 algorithms to achieve multiomics clustering and conducted pseudotiming analysis to further validate the robustness of our clustering method, based on which the two subtypes of ccRCC patients were further subtyped. Meanwhile, the immune infiltration was compared between the two subtypes, and drug sensitivity and potential drugs were analyzed. Furthermore, to analyze the heterogeneity of patients at the multiomics level, biological functions between two subtypes were compared. Finally, Boruta and PCA methods were used for dimensionality reduction and cluster analysis to construct a renal cancer risk model based on mRNA expression.

RESULTS

A prognosis predicting model of ccRCC was established by dividing patients into the high- and low-risk groups. It was found that overall survival (OS) and progression-free interval (PFI) were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.01). The area under the OS time-dependent ROC curve for 1, 3, 5, and 10 years in the training set was 0.75, 0.72, 0.71, and 0.68, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The model could precisely predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients and may have implications for drug selection for ccRCC patients.

Establishment of a prognosis Prediction Model Based on Pyroptosis-Related Signatures Associated With the Immune Microenvironment and Molecular Heterogeneity in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background

Pyroptosis is essential for tumorigenesis and progression of neoplasm. However, the heterogeneity of pyroptosis and its relationship with the tumor microenvironment (TME) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to identify pyroptosis-related subtypes and construct a prognosis prediction model based on pyroptosis signatures.

Methods

First, heterogenous pyroptosis subgroups were explored based on 33 pyroptosis-related genes and ccRCC samples from TCGA, and the model established by LASSO regression was verified by the ICGC database. Then, the clinical significance, functional status, immune infiltration, cell–cell communication, genomic alteration, and drug sensitivity of different subgroups were further analyzed. Finally, the LASSO-Cox algorithm was applied to narrow down the candidate genes to develop a robust and concise prognostic model.

Results

Two heterogenous pyroptosis subgroups were identified: pyroptosis-low immunity-low C1 subtype and pyroptosis-high immunity-high C2 subtype. Compared with C1, C2 was associated with a higher clinical stage or grade and a worse prognosis. More immune cell infiltration was observed in C2 than that in C1, while the response rate in the C2 subgroup was lower than that in the C1 subgroup. Pyroptosis-related genes were mainly expressed in myeloid cells, and T cells and epithelial cells might influence other cell clusters via the pyroptosis-related pathway. In addition, C1 was characterized by MTOR and ATM mutation, while the characteristics of C2 were alterations in SPEN and ROS1 mutation. Finally, a robust and promising pyroptosis-related prediction model for ccRCC was constructed and validated.

Conclusion

Two heterogeneous pyroptosis subtypes were identified and compared in multiple omics levels, and five pyroptosis-related signatures were applied to establish a prognosis prediction model. Our findings may help better understand the role of pyroptosis in ccRCC progression and provide a new perspective in the management of ccRCC patients.

Post-procedure anticoagulation in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Post-procedural anticoagulation (PPAC) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may prevent recurrent ischemic events but may increase the risk of bleeding. No consensus has been reached on PPAC use.

Methods

Using data from the CCC-ACS registry, conducted between 2014 and 2019, we stratified all STEMI patients who underwent pPCI according to the use of PPAC or not. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Cox proportional hazards model with hospital as random effect were used to analyze differences in in-hospital clinical outcomes: the primary efficacy endpoint was mortality, and the primary safety endpoint was major bleeding.

Results

Of 34,826 evaluable patients 26,272 (75.4%) were treated with PPAC, and were on average younger, more stable at admission with lower bleeding risk score, more likely to have comorbidities and multivessel disease, and more often treated within 12 hours of symptom onset than those without PPAC. After IPTW adjustment for baseline differences, PPAC was associated with significantly reduced risk of in-hospital mortality (0.9% vs. 1.8%; hazard ratio (HR): 0.62 [95% confidence interval 0.43, 0.89]; p&lt;0.001) and a nonsignificant difference in risk of in-hospital major bleeding (2.5% vs. 2.2%; HR: 1.05 [0.83, 1.32]; p=0.14).

Conclusions

PPAC in STEMI patients after pPCI was associated with reduced mortality without increasing major bleeding complications. Dedicated randomized trials with contemporary STEMI management are needed to confirm these findings.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China – Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS) project is a collaborative study of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC). The AHA has been funded by Pfizer and AstraZeneca for quality improvement initiatives through an independent grant. In-hospital clinical outcomes

DDX39 as a predictor of clinical prognosis and immune checkpoint therapy efficacy in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

DEAD-box protein 39 (DDX39) has been demonstrated to be a tumorigenic gene in multiple tumor types, but its role in the progression and immune microenvironment of clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of DDX39 in the ccRCC tumor progression, immune microenvironment and efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy.

The DDX39 expression level was first detected in tumors in the public data and then verified in ccRCC samples from Changzheng Hospital. The prognostic value of DDX39 expression was assessed in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and ccRCC patients from Changhai Hospital. The role of DDX39 in promoting ccRCC was analyzed by bioinformatic analysis and in vitro experiments. The association between DDX39 expression and immune cell infiltration and immune inhibitory markers was analyzed, and its value in predicting the immune checkpoint therapy efficacy in ccRCC were evaluated in the public database. DDX39 expression was elevated in Oncomine, GEO and TCGA ccRCC databases, as well as in Changzheng ccRCC samples. In TCGA ccRCC patients, increased DDX39 expression predicted worse overall survival (OS) (p<0.0001) and progression-free interval (PFI) (p<0.0001), and was shown as an independent predictive factor for OS (p=0.002). These findings were consistent with those from Changhai ccRCC patients. In addition, GO and GSEA analysis identified DDX39 as a pro-ccRCC gene. In vitro experiments confirmed the role of DDX39 in promoting ccRCC cell. Finally, DDX39 was found to be positively correlated with a variety of immune inhibitory markers, and could predict the adverse efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy in TIDE analysis. In conclusion, Increased DDX39 in ccRCC patients predicted worse clinical prognosis, promoted ccRCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and also predicted adverse efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy.

[Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on the long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: This is a single-center, prospective cohort study. Between June 2015 to January 2020, consecutive ACS patients hospitalized at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University were enrolled. All patients underwent portable sleep breathing monitoring, and they were then divided into moderate/severe OSA group (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥15 events/hour) and no/mild OSA group (AHI<15 events/hour). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization and hospital admission for unstable angina or heart failure. MACCE were compared yearly by the log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the independent predictors of MACCE. Results: A total of 1 927 patients with ACS were enrolled, including 1 629 males (84.5%), aged (56.4±10.5) years. Moderate/severe OSA was present in 1 014 (52.6%) patients. Compared with no/mild OSA group, moderate/severe OSA group exhibited a higher body mass index (P<0.05). Hypertension, prior PCI were more prevalent in moderate/severe OSA group (both P<0.05). The difference of ACS category between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.021). The rate of patients who underwent PCI and the number of stents were higher in the moderate/severe OSA group. During a 5-year follow-up (median 2.9 years (IQR 1.5-3.6 years)), the cumulative incidence of MACCE was significantly higher in the moderate/severe OSA group than in the no/mild OSA group (34.0% vs. 24.0%, HR=1.346, 95%CI 1.100-1.646, log-rank P=0.004). The cumulative incidence of MACCE remained statistically higher at 4 and 5 year in the moderate/severe OSA group as compared to the no/mild OSA group (33.3% vs. 22.9%, HR=1.397, 95%CI 1.141-1.710, log-rank P=0.001; 34.0% vs. 24.0%, HR=1.341, 95%CI 1.096-1.640, log-rank P=0.004, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that moderate/severe OSA (HR=1.312, 95%CI 1.054-1.631, P=0.015) was an independent predictor of long-term MACCE in ACS patients. Conclusions: Moderate/severe OSA is observed in more than 52% ACS patients. Moderate/severe OSA is an independent predictor of long-term MACCE.

Superficial versus deep system single venous anastomosis in the radial forearm free flap: a meta-analysis

The selection of the superficial or deep drainage system for use with the radial forearm free flap (RFFF) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal drainage system for single venous anastomosis. A systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis was performed to assess superficial and deep system single venous anastomosis for use with the RFFF in postoperative reconstruction of the head and neck. This study included 1073 flaps (495 superficial system-based flaps, 578 deep system-based flaps) reported in six studies. The outcomes assessed in the studies selected for this meta-analysis included venous compromise, flap failure, and the salvage success rate. Venous compromise was more common in the superficial system group (odds ratio (OR) 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-3.86, P=0.002). The rate of successful salvage was higher with the superficial system (OR 8.19, 95% CI 1.75-38.3, P=0.008). The rate of flap failure was lower in the superficial system group (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.04-2.48, P=0.27). Although the deep system showed a lower risk of venous compromise, the evidence provided by the meta-analysis was insufficient to determine which type of drainage system is more suitable for single venous anastomosis in RFFF. All included studies were cohort studies; therefore, findings must be interpreted with caution.

Iron induces two distinct Ca2+ signalling cascades in astrocytes

Iron is the fundamental element for numerous physiological functions. Plasmalemmal divalent metal ion transporter 1 (DMT1) is responsible for cellular uptake of ferrous (Fe2+), whereas transferrin receptors (TFR) carry transferrin (TF)-bound ferric (Fe3+). In this study we performed detailed analysis of the action of Fe ions on cytoplasmic free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) in astrocytes. Administration of Fe2+ or Fe3+ in μM concentrations evoked [Ca2+]i in astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. Iron ions trigger increase in [Ca2+]i through two distinct molecular cascades. Uptake of Fe2+ by DMT1 inhibits astroglial Na+-K+-ATPase, which leads to elevation in cytoplasmic Na+ concentration, thus reversing Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and thereby generating Ca2+ influx. Uptake of Fe3+ by TF-TFR stimulates phospholipase C to produce inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3), thus triggering InsP3 receptor-mediated Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum. In summary, these findings reveal the mechanisms of iron-induced astrocytic signalling operational in conditions of iron overload.

ORAOV1-B Promotes OSCC Metastasis via the NF-κB-TNFα Loop

Metastasis, a powerful prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is chiefly responsible for poor cancer outcomes. Despite an increasing number of studies examining the mechanisms underlying poor outcomes, the development of potent strategies is hindered by insufficient characterization of the crucial regulators. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been gaining interest as significant modulators of OSCC metastasis; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated OSCC metastasis remain relatively uncharacterized. Here, we identified a novel alternative splice variant of oral cancer overexpressed 1 (ORAOV1), named as ORAOV1-B, which was subsequently validated as an lncRNA and correlated with OSCC lymph node metastasis; significantly increased invasion and migration were observed in ORAOV1-B-overexpressing OSCC cells. RNA pulldown and mass spectrometry identified Hsp90 as a direct target of ORAOV1-B, and cDNA microarrays suggested TNFα as a potential downstream target of ORAOV1-B. ORAOV1-B was shown to directly bind to and stabilize Hsp90, which maintains the function of client proteins, receptor-interaction protein, and IκB kinase beta, thus activating the NF-κB pathway and inducing TNFα. Additionally, TNFα reciprocally enhanced p-NF-κB-p65 and the downstream epithelial-mesenchymal transition. ORAOV1-B effects were reversed by a TNFα inhibitor, demonstrating that TNFα is essential for ORAOV1-B-regulated metastatic ability. Consistent epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the ORAOV1-B group was demonstrated via an orthotopic model. In the metastatic model, ORAOV1-B significantly contributed to OSCC-related lung metastasis. In summary, the novel splice variant ORAOV1-B is an lncRNA, which significantly potentiates OSCC invasion and metastasis by binding to Hsp90 and activating the NF-κB-TNFα loop. These findings demonstrate the versatile role of ORAOV1 family members and the significance of genes located within 11q13 in promoting OSCC. ORAOV1-B might serve as an attractive OSCC metastasis intervention target.

[Pathogens' distribution and changes of antimicrobial resistance in the bile of acute biliary tract infection patients]

Objective: To investigate the pathogens' distribution and antimicrobial resistance in the bile of acute biliary tract infection patients. Methods: The data of bile bacterial culture and drug sensitivity test of 223 acute biliary tract infection patients who underwent gallbladder puncture or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography drainage from July 2009 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively at Department of General Surgery,Xinhua Hospital,Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.There were 141 males and 82 females with age of 67.3 years(range:28 to 93 years).Three to five milliliter of bile was extracted from each patient and sent to the laboratory for bacterial culture,identification and drug sensitivity test.The patients were divided into two groups according to the visiting time: the former group (n=124) was admitted from July 2009 to July 2014,and the latter group(n=99) was admitted from August 2014 to July 2019.The distribution of pathogenic bacteria and the changing trend of drug resistance rate of common bacteria in the two groups were compared.The results of drug sensitivity test were analyzed by WHONET software provided by WHO bacterial surveillance network.The drug resistance rates in different time periods were compared by χ² test. Results: In this study,there were 147 cases of acute cholangitis and 76 cases of acute cholecystitis.A total of 376 strains of pathogenic bacteria were cultured.Among them,98 strains(26.1%) were gram-positive bacteria,269 strains(71.5%) were gram-negative bacteria and 9 strains(2.4%) were fungi.The top three gram-positive bacteria were Enterococcus faecium (49.0%,48/98),Enterococcus faecalis(20.4%,20/98),and Enterococcus luteus(7.1%,7/98).The top 5 gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli(33.5%,90/269),Klebsiella pneumoniae(13.8%,37/269),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(13.0%,35/269),Acinetobacter baumannii (12.6%,34/269),and Enterobacter cloacae(4.8%,13/269).From 2009 to 2019,there was no significant change in the proportion of gram-positive bacteria (former group vs. latter group: 25.3% vs. 28.2%) and gram-negative bacteria(former group vs.latter group: 74.7% vs. 71.8%) in the bile of patients with acute biliary tract infection.Gram-positive bacteria were mainly Enterococci(85.7%,84/98) and gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli(33.5%,90/269).Acinetobacter baumannii accounted for 7.8%(11/142) of gram-negative bacteria in the former group and 18.1%(23/127) in the latter group,an increase of 10.3% over previous five years.Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a downward trend,16.9% in the former group(24/142) and 8.7% in the latter group (11/127),the proportion decreased by 8.2%,and the other changes were not significant.The drug resistance rates of common gram-positive bacteria were relatively stable,and the drug resistance rates of Enterococcus faecium to many antibiotics were higher than those of Enterococcus faecalis.The resistance rates of gram-negative bacteria to most antibiotics showed an upward trend,among which Klebsiella pneumoniae showed an upward trend to most of antibiotics(former group: 0/15－4/13, latter group: 55.0%－70.0%; χ²=3.996－16.942, P=0.000－0.046).The drug resistance rates of Acinetobacter baumannii was generally higher,but there were no significant changes in the drug resistance rates of Acinetobacter baumannii between the two groups.The drug resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to most antibiotics increased,and the overall drug resistance rates of Escherichia coli were stable and showed a slight upward trend. Conclusions: The main pathogens in bile of patients with acute biliary tract infection are gram-negative bacteria.The constituent ratio of various gram-negative bacteria had no significant change from 2009 to 2019,but the drug resistance rates shows an upward trend.Among the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli is the most important pathogen,and the proportion has no significant change.The proportion of Acinetobacter baumannii in the former group was significantly higher than that in the former group.And the proportion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a decreased trend.

Iatrogenic Iron Promotes Neurodegeneration and Activates Self-Protection of Neural Cells against Exogenous Iron Attacks

Metal implants are used worldwide, with millions of nails, plates, and fixtures grafted during orthopedic surgeries. Iron is the most common element of these metal implants. As time passes, implants can be corroded and iron can be released. Ionized iron permeates the surrounding tissues and enters circulation; importantly, iron ions pass through the blood-brain barrier. Can iron from implants represent a risk factor for neurological diseases? This remains an unanswered question. In this study, we discovered that patients with metal implants delivered through orthopedic surgeries have higher incidence of Parkinson's disease or ischemic stroke compared to patients who underwent similar surgeries but did not have implants. Concentration of serum iron and ferritin was increased in subjects with metal implants. In experiments in vivo, we found that injection of iron dextran selectively decreased the presence of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) in neurons through increasing the expression of Ndfip1, which degrades DMT1 and does not exist in glial cells. At the same time, excess of iron increased expression of DMT1 in astrocytes and microglial cells and triggered reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis. Facing the attack of excess iron, glial cells act as neuroprotectors to accumulate more extracellular iron by upregulating DMT1, whereas neurons limit iron uptake through increasing DMT1 degradation. Cerebral accumulation of iron in animals is associated with impaired cognition, locomotion, and mood. Excess iron from surgical implants thus can affect neural cells and may be regarded as a risk factor for neurodegeneration.

[Effects of occupational nickel exposure on glycemic parameters in workers]

Objective: To explore the effect of occupational nickel exposure on blood glucose related indicators of workers. Methods: In March 2019, five electroplating enterprises and one plastic hardware enterprise were selected by cluster sampling method. 159 nickel plating workers were selected as the contact group, and 66 administrative personnel of the same enterprise were selected as the control group. The serum nickel concentration, fasting blood glucose (FPG) , fasting insulin (FIns) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured in the contact group and the control group. The differences of blood glucose related indexes between the two groups were compared, and the risk factors of abnormal blood glucose indexes were analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the blood nickel concentration and detection rate of nickel in the contact group were higher, the levels of FIns were lower, and the proportion of HbA1c was higher in the contact group (P<0.05) . Stratified analysis showed that compared with the control group, the blood glucose index of men in the contact group changed significantly (P<0.05) ; logistic regression analysis showed that male was an independent influencing factor for decreased FIns (OR=8.264, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Long term exposure to nickel can affect the blood glucose related indexes such as fins and HbA1c.

[Investigation and analysis of occupational exposure factors in an enterprise processing waste electronic products]

Objective: To identify and to analyze occupational exposure factors generating from production process in an enterprise processing waste electronic products, to provide scientific evidences for protection measures. Methods: From June to October 2017, seven waste electrical and electronic product processing enterprises in a province were selected as the research objects. These seven enterprises all include refrigerator dismantling line, washing machine dismantling line, air conditioning dismantling line, TV/computer dismantling line, CRT cutting line. Some enterprises also have circuit board line, wet precious metal recycling line, plastic crushing line, plastic granulating line and other deep processing operations such as precious metal recycling of waste circuit board, waste plastic crushing and recycling. The data were collected by the methods of occupational health field investigation and occupational health testing, and the exposure level of occupational hazard factors was evaluated by combining the effect of the protective facilities of occupational health engineering. Results: the main occupational hazard factors of waste electrical and electronic products treatment enterprises were dust, noise, heavy metal, flame retardant, mercury, fluoride, cyanide, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. 145 effective samples were obtained from heavy metal sampling, including 102 individual samples and 43 fixed-point long-term samples. Among them, 8 samples lead exceeded the standard, all occurred in the TV dismantling line. In addition to flame retardants, plasticizers, insecticides and other components can be detected by high-throughput qualitative analysis using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Finally, 123 effective 8-h equivalent sound level values were obtained by individual noise detection, 86 of which exceeded the standard, with a rate of 69.9%. Conclusion: there are potential occupational hazards in the process of dismantling waste electrical and electronic products.

Preconception use of pegvisomant alone or as combination therapy for acromegaly: a case series and review of the literature

PURPOSE

Pegvisomant (PEG) is an effective therapy for acromegaly. Its safety in women seeking fertility and during pregnancy has been scarcely reported.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed in three patients with acromegaly who received PEG while attempting to conceive. Published studies regarding this topic were analyzed.

RESULTS

Four pregnancies in three women with acromegaly are reported. In the first patient, PEG was withdrawn three days before embryo transfer in her first pregnancy and 2 weeks prior to transfer in the second pregnancy. Each transfer resulted in a healthy full-term newborn. In the second and third patients, PEG was withdrawn at diagnosis of pregnancy. No fetal complications occurred during gestations which resulted in three full-term newborns (one single and one twin pregnancy). No abnormalities in development were found in the five live births described. Few cases of pregnancies in women exposed to PEG have been reported and therefore safety cannot be clearly established. In this series, all four pregnancies had good outcomes with discontinuation of the drug before or at first knowledge of conception. A review of the literature reveals no evident drug-related abnormalities in the offspring, even in the few women with continued use of PEG throughout pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Preconception therapy with PEG resulted in successful fertility outcomes. Although few cases have been reported, these four pregnancies with PEG use prior to or at the time of conception were not associated with significant maternal or fetal complications. More studies are needed to establish the safety of PEG preconception.

[Analysis of treatment modalities and prognosis of patients with gallbladder cancer in China from 2010 to 2017]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients in China. Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolled 3 528 consecutive GBC patients diagnosed between January 2010 to December 2017 in 15 hospitals from 10 provinces. There were 1 345 (38.12%) males and 2 183 (61.88%) females.The age of diagnosis was (63.7±10.8) years old (range: 26 to 99 years old) .There were 213 patients (6.04%) in stage 0 to Ⅰ, whereas 1 059 (30.02%) in stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ, 1 874 (53.12%) in stage Ⅳ, and 382 (10.83%) unavailable. Surgery was performed on 2 255 patients (63.92%) . Three hundred and thirty-six patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy (9.52%; of which 172 were palliative); 1 101 (31.21%) received only supportive treatment.The patient source, treatment and surgery, pathology, concomitant gallstone, and prognosis were analyzed. Results: Among the 3 528 GBC patients, 959 (27.18%) were from East China, 603 (17.09%) from East-North China, 1 533 (43.45%) from Central China, and 433(12.27%) from West China. Among the 1 578 resectable tumor, 665 (42.14%) underwent radical surgery, 913 (57.86%) underwent surgery that failed to follow the guidelines.Eight hundred and ninety-one (56.46%) patients were diagnosed before surgery, 254 (16.10%) during surgery, and 381 (24.14%) after surgery (time point of diagnosis couldn't be determined in 52 patients) .Among the 1 578 patients with resectable tumor, 759 (48.10%) had concomitant gallstone.Among the 665 patients underwent radical surgery, 69 (10.4%) showed positive resection margin, 510 (76.7%) showed negative resection margin, and 86 (12.9%) unreported margin status.The 5-year overall survival rate (5yOS) for the 3 528-patient cohort was 23.0%.The 5yOS for patients with resectable tumor was 39.6%, for patients with stage ⅣB tumor without surgery was 5.4%, and for patients with stage ⅣB tumor underwent palliative surgery was 4.7%. Conclusions: More than half GBC patients in China are diagnosed in stage Ⅳ.Curative intent surgery is valuable in improving prognosis of resectable GBC.The treatment of GBC needs further standardization.Effective comprehensive treatment for GBC is in urgent need.

The importance of proper and prompt treatment of ocular syphilis: a lesson from permanent vision loss in 52 eyes

BACKGROUND

Ocular involvement can occur at any stage of syphilis. Prompt diagnosis and proper treatment of ocular syphilis are vital to avoid long-term consequences.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the risk factors for ocular syphilis and clinical features of blindness caused by syphilis.

METHODS

We report risk factors for ocular syphilis amongst patients seen at the Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital between October 2009 and October 2017. We identify patients with ocular syphilis resulting in blindness and report the clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and treatment outcomes of these patients.

RESULTS

A total of 8310 new cases of syphilis were seen, of which 213 patients had ocular disease and 50 patients had blindness due to syphilis. Increasing age and higher RPR titres were associated with ocular involvement but there was no association with HIV status. Blindness in syphilis was restricted predominantly to patients with optic nerve involvement and not patients with isolated uveitis. Fifty patients (and a total of 67 eyes) met the WHO definition of blindness prior to treatment for syphilis. At the end of follow-up, vision had improved in 24 of 67 eyes (35.8%) after treatment. Successful treatment of uveitis was associated with the best improvement in visual acuity, whilst patient with underlying optic atrophy prior to treatment had the worst visual outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Ocular involvement is an important manifestation of syphilis which may result in blindness. Our data demonstrate outcomes for ocular syphilis are poor if detected late; early recognition and diagnosis is therefore vital to avoid permanent visual loss.

De novo transcriptome characterisation of two auxin-related genes associated with plant growth habit in Astragalus adsurgens Pall

Astragalus adsurgens Pall., a perennial legume native to China, is commonly used as a forage crop. And it has great value for sustainable development of grasslands in arid and semi arid regions. However, to date, little is known regarding the A. adsurgens genome, and no studies have determined whether it would be possible to improve the germplasm of A. adsurgens through genetic modification. In this study, we used an RNA-seq protocol to generate a de novo transcriptome including 151,516 unigenes of A. adsurgens. We compared the transcriptomes of A. adsurgens having different growth habits (prostrate/erect) and identified 14,133 single nucleotide polymorphism sites (SNP) in 8,139 unigenes. Differential expression gene (DEG) analysis suggested that 10,982 unigenes were up-regulated in the prostrate plant relative to the erect plant, while 10,607 unigenes were down-regulated. Of the 21,589 DEG, Unigene72782_All (LAX4) and CL12494.Contig3_All (TIR1), an auxin transporter gene and an auxin transport inhibitor gene, respectively, were predicted to influence the growth habit of A. adsurgens, which were verified by qRT-PCR in these phenotypes. These results suggest that auxin transport was more active in the prostrate plant than in the erect plant, resulting in asymmetric distribution of auxin that affects the growth habit of A. adsurgens. Overall, this study may provide a basis for future research on key genes in A. adsurgens and may deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating plant growth habit.

Piperine, a functional food alkaloid, exhibits inhibitory potential against TNBS-induced colitis via the inhibition of IκB-α/NF-κB and induces tight junction protein (claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1) signaling pathway in experimental mice

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Piperine, an alkaloid, has been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antiulcer potential.

AIM

To elucidate the plausible mechanisms of action of piperine on experimental trinitrobenzenesufonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis by assessing various biochemical, molecular, histological, and ultrastructural modifications.

METHODS

Colitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats via intrarectal instillation of TNBS. Then, the rats were treated with piperine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days.

RESULTS

TNBS induced significant (p < 0.05) colonic damage, which was assessed by disease activity index, macroscopic score, and stool consistency. The administration of piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) these damages. Treatments with piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) notably inhibited (p < 0.05) the TNBS-induced elevation of oxido-nitrosative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide), 5-hydroxytryptamine, and hydroxyproline content in the colon. Furthermore, colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-gamma, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions were upregulated after TNBS instillation and piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly attenuated (p < 0.05) these elevated mRNA expressions. TNBS decreased the expressions of tight junction (TJ) protein (claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)) and increased the expressions of proapoptotic (caspase-1) protein. These expressions were markedly inhibited (p < 0.05) by piperine treatment. Histological and ultrastructural studies of transmission electron microscopy suggested that piperine significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05) TNBS-induced colonic aberrations.

CONCLUSION

Piperine ameliorated the progression of TNBS-induced colitis by modulating the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-alpha/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, thus inhibiting the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL's), COX-2, iNOs, oxido-nitrosative stress, and proapoptotic proteins (caspase-1) that may improve the expression of TJ protein (claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1).

Estimation of invasion depth of early colorectal cancer using EUS and NBI-ME: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and narrow band imaging-magnifying endoscopy (NBI-ME) are often used as diagnostic tools to estimate the depth of invasion in early colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to compare NBI-ME with EUS in distinguishing between slight submucosal invasion (invasion depth < 1000 μm) and massive submucosal invasion in patients with early CRC, since slight submucosal invasion is currently considered as an indication for endoscopic resection.

METHODS

For this meta-analysis, relevant studies were identified from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library databases between January 1997 and September 2016. Data on the yield of tumors were extracted, pooled, and analyzed by stata12.0 software. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio in differentiating slight submucosal invasion from massive submucosal invasion were calculated for both diagnostic modalities.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies involving 2197 lesions were included: nine were studies on EUS and 7 were studies on NBI-ME. The pooled sensitivity of EUS was 0.902 (95% CI 0.863-0.930), the specificity was 0.877 (95% CI 0.810-0.922), the positive likelihood ratio was 7.314 (95% CI 4.551-11.755) and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.112 (95% CI 0.076-0.164). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of NBI-ME were 0.981 (95% CI 0.949-0.993) and 0.651 (95% CI 0.600-0.699), respectively, the positive likelihood ratio was 2.815 (95% CI 2.432-3.258) and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.029 (95% CI 0.010-0.080).

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity tended to be higher in ME-NBI than EUS for early CRC with slight submucosal invasion, whereas the specificity was significantly lower in NBI-ME than in EUS.

Clinical characteristics and treatments of patients with alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric carcinoma

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-known tumor marker of hepatic carcinoma and yolk sac tumor. Alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric carcinoma (AFPGC) is a rare type of gastric cancer with high malignancy and poor prognosis, which make it different from other types of gastric cancer. This rare gastric cancer patient subgroup is likely frequently misdiagnosed which may be related to lack of knowledge of the disease. The purpose of this article is to summarize the mechanism of AFP positive gastric cancer, classification, biological behavior and treatment, in order to assist clinical practitioners to detect AFPGC earlier and treat it better. Previous studies have showed that AFPGC has a complex pathophysiology mechanism. AFPGC is more aggressive and characterized by stronger proliferation, neovascularization, lymphatic invasion and distant metastasis. Furthermore, so far there has been no standard treatment for patients with AFPGC. Nevertheless, our present study summarizes some effective treatments based on previous research outcome. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the importance of detecting AFP routinely in serum and tissues in gastric cancer cases, which will greatly improve the diagnosis rate of AFPGC, and in regards to treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and interventional treatment may have positive impacts on AFPGC treatment outcome. However, further study with a larger sample is required to confirm the reliability and validity of these methods.

Downregulated vimentin and upregulated E-cadherin in T1 stage non-small-cell lung cancer: does it suggest a mesenchymal-epithelial transition?

Lung cancer has been a major threat to human health worldwide. Vimentin (VIM) and E-cadherin (E-cad) are molecular markers that play important roles in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which has been shown to be correlated with tumor progression. Herein, we investigated the associations between clinicopathological parameters and VIM/E-cad expression in primary T1 stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Real-time PCR was performed on RNA extracted from tumor tissue isolated from 54 patients with T1 stage NSCLC. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein levels of VIM and E-cad. The paired-samples t-test, independent-samples t- test, Kappa test, and nonparametric test were used to perform statistical analyses. The expression of VIM were lower (P<0.001) and that of E-cad was higher (P<0.001) in tumor tissue when compared with the normal tissue at the transcriptional level. The RNA of VIM in adenocarcinomas was significantly higher than that found in squamous cell carcinomas (P<0.01). Moreover, the level of metastasis observed in the lymph node was significantly higher than that observed in metastasis outside of the lymph node (P<0.05). Vimentin protein had a lower profile in the tumor tissue, and the protein level of E-cad was higher in the tumor tissue. The IHC score of VIM in tumor tissue was found associated with both the pathological type and smoke index, and the score of E-cad was found to be related to visceral pleura involvement. In conclusions, VIM is downregulated and E-cad is upregulated in T1 stage NSCLC. Our study results suggest that a mesenchymal-epithelial transition may take place in the early-stage of tumor development, and that EMT occurs when the tumor develops into a certain stage.

[The role of anatomical hepatectomy in the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma]

Objective: To evaluate the role of anatomical hepatectomy in the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: The cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who received curative surgery in two hospitals from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the 98 patients enrolled in this study, 55 were male and 43 were female. The median age was 61 years. According to receiving anatomical hepatectomy or not, the 98 cases were divided into two groups: non-anatomical hepatectomy(n=30) and anatomical hepatectomy(n=68). The surgical results were compared between the two groups.Survival curves were plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. The influence of each prognostic factor identified by univariate analysis was multivariate analysis by Cox's proportional hazard regression. Results: The duration of surgery was significantly prolonged in the anatomical hepatectomy group((196.4±94.9)minutes vs. (166.2±65.7)minutes, P=0.027), while there was no significant difference in terms of other surgical results such as intraoperative blood transfusion, postoperative morbidity and mortality rate. Compared to non-anatomical hepatectomy, anatomical hepatectomy significantly improved long-term survival results(14 months vs. 11 months)(χ²=4.641, P=0.031). Single variable analysis indicated that tumor differentiation, tumor numbers, T stage, N stage, anatomical hepatectomy and adjuvant therapy significantly affected overall survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor numbers(HR=0.522, 95% CI: 0.259-0.974, P=0.042) and anatomical hepatectomy(HR=1.858, 95%CI: 1.092-3.161, P=0.022) were two independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusion: Compared to non-anatomical hepatectomy, anatomical hepatectomy performed for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is not only safe but also beneficial for long-term survival.

[Diagnosis and treatment for unexpected gallbladder carcinoma(a retrospective study of 45 cases)]

Objective: To investigate the rationale for appropriate diagnostic methods and treatment protocols for unexpected gallbladder carcinoma(UGC). Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 45 patients with UGC admitted at Department of General Surgery, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,from January 2008 to December 2017 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.There were 11 males(28.9%) and 34 females(71.1%),aged 68 years(range:27 to 68 years).And there were 20 cases who aged above 70 years. Twenty-four cases were diagnosed preoperatively as cholecystolithiasis plus chronic cholecystitis.Ten cases were diagnosed preoperatively as cholecystolithiasis plus actue cholecystitis.Six cases were diagnosed preoperatively as cholecystolithiasis plus choledocholith.Six cases were admitted because of gallbladder polyp and 1 case was admitted because of gallbladder adenomyomatosis. Results: Thirty-four patients with UGC received radical surgery.Among them,11 patients experienced postoperative complication and no posterative mortality occoured during hospital stay.Thirteen patients were diagnosed with T1b UGC, the harvested lymph node of Nx, N0, N1 and N2 was 2, 9, 1 and 1, respectively.In addition, 2 cases were identified to have local-regional tumor recurrence during our rescue radical surgery.The median overall survival time of the patients who did not receive radical surgery was 7 months(range:2-56 months).Nevertheless,the median overall survival time for patients diagnosed with T1, T2 and T3 tumors who received radical surgery, was 41 months(range: 19-82 months), 33.5 months(range: 31-36 months) and 17 months(range: 7-46 months), respectively. Conclusions: For patients with UGC, rescue radical surgery can achieve a better survival time.Furhtermore, our experience proved that rescue radical surgery for UGC is safe and feasible.Therefore,rescue radical surgery should be performed in patients with diagnose with UGC especially those T1b patients.

[Research progress of dyskeratosis congenita]

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare disease and a genetic heterogeneity of bone marrow failure, characterized by muco-cutaneous triad of mucosal leukoplakia, abnormal skin pigmentation, nails dystrophy and often involving multiple organs or systems. The inheritance patterns of DC include X-linked recessive, autosomal dominant and recessive patterns. However, the inheritance patterns in 30%-40% of DC patients remained unknown. Dyskeratosis congenita is difficult to diagnose because of its genetic and clinical heterogeneity. This article will review and discuss the state-of-the-art progresses in genetics, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of DC.

Intraoperative adjunctive techniques to reduce seroma formation in laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Seroma formation is the most common postoperative complication after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Recurrence and seroma formation may be difficult to distinguish. Many adjunctive techniques with which to reduce the incidence of seroma formation after laparoscopic inguinal repair have been described in the literature; however, the evidence for using intraoperative adjunctive techniques is limited. Therefore, the present systematic review was performed to evaluate the effects and limitations of adjunctive techniques used during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

METHODS

Major databases (PubMed, Embase, Springer, and Cochrane Library) were searched using the terms "seroma," "laparoscopic inguinal hernia", "TAPP", "TEP", "inguinal hernia", "tack", "barbed suture", "drainage", "Endoloop technique", and "fibrin sealant". All studies involving adults undergoing laparoscopic/endoscopic inguinal hernioplasty with at least one intervention designed to reduce seroma formation were included.

RESULTS

Of the 965 studies identified, 8 met the inclusion criteria. Six adjunctive techniques were described in the literature. Transversalis fascia (TF) inversion with tacking: one prospective non-randomized controlled study revealed a lower incidence of postoperative seroma after TF inversion with tacking for direct inguinal hernias (4.17% vs. 14.29%, P < 0.05). Endoloop technique: one prospective study of 76 cases involving this technique revealed a low incidence of seroma formation (3.9% at 2 weeks) in direct hernias. Barbed suture closure of TF: one prospective study of 36 direct hernias reported only one clinical palpable seroma that resolved 1 month later. Surgical drains: three trials reported the results of drains, and the pooling results demonstrated significantly less seroma formation in patients with surgical drains (2.1 vs. 23.8%; odds ratio 0.12; 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.19; P < 0.0001). Fibrin sealant: one prospective clinical study of 40 patients with indirect inguinal hernias reported a lower volume (P < 0.001) and lower incidence (5% vs. 15%) of seroma formation in the fibrin group. Distal sac fixation technique: in one prospective study of six patients with large inguinoscrotal hernias, one patient developed a seroma on postoperative day 8.

CONCLUSION

Seroma formation is a natural process that cannot be completely prevented following laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty, especially in patients with direct and large indirect inguinal hernias. Some intraoperative adjunctive techniques are effective in reducing clinically palpable seroma formation in select patients. More randomized controlled trials are needed for further evaluation.

[History, current situation and bottleneck of the diagnosis and treatment system of hepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma in Japan]

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is one of the most difficult malignant tumors to treat in the biliary system. In Japan, 5-year survival rate of the disease has increased from 32.5% to 67.1% during the past 30 years. The impressive progress reflects the solid efforts in preoperative endoscopic diagnosis, innovation in surgery such as PTPE as well as hepato-pancreatoduodenectomy and perioperative treatment including replacement of the bile and synbiotic treatment, which have finally formed a set of standardized diagnosis and treatment systems. The present review intends to report the history, current status and remaining bottlenecks of the diagnosis and treatment system of hilar cholangiocarcinoma in Japan as follows.

[Association between hypothyroidism and sleep breathing disorders in patients with coronary heart disease]

Objective: To explore the association between hypothyroidism and sleep breathing disorders in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: A total of 784 patients with CHD were consecutively enrolled at the Emergency & Critical Care Center of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 2015 to May 2017. According to thyroid function test results, patients were divided into hypothyroidism group (79 cases) and non-hypothyroidism group (705 cases). All patients had undergone sleep monitoring. The sleep apnea status was compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression and linear regression models were used to analyze the association between hypothyroidism and sleep breathing disorders in patients with CHD. Results: The proportion of females, mean body weight and body mass index in the hypothyroidism group were higher than those in the non-hypothyroidism group [26.6% vs.16.2%, (78.6±11.6) kg vs. (75.7±12.0) kg, (27.7±3.2) kg/m(2) vs. (26.6±3.5) kg/m(2), all P<0.05]. Patients in hypothyroidism group had a decreased average oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) compared with patients in non-hypothyroidism group [ (93.2±2.9) % vs. (93.9±2.0) %, P=0.030]. In addition, events of hypoventilation in hypothyroidism group were significantly higher than those in non-hypothyroidism group[92.5 (45.8, 758.3) times vs. 68.0 (33.0, 125.0) times, P=0.013]. There were no significant differences in apnea hypopnea index, diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep breathing parameters between the two groups (P>0.05). A multiple linear regression analysis found that in patients with CHD, the correlation between hypothyroidism and average sleep SaO(2) was significant (β=-0.508, 95%CI -0.989--0.026, P=0.039). Conclusions: CHD patients with hypothyroidism had a lower sleep average SaO(2), and a higher sleep hypopnea events. There is a correlation between hypothyroidism and sleep hypoxia in patients with CHD. Clinical trial registration: clinicalTrials.gov, NCT03362385.

Retrospective study of porcine circovirus 3 infection in China

PCV3 is an emerging swine virus associated with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), reproductive failure, respiratory diseases and systematic inflammation. Although first identified in 2015, the earliest case has been traced back to 2009 in the United States. In China, PCV3 infection was first detected in 2015, but little information has been available about its occurrence and prevalence there before 2015. In this study, 200 porcine clinical samples collected from 20 provinces, five autonomous regions and four municipalities between 1990 and 1999 were analysed for PCV3 infection by PCR. Results showed that 6.5% of the porcine samples collected from eight provinces and one autonomous region were PCV3 positive, with the earliest cases occurring in 1996. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that PCV3 strains obtained in this study shared 96.6%-99.7% and 97.1%-99.4% sequence identity at the ORF2 gene and genome levels with all available reference strains from China and other countries, indicating the high genetic stability of PCV3 over the past 20 years.