Objective To investigate the relative analysis of prognostic factors in primary anorectal malignant melanoma (AMM). Method Twenty-seven patients with AMM were treated, Log-rank and COX analysis were used to find out the relationship of ten factors to survival. Results Log-rank analysis found five of ten factors affecting survival, they were age of patient,diameter of tumor, infiltrated depth,pathological staging and metastasis (P<0.05 or<0.01), while COX analysis only found the diameter of tumor and infiltrated depth had close relationship to survival (P<0.05 or<0.01). Conclusion The diameter of tumor and infiltrated depth are the main factors affecting the survival of AMM, and this indicates the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To Explore the significance of successful exposing and recognizing Zuckerkandl's tuhercle(ZT)during thyroidectomy.Methods Three hundred and seventy patients(501 sides) underwent lobectomy or total thyroidectomy from January 2009 to June 2011 were included in this study.The ZT was assessed in terms of its presence or absence,size and anatomical association with the recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN)and superior parathyroid(SP).Results ZTs were found in 412 of 501 sides ( 82.2％ ),among which 368(89.3％ ) ZTs were located in the middle third of the lateral lobe of the thyroid gland.ZTs passed over the RLN in 379 of 412 sides(92.0％ ).When the ZTs were located in the middle or lower third of the lateral lobe of the thyroid gland,the SPs were all located in the cranial portion of ZT.The SP was adhered to the ZT in 80.1％ of the cases.RLN damage rate was 0.40％,and no SP damage occurred.Conclusion Exposing and recognizing Zuckerkandl's tubercle during thyroidectomy is of important clinical significance,which helps to identify and protect RLN and SP,so as to reduce surgical complications.

The expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), serine-threonine kinase (Akt), 4E-binding protein (4EBP1), phophorylated ribosomal protein S6 kinasel (p70S6Kl) and ribosomal protein S6 ( S6) were detected with immunohistochemistry in 48 cases of human breast cancer. Tumors high-expressing HER2 showed higher Akt expression as compared to tumors with negative HER2 (P < 0. 01). Levels of Akt were correlated with the downstream molecules 4EBP1 ( P < 0. 01) and p70S6K ( P < 0. 05 ). 4EBP1 was mainly expressed in poorly differentiated tumors (P <0. 01) and correlated with tumor size ( P < 0. 05) , lymph node metastasis ( P < 0. 01) and locoregional recurrences ( P < 0. 01). Results suggest that 4EBPl may be the main factor in PI-phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mammalian targot of rapanycin signal transduction pathways, which is associated with grade of malignancy and prognosis of breast cancer.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard for nucleic acid amplification in molecular diagnostics. The PCR includes multiple reaction stages (denaturation, annealing, and extension), and a complicated thermalcycler is required to repetitively provide different temperatures for different stages for 30-40 cycles within at least 1-2 hours. Due to the complicated devices and the long amplification time, it is difficult to adopt conventional PCR in point-of-care testing (POCT). Comparing to conventional PCR, isothermal amplification is able to provide a much faster and more convenient nucleic acid detection because of highly efficient amplification at a constant reaction temperature provided by a simple heating device. When isothermal amplification is combined with microfluidics, a more competent platform for POCT can be established. For example, various diagnosis devices based on isothermal amplification have been used to rapidly and conveniently detect SARS-CoV-2 viruses. This review summarized the recent development and applications of the microfluidics-based isothermal amplification. First, different typical isothermal amplification methods and related detection methods have been introduced. Subsequently, different types of microfluidic systems with isothermal amplification were discussed based on their characteristics, for example, functionality, system structure, flow control, and operation principles. Furthermore, detection of pathogens (e.g. SARS-CoV-2 viruses) based on isothermal amplification was introduced. Finally, the combination of isothermal amplification with other new technologies, e.g. CRISPR, has been introduced as well.
COVID-19/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Microfluidics ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of LCL161, a Smac mimetic, on the proliferation and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the underlying mechanisms. 
 METHODS: The effect of LCL161 on the cell viability of HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells was measured by MTT assay. The effect of LCL161 at lower concentrations on the proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells was detected by colony formation assay. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry with PI staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by JC-1 staining. The expression of PARP, p-Akt, cIAP1 and XIAP protein was analyzed by Western blot.
 RESULTS: LCL161 displayed notable antiproliferative activity on HCC cells at the concentrations of 1-16 μmol/L (P<0.01), with IC50 values of 4.3 and 4.9 μmol/L for HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells, respectively, after treatment for 48 h. LCL161 at lower concentrations obviously inhibited the colony formation of HCC cells. LCL161 induced significant apoptosis in HCC cells (P<0.01), and resulted in the apoptotic rate at (1.5±0.8)% or (1.8±0.6)% , (15.2±2.8)% or (12.2±2.4)%, (28.7±3.0)% or (22.4±2.7)%, (34.6±2.3)% or (30.2±2.4)% for HepG2 cells or SMMC7721 cells at the concentration of 0, 2, 4 or 8 μmol/L, respectively. The result of JC-1 staining indicated that the mitochondrial membrane potential of HCC cells was reduced by LCL161. In addition, LCL161 promoted the cleavage of PARP, down-regulated the protein expression of p-Akt, and degraded cIAP1.
 CONCLUSION LCL161 possesses significant anti-proliferative activity and pro-apoptotic action in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells, which might be correlated with reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, down-regulation of p-Akt and degradation of cIAP1.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein

Radiotherapy uses high-energy X-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells and medical practitioners have used this approach extensively for cancer treatment (Hachadorian et al., 2020). However, it is accompanied by risks because it seriously harms normal cells while killing cancer cells. The side effects can lower cancer patients' quality of life and are very unpredictable due to individual differences (Bentzen, 2006). Therefore, it is essential to assess a patient's body damage after radiotherapy to formulate an individualized recovery treatment plan. Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be changed by radiotherapy and thus used for medical diagnosis (Vaks et al., 2012). During treatment, high-energy X-rays can induce apoptosis; meanwhile, cell membranes are damaged due to lipid peroxidation, converting unsaturated fatty acids into volatile metabolites (Losada-Barreiro and Bravo-Díaz, 2017). At the same time, radiotherapy oxidizes water, resulting in reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can increase the epithelial permeability of pulmonary alveoli, enabling the respiratory system to exhale volatile metabolites (Davidovich et al., 2013; Popa et al., 2020). These exhaled VOCs can be used to monitor body damage caused by radiotherapy.
Breath Tests/methods* ; Exhalation ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory System/chemistry* ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis*