PROPOSE: To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: GSE21164 was extracted from an online database, followed by an investigation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IPC treatment samples at 2 time points (T0T and T1T). Function and pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the DEGs. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed to identify hub genes according to 5 different algorithms, followed by enrichment analysis. In addition, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified between the T0T and T1T samples. Furthermore, a competing endogenous RNA network was predicted based on the identified lncRNA-messenger RNA (mRNA), lncRNA-microRNA (miRNA), and mRNA-miRNA relationships revealed in this study. Finally, a drug-gene network was investigated. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0. Differences between groups were determined using an unpaired t-test. p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 343 DEGs at T0 and 10 DEGs at T1 were identified and compared with their respective control groups, followed by 100 DEGs between T0T and T1T. Based on these 100 DEGs, protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed 9 hub genes, mainly with mitochondria-related functions and the carbon metabolism pathway. Six differentially expressed lncRNAs were investigated between T0T and T1T. A competing endogenous RNA network was constructed using 259 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions, including alpha-2-macroglobulin antisense RNA 1-miR-7161-5p-iron-sulfur cluster scaffold. Finally, 13 chemical drugs associated with the hub genes were explored. CONCLUSION Iron-sulfur cluster scaffold may promote IPC-induced ischemic tolerance mediated by alpha-2-macroglobulin antisense RNA 1-miR-7161-5p axis. Moreover, IPC may induce a protective response after total knee arthroplasty via mitochondria-related functions and the carbon metabolism pathway, which should be further validated in the near future.
Humans ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Protein Interaction Maps ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Gene Regulatory Networks

Personalized drug response prediction from molecular data is an important challenge in precision medicine for treating cancer. Computational methods have been widely explored and have become increasingly accurate in recent years. However, the clinical application of prediction methods is still in its infancy due to large discrepancies between preclinial models and patients. We present a novel disentangled synthesis transfer network (DiSyn) for drug response prediction specifically designed for transfer learning from preclinical models to clinical patients. DiSyn uses a domain separation network (DSN) to disentangle drug response related features, employs data synthesis technology to increase the sample size and iteratively trains for better feature disentanglement. DiSyn is pretrained on large-scale unlabeled cancer samples and validated by three datasets, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Investigation of Serial Studies to Predict Your Therapeutic Response With Imaging And moLecular Analysis 2 (I-SPY2) and Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research Patient-Derived Xenograft Encyclopedia (NIBR PDXE), achieving competitive performance with the state-of-the-art methods on cancer patients and mice. Furthermore, the application of DiSyn to thousands of breast cancer patients show the heterogeneity in drug responses and demonstrate its potential value in biomarker discovery and drug combination prediction.

Malignant tumors are a major disease threatening human health with disability and mortality rates increasing yearly.Protein tyrosine phosphatase 2(SHP2)of Src homology 2,an important member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family,has a wide range of functions,and its expression is elevated in a wide range of solid tumors.SHP2 plays an important regulatory role in invasion,metastasis,proliferation,apoptosis,and drug resistance.A large number of studies have shown that SHP2 plays a very important role in the genesis and development of many solid tumors,but no systematic studies have reported on the role of SHP2 in digestive system tumors.Here,we reviewed the biological functions and clinical significance of SHP2 in seven tumor types of the digestive system,explored its roles and mechanisms in cancer development stages,and summarized the development of SHP2 inhibitors to further search for potential targets for effective early diagnosis and gene therapy,which is of great significance to improvement the cancer patient survival rate.

Objective To investigate the targeting of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1)expression by Ran-binding protein 9(RANBP9)and its effect on colorectal cancer Colo320 cell apoptosis.Methods Gene expression levels of RANBP9 were analyzed in 625 colon cancer tissues and 20 normal colon tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas database.The relationship between RANBP9 expression and survival time of patients with colon cancer was analyzed using KMPLOT.The expression of TGF-β1 in normal colon tissues and colon cancer tissues was analyzed using the human protein immunohistochemistry database and the relationship between TGF-β1 expression and the survival of patients with colon cancer was analyzed using the UALCAN database.The relationship between RANBP9 and TGF-β1 was analyzed by dual luciferase experiments.Colo320 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-GFP-RANBP9 and control pcDNA3.1-GFP-RANBP9-NC plasmids,respectively,and normal control cells were established without transfection.The cells were cultured and the growth viability of each group of cells was detected by the iazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide method,apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,the mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 staining,and RANBP9 and TGF-β1 protein expression were detected by Western blot.Results RANBP9 expression was significantly reduced in colon cancer tissues.Compared with patients with low RANBP9 expression,patients with high RANBP9 expression had a higher survival curve and significantly higher expression of TGF-β1 in colon cancer tissue.Compared with patients with high TGF-β1 expression,patients with low TGF-β1 expression had a significantly higher survival curve(P＜0.05).RANBP9 targeted the expression of TGF-β1 in colon cancer.Compared with the normal group,cell growth,mitochondrial membrane potential,and TGF-β1 expression were all significantly down-regulated and the apoptosis rate and RANBP9 expression were significantly increased in the experiment group(P＜0.05).Conclusions RANBP9 can target the expression of TGF-β1,promote the growth of Colo320 colon cancer cells,decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential,and induce apoptosis.

Objective To investigate TXNIP and KLF9 expressions in the tissues of colorectal cancer(CRC)and their impact on clini-cal characteristics and prognosis.Methods This study included 90 CRC patients who were admitted to our hospital between January 2017 and December 2020.The cancer tissue and paired adjacent tissues removed surgically were collected.We performed detection and analysis of TXNIP and KLF9 protein expression levels in cancer and adjacent tissues and their correlation with clinical characteristics and overall survival rate of patients.Results GEPIA database analysis showed that TXNIP and KLF9 mRNA expression levels in READ tissues were significantly lower than those in normal tissues(P＜0.05).The positive expression rates of TXNIP and KLF9 in CRC tissues were 32.22％and 37.78％,respectively,which were lower than those in adjacent tissues(73.33％and 76.67％,respectively;P＜0.05).TXNIP and KLF9 expressions were positively correlated(r=0.519,P＜0.05),and GEPIA database retrieval showed a positive correlation between TXNIP and KLF9 expressions(P＜0.05).TXNIP and KLF9 expressions in patients with clinical stage Ⅲ and lymph node metas-tasis were lower than those in patients with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ and non-lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05).The overall survival rate of patients with TXNIP and KLF9 expressions was higher than that of patients without TXNIP and KLF9 expressions.Negative expression of TXNIP and KLF9 in TNM stage Ⅲ was a prognostic risk factor(P＜0.05).Conclusion TXNIP and KLF9 expression levels are low in CRC tissues and associated with TNM stage,lymph node metastasis,and poor survival.

Objective To investigate the effects of pterostilbene on human colon cancer LoVo cells and study the regulatory mechanism of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)in the process of pterostilbene acting on LoVo cells.Methods LoVo cells were treated with different concentrations(5,10,20,40,60,80,100 panol/L)of pterostilbene.Cell viability,migration,invasion,and apoptosis were examined by CCK-8,scratch,Tran-swell,and TUNEL assays,respectively.The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by the mitochon-drial membrane potential assay kit with JC-1.The reactive oxygen species level was measured by 2',7'-dichlo-rofluorescein diacetate.The protein levels of Nrf2,phosphorylated Nrf2,heme oxygenase 1,and apoptotic pro-teins(Bcl2 and Bax)were determined by Western blotting.In addition,cell viability,Nrf2 expression,and ap-optosis rate were determined after co-application of the Nrf2-specific agonist sulforaphane.Results Compared with the control group,40,60,80,100 μmol/L pterostilbene reduced the viability of LoVo cells(P=0.014,P＜0.001,P＜0.001,P＜0.001).Pterostilbene at 5,10,20 μmol/L did not show effects on cell viability but inhibited cell migration(P=0.008,P＜0.001,P＜0.001)and invasion(all P＜0.001).Pterostilbene at 40,60,80 μmol/L increased apoptosis(P=0.014,P＜0.001,P＜0.001),promoted mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization(P=0.026,P＜0.001,P＜0.001)and reactive oxygen species accumula-tion(all P＜0.001),and down-regulated the expression of phosphorylated Nrf2(P=0.030,P＜0.001,P＜0.001),heme oxygenase 1(P=0.015,P＜0.001,P＜0.001),and Bc12(P=0.039,P＜0.001,P＜0.001)in LoVo cells.Pterostilbene at 60,80 μmol/L down-regulated Nrf2 expression(P=0.001,P＜0.001)and up-regulated Bax expression(both P＜0.001).The application of sulforaphane reversed the effects of pterostilbene on cell viability(P＜0.001),apoptosis(P＜0.001),and Nrf2 expression(P=0.022).Conclusion Pterostilbene is a compound that can effectively inhibit colon cancer cells by inhibiting the Nrf2 pathway.

Objective To analyze the sensitivity of ARHGAP8 in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with locally advanced mid-low colorectal cancer and provide accurate evidence for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.Methods The differentially expressed gene ARHGAP8 was screened out by bioinformatics analysis.Cancer tissue and rectal tissue of 68 patients with primary rectal cancer were select-ed.The rectal cancer tissue samples and the rectal tissue samples were collected for clinical validation of ARH-GAP8 expression by quantitative real-time PCR,Western blotting,and immunohistochemistry.The clinical and pathological features such as gender,age,tumor stage,differentiation degree,and pathological type of the pa-tients were collected for functional validation.Forty-four patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were selected for immunohistochemical examination of ARHGAP8 expres-sion.The expression level of ARHGAP8 was compared between before and after chemotherapy and among different efficacy groups.Results The bioinformatics analysis revealed differences in the expression level of ARHGAP8 between the cancer tissue and rectal tissue(P＜0.001).The expression level of ARHGAP8 was correlated with tumor stage(P=0.024),lymph node metastasis(P=0.007),and age(P=0.005).Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the mRNA level of ARHGAP8 in the cancer tissue was higher than that in the rectal tis-sue(P＜0.001).Western blotting and immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the protein level of ARH-GAP8 in the cancer tissue was higher than that in the rectal tissue(P=0.011).The expression of ARHGAP8 was correlated with tumor size(P=0.010)and pathological stage(P=0.005),while it showed no significant association with tumor differentiation degree,lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis,Ki-67,or microsatellite instability expression level.The 44 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy included 13,8,8,and 15 pa-tients of tumor regression grades 0,1,2,and 3,respectively.Among them,65.91％(29/44)patients showed responses to the treatment.After neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the expression of ARHGAP8 in the cancer tissue was down-regulated in the patients who responded to the chemotherapy(P＜0.001).The response rate in the patients with low protein level of ARHGAP8 was 92.86％,which was higher than that(53.33％)in the patients with high pro-tein level of ARHGAP8(P=0.033).Conclusions ARHGAP8 is highly expressed in the rectal cancer tissue.The pa-tients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer and low ARHGAP8 expression are more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX protocol.ARHGAP8 can serve as a potential biomarker for the occurrence and develop-ment of rectal cancer and an important index for evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX protocol in the patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of using quantitative parameters of double contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCUS) to noninvasively predict lymphatic metastasis in gastric cancer before operation.Methods:From December 2021 to October 2023, 119 patients undergoing gastrectomy at the Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, were enrolled retrospectively. Based on the pathological findings, they were divided into lymph node metastasis (N1, 94 cases) and non-lymph node metastasis (N0, 25 cases) groups. All patients underwent DCUS within 3 days before surgery. Previous to DCUS, lesions′ location and ultrasonic T-staging were recorded by conventional ultrasound. Quantitative parameters such as arrival time (AT), time to peak (TTP), baseline intensity (BI), peak intensity (PI) and wash-in slope (WIS) were obtained by the time-intensity curve (TIC) automatically, and then manually calculated enhanced intensity (ΔPI=PI–BI) and enhanced time (ΔTTP=TTP–AT). Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors for predicting lymph nodes metastasis in gastric cancer, and regression models were established.Results:Statistical tests revealed significant differences in ultrasonic T-staging ( P<0.001) and degree of differentiation ( P=0.015) between N1 and N0 group. Among DCUS quantitative parameters, statistical differences in PI, ΔPI and WIS were observed between the two groups (all P<0.05), while no significant differences were found in BI, AT, TTP and ΔTTP (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that ultrasonic T-staging and WIS were independent risk factors for predicting lymphatic metastasis. The regression model built on the above two factors performed well in predicting lymph nodes metastasis, with an area under the curve of 0.905, accuracy of 93.3% (superior to the prediction model based on DCUS quantitative parameters alone, P<0.05), sensitivity of 95.7% and specificity of 84.0%. Conclusions:DCUS quantitative parameters may be helpful to evaluate lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer prior to surgery, and the accuracy of prediction would be improved by combing with ultrasonic T-staging.

Objective To explore the feasibility and rationality of advanced integrated two-stage laparoscopic simulation training course in standardized training of surgical residents.Methods From December 2019 to December 2021,the advanced integrated two-stage laparoscopic simulation training course was carried out among 2019-2020 surgical residents who received standardized training in our hospital.The course was divided into two stages.In the first stage,BEST(best essential surgical technology training)course,adopted Darwin? endoscopic training system,Tianyan? endoscopic training system,Microport? 3D laparoscopic training system and simple simulative models were used.The second stage,BEST PLUS course,same platform as that in BEST course and in vitro animal models were used.The questionnaire survey method(before and after class questionnaire)was adopted to evaluate the curriculum setting,such as curriculum form,simulators,teaching method,time arrangement,curriculum difficulty,training effect,curriculum satisfaction and so on.Results A total of 37 surgical residents completed the two-stage course training and the questionnaire survey.The overall satisfaction rate with the curriculum setting was 100%.There were 32 residents(86.5%)thought that first stage training course could significantly improve their clinical skills,35 residents(94.6%)thought that second stage training course could significantly improve their clinical skills,and 36 resident(97.3%)thought that the first stage curriculum could significantly help them improve performance in the second stage curriculum.Conclusions The trainees had a high degree of recognition and satisfaction for the advanced integrated two-stage laparoscopic simulation training course.The overall design of course was reasonable and feasible,and was attractive to trainees.

Objective To explore the efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR)for the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection at different intervention timing.Methods The clinical data of 126 patients with Stanford B type aortic dissection,who were admitted to authors'hospital between January 2018 and April 2023,were retrospectively analyzed.Based on the time interval from the onset of disease to receiving surgery,the patients were divided into group A(＜24 h),group B(2-7 d)and group C(8-14 d).The incidences of perioperative adverse events,including endoleak,cerebral infarction,death,aortic rupture and total complications,were compared between each other among the three groups,and survival analysis was performed according to the follow-up findings.Results A total of 126 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection were included in this study,including 50 patients of group A,43 patients of group B,and 33 patients of group C.No statistically significant differences in the general clinical data existed between each other among the three groups(P＞0.05).The differences in the incidences of perioperative acute cerebral infarction,endoleak,infection and death between each other among the three groups were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The difference in the overall complication rate between each other among the three groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Log-rank testing was used to compare the survival curves of the three groups,which showed that the cumulative 5-year recurrence rate and survival rate in group A were lower than those in group B and in group C,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the patients may have high incidence of adverse events and poor short-to-middle-term curative efficacy when TEVAR is performed within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms,while the patients may have better perioperative and short-to-middle-term curative efficacy if TEVAR is carried out in 2-14 days after the onset of symptoms(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:523-528)