Objectives: To investigate the expression of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) in pancreatic cancer tissues, and its potential role in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The expression of PSAT1 in 98 human pancreatic cancer tissues, which were collected from the People＇s Hospital of Guizhou, between July 2013 to July 2017, and the corresponding adjacent normal tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the relationship between the expression of PSAT1 and the clinicopathological parame-ters, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with pancreatic cancer was evaluated. The human pancreatic can-cer cell lines, BxPC-3 and SW1990, were transfected with PSAT1-siRNA, to investigate the effect of PSAT1 knockdown on cell prolifera-tion, migration, and invasion. Additionally, we performed Western blot to assess the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related proteins in PSAT1-knockdown cells. Results: The percentages of PSAT1-positive cells in pancreatic cancer and adjacent non-tumor tissues were 69.4% (68/98) and 5.0% (5/98), respectively, indicating a significantly higher expression of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer tissues com-pared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (P<0.05). The increased expression of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer tissues correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that a high expression of PSAT1 correlated with a poor OS and DFS compared to a low expression of PSAT1 (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that the expression of PSAT1 is an independent prog-nostic marker for OS and DFS in pancreatic cancer patients (P<0.05, all). Transient transfection of BxPC-3 and SW1990 cells with PSAT1-siRNA markedly reduced the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of these cells compared to transfection with NC-siRNA (P<0.05). Knockdown of PSAT1 in pancreatic cancer cells also inhibited the expression of p-Akt and p-mTOR (P<0.05). Conclusions: The expression of PSAT1 increases in human pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. Additionally, PSAT1 regulates cell proliferation and in-vasion through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of internal fixation of lateral and medial borders for displaced scapular body fractures via the minimally invasive approach. METHODS: The internal fixation of lateral and medial borders via minimally invasive approach was applied in surgical treatment of 23 patients with scapular body comminuted fractures from January 2014 to June 2018. The lateral approach was made straightly orienting over the lateral border of scapula. The dissection was taken down to the deltoid fascia. The deltoid was retracted cephalically, revealing the external rotators. Blunt dissection was used down to the lateral border between infraspinatus and teres minor, exposing the fracture site. The medial incision was done along the medial border of the scapula over site of the fracture. Dissections were taken down to the fascia and the periosteum. A subperiosteal dissection was then performed to elevate the infraspinatus to the degree necessary to visualize the fracture. The medial and lateral borders of scapula body were fixed with plates and screws in a frame-like way. RESULTS One patient developed the delayed healing of the incisions due to liquefactive fat necrosis. The other 22 patients showed no complications of the incisions. The glenopolar angle (GPA) of fractured scapula was increased from preoperative (25±12) degrees to postoperative (41±5) degrees (P<0.01). The healing time of fractures healed was 3-8 months, with an average time of (4.4±1.3) months. CONCLUSIONS The lateral-medial combined fixation through minimally invasive surgical approach for the scapula body fractures allows visualization of fracture reduction without extensive muscular or subcutaneous flaps, and is associated with successful fracture healing and high functional scores of the shoulder.