AIM: To investigate the effects of andrographolide on the invasion and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3, and to explore the possible mechanisms.METHODS: SKOV-3 cells were treated with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 μmol/L) of andrographolide for different time (12, 24, 36 or 48 h), and then the cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay.The cell invasion ability was analyzed by Transwell assay and cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.The protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were examined by Western blot.RESULTS: The results of CCK-8 assay revealed that andrographolide inhibited the growth of SKOV-3 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Treatment with andrographolide at 20 μmol/L for 36 h significantly decreased the invasion ability of SKOV-3 cells, while increased cell apoptosis.In addition, the protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were reduced after andrographolide treatment.CONCLUSION: Andrographolide inhibits the growth and invasion of ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells by suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To analyze the status of treatment of aortic diseases in nine centers included in Jiangsu Aortic Registry study.Methods:Medical records of 1 105 patients who underwent surgery for aortic diseases in nine cardiovascular centers in Jiangsu province from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 were retrospectively collected. According to the types of diseases, they are divided into three categories: Category Ⅰ diseases: aortic diseases requiring only simple open surgery; Category Ⅱ: aortic disease requiring complex open surgery; Category Ⅲ disease: aortic disease requiring interventional or hybrid surgery. The diagnosis and treatment of the three diseases were compared by statistical analysis.Results:Patients aged 50-59 years and 60-69 years were the most in the whole group, accounting for 291(26.3%) and 319 (28.9%), respectively. That is, the age group between 50-69 years was the main age for the incidence of aortic disease, accounting for 55.2% (610/1 105) of the total incidence. The ratio of male to female was 803∶302, and male was 72.7% (803/1 105). The perioperative mortality of patients with type Ⅰ and Ⅲ diseases was lower [1.6%(6/385) and 1.0% (4/330), respectively]. The perioperative mortality of patients with type Ⅱ diseases was significantly increased (15.5% (51/330)) due to their dangerous onset and complicated operation. The highest postoperative complications were infection 11.3% (124/1 105), acute kidney injury 8.6% (95/1 105), and neurological complications 7.0% (77/1 105), respectively.Conclusion:Individualized treatment according to the lesion site, lesion type and scope of involvement of aortic disease can achieve a satisfactory prognosis.

Objective     To investigate the influence of prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods     Clinical data of 5 216 patients from Jiangsu Province CABG registry who underwent primary isolated CABG from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a PCI group (n=673) and a non-PCI group (n=4 543) according to whether they had received PCI treatment. The PCI group included 491 males and 182 females, aged 62.6±8.2 years, and the non-PCI group included 3 335 males and 1 208 females, aged 63.7±8.7 years. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to compare 30-day mortality, incidence of major complications and 1-year follow-up outcomes between the two groups. Results     Both in original cohort and matched cohort, there was no statistical difference in the 30-day mortality [14 (2.1%) vs. 77 (1.7%), P=0.579; 14 (2.1%) vs. 11 (1.6%), P=0.686], or the incidence of major complications (myocardial infarction, stroke, mechanical ventilation≥24 h, dialysis for new-onset renal failure, deep sternal wound infection and atrial fibrillation) (all P>0.05). The rate of reoperation for bleeding in the PCI group was higher than that in the non-PCI group [19 (2.8%) vs. 67 (1.5%), P=0.016; 19 (2.8%) vs. 7 (1.0%), P=0.029]. Both in original cohort and matched cohort, there was no statistical difference in 1-year survival rate between the two groups [613 (93.1%) vs. 4 225 (94.6%), P=0.119; 613 (93.1%) vs. 630 (95.2%), P=0.124], while the re-admission rate in the PCI group was significantly higher than that in the non-PCI group [32 (4.9%) vs. 113 (2.5%), P=0.001; 32 (4.9%) vs. 17 (2.6%), P=0.040]. Conclusion     This study shows that a history of PCI treatment does not significantly increase the perioperative mortality and major complications of CABG, but increases the rate of cardiogenic re-admission 1 year postoperatively.