ObjectiveTo evaluate the usefulness of an ultrasonography-based method to examine quadriceps femoris contracting. MethodsThe thickness of bilateral rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of RF was measured in 10 healthy subjects （n=20） in a relaxed position and 3 isometric contraction states using ultrasonography by two examiners. The date was compared with paired t test. Half of these subjects （n=10） were also measured with MRI at rest. The date was also compared with paired t test. ResultsThere was no significant difference between MRI and static compound ultrasonography, nor between two examiners. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in thickness of RF and VI between relaxed and isometric contraction conditions. There was no significant difference among isometric contraction conditions. There was no significant difference among measurements of RF-CSA. Conclusionultrasonography shows good validity and reliability in measuring quadriceps shape.

Objective To study the effectiveness and feasibility of low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training on hemiplegic stroke patients unable to perform assistive or independent ambulation.Methods Thirty stroke patients unable of assistive or independent ambulation were randomly divided into a control group and a aerobic training group.Patients in the aerobic training group performed low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training for 30 min,3 times a week for 6 weeks in addition to a routine rehabilitation regime.The training duration and course of routine rehabilitation training were the same in both groups.The related cardiovascular response in aerobic training and changes in motor performance as well as the risk factors for stroke were observed in both groups.Results Twenty-four patients(12 patients in each group)completed the experiment.Patients in aerobic training group performed all training regime safely without any adverse response.Their motor function(including FMA score,Rivermead index,BI ADL ability),exercise endurance duration in exercise test,glucose level at 2 h in oral glucose tolerance test,fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR index all improved greatly as compared to the control group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training can be safely and effectively administered in hemiplegic stroke patients unable of assistive ambulation or independent ambulation.

Objective:To explore the difference of constituents and contents of volatile oil in Perilla leaf and Perilla stem.Methods:The volatile oils of Perillaleaf and Perillastems were extracted with steam distillation method. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was used to detect the chemical constituents of volatile oil from different parts of Perilla frutescens. The relative percentage content of each component was determined by peakarea normalization method, and the differences of the components and contents of volatile oils from different parts of Perilla frutescens were compared.Results:A total of 24 volatile oil components were identified in perilla leaves and 19 volatile oil components in Perilla stems. The most components in Perilla leaf and Perilla stems was 2-Hexanoyl furan. The content of 2-Hexanoyl furan in the oil of Perilla leaf reached 67.493%. The content of 2-Hexanoyl furan in the oil of Perilla stem reached 70.473%.Conclusions:The composition and content of volatile oil in different parts of Perillafrutescens are different.

OBJECTIVE: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecologic cancer worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of EC has not been epigenetically elucidated. Here, this study aims to describe the DNA methylation profile and identify favorable gene signatures highly associated with aberrant DNA methylation changes in EC. METHODS: The data regarding DNA methylation and gene expression were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially methylated CpG sites (DMCs), differentially methylated regions (DMRs), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and the relationship between the 2 omics was further analyzed. In addition, weighted CpG site co-methylation network (WCCN) was constructed followed by an integrated analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression data. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-one tumor tissues and 46 tissues adjacent tumor of EC patients were analyzed. One thousand one hundred thirty-five DMCs (merging to 10 DMRs), and 1,488 DEGs were obtained between tumor and normal groups, respectively. One hundred forty-eight DMCs-DEGs correlated pairs and 13 regional DMCs-DEGs pairs were obtained. Interestingly, we found that some hub genes in 2 modules among 8 modules of WCCN analysis were down-regulated in tumor samples. Furthermore, protocadherins (PCDHs) clusters, DDP6, TNXB, and ZNF154 were identified as novel deregulated genes with altered methylation in EC. CONCLUSION: Based on the analysis of DNA methylation in a systematic view, the potential long-range epigenetic silencing (LRES) composed of PCDHs was reported in ECs for the first time. PCDHs clusters, DDP6, and TNXB were firstly found to be associated with tumorigenesis, and may be novel candidate biomarkers for EC.
Biomarkers ; Carcinogenesis ; DNA Methylation* ; DNA* ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Epigenomics ; Female ; Gene Expression* ; Genome ; Humans ; Methylation

Objective:To investigate the application value and treatment opportunity of single balloon enteroscopy in children with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome(PJS).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 33 children diagnosed with PJS in Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2011 to September 2021.The patient′s age, gender, family history, clinical symptoms, enteroscopy examination and treatment, number of polyps, intraoperative and pos-toperative complications, surgical treatment, recurrence of surgery, and follow-up data were analyzed, and the chi- square test was used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 33 PJS children aged (9.00±3.13) years, including 21 males and 12 females, were included.All of them received at least once single balloon enteroscopy test.The main manifestations of the children were black spots (33 cases) and multiple polyps in the digestive tract (31 cases). In all the 33 cases, black spots were distributed on lips.Some black spots were also found at the end of fingers (3 cases), at the end of foot toes(2 cases), and at the end of finger toes (6 cases). During the operation, 391 polyps were removed, most of which were jejunum polyps (37.08%, 145/391 polyps). Eleven children with PJS has intussusception, of which intestinal intussusception accounted for 90.91% (10/11 cases). Ten cases (30.30%, 10/33 cases) received surgical treatment, and 72.73% (8/11 cases) underwent surgery for acute refractory intussusception.One case had intestinal perforation and 2 cases were bleeding during the operation, and the 3 cases recovered completely after hemostatic clip sealing and surgical treatment.The incidence of hollow ileum polyps and giant polyps in children aged >8 years was higher than that in children aged ≤8 years[92.55% (149/161 polyps) vs.7.45%(12/161 polyps), 96.20%(76/79 polyps) vs.3.80% (3/79 polyps)]. The differences were statistically significant ( χ2=9.854, 8.711, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of intussusception among different age groups ( P>0.05). Among the 33 children with PJS, 57.58% (19/33 cases) had recurrence 1-3 years after operation, and no cases of cancer have been followed up so far. Conclusions:Intestinal polyps are common in children with PJS, and the application of single-balloon enteroscopy in children with PJS is reliable and safe.Children over 8 years old are more vulnerable to empty ileum polyps and giant polyps.Therefore, it is advised that children aged above 8 years with PJS should undergo at least once enteroscopy.

Purpose: C5α receptor 1 (C5ΑR1) is associated with the development of various human cancers. However, whether it is involved in the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood. We explored the expression, biological role, and associated mechanisms of C5AR1 in HBV-related hepatoma cells. Materials and Methods: The expression of C5ΑR1 mediated by HBV and HBV core protein (HBc) was detected in hepatoma cells. The function of nuclear factor кB (NF-κB) pathway in HBc-induced C5AR1 expression was assessed. The roles of C5ΑR1 in the activation of intracellular signal pathways, the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, and the growth and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBc, were investigated. The effect of C5α in the development of HCC mediated by C5AR1 was also measured. Results: C5ΑR1 expression was increased in HBV-positive hepatoma cells. Dependent on HBc, HBV enhanced the expression of C5ΑR1 at the mRNA and protein levels. Besides, HBc could promote C5ΑR1 expression via the NF-κB pathway. Based on the C5ΑR1, HBc facilitated the activation of JNK and ERK pathways and the expression and secretion of interleukin-6 in hepatoma cells. Furthermore, C5ΑR1 was responsible for enhancing the growth and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBc. Except these, C5α could promote the malignant development of HBc-positive HCC via C5AR1. Conclusion We provide new insight into the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis mediated by HBc. C5ΑR1 has a significant role in the functional abnormality of hepatoma cells mediated by HBc, and might be utilized as a potential therapeutic target for HBV-related HCC.

Purpose: C5α receptor 1 (C5ΑR1) is associated with the development of various human cancers. However, whether it is involved in the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood. We explored the expression, biological role, and associated mechanisms of C5AR1 in HBV-related hepatoma cells. Materials and Methods: The expression of C5ΑR1 mediated by HBV and HBV core protein (HBc) was detected in hepatoma cells. The function of nuclear factor кB (NF-κB) pathway in HBc-induced C5AR1 expression was assessed. The roles of C5ΑR1 in the activation of intracellular signal pathways, the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, and the growth and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBc, were investigated. The effect of C5α in the development of HCC mediated by C5AR1 was also measured. Results: C5ΑR1 expression was increased in HBV-positive hepatoma cells. Dependent on HBc, HBV enhanced the expression of C5ΑR1 at the mRNA and protein levels. Besides, HBc could promote C5ΑR1 expression via the NF-κB pathway. Based on the C5ΑR1, HBc facilitated the activation of JNK and ERK pathways and the expression and secretion of interleukin-6 in hepatoma cells. Furthermore, C5ΑR1 was responsible for enhancing the growth and migration of hepatoma cells mediated by HBc. Except these, C5α could promote the malignant development of HBc-positive HCC via C5AR1. Conclusion We provide new insight into the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis mediated by HBc. C5ΑR1 has a significant role in the functional abnormality of hepatoma cells mediated by HBc, and might be utilized as a potential therapeutic target for HBV-related HCC.

As a receptor tyrosine kinase, mesenchymal to epithelial transition factor (MET) is the membrane receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is related with a series of biological functions, such as cell proliferation, progression, apoptosis, metastasis and morphological changes. As research continues, MET is amplified or overexpressed in a wide range of human cancers and closely related with worse prognosis. Therefore, various MET inhibitors are currently being developed as potential treatments for a variety of cancers. Based on our current study we summarize the existing knowledge on structure, biological function and its inhibitors of MET and provide a data phase for future researchers.

One of the early pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer׳s disease (AD) is the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the brain. There has been a tremendous interest in the development of Aβ plaques imaging probes for early diagnosis of AD in the past decades. Optical imaging, particularly near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, has emerged as a safe, low cost, real-time, and widely available technique, providing an attractive approach for in vivo detection of Aβ plaques among many different imaging techniques. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the state-of-the-art development of NIRF Aβ probes and their in vitro and in vivo applications with special focus on design strategies and optical, binding, and brain-kinetic properties.

Objective To analyze the short-term clinical efficacy and prognosis of one-stop transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)+percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of aortic valve disease with coronary heart disease. Methods The clinical data of patients with aortic valve disease complicated with coronary heart disease who underwent one-stop TAVR+PCI treatment at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2018 to June 2023 were retrospective analyzed. The preoperative and postoperative clinical data were compared, and 1-month follow-up results were recorded. Results A total of 37 patients were enrolled, including 22 males and 15 females, with an average age of 69.14±6.47 years. Thirty-six patients recovered and were discharged after the surgery, and 1 (2.7%) patient died during the surgery. Self-expanding TAVR valves were implanted through the femoral artery in all patients. One coronary artery was opened by PCI in 35 (94.6%) patients, and two coronary arteries were opened by PCI in 2 (5.4%) patients. All PCI opened arteries had a stenosis>70%. During the postoperative hospitalization, the complications included pulmonary infection in 11 (30.6%) patients, severe pneumonia in 10 (27.8%) patients, liver function injury in 14 (38.9%) patients, renal function injury in 5 (13.9%) patients, cerebral infarction in 1 (2.8%) patient, atrial fibrillation in 1 (2.8%) patient, ventricular premature beats in 2 (5.6%) patients, atrioventricular block in 2 (5.6%) patients, and complete left bundle branch block in 5 (13.9%) patients. The median postoperative ventilation assistance time was 12.0 (0.0, 17.0) h, the ICU monitoring time was 1.0 (0.0, 2.0) d, and the postoperative hospitalization time was 5.0 (4.0, 7.0) d. There was a significant improvement in the New York Heart Association cardiac function grading after surgery (P<0.001). After surgery, there were 21 (58.3%) patients had minor perivalve leakage, 6 (16.7%) patients had minor to moderate perivalve leakage, and no moderate or above degree of perivalve leakage. After one month of postoperative follow-up, 36 patients showed significant improvement in heart function. There were no patients with recurrent acute coronary syndrome, re-PCI, or cardiovascular system disease related re-hospitalization. Conclusion The one-stop TAVR+PCI treatment for patients with aortic valve disease and coronary heart disease can obtain satisfactory short-term clinical efficacy, which is worth further trying and studying.