Objective To investigate the correlation between the clinical pathological factors and the expression of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues. Methods The expression of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues was detected by MaxVision immunohistochemical. The relationship between the protein expression and the clinical pathologic characteristics was studied. The correlation between the protein expression and the survival was also retrospectively analyzed. Results Increased expression of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 was detected in the NSCLC tissues and their rates were 45.9 % (73/156), 30.8 % (49/156) and 21.4 % (37/156), respectively. There were significant associations between the expression of these proteins and lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation degree and TNM staging. Conclusions Overexpression of EGFR, HER2, HER3 or all three proteins is a predictor of poor prognosis. Moreover, combined detection of all 3 markers may work better than the individual detection in the prediction of the prognosis to guide the clinical treatment.

BACKGROUND:The repair method of proximal humeral comminuted fractures in the elderly remains controversial. OBJECTIVE:To compare the recovery of shoulder joint function using the hemiarthroplasty of shoulder and locking proximal humeral plate fixation for complex proximal humeral fracture in the elderly. METHODS:A total of 22 elderly patients with complex proximal humeral fracture, who were treated from October 2012 to October 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. 12 cases underwent hemiarthroplasty, and 10 cases received locking proximal humeral plate fixation. Al patients were folowed up after treatment. X-ray films were rechecked during the folow-up. The recovery of shoulder function was evaluated with Neer score. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During final folow-up, no prosthetic loosening or avascular necrosis of humeral head was found in the shoulder hemiarthroplasty group, and the Neer score was (81±5) points. In the locking proximal humeral plate fixation group, there was fixator loosening in four cases and avascular necrosis of humeral head in three cases, and the Neer score was (69±5) points (P < 0.05). During repair, mean operation time was shorter in the shoulder hemiarthroplasty group than in the locking proximal humeral plate fixation group. The amount of bleeding was higher in the shoulder hemiarthroplasty group than in the locking proximal humeral plate fixation group (P > 0.05). These data suggest that locking proximal humeral plate fixation and shoulder hemiarthroplasty are effective repair methods for complex proximal humerus fractures, but the hemiarthroplasty had the advantage of early functional exercise and good recovery of shoulder joint.

Present study was focused on the chemical constituents of the stems and leaves of Salvia yunnanensis C . H. Wright and their anti-angiogeneic activities. The compounds were isolated by column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and other isolation techniques. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidences. Their anti-angiogeneic activities were evaluated by the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) neovascularisation model. Seven compounds were separated and identified as ( + ) -spathulenol( 1), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone(2) , beta-amyrin(3), 3 beta-hydroxy-12-ursene(4), 2alpha,3 beta-dihydroxyursa-12-en-28-oic acid(5), ursolic acid (6) and 3-oxo-12-ursen-28-oic acid (7). Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6 were obtained from this plant for the first time. Compounds 5 (an oleanane compound) and 6 (an ursane compound) could inhibit angiogenesis significantly in a dose-dependent manner.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Salvia ; chemistry

Objective:To investigate the correlation of CD8 positive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD8 + TIL) density and programmed-death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in rectal cancer with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Methods:The clinicopathological data of 166 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery in the Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. CD8 + TIL density and PD-L1 expression were detected by using immunohistochemistry. The correlation of CD8 + TIL density and PD-L1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics of patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the disease-free survival (DFS) and Cox regression risk model was used to make univariate and multivariate analysis of the influencing factors for DFS. Results:Among 166 LARC patients, 81 cases (48.8%) had high density of CD8 + TIL, 85 cases (51.2%) had low density of CD8 + TIL; 63 cases (38.0%) had PD-L1 expression, and 103 cases (62.0%) had non-expression of CD8 + TIL. The expression rate of PD-L1 in CD8 + TIL high density group was higher than that in CD8 + TIL low density group [50.6% (41/81) vs. 25.9%(22/85), χ2 = 10.78, P < 0.001]. According to the density of CD8 + TIL and PD-L1 expression, immunophenotype was divided among 4 groups; the 3-year DFS rate of the CD8 + TIL high density /PD-L1 expression group was 87.1%, which was higher than that of the other groups (CD8 + TIL low density /PD-L1 expression group was 72.8%, CD8 + TIL high density /PD-L1 non-expression group was 67.0%, CD8 + TIL low density /PD-L1 non-expression group was 64.3%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that tumor differentiation degree, TNM stage, CD8 + TIL density, PD-L1 expression and CD8 + TIL density /PD-L1 expression were correlated with the DFS of patients (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis results showed that CD8 + TIL high density /PD-L1 expression was an independent protective factor for DFS ( HR = 0.049, 95% CI 0.005-0.497, P = 0.011), while TNM stage 3 was an independent risk factor for DFS ( HR = 2.752,95% CI 1.300-5.825, P = 0.008). Conclusions:In LARC after neoadjuvant therapy, CD8 + TIL density is positively correlated with the expression of PD-L1, and the high density of CD8 + TIL/PD-L1 expression is an independent influencing factor for good prognosis, suggesting that these patients may benefit from the immunotherapy.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum miR-320b and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods From January 2017 to December 2017,patients with acute ischemic stroke visited the Department of Neurology,the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University were enrolled.According to the findings of carotid artery ultrasonography,they were divided into plaque group and plaque-free group.The baseline clinical data such as demographic data,vascular risk factors,and blood biochemical indicators were collected.Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression level of serum miR-320b.Multivariatelogistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis.Results A total of 135 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in this study,including 58 females and 77 males,aged 58.4 ± 10.6 years.There were 85 patients in the plaque group and 50 in the plaque-free group.The total cholesterol (t =5.523,P =0.023) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (t =4.415,P =0.044) in the plaque group were significantly higher than those in the plaque-free group,while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (t =5.849,P=0.017) and serum miR-320b (t =4.331,P=0.039) were significantly lower than those in the plaque-free group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that referring to the highest quartile group,the low serum miR-320b level might be an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis (the first quartile group:odds ratio 2.701,95％ confidence interval 1.154-6.321,P =0.022;the second quartile group:odds ratio 2.521,95％ confidence interval 1.249-5.091,P =0.010;and the third quartile group:odds ratio 1.849,95％ confidence interval 1.041-3.283,P=0.036).Conclusion The low serum miR-320b level might be an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective:To explore the effect of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets on locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.Methods:108 patients were included at the Department of General Surgery of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from Jun 2016 to Jun 2017. Peripheral blood was collected within one week before neoadjuvant therapy and one week before rectal surgery. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the CD3 + 、CD4 + 、CD8 + 、CD45RA + 、CD45RO + expression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the best cut-off value of the ratio of lymphocytes. A logistic regression model was obtained in multivariate analysis. Results:The values of CD3 + , CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of the patients decreased compared with that before neoadjuvant treatment (all P<0.05). There was no significant decrease in the proportion of CD4 + , CD8 + , CD45RA + T and CD45RO + lymphocytes in patients′ peripheral blood (all P>0.05). The CD45RO in peripheral blood decreases during neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer, and it is associated with better tumor regression( P<0.05). The best cut-off value for the ratio changes of CD45RO was 1.07. The ratio changes of CD45RO were the only significant factor for tumor regression in multivariate analysis ( P=0.005, OR=26.867, 95% CI: 1.530-471.635). Conclusion:The percentage of peripheral blood CD45RO may predict the sensitivity of neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer patients.

To establish a rabbit model of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type9 () point mutation with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique. According to the PubMed gene protein data, the PCSK9 protein functional regions of human and rabbit were analyzed by Blast. The 386S (Ser) amino acid functional region of human gene was homologous to the 485S of rabbit gene. Three small guide RNAs and one single-stranded donor oligonucleotide were designed according to the 485S base substitution position and sequence analysis of rabbit gene. The synthetic small guide RNAs, Cas9 mRNA and single-stranded donor oligonucleotide were co-injected into the cytoplasm of rabbit fertilized eggs and the embryos were transferred into the pregnant rabbits. PCR, TA cloning and off-target analysis were performed on the F0 rabbits to identify whether the PCSK9 mutation was successful. Fifteen F0 rabbits were obtained. The sequencing results showed that one of them was PCSK9 point mutation homozygote and two of them were PCSK9 point mutation heterozygotes, and the mutation could be stably inherited. The rabbit model of PCSK9 point mutation was successfully constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 technique, which provides an animal model for exploring the molecular mechanism of impaired PCSK9 function and developing reliable and effective diagnosis and treatment measures.
Animals ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics* ; Mutation ; Point Mutation ; Proprotein Convertase 9/metabolism* ; Rabbits

Myostatin gene (MSTN) encodes a negative regulator for controlling skeletal muscle growth in animals. In this study, MSTN^-/- homozygous mutants with "double muscle" phenotypic traits and stable inheritance were bred on the basis of MSTN gene editing rabbits, with the aim to establish a method for breeding homozygous progeny from primary MSTN biallelic mutant rabbits. MSTN^-/- primary mutant rabbits were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. The primary mutant rabbits were mated with wild type rabbits to produce F1 rabbits, whereas the F2 generation homozygous rabbits were bred by half-sibling mating or backcrossing with F1 generation rabbits of the same mutant strain. Sequence analysis of PCR products and its T vector cloning were used to screen homozygous rabbits. The MSTN mutant rabbits with 14-19 week-old were weighed and the difference of gluteus maximus tissue sections and muscle fiber cross-sectional area were calculated and analyzed. Five primary rabbits with MSTN gene mutation were obtained, among which three were used for homozygous breeding. A total of 15 homozygous rabbits (5 types of mutants) were obtained (M2-a: 3; M2-b: 2; M3-a: 2; M7-a: 6; M7-b: 2). The body weight of MSTN^-/- homozygous mutant rabbits aged 14-19 weeks were significantly higher than that of MSTN^+/+ wild-type rabbits of the same age ((2 718±120) g vs. (1 969±53) g, P < 0.01, a 38.0% increase). The mean cross sections of gluteus maximus muscle fiber in homozygous mutant rabbits were not only significantly higher than that of wild type rabbits ((3 512.2±439.2) μm² vs. (1 274.8±327.3) μm², P < 0.01), but also significantly higher than that of MSTN^+/- hemizygous rabbits ((3 512.2±439.2) μm² vs. (2 610.4±604.4) μm², P < 0.05). In summary, five homozygous mutants rabbits of MSTN^-/- gene were successfully bred, which showed a clear lean phenotype. The results showed that the primary breeds were non-chimeric mutant rabbits, and the mutant traits could be inherited from the offspring. MSTN^-/- homozygous mutant rabbits of F2 generation could be obtained from F1 hemizygous rabbits by inbreeding or backcrossing. The progenies of the primary biallelic mutant rabbits were separated into two single-allelic mutants, both of which showed a "double-muscle" phenotype. Thus, this study has made progress in breeding high-quality livestock breeds with gene editing technology.
Animals ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics* ; Gene Editing ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Myostatin/metabolism* ; Phenotype ; Rabbits

Objective:To evaluate the value of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) combined with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) and WBRT plus sequential stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with brain metastases (BM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed among 135 SCLC patients with BM who were admitted to Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from 2007 to 2023. They all received cisplatin- or carboplatin-based first-line chemotherapy and WBRT with 94 patients receiving thoracic radiotherapy after chemotherapy. All patients were divided into the WBRT+SIB ( n=66) and WBRT+SRS groups ( n=69) according to the treatment methods. After propensity score matching (PSM), 63 patients were assigned into each group. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and brain metastasis-related local control (BMRLC) rates. Categorical data, such as gender and age, were compared by Chi-square test. OS and BMRLC were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The survival curves between two groups were compared by log-rank test. The risk factors of OS and BMRLC were assessed by multivariate Cox regression models. Results:In all the patients, the median follow-up time was 24.9 (range 6.30-109.57) months. The 2-year OS and BMRLC rates were 49.0% and 85.0%, respectively. Cerebral necrosis occurred in 2 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that shorter time interval of BM after diagnosis (≤10 months) ( P=0.041), control of extracranial progression ( P=0.029), and lower diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment (DS-GPA) (≥2) ( P=0.006) significantly improved OS. After PSM, the 2-year OS rate in the WBRT+SIB group was significantly higher than that in the WBRT+SRS group ( P=0.041), while the 2-year BMRLC rate was not significantly improved ( P=0.203). In the DS-GPA<2 subgroup, the OS in the WBRT+SIB group was significantly higher than that in the WBRT+SRS group ( P=0.016), whereas no significant difference was observed in BMRLC between two groups ( P=0.205). In the DS-GPA≥2 subgroup, no significant difference was found in OS between two groups ( P=0.266), while BMRLC in the WBRT+SIB group was significantly lower compared with that in the WBRT+SRS group ( P=0.027). Conclusions:WBRT+SIB is more suitable for SCLC patients with BM than WBRT+SRS. However, WBRT+SRS yields higher local control for DS-GPA≥2 patients.