We described an elderly female with type 2 diabetes referred to our hospital with fever,nausea and upper abdominal pain.The patient had got duodenal tumor and received the pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) 12 years ago.The laboratory examinations revealed white blood cells (WBC) increasing and severe hypocalcemia.Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a huge gas-forming pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) in left lobe of the liver.The patient got cured after correction of calcium metabolism disorders,treatment with antibiotic and receiving percutaneous tube drainage.We concluded that we should remain on high alert of those patients with DM and the history of cancer,when he or she gets fever of unknown origin and abdominal tenderness.PLA should be considered.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs547984, rs540782, rs693421 and rs2499601 of Zona Pellucida Glycoprotein 4 (ZP4) gene with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among ethnic Han Chinese from Sichuan Province.

METHODSA dye terminator-based SNaPshot method was used to genotype 336 patients with POAG and 768 healthy controls.

RESULTSNo significant difference was detected in allelic frequencies of rs547984, rs540782, rs693421 and rs2499601 between the two groups (P>0.05). Haplotypic analysis showed a significant difference in G-G-A-G haplotype formed by the 4 SNPs between the POAG and the control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONZP4 gene SNPs rs547984, rs540782, rs693421, rs2499601 are not associated with POAG among ethnic Hans from Sichuan.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) before and after embryo transfer for the pregnancy of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) patients.

METHODSA total of 1761 IVF-ET patients of natural cycle or hormone replacement cycle were randomly assigned into an observation group (735 cases) and a control group (1026 cases). IVF-ET was applied in the two groups. TEAS was used for 30 min separately in the observation group on 24 h before transfer and within 2 h after transfer. The acupoints were Zigong (EX-CA 1), Xuehai (SP 10) and Diji (SP 8); Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taixi (KI 3). TEAS was not used in the control group. Biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate were observed 14 d and 4-5 weeks after transfer in the two groups.

RESULTSThe biochemical pregnancy rate in the observation group was 62.0% (456/735), which was better than 57.3% (588/1026) in the control group (<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate in the observation group was 51.2% (376/735), and it was better than 44.9% (461/1026) in the control group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTEAS could improve the pregnancy rate of IVF-ET patients, and it may be a safe and new assisted method for reproduction without pain.

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutations of fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene in a child with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and explore its molecular pathogenesis.

METHODSThe 66 exons of the FBN1 gene were analyzed by direct sequencing. SIFT and PolyPhen-2 were used to predict the structural and functional changes at the protein level.

RESULTSA novel heterozygous mutation c.3998 G>A (p.Cys1333Tyr) was found in exon 32 in the child. The same mutation was not found among his unaffected family members and 683 healthy controls. Multiple sequence alignment showed that this novel mutation was located in a highly conserved region of the FBN1 protein across various species and may induce structural change to a functional domain.

CONCLUSIONThe novel c.3998G>A (p.Cys1333Tyr) mutation of the FBN1 gene probably predisposed the MFS in the child. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of FBN1 mutations.

Objective To evaluate the value and short-term efficacy of Miccoli for cervical lymph node dissection in patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma.Methods From Mar.2017 to Jan.2018,15 patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma received cervical lymph node dissection in Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of Nanjing Chinese Traditional Medicine Hospital,and they were divided into open surgery group (8 cases) and Miccoli surgery group (7 cases).The operation time,incision length,intraoperative blood loss,total number of dissection lymph nodes,incidence of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay between the two groups were analyzed.These groups were followed up for 6 months after surgery,in terms of neck comfort,incidence of enlarged lymph nodes in the cervical region and blood thyroglobulin level.Results There was no obvious difference between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss(P=0.651),total number of dissection lymph nodes(P=0.887),the incidence of postoperative complications(P=0.52),incidence of intumescent lymph node(P=1.000) and blood thyroglobulin level(P=0.826) after 6 months.The operation time of Miccoli group was longer than that of the open group(P=0.001),but the incision length(P=0.001),length of hospital stay(P=0.001)and postoperative neck comfort(P=0.001)were superior to those of the open surgery group.Conclusion Miccoli operation can be used to perform cervical lymph node dissection for PTC patients,which can achieve the curative effect of open surgery,without increasing the risk of postoperative complications,and the postoperative neck comfort was better.

Objective To study the irradiation dose of organs at risk (OAR) in involved field radiation and extended field radiation in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who received intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods A total of 40 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer were treated with IMRT. The involved field, extended field, and OAR were outlined to generate IMRT plans. The conformity index (CI) and homogeneity index (HI) of planning target volume (PTV) and the irradiation parameters of OAR were evaluated for the two plans. Paired t-test was used for comparison of irradiation parameters. Results The PTV of both plans received the prescribed dose. There were no significant differences in CI and HI of PTV between the two groups (P = 0.317, 0.130). There were significant differences in average lung dose, lung V₅, lung V₂₀, lung V₃₀, spinal cord D_mean, heart D_mean, heart D_max, heart V₃₀, heart V₄₀, and heart V₆₀ between the two groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion Compared with the extended field, the involved field can reduce the irradiation dose of ORA in patients with thoracic esophageal cancer, thus reducing the risk of radiation.

Objective: To study the effect of Musashi-2 ( MSI2 ) overexpression on the imbalance of proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian granulosa cell line (KGN) induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) ． Methods: The gene expression profiles of human ovarian granulosa cells ( GCs) in primary culture were statistically analyzed to screen the differentially expressed genes．pcDNA3. 1-MSI2 eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed and transiently transfected into the KGN cells，and the overexpression effect of MSI2 was detected by Quantitative Real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot．After overexpressing MSI2 in DHT induced KGN cells，MTT colorimetry and Edu staining were used to detect the proliferation of cells in each group，and flow cytometry ( FCM) was further used to detect the apoptosis of cells in each group. Results: The mRNA expression level of MSI2 gradually decreased during the primary culture of human ovarian GCs．And pcDNA3. 1-MSI2 was successfully constructed and transfected into KGN cells to improve the mRNA and protein expression levels of MSI2．Then MTT，EdU and FCM results showed that compared with the blank group，DHT induction could significantly reduce the proliferation rate and increase the apoptosis rate of KGN cells (P ＜0. 05) ．However，after MSI2 overexpression，the proliferation rate of KGN cells increased and the apoptosis rate decreased (P ＜0. 05) ，which were close to the blank group. Conclusion Overexpression of MSI2 can effectively alleviate the imbalance of proliferation and apoptosis of KGN cells induced by DHT，indicating that MSI2 plays an important role in GCs growth and follicle development.

As an important part of tumor microenvironment, neutrophils are poorly understood due to their spatiotemporal heterogeneity in tumorigenesis. Here we defined, at single-cell resolution, CD44-CXCR2- neutrophils as tumor-specific neutrophils (tsNeus) in both mouse and human gastric cancer (GC). We uncovered a Hippo regulon in neutrophils with unique YAP signature genes (e.g., ICAM1, CD14, EGR1) distinct from those identified in epithelial and/or cancer cells. Importantly, knockout of YAP/TAZ in neutrophils impaired their differentiation into CD54+ tsNeus and reduced their antitumor activity, leading to accelerated GC progression. Moreover, the relative amounts of CD54+ tsNeus were found to be negatively associated with GC progression and positively associated with patient survival. Interestingly, GC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had increased numbers of CD54+ tsNeus. Furthermore, pharmacologically enhancing YAP activity selectively activated neutrophils to suppress refractory GC, with no significant inflammation-related side effects. Thus, our work characterized tumor-specific neutrophils in GC and revealed an essential role of YAP/TAZ-CD54 axis in tsNeus, opening a new possibility to develop neutrophil-based antitumor therapeutics.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics*

Acidosis, regardless of hypoxia involvement, is recognized as a chronic and harsh tumor microenvironment (TME) that educates malignant cells to thrive and metastasize. Although overwhelming evidence supports an acidic environment as a driver or ubiquitous hallmark of cancer progression, the unrevealed core mechanisms underlying the direct effect of acidification on tumorigenesis have hindered the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and clinical therapy. Here, chemical-induced and transgenic mouse models for colon, liver and lung cancer were established, respectively. miR-7 and TGF-β2 expressions were examined in clinical tissues (n = 184). RNA-seq, miRNA-seq, proteomics, biosynthesis analyses and functional studies were performed to validate the mechanisms involved in the acidic TME-induced lung cancer metastasis. Our data show that lung cancer is sensitive to the increased acidification of TME, and acidic TME-induced lung cancer metastasis via inhibition of miR-7-5p. TGF-β2 is a direct target of miR-7-5p. The reduced expression of miR-7-5p subsequently increases the expression of TGF-β2 which enhances the metastatic potential of the lung cancer. Indeed, overexpression of miR-7-5p reduces the acidic pH-enhanced lung cancer metastasis. Furthermore, the human lung tumor samples also show a reduced miR-7-5p expression but an elevated level of activated TGF-β2; the expressions of both miR-7-5p and TGF-β2 are correlated with patients' survival. We are the first to identify the role of the miR-7/TGF-β2 axis in acidic pH-enhanced lung cancer metastasis. Our study not only delineates how acidification directly affects tumorigenesis, but also suggests miR-7 is a novel reliable biomarker for acidic TME and a novel therapeutic target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Our study opens an avenue to explore the pH-sensitive subcellular components as novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.