This study was aimed at characterizing the variations in hemagglutinin(HA)and neuraminidase(NA)genes of influenza virus subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 isolated during the 2022-2023 influenza monitoring year in Shandong Province,to provide a scientific basis for influenza prevention and control.A total of 14 A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype influenza strains were se-lected randomly by city by the influenza monitoring network laboratory.The vaccine strains recommended by the WHO served as references for whole gene sequencing analysis.A fluorescence method was used to conduct neuraminidase inhibition experi-ments to evaluate drug sensitivity.The A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus in Shandong Province,2022-2023 belonged to the 5a.2a evolutionary cluster in the 6B.1A branch.Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the HA and NA genes were closely re-lated to the Northern Hemisphere vaccine strain A/Victoria/2570/2019 in the years 2021-2023,and showed homology of 98.5％to 98.7％and 98.8％to 99.1％,respectively.Amino acid sequence analysis revealed 20 amino acid sequence mutations in the HA protein,but only one virus strain was found to have antigen drift,and three virus strains showed loss of HA protein glycosylation sites.No mutations were found at important sites affecting NA enzymes.The neuraminidase inhibition experiment indicated viral sensitivity to anti-influenza drugs.In conclusion,the monitored virus strains had high overall homology with vac-cine strains but showed some amino acid variation.In the future,continued monitoring of the genetic variation characteristics of influenza viruses will be necessary to understand the risk of influenza epidemics,and the effectiveness of influenza vaccines and therapeutic drugs.

This study was aimed at understanding the pollution distribution pattern of avian influenza virus in the environ-ment in poultry related places in Shandong Province,to provide a scientific basis for the prevention,control,prediction,and early warning regarding human infection with avian influenza.From 2020 to 2023,6 523 environmental samples were collected in 16 cities in Shandong Province from four types of poultry-related places.Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used for nucleic acid testing of influenza A virus.Positive samples were further identified for the H5,H7,and H9 subtypes of avian influenza virus.The epidemiological characteristics of avian influenza viruses in the poultry related environment of Shandong Province were described,and inter-rate comparisons were performed with the x2 test.During 2020-2023,6 523 environmental samples were collected,and 1 007 cases positive for avian influenza virus were detected,with a positivity rate of 15.44％.H5,H7,and H9 subtypesand mixed infections were detected.H9 was the main subtype(88.48％)in positive specimens.A significant difference in positivity rates was observed among regions(x2=431.956,P＜0.001),and the highest positivity rate was 28.93％.Significant differences in positivity rates were observed among monitoring sites(x2=304.604,P＜0.001),sample types(x2=109.678,P＜0.001),and quarters(x2=64.963,P＜0.001).The positive detection rate was highest at monitoring sites in urban and rural live poultry markets(20.12％),and the positive detection rate of samples collected by wiping meat cut-ting board surfaces was higher than that of other samples(22.56％).The peak positive detection rate occurred in spring(20.31％).Widespread contamination with avian influenza virus was observed in poultry environments in Shandong Prov-ince.The H9 subtype,the main pathogen,coexisted with H5 and H7 subtypes,thus posing a risk of human infection with avian influenza.Therefore,prevention and control of avian influenza must be strengthened in key seasons,areas,places,and links.

Objective: To evaluate the indications, safety, feasibility, and surgical technique for patients with head and neck cancers undergoing transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) dissection. Methods: The current study enrolled 12 consecutive head and neck cancer patients (seven males and four females) who underwent transoral robotic RPLN dissection with the da Vinci surgical robotic system at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from May 2019 to July 2020. Seven patients were diagnosed as nasopharyngeal carcinoma with RPLN metastasis after initial treatments, 4 patients were diagnosed as thyroid carcinoma with RPLN metastasis after initial treatments, and one patient was diagnosed as oropharyngeal carcinoma with RPLN metastasis before initial treatments. The operation procedure and duration time, intraoperative blood loss volume and complications, nasogastric feeding tube dependence, tracheostomy dependence, postoperative complications, and hospitalization time were recorded and analyzed. Results: All patients were successfully treated by transoral robotic dissection of the metastatic RPLNs, none of which was converted to open surgery. RPLNs were completely resected in 10 patients, and partly resected in 2 patients (both were nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients). The mean number of RPLN dissected was 1.7. The operation duration time and intraoperative blood loss volume were (191.3±101.1) min and (150.0±86.6) ml, respectively. There was no severe intraoperative complication such as massive haemorrhage or adjacent organ injury during surgery. Nasogastric tube use was required in all patients with (17.1±10.6) days of dependence, while tracheotomy was performed in 8 patients with (11.6±10.7) days of dependence. The postoperative hospitalization stay was (8.5±5.7) days. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients, including 2 of retropharyngeal incision and 2 of dysphagia. During a follow-up of (6.5±5.1) months, disease-free progression was observed in all patients, 10 patients were disease-free survival and other 2 patients were survival with tumor burden. Conclusions: The transoral robotic RPLN dissection is safety and feasible. Compared with the traditional open surgical approach, it is less traumatic and safer, has fewer complications and good clinical application potentiality. The indications for transoral robotic RPLN dissection include thyroid carcinoma, oropharyngeal carcinoma, and some selected nasopharyngeal carcinoma and other head and neck cancers. Metastatic RPLNs from some nasopharyngeal carcinoma with incomplete capsule, unclear border and adhesion to the surrounding vessels are not suitable for transoral robotic RPLN dissection.
Blood Loss, Surgical ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision/methods* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/pathology* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neck Dissection/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics, etiology and hemagglutinin (HA) gene characteristics of prevalent strains in Shandong Province from 2021 to 2022. Methods: The sentinel surveillance data of influenza-like illness (ILI) were collected in Shandong Province from 2021 to 2022. ILI specimens were detected with Real-Time PCR and virus isolation to explore the distribution of influenza viruses in different months. Three virus strains of each city were selected for gene sequencing, and the HA phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Results: In the surveillance-year from 2021 to 2022, 528 263 ILI cases were totally reported in 54 sentinel hospitals for influenza surveillance in Shandong Province. ILI visiting ratio (ILI%) was 4.07%, with the largest number in 0-4 age group (45.86%). The highly frequent season for ILI was in winter and spring, with a peak in the 52nd week, 2021 (6.62%). Totally, nucleic acid was detected in 26 754 specimens, with a positive rate of 27.10%, all of which were type B Victoria influenza. The positive rate reached a peak in the 49th week, 2021 (63.78%). A total of 295 outbreaks of ILI had been reported, in which 269 were positive for influenza virus. Most of outbreaks occurred in the primary school, with a peak in December. Gene evolution analysis showed that the HA gene in Shandong possessed high homology, 98.6% to 99.5%, with the recommended vaccine strains in 2020-2023, which was divided into two branches, V1A.3a.1 and V1A.3a.2. Conclusion: In the surveillance-year of 2021-2022, influenza is prevalent in December in Shandong Province, with a single circulating strain type. The positive rate of influenza virus and outbreak are higher than those in the previous surveillance-year. The circulating strain possesses high HA gene homology with those of the WHO vaccine recommended strains. However, the overall immune barrier of influenza virus is weak.
Humans ; Influenza, Human/prevention & control* ; Phylogeny ; Influenza Vaccines ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Seasons ; China/epidemiology* ; Virus Diseases

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effects of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and traditional surgical modes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods: The clinicopathological data of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. 135 cases were treated with traditional surgery (non-TORS group), while 52 cases were treated with TORS (TORS group). The prognosis of the two groups of patients were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test, the influencing factors were analyzed by Cox regression model. Results: The 2-year overall survival (OS, 94.2%) and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS, 93.8%) of patients in the TORS group were better than those in the non-TORS group (71.4% and 71.4%, respectively, P<0.05). The 2-year OS (93.3%) and 2-year PFS (92.8%) of TORS group patients in T1-2 stage were better than those of non-TORS group (73.1% and 72.8%, respectively, P<0.05). The 2-year OS (95.8%) and 2-year PFS (95.2%) of patients with stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ in the TORS group were not significantly different from those in the non-TORS group (84.1% and 83.9%, respectively, P>0.05). The 2-year OS (92.9%) and 2-year PFS rate (92.7%) of patients with stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ in the TORS group were better than those in the non-TORS group (64.7% and 63.9%, respectively, P<0.05). The 2-year OS (94.4%) of HPV-positive patients in the TORS group was not significantly different from that in the non-TORS group (83.3%, P=0.222). The 2-year OS of HPV-negative patients in the TORS group (94.1%) was significantly different from that in the non-TORS group (43.7%, P<0.001). HPV status was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.008). Conclusions: TORS has a better prognosis in the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma compared with the traditional treatment methods. The patients with T1-T2 can achieve better survival benefits after TORS treatment. The HPV-positive OPSCC patients has a better prognosis than that of HPV-negative OPSCC patients, and regardless of HPV status, OPSCC patients in the TORS group could obtain a better survival prognosis.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Papillomavirus Infections/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/surgery*

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic and prognostic outcomes of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: A retrospective study of 99 OSCC patients treated with TORS in Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between April 2017 and May 2021 was conducted. There were 84 males and 15 females, with an age range of 35-85 years. Patients' clinical characteristics, including clinical staging, HPV infection status, perioperative management and postoperative adjuvant treatment, were recorded. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. The survival outcomes were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test. Results: The hospital stay of OSCC patients with TORS was (5.3±2.9) days and the average time of postoperative nasal feeding tube indwelling was (15.2±10.8) days. Among the 99 patients, 21 (21.2%) received tracheotomy and the average time of tracheotomy tube indwelling was (11.9±11.4) days. The two-year OS and PFS in patients with follow-up over two years were 94.0% and 87.7%, respectively and the three-year OS and PFS of patients with follow-up over three years were 94.0% and 78.9%, respectively. The two-year OS and PFS were respectively 97.4% and 88.9%, for patients with stages I-II and 86.8% and 88.9% for patients with stages III-IV. HPV-negative and HPV-positive patients had respectively two-year OS (100.0% vs. 91.5%) and PFS (88.9% vs. 87.2%). There was no significantly statistical difference in survival between patients with and without adjuvant radiotherapy after TORS (82.6% vs. 90.5%, HR=0.52, 95%CI: 0.12-2.23, P=0.400). Conclusions: TORS is more suitable for the treatment of patients with early (Ⅰ-Ⅱ) or HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and the recovery after TORS treatment is good.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Papillomavirus Infections/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and feasibility of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for parapharyngeal space (PPS) neoplasms. Methods: We collected data from 7 patients with PPS neoplasm who received TORS in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between May 2017 and November 2020, and patients' clinical and pathological characteristics were analysed. There were 2 men and 5 women with age ranged from 35 to 76 years. Among them, 2 patients underwent secondary surgery, 2 patients required combined transcervical approach to complete surgery, and 1 patient was suspected of ipsilateral cervical lymph node metastasis and scheduled for diagnostic TORS. The preoperative tumor size, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative bleeding, dyspnea, neurological impairment, feeding time and postoperative hospital stay were analyzed. SPSS 24.0 was used to analyze the data. Results: TORS was performed successfully with complete removal of tumors in all 7 cases. Among 6 patients with curative TORS, 5 patients received TORS with postoperative diagnoses of neurogenic tumors and 1 patient underwent TORS combined transcervical approach with postoperative disgnosis of recurrent pleomorphic adenoma; no intraoperative tumor rupture occurred; the intraoperative blood loss was 20-200 ml with a median of 40 ml; the operation time was 65.0-238.0 min with a median of 77.5 min; the oral feeding time was 3-6 days with a median of 3 days; and the postoperative hospital stay was 4.2±1.6 days. One patient presented with neck swelling 3 days after surgery, but this symptom relieved 3 days later after treatments with antibiotic, hemostasis and detumescence. One patient received diagnostic TORS, as intraoperative pathology indicating a recurrent pleomorphic adenoma, then the neoplasm got completely resected through transcervical-transparotid approach. None of 7 patients manifested with airway obstruction, bleeding or nerve injury symptoms after operation. All patients were followed for 2 to 44 months, no local recurrence or distant metastasis was found. Conclusions: TORS is a safe, effective and feasible treatment for selected PPS neoplasms, with less cosmetic impact, less trauma and blood loss, few postoperative complications, enhanced postoperative recovery and short hospital stay.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Parapharyngeal Space ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is considered to play a key role in many cellular processes, affecting tumorigenesis by inhibiting target gene expression. However, its role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is still unclear, and there are no in depth studies on relationship between miR-21 and cellular phenotype. This study was aimed to investigated the expression and role of miR-21 in the regulation of cell biological behavior in DLBCL. The expressions of miR-21 in three DLBCL cell lines were detected by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The possible roles of miR-21 in the biological and behavioral properties of DLBCL were explored by transfection of anti-miR-21 for miR-21 knockdown. In addition, PDCD4 and PTEN were assessed by luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and Western blot. The results revealed that miR-21 expression was significantly upregulated in activated B-cell-like DLBCL cells as compared to germinal centre-like DLBCL cells. The inhibition of miR-21 could induce suppression of proliferation and invasion, as well as increase apoptosis in DLBCL. Moreover, knockdown of miR-21 increased the expressions of PDCD4 and PTEN at the protein level but not at the mRNA level. It is concluded the miR-21 can regulate proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis, so it has a potential therapeutic application in DLBCL.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; pathology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the serum levels of sCD44v6 and sE-cadherin (sE-cad) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSThe serum samples were collected from 65 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 32 cases of erosive esophagitis and 35 healthy subjects. Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe mean levels of serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients were significantly higher than those of erosive esophagitis patients and normal controls (both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels between erosive esophagitis patients normal controls (P=0.566 and P=0.708, respectively). Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels of esophageal cancer patients were not correlated with their clinicopathological features. Serum sCD44v6 level is not correlated with sE-cad level in squamous cell carcinoma patients(P=0.651).

CONCLUSIONSerum sCD44v6 and sE-cad might be a potential marker for screening of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To discuss the microsurgical treatment of anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms at acute stage vit the supffontal approach. Methods Thirty-two patients with ruptured ACoA aneurysms,admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to October 2010 and underwent mierosurgery through supfrontal approach, were chosen in our study; their clinical manifestations,surgical methods and treatment efficacy were retrospectively analyzed. Results All 32 ACoA aneurysms in these 32 patients were clipped successfully.Forty-two aneurysm clips were used during the surgery; intraoperative aneurysm rupture occurred in 7 patients (21.88％). According to scores of Glasgow Outcome scale after 6-12 months of follow-up,26 patients (81.25％) enjoyed good results,5 (15.63％) had moderate disability and 1 (3.13％) had severe disability; no patients died,and no patients were having intracranial infection, having cerebrospinal leak or under vegetative state. Conclusion Microsurgical operation of anterior communicating aneurysms via subfronal approach was an effective and rapid method with minimal exposure and reliable neck clipping.