Purpose: Approximately 50%-74% of patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer do not respond to trastuzumab, with 75% of treated patients experiencing disease progression within a year. The combination of pyrotinib and capecitabine has showed efficacy in these patients. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with metronomic vinorelbine for trastuzumab-pretreated HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In this phase 2 trial, patients aged 18-75 years with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who had previously failed trastuzumab treatment were enrolled to receive pyrotinib 400 mg daily in combination with vinorelbine 40mg thrice weekly. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: From October 21, 2019, to January 21, 2022, 36 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment. At the cutoff date, 20 experienced disease progression or death. With a median follow-up duration of 35 months, the median PFS was 13.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3 to 18.5). With all patients evaluated, an ORR of 38.9% (95% CI, 23.1 to 56.5) and a DCR of 83.3% (95% CI, 67.2 to 93.6) were achieved. The median OS was not reached. Grade 3 adverse events (AEs) were observed in 17 patients, with diarrhea being the most common (27.8%), followed by vomiting (8.3%) and stomachache (5.6%). There were no grade 4/5 AEs. Conclusion Pyrotinib combined with metronomic vinorelbine showed promising efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients after trastuzumab failure.

Purpose: Approximately 50%-74% of patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer do not respond to trastuzumab, with 75% of treated patients experiencing disease progression within a year. The combination of pyrotinib and capecitabine has showed efficacy in these patients. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with metronomic vinorelbine for trastuzumab-pretreated HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In this phase 2 trial, patients aged 18-75 years with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who had previously failed trastuzumab treatment were enrolled to receive pyrotinib 400 mg daily in combination with vinorelbine 40mg thrice weekly. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: From October 21, 2019, to January 21, 2022, 36 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment. At the cutoff date, 20 experienced disease progression or death. With a median follow-up duration of 35 months, the median PFS was 13.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3 to 18.5). With all patients evaluated, an ORR of 38.9% (95% CI, 23.1 to 56.5) and a DCR of 83.3% (95% CI, 67.2 to 93.6) were achieved. The median OS was not reached. Grade 3 adverse events (AEs) were observed in 17 patients, with diarrhea being the most common (27.8%), followed by vomiting (8.3%) and stomachache (5.6%). There were no grade 4/5 AEs. Conclusion Pyrotinib combined with metronomic vinorelbine showed promising efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients after trastuzumab failure.

Purpose: Approximately 50%-74% of patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer do not respond to trastuzumab, with 75% of treated patients experiencing disease progression within a year. The combination of pyrotinib and capecitabine has showed efficacy in these patients. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with metronomic vinorelbine for trastuzumab-pretreated HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In this phase 2 trial, patients aged 18-75 years with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who had previously failed trastuzumab treatment were enrolled to receive pyrotinib 400 mg daily in combination with vinorelbine 40mg thrice weekly. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: From October 21, 2019, to January 21, 2022, 36 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment. At the cutoff date, 20 experienced disease progression or death. With a median follow-up duration of 35 months, the median PFS was 13.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3 to 18.5). With all patients evaluated, an ORR of 38.9% (95% CI, 23.1 to 56.5) and a DCR of 83.3% (95% CI, 67.2 to 93.6) were achieved. The median OS was not reached. Grade 3 adverse events (AEs) were observed in 17 patients, with diarrhea being the most common (27.8%), followed by vomiting (8.3%) and stomachache (5.6%). There were no grade 4/5 AEs. Conclusion Pyrotinib combined with metronomic vinorelbine showed promising efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients after trastuzumab failure.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Shenting" (GV24) and "Baihui" (GV20) on mitochondrial autophagy in hippocampal neurons and silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (Sirt1)/forkhead box O3 (FOXO3)/PTEN-inducible kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin pathway in rats with learning-memory impairment after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS: A total of 35 male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group (9 rats) and a modeling group (26 rats). In the modeling group, middle cerebral artery occlusion method was used to establish the middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion (MCAO/R) model, and 18 rats of successful modeling were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, 9 rats in each one. EA was applied at "Shenting" (GV24) and "Baihui" (GV20) in the EA group, 30 min a time, once a day for 14 days. After modeling and on 7th and 14th days of intervention, neurologic deficit score was observed; the learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test; the morphology of neurons in CA1 area of hippocampus was detected by Nissl staining; the mitochondrial morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the protein expression of Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), P62, Sitrt1, FOXO3, PINK1 and Parkin was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, the neurologic deficit scores in the model group and the EA group were higher than that in the sham operation group (P<0.001); on 7th and 14th days of intervention, the neurologic deficit scores in the model group were higher than those in the sham operation group (P<0.001), the neurologic deficit scores in the EA group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After modeling, the escape latency in the model group and the EA group was prolonged compared with that in the sham operation group (P<0.001); on 9th-13th days of intervention, the escape latency in the model group was prolonged compared with that in the sham operation group (P<0.001), the escape latency in the EA group was shortened compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). The number of crossing plateau in the model group was less than that in the sham operation group (P<0.001); the number of crossing plateau in the EA group was more than that in the model group (P<0.05). In the model group, in CA1 area of hippocampus, the number of neurons was less, with sparse arrangement, nuclear fixation, deep cytoplasmic staining, and reduction of Nissl substance; the morphology of mitochondrion was swollen, membrane structure was fragmented, and autophagic lysosomes were formed. Compared with the model group, in the EA group, in CA1 area of hippocampus, the number of neurons was increased, the number of cells of abnormal morphology was decreased, and the number of Nissl substance was increased; the morphology of mitochondrion was more intact and the number of autophagic lysosomes was increased. Compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the protein expression of Beclin-1, FOXO3, PINK1, Parkin and the LC3BⅡ/Ⅰ ratio in hippocampus were increased (P<0.01, P<0.001), while the protein expression of P62 was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the protein expression of Beclin-1, Sirt1, FOXO3, PINK1, Parkin and the LC3BⅡ/Ⅰratio in hippocampus were increased (P<0.001, P<0.01), while the protein expression of P62 was decreased (P<0.001). CONCLUSION EA at "Shenting" (GV24) and "Baihui" (GV20) can relieve the symptoms of neurological deficits and improve the learning-memory ability in MCAO/R rats, its mechanism may relate to the modulation of Sirt1/FOXO3/PINK1/Parkin pathway and the enhancement of mitochondrial autophagy.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics* ; Brain Ischemia/complications* ; Mitochondria/genetics* ; Autophagy ; Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Memory Disorders/psychology* ; Signal Transduction

Metabolic reprogramming plays a central role in tumors. However, the key drivers modulating reprogramming of gluconeogenesis/lipogenesis are poorly understood. Here, we try to identify the mechanism by which histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1) confers reprogramming of gluconeogenesis/lipogenesis in liver cancer. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis was hardly observed in HAT1-knockout mice. Multi-omics identified that HAT1 modulated gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis in liver. Protein phosphatase 2 scaffold subunit alpha (PPP2R1A) promoted gluconeogenesis and inhibited lipogenesis by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) serine 90 dephosphorylation to suppress the tumor growth. HAT1 succinylated PPP2R1A at lysine 541 (K541) to block the assembly of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) holoenzyme and interaction with PCK1, resulting in the depression of dephosphorylation of PCK1. HAT1-succinylated PPP2R1A contributed to the remodeling of gluconeogenesis/lipogenesis by PCK1 serine 90 phosphorylation, leading to the inhibition of gluconeogenic enzyme activity and activating sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) nuclear accumulation-induced lipogenesis gene expression, which enhanced the tumor growth. In conclusion, succinylation of PPP2R1A lysine 541 by HAT1 converses the role in modulation of gluconeogenesis/lipogenesis remodeling through PCK1 S90 phosphorylation to support liver cancer. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism by which post-translational modifications (PTMs) confer the conversion of tumor suppressor function to oncogene.

Endotoxins are common exogenous pyrogens. Excessive endotoxins in medical devices and injections can lead to serious consequences such as sepsis, septic shock, and even death. Therefore, endotoxin detection plays a crucial role in medical, pharmaceutical, and food sectors. The wide application of Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) has led to a sharp decline in the number of horseshoe crabs. Moreover, the LAL assay has limitations such as interbatch variations and difficulty in quantification. The recombinant factor C (rFC) assay is stable between batches, highly sensitive, and capable of quantitation, and thus it can be used as an alternative for the LAL assay. However, the high cost and complex procedures involved in producing recombinant factor C have limited the widespread application of this method. In order to simplify the preparation and reduce the production cost of recombinant factor C, this study focuses on the production of recombinant factor C based on the baculovirus expression system. Multiple measures such as a high-yield and anti-apoptotic vector qBac-IIIG, the optimal signal peptide, and the optimized codon were used to reach the goal of endotoxin detection with cell supernatant. This method simplifies the steps of protein purification. The sensitivity of the supernatant reached 0.05 EU/mL in a 1-L fermentation system, and 500 000 detecting reactions can be supported per liter of fermentation broth. This study increases the yield and activity of recombinant factor C, simplifies the procedures of protein purification, and reduces the cost, laying a foundation for the promotion and application of recombinant factor C in endotoxin detection.
Animals ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics* ; Horseshoe Crabs/chemistry* ; Baculoviridae/metabolism* ; Endotoxins/analysis* ; Protein C/biosynthesis* ; Genetic Vectors/genetics* ; Arthropod Proteins/genetics* ; Enzyme Precursors ; Serine Endopeptidases

Variant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and APL-like leukemia are rare types of APL, with t (16;17) chromosome abnormality being even rarer. An APL-like patient with t (16;17) chromosome abnormality, which was characterized by bone, lymph node, and central nervous system involvement, was admitted to our hospital. He achieved complete remission after several cycles of chemotherapy and subsequently underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, the diagnosis and treatment of this patient were reported and a literature review was conducted.

Objective:To explore the prognostic impact of different intracranial radiotherapy modalities in patients with a limited number (≤10) of brain metastases from small cell lung cancer (SCLC-BM).Methods:The data of 143 cases with SCLC-BM that received intracranial radiotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University in 2019-2022 were analyzed. The patients were grouped by radiotherapy modalities: whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT, 58 cases), WBRT combined with simultaneous integrated boost (WBRT+ SIB, 53 cases), and WBRT combined with sequential integrated boost (WBRT+ SEB, 32 cases). The overall survival (OS) and intracranial progression-free survival (IPFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model was used for prognostic analysis.Results:In the whole group, the median OS and IPFS were 11.9 and 9.9 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 49.7%, 15.3%, and 2.9%, respectively. The difference in OS among patients in the WBRT+ SIB, WBRT+ SEB, and WBRT groups was not significant (median OS: 13.0 months vs. 12.5 months vs. 11.2 months, P>0.05). The WBRT+ SIB and WBRT+ SEB groups were preferred over the WBRT group in terms of IPFS (median IPFS: 11.7 months vs. 10.4 months vs. 8.1 months, χ2=21.69, P<0.001). For patients with few brain metastases (≤3) analyzed separately, the WBRT+ SIB and WBRT+ SEB groups were preferred over the WBRT group in terms of OS and IPFS (median OS: 14.4 months vs. 13.7 months vs. 11.5 months, χ2=8.72, P=0.013; median IPFS: 12.6 months vs. 10.4 months vs. 8.9 months, χ2=12.37, P=0.002). Evaluation of the central nervous system as well as hematological acute radiological reactions reaching grade 2 and above showed no significant differences among the three groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that subsequent chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy were common independent influencing factors for patients′ OS and IPFS. Body mass index (BMI) level was an independent influencing factor for patients′ OS, and the number of brain metastases, lymph node metastasis, and radiotherapy modality were independent influencing factors for patients′ IPFS. Conclusions:BMI level and subsequent treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy) are independent influencing factors for patients' prognosis. WBRT+ SIB and WBRT+ SEB modalities are associated with increased IPFS.

Objective lo contrast the diagnostic efficacies of perineal and transrectal approaches for combined prostate biopsies guided via magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and ultrasound fusion imaging.Method A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 271 patients subjected to combined prostate biopsies guided by MRI and ultrasound fusion imaging at the first people's hospital of Wuxue city and Wuhan Tongji Hospital from January 2022 to November 2023 was conducted.They were divided into two groups according to the puncture path,132 cases were transrectal and 139 cases were perineal.The differences between the detection rates of prostate cancer(PCa)and clinical significant prostate cancer(csPCa)across different prostate imaging reporting and data system(PI-RADS)scores and lesion localizations within the two puncture paths were compared.Results The detection rates of PCa in the perineal and transrectal puncture groups(68.3％vs.59.8％,P=0.145)and csPCa(64.7％vs.55.3％,P=0.112)did not exhibit statistically significant differences.However,the perineal puncture group experienced fewer complications.For patients with a PI-RADS score of 4,both PCa(77.2％vs.56.1％,P=0.027)and csPCa(71.9％vs.48.8％,P=0.02)detection rates were higher via the perineal combined biopsy),compared to the transrectal path.Additionally,for apical(PCa:84.3％vs.48.7％,P=0.001;csPCa:81.8％vs.48.7％,P=0.004)and anterior(PCa:77.1％vs.46.5％,P=0.006;csPCa:68.6％vs.44.2％,P=0.031)prostate lesions,the detection rates via the perineal combined biopsy were considerably higher than those of the transrectal path.Conclusion For patients carrying a PI-RADS score of 4 or with prostate lesions situated at the apical or anterior section,the perineal approach for biopsy sampling emerges as the most appropriate method.

Objective:To compare the patient-reported outcomes and short-term clinical outcomes between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer.Methods:This single-center prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from October 2020 to August 2022. Patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who were to undergo radical gastrectomy were selected and randomly divided into two groups according to 1∶1, and received robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery, respectively. Patient-reported outcomes and short-term clinical outcomes (including postoperative complications, surgical quality and postoperative short-term recovery) were compared between the two groups by independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated ANOVA, generalized estimating equation, χ2 test and Fisher′s exact test. Results:A total of 237 patients were enrolled for modified intention-to-treat analysis (120 patients in the robotic group, 117 patients in the laparoscopic group). There were 180 males and 59 females, aged (63.0±10.2) years (range: 30 to 85 years). The incidence of postoperative complications was similar between the robotic group and laparoscopic group (16.7% (20/120) vs. 15.4% (18/117), χ2=0.072, P=0.788). The robotic group had higher patient-reported outcomes scores in general health status, emotional, and social domains compared to the laparoscopic group, differences in time effect, intervention effect, and interaction effect were statistically significant (general health status: χ2 value were 275.68, 3.91, 6.38, P value were <0.01, 0.048, 0.041; emotional: χ2 value were 77.79, 6.04, 6.15, P value were <0.01, 0.014, 0.046; social: χ2 value were 148.00, 7.57, 5.98, P value were <0.01, 0.006, 0.048). However, the financial burden of the robotic group was higher, the differences in time effect, intervention effect and interaction effect were statistically significant ( χ2 value were 156.24, 4.08, 36.56, P value were <0.01, 0.043,<0.01). Conclusion:Compared to the laparoscopic group, the robotic group could more effectively relieve postoperative negative emotions and improve recovery of social function in patients.