Objective To investigate the expression level of microRNA-145 in breast cancer cell lines andtissues and its impact on breast cancer invasion and metastasis.Methods MiR-145 expression was detected by FQ-PCR in 5 breast cancer cell lines ( HBL-100, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and SK-BR-3)and in breast cancer tissue and paraneoplastic tissues (n=39).The miR-145 expression plasmid ( Psif-miR-145 ) and negative control plasmid were transfected into SK-BR-3 using lipofectamine, respectively.The characteristics of invasion and migration of the transfected SK-BR-3 cells were examined by scratch test and transwell assay.The target genes of miR-145 were predicted by bioinformatics and the ANGPT2 gene were verified as miR-145 target by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.The expression levels of ANGPT2 protein was examined by western blot after pSIF-miR-145 transfection by lipofectamine in breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3.Results FQ-PCR result indicated that miR-145 expression level waslower in breast cancer tissue (45.93 ±22.02)than paraneoplastic tissue [ (182.04 ±56.92), U value was 7, P<0.01].MiR-145 expression level was lower in breast cancer cell lines than normal breast cells.miR-145expression in 4 breast cancer cell lines was 0.51 ±0.05, 0.07 ±0.01, 0.36 ±0.04 and 0.04 ±0.01, respectively.Compare with normal breast cell, miR-145 was lower expressed in all 4 breast cancer cell lines (t value separately was 15.93, 308.17, 25.02, 201.30;P<0.05).Lower expression of miR-145 was observed in the highly invasive breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and SK-BR-3), compared with weakly invasive breast cancer cell (MCF-7) (t value separately was14.18, 3.78, 15.20;P<0.05). Wound healing assay shows that overexpression of miR-145 in SK-BR-3 significantly reducedthe motility as compared with control group (P <0.01).The cell invasion assay indicated the numbers of miR-145 overexpressed SK-BR-3 cells, which invased to lower chamber, was 137 ±37, the numbers of invased cells was 617 ±80 when the negative control was applied. Over-expression of miR-145 could repress the expression levelsof ANGPT2 protein;miR-145 could repress the activity of luciferase reporter carrying a 3′-untranslated region of ANGPT2 mutated the predicted binding site, the activity of luciferase was reversed. Conclusions MiR-145 depressed in breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer tissues.MiR-145 maybe plays an important role in breast cancer invasion and migration by directly target ANGPT2.

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-21(miR-21)in breast cancer cell lines and serum of patients with breast cancer and the impact on the invasion and migration of breast cancer cells.Methods From Jan 2013 to Feb 2014, miR-21 expression were determined by fluorescent quantity polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) in 4 breast cell lines (HBL-100, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) and in serum from breast cancer patients ( n =56 ) , breast benign disease patients ( n =39 ) andhealth controls ( n =45 ) . The characteristics of cell invasion and migration were examined by transwellinvasion and migration assay afterbreast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were transfectedwith miR-21 inhibitor or negative control by lipofectamin.The t test was used to analysis the normal distribution data. Results FQ-PCR results showed that the relative expression of miR-21 in the normal breast epithelial cell line HBL-100 was 1.01 ±0.04, in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were 1.99 ±0.11,4.02 ±0.38 and 3.73 ±0.79 respectively.Compared with the normal controls, miR-21 were highly expressed in the three breast cancer cell lines, the difference was statistically significant (t=9.01, 9.20 and 4.55, respectively, P<0.01); and the miR-21 was highly expressed in invasive and metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468),compared with weakly invasive breast cancer cell line MCF-7, the difference was statistically significant ( t values were 6.14 and 2.91, P<0. 05), suggesting that miR-21 is highly expressed in breast cancer cells, and is closely related to the invasion and metastasis.The relative expression of miR-21 in serum of breast cancer was 2.63 (1.57-4.59), in benign breast disease group was 1.34 (1.01-1.78), in healthy control group was 0.81 (0.52-1.59), the miR-21 expression in the serum of breast cancer patients was significantly higher than in patients with benign lesions and normal control group (U values were 208 and 279, P<0.01), whereas no significant difference in serum in patients with benign lesions and normal control group, the miR-21 expression in the serum of breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis (U=95 , P=0.19) was 3.55 (2.44-5.26), significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis [2.11(1.59-3.25), U=216,P=0.021]. The results of invasion and migration assay showed that cells treated with miR-21 inhibitor invasion was:44 ±18, the number of cell migration was:98 ±22, while the negative control treated cells after invasion was:133 ±44, migration cell number:255 ±35;miR-21 inhibitor treatment compared with the negative control, cell invasion and migration was also significantly decreased( t values were 5.46 and 9.08, P<0. 01) .The cell invasion and migration assay indicated the numbers of MDA-MB-231 cells, which invaded or migrated to lower chamber, were 44 ±18 and 98 ±22 respectively after miR-21 inhibitor was applied, The numbers of invaded or migrated cells were 133 ±44 and 255 ±35 when the negative control was applied.The ability of cell invasion and migration was decreased significantly in the inhibitor group compared with the negative group(tvalue separately was 5.46, 9.08, P<0.01).The capacity of breast cancer cell invasion and migrationwas significantly decreased after transfection ofmiR-21 inhibitor.Conclusions MiR-21 is highly expressed in breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer patients′serum.Altered expression of miR-21 maybeplays an important role in breast cancer invasion and migration.MiR-21 may serve as new biomarker to early detectionand prognosis estimation of breast cancer.

Objective:To compare the survival rate of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) patients with different dialysis modalities after parathyroidectomy (PTX), and analyze the influencing factors of survival prognosis.Methods:Clinical data of dialysis patients diagnosed with SHPT and treated with PTX in the First People′s Hospital of Foshan from April 2014 to May 2019 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The patients were divided into hemodialysis (HD) group and peritoneal dialysis (PD) group according to preoperative dialysis modalities, and the differences in baseline clinical data and cardiac ultrasound results were compared between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the difference in cumulative survival rate between the two groups. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to predict the risk of all-cause death.Results:A total of 99 patients were enrolled in this study, and 94 patients completed follow-up, including 23 patients who died. Compared with PD group ( n=45), HD group ( n=54) had higher dialysis age, blood pressure, intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, total heart valve calcification rate, mitral valve calcification proportion, interventricular septal thickness (IVST) and left ventricular mass index (all P<0.05). The median follow-up time was 46.00(32.75, 60.25) months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there was no significant difference in cumulative survival rate between HD group and PD group (Log-rank test χ2=0.414, P=0.520). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that increasing age ( HR=1.066, 95% CI 1.017-1.118, P=0.008), systolic blood pressure>140 mmHg ( HR=2.601, 95% CI 1.002-6.752, P=0.049) and increasing IVST ( HR=1.269, 95% CI 1.036-1.554, P=0.021) were independent influencing factors for all-cause death in dialysis patients after PTX. ROC curve analysis results showed that the cut-off values of age, dialysis age and IVST for predicting all-cause death after PTX were 51.5 years old ( AUC=0.673, 95% CI 0.545-0.802, P=0.013) and 75.0 months ( AUC=0.654, 95% CI 0.528-0.780, P=0.027) and 13.5 mm ( AUC=0.680, 95% CI 0.557-0.803, P=0.010) respectively. The area under the ROC curve for age, dialysis age, IVST, left ventricular hypertrophy in combination with systolic blood pressure>140 mmHg in the prediction of all-cause death after PTX was 0.776(95% CI 0.677-0.875, P<0.001). Conclusions:There is no significant difference in cumulative survival rate between HD and PD patients with SHPT after PTX. Increasing age, systolic blood pressure>140 mmHg and increasing IVST are independent risk factors for all-cause death in dialysis patients with SHPT after PTX.

Objective: To explore serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and whether changes of BDNF and GDNF are correlated with sleep quality and cognitive function in patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID). Methods: Fifty-seven CID patients in the Department of Sleep Disorders, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University and 30 healthy controls were enrolled from May 2017 to July 2018. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the degree of insomnia severity (some CID patients were monitored by overnight polysomnography). Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and Nine-Box Maze were used to assess general cognitive function and specific memory function, respectively. The serum levels of BDNF and GDNF were detected using ELISA. Results: Compared to the controls, CID patients had significantly higher PSQI scores (CID patients: 14.0±2.2, healthy controls: 3.9±1.1; t=28.093, P<0.01), lower MoCA scores (CID patients: 24.5±3.6, healthy controls: 26.5±0.9; t=-2.985, P<0.01), more errors in object working memory (CID patients: 1.0 (0, 1.0), healthy controls: 0 (0, 0.3)), spatial working memory (CID patients: 3.0 (2.0, 4.0), healthy controls: 1.0 (1.0, 2.0)) and object recognition memory (CID patients: 0 (0, 0), healthy controls: 0 (0, 0); Z=-2.896、-5.007、-2.306, P<0.05), and lower serum BDNF (CID patients: (19.48±7.50) ng/ml, healthy controls: (46.49±13.33) ng/ml; t=-10.274, P<0.01) and GDNF (CID patients: (32.76±14.04) pg/ml, healthy controls: (59.63±20.30) pg/ml; t=-7.240, P<0.01). The partial correlation analysis showed that in the CID patients, the levels of BDNF and GDNF were correlated with PSQI scores negatively (r=-0.293, -0.320, P<0.05) and MoCA scores positively (r=0.331, 0.295, P<0.05). The BDNF level was also correlated with the duration of disease and the errors in the spatial working memory test negatively (r=-0.319, -0.393, P<0.05), and the GDNF level was correlated with the total sleep time detected with polysomnogram positively (r=0.520, P<0.05). Conclusion Serum BDNF and GDNF levels in CID patients were lower than those in healthy controls, and correlated with sleep quality and cognitive impairment.

Confusional arousal (CA) is a rare non-rapid eye movement sleep-related parasomnia and rarely reported in China, leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment in clinic. A detailed collection of clinical symptoms and simultaneous video polysomnography is very important for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CA. A elderly patient with CA was diagnosed according to the International classification of sleep disorders, third edition diagnostic criteria. The summary and analysis of the patient is conducted to improve the understanding of CA, meanwhile to avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Objective To explore serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25 [OH]D3) and its correlations with sleep quality and cognitive function in patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID).Methods Fifty CID patients,admitted to our hospital from October 1,2016 to September 1,2018,and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess insomnia severity (objective sleep status being assessed using polysomnography throughout a night in some patients).Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA) was used to evaluate the general cognitive function.Serum level of25(OH)D3 was detected by ELISA.Results As compared with the controls,CID patients had significantly higher PSQI scores (P＜0.05) and statistically higher Hamilton's Depression Scale-17 scores (P＜0.05).The CID patients had significantly lower MoCA scores,having more errors in object work,spatial work and object recognition memorizes in Nine-Box Maze Test than the controls.Partial correlation analysis showed that in CID patients,the level of 25(OH)D3 was negatively correlated with PSQI scores (r=-0.320,P=0.030),spatial working memory errors (r=-0.300,P=0.043) and disease course (r=-0.360,P=0.014),whereas it was positively correlated with total sleep time (r=0.515,P=0.014)and MoCA scores (r=0.422,P=0.003).Conclusion The level of 25 (OH)D3 decreases in the CID patients,which is correlated with insomnia severity and course,and may affect the cognitive function.

Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT)is an advanced radiotherapy combined with targeted therapy and heavy ion therapy. BNCT is based on the nuclear reaction 10B (n, α) 7Li that occurs when boron-10 isotopes is irradiated with neutrons of the appropriate energy to produce high-energy recoiling 7Li nuclei and α particles. The released high linear energy transfer (LET) particles have path lengths of approximately one cell diameter (5-9 μm) and deposit most of their energy within the boron-containing tumor cells. BNCT has the advantages of precise tumor targeting, less damage to normal tissue and fewer irradiation fractionations (1-3 fractionations) than conventional radiotherapy (30 fractionation). The neutrons used in BNCT are produced by reactors or accelerators. The boron drugs used in clinical trials include BPA and BSH. In this paper, we review the clinical trial status and the significant progress of BNCT for head and neck tumors. The clinical data have approved the effectiveness of BNCT in the treatment of head and neck cancer. With the technical improvement of accelerator neutron source and the development of new boron drugs, BNCT will play a more important role in the field of clinical radiotherapy in the future.

Objective:To explore the changes of serum levels of copeptin and α-amylase and their correlations with sleep and cognition in patients with chronic insomnia (CI).Methods:From September 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019, fifty CI outpatients or inpatients from the Department of Sleep Disorder, Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, were enrolled continuously, and thirty good sleepers from the Physical Examination Center of the hospital, were also enrolled to serve as controls. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), polysomnography (PSG) and Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) were used to assess the insomnia severity and sleep disorder susceptibility. Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA) and Nine-Box Maze were used to respectively assess general cognition and memories. The serum levels of copeptin and α-amylase were detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared to the controls, the CI patients had increased PSQI score (16.0 (15.0, 17.0) vs 4.0 (2.8, 6.0); Z=-7.678, P<0.001) and PSAS score (33.0 (30.0, 37.5) vs 17.0 (16.0, 18.5); Z=-7.350, P<0.001), decreased MoCA score (24.1±2.5 vs 26.7±1.9, t=-4.625, P<0.001), increased numbers of errors in the object working (1.0 (0, 1.0) vs 0 (0, 1.0), Z=-2.099, P=0.036), spatial working (2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs 1.0 (0, 2.0), Z=-3.935, P<0.001) and object recognition (1.0 (0, 2.0) vs 0 (0, 0), Z=-2.266, P=0.023) memories, and elevated serum levels of copeptin ((35.1±19.9) pg/ml vs (14.8±6.9) pg/ml, t=5.414, P<0.001) and α-amylase ((990.1±193.7) U/L vs (728.9±230.5) U/L, t=5.597, P<0.001). In the CI patients, the level of copeptin was positively correlated with PSQI score ( r=0.338, P=0.013), PSAS score ( r=0.316, P=0.021), sleep latency ( r=0.324, P=0.018), number of awake ( r=0.325, P=0.017) and stage 1 percent of non-rapid eye movement sleep ( r=0.278, P=0.044), and negatively correlated with stage 2 percent of non-rapid eye movement sleep ( r=-0.279, P=0.043); α-amylase was positively correlated with numbers of awake in PSG ( r=0.293, P=0.033). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that copeptin level affected PSQI score (β=0.255, P=0.043) and sleep latency (β=0.254, P=0.043). Conclusion:The levels of copeptin and α-amylase in CI patients elevate, and copeptin may be associated with initial sleep difficulties, but not with cognitive ability, in patients with CI.

Objective    To evaluate the data of preoperative aortic root CT angiography (CTA), compare it with two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and investigate the correlation of the two measurements with the actual intraoperative measurement data. Methods    Clinical data of 53 patients with aortic valve diseases who underwent aortic valve repair in our hospital from January 2018 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 38 males and 15 females with an average age of 42.9±18.3 years ranging from 10 to 77 years. Preoperative two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and aortic root CTA measurements were collected, including aortic valve annulus (AVA), aortic sinus (Sinus) and sino-tubular junction (STJ). In comparison with the intraoperative measurements during the aortic valve repair surgery, the consistency analysis was performed. Results    Both the preoperative echocardiography AVA measurements and the CT AVA measurements were positively correlated with the intraoperative AVA measurements (P<0.001). Compared with the echocardiography AVA data [correlation coefficient (ρ)=0.74, mean squared error (MSE)=12.78], the CT AVA data were more accurate and consistent with the intraoperative AVA measurements (ρ=0.95, MSE=2.72). CT AVA data had a higher correlation coefficient with the intraoperative measurements, compared to that of  the echocardiography AVA data (P<0.001). Conclusion    In comparison with two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, preoperative morphological evaluation of aortic root CTA is more consistent with the actual intraoperative measurements during aortic valve repair surgery.

Objective    To evaluate the midterm effect of valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) on aortic root aneurysm and moderate to severe aortic regurgitation (AR). Methods    The clinical data of patients with aortic root aneurysm and moderate to severe AR undergoing VSRR and surviving from the operation from October 2013 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 31 males and 9 females, with an average age of 47.1±13.4 years. There were 30 patients with true aneurysm of aortic root and 10 patients with dissecting aneurysm of aortic root. There were 3 patients with bicuspid aortic valve, and 12 patients with Marfan syndrome. The AR measured by the echocardiogram was moderate in 18 patients and severe in 22 patients. The average diameter of aortic annulus was 27.0±3.9 mm, and the mean largest diameter of aortic sinus was 52.3±6.1 mm. Results    A total of 32 patients underwent David technique and 8 patients underwent Yacoub technique, and 10 patients underwent aortic cusp repair simultaneously. All 40 patients  completed the follow-up, and the follow-up period was 12-86 (45.7±18.9) months. During the period, 1 patient died of heart failure, 2 had reoperation due to new-onset Stanford B aortic dissection, and no patients had reoperation related to aortic valve. The postoperative New York Heart Association cardiac function classification (1.6±0.5 vs. 2.8±0.8), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (52.2±7.8 mm vs. 61.4±10.6 mm) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (136.0±58.8 mL vs. 193.3±83.9 mL) of the patients were significantly improved compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). By echocardiography, 19 patients had no AR, 18 patients had mild AR, 3 patients had mild-moderate AR, and no patients had moderate or higher AR. Conclusion    In patients with aortic root aneurysm and moderate to severe AR, VSRR technique avoids prosthetic valves and anticoagulation-related complications, has lower rate of AR recurrence and reoperation, and improves the quality of life in the midterm period.