BACKGROUND: Studies have indicated that the abnormal expression of TACC3 is closely related to the occurrence and development of many kinds of tumors, and the expression of TACC3 is up-regulated in these tumors. Therefore, in vitro specific inhibition of TACC3 expression may become an important target for the treatment or intervention of tumor growth.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism by which TACC3 gene expression regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.METHODS: CD133+CD44+ oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were sorted from human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line Cal-27 by immunomagnetic beads. In experimental group, the shRNA sequence of TACC3 was designed and synthesized, which was then trasnfected into CD133+CD44+ oral cancer stem cells by LipofectamineTM 2000. Empty vector-trasnfected (negative control) and untransfected cells were used as callsed. Forty-eight hours after the transfection, effects of TACC3 gene silencing on proliferation and apoptosis in vitro in CD133+CD44+ oral squamous cell carcinoma were detected by MTT, clone formation test, and TUNEL assay. Western blot assay was used to detect the effect of TACC3 gene silencing on Ki67, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in CD133+CD44+ oral squamous cell carcinoma.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Cell proliferation. The proliferation rate and expression level of Ki67 were significantly lower in the experimental group than the negative control and untransfected groups (P < 0.05). (2) Clone formation. The clone formation ability in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the negative control and untransfected groups (P < 0.05). (3) Cell apoptosis. TACC3 gene silencing caused an obvious decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression and a significant increase in Bax protein expression. These findings further confirmed that specific interference of TACC3 gene expression could inhibit the proliferation of CD133+CD44+ cells and promote the apoptosis.

Results of the IMbrave150 clinical study showed that atezolizumab plus bevaci-zumab have better overall survival and progression-free survival than sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. However, hepatocellular carcinoma patients with esophageal varices were not included in the IMbrave150 clinical study mainly considering the bleeding risk of patients undergoing treatment of bevacizumab. The authors introduce the atezolizumab plus bevaci-zumab treatment of an advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patient with moderate esophageal varices. By reducing the dose of bevacizumab, the patient achieved an excellent curative effect.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety percutaneous pulmonary vein intervention in patients with severe pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) caused by fibrosing mediastinitis(FM). Methods This retrospective analysis included 5 FM patients (2 male, 3 female, 54-77 years old) confirmed by clinical presentation and chest computed tomography (CT) scan from January to June 2018 who were from Gansu Provincial Hospital and Shanghai Chest Hospital. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) further revealed severe PVS caused by fibrotic tissue compression in mediastinum. After selective pulmonary vein angiography, gradually balloon angioplasty was used to expand the pulmonary vein and then stents were implanted in the pre?dilated stenotic pulmonary veins. Evaluation of therapeutic effect was made at 6 months after the procedure. Results All of 11 serious compression PVS were treated with stent implantation (diameter: 7-10 mm, length: 17-27 mm). After stenting, degree of pulmonary vein stenosis decreased from (83 ± 16)% to (12 ± 4)% (P<0.01). The minimal diameter of the stenotic pulmonary vein was significantly increased from (0.8±0.5)mm to (7.5±0.8)mm (P<0.01). Trans?stenotic gradient decreased from (27.0±15.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (2.50±0.58)mmHg (P<0.05). Mean pulmonary pressure measured by cardiac catheter decreased from (45.0 ± 9.0)mmHg to (38.7 ± 8.4)mmHg (P<0.05). One patient experienced cardiac arrest due to vagal nerve reflex during big sizing balloon stent dilation and recovered after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There were no other serious procedure related complications. During the follow?up, severe stenosis at end of proximal stent was evidenced in 1 patient due to fibrotic compression, and another patient developed in?stent thrombosis due to discontinuation of prescribed anticoagulant. Conclusion Percutaneous intervention for severe pulmonary vein stenosis caused by FM is feasible and safe, and can improve hemodynamic caused by the compression of mediastinal vascular structures in these carefully selected patients.

Background: Dysregulation of intestinal flora is a key risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine preparations and probiotics have been increasingly applied in the prevention of CRC. Aims: To investigate the preventive effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) combined with Bacillus subtilis on CRC. Methods: Thirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (NC group), model group, PNS group, Bacillus subtilis group and PNS combined with Bacillus subtilis group (PaB group). CRC mice model was constructed by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. During the experiment, the mice were weighed, and disease activity index (DAI) score was evaluated. The length of colorectum and tumor number were measured. Serum interleukin (IL) - 6 and IL - 10 contents were determined by ELISA. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyze the composition of intestinal flora. Results: Compared with model group, DAI score was significantly decreased (P<0.001), colorectal length was significantly increased (P<0.001), number of tumor was significantly decreased (P<0.001), tumor volume was significantly decreased (P<0.01), serum IL-6 content was significantly decreased (P<0.000 1), and serum IL-10 content was significantly increased in PaB group (P<0.000 1). The results of intestinal flora sequencing showed that Simpson index was significantly decreased in PaB group than in model group (P<0.05), Shannon index and Chao index were significantly increased (P<0.05), abundance of Bacteroidota was significantly increased (P<0.01), abundances of Firmicutes, Helicobacter and Oscillibacter were significantly decreased (P all <0.05), abundance of Lactococcus was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions: The combination of PNS and Bacillus subtilis can effectively alleviate the occurrence of CRC caused by AOM/DSS, and its mechanism may be related to the improvement of composition of intestinal microbial community.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety percutaneous pulmonary vein intervention in patients with severe pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) caused by fibrosing mediastinitis(FM). Methods: This retrospective analysis included 5 FM patients (2 male, 3 female, 54-77 years old) confirmed by clinical presentation and chest computed tomography (CT) scan from January to June 2018 who were from Gansu Provincial Hospital and Shanghai Chest Hospital. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) further revealed severe PVS caused by fibrotic tissue compression in mediastinum. After selective pulmonary vein angiography, gradually balloon angioplasty was used to expand the pulmonary vein and then stents were implanted in the pre-dilated stenotic pulmonary veins. Evaluation of therapeutic effect was made at 6 months after the procedure. Results: All of 11 serious compression PVS were treated with stent implantation (diameter: 7-10 mm, length: 17-27 mm). After stenting, degree of pulmonary vein stenosis decreased from (83±16)% to (12±4)% (P<0.01). The minimal diameter of the stenotic pulmonary vein was significantly increased from (0.8±0.5)mm to (7.5±0.8)mm (P<0.01). Trans-stenotic gradient decreased from (27.0±15.1)mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (2.50±0.58)mmHg (P<0.05). Mean pulmonary pressure measured by cardiac catheter decreased from (45.0±9.0)mmHg to (38.7±8.4)mmHg (P<0.05). One patient experienced cardiac arrest due to vagal nerve reflex during big sizing balloon stent dilation and recovered after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There were no other serious procedure related complications. During the follow-up, severe stenosis at end of proximal stent was evidenced in 1 patient due to fibrotic compression, and another patient developed in-stent thrombosis due to discontinuation of prescribed anticoagulant. Conclusion Percutaneous intervention for severe pulmonary vein stenosis caused by FM is feasible and safe, and can improve hemodynamic caused by the compression of mediastinal vascular structures in these carefully selected patients.