Objective: : The facial nerve trace on the ipsilateral side of the vestibular schwannoma was reconstructed by diffusion tensor imaging tractography to identify the adjacent relationship between the facial nerve and the tumor, and to improve the level of intraoperative facial nerve protection. Methods: : The clinical data of 30 cases of unilateral vestibular schwannoma who underwent tumor resection via retrosigmoid approach were collected between January 2019 and December 2020. All cases underwent magnetic resonance imaging examination before operation. Diffusion tensor imaging and anatomical images were used to reconstruct the facial nerve track of the affected side, so as to predict the course of the nerve and its adjacent relationship with the tumor, to compare the actual trace of the facial nerve during operation, verify the degree of coincidence, and evaluate the nerve function (House-Brackmann grade) after surgery. Results: : The facial nerve of 27 out of 30 cases could be displayed by diffusion tensor imaging tractography, and the tracking rate was 90% (27/30). The intraoperative locations of facial nerve shown in 25 cases were consistent with the preoperative reconstruction results. The coincidence rate was 92.6% (25/27). The facial nerves were located on the anterior middle part of the tumor in 14 cases, anterior upper part in eight cases, anterior lower part in seven cases, and superior polar in one case. Intraoperative facial nerve anatomy was preserved in 30 cases. Among the 30 patients, total resection was performed in 28 cases and subtotal resection in two cases. The facial nerve function was evaluated 2 weeks after operation, and the results showed grade I in 12 cases, grade II in 16 cases and grade III in two cases. Conclusion : Preoperative diffusion tensor imaging tractography can clearly show the trajectory and adjacent position of the facial nerve on the side of vestibular schwannoma, which is beneficial to accurately identify and effectively protect the facial nerve during the operation, and is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Objective To observe the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in rats with early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage,and study the neuroprotective effects of BDNF and TrkB on EBI.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=56),weighing 280-320 g,were randomly divided into sham-operated group and SAH group;SAH models were established by endovascular perforation ofinternal carotid artery.At 24 and 72 h after modeling,neurological scale scores were recorded;brain water content was measured;immunohistochemical staining and ELISA were used to observe the dynamical expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the brain.Results At 24 and 72 h after modeling,the neurological function scores and brain water content of SAH rats were higher than those of sham-operated group.The expression scores of BDNF in the SAH rats were 1.33±0.52 and 1.67±0.52,and the expression levels were (12.11±0.44) mg/mL and (15.82±0.89) mg/mL;the expression scores of TrkB were 1.17±0.75 and 2.00±0.00,and the expression levels were (18.89±0.38) mg/mL and (25.18±0.68) mg/mL.The expression scores of BDNF in the sham-operated group were 0.33±0.52 and 0.17±0.41,and the expression levels of BDNF in the sham-operated group was (4.92±0.16) mg/mL and (4.93±0.20) mg/mL;the expression scores of TrkB were 0.17±0.41 and 0.33±0.52,and the expression levels were (8.52±0.41) mg/mL and (8.08±0.34) mg/mL.There were significant differences in BDNF and TrkB expressions between the two groups at 24 and 72 h after modeling (P＜0.05).Conclusion The expressions of BDNF and TrkB increase significantly after SAH,and BDNF and TrkB play protective effect on EBI after SAH.

Objective:To explore the prognosis and treatment experience of fetal/neonatal ovarian cyst.Methods:Clinical data of 35 cases of fetal/neonatal ovarian cyst (38 ovarian cysts) admitted to Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from June 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected, including the cyst size before and after birth, ultrasonic features, intraoperative conditions, and pathology. According to the ultrasonic features at the first prenatal detection, the ovarian cysts were divided into two groups: simple cyst group (25 cysts) and complex cyst group (13 cysts). Two independent samples t-test and Fisher exact test were used to compare the characteristics of cysts between the two groups. The outcomes and treatment experience were summarized. Results:(1) The ratio of intraoperative torsion in the complex cysts group was higher than that in the simple cysts group [10/13 vs 32% (8/25), Fisher exact test, P<0.05]. (2) Twenty-five simple cysts were found on the first prenatal ultrasound scan, and 32% (8/25) of them eventually transformed into complex cysts. Among these eight cysts, the maximum diameter of five cysts was >4 cm before the transformation. (3) Postnatal ultrasound found one cyst regressed spontaneously and among the remaining 37 cysts, simple and complex type cysts were accounted for 16 and 21, respectively. Among the complex type cysts, 90% (19/21) were consistent with prenatal ultrasound. (4) Out of the 21 complicated cysts, 19 were surgically removed; the remaining two cysts (maximum diameter <3 cm) were observed conservatively and disappeared spontaneously within one year. During the operation, 81% (17/21) of the complicated cysts were found with torsion and 24% (5/21) with ovarian loss. Conclusions:Simple cysts can transform into complex cysts, especially the biggest diameter >4 cm. Complex fetal/neonatal ovarian cysts indicated by ultrasonography were more prone to torsion, which required postnatal operation.

Objective:To summarize the perinatal management and prognosis of congenital chylous ascites (CCA).Methods:Clinical data of 20 infants diagnosed with CCA and treated in Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from June 2015 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and described.Results:There were ten patients with isolated CCA and ten with non-isolated CCA. In isolated CCA cases, seven were cured after conservative treatment and three after postoperative conservative treatment following an ineffective surgery. Non-isolated CCA cases were complicated by intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection ( n=1), malrotation of intestine ( n=4) or bilateral chylothorax ( n=5). In addition to conservative treatment for CCA, non-isolated CCA patients also received antiviral therapy, Ladd's procedure or intrauterine/extrauterine closed thoracic drainage. Of eight patients who were firstly diagnosed with ascites before 30 gestational weeks, including four isolated and four non-isolated cases, only one underwent surgical intervention. During hospitalization, serious infections occurred in three infants with isolated CCA and two with non-isolated CCA, and were all controlled by anti-infection treatment. During a follow-up to median age of 29 months (15-82 months), none of the patients had any abnormalities except for the one with intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection who was deaf at the age of two. Conclusions:Conservative management is effective and the prognosis is generally good for most cases with isolated CCA. Treatment and prognosis of non-isolated CCA depend on its comorbidities. Gestational age at diagnosis may not be a prognostic predictor.

AIM:To investigate the role and molecular mechanisms of SMARCA4(SWI/SNF-related,matrix-associated,actin-dependent regulator of chromatin,subfamily A,member 4)in ferroptosis.METHODS:(1)Human fi-brosarcoma HT1080 cells were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)and different concentrations(31.25,62.5 and 125 nmol/L)of Ras-selective lethal small molecule 3(RSL3;ferroptosis inducer).Each treatment had 3 replicate wells of cells.The protein levels of SMARCA4 were detected by Western blot.(2)Two small interfering RNAs(siSMARCA4-1 and siSMARCA4-2)were constructed according to the SMARCA4 gene sequence.After SMARCA4 knockdown,each treat-ment had 3 replicate wells of cells,and the protein levels of SMARCA4 were determined by Western blot.Effects of DMSO,necrostatin 2 racemate(Nec-1s;necroptosis inhibitor),Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK(Z-VAD,pan-caspase inhibitor/apoptosis inhibitor)and ferrostatin-1(Fer-1,ferroptosis inhibitor)on cell viability were assessed using high-content analy-sis.The levels of ferroptosis indicators,including prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2)transcription,lipid peroxidation,reactive oxygen species(ROS),labile iron pool(LIP)and glutathione,were determined by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of pivotal iron metabolism genes,ferroptosis-related ROS regulatory genes,and cholesterol synthesis-related genes were measured using RT-qPCR.Impact of cholesterol on the cell viability were as-sessed using high-content analysis.(3)Common differential gene analysis and gene ontology(GO)enrichment analysis were performed on published online data.RESULTS:(1)Treatment with RSL3 significantly reduced the protein level of SMARCA4(P＜0.05).(2)Knockdown of SMARCA4 resulted in ferroptosis.(3)Knockdown of SMARCA4 did not induce ferroptosis by modulating the LIP and the transcription levels of ROS-related genes.(4)Knockdown of SMARCA4 affected the pathways associated with the cell membrane,lipid raft,and cholesterol synthesis.(5)Addition of cholesterol to cell culture medium rescued the ferroptosis induced by SMARCA4 knockdown(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with RSL3 reduces the protein level of SMARCA4 in human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells,and inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by SMARCA4 knockdown leads to the ferroptosis of HT1080 cells.

While the majority of all human cancers counteract telomere shortening by expressing telomerase, ~15% of all cancers maintain telomere length by a telomerase-independent mechanism known as alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Here, we show that high load of intrinsic DNA damage is present in ALT cancer cells, leading to apoptosis stress by activating p53-independent, but JNK/c-Myc-dependent apoptotic pathway. Notably, ALT cells expressing wild-type p53 show much lower apoptosis than p53-deficient ALT cells. Mechanistically, we find that intrinsic DNA damage in ALT cells induces low level of p53 that is insufficient to initiate the transcription of apoptosis-related genes, but is sufficient to stimulate the expression of key components of mTORC2 (mTOR and Rictor), which in turn leads to phosphorylation of AKT. Activated AKT (p-AKT) thereby stimulates downstream anti-apoptotic events. Therefore, p53 and AKT are the key factors that suppress spontaneous apoptosis in ALT cells. Indeed, inhibition of p53 or AKT selectively induces rapid death of ALT cells in vitro, and p53 inhibitor severely suppresses the growth of ALT-cell xenograft tumors in mice. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized function of p53 in anti-apoptosis and identify that the inhibition of p53 or AKT has a potential as therapeutics for specifically targeting ALT cancers.