Objective Studies show that miRNA plays an important role in regulating the development, metastasis, inva-sion, and angiogenesis of carcinoma.This study aimed to investigate the expression of miR-155-5p in esophageal squamous cell carci-noma ( ESCC) and its role in the occurrence and progression of ESCC. Methods We collected 20 surgical specimens of ESCC and another 20 from the adjacent normal tissue at least 5 cm from the lesion and determined the expression of miR-155-5p in the tissues by qPCR.We transfected the miR-155-5p mimic, inhibitor and negative control plasmid into the Eca109 cells, measured the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells by CCK8 assay and flow cytometry, and examined their migration using the scratch test. Results The ex-pression of miR-155-5p was significantly up-regulated in the ESCC tissue as compared with that in the normal tissue (529.42% vs 100%, P<0.05).The scratch test showed a markedly increased migration of the cancer cells when miR-155-5p was overexpressed. No remarkable differences were observed in the apoptosis rates of the cells transfected with the miR-155-5p mimic ([5.43 ± 3.09]%), inhibitor ([5.28 ±1.98]%), and negative control plasmid ([5.67 ±1.99]%) (P<0.05). Conclusion The ex-pression of miR-155-5p is significantly up-regulated in the ESCC tissue, which may act as a potential maker for the diagnosis of ESCC. The up-regulated expression of miR-155-5p does not significantly in-fluence the proliferation and apoptosis but enhances the migration of Eca109 cells, which may be related to early metastasis of ESCC.

Objective·To investigate factors affecting the prognosis of aged esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy.Methods·Clinical data of 103 aged patients (≥ 80 years old) undergoing esophageetomy were collected.Effects of age,sex,clinical manifestations,pre-operative diseases,post-operative complications,T stage,lymph node metastasis,maximum diameter and location of the tumor,and surgical methods on the post-operative survival were analyzed.Results·1,3,and 5 years survival rates of 103 patients were 63.2％,15.9％,and 2.7％,respectively.Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis indicated that the post-operative survival was significantly higher in patients with T1 and T2 stages than in patients with T3 stage.The 3 and 5 y survival rates of patients with T 1 stage were 50％ and 25％,respectively.Results of Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that T stage,maximum diameter of tumor,postoperative complications,and lymph node metastasis were independent factors affecting the post-operative survival.Conclusion·Esophageal cancer patients aged over 80 years with smaller tumor diameters,less postoperative complications,and negative lymph node metastasis have a longer post-operative survival period.Esophagectomy for patients with earlier stages (T1 and T2) can achieve an ideal post-operative survival period.

Laparoscopic curative gastrectomy has been widely adopted because it is minimal invasiveness.The efficacy of laparoscopic gastrectomy is comparable to that of open gastrectomy for patients with early or advanced gastric cancer,but few studies of laparoscopic total gastrectomy combined with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy for patients with advanced gastric cancer have been reported.Seven patients with advanced gastric cancer received laparoscopic total gastrectomy combined with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy at the First Hospital of Jilin University from September 2010 to September 2011.The mean operation time,blood loss,postoperative hospital stay and the nunber of lymph nodes resected were (218 ± 24) minutes,(366 ± 174) ml,( 14.6 ± 2.8 ) days and 32 ± 15,respectively.Two patients were complicated by pancreatic juice leakage and were cured with drainage. No anastomotic leakage,abdominal bleeding or mortality was observed. With the development of techniques and equipments,laparoscopic total gastrectony combined with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy is safe and feasible in selected patients.

Objective To observe the damage of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) barrier permeability and the protective effect of unfractionated heparin (UFH), and to explore the down-regulated protection effect mechanism of UFH on HMGB1-mediated vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) expression. Methods The trypsin-digested HUVEC were subcultured in culture flasks. When the cells were grown to 80%, they were randomly divided into four groups: phosphate buffer (PBS) control group (200 μL PBS), recombinant human high mobility group box 1 (rhHMGB1) treatment group (100 μg/L rhHMGB1), UFH control group (10 kU/L UFH), and UFH pretreatment group (10 kU/L UFH+100 μg/L rhHMGB1). The cells in each group were challenged with different reagent for 24 hours, and the activity of endothelial cells was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. The permeability of endothelial cells was measured by Transwell method, and the expression and distribution of VE-cadherin was observed by immunofluorescence. The protein expressions of VE-cadherin and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were determined by Western Blot. Results After treatment with 100 μg/L rhHMGB1 for 24 hours, the activity of endothelial cells was not significantly different from that of the PBS control group (A value: 0.230±0.004 vs. 0.255±0.006, P > 0.05), but the permeability was significantly increased (glucan FD40 fluorescence intensity: 11.05±0.12 vs. 6.34±0.39, P < 0.05). Compared with PBS control group, the fluorescence microscopy showed that the VE-cadherin membrane localization was reduced, the distribution was loose, and there were obvious fissures between cells in rhHMGB1 treatment group, and quantitative analysis showed the protein expression of VE-cadherin was decreased significantly (VE-cadherin/β-actin: 0.16±0.04 vs. 0.31±0.03, P < 0.05), and the expression of p-p38MAPK protein was significantly increased (p-p38MAPK/β-actin: 0.79±0.03 vs. 0.26±0.05, P < 0.05). UFH pretreatment could protect HMGB1-mediated endothelial cell injury, cell permeability was significantly reduced (glucan FD40 fluorescence intensity: 9.11±0.23 vs. 11.05±0.12), fluorescence expression of VE-cadherin was enhanced, membrane localization was significantly increased, quantitative analysis showed that VE-cadherin protein expression was significantly up-regulated (VE-cadherin/β-actin: 0.24±0.02 vs. 0.16±0.04), and p38MAPK phosphorylation level was significantly decreased (p-p38MAPK/β-actin: 0.54±0.05 vs. 0.79±0.03), the difference was statistically significant as compared with rhHMGB1 treatment group (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in all parameters between PBS control group and UFH control group. Conclusions UFH can protect the endothelial cell barrier from the HMGB1 by regulating the expression and distribution of VE-cadherin. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation by UFH.

Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase ; genetics ; Transfection

The serious decrease in the number of functional β cells is one of the main features in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. CDKN1B is a new kind of regulatory protein, which can bind and inactivate cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase complex to control the process of cell cycle. It was suggested that down-regulation or deletion of CDKN1B in islet β cells could accelerate the proliferation of islet β cells, thus increasing the number of islet β cells, which is of great significance for treatments of diabetes.

Objective:To study the effects of rolling blood pump parameters and blood concentration on hemolysis during extracorporeal circulation.Methods:According to the extracorporeal hemolysis experiment standard, an extracorporeal circulation experimental device was built to analyze the influences of circulation time (0 ~ 90 min), blood flow rate (1~4 L/min), and blood volume fraction (60%, 70%) on the hemolysis of blood samples in the circulatory system. The results of hemolysis were analyzed using first-order linear regression.Results:The longer the blood pump circulation time, the greater the hemolysis rate; the higher the blood flow rate, the greater the hemolysis rate. When the flow rate is 1 and 2 L/min, the hemolysis rate curve has an inflection point that changes with time, i.e. when the circulation time exceeds 30 min, the slope of the hemolysis rate curve suddenly increases. However, when the flow rate is 3 and 4 L/min, the hemolysis mutation phenomenon is not obvious. Compared to the blood sample with blood volume fraction of 70%, a blood sample with a blood volume fraction of 60% is less prone to hemolysis.Conclusions:The longer the blood pump circulation time and the higher the blood flow rate, the more easily the red blood cells are destroyed, i.e. the hemolysis rate is directly proportional to the circulation time and blood flow rate. When the circulation time increases to a certain degree, an inflection point appears in the hemolysis rate curve, and the hemolysis trend will be significantly enhanced.

BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is the basis of spinal degenerative diseases;however,there is no effective treatment. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether sinomenine can inhibit interleukin-1β-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells and its molecular mechanism. METHODS:Rat nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in vitro by trypsin combined with type II collagenase digestion,and the cell growth curve was plotted.An appropriate sinomenine concentration was determined using the cell counting kit-8 kit.Nucleus pulposus cells were divided into control group,sinomenine group,interleukin-1β group,sinomenine+interleukin-1β group,zinc protoporphyrin group,zinc protoporphyrin+sinomenine group,zinc protoporphyrin+interleukin-1β group,and sinomenine+zinc protoporphyrin+interleukin-1β group.Proliferative activity,reactive oxygen species content,apoptosis rate,and heme oxygenase-1 expression in nucleus pulposus cells were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The rat nucleus pulposus cells cultured in vitro were polygonal,triangular,and short wedge-shaped,and the cell growth showed an"S"curve.The cells grew slowly in the first 3 days of culture,rapidly in 4-6 days,and slowly again in 7-8 days.The cells then entered the"platform stage"where the number of cells no longer increased.The proliferative activity of myeloid cells showed no significant changes when the concentration of sinomenine was≤80 μmol/L(P>0.05).Interleukin-1β significantly reduced the proliferative activity of nucleus pulposus cells,increased the content of reactive oxygen species and led to apoptosis(P<0.01).Sinomenine intervention not only promoted heme oxygenase-1 expression(P<0.05)but also inhibited interleukin-1β-induced decrease in proliferative activity and increase in reactive oxygen species content and apoptosis rate in nucleus pulposus cells(P<0.05).These effects could be reversed by zinc protoporphyrin(P<0.01).

Objective:To investigate the effect of folding and filling the orbicularis muscle flap of the inferiorcentral pedicle in correction of sunken upper eyelids.Methods:From August 2020 to April 2022, 39 female patients aged 36-63 (47.1±6.3) years with dermatochalasis and sunken upper eyelid were admitted to the Plastic Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University. During the surgery, the orbicularis oculi muscle in the skin resection area was preserved and a muscle flap was formed with the central part of the lower margin of the incision as the pedicle, which was folded deep and filled in the anterior orbital septal space. 6 months after surgery, the Park method was used to compare the effects before and after surgery, and the doctors and patients were scored on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, respectively.Results:Unilateral upper eyelid hematoma appeared in 1 patient and healed after local acupuncture and aspiration, unilateral incision induration appeared in 2 patients, and gradually disappeared after 6 months of follow-up. The wounds of other patients healed in one stage. All the 39 patients were followed up for 6-12 months. The scores of the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale at 6 months after surgery were (4.12±0.95) for doctors and (3.82±1.27) for patients. Park method showed that the degree of sunken upper eyelid after surgery was significantly better than that before surgery, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-7.721, P=0.000). Conclusions:The folding and filling of the orbicularis muscle flap of the eye with the inferior central pedicle can correct the laxity of the upper eyelid and improve the sunken upper eyelid. This operation can make full use of local tissue, and the effect is simple and lasting.

Objective:To investigate the value of generative adversarial networks-based PET image reconstruction in improving the quality of low-dose 18F-FDG PET images and lesion detection in pediatric patients. Methods:Retrospective analysis of 61 PET images of children (38 males, 23 females, age (4.0±3.5) years) who underwent 18F-FDG total-body PET/CT imaging in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2021 to December 2021 was performed. The low-dose images (30 s, 20 s, 10 s) of all children extracted by list mode were input into the generative adversarial networks for deep learning (DL) reconstruction to obtain the corresponding simulated standard full-dose images (DL-30 s, DL-20 s, DL-10 s). The semi-quantitative parameters of the liver blood pool and primary lesion of standard full-dose 120 s, 30 s, 20 s, 10 s, DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s images were measured. The target-to-background ratio (TBR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and CV were calculated. The 5-point Likert scale was used for subjective scoring of image quality, and the detective abilities for positive lesions of each groups were compared. The sensitivities and positive predictive values of positive lesions detection were calculated. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and χ2 test were used for data analyses. Results:CNR of the 30 s, 20 s, and 10 s groups were lower than those of DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s groups, respectively ( z values: -3.58, -3.20, -3.65, all P<0.05). Score of DL-10 s group was significantly lower than those of 120 s, DL-30 s and DL-20 s groups (4(3, 4), 5(4, 5), 4(4, 5), 4(4, 5); H=97.70, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in TBR, CNR, CV, SUV max and SUV mean of lesions and liver blood pool in 120 s, DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s groups ( H values: 0.00-6.76, all P>0.05). The sensitivities of positive lesion detection in DL-30 s, DL-20 s, and DL-10 s groups were 97.83%(225/230), 96.96%(223/230), 95.65%(220/230), respectively, and the positive predictive values were 96.57%(225/233), 93.70%(223/238), 84.94%(220/259), respectively. The positive predictive value in DL-10 s group was lower than those in DL-30 s and DL-20 s groups ( χ2=23.51, P<0.001). There were more false-positive and false-negative lesions detected by DL-10 s group than those of DL-30 s and DL-20 s groups in different sites. Conclusion:Based on the generative adversarial networks, the image quality of DL-20 s group is high and can meet the clinical diagnostic requirements.