Objective To elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota and molecular mechanism of huaier in enhancing the efficacy of oxaliplatin (OXA) chemotherapy in gastric cancer (GC). Methods The effects of huaier on the gut microbiota structure and intestinal barrier function in MKN45-bearing mice were analyzed by using 16S rRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, and IHC. UPLC-MS and network pharmacology, as well as in vivo experimental approaches, were employed to investigate the key bioactive constituents of huaier systematically and elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which huaier exerts therapeutic effects against GC. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway was detected in cancer cells and tissues via Western blot analysis. The safety profile of huaier combined with OXA was verified through serum biochemistry and HE-stained tissue section analyses. Results Huaier inhibited the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, reduced lipid droplet deposition, and ultimately enhanced the sensitivity to OXA in the treatment of GC. Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of huaier in gastric cancer treatment by enhancing chemosensitivity and provides novel insights into its systemic therapeutic effects through molecular mechanisms and gut microbiota modulation.

Objective To observe the correlations of metabolite levels in medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC)and cancer-related depression(CRD)in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Totally 38 NSCLC patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into CRD group(n=23)and non CRD group(n=15)based on Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-17).Meanwhile,22 healthy individuals were taken as control group.1 H-MR spectroscopy was performed using Meshcher-Garwood point resolved spectroscopy sequence,then metabolite levels of mPFC were measured,and their correlations with HAMD-17 score were analyzed.Results Significant differences of gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)+/Water and glutamate/glutamine complex(Glx)/Water in mPFC were found among 3 groups.GABA+/Water in mPFC of CRD group was significantly lower than that of the other 2 groups(both P＜0.05),and Glx/Water in mPFC of CRD group was significantly lower than that of control group(P=0.034).In NSCLC patients,GABA+/Water in mPFC was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 score(r=-0.491,P=0.002).Conclusion GABA+/Water in mPFC was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 score in NSCLC patients.

Objective To observe the correlations of metabolite levels in medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC)and cancer-related depression(CRD)in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Totally 38 NSCLC patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into CRD group(n=23)and non CRD group(n=15)based on Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-17).Meanwhile,22 healthy individuals were taken as control group.1 H-MR spectroscopy was performed using Meshcher-Garwood point resolved spectroscopy sequence,then metabolite levels of mPFC were measured,and their correlations with HAMD-17 score were analyzed.Results Significant differences of gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)+/Water and glutamate/glutamine complex(Glx)/Water in mPFC were found among 3 groups.GABA+/Water in mPFC of CRD group was significantly lower than that of the other 2 groups(both P＜0.05),and Glx/Water in mPFC of CRD group was significantly lower than that of control group(P=0.034).In NSCLC patients,GABA+/Water in mPFC was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 score(r=-0.491,P=0.002).Conclusion GABA+/Water in mPFC was negatively correlated with HAMD-17 score in NSCLC patients.

Dual-layer spectral detector CT is a new spectrum CT imaging technology based on detector being able to obtain both images similar to true plain and spectral images in one time scanning.The reconstructed multi-parameter spectral images can not only improve image quality,enhance tissue contrast,increase the visualization and detection ability of occult lesions,but also provide qualitative and quantitative analysis of the lesions,so as to provide more imaging information and multi-dimensional diagnostic basis.The research progresses of dual-layer spectral detector CT for preoperative evaluation on colorectal cancer were reviewed in this article.

Objective To investigate how substrate stiffness regulates the morphology of primary cilia in chondrocytes and to illustrate how Piezo1 mediates the morphology regulation of primary cilia by substrate stiffness.Methods Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)curing agent and the main agent(Dow Corning,Beijing,China)were mixed at the ratio of 1∶10(stiff),1∶50(medium stiffness),and 1∶70(soft),respectively,to prepare substrate films with the thickness of 1 mm at different levels of stiffness,including stiff substrate of(2.21±0.12)MPa,medium-stiffness substrate of(54.47±6.06)kPa,and soft substrate of(2.13±0.10)kPa.Chondrocytes were cultured with the substrates of three different levels of stiffness.Then,the cells were treated with Tubastatin A(Tub A)to inhibit histone deacetylase 6(HDAC6),Piezo1 activator Yoda1,and inhibitor GsMTx4,respectively.The effects of HDAC6,Yoda1,and GsMTx4 on chondrocyte morphology and the length of primary cilia were analyzed through immunofluorescence staining.Results The stiff substrate increased the spread area of the chondrocytes.Immunofluorescence assays showed that the cytoskeleton and the nuclear area of the cells on the stiff substrate were significantly increased(P<0.05)and the primary cilia were significantly extended(P<0.05)compared with those on the medium-stiffness and soft substrates.However,the presence rate of primary cilia was not affected.The HDAC6 activity of chondrocytes increased with the decrease in substrate stiffness.When the activity of HDAC6 was inhibited,the cytoskeletal area,the nuclei area,and the primary cilium length were increased more significantly on the stiff substrate(P<0.05).Further testing showed that Piezo1 activator and inhibitor could regulate the activity of HDAC6 in chondrocytes,and that the length of primary cilia was significantly increased after treatment with the activator Yoda1(P<0.05).On the other hand,the length of primary cilia was significantly shortened on the stiff substrate after treatment with the inhibitor GsMTx4(P<0.05).Conclusion Both substrate stiffness and Piezo1 may affect the morphology of chondrocyte primary cilia by regulating HDAC6 activity.

Cancer cell membrane (CCM) derived nanotechnology functionalizes nanoparticles (NPs) to recognize homologous cells, exhibiting translational potential in accurate tumor therapy. However, these nanoplatforms are majorly generated from fixed cell lines and are typically evaluated in cell line-derived subcutaneous-xenografts (CDX), ignoring the tumor heterogeneity and differentiation from inter- and intra- individuals and microenvironments between heterotopic- and orthotopic-tumors, limiting the therapeutic efficiency of such nanoplatforms. Herein, various biomimetic nanoplatforms (CCM-modified gold@Carbon, i.e., Au@C-CCM) were fabricated by coating CCMs of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and patient-derived cells on the surface of Au@C NP. The generated Au@C-CCMs were evaluated on corresponding CDX, tongue orthotopic xenograft (TOX), immune-competent primary and distant tumor models, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. The Au@C-CCM generates a photothermal conversion efficiency up to 44.2% for primary HNSCC therapy and induced immunotherapy to inhibit metastasis via photothermal therapy-induced immunogenic cell death. The homologous CCM endowed the nanoplatforms with optimal targeting properties for the highest therapeutic efficiency, far above those with mismatched CCMs, resulting in distinct tumor ablation and tumor growth inhibition in all four models. This work reinforces the feasibility of biomimetic NPs combining modular designed CMs and functional cores for customized treatment of HNSCC, can be further extended to other malignant tumors therapy.
Animals ; Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/therapy* ; Heterografts ; Photothermal Therapy ; Biomimetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/therapy* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of different doses of apatinib combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer and its effect on prognosis.Methods:Sixty-nine patients with advanced gastric cancer who received treatment in Lishui City People's Hospital from January 2015 to February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received apatinib combined with teggio chemotherapy. These patients were divided into groups A, B and C according to the different dosages of apatinib used: 250 mg/d ( n = 21, group A), 500 mg/d ( n = 23, group B) and 850 mg/d ( n = 23, group C). The control rate of gastric cancer, serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA72-4), toxic and side effects, and survival within 1 year after surgery were determined among the three groups. Results:By the end of follow-up, one patient from group A was lost, one patient from group B interrupted medication because of personal reasons, and two patients from group C withdrew from the treatment due to serious discomfort caused by drugs. After treatment, disease control rate in group C was significantly higher than that in group A [91.30% (21/23) vs. 60.00% (12/20), χ2 = 6.484, P < 0.05]. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic, CA19-9 and CA72-4 in group C were (27.51 ± 2.21) μg/L, (101.46 ± 8.02) g/L, (46.34 ± 6.15) U/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in group B [(29.33 ± 2.17) μg/L, (106.67 ± 8.10) g/L, (50.67 ± 6.20) U/mL, t = 2.786, 2.168, 2.352, all P < 0.05]. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic, CA19-9 and CA72-4 in group B were significantly lower than those in group A [(31.63 ± 2.92) μg/L, (112.12 ± 8.38) g/L, (55.12 ± 6.48) U/mL, t = 2.915, 2.142, 2.274, all P < 0.05]. The incidences of hand foot syndrome and gastrointestinal discomfort in group C were (34.78% (8/23) and (39.13% (9/23), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in group A [15.00% (3/23) and 25.00% (5/20), χ2 = 5.734, 4.769, both P < 0.05]. After 1-year follow-up,1-year survival rate in group C was significantly higher than that in group A [39.13% (9/23) vs. 10.00% (2/20), log-Rank χ2 = 6.600, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:High-dose apatinib combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer has a high disease control rate and a high 1-year survival rate, but it has serious adverse drug reactions.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the mental health status of subway employees, and to explore the relationship among their mental health, psychological capital and work engagement. METHODS: Using the typical sampling method, a total of 2 758 subway employees from a rail transit group Co., Ltd in a city were selected as the study subjects. The Symptom Check List 90, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were used to investigate the mental health, psychological capital and work engagement of the study subjects. RESULTS: The screening positive rate of mental disorder of the study subjects was 15.6%(431/2 758), and the median scores of mental health, psychological capital, and work engagement were 108, 109, and 62 points, respectively. The mental health scores of the study subjects were negatively correlated with their psychological capital and work engagement scores [Spearman correlation coefficient(r_S) were-0.55 and-0.57, respectively, P<0.01]. The psychological capital score was positively correlated with the work engagement score(r_S=0.70, P<0.01).Mental health played a partial mediating role in the influence of psychological capital on work engagement(mediating effect was 0.07, 95% correlation coefficient: 0.06-0.08, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The mental health status of the subway employees is good. Psychological capital of subway employees can not only directly affect work engagement, but also indirectly affect work engagement by influencing mental health.

Objective:To investigate the value of CT angiography (CTA) point sign in the treatment of patients with moderate amount basal ganglia hemorrhage at ultra-early stage by trephination and drainage or craniotomy, and its influence in the prognoses.Methods:One hundred and twenty-six patients with moderate amount basal ganglia hemorrhage (30-60 mL) admitted to our hospital from March 2017 to March 2019 were chosen in our study; these patients were evaluated and conformed to have the same tolerance of craniotomy or drainage; and their families agreed to the ultra-early surgical treatments; their clinical data were retrospectively collected. They all accepted CTA before operation. Among them, 68 were into the craniotomy group, including 38 into CTA spot sign negative sub-group and 30 into positive sub-group; 58 were into the trephination and drainage group, including 39 into CTA spot sign negative sub-group and 19 into positive sub-group. The differences of favorable prognosis rate and postoperative re-hemorrhage rate were compared between the craniotomy group and trephination and drainage group, as well as each two sub-groups.Results:The favorable prognosis rate and postoperative re-hemorrhage rate of patients in the craniotomy group (61.8% and 2.9%) were significantly lower as compared with those in the trephination and drainage group (82.8% and 15.5%, P<0.05). In the craniotomy group, the favorable prognosis rate and postoperative re-hemorrhage rate in the CTA spot sign positive sub-group (60.0% and 4.8%) were higher than those in the negative sub-group (63.2% and 2.1%), without significant differences ( P>0.05); in the trephination and drainage group, the favorable prognosis rate and postoperative re-hemorrhage rate in the CTA spot sign positive sub-group (63.2% and 36.8%) were significantly different as compared with those in the negative sub-group (92.3% and 5.1%, P<0.05). Conclusion:Among patients with moderate amount basal ganglia hemorrhage, prognoses can be effectively improved in the following treatments: if the patients have negative CTA spot sign, are evaluated to have low risk of postoperative re-hemorrhage after craniotomy or drainage, and are considered that the prognosis by drainage is better than that by craniotomy, trephination and drainage should be selected; if the patients have positive CTA spot sign, and are evaluated to have lower risk of postoperative re-hemorrhage by craniotomy than that by drainage, craniotomy should be selected.