Objective To explore the roles of transcription factor E26 transformation-specific 1(ETS1)and F-box protein 45(FBXO45)in invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the potential molecular mechanism.Methods Jaspar,hTFtarget and Cistrome transcription factor database prediction websites were used to predict the transcription factors of FBXO45.According to the intersection of the predicted results of each database,the expression of FBXO45 was detected after the candidate transcription factors were knockdown in HCCLM3 and Huh7 liver cancer cells,respectively.The most significant influence on FBXO45 expression was selected for further analysis,and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay(ChIP)was used to verify the binding to the FBXO45 promoter.Finally,the potential transcription factor of FBXO45 was identified.The effect of ETS1 overexpression on invasion and migration in HCCLM3 and Huh7 cells was detected by Transwell assay,and the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)pathway proteins were detected by Western blot assay.The effects of FBXO45 knockdown on the invasion and migration under the condition of overexpression of ETS1 were also studied.Results Intersection of FBXO45 transcription factors identified 3 candidate transcription factors,ETS1,SPI1 and YY1.When the 3 transcription factors were knocked down in HCCLM3 and Huh7 cells,respectively,ETS1 knockdown significantly reduced the expression of FBXO45.According to the analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)data and the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)data,the expression levels of ETS1 and FBXO45 were significantly positively correlated(R=0.31,P<0.000 1;R=0.40,P=0.021 9).ChIP suggested that ETS1 could specifically bind to FBXO45 promoter sequence to regulate its expression,confirming that ETS1 was a potential transcription factor of FBXO45.After overexpression of ETS1 in HCCLM3 and Huh7 cells,the invasion and migration abilities of cells were significantly enhanced,and the expression of N-cadherin and Snail was up-regulated(P<0.01).In addition,in the case of ETS1 overexpression,FBXO45 knockdown significantly inhibited the invasion and migration(P<0.01).Conclusion ETS1 activates the transcription of FBXO45 and leads its high expression,which enhances the invasion and migration of HCC cells via EMT pathway and promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is a severe filamentous fungal infection caused by opportunistic pathogenic Aspergillus. Due to its insidious incidence and high mortality rate, accurate diagnosis of IA is in urgent need. Recent advances in molecular diagnostic techniques have enabled novel approaches for Aspergillus detection in clinical fungal laboratory. To this end, this paper summarizes recent progress in molecular detection of Aspergillus nucleic acids and discusses its value in IA diagnosis. The findings provide guidance for both current diagnostic approaches and the development of new in vitro diagnostic technologies for IA.

Objective:To investigate the value of dual-energy CT parameters in the evaluation of pathological grade of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Methods:80 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed and divided into high grade group (36 cases) and low grade group (44 cases) according to their differentiation degree. All 80 patients underwent SOMATOM Force DECT for arterial phase (AP) and pancreatic phase (PP) scanning, and measured dual-energy parameters including dual-phase iodine concentration (IC AP, IC PP) in tumors and normal pancreatic parenchyma, pancreatic phase and arterial phase iodine concentration difference (ICD PP-AP) in tumors, dual-phase iodine uptake ratio (IUR AP, IUR PP) , dual-phase tumor/normal pancreatic parenchyma fat fraction ratio, and dual-phase slope of energy spectrum curve. Differences between two groups were compared by two independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of pathological grading of PDAC. Results:There were statistically significant differences in gender, age, aspect ratio, positive lymph node, fat fraction ratio in pancreatic phase between the two groups ( P< 0.05) . The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fat fraction ratio in pancreatic phase ( OR=1.781, 95% CI 1.127-2.814, P=0.013) , positive lymph node ( OR=4.870, 95% CI 1.488-15.938, P=0.009) , aspect ratio ( OR=0.019, 95% CI 0.001-0.437, P=0.013) were independent factors influencing the pathologic grade of PDAC. Conclusion:Parameters of dual-energy CT are valuable in the evaluation of pathological grading of PDAC.

Objective:To investigate the value of dual-energy CT parameters in the evaluation of pathological grade of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Methods:80 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed and divided into high grade group (36 cases) and low grade group (44 cases) according to their differentiation degree. All 80 patients underwent SOMATOM Force DECT for arterial phase (AP) and pancreatic phase (PP) scanning, and measured dual-energy parameters including dual-phase iodine concentration (IC AP, IC PP) in tumors and normal pancreatic parenchyma, pancreatic phase and arterial phase iodine concentration difference (ICD PP-AP) in tumors, dual-phase iodine uptake ratio (IUR AP, IUR PP) , dual-phase tumor/normal pancreatic parenchyma fat fraction ratio, and dual-phase slope of energy spectrum curve. Differences between two groups were compared by two independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of pathological grading of PDAC. Results:There were statistically significant differences in gender, age, aspect ratio, positive lymph node, fat fraction ratio in pancreatic phase between the two groups ( P< 0.05) . The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fat fraction ratio in pancreatic phase ( OR=1.781, 95% CI 1.127-2.814, P=0.013) , positive lymph node ( OR=4.870, 95% CI 1.488-15.938, P=0.009) , aspect ratio ( OR=0.019, 95% CI 0.001-0.437, P=0.013) were independent factors influencing the pathologic grade of PDAC. Conclusion:Parameters of dual-energy CT are valuable in the evaluation of pathological grading of PDAC.

Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is a severe filamentous fungal infection caused by opportunistic pathogenic Aspergillus. Due to its insidious incidence and high mortality rate, accurate diagnosis of IA is in urgent need. Recent advances in molecular diagnostic techniques have enabled novel approaches for Aspergillus detection in clinical fungal laboratory. To this end, this paper summarizes recent progress in molecular detection of Aspergillus nucleic acids and discusses its value in IA diagnosis. The findings provide guidance for both current diagnostic approaches and the development of new in vitro diagnostic technologies for IA.

Objective To investigate the physiological characteristics of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) with double mutations of cwlE and sigK genes and to assess the activity of Bti against larvae of Culex pipiens pallens under different external factors, so as to provide the theoretical evidence for the use of engineered bacteria of Bti for effective mosquito control. Methods B. thuringiensis wild-type strain Bt-59 and Bt-59 strain with cwlE mutation [Bt-59 (ΔcwlE)] were cultured in nutrient broth media for 24 hours, and Bt-59 strains with sigK mutation [Bt-59 (ΔsigK)] and double mutations of cwlE and sigK [Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK)] were cultured in nutrient broth media for 48 hours. Then, 5 μL of culture media were transferred to glass sides, and cell morphology and mother cell lysis were observed under an optical microscope. The optical densities of Bti strain culture media were measured at different time points of culture, and the growth curves of Bt-59, Bt-59 (ΔcwlE), Bt-59 (ΔsigK), and Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) strains were plotted. The differences in carbon source metabolism of four Bti strains were analyzed using the Biolog microplate culture method, and the metabolic activity of these strains was estimated with average well color development (AWCD). The fermentation media of these four Bti strains were diluted into final concentrations of 2.000, 1.000, 0.500, 0.250, and 0.125 μL/L, and the median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀ values) of these four strains against the third instar larvae of Cx. pipiens pallens were determined. In addition, the fermentation media of Bti strains were processed as follows: pH adjusted to 5, 7 and 9; treated at 30, 40 ℃ and 50 ℃ for 12 hours; and exposed to irradiation with ultraviolet lights for 0 hour and 6 hours. Then, 20 third instar larvae of Cx. pipiens pallens were exposed to the above processed fermentation media at a final concentration of 1 μL/L in 200 mL of water at 26 ℃ for 24 hours, and the mosquito mortality was estimated to evaluate the effects of pH, temperature and ultraviolet irradiation on the larvicidal activity of four Bti strains. Results The growth curves of the Bt-59 strain and its mutants shared a similar changing trend, and both experienced a stable phase 6 hours post-culture. Both spores and crystal proteins were found in Bt-59 and Bt-59 (ΔcwlE) cells, and only crystal proteins were found in Bt-59 (ΔsigK) and Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) cells. No lysis was found in the cell wall of the Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) strain, and the crystal protein was embedded in the mother cell. Biolog microplate culture assay showed that the AWCD values of four Bti strains showed a similar changing trend over time, and 33 carbon sources were found to be metabolized by all of the four strains, including dextrin, D-maltose and D-trehalose. The LC50 values of the fermentation media of Bt-59, Bt-59 (ΔcwlE), Bt-59 (ΔsigK), and Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) strains were 0.60, 0.51, 0.70 μL/L and 0.72 μL/L against Cx. pipiens pallens, respectively. The adjusted mortality of larval Cx. pipiens pallens reduced by 76.60%, 76.00%, 66.67%, and 0 following exposure to the fermentation media of Bt-59, Bt-59 (ΔcwlE), Bt-59 (ΔsigK), and Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) strains at a pH of 5 relative to at a pH of 7, and the adjusted mortality reduced by 49.02%, 51.06%, 36.36%, and 4.44% following 6-hour exposure to ultraviolet irradiation relative to 0-hour exposure, while the adjusted mortality was 68.33% to 83.33% following treatment with the fermentation media of four Bti strains at different temperatures. Conclusions Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) strains do not generate spores, and the absence of cwlE and sigK does not affect the growth, carbon source metabolism, and larvicidal activity of Bti strains against larval Cx. pipiens pallens. Cell wall embedding of Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) strains may protect larvicidal crystal proteins of Bti strains from external environmental factors, including ultraviolet irradiation, and pH alteration.

Objective:To investigate the expression of nucleoporin 43 (NUP43) in hepato-cellular carcinoma tissues and its impact on prognosis of patients and proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Methods:The retrospective cohort study and experi-mental study were conducted. The clinicopathological data of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2008 to December 2012 were collected. There were 83 males and 19 females, aged 56(range, 19-87)years. The expression of NUP43 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells were cultured in vitro. The Western blot was used to verify the effects of Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid in transfected cells. The CCK-8 and cell migration experiments were used to analyze the effect of NUP43 overexpression on HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepa-tocellular carcinoma cells. Measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data of skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were expressed as absolute numbers, and comparisons between groups was conducted using the paired chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival time, and Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. The R 4.2.1 software was used to draw survival curves. The COX proportional hazards regre-ssion model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:(1) Expression of NUP43 in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues, and analysis of clinicopathological characteristics of patients with high and low expression of NUP43. Results of immunohistochemical staining showed that NUP43 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane of cells. Of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma tissue samples, there were 49 samples with low expression of NUP43 and 53 samples with high expression of NUP43. Of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent tissue samples, there were 80 samples with low expression of NUP43 and 22 samples with high expression of NUP43. There was a significant difference in the expression of NUP43 between hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues ( χ2=16.505, P<0.05). Of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma tissue samples, there were significant differences in tumor diameter, pathological grading, and intrahepatic metastasis between the patients with low expression of NUP43 and the patients with high expression of NUP43 ( χ2=5.104, 23.217, 4.169, P<0.05). (2) Survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients and prognostic factors analysis. The follow-up time of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma patients was 17.9(range, 0.1-107.9)months. The postoperative 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 79.59%, 53.06% and 34.69% for the patients with low expression of NUP43, versus 52.83%, 18.87%, and 9.43% for the patients with high expre-ssion of NUP43, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=27.071, P<0.05). Results of multi-variate analysis showed that gender, NUP43 expression, TNM staging, and pathological grading were independent influencing factors for postoperative survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ( hazard ratio=1.846, 2.206, 2.040, 2.177, 95% confidence interval as 1.231-2.768, 1.419-3.429, 1.322-3.148, 1.377-3.254, P<0.05). (3) Effects of NUP43 overexpression on the proliferation and migration of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Western blot analysis showed that transfection of Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid significantly increased the expression of NUP43 in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Results of CCK-8 experiment showed that after transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid, the cell proliferation indices of HepG2 were 0.79±0.07 and 1.47±0.05, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=19.402, P<0.05). After transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid, the cell proliferation indices of SK-HEP-1 cells were 0.59±0.05 and 0.95±0.05, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=15.753, P<0.05). Results of cell migration experiments showed that after transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid, the number of cell migrations in HepG2 was 188±8 and 595±13, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=46.192, P<0.05). After transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpre-ssion plasmid, the number of cell migrations in SK-HEP-1 cells were 136±10 and 447±20, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=24.721, P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of NUP43 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues is significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. Gender, NUP43 expression, TNM staging, and pathological grading are independent influen-cing factors for postoperative survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Overexpression of NUP43 can significantly promote the proliferation and migration of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective:To investigate the expression of nucleoporin 43 (NUP43) in hepato-cellular carcinoma tissues and its impact on prognosis of patients and proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Methods:The retrospective cohort study and experi-mental study were conducted. The clinicopathological data of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2008 to December 2012 were collected. There were 83 males and 19 females, aged 56(range, 19-87)years. The expression of NUP43 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells were cultured in vitro. The Western blot was used to verify the effects of Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid in transfected cells. The CCK-8 and cell migration experiments were used to analyze the effect of NUP43 overexpression on HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepa-tocellular carcinoma cells. Measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data of skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were expressed as absolute numbers, and comparisons between groups was conducted using the paired chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival time, and Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. The R 4.2.1 software was used to draw survival curves. The COX proportional hazards regre-ssion model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:(1) Expression of NUP43 in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues, and analysis of clinicopathological characteristics of patients with high and low expression of NUP43. Results of immunohistochemical staining showed that NUP43 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane of cells. Of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma tissue samples, there were 49 samples with low expression of NUP43 and 53 samples with high expression of NUP43. Of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent tissue samples, there were 80 samples with low expression of NUP43 and 22 samples with high expression of NUP43. There was a significant difference in the expression of NUP43 between hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues ( χ2=16.505, P<0.05). Of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma tissue samples, there were significant differences in tumor diameter, pathological grading, and intrahepatic metastasis between the patients with low expression of NUP43 and the patients with high expression of NUP43 ( χ2=5.104, 23.217, 4.169, P<0.05). (2) Survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients and prognostic factors analysis. The follow-up time of 102 hepatocellular carcinoma patients was 17.9(range, 0.1-107.9)months. The postoperative 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 79.59%, 53.06% and 34.69% for the patients with low expression of NUP43, versus 52.83%, 18.87%, and 9.43% for the patients with high expre-ssion of NUP43, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=27.071, P<0.05). Results of multi-variate analysis showed that gender, NUP43 expression, TNM staging, and pathological grading were independent influencing factors for postoperative survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ( hazard ratio=1.846, 2.206, 2.040, 2.177, 95% confidence interval as 1.231-2.768, 1.419-3.429, 1.322-3.148, 1.377-3.254, P<0.05). (3) Effects of NUP43 overexpression on the proliferation and migration of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Western blot analysis showed that transfection of Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid significantly increased the expression of NUP43 in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Results of CCK-8 experiment showed that after transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid, the cell proliferation indices of HepG2 were 0.79±0.07 and 1.47±0.05, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=19.402, P<0.05). After transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid, the cell proliferation indices of SK-HEP-1 cells were 0.59±0.05 and 0.95±0.05, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=15.753, P<0.05). Results of cell migration experiments showed that after transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpression plasmid, the number of cell migrations in HepG2 was 188±8 and 595±13, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=46.192, P<0.05). After transfection with the control plasmid and Flag-NUP43 overexpre-ssion plasmid, the number of cell migrations in SK-HEP-1 cells were 136±10 and 447±20, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( t=24.721, P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of NUP43 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues is significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. Gender, NUP43 expression, TNM staging, and pathological grading are independent influen-cing factors for postoperative survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Overexpression of NUP43 can significantly promote the proliferation and migration of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness, safety, and advantages of modified radical neck dissection by gasless unilateral axillary approach (GUA-MRND) in the surgical management of selected patients with papillary thyroid cancer.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed patients with papillary thyroid cancer who underwent GUA-MRND (endoscopic group, n=16) versus unilateral open modified radical neck dissection (MRND) (open group, n=32) during the period from Jan. 2019 to Jun. 2021, including the differences in surgical efficiency, complication rate, and incisional satisfaction.Results:Compared MRND with GUA-MRND, the patients were younger ( P<0.05) , operative time and postoperative drainage anterior ( P<0.01) were slightly inferior in the latter, but it had obvious advantages in cervical swallowing discomfort and incision satisfaction evaluation ( P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in the incidence of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, hematoma, infection, lymphatic or chylous leakage and supraclavicular numbness after surgery ( P>0.05) . The number of dissected lymph nodes in area II in the GUA-MRND was lower ( P<0.05) , but it was significantly higher ( P<0.01) in area III. And the average regional cleaning efficiency in the GUA-MRND was level Ⅲ (35.5%) , level Ⅵ (28.59%) , level Ⅳ (23.21%) , level Ⅱ (7.18%) and level Ⅴ (7.12%) , suggested that GUA-MRND had higher efficacy for level III, level Ⅵ and Level IV. Conclusion:GUA-MRND is safe, effective, and has high cosmetic satisfaction in the treatment of selected patients with lateral cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid cancer.