OBJECTIVES: To study the impact of SURF4 expression level on long-term prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) and biological behaviors of GC cells. METHODS: SURF4 expression level in GC and its association with long-term patient prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and in 155 GC patients with low and high SURF4 expressions detected immunohistochemically. The Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze independent prognostic predictors of GC and the 5-year survival rate of the patients with different SURF4 expression levels. Informatics analyses were conducted to explore the correlation of SURF4 expression level with immune cell infiltration in GC, SURF4-related differential genes and their associated pathways. In cultured GC cell line HGC-27, the effects of SURF4 knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated. RESULTS: Analysis of GEPIA dataset and immunohistochemical results suggested significant SURF4 overexpression in GC (P<0.05), which was associated with shortened 5-year survival time of the patients (χ²=38.749, P<0.001). The prognosis of GC was closely related to tumor stage T3-4, N2-3, CEA≥5 μg/L and CA19-9≥37 kU/L (P<0.05). SURF4 expression level was negatively correlated with activated B cells, NK cells and CD8⁺ effector memory T cells (P<0.05) and positively correlated with CD4⁺ T cells (P<0.05). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that SUFR4 may participate in GC carcinogenesis by promoting EMT through the tight junction pathway. In HGC-27 cells, SURF4 overexpression significantly decreased E-cadherin expression, increased N-cadherin expression, inhibited ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions, and promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS SURF4 is highly expressed in GC, and its overexpression is associated with a shortened 5-year survival of the patients possibly by enhancing tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion via inhibiting tight junction proteins and promoting EMT.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Female ; Male

Objective:To investigate the application value of ultrasound-guided multimodal examinations in the diagnosis of lymph node mycobacterial infection.Methods:The clinical data of 42 patients with suspected lymph node mycobacterial infection who were initially diagnosed at the Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent an ultrasound-guided lymph node-negative pressure puncture. Acid-fast staining, bacterial culture, pathological examination or their combination were used to screen lymph nodes for mycobacterial infection. The results were compared with those of acid-fast staining and bacterial culture of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid smears.Results:The combined application of acid fast staining, bacterial culture, and pathological examination for the puncture fluid smear showed a positive rate of 71.4% (30/42), which was significantly higher than the positive rate [26.2% (11/42)] for acid fast staining of the puncture fluid smear, the positive rate [42.9% (18/42)] for bacterial culture of the puncture fluid, and the positive rate [50.0% (21/42)] of pathological examination ( χ2 = 17.20, 7.00, 4.04, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P = 0.040). The positive rate for sputum smear and bacterial culture was 21.4% (9/33). The positive rate for acid fast staining and bacterial culture of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was 28.6% (12/30). The differences were statistically significant ( χ2 = 21.11, 15.43, both P < 0.001). Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided negative pressure aspiration and puncture biopsy of lymph nodes combined with acid fast staining, bacterial culture, and pathological examinations can markedly increase the detection rate and diagnostic rate of mycobacterial infection.

Purpose To investigate the expression of pro-tein of relevant evolutionary and lymphoid interest domain-con-taining 1(PRELID1)in gastric cancer tissues and to analyze its effect on prognosis,and the mechanism of influencing the prolif-eration and invasion ability of gastric cancer cells.Methods Using TCGA data and clinical data of 111 patients with gastric cancer,we analyzed the relationship between the expression of PRELID1 and clinicopathological parameters and the impact on clinical prognosis.The biological function of PRELID1 was pre-dicted by bioinformatics,and further verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments.Lentivirus was applied to regulate the level of PRELID 1 in gastric cancer cell line(MGC803)in vitro,and its effect on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of gastric cancer cells was observed.The nude mouse subcutaneous tumor-igenesis was used to observe the effect of PRELID1 on the growth of gastric cancer tissue in vivo.Results The expression of PRELID1 was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than that in the adjacent tissues(P＜0.001)and was positively cor-related with the cell proliferation indicator Ki67(P＜0.001).Cox regression model analysis showed that the high expression of PRELID 1 was an independent risk factor affecting the 5-year survival rate after radical gastrectomy(HR=2.336;95％CI=1.354-4.029).Gene enrichment results showed that the func-tion of PRELID1 was related to proliferation and JAK/STAT sig-naling.CCK-8 and Transwell experiments found that up-regula-tion of PRELID1 promoted the proliferation(P=0.016),mi-gration(P=0.016)and invasion(P=0.025)of gastric cancer cells,while down-regulation inhibited the proliferation(P=0.026),migration(P=0.048)and invasion(P=0.029).Subcutaneous tumor formation experiments in nude mice found that up-regulation of PRELID1 promoted the growth of gastric cancer tissue(P=0.047),while down-regulation was the oppo-site(P=0.005).Western blot detecting gastric cancer cells and gastric cancer tissues found that up-regulation of PRELID1 promoted the expression of JAK and STAT proteins(all P＜0.05),while down-regulation inhibited them(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The high expression of PRELID1 associated with poor prognosis may regulate the proliferation,migration and in-vasion of gastric cancer cells by up-regulating JAK/STAT signa-ling in gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the changes of ultrasound elastography parameters, liver fibrosis index and clinical significance before and after cirrhosis treatment.Methods:One hundred and eight patients with cirrhosis admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University of Arts and Sciences from April 2020 to May 2022 were selected retrospectively and divided into effective group and ineffective group according to the treatment effect, the liver function indexes and ultrasound parameters before and after treatment were compared, the correlation between ultrasound parameters and liver function index were analyzed by Pearson test, the risk factors influencing the efficacy were analyzed by Logistic regression, ultrasound parameters, liver fibrosis index parameters to predict the efficacy value were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil) in the effective group were decreased and the level of ALB was increased after treatment: (83.38 ± 13.29) U/L vs. (112.84 ± 16.07)U/L, (72.65 ± 11.33) U/L vs. (90.75 ± 12.34) U/L, (33.82 ± 8.86) μmol/L vs. (41.49 ± 9.57) μmol/L, (38.44 ± 3.59) g/L vs. (33.84 ± 4.57) g/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The levels of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) maximum value (LSM max), minimum value (LSM min), mean value (mLSM), ultrasound semi-quantitative score, and fibrosis index based on the 4 factor (FIB-4) in the effective group after treatment were decreased: 20.80(12.00, 31.50) kPa vs. 26.50(15.20, 35.30) kPa, 4.40(3.10, 8.50) kPa vs. 6.50(3.20, 9.10) kPa, 14.80(10.10, 25.40) kPa vs. 20.00(13.00, 30.50) kPa, (7.79 ± 1.84) scores vs. (10.35 ± 2.61) scores, 3.11 ± 0.36 vs. 3.65 ± 0.48, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The results of Pearson test showed that LSM max, LSM min, mLSM, ultrasound semi-quantitative scores were positively correlated with AST, ALT, TBil, FIB-4, and negatively correlated with ALB ( P<0.05). The results of Logistic regression showed that after correcting for AST, ALT, TBil, ALB, the LSM max, LSM min, mLSM, ultrasound semi-quantitative score, and FIB-4 were still relevant influences on efficacy ( P<0.05). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of LSM max + LSM min + mLSM + ultrasound semi-quantitative score + FIB-4 predicting efficacy was greater than the AUC of liver function index combined ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The changes of ultrasound elastography parameters and liver fibrosis index before and after treatment are related to the outcome of cirrhosis treatment and have good correlation with the improvement of liver function.

OBJECTIVETo understand the distribution of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precursor lesions in high-risk areas of China, and to provide evidence for determining the reference ranges of detection rates in high-risk areas.

METHODSEndoscopy with Lugol's iodine staining was performed on 15 709 local residents aged 40 to 69 years old in Linzhou of Henan province and Feicheng of Shandong province from 2005-2009. 35 cases without accurate pathology diagnosis and 11 cases with vital disease before screening were excluded. 15 663 subjects were enrolled in this study. Compliance was calculated by the percentage of the people who had endoscopic screening among the target population. Chi-square test and trend chi-square test were used to compare the distribution differences in age, gender and areas of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precancer. 95% CI of the detection rates was then employed to represent the reference ranges of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precursor lesions.

RESULTSThe compliance rate of screening endoscopy of this study was 49.36% (15 709/31 826) of all, and female's compliance (54.05%, 8 447/15 628) was much higher than that of male (44.83%, 7 262/16 198) (χ(2) = 88.14, P < 0.001). The detection rates of basal cell hyperplasia, low grade intraepithelial neoplasia, high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and esophageal squamous cell cancer of males were 4.17% (302/7 246), 17.22% (1 248/7 246), 1.67% (121/7 246), 0.83% (60/7 246), and were higher than that of females (3.45% (290/8 417), 14.82% (1 247/8 417), 1.41% (119/8 417), 0.48% (40/8 417), respectively). Except for high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, the detection rates of male were higher than that of female (P values were 0.018, < 0.001, 0.960, 0.006). The detection rates of all grades of precursor lesions increased with age rising (all P values < 0.001), among which the detection rates of the mentioned four lesions for 40-44 years old were 2.69% (94/3 500), 8.11% (284/3 500), 0.40% (14/3 500), 0.14% (5/3 500), and that of 65-69 years old were 5.46% (46/843), 23.25% (196/843), 3.68% (31/843), 2.14% (18/843). The proportion of esophageal precursor lesion of Linzhou were higher than that of Feicheng observably except for esophageal squamous cell cancer (P values were < 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.437). The detection rates of the four lesions of Linzhou and Feicheng were 4.90% (504/10 287), 17.37% (1 787/10 287), 1.79% (184/1 0287), 0.60% (62/10 287) and 1.64% (88/5 376), 13.17% (708/5 376), 1.04% (56/5 376), 0.71% (38/5 376). The 95% CI of detection rates of various lesions were, 3.78% (3.48%-4.08%) for basal cell hyperplasia, 15.93% (15.37%-16.50%) for low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 12.31% (11.79%-12.82%) for mild dysplasia and 3.62% (3.33%-3.91%) for moderate hyperplasia, 1.53% (1.34%-1.72%) for high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 0.64% (0.51%-0.76%) for esophageal squamous cell cancer, respectively.

CONCLUSIONUp to 21.88% residents that were asymptomatic were suffered from esophageal squamous cancer or precursor lesions in high-risk areas in China. The distribution of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precursor lesions was closely related to the gender and the age, which suggested that males were supposed to be paid more attention to.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Iodides ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; epidemiology ; Sex Distribution

OBJECTIVETo estimate the cost-effectiveness of esophageal cancer endoscopic screening once-in-a-lifetime and to predict the optimal screening age for people in high-risk areas of rural China.

METHODSA Markov model was constructed to predict and compare the effect of four esophageal cancer endoscopic screening modalities which varied with different screening ages. Long-term epidemiological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness were predicted by simulation of the model.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, strategies starting at 40, 45, 50 and 55 year-old had saved life-years of 629.51, 769.88, 738.98 and 533.21 years per 100 000 people, respectively, of which the strategy starting at 45 year-old saved the maximum life years. All strategies were cost-effective and starting at 40 year-old cost the most per life-year saved. Among all alternatives, strategies starting age at 45 year-old and 50 year-old were incremental cost-effective, and the incremental cost-effective ratios were 34 962.87 and 3 346.43 RMB per life year saved, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe strategy starting at 40 year-old implemented at present and other strategies were cost-effective in high-risk areas of rural China. However, the 45-year-old group is more aligned with the principle of cost-effectiveness. Considering the cost-effectiveness of different strategies and social economic status, 45 year-old is regarded as the optimal starting age of esophageal cancer once-in-a-lifetime endoscopic screening and is recommended in areas lacking health resources. The strategy of starting age at 40 year-old which could obtain better screening effects would be preferable in wealthy regions.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Esophagoscopy ; economics ; Humans ; Markov Chains ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population

Objective To explore the role of ripply1 in zebrafish dorsal-ventral development .Methods Using ze-brafish whole-mount in situ hybridization to examine the ripply1 expression pattern in early embryo development .To analyse the expression pattern changes of dorsal-ventral marker genes at shield stage and the morphological changes at 24 hpf (hours post-fertilization) after overexpression of ripply1 by injecting synthetic mRNA at 1-cell stage.Using Tol2 transposon technology to obtain a ripply1 promoter driven GFP transgenic fish and to identify promoter region that recapitulates endoge -nous ripply1 expression pattern .Results The in situ hybridization results revealed that ripply1 specifically expresses in the future dorsal region at shield stage .Overexpression of ripply1 caused an enhanced expression of dorsal marker genes and a reduction of ventral marker genes .Embryos overexpressing ripply1 also showed severely dorsalized phenotype , with enlarged head, reduced ventral yolk extension , and shortened posterior trunk and tail regions , and the formation of a secondary trunk axis.Transgenic fish revealed the maternal expression of ripply1 and suggested that a 1.2 kb promoter-driven GFP is able to recapitulate the endogenous gene expression pattern .Conclusion ripply1 may participate in the early development of dor-sal-ventral axis in zebrafish embryo .

Tracheoesophageal fistula is divided into congenital and acquired tracheoesophageal fistula in the children.The main treatment is surgery,but recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula and acquired tracheoesophageal fistula caused by corrosive substance are not suitable for surgery in the short term.Endoscopic interventional therapy has become a new way of treatment,closure of tracheoesophageal fistula using a coated stent in the trachea can win time for surgical treatment and the fistula may reach the natural healing.It is an effective way of treatment.

Objective To understand the distribution of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precursor lesions in high-risk areas of China, and to provide evidence for determining the reference ranges of detection rates in high-risk areas. Methods Endoscopy with Lugol's iodine staining was performed on 15 709 local residents aged 40 to 69 years old in Linzhou of Henan province and Feicheng of Shandong province from 2005-2009. 35 cases without accurate pathology diagnosis and 11 cases with vital disease before screening were excluded.15 663 subjects were enrolled in this study. Compliance was calculated by the percentage of the people who had endoscopic screening among the target population. Chi-square test and trend chi-square test were used to compare the distribution differences in age, gender and areas of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precancer.95%CI of the detection rates was then employed to represent the reference ranges of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precursor lesions. Results The compliance rate of screening endoscopy of this study was 49.36%(15 709/31 826) of all, and female's compliance (54.05%,8 447/15 628) was much higher than that of male(44.83%,7 262/16 198)(χ2=88.14, P<0.001). The detection rates of basal cell hyperplasia, low grade intraepithelial neoplasia, high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and esophageal squamous cell cancer of males were 4.17%(302/7 246),17.22%(1 248/7 246),1.67%(121/7 246),0.83%(60/7 246),and were higher than that of females(3.45%(290/8 417),14.82%(1 247/8 417),1.41%(119/8 417),0.48%(40/8 417), respectively). Except for high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, the detection rates of male were higher than that of female (P values were 0.018,<0.001,0.960,0.006) . The detection rates of all grades of precursor lesions increased with age rising(all P values <0.001), among which the detection rates of the mentioned four lesions for 40-44 years old were 2.69%(94/3 500),8.11%(284/3 500),0.40%(14/3 500), 0.14%(5/3 500), and that of 65-69 years old were 5.46% (46/843), 23.25% (196/843), 3.68% (31/843), 2.14% (18/843). The proportion of esophageal precursor lesion of Linzhou were higher than that of Feicheng observably except for esophageal squamous cell cancer (P values were<0.001,<0.001,<0.001,0.437). The detection rates of the four lesions of Linzhou and Feicheng were 4.90%(504/10 287),17.37%(1 787/10 287),1.79%(184/1 0287),0.60%(62/10 287) and 1.64%(88/5 376),13.17%(708/5 376),1.04%(56/5 376),0.71%(38/5 376).The 95%CI of detection rates of various lesions were, 3.78%(3.48%-4.08%) for basal cell hyperplasia, 15.93%(15.37%-16.50%) for low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia,12.31% (11.79%-12.82%)for mild dysplasia and 3.62% (3.33%-3.91%) for moderate hyperplasia, 1.53%(1.34%-1.72%) for high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 0.64%(0.51%-0.76%) for esophageal squamous cell cancer, respectively. Conclusion Up to 21.88%residents that were asymptomatic were suffered from esophageal squamous cancer or precursor lesions in high-risk areas in China. The distribution of esophageal squamous cell cancer and precursor lesions was closely related to the gender and the age, which suggested that males were supposed to be paid more attention to.

Objective To estimate the cost?effectiveness of esophageal cancer endoscopic screening once?in?a?lifetime and to predict the optimal screening age for people in high?risk areas of rural China. Methods A Markov model was constructed to predict and compare the effect of four esophageal cancer endoscopic screening modalities which varied with different screening ages. Long?term epidemiological effectiveness and cost?effectiveness were predicted by simulation of the model. Results Compared with the control group, strategies starting at 40, 45, 50 and 55 year?old had saved life?years of 629. 51, 769. 88, 738.98 and 533. 21 years per 100 000 people, respectively, of which the strategy starting at 45 year?old saved the maximum life years. All strategies were cost?effective and starting at 40 year?old cost the most per life?year saved. Among all alternatives, strategies starting age at 45 year?old and 50 year?old were incremental cost?effective, and the incremental cost?effective ratios were 34 962.87 and 3 346.43 RMB per life year saved, respectively. Conclusions The strategy starting at 40 year?old implemented at present and other strategies were cost?effective in high?risk areas of rural China. However, the 45?year?old group is more aligned with the principle of cost?effectiveness. Considering the cost?effectiveness of different strategies and social economic status, 45 year?old is regarded as the optimal starting age of esophageal cancer once?in?a?lifetime endoscopic screening and is recommended in areas lacking health resources. The strategy of starting age at 40 year?old which could obtain better screening effects would be preferable in wealthy regions.