T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and radiologic characteristics of children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) in a single center.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, clinical data of 497 children(507 limbs) with CPT who were treated at Department of Orthopedics, the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected. Baseline data included gender, age at initial visit, age at onset of symptoms, accompanying symptoms, domicile, whether first treated at our hospital, and treatment-related information such as surgical or conservative treatment, surgical complications, etc., were extracted and analyzed using the health information system. Imaging data of the children, including Crawford classification, bilateral leg lengths, presence of fibular pseudarthrosis, and location of pseudarthrosis along the tibia segment, were analyzed using the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Data were compared using independent sample t test or χ2 tests. Results:Among 497 children with CPT, there were 305 males (61.4%) and 192 females (38.6%). The age at initial visit was (3.6±3.2) years (range: 0.1 to 16.2 years). Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) symptoms were positive in 340 children (68.4%), and negative in 157 children (31.6%). Among NF1-positive children, those with symptoms onset before 1 year of age were significantly more than NF1-negative children (74.1%(252/340) vs. 66.2%(104/157); χ2=9.24, P=0.001), and the proportion of fractures (92.9%,316/340) was significantly higher than that in the NF1-negative group (84.7%,133/157) ( χ2=8.33, P=0.004). According to imaging data, Crawford type Ⅳ was the most common type, with 321 limbs (63.3%), followed by type Ⅱ in 100 limbs (19.7%), type Ⅲ in 54 limbs (10.7%) and type Ⅰ in 32 limbs (6.3%). Pseudarthrosis occurred in the proximal third of the tibia in 14 limbs (2.8%), in the middle third in 185 limbs (36.5%), and in the distal third in 308 limbs (60.8%). Seventy-four children (14.9 %) had associated fibular pseudarthrosis. The lateral proximal tibial angle was 86.91°±5.21°(range: 72.17° to 102.08°), and the lateral distal tibial angle was 87.27°±10.73°(range: 51.07° to 128.17°). A total of 421 children (84.7%) underwent surgical treatment with (3.1±2.4) surgeries performed per child (range:0 to 12 surgeries); 76 children (15.3%) received conservative treatment. Postoperative complications mainly included ankle valgus (77 cases), leg length discrepancy (71 cases),refracture (48 cases), osteomyelitis (11 cases), and hardware failure (10 cases). NF1-positive children underwent more surgeries than NF1-negative children ((5.1±2.2)times vs.(2.1±1.8)times; t=14.93, P<0.01). Conclusions:Crawford type Ⅳ is the most common type of CPT in children in this study. CPT predominantly occurs in the middle or distal third of the tibia. The majority of children with CPT experienced symptoms and were seen at outpatient clinics before the age of 3 years. The main surgical complications currently associated with CPT treatment are ankle valgus and leg length discrepancy. Compared with CPT without NF1, children with NF1-positive CPT tend to have earlier symptom onset and may require more frequent treatments.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and radiologic characteristics of children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) in a single center.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, clinical data of 497 children(507 limbs) with CPT who were treated at Department of Orthopedics, the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected. Baseline data included gender, age at initial visit, age at onset of symptoms, accompanying symptoms, domicile, whether first treated at our hospital, and treatment-related information such as surgical or conservative treatment, surgical complications, etc., were extracted and analyzed using the health information system. Imaging data of the children, including Crawford classification, bilateral leg lengths, presence of fibular pseudarthrosis, and location of pseudarthrosis along the tibia segment, were analyzed using the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Data were compared using independent sample t test or χ2 tests. Results:Among 497 children with CPT, there were 305 males (61.4%) and 192 females (38.6%). The age at initial visit was (3.6±3.2) years (range: 0.1 to 16.2 years). Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) symptoms were positive in 340 children (68.4%), and negative in 157 children (31.6%). Among NF1-positive children, those with symptoms onset before 1 year of age were significantly more than NF1-negative children (74.1%(252/340) vs. 66.2%(104/157); χ2=9.24, P=0.001), and the proportion of fractures (92.9%,316/340) was significantly higher than that in the NF1-negative group (84.7%,133/157) ( χ2=8.33, P=0.004). According to imaging data, Crawford type Ⅳ was the most common type, with 321 limbs (63.3%), followed by type Ⅱ in 100 limbs (19.7%), type Ⅲ in 54 limbs (10.7%) and type Ⅰ in 32 limbs (6.3%). Pseudarthrosis occurred in the proximal third of the tibia in 14 limbs (2.8%), in the middle third in 185 limbs (36.5%), and in the distal third in 308 limbs (60.8%). Seventy-four children (14.9 %) had associated fibular pseudarthrosis. The lateral proximal tibial angle was 86.91°±5.21°(range: 72.17° to 102.08°), and the lateral distal tibial angle was 87.27°±10.73°(range: 51.07° to 128.17°). A total of 421 children (84.7%) underwent surgical treatment with (3.1±2.4) surgeries performed per child (range:0 to 12 surgeries); 76 children (15.3%) received conservative treatment. Postoperative complications mainly included ankle valgus (77 cases), leg length discrepancy (71 cases),refracture (48 cases), osteomyelitis (11 cases), and hardware failure (10 cases). NF1-positive children underwent more surgeries than NF1-negative children ((5.1±2.2)times vs.(2.1±1.8)times; t=14.93, P<0.01). Conclusions:Crawford type Ⅳ is the most common type of CPT in children in this study. CPT predominantly occurs in the middle or distal third of the tibia. The majority of children with CPT experienced symptoms and were seen at outpatient clinics before the age of 3 years. The main surgical complications currently associated with CPT treatment are ankle valgus and leg length discrepancy. Compared with CPT without NF1, children with NF1-positive CPT tend to have earlier symptom onset and may require more frequent treatments.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of hypomagnesemia in elderly patients with sepsis and the influence of hypomagnesemia on the prognosis of elderly patients with sepsis.Methods:In this retrospective study, 249 elderly patients with sepsis or septic shock were recruited between January 2018 and January 2021 from the Department of Geriatrics and the Department of Emergency Medicine, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, and relevant clinical data were collected.The Logistic regression analysis model was used to identify the relationship between risk factors and hypomagnesemia in patients with sepsis.The prognosis criteria such as hospitalization time in intensive care unit(ICU), 28-day mortality rate, mechanical ventilation time, double infection rate, shock reversal time, etc., were compared between the hypomagnesemia group and the normal magnesium group.Results:Among the 249 elderly patients with sepsis, 187 had normal blood magnesium, 43 had low blood magnesium and 19 had high blood magnesium, accounting for 75.10%, 17.27% and 7.63%, respectively.Compared with the normal blood magnesium group, elderly sepsis patients with hypomagnesemia had a longer hospitalization time in ICU[(16.21±3.68)d vs.(13.86±3.58)d, t=-4.845, P=0.036], and a significantly prolonged mechanical ventilation time[11(3, 18)d vs.3(1, 6)d, Z=-1.782, P=0.033]. There was no significant difference in mortality and double infection rate between the two groups(both P>0.05). The sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score of elderly sepsis patients in the low magnesium group was significantly higher than that in the normal magnesium group[(5.69±1.28)scores vs.(3.09±0.68)scores, t=-0.322, P=0.008], but there was no significant difference in acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE) Ⅱ score between the two groups( P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high SOFA score( OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.025-1.758, P=0.001)was an independent risk factor for hypomagnesemia. Conclusions:A high SOFA score is an independent risk factor for hypomagnesemia in elderly sepsis patients, and the clinical prognosis of elderly sepsis patients with hypomagnesemia is poor.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum matrix metalloproteinase-13(MMP-13)and vashohibin-1(VASH-1)levels and death within 28 days after admission in patients with sepsis complicated with acute kidney injury(AKI).Methods A total of 120 patients with sepsis complicated with AKI(the AKI group)and 117 patients with simple sepsis without complicated AKI(the non-AKI group)were selected,and 136 healthy subjects during the same period were selected as the control group.Basic data of all subjects were collected,and renal function was detected.Serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The survival of patients with sepsis complicated with AKI within 28 days after admission was observed.Patients were divided into the survival group(83 cases)and the death group(37 cases).The basic information,renal function,serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels were compared between patients in the control group,the non-AKI group,the AKI group and patients in the AKI group with different prognosis.The correlation between serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels in patients with sepsis complicated with AKI was analyzed by Pearson method.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting the death of patients with sepsis complicated with AKI within 28 days after admission.The predictive value of serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 to death within 28 days after admission in patients with sepsis complicated with AKI was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the non-AKI group,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)score and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score were significantly increased in the AKI group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group and the non-AKI group,serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were significantly increased in the AKI group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,serum levels of MMP-13 and VASH-1 were increased successively in the non-AKI group and the AKI group(P＜0.05).Serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels were positively correlated with sepsis patients complicated with AKI(r=0.650,P＜0.05).Compared with the survival group,APACHE Ⅱscore,SOFA score,serum Scr,BUN,MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels were significantly increased in the death group(P＜0.05).APACHE Ⅱ score,serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels were independent risk factors for the death in patients with sepsis complicated with AKI within 28 days after admission(P＜0.05).The area under curve(AUC)of serum MMP-13,VASH-1 and their combination predict mortality within 28 days after admission in sepsis patients with AKI were 0.810,0.837 and 0.903,respectively.The AUC predicted by the combination of MMP-13 and VASH-1 was significantly higher than that predicted by serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum MMP-13 and VASH-1 levels are increased in patients with sepsis complicated with AKI,which could affect the prognosis of sepsis patients complicated with AKI,and have a high predictive value for death within 28 days after admission.

Objective:To explore the risk factors associated with tibia fractures in children with congenital anterolateral bowing of the tibia (ALBT).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 87 children diagnosed with ALBT at the Children's Hospital of Hunan Province from January 2012 to January 2020. The collected data included age at initial diagnosis, affected limb side, whether there was a concomitant type I neurofibromatosis, whether there was a concomitant fibular pseudoarthrosis, whether there was concomitant ankle joint deformity, whether there was bone cystic change in the region of tibial bowing deformity, location of the apex of the bowing deformity, diameter of the tibial bowing deformity on the affected side, diameter on the healthy side in the same plane as the tibial bowing deformity, angle of lateral bending deformity of the tibia, angle of anterior bending deformity of the tibia, occurrence of tibia fracture, history of trauma before fracture, location of fracture, and age at the time of fracture. The follow-up endpoint was January 2023. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal cutoff values for the angles of lateral and anterior bending deformity of the tibia and the ratio of cross-sectional areas. The correlation between the above factors and tibial fractures in children was analyzed by single factor survival analysis, and the indicators with statistical significance were included in multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analysis to determine the risk factors for tibial fractures in children with ALBT.Results:Of the 87 children diagnosed with ALBT, the median age at initial diagnosis was 14.0 months (range, 1-93 months), with 42 males and 45 females, 44 left-sided and 43 right-sided cases. The median follow-up time for non-fracture cases was 42.0 months (range, 1-124 months). At the last follow-up, 43 children had experienced fractures, while 44 had not. The average time to fracture-free survival was 70.3 months, the median fracture-free survival time was 55.0 months, and the median survival time without fractures was 42.0 months. The ROC curve results indicated a cutoff value of 25.55° for the lateral bending angle of the tibia and 32.63° for the anterior bending angle of the tibia, with no statistically significant significance for the cross-sectional area ratio [AUC=0.54, 95% CI (0.42, 0.66), P=0.530]. Single-factor analysis of fracture-free survival suggested that there were statistically significant differences in the intergroup fracture-free survival rates of four factors: lateral bending angle of the tibia (χ 2=7.06, P=0.008), anterior bending angle of the tibia (χ 2=8.96, P=0.003), history of trauma (χ 2=18.26, P<0.001), and tibial bone cystic change (χ 2=4.30, P=0.038). The results of the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that a lateral bending angle of the tibia≥25.55° ( HR=2.73, P=0.007), tibial bone cystic change ( HR=2.35, P=0.018), and history of trauma ( HR=2.65, P=0.004) were all positively correlated with fractures. Conclusion:The main risk factors for tibia fractures in children with ALBT include trauma, tibial bowing deformity with concomitant bone cystic change, and lateral bending angle of the tibia≥25.55°.

Objective:To identify and analyze different proteins expression in the periosteum of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) using tandem mass tags (TMT) proteomics.Methods:The samples were divided into three groups, namely CPT with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) group (NF1-CPT group), CPT without NF1 group (nonNF1-CPT group) and control group (patients with open tibial fracture). A fold change ≥1.5 or ≤0.66 and P-value <0.05 was regarded as the threshold to screen differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Subsequently, bioinformatics resources such as online tools DAVID and STRING were used to conduct GO annotation, KEGG pathways enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with DEPs. Results:A total of 347 proteins differentially expressed in NF1-CPT group, 212 of which were up-regulated and 135 down-regulated. We identified 467 DEPs in nonNF1-CPT group, including 281 up-regulated and 186 down-regulated. Among of them, NF1-CPT group and nonNF1-CPT group shared 231 DEPs, except for HLA-DRB1 which increased in NF1-CPT group but decreased in nonNF1-CPT group. The remaining 230 DEPs showed the same expression trend in the two positive groups, including 117 up-regulated and 113 down-regulated. In particular, a total of 116 proteins were altered only in NF1-CPT group, including 94 up-regulated and 22 down-regulated. However, there were 236 proteins altered only in nonNF1-CPT group, including 164 up-regulated and 72 down-regulated. The results indicated that the pathogenesis of NF1-CPT was similar as nonNF1-CPT largely with a few differences. Finally, compared with nonNF1-CPT, there were 47 proteins changed 1.5-fold and P-value <0.05 in NF1-CPT group. Conclusion:The proteins expression in the periosteum of CPT is different from that of normal tibia. The expression of periosteal protein is also different between NF1-CPT and nonNF1-CPT. The present study will deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of CPT in the protein level.

Mesenchymal stem cell derived (MSC) exosomes are extracellular vesicles with a diameter of about 50-200 nm. Exosomes contain a large number of biologically active substances including mRNAs, miRNAs, cytokines, chemokines, proteins, lipids, etc. MSC exosomes exert biological effects through paracrine and endocrine pathways in vivo. Uncontrolled inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction are the key roles in the progression of sepsis, moreover, heart, lungs, kidneys and brain are the general target organs to be damaged. MSC exosomes regulate the expression of cytokines, the production of inflammatory cell, the levels of inflammatory response and the recovery of damaged tissues or organ function. Therefore, studying the application of MSC exosomes is significant for the clinical treatment of sepsis. This article reviews the systemic inflammation regulation by MSC exosomes and its protective function on targeted organs such as heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, liver, etc. to provide evidences for the treatment of sepsis.

Objective:To discuss the feasibility of using online and offline combined multidisciplinary team (MDT) diagnosis-treatment mode in cancers diagnosis and treatment by comparing the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans formulated by online and offline MDT diagnosis-treatment mode.Methods:A total of 168 esophageal cancer patients collected from March 17, 2020 to May 17, 2020 were took as the research objects in Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, through whom the consistency of the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans formulated by online and offline MDT diagnosis-treatment mode was evaluated. The clinical characteristics of patients with changed comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans, such as age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, whether combined with basic diseases, whether received anti-tumor treatment before and tumor location were analyzed, so as to explore the mechanism to improve the efficiency on the basis of quality assurance.Results:The results showed that 86.3% (145/168) of the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans obtained by offline MDT diagnosis-treatment mode were consistent with online diagnosis-treatment MDT mode. Cases with inconsistent comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans were characterized by elderly (> 69 years) ( χ2=4.250, P=0.039), KPS score≥80 ( χ2=15.520, P<0.001) and combined with underlying disease ( χ2=7.135, P=0.008). Through further analysis, the changed cases were also characterized as with inadequate auxiliary examination or complex in imaging. Conclusion:The online and offline combined MDT diagnosis-treatment mode is feasible. For the patients characterized of elderly (> 69 years old), KPS score ≥80, combined with underlying diseases, with incomplete auxiliary examination or complex in imaging, the offline MDT diagnosis-treatment mode should be adopted or supplemented.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted lateral lymph node dissection for mid-low advanced rectal cancer.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria: (1) age between 18 and 80 years old; (2) rectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed by pathology; (3) without distant metastasis by preoperative CT or MRI; (4) patients underwent robotic-assisted total mesorectal resection (TME). Exclusion criteria: (1) conversion to open surgery; (2) multiple primary tumors; (3) patients underwent combined multiple organ resection. According to the above criteria, 137 patients undergoing robotic-assisted mid-low rectal cancer resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from December 2016 to April 2019 were enrolled. Ninety-seven cases underwent robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision (TME group) and 40 underwent robotic-assisted total mesorectal resection with lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) (TME+LLND group, pelvic LLND was performed with neurovascular guidance to retain pelvic autonomic nerves in the order of the left side the first and then the right side). The propensity score matching of 1:1 was performed with R software, based on age, sex, BMI, ASA classification, distance from tumor to the anal verge, preoperative chemoradiotherapy history, preoperative abdominal surgery history, the size of tumors and TNM stage. The operative indicators, postoperative recovery, pathology and postoperative complications within 30 days were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 72 cases were successfully matched (36 in each group), and there were no statistically significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). The operation time of TME+LLND group was significantly longer than that of TME group [275.0 (180-405) minutes vs. 220.0 (140-320) minutes, Z=-3.680, P<0.001], while there were no statistically significant differences in blood loss during operation, time to postoperative first flatus, postoperative hospital stay, total hospital cost, tumor differentiation, and distal resection length of margin (all P>0.05). Circumferential resection margin was all negative in both groups. The number of harvested lymph modes in the TME+LLND groups was higher than that in the TME group [26 (18-37) vs. 14 (9-36), Z=-6.407, P<0.001]. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in postoperative morbidity and Clavien-Dindo classification of complication within 30 days between the two groups (both P>0.05). Conclusions:Although robotic lateral lymph node dissection requires longer operation time, it is a feasible, safe and effective procedure.