ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

Objective To investigatethe relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and clinicopathological characteristics, p53 expression, and survival of Chinese patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 3882 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, 970 matched patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 970 matched patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma were included to compare the incidence of GERD symptoms. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were divided into two groups according to the presence and absence of GERD symptoms. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics and p53 expression between the two groups were compared by chi-square test, and the differences in survival between the two groups were compared by landmark analysis. Results The incidence of GERD symptoms increased successively in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, the proportions of male, less than 65 years old, lower thoracic tumors, tumors without squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiation, early tumors (stage 0-I), and p53-positive tumors in the group with GERD symptoms were higher than those in the group without GERD symptoms; moreover, the long-term survival (≥15 years) was better. Conclusion GERD symptom is an important clinical sign of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is closely related to specific clinicopathological characteristics, p53 overexpression, and good long-term prognosis.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global public health concern. The persistent presence of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) poses a major challenge to the complete cure of chronic HBV infection. Therefore, identifying reliable and effective serological surrogate markers for cccDNA holds great clinical significance in evaluating antiviral efficacy, predicting prognosis, and guiding the clinical management of chronic HBV-infected patients. In recent years, serum HBV RNA has emerged as a promising non-invasive alternative marker for cccDNA, offering the potential for monitoring disease progression and predicting prognosis in chronic HBV-infected patients. In this review, we summarize recent studies on HBV RNA, highlighting its ability to assess the immune and histological status of patients, and discussing its value in guiding the timing of antiviral therapy. Furthermore, we systematically summarize the clinical significance of HBV RNA in multiple domains: monitoring viral replication, evaluating antiviral treatment efficacy, predicting relapse after treatment cessation, and guiding new antiviral strategies. This review aims to provide clinicians with valuable insights for better utilizing this marker in the clinical management of chronic HBV infection.

OBJECTIVES: To verify whether hesperetin (Hes) alleviates doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing inflammation via regulating the AMPK/NLRP3 pathway. METHODS: C57/bl6 mice and H9c2 cells treated with DOX to mimic cardiotoxicity were randomly divided into Sham (or control) group, DOX group, DOX+Hes group, DOX+Hes+compound C (CC, an AMPK inhibitor) group. Cardiac function and myocardial pathologies of the mice were evaluated, and the changes in H9c2 cell morphology and viability were assessed. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in mouse myocardial tissues and H9c2 cells was measured using ELISA, and H9c2 cell apoptosis was detected with TUNEL staining. In both H9c2 cells and the myocardial tissues of the mice, cellular expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNAs and cleaved caspase-3, Bcl2, Bax, IL-1β, IL-18, p-AMPK, AMPK, p-mTOR, mTOR, NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 proteins were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: DOX treatment caused cell swelling, decreased cell viability and increased LDH activity in H9c2 cells, resulting also in significantly increased cell apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 expression and decreased Bcl2/Bax ratio. The DOX-treated mice showed obvious myocardial fiber swelling and inflammatory infiltration, decreased cardiac function and significantly increased myocardial LDH activity. In H9c2 cells, DOX treatment significantly increased the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-18, lowered the expressions of p-AMPK and p-mTOR, and increased the expressions of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1. Hes treatment obviously reduced these toxic effects of DOX in H9c2 cells, but its protective effects were blocked by application of compound C. CONCLUSIONS Hes reduces DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting inflammation via regulating the AMPK/NLRP3 pathway.
Animals ; Doxorubicin/toxicity* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cardiotoxicity ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Line ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Rats

The prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer constitute an important component of China's cancer control efforts.As the earliest established cancer prevention and control field site in China,the Linzhou Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment Site has developed a sys-tematic prevention and control strategy encompassing tumor registration,etiological research,early diagnosis and treatment,and other key areas,providing valuable experience for refining China's cancer prevention system.Based on over six decades of practical experience at the Linzhou site,this paper reviews its historical development,the construction of its prevention-control system,and emerging challenges in the new era,while exploring its reference significance for China's na-tionwide cancer prevention and control initiatives.

To study the immunoregulatory effects of lycorine on mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii),BALB/c mice were treated with 20 mg/kg lycorine solution after peritoneal in-fection with T.gondii RH strain.The serum and spleen of mice were collected at the 1st,3rd,5th and 7th day,respectively,and the spleen index of mice was calculated.The proportion of T lympho-cyte subtypes and NK cells were detected in mice by flow cytometry,and the changes of cytokine levels in mice were measured using ELISA kit,so as to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of lycorine on mice infected with T.gondii.At the same time,the heart,liver,spleen,lungs,and kid-neys of mice were collected at the 7th day,and the pathological changes of the mouse organs were observed through pathological tissue sections,and the amount of the parasite in the liver,lung,kid-ney,and brain of the mice was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.The results showed that the survival time of the mice treated with lycorine was significantly extended,and the survival rate reached 80％.The spleen index of mice treated with lycorine was lower than that of the control group.Lycorine up-regulates the ratio of the CD4+T lymphocytes and NK cells in the spleen of mice infected with T.gondii,and helps to improve the ability of mice to resist T.gondii infection.Lycorine can up-regulate the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 and down-regulate the lev-els of pro-inflammatory factors IFN-γ,IL-1β,and IL-9 in serum of mice infected with T.gondii,which is conducive to reducing the damage of inflammatory response and enhancing the ability of anti-T.gondii infection.In addition,lycorine can alleviate the pathological damage of T.gondii to the liver,lungs,spleen,and kidneys of mice,and significantly reduce the amount of the parasite in the lung of mice.The results showed that lycorine could up-regulate the proportion of immune cells CD4+T lymphocytes and NK cells,inhibit the inflammatory response of mice infected with T.gondii,reduce the pathological damage of mice organs,and enhance the ability of mice to resist T.gondii infection,which is expected to become a novel anti-T.gondii drug.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of the anterolateral thigh perforator flaps transplantation in repairing the wounds after radical resection of skin malignant tumors in the head, face, and neck.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From May 2020 to December 2023, 27 patients with skin malignant tumors in the head, face, and neck were admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of the First People's Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, including 19 males and 8 females, aged 53 to 89 years. There were 21 cases with squamous cell carcinoma and 6 cases with basal cell carcinoma. The wound area after radical resection of tumors was 9.0 cm×7.0 cm to 27.0 cm×21.5 cm. The wounds were repaired with the lobulated, combined, or various forms of combination of the anterolateral thigh perforator flaps, and the harvesting flap area in single donor site was 10.0 cm×8.0 cm to 27.0 cm×11.0 cm. The wounds in the flap donor sites were closed by suturing in 26 patients, while the wound in the flap donor site in 1 patient was repaired with medium-thickness skin graft in the lower leg. The survival of the flap, and the occurrence of vascular crisis and infection were observed after surgery. During follow-up after surgery, the tumor recurrence, shape and texture of the flaps, and the function and scar formation of the limbs where the donor site was located were observed.Results:Only one patient developed venous crisis of the flap 27 hours after surgery, and the flap survived after vascular exploration and reanastomosis of the vein; the flaps in the other patients survived after surgery. One patient had an infected effusion under the flap after surgery, which healed after dressing change. After 6-36 months of postoperative follow-up, no tumor recurrence was observed; the flap had good appearance, texture, and elasticity; the limb where the donor site was located functioned normally, with only linear scars left.Conclusions:For complex wounds after radical resection of skin malignant tumors in the head, face, and neck, different forms of anterolateral thigh perforator flaps can be used to repair the wounds according to the condition of the wounds, and the wounds in the recipient sites heal well after surgery, with minimal damage to the donor site.

Objective To investigate the expression of ferritinophagy-related gene ELAV-like RNA binding protein 1(ELAVL1)in multiple myeloma(MM)and elucidate its diagnostic and prognostic value for MM.Methods First,we analyzed ELAVL1 expression level in healthy controls and MM patients using data from the GEO and TCGA databases.Subsequently,bone marrow specimens were collected from 28 newly diagnosed MM patients and 20 healthy controls,and qRT-PCR was employed to validate ELAVL1 expression.The diagnostic and prognostic potential of ELAVL1 was assessed using ROC curve analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.Additionally,univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for MM prognosis.Finally,KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID online platform.Results The level of ELAVL1 expression was significantly higher in newly diagnosed MM patients and refractory/relapsed MM patients than in the healthy controls(P＜0.001).Moreover,ELAVL1 expression was positively correlated with the International Staging System(ISS)stage of MM(P＜0.01).Furthermore,qRT-PCR validation confirmed that ELAVL1 expression was elevated in the 28 newly diagnosed MM patients compared to the 20 healthy controls(P＜0.001).ROC curve analysis demonstrated that ELAVL1 could effectively differentiate between newly diagnosed MM patients,healthy controls,and MGUS patients(P＜0.001 and P=0.000 2,respectively).Survival analysis revealed that high ELAVL1 expression was associated with shorter progression-free survival(P=0.0141)and overall survival(P=0.008 0).Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses identified high ELAVL1 expression as an independent risk factor for poor MM prognosis(P=0.005 0).KEGG analysis suggested that ELAVL1 might be involved in the Hippo and MAPK signaling pathways.Conclusion High ELAVL1 expression in MM may serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and poor prognosis.ELAVL1 may promote MM initiation and progression via the Hippo and MAPK signaling pathways.

Objective To explore the feasibility of direct low-dose CT thyroid protection scanning technology for detecting lower respiratory tract infectious diseases in children.Methods A total of 1 128 children who underwent CT chest examination due to suspected lower respiratory tract infectious diseases were enrolled and divided into 2 groups according to scanning scheme,which in group A(n=1 088)covered the whole lung apex and used conventional or direct low-dose scanning techniques,while in group B(n=40)did not include lung apex(the starting line located horizontally at the upper edge of manubrium sterni)and adopted direct low-dose scanning technique.Forty children in group A with age and gender matched with those in group B who received direct low-dose CT scanning were taken as group A1.The property of lung apex lesions and whether the lesions impacted the diagnostic outcomes in group A,as well as the display of thyroid gland in both group A and B were analyzed.Radiation dosage was compared between group A1 and group B.Results The radiation dose in group B was 22.1-35.6 mGy,with an average of(28.34±2.86)mGy,significantly lower than that in group A1(29.1-44.3 mGy,with an average of[34.71±3.07]mGy,P＜0.001).Among 1 088 cases in group A,CT showed lung apex lesions in 54 cases(54/1 088,4.96%),including 49 cases(49/1 088,4.50%)of inflammatory,4 cases(4/1 088,0.37%)of linear atelectasis and 1 case(1/1 088,0.09%)of space-occupying,all were expended from other lung lobe and did not impact final imaging diagnosis.Thyroid gland was displayed in 1 046 cases(1 046/1 088,96.14%)in group A(including 40 cases in group A1),which was not displayed in all 40 cases(40/40,100%)in group B.The display rate of thyroid gland in group A1 was significantly higher than that in group B(χ2=80.000,P＜0.001).Conclusion Direct low-dose CT thyroid protection scanning technology was feasible for detecting lower respiratory tract infectious diseases in children,which could reduce radiation dose and protect thyroid from ionizing radiation damage.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of absent in melanoma 2(AIM2)gene in peripheral blood peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)of patients with advanced gastric cancer(GC)and the intestinal flora and the efficacy of targeted therapy.Methods 83 patients with advanced GC who were treated from January to December 2023 were all given Trastuzumab/Nebuliumab combined with conventional chemotherapy for 4 weeks/course and 3 continuous courses of treatment to evaluate the efficacy of targeted therapy.The abundance of intestinal flora was analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing technologies.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect AIM2 mRNA expression levels in PBMC,which were divided into a high expression group and a low expression group according to the median digit.Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between AIM2 expression and the relative abundance of intestinal flora,the efficacy of targeted therapy and clinical features.Results At the phylum level,the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes(0.70±0.15)and Proteobacteria(0.71±0.21)in the high expression group of AIM2 was significantly lower than that in the low expression group(0.81±0.17,0.80±0.16),and the relative abundance of Firmicutes(0.73±0.12)was significantly higher than that in the low expression group(0.64±0.08),and the differences were statistically significant(t=3.108,2.210,4.061,all P＜0.05).At the genus level,the relative abundance of Bacteroides(0.13±0.02)in the high expression group of AIM2 was significantly lower than that in the low expression group(0.19±0.04),and the relative abundance of Enterococcus(0.31±0.08 vs 0.12±0.05)and Escherichia coli(0.18±0.04 vs 0.10±0.02)was significantly higher than that in the low expression group(0.12±0.05,0.10±0.02),and the differences were statistically significant(t=8.472,153.462,11.722,all P<0.05).Pearson correlation showed that at phylum level,AIM2 expression was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Firmicutes(r=0.598,P<0.05),and negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Proteobacteria(r=-0.641,-0.520,all P<0.05).At the genus level,AIM2 expression was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Enterococcus and Escherichia coli(r=0.529,0.577,all P<0.05),and negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Bacteroides(r=-0.574,P<0.05).Among the 83 patients with advanced GC,17 cases were effective and 66 cases were ineffective,and the Overall response rate(ORR)was 20.48%.The lesion diameter(5.73±0.74cm)and the proportion of cTNM stage IV(53.85%)in AIM2 high expression group were significantly lower than those in low expression group(6.08±0.51cm,75.00%),and the targeted therapy ORR(30.77%)was higher than that in low expression group(11.36%),with statistical significance(t/χ2/Z=2.477,6.558,4.780,all P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of AIM2 in PBMC of advanced GC patients is closely related to the imbalance of intestinal flora and the effect of targeted therapy.Detection of AIM2 expression is conducive to guiding clinical screening of patients who benefit from targeted therapy.