Objective To compare the long-term survival outcomes of patients with T_1-2N₀M₀ duodenal neuroendocrine tumor (DNET) after endoscopic resection (ER) or surgical resection (SR). Methods Patients diagnosed with T_1-2N₀M₀ DNET between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015, were extracted from the SEER database. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to compare overall survival (OS) rate and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate between patients undergoing ER or SR. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce grouping differences, and multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze factors affecting OS and CSS before and after PSM. Results A total of 656 patients were included, with 457 in ER group and 199 in SR group. Before PSM, there was no significant difference in the 5-year OS rate between the ER and SR groups (88.9% vs 89.6%), but there was a significant difference in the 5-year CSS rate (99.3% vs 96.9%, P＝0.017). Before PSM, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed advanced age was an independent risk factor for decreased OS (P＜0.001). After PSM, there was no significant difference between the ER group (n＝187) and SR group (n＝187) in 5-year OS rate (90.2% vs 88.9%) or CSS rate (98.9% vs 96.7%). After PSM, multivariate Cox regression also showed advanced age was an independent risk factor for decreased OS, while resection method was not an independent factor for OS or CSS. Conclusions There is no significant difference in OS or CSS after endoscopic treatment and surgical treatments for patients with T_1-2N₀M₀ DNET, and advanced age is an independent factor for OS.

Objective:To compare the diagnostic efficacy of 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-617 PET/CT and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in detecting extraprostatic extension (EPE) and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) in prostate cancer. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 113 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent both 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT and mpMRI at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from May 2018 to May 2024 prior to radical prostatectomy (RP). The median age of the patients was 66.0 (61.3, 71.0) years old, with a median body mass index of 28.86 (19.01, 24.77) kg/m 2, and a median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 13.50(9.26, 21.99) ng/ml. The pathological results after RP were used as the gold standard to compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the two imaging modalities in diagnosing EPE and SVI. Additionally, the diagnostic value of combining both imaging modalities was explored, employing a parallel strategy where a positive result from either modality was deemed positive, and only when both tests were negative was the result considered negative. Results:Pathological results after RP indicated EPE in 46 cases (40.71%) and SVI in 11 cases (9.70%). In diagnosing EPE, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT were 17.39% (8/46), 97.01% (65/67), 80.00% (8/10), and 63.11% (65/103), respectively, while for mpMRI they were 34.78% (16/46), 83.58% (56/67), 59.26% (16/27), and 65.12% (56/86), respectively. The sensitivity of mpMRI was significantly higher than that of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT ( P=0.048), while the specificity was the opposite ( P=0.008). When combining both imaging modalities, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 45.65% (21/46), 80.60% (54/67), 61.76% (21/34), and 68.35% (54/79), respectively. In diagnosing SVI, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT were 27.27% (3/11), 96.08% (98/102), 42.86% (3/7), and 92.45% (98/106), respectively, while for mpMRI they were 36.36% (4/11), 88.24% (90/102), 25.00% (4/16), and 92.78% (90/97), respectively. The specificity of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT was significantly higher than that of mpMRI ( P=0.033). When combining both imaging modalities, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 45.45% (5/11), 85.29% (87/102), 25.00% (5/20), and 93.55% (87/93), respectively. Conclusions:mpMRI has higher sensitivity in diagnosing EPE and SVI in prostate cancer, while 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT shows higher specificity. The combined use of both imaging modalities can increase diagnostic sensitivity but may reduce specificity. PSMA PET/MRI may be a more accurate diagnostic tool for discerning EPE and SVI.

Objective:To compare the diagnostic efficacy of 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-617 PET/CT and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in detecting extraprostatic extension (EPE) and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) in prostate cancer. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 113 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent both 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT and mpMRI at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from May 2018 to May 2024 prior to radical prostatectomy (RP). The median age of the patients was 66.0 (61.3, 71.0) years old, with a median body mass index of 28.86 (19.01, 24.77) kg/m 2, and a median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 13.50(9.26, 21.99) ng/ml. The pathological results after RP were used as the gold standard to compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the two imaging modalities in diagnosing EPE and SVI. Additionally, the diagnostic value of combining both imaging modalities was explored, employing a parallel strategy where a positive result from either modality was deemed positive, and only when both tests were negative was the result considered negative. Results:Pathological results after RP indicated EPE in 46 cases (40.71%) and SVI in 11 cases (9.70%). In diagnosing EPE, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT were 17.39% (8/46), 97.01% (65/67), 80.00% (8/10), and 63.11% (65/103), respectively, while for mpMRI they were 34.78% (16/46), 83.58% (56/67), 59.26% (16/27), and 65.12% (56/86), respectively. The sensitivity of mpMRI was significantly higher than that of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT ( P=0.048), while the specificity was the opposite ( P=0.008). When combining both imaging modalities, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 45.65% (21/46), 80.60% (54/67), 61.76% (21/34), and 68.35% (54/79), respectively. In diagnosing SVI, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT were 27.27% (3/11), 96.08% (98/102), 42.86% (3/7), and 92.45% (98/106), respectively, while for mpMRI they were 36.36% (4/11), 88.24% (90/102), 25.00% (4/16), and 92.78% (90/97), respectively. The specificity of 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT was significantly higher than that of mpMRI ( P=0.033). When combining both imaging modalities, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 45.45% (5/11), 85.29% (87/102), 25.00% (5/20), and 93.55% (87/93), respectively. Conclusions:mpMRI has higher sensitivity in diagnosing EPE and SVI in prostate cancer, while 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT shows higher specificity. The combined use of both imaging modalities can increase diagnostic sensitivity but may reduce specificity. PSMA PET/MRI may be a more accurate diagnostic tool for discerning EPE and SVI.

Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of non-invasive bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator combined with oxygen atomization in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.Methods:A total of 80 patients with COPD complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure admitted to Haiyan County People′s Hospital from June 2019 to July 2021 were selected, and they were divided into the observation group and the control group by the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in both groups received conventional treatment, while patients in the control group were connected with BiPAP non-invasive ventilator and received non-invasive mechanical ventilation in S/T mode; the observation group was given aerosol inhalation drugs during ventilation, and both groups were treated for 7 d. Blood gas indicators and vital signs were collected before treatment and 7 d after treatment. Clinical symptoms were investigated by COPD patient Caring Assessment Tool (CAT) and Dyspnea Scale (DECAF). Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and CD 4+/CD 8+ were determined, and treatment outcomes and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) and the oxygen saturation (SaO 2) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group: (73.41 ± 5.26) mmHg(1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (65.11 ± 4.33) mmHg, 0.921 ± 0.052 vs. 0.884 ± 0.039; the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) were lower than those in the control group: (45.20 ± 5.33) mmHg vs. (50.52 ± 5.96) mmHg, (90.12 ± 8.56) times/min vs. (98.52 ± 9.63) times/min, (17.41 ± 2.26) times/min vs. (22.10 ± 3.05) times/min, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, CAT scores and DECAF scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group: (8.45 ± 1.63) scores vs. (12.77 ± 2.36) scores, (0.89 ± 0.15) scores vs. (1.15 ± 0.19) scores, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-10 and CD 4+/CD 8+ in the observation group were higher than those in the control group: (15.28 ± 3.12) ng/L vs. (13.41 ± 2.96) ng/L, 1.71 ± 0.38 vs. 1.54 ± 0.30; while the level of TNF-α was lower than that in the control group: (215.27 ± 33.96) ng/L vs. (251.11 ± 50.95) ng/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The hospitalization time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group: (13.52 ± 3.96) d vs. (15.22 ± 2.74) d, there was statistical difference ( P<0.05). The rates of tracheal intubation and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups had no significant differences ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Non-invasive BiPAP ventilator combined with oxygen atomization can improve blood gas index, vital signs and clinical symptoms of COPD patients complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure and reduce inflammatory response.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.08.015.].

ObjectiveTo validate the alleviating effect of Gegen Qinliantang （GGQLT） on insulin resistance in db/db diabetic mice by regulating the silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1）/forkhead transcription factor O1 （FoxO1） autophagy pathway. MethodSeventy-five SPF-grade spontaneous type 2 diabetic db/db mice and 15 control db/m mice were selected and maintained on regular feed for one week before measuring blood glucose. They were randomly divided into six groups， with 15 mice in each group. The groups included a normal group （physiological saline， 0.2 g·kg^-1）， a metformin group （0.2 g·kg^-1）， high-， medium-， and low-dose GGQLT groups （31.9， 19.1， 6.9 g·kg^-1）， and a model group （physiological saline， 0.2 g·kg^-1）. They were orally treated with corresponding drugs for eight weeks， once daily. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was measured using a Roche glucometer. Serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， triglyceride （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） were measured using an automated biochemical analyzer. Fasting serum insulin （INS） levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） was calculated. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Beclin-1， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， and SIRT1/FoxO1 autophagy pathway-related proteins in liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of SIRT1， FoxO1， Beclin-1， and LC3B proteins in liver tissues. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the formation of autophagosomes in the liver. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significant increases in FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TC， TG， LDL-C， and HDL-C levels （P<0.01）， and significant increases in the expression of SIRT1， Beclin-1， LC3， and FoxO1 proteins in liver tissues （P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the highest number of autophagosomes in the model group. Compared with the model group， the metformin group and the low-， medium-， and high-dose GGQLT groups showed significant decreases in serum FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TC， TG， LDL-C， and HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significant decreases in the expression of SIRT1， Beclin-1， LC3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated FoxO1 protein （P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy showed a reduction in the degree of autophagy in the treatment groups. Compared with the metformin group， the medium- and high-dose GGQLT groups showed significant decreases in FBG， FINS， and TG levels （P<0.01）， significant decreases in the expression of SIRT1， Beclin-1， and LC3 in liver tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced FoxO1 protein （P<0.01）. The high-dose GGQLT group showed reduced HOMA-IR， TC， LDL-C， and HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a significant reduction in autophagosomes in the medium- and high-dose GGQLT groups. ConclusionGGQLT can significantly improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders， alleviate insulin resistance in db/db mice， and prevent and treat type 2 diabetes by activating the SIRT1/FoxO1 autophagy pathway.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of treatment of cement dislodgement after vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 13 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University for cement dislodgement after vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral fractures from July 2013 to July 2022. There were 4 males and 9 females, with an average age of (76.5±8.6) years and a T value of bone mineral density of -3.3±0.6. By the CT and MRI features of cement dislodgement, their conditions fell in 4 types: cement loosening in situ (4 cases), anterior cement moving (6 cases), anterior cement moving with posterior bone mass moving (2 cases), and posterior cement moving (1 case). They were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (3 cases), pedicle screw fixation combined with bone graft fusion and decompression (7 cases), and conservative therapy (3 cases). The curative effects for surgical patients were evaluated by comparing their visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and cobb angle of kyphosis at preoperation, 1 week and 1 month postoperation, and the last follow-up, and Frankel grading for nerve injury as well. The curative effects for patients undergoing conservative treatment were evaluated by observing their symptoms.Results:This cohort was followed up for 7 (5, 12) months after treatment. The VAS scores [5.0 (4.0, 5.0) points, 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) points, and 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) points] in the 10 surgical patients at 1 week and 1 month postoperation and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with the preoperative value [8.5 (8.0, 9.0) points] ( P<0.05); the VAS scores at 1 month postoperation and the last follow-up were also significantly improved compared with that at 1 week postoperation ( P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the last follow-up and 1 month postoperation ( P > 0.05). The ODIs (50.6%±4.2%, 37.8%±4.5%, and 29.3%±5.6%) in the 10 surgical patients at 1 week and 1 month postoperation and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with the preoperative value (93.2%±3.6%), showing significant differences in pairwise comparisons ( P<0.05). The cobb angles [10.0 (9.0, 11.0)°, 9.0 (9.0, 11.0)°, and 10.0 (9.0, 12.0)°] in the 10 surgical patients at 1 week and 1 month postoperation and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with the preoperative value [12.5 (11.0, 14.0)°] ( P<0.05) , but there was no statistically significant difference between the time points after operation ( P>0.05). The Frankel grading was significantly improved in the 6 patients with nerve injury after operation. Of the 3 patients undergoing conservative treatment, the symptoms were cured in one, showed no change during follow-up in one, and aggravated in one. Conclusion:Surgical treatment can significantly relieve pain, improve spinal dysfunction and repair nerve injury in patients with bone cement dislodgement after vertebral augmentation.

Osteosarcoma is a kind of bone tumor with highly proliferative and invasive properties, a high incidence of pulmonary metastasis and a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for osteosarcoma. Currently, there are no molecular targeted drugs approved for osteosarcoma treatment, particularly effective drugs for osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastases. It has been reported that fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) is upregulated in osteosarcoma and critically associated with osteosarcoma progression and metastasis, demonstrating that FAPα-targeted agents might be a promising therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma. In the present study, we reported that the FAPα-activated vinblastine prodrug Z-GP-DAVLBH exhibited potent antitumor activities against FAPα-positive osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Z-GP-DAVLBH inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Importantly, it also decreased the migration and invasion capacities and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and suppressed pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma xenografts in vivo. Mechanistically, Z-GP-DAVLBH suppressed the AXL/AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway, leading to inhibition of the growth and metastatic spread of osteosarcoma cells. These findings demonstrate that Z-GP-DAVLBH is a promising agent for the treatment of FAPα-positive osteosarcoma, particularly osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastases.

Objective:To establish a method which Nifedipine was used as an alternative control for determinating of three flavonoid glycosides in the tablets of Ginkgo biloba leaves by substitution method of reference substance.Methods:Make Nifedipine instead reference substance, the analysis was performed on a JADE-PAK C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm), with the mobile phase consisted of 0.5% phosphoric acid solution-methanol (adjusting pH value to 2.2) (50:50) at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, the column temperature was 35 ℃. The Nifedipine was selected as the reference substance of three flavonoid glycosides and the correction factor of Nifedipine. The content of total flavonoid glycosides was determined by relative correction factor f and substitute reference.Results:The linear ranges of Nifedipine, quercetin, kaempferide and isorhamnetin were 0.17-1.73 μg, 0.11-1.08 μg, 0.08-0.84 μg, 0.04-0.40 μg. The relative correction factor ( f) between Nifedipine and quercetin, kaempferide, isorhamnetin were 0.782 2, 0.768 5, 0.808 8, respectively. The average recovery ( n=6) were 98.48%, 98.03%, 94.55%. Conclusion:The results indicated that the HPLC method by substitute reference substance is economical, feasible and practical.