Pristimerin, which is one of the compounds present in Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae, has antitumor effects. However, its mechanism of action in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of pristimerin on ESCC in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of pristimerin on cell growth was assessed using trypan blue exclusion and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cell transfection and RNA interference assays were utilized to examine the role of key proteins in pristimerin?s effect. Xenograft models were established to evaluate the antitumor efficiency of pristimerin in vivo. Pristimerin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in ESCC cells. Upregulation of Noxa was crucial for pristimerin-induced apoptosis. Pristimerin activated the Forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) signaling pathway and triggered FoxO3a recruitment to the Noxa promoter, leading to Noxa transcription. Blocking FoxO3a reversed pristimerin-induced Noxa upregulation and cell apoptosis. Pristimerin treatment suppressed xenograft tumors in nude mice, but these effects were largely negated in Noxa-KO tumors. Furthermore, the chemosensitization effects of pristimerin in vitro and in vivo were mediated by Noxa. This study demonstrates that pristimerin exerts an antitumor effect on ESCC by inducing AKT/FoxO3a-mediated Noxa upregulation. These findings suggest that pristimerin may serve as a potent anticancer agent for ESCC treatment.
Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/physiopathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

Objective:To analyze the effect of long-term care insurance on the incidence of falls in old people with disability, and the modification effect of different living arrangements.Methods:Based on the discharge diagnosis records of the hospitalization in urban residents who applied for long-term care insurance in Chengdu from July 2014 to June 2021, those who received long-term care insurance were selected as the intervention group and those who received no long-term care insurance were selected as the control group, the changes in the incidence of falls before and after the long-term care were analyzed using difference-in-differences method, and the modification effects of different living arrangements were explored using stratified analysis.Results:Long-term care insurance significantly reduced the risk for monthly incidence of falls in older adults [average treatment effects on treated (ATT) = -1.21% (95% CI: -1.82%--0.60%)], and the effect increased over time (ATT=-1.26%, 95% CI: -1.93%--0.59%). Long-term care insurance had a significant effect on reducing the incidence of falls in old people living with spouses/family members (ATT=-0.92%, 95% CI: -1.47%--0.37%) and in nursing facilities/hospitals (ATT=-2.10%, 95% CI: -3.81%--0.40%), but it had no significant effect in those living alone. Conclusions:Long-term care insurance can effectively reduce the incidence of falls in old people with disability, showing a positive effect. Living with family members or in nursing facilities/hospitals has a modification effect of the implementation of long-term care insurance policy. It is necessary to pay attention to key populations in the future and expand the coverage of long-term care insurance.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of pseudomonas aeruginosa Injection (PAI) in the treatment of coeliac leakage after cervical lymph node dissection for robotic thyroid cancer.Methods:Retrospective analysis of 1262 patients who underwent robotic thyroid surgery at the 960th Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army from Jan. 2021 to Aug. 2023 was made. Postoperative celiac leakage happened in 28 patients. The control and injection groups were divided according to whether pseudomonas aeruginosa injection was used or not. In the control group, there were 4 males and 11 females out of 15 patients, with an average age of (46.20±9.02) years old, and the treatment methods of low-fat diet, negative pressure suction, and pressure bandage were used. In the injection group, there were 7 males and 6 females among 13 patients, with an average age of (41.00±8.87) years. They were treated with low-fat diet, negative pressure suction, pressure bandage, and PAI .The number of lymph node dissection, total drainage volume, peak drainage volume, days of hospitalization and the rate of decline in drainage volume within 24 h after the use of PAI in the injection group, post-injection temperature, number of injections, and post-injection extubation time were statistically analyzed in both groups. Independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test were used for comparison between groups. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, extent of thyroidectomy, highest daily drainage volume, and total drainage volume between the two groups ( P>0.05). The difference in the number of lymph node dissection (49.15±23.05 vs. 30.80±11.76, P=0.012) and hospitalization time (11.77±4.64 vs. 16.40±6.42, P=0.041) between the injection group and the control group was statistically significant. After the use of pseudomonas aeruginosa injection, the draining fluid decreased from the previous day (69.56± 20.82) % in the injection group; Twelve patients were successfully extubated after one injection of pseudomonas aeruginosa injection, and one patient was successfully extubated after two injections; the mean time to extubation after injection was (3.85±1.28) days; 76.9% patients (10/13) had fever symptoms within 48 h with body temperature (38.05±0.89) ℃ after injection, body temperature returned to normal after symptomatic treatment,and no other adverse reactions occurred except fever. Conclusion:Pseudomonas aeruginosa injection is safe and effective in the treatment of celiac leakage after cervical lymph node dissection for robotic thyroid cancer, effectively reducing cervical drainage and shortening hospitalization days.

Objective:To discuss the method for establishing the rat models of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by chronic water avoidance stress(WAS)method,and to evaluate its feasibility.Methods:Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10)and model group(n=20).The rats in model group were induced by WAS method for 1 h everyday,lasting for 10 consecutive days;the rats in control group underwent no interventions.After modeling,the general conditions and body weights of the rats in two groups were observed and recorded.The elevated plus maze(EPM)test was used to detect the percentages of the number of open arm entries(OE)and the time spent in open arms(OT)of the rats in two groups;the abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)test was used to assess the visceral sensitivity of the rats in two groups;electrocardiography was used to detect the heart rate variability(HRV)of the rats in two groups;electromyography(EMG)of the external oblique muscle was used to detect the colorectal pain sensitivity thresholds of the rats in two groups;multi-channel physiological signal recorder was used to monitor the slow wave frequency of the colon of the rats in two groups.Results:There were no death rats in both groups during the modeling period.After modeling,the rats in model group exhibited poor mental status,reduced spontaneous activity,hypoactivity,disordered and dull fur,irritability,and unclean anal areas;whereas,the rats in control group showed no significant changes in the mental state,spontaneous activity,fur,and perianal area.Compared with control group,the body weight of the rats in model group was significantly decreased(P<0.05).The EPM test results showed that compared with control group,the OE percentage and OT percentage of the rats in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The AWR test results showed that 12 rats in model group scored≥3 points,indicating that the successful rate in creating the visceral pain models was 60%.Compared with control group,the low frequency(LF)signals and the ratio of LF/high frequency(HF)of the rats in model group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the HF was significantly decreased(P<0.05).The EMG results showed that compared with control group,the coloretal pain sensitivity threshold of the colon of the rats in model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the slow wave frequency of the colon was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:The WAS method for establishing the rat model of IBS effectively demonstrates the changes in behavior and mental state,increased the visceral sensitivity,accelerated colonic slow wave frequency,and autonomic nervous system imbalance;the WAS method can serve as an effective modeling approach for observing and evaluating the related drugs and interventions on treatment of IBS.

Objective To understand the current status of death anxiety in patients with primary liver cancer and analyze its influencing factors,so as to provide basis for developing individualized psychological guidance and intervention measures.Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select 302 patients with primary liver cancer who were hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province from March to November 2022.The General Demographic Information Questionnaire,the Templer's Death Anxiety Scale(T-DAS),the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI),the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale(SES)and the Self-perceived Burden Scale(SPBS)were used to conduct questionnaire survey during hospitalization.Single factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to analyze the factors influencing the death anxiety in patients with primary liver cancer.Results A total of 298 patients with primary liver cancer were included in the study.The effective recovery rate was 98.68％.The total score of the F-DAS was(7.10±3.43)points;56.38％of the patients had high death anxiety.Multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the factors influencing the death anxiety in patients with primary liver cancer included gender,China liver cancer staging,duration of diagnosis,self-esteem,trait anxiety and self-perceived burden.A total of 49.00％of the variation in death anxiety was explained.Conclusion The death anxiety of patients with primary liver cancer is at a high level.It is suggested that medical staff should pay more attention to female patients with China liver cancer staging IV,diagnosis time＞3 months and low self-esteem,high levels of trait-anxiety and self-perceived burden,in order to develop personalized intervention measures,carry out psychological counseling and emotional support to relieve patients'death anxiety.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluorouracil and leucovorin and oxaliplatin(FOLFOX)regimen hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)combined with lenvatinib(LEN)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)in treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after the occurrence of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)refractoriness.Methods The clinical data of 54 HCC patients who developed TACE refractoriness,were admitted to the Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital of China to receive FOLFOX-HAIC combined with LEN and ICIs therapy between January 2019 and December 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST)was used to statistically analyze the clinical efficacy,the Common Terminology Criteria For Adverse Events version 5.0(CTCAE 5.0)was adopted to record and evaluate the treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs).The primary endpoints were progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS),the secondary endpoints were objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),and safety.Results The median PFS was 11.7 months(95％CI:8.124-15.276 months),the median OS was 23.1 months(95％CI:19.508-26.692 months),the ORR was 46.3％,and the DCR was 87.0％.The most common TRAE at all levels was elevated alanine aminotransferase(51.9％),and the most common TRAE of grade 3/4 was hypertension(9.3％).No treatment-related death occurred.Conclusion For the treatment of HCC patients who developed TACE refractoriness,FOLFOX-HAIC combined LEN and ICIs is clinically safe and effective.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:610-615)

Objective To investigate the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice(MOJ)after receiving biliary stent placement combined with intraluminal brachytherapy with 125I seed-strip implantation.Methods The clinical data of 52 patients with MOJ,who received biliary stent placement combined with intraluminal brachytherapy with 125I seed-strip implantation at the Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital of China between January 2019 and January 2023,were retrospectively analyzed.The difference value between preoperative and postoperative number of lymphoid immune cells was recorded as△X.X-tile software was used to calculate the optimal cut-off value of △X,based on which the patients were divided into two groups.Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors for overall survival(OS).Results The mean survival time of the 52 patients was(201.0±32.1)days.Univariate analysis indicated that postoperative TACE,preoperative ALT,preoperative AST,△lymphocyte cell,△CD3+T cell,△CD8+T cell,△natural killer cell(NK)and △regulatory cell(Treg)were significantly associated with OS,the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that △lymphocyte cell(P=0.007)and △Treg(P=0.038)were the independent risk factors for OS.Conclusion For MOJ patients whose△lymphocyte is ≥0.237 or △Treg is ≥0.21,a longer OS can be expected after receiving the treatment of biliary stent placement combined with intraluminal brachytherapy with 125I seed-strip implantation.

Microneedles (MNs) serve as a revolutionary paradigm in transdermal drug delivery, heralding a viable resolution to the formidable barriers presented by the cutaneous interface. This review examines MNs as an advanced approach to enhancing dermatological pathology management. It explores the complex dermis structure and highlights the limitations of traditional transdermal methods, emphasizing MNs' advantage in bypassing the stratum corneum to deliver drugs directly to the subdermal matrix. The discourse outlines the diverse typologies of MNs, including solid, coated, hollow, hydrogel, and dissolvable versions. Each type is characterized by its unique applications and benefits. The treatise details the deployment of MNs in the alleviation of cutaneous cancers, the administration of inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and their utility in wound management. Additionally, the paper contemplates the prospects of MNs within the realm of aesthetic dermatology and the burgeoning market traction of cosmetic MN formulations. The review summarizes the scientific and commercial challenges to the clinical adoption of MN therapeutics, including dosage calibration, pharmacodynamics, biocompatibility, patient compliance, sterilization, mass production, and regulatory oversight. It emphasizes the need for ongoing research, innovation, and regulatory harmonization to overcome these obstacles and fully realize MNs' potential in treating skin diseases and improving patient welfare.

Objective:To analyze the epidemic dynamics and characteristics of human brucellosis in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and to provide scientific basis for formulating prevention and control measures.Methods:Brucellosis epidemic data from "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" from 2013 to 2020 and the surveillance data of brucellosis prevention and control in Jinzhong City over the years were collected, and the epidemiological characteristics, serological and pathogenic monitoring results of brucellosis in Jinzhong City were analyzed.Results:A total of 5 235 cases of brucellosis were reported in Jinzhong City from 2013 to 2020, with an average annual incidence of 19.60/100 000. There was a statistically significant difference in the annual incidence of each year (χ 2 = 561.09, P < 0.001). Pingyao County had the largest number of reported cases (903 cases), and Yushe County had the highest incidence (59.78/100 000). The incidence was observed in every month of the past years, with significant seasonal onset, the peak of the incidence was from March to July, accounting for 60.50% (3 167/5 235). The majority of the patients were male, aged 20 - 60 years, and farmers, accounting for 81.07% (4 244/5 235), 85.06% (4 453/5 235) and 81.34% (4 258/5 235), respectively. Epidemiological investigation revealed 33 522 high-risk occupational groups. Serological examination was performed in 24 544 people, with a positive rate of 4.45% (1 091/24 544). In 263 pathogenic culture samples, 52 strains of Brucella were found, with a detection rate of 19.77%, all of them were sheep type 3. Conclusions:In recent years, the epidemic of brucellosis in Jinzhong City has shown a sporadic trend, with significant regional differences in the incidence. The occupational population is still the focus of prevention and control. It is suggested to carry out occupational population monitoring, do a good job in health education and behavioral intervention, timely learn about the epidemic dynamics, and effectively control the brucellosis epidemic.

Objective:To investigate the value of three-dimensional (3D) CT in diagnosing cricoarytenoid dislocation.Methods:From January 2021 to December 2021, 31 patients with unilateral cricoarytenoid dislocation who had been treated by reduction forceps at the Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were collected retrospectively, and their voice recovered or improved significantly after therapy. The preoperative CT images were reconstructed by volume rendering (VR). The dislocated side (left and right), type of dislocation (total dislocation and subluxation), and dislocation direction (anterior, posterior, internal and external dislocation) of cricoarytenoid dislocation were observed. According to arytenoid articular surface of cricoid cartilage exposed completely or not (caused by arytenoid displacement), they were divided into complete dislocation and subluxation. According to the direction of arytenoid displacement and the part of arytenoid articular surface of cricoid cartilage exposed, they were divided into anterior, posterior, internal and external dislocation. According to the shape of the vocal cords on laryngoscope, anterior and posterior dislocation of each case was judged, and then compared with that of CT.Results:On VR images, there were 28 cases of cricoarytenoid subluxation (90.3%, 28/31) and 3 cases of complete dislocation (9.7%, 3/31). Left cricoarytenoid dislocation was 26 cases (83.9%, 26/31) and right cricoarytenoid dislocation was 5 cases (16.1%, 5/31). Posterior dislocation was 28 cases (90.3%, 28/31) and anterior dislocation was 3 cases (9.7%, 3/31). There were 23 cases of internal dislocation (74.2%, 23/31), 2 cases of external dislocation (6.4%, 2/31), and 6 cases without obvious internal and external dislocation (19.4%, 6/31). Three cases of complete dislocation were left posterior internal dislocation.There were 24 cases of left posterior dislocation (77.4%, 24/31), 4 cases of right posterior dislocation (12.9%, 4/31), 2 cases of left anterior dislocation (6.4%, 2/31) and 1 case of right anterior dislocation (3.2%, 1/31). On laryngoscope, there were 19 cases of posterior dislocation (61.3%, 19/31), 9 cases of anterior dislocation (29.0%, 9/31), 3 cases were difficult to assess (9.7%, 3/31) because of aryepiglottic fold covering. Sixteen cases (55.2%, 16/28) were consistent with 3D CT, and 12 cases (42.8%, 12/28) were inconsistent.Conclusion:The 3D CT is a reliable method to evaluate cricoarytenoid dislocation, which can show dislocated side, type and direction of cricoarytenoid dislocation clearly.