This study aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and combination with inhibitors in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells. The effect of sinomenine on the growth ability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were investigated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and BeyoClick~(TM) EdU-488 staining. The effect of sinomenine on DNA damage was detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the effect of sinomenine on apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was clarified by Hoechst 33258 staining and CellEvent~(TM) Cystein-3/7Green ReadyProbes~(TM) reagent assay. Cell invasion assay and 3D tumor cell spheroid invasion assay were performed to investigate the effect of sinomenine on the invasion ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. The effect of sinomenine on the regulation of protein expression related to the protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling pathway in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells was examined by Western blot. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the strength of affinity of sinomenine to the target cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(caspase-3) and STAT3, and combined with CCK-8 assay to detect the changes in cell viability after combination with STAT3 inhibitor JSI-124 in combination with CCK-8 assay. The results showed that sinomenine could significantly reduce the cell viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner, significantly inhibit the clonogenic ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and weaken the invasive ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. In addition, sinomenine could up-regulate the cleaved level of poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP), a marker of apoptosis, and down-regulate the protein levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-STAT3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Molecular docking results showed that sinomenine had good affinity with the targets caspase-3 and STAT3, and the sensitivity of sinomenine to hepatocellular carcinoma cells was diminished after STAT3 was inhibited. Therefore, sinomenine can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and induce apoptosis, and the mechanism may be attributed to the activation of caspase-3 signaling and inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway. This study can provide a new reference for the in-depth research and clinical application of sinomenine and is of great significance to further promote the scientific development and utilization of sinomenine.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Sincalide/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Hep G2 Cells ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Apoptosis

Objective: To evaluate the performance of point-of-care testing for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions screening. Methods: In September 2020, 197 and 273 women were selected by using simple random sampling method from "self-sampling" cohort and "physician-sampling" cohort established in Xiangyuan county, Shanxi Province, China, respectively. Cervical exfoliated cells were collected by women themselves or gynecologists. All samples were detected by POCT and women with positive result were directly referred for colposcopy. Subsequently, all the samples were detected by careHPV and PCR test. Colposcopy and punch biopsy were performed for women with POCT negative but careHPV or PCR test positive at another visit. Using histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard, we calculated sensitivity, specificity and drew the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The accuracy of POCT was analyzed and compared to that of careHPV and conventional PCR test in cervical cancer and precancerous lesions screening. Results: The median (Q₁ , Q₃) age of 470 women was 51 (45, 57) years old. Based on self-sampling, the sensitivity and specificity of POCT for CIN2+ were 100.00% (95%CI: 56.56%-100.00%) and 28.95% (95%CI: 22.97%-35.76%), respectively. Compared with POCT, POCT HPV16/18 test had similar sensitivity and higher specificity of 89.47% (95%CI: 84.30%-93.08%). Self-sampling POCT HPV16/18 test had an AUC of 0.947 (95%CI:0.910-0.985), which was higher than that of careHPV and PCR test. Physician-sampling POCT test had 100.00% sensitivity (95%CI: 64.57%-100.00%) and 55.85% specificity (95%CI: 49.83%-61.70%) for detecting CIN2+. POCT HPV16/18 test had lower sensitivity (71.43%, 95%CI: 35.90%-91.76%) and higher specificity (92.45%, 95%CI: 88.63%-95.06%). POCT HPV16/18 test generally showed similar AUC on both self-collected samples and clinician-collected samples (0.947 vs 0.819, P=0.217). Conclusion: POCT HPV16/18 test is an effective method with relatively high sensitivity and specificity for cervical cancer screening.
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia/diagnosis* ; Colposcopy ; Early Detection of Cancer/methods* ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16/genetics* ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans ; Mass Screening/methods* ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections/diagnosis* ; Point-of-Care Testing ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Objective: To examine the clinical value of routine contrast esophagram (RCE) for the diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after three-incision esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis. Methods: Clinical data of 1 022 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent McKeown three-incision esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis from January 2015 to December 2019 at Department of Minimally Invasive Esophageal Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital and Institute were analyzed retrospectively. There were 876 males and 146 females, aging(M(IQR)) 48(16) years (range: 36 to 84 years). There were 253 patients (24.8%) with neoadjuvant therapy, and 817 patients (79.9%) with minimally invasive esophagectomy. According to the diagnosis and treatment habits of the attending surgeons, 333 patients were included in the RCE group, and RCE was performed on the 7^th day postoperative, while 689 patients were included in the non-RCE group, and RCE was performed when the patients had suspicious symptoms. Taking clinical symptoms, RCE, CT, endoscopy and other methods as reference to the diagnosis of AL, the sensitivity and specificity were used to analyze and evaluate the efficacy of RCE for the diagnosis of AL. The data were compared by U test or χ² test between groups. Results: The incidence rate of AL after three-incision esophagectomy was 7.34% (75/1 022), including 30 cases in the RCE group and 45 cases in the non-RCE group (9.0%(30/333) vs. 6.5%(45/689), χ²=2.027, P=0.155). The diagnostic time of AL was 9(5) days postoperative (range: 4 to 30 days). Among them, 23 cases showed cervical leakages, 50 cases showed intro-thoracic leakages, and 2 cases both cervical and intro-thoracic leakages. The diagnostic time of patients with intro-thoracic leakages was longer than that of cervical leakages (10(4) days vs. 6(3) days, Z=-2.517, P=0.012). Among the 333 patients in the RCE group, 16 cases of RCE indicated leakages including 11 cases of true positive and 5 cases determined to be false positive, while 317 cases indicated no abnormalities including 19 cases developed leakages. The sensitivity and specificity of RCE to detect AL were 36.7%(11/30) and 98.3%(298/333), respectively. The Youden-index was 0.35, and the diagnostic accuracy was 92.8%(309/333). The positive and negative predictive value were 11/16 and 94.0%(298/317), respectively. Conclusions: Routine contrast esophagram after three-incision esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis has low sensitivity and high specificity in the diagnosis of AL. The diagnostic time of AL is the 9^th day after surgery. It is necessary to prolong the observation time clinically, and combine RCE with CT, endoscopy and other inspection methods for diagnosis.
Anastomosis, Surgical/adverse effects* ; Anastomotic Leak/etiology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Esophagectomy/methods* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Wound/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method for synthesizing Lewis blood group antigens, that is, the mimotopes of Lewis blood group antigens were screened by using an alpaca phage display nanobody library. METHODS: We selected mimotopes of the Lewis a (le^a) antigen by affinity panning of an alpaca phage display nanobody library using a monoclonal anti-le^a antibody. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the affinity of the positive clones for the monoclonal anti-le^a antibody, and the high-affinity positive clones were selected for sequencing and synthesis. Finally, the sensitivity, specificity and reactivity of the synthesized le^a mimotope in clinical samples were verified by ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 96 phage clones were randomly selected, and 24 were positive. Fourteen positive clones with the highest affinity were selected for sequencing. The result showed that there were 5 different sequences, among which 3 sequences with the highest frequency, largest difference and highest affinity were selected for expression and synthesis. The sensitivity and specificity of le^a mimic antigen by ELISA showed that, the minimum detection limit of gel microcolumn assay (GMA) and ELISA method were 25 times different, and the le^a mimic antigen had no cross reacted with the other five unrelated monoclonal antibodies(P<0.001). Finally, 30 clinical plasma samples were analyzed. The mean absorbance of the 15 positive plasma samples was significantly higher than that of the 15 negative plasma samples (P=0.02). However, the positive signal values of the clinical samples were much lower than those of the monoclonal antibodies. CONCLUSION A new method of screening le^a mimic antigen by using alpaca phage nanoantibody library has been established, which is expected to realize the screening of le^a mimotopes, thus realizing the application of high-sensitivity detection methods such as ELISA and chemiluminescence in blood group antibody identification.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological ; Bacteriophages ; Blood Group Antigens ; Camelids, New World ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods* ; Epitopes ; Humans ; Lewis Blood Group Antigens ; Peptide Library

Objective : To investigate the effects of actin like 6A (ACTL6A) knockdown on the proliferation, apop⁃ tosis, migration and invasion of SW1990 cells in pancreatic cancer. Methods : The Oncomine database was used to analyze the expression of ACTL6A mRNA in the tissues of pancreatic cancer and normal pancreas. The plasmid of knockdown ACTL6A and siRNA negative control were established and transfected into SW1990 cell line as siRNA⁃ACTL6A group and siRNA⁃NC group. CCK⁃8, cell apoptosis experiment, Wound healing and Transwell assay were used to determine the effects of ACTL6A knockdown on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of SW1990 cells. GSEA predicted a possible pathway regulated by ACTL6A in pancreatic cancer. T⁃test was used between the two groups. Results : The expression of ACTL6A in pancreatic cancer tissues was higher than that in normal pancreatic tissues ( P < 0. 05 ) . The results of CCK⁃8 assay showed that the absorbance of siRNA⁃ACTL6A group at 24 and 48 h were lower than those in the siRNA⁃NC group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 5. 840, 8. 454, P < 0. 01) . The results of Wound healing assay and Transwell assay showed that the healing rate and the number of invasive cells in siRNA⁃ACTL6A group were both lower than those in the siRNA⁃NC group. The difference was statistically significant ( t = 3. 960,4. 464, P < 0. 05), but the apoptosis rate of siRNA⁃ACTL6A group was significantly higher than that of the siRNA⁃NC group, and the difference was statistically significant( t = 12. 192, P < 0. 001) . GSEA results showed that the group with high expression of ACTL6A mRNA was up⁃regulated in cell cycle, nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, DNA replication, pathways in cancer, NOTCH signaling pathway and other related gene sets(P < 0. 05) . These pathways were activated when the expression of ACTL6A was up⁃regulated. Conclusion ACTL6A is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues. ACTL6A knockdown promotes the cell apoptosis of SW1990 cells, and inhibits proliferation, invasion and migration of SW1990 cells. The mechanism of the occurrence and development of ACTL6A in pancreatic cancer is attributed to the activation of cell cycle, nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, DNA replication, pathways in cancer, NOTCH signaling pathway.

The effect of Danhong Injection on the endogenous metabolites of rabbit platelets was analyzed by the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry( LC-MS) based metabonomic approach. Anti-platelet aggregation was detected after Danhong Injection treatment and the changes of platelet metabolites were analyzed by metabonomics. Principal component analysis( PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis( PLS-DA) were performed to investigate the effect of Danhong Injection on endogenous metabolites of platelets,characterize the biomarkers,and explore the relevant pathways and the underlying mechanism. As demonstrated by the pharmacodynamic results,Danhong Injection of different doses and concentrations antagonized platelet aggregation in a dose-and concentration-dependent manner. In contrast to the control group,25 differential metabolites such as nicotinic acid,nicotinic acid riboside,and hypoxanthine were screened out after platelets were treated by Danhong Injection. These metabolites,serving as important biomarkers,were mainly enriched in the nicotinic acid-niacinamide metabolic pathway and purine metabolic pathway. This study explored the therapeutic mechanism of Danhong Injection from a microscopic perspective by metabonomics,which is expected to provide a new idea for the investigation of platelet-related mechanisms.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Blood Platelets ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Metabolomics ; Rabbits ; Technology

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of 100 units of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) intradetrusor injection in patients with overactive bladder.Methods:From April 2016 to December 2018, 17 tertiary hospitals were selected to participate in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Two phases of study were conducted: the primary phase and the extended phase. This study enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who had been inadequately managed by anticholinergic therapy (insufficient efficacy or intolerable side effects) and had spontaneous voiding with overactive bladder. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe cardiac, renal and hepatic disorders, patients with previous botulinum toxin treatment for 6 months or allergic to BTX-A, patients with urinary tract infections, patients with urinary stones, urinary tract tumors, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding tendency. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to BTX-A group and placebo control group in a ratio of 2∶1. Two groups of patients received 20 intradetrusor injections of BTX-A 100U or placebo at the depth of the submucosal muscle layer respectively under cystoscope, including 5 injections at the base of the bladder, 3 injections to the bladder triangle, 5 injections each to the left and right walls and 2 injections to the top, sparing the bladder neck. As a placebo control group, patients received same volume of placebo containing no BTX-A and only adjuvant freeze-dried preparations for injection with the same method. A combination of gelatin, sucrose, and dextran served as adjuvants. Average micturition times per 24 hours, urinary incontinence (UI) episodes per day, average micturition volume per day, OAB symptom score(OABSS), and quality of life (QOL) score were recorded at baseline and the 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week after treatment. The secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week, as well as the change from baseline in the OABSS, QOL score, average frequency of urgency and UI episodes per day, urgency score, average micturition volume per day at 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. Patients were followed for 12 weeks to assess adverse events (AEs). After assessed at week 12, if the micturition times has decreased less than 50% compared to baseline and the patient is willing to receive retreatment, then patients could enter the extended trial phase. In that phase, patients in both groups were injected with 100 units BTX-A from 12th week onwards and then followed up the same indicators for 12 weeks.Results:216 patients were enrolled in this trial (144 cases in the BTX-A group and 72 cases in the placebo control group). Baseline characteristics such as age (47.75±14.20 in the BTX-A group and 46.39±15.55 in the control group), sex (25 male/117 female in the BTX-A group and 10/61 in the control group), and disease duration (0.51 years in the BTX-A group and 0.60 years in the control group) were balanced between the two groups( P>0.05). A marked reduction from baseline in average micturition times per 24 hours was observed in all treatment groups at the 6th week and the reduction of the two groups was statistically different ( P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week decreased from baseline by 2.40(0.70, 4.60)times for the BTX-A group and 0.70(-1.00, 3.30) times for the placebo control group respectively, and the difference between the two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.003). The change rates of average micturition times per 24 hours from baseline at the 6th week of the two groups were (16±22)% and (8±25)% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.014). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week decreased by 2.00(0.00, 4.00)and 3.30(0.60, 5.03)for the BTX-A group, 1.00(-1.00, 3.00)and 1.70(-1.45, 3.85)for the placebo control group respectively. The difference between two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.038 and P=0.012); the changes of average urgency times per day for the BTX-A group and the control group at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week were 2.00(0.00, 4.30)and 2.40(0.30, 5.00), 3.00(0.30, 5.70)and 0.70(-1.30, 2.70), 0.70(-1.30, 3.00) and 1.35(-1.15, 3.50), respectively. There were significant differences between two groups at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week, ( P=0.010, P=0.003 and P=0.025, respectively). The OABSS of the BTX-A group and the control group at the 6th week decreased by 1.00(0.00, 4.00)and 0.50(-1.00, 2.00) compared with the baseline, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.003). 47 cases of BTX-A group and 34 cases of placebo control group entered the extended trial phase, and 40 and 28 cases completed the extended trial phase, respectively. The average micturition volume per 24 hours changed by -16.60(-41.60, -0.60)ml and -6.40(-22.40, 13.30)ml, (-35.67±54.41)ml and(-1.76±48.69)ml, (-36.14±41.51)ml and (-9.28±44.59)ml, (-35.85±43.35)ml and(-10.41±40.29)ml for two groups at the 12th, 14th, 18th and 24th week, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant at each follow-up time ( P=0.01, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in other parameters( P>0.05). However, adverse reactions after intradetrusor injection included increased residual urine volume (27 in the BTX-A group and 3 in the control group), dysuria (21 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), urinary infection (19 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), bladder neck obstruction (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), hematuria (3 in the BTX-A group and 1 in the control group), elevated alanine aminotransferase (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), etc. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the other adverse events between two groups except the increase of residual urine volume( P<0.05). In the primary trial phase, among the 27 cases with increased residual urine volume in BTA group, only 1 case (3.70%) with PVR more than 300 ml; the PVR of 3 patients in the placebo group was less than 100 ml. The increase of residual urine volume caused by the injection could be improved or disappeared with the passage of time. Conclusions:Intradetrusor injection of Chinese BTX-A improved the average micturition times per 24 hours, the average daily urgent micturition times, OABSS, and average micturition volume per time, and reduced the adverse effects in patients with overactive bladder.Chinese BTX-A at dose of 100U demonstrated durable efficacy and safety in the management of overactive bladder.

The metabolites of salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B in rats were analyzed and compared by ultra-high-perfor-mance liquid chromatography with linear ion trap-orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS). After the rats were administrated by gavage, plasma at different time points and urine within 24 hours were collected to be treated by solid phase extraction(SPE), then they were gradient eluted by Acquity UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) and 0.1% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) mobile phase system, and finally all biological samples of rats were analyzed under negative ion scanning mode. By obtaining the accurate relative molecular mass and multi-level mass spectrometry information of metabolites, combined with the characteristic cleavage law of the reference standard and literature reports, a total of 30 metabolites, including salvianolic acid A and B, were identified. Among them, there were 24 metabolites derived from salvianolic acid A, with the main metabolic pathways including ester bond cleavage, dehydroxylation, decarboxylation, hydrogenation, methylation, hydroxylation, sulfonation, glucuronidation, and their multiple reactions. There were 15 metabolites of salvianolic acid B, and the main biotransformation pathways were five-membered ring cracking, ester bond cleavage, decarboxylation, dehydroxylation, hydrogenation, methylation, sulfonation, glucuronidation, and their compound reactions. In this study, the cross-metabolic profile of salvianolic acid A and B was elucidated completely, which would provide reference for further studies on the basis of pharmacodynamic substances and the exploration of pharmacological mechanism.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; Caffeic Acids ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Lactates ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rats ; Technology

Objective: The study aims to explore the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis among students in Qinghai Province, to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of students tuberculosis. Methods: Data on tuberculosis among students from 2016 to 2019 in Qinghai province were collected and epidemiological characteristics were analyzed, the spatial distribution map were drawn by using ArcMap 10.8. Results: During 2016-2019, there were 2 691 reported cases of tuberculosis among students in Qinghai Province the reporting rate were 46.10/10 5, 68.50/10 5, 73.49/10 5, 85.96/10 5, increased year by year( χ 2=116.45, P <0.01). With a high incidence from March to September each year. The tuberculosis patients were mainly aged 18 years and above, with more reported female cases than male cases and more Tibetan cases. Most of students tuberculosis cases were reported in southern Qinghai, especially in Yushu and Guoluo areas, and sharp increase was observed in Xining during 2018 to 2019. Conclusion Students tuberculosis in Qinghai is still serious. Schools should strengthen education on tuberculosis prevention, especially those in southern Qinghai and Xining.

A method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/electrostatic field Obitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS) was established to comprehensively identify the metabolites of carnosic acid in rats. After oral gavage of carnosic acid CMC-Na suspension in rats, urine, plasma and feces samples were collected and pretreated by solid phase extraction(SPE). Acquity UPLC BEH C_(18 )column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) was used with 0.1% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase for the gradient elution. Biological samples were analyzed by quadrupole/electrostatic field Obitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry in positive and negative ion mode. Based on the accurate molecular mass, fragment ion information, and related literature reports, a total of 28 compounds(including carnosic acid) were finally identified in rat samples. As a result, the main metabolic pathways of carnosic acid in rats are oxidation, hydroxylation, methylation, glucuronide conjugation, sulfate conjugation, S-cysteine conjugation, glutathione conjugation, demethylation, decarbonylation and their composite reactions. The study showed that the metabolism of carnosic acid in rats could be efficiently and comprehensively clarified by using UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS, providing a reference for clarifying the material basis and metabolic mechanism of carnosic acid.
Abietanes ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rats ; Solid Phase Extraction