Objective To investigate the effects of Ras-related protein Rab-2B(RAB2B)on the biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells and elucidate its underlying mechanism.Methods PANC-1 cells,which exhibit relatively high RAB2B expression,and BXPC-3 cells,which display relatively low RAB2B expression,were selected from five pancreatic cancer cell lines.RAB2B-siRNA and pcDNA3.1-RAB2B plasmids were transfected into PANC-1 and BXPC-3 cells using a cell transfection technique.The CCK-8 assay was employed to evaluate the prolif-erative capacity of pancreatic cancer cells following RAB2B intervention.Wound healing and Transwell chamber assays were utilized to assess the migratory and invasive capabilities of pancreatic cancer cells.Additionally,the mRNA and protein expression levels of RAB2B,NF-κB,and Fibronectin 1(FN1)were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot(WB),respectively.Results RAB2B mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in PANC-1 cells following transfection(P<0.05).CCK-8 assay results demonstrated that the proliferative capacity of PANC-1 cells was markedly reduced(P<0.05),and the wound-healing ability was substantially impaired(P<0.01)upon RAB2B knockdown.Transwell assays revealed a significant decrease in cell migration(P<0.01),while Western blot analysis indicated that the expression levels of phosphorylated p65 and FN1 were notably diminished(P<0.01).Conversely,overexpression of RAB2B reversed these aforementioned alterations.Conclusions Knockdown of RAB2B in PANC-1 cells significantly suppresses cell proliferation and migration,whereas overexpression of RAB2B in BXPC-3 cells markedly promotes these processes.This effect is likely mediated through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the subsequent regulation of FN1 expression.

Objective To investigate the effects of Ras-related protein Rab-2B(RAB2B)on the biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells and elucidate its underlying mechanism.Methods PANC-1 cells,which exhibit relatively high RAB2B expression,and BXPC-3 cells,which display relatively low RAB2B expression,were selected from five pancreatic cancer cell lines.RAB2B-siRNA and pcDNA3.1-RAB2B plasmids were transfected into PANC-1 and BXPC-3 cells using a cell transfection technique.The CCK-8 assay was employed to evaluate the prolif-erative capacity of pancreatic cancer cells following RAB2B intervention.Wound healing and Transwell chamber assays were utilized to assess the migratory and invasive capabilities of pancreatic cancer cells.Additionally,the mRNA and protein expression levels of RAB2B,NF-κB,and Fibronectin 1(FN1)were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot(WB),respectively.Results RAB2B mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in PANC-1 cells following transfection(P<0.05).CCK-8 assay results demonstrated that the proliferative capacity of PANC-1 cells was markedly reduced(P<0.05),and the wound-healing ability was substantially impaired(P<0.01)upon RAB2B knockdown.Transwell assays revealed a significant decrease in cell migration(P<0.01),while Western blot analysis indicated that the expression levels of phosphorylated p65 and FN1 were notably diminished(P<0.01).Conversely,overexpression of RAB2B reversed these aforementioned alterations.Conclusions Knockdown of RAB2B in PANC-1 cells significantly suppresses cell proliferation and migration,whereas overexpression of RAB2B in BXPC-3 cells markedly promotes these processes.This effect is likely mediated through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the subsequent regulation of FN1 expression.

Objective To analyze risk factors of acute respiratory failure(ARF)in patients with hypertriglyceridemia acute pancreatitis(HTG-AP)and construct a risk prediction model.Methods A total of 222 HTG-AP patients were included in this study and divided into the non-ARF group(176 cases)and the ARF group(46 cases)according to diagnostic guidelines for ARF.Clinical data of the two groups were compared and the predictive factors were screened.These selected factors were then utilized in a multivariate Logistic regression analysis to construct a Logistic regression model.Subsequent evaluation of the model′s predictive ability,accuracy and clinical utility was conducted through ROC,curve analysis,calibration plot examination and decision curve analysis(DCA),respectively.Results Compared with the non-ARF group,the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL)-C and albumin(ALB)were decreased in the ARF group(P＜0.05),while the levels of creatinine(Cr),urea nitrogen(BUN),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and C-reactive protein(CRP)were increased,and the incidence of pleural fluid and ascites was also increased(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that higher levels of Cr and AST,lower levels of ALB,HDL-C and ascites were independent risk factors for HTG-AP complicated ARF(P＜0.05).Based on these results,a column-line prediction model for HTG-AP complicated ARF was established.After internal verification,the area under curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of the nomogram model was 0.952(95%CI:0.923-0.981),the Youden index was 0.808 and the sensitivity and specificity were 93.33%and 87.43%,respectively.The calibration curve showed that the probability of HTG-AP concurrent ARF predicted by the model was in good agreement with the actual probability.The DCA curve showed that the model had certain clinical value.Conclusion The nomogram prediction model combined could provide a scheme for the clinical prevention of HTG-AP complicated with ARF.

Background and Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that leads to the progressive destruction ofarticular cartilage. Current clinical therapeutic strategies are moderately effective at relieving OA-associated pain but cannot induce chondrocyte differentiation or achieve cartilage regeneration. We investigated the ability of wedelolactone, a biologically active natural product that occurs in Eclipta alba (false daisy), to promote chondrogenic differentiation. Methods: and Results: Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining assays were used to evaluate the effects of wedelolactone on the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). RNA sequencing, microRNA (miRNA) sequencing, and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analyses were performed to explore the mechanism by which wedelolactone promotes the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that wedelolactone facilitates the chondrogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs and rat bone-marrow MSCs. Moreover, the forkhead box O (FOXO) signaling pathway was upregulated by wedelolactone during chondrogenic differentiation, and a FOXO1 inhibitor attenuated the effect of wedelolactone on chondrocyte differentiation. We determined that wedelolactone reduces enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation of the promoter region of FOXO1 to upregulate its transcription. Additionally, we found that wedelolactone represses miR-1271-5p expression, and that miR-1271-5p post-transcriptionally suppresses the expression of FOXO1 that is dependent on the binding of miR-1271-5p to the FOXO1 3’-untranscribed region. Conclusions These results indicate that wedelolactone suppresses the activity of EZH2 to facilitate the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs by activating the FOXO1 signaling pathway. Wedelolactone may therefore improve cartilage regeneration in diseases characterized by inflammatory tissue destruction, such as OA.

Objective:To apply endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) elastography to the evaluation of EUS-guided fine needle injection (EUS-FNI) for insulinoma.Methods:Clinical data of 21 patients with insulinoma who were treated with EUS-FNI at the digestive endoscopy center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from April 2016 to March 2021 were collected. Some patients underwent EUS real-time elastography before and after the treatment. The minimum blood glucose, synchronous insulin, synchronous C peptide, elastic imaging color pattern, elastic score, a-elasticity, elastic imaging strain rate before and after the treatment were analyzed.Results:Among the 21 cases with 24 lesions, there were 5 males and 16 females. There were totally 39 times of injection, where 8 cases underwent single injection, and 13 cases repeated injection. After the operation, patients' symptoms improved, the minimum blood glucose increased in different degree [2.59 (1.95, 3.82) mmol/L VS 1.50 (1.00, 2.00) mmol/L, Z=-4.278, P<0.001], the level of synchronous insulin [96.69 (44.80, 249.30) pmol/L VS 159.10 (100.30, 373.70) pmol/L, Z=-1.445, P=0.148] and C peptide [3.56 (2.98, 8.05) ng/mL VS 6.16 (3.74, 11.47) ng/mL, Z=-1.825, P=0.068] decreased, but no statistical difference compared with those before the operation. Sixteen cases underwent preoperative endoscopic elastography, with elastic score of 2.00 (2.00, 3.00), and 15 cases underwent postoperative elastography with elastic score of 5.00 (5.00, 5.00). Preoperative a-elasticity was recorded in 15 cases with value of 0.16 (0.08, 0.30), and postoperative a-elasticity was recorded in 12 cases with value of 0.07 (0.05, 0.18). The preoperative strain rate were recorded in 14 cases with 2.28 (1.67, 4.38), and postoperative strain rate were recorded in 12 cases with 5.16 (2.08, 8.17). Compared with those before the operation, the postoperative elastic score increased ( Z=-4.694, P<0.001), the a-elasticity decreased ( Z=-2.099, P=0.036), and the difference in strain ratio was not statistically significant ( Z=-1.492, P=0.136). Meanwhile, the lesions of insulinoma became harder, the elastic imaging mode changed from green to blue. There were no complications such as abdominal pain, fever, or pancreatitis during and after the operation. Conclusion:EUS-FNI is safe and effective for the treatment of insulinoma. Endoscopic elastography, as a new means to evaluate the efficacy of the operation, can be used to evaluate lesion ablation and guide injection therapy.

Objective:To compare the value of Liaoning scoring system, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), model for end-stage liver disease-Na (MELD-Na) and Blatchford score in predicting high-risk esophageal varices (EVs), hemorrhage or re-hemorrhage within 1 year and blood transfusion treatment in cirrhotic patients.Methods:Clinical data of 170 patients with esophageal varices confirmed by endoscopy from January 2018 to September 2019 were recorded. Liaoning score, MELD, MELD-Na score and Blatchford score were calculated when the first endoscopy was performed. These patients were followed up, and hemorrhage or re-hemorrhage within 1 year was recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the accuracy of 4 scoring systems in predicting high-risk EVs, hemorrhage or re-hemorrhage within 1 year after the first endoscopy and blood transfusion. Cut-off values were obtained, and groups divided by cut-off values were compared for the proportion of high-risk EVs and hemorrhage or re-hemorrhage.Results:The cut-off value of high-risk EVs in patients with cirrhosis predicted by Liaoning score was 0.45, and the AUC was 0.702 (95% CI:0.612-0.781, P<0.01), superior to MELD, MELD-Na and Blatchford score (AUC were 0.593, 0.648, 0.610, respectively). The proportion of high-risk EVs in Liaoning score ≥0.45 and <0.45 were 71.8% (89/124) and 34.8% (16/46) with significant differences ( χ2=19.442, P<0.01). The AUC of Liaoning score for predicting hemorrhage or re-hemorrhage within 1 year was 0.680 (95% CI: 0.595-0.765, P<0.01), superior to MELD, MELD-Na and Blatchford score (AUC were 0.605,0.615,0.598, respectively). AUC of Blatchford score for predicting blood transfusion was 0.775 (95% CI:0.687-0.863, P<0.01), superior to MELD, MELD-Na and Liaoning score (AUC were 0.653, 0.719, 0.631, respectively). Conclusion:Liaoning score can predict high-risk EVs, hemorrhage or re-hemorrhage within 1 year after the first endoscopy in patients with cirrhosis and is superior to MELD, MELD-Na and Blatchford score. Blatchford score can effectively predict whether cirrhosis patients with EVs need blood transfusion.

Objective:To study the characteristics and management of peripancreatic effusion in chronic pancreatitis.Methods:Data of 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 141 acute pancreatitis admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2018 to December 2019 were collected. According to the Atlanta classification, the peripancreatic effusion was divided into four categories: acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC), acute necrotic collection(ANC), pancreatic pseudocyst (PPC) and walled-off necrosis (WON). The general information, clinical manifestations, medical history, laboratory examination indicators and treatment of the four types of patients were recorded and analyzed.Results:Among the 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis complicated with peripancreatic effusion, 27 patients (84.4%) were diagnosed as having PPC, 3 patients (9.4%) WON and 2 (6.2%) APFC. No chronic pancreatitis with ANC was found. The incidence of PPC was higher in patients with chronic pancreatitis than those with acute pancreatitis [84.4% (27/32) VS 31.2% (44/141), P<0.01], and the APFC was lower [6.2% (2/32) VS 24.8% (35/141), P=0.021]. The incidence of ANC was also lower [0.0% (0/32) VS 36.9% (52/141), P<0.01], and there was no significant difference in the incidence of WON [9.4% (3/32) VS 7.1% (10/141), P=0.944]. Compared with patients with peripancreatic effusion of chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis showed a higher proportion of clinical manifestations: fever [19.1% (27/141) VS 3.1% (1/32)], nausea [59.6% (84/141) VS 21.9% (7/32)], vomit [56.7% (80/141) VS 21.9% (7/32)], tenderness [79.4% (112/141) VS 34.4% (11/32)], rebounding pain [42.6% (60/141) VS 0.0% (0/32)], increase of C reactive protein [95.7% (135/141) VS 40.6% (13/32)] ( P< 0.05), and the mean hospital stay was longer (13 days VS 11 days, P=0.048). Imaging examination showed that the proportion of lesions >5 cm in diameter in PPC patients with acute pancreatitis was higher than those with chronic pancreatitis [70.5% (31/44) VS 29.6% (8/27), P=0.001]. WON in chronic pancreatitis patients was limited to the pancreas [3/3 VS 1/10, P =0.014]. In terms of treatment strategies, 25 patients (78.1%) received conservative treatment in 32 chronic pancreatitis. There was no significant difference in treatment strategy between patients with acute pancreatitis and those with chronic pancreatitis. Conclusion:In the peripancreatic effusion of chronic pancreatitis, PPC is the most common. Peripancreatic effusion is mainly treated conservatively. There is no difference in treatment among different types of peripancreatic effusion in chronic pancreatitis. However, compared with chronic pancreatitis, peripancreatic effusion in acute pancreatitis may need more active intervention.

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second common tumor in the hepatobiliary system,with clinical features of biliary stricture,difficult early diagnosis and poor prognosis.High-resolution endoscopic ultrasonography can observe closely the bile duct tree and adjacent organs.In this article,authors reviewed the application of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective To study the diagnostic value of narrow-band imaging ( NBI) combined with endoscopic ultrasonography ( EUS) for ampullary tumors. Methods A total of 21 patients suspected with ampullary lesions by imaging or endoscopic examination from December 2015 to March 2017 were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients underwent NBI and EUS, and 20 patients underwent biopsy. The type of ampullary tumor was predicted by preoperative examination, and appropriate treatment methods were chosen. The final diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy, surgical pathology, and clinical follow-up for more than 6 months. The accuracy of NBI combined with EUS and biopsy in diagnosis of ampullary malignant tumors was calculated according to the gold standard. The Chi-square test was used to compare diagnostic accuracies. Results The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of NBI combined with EUS in diagnosis of ampullary malignancies were 94. 1％ (16/17), 100. 0％ (4/4), 95. 2％ (20/21), 100. 0％ (16/16), and 80. 0％ (4/5), respectively. The corresponding indicators of preoperative biopsy were 41. 2％ ( 7/17) , 100. 0％ ( 3/3) , 50. 0％ ( 10/20) , 100. 0％ ( 7/7) , and 23. 1％( 3/13) , respectively. The accuracy of NBI combined with EUS in diagnosing ampullary malignant tumor was significantly higher compared with preoperative biopsy ( P=0. 004) . Conclusion NBI combined with EUS can more accurately predict benign or malignant ampullary tumor, and better guide the choice of surgical methods compared with preoperative biopsy.

Objective To evaluate measurement of the submucosal thickness with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for activity of Crohn disease (CD).Methods Ten patients with active stage of CD and 10 healthy controls (HC) underwent EUS.Simple endoscopic score for Crohn disease(SES-CD)and submucosal thickness at the most severe lesions were measured and recorded.Submucosal thickness of the same region in CD patients were measured at remissive stage.In order to analyze the relationship between submucosal thickness and the stage of CD, submucosal thickness were compared among patients at active stage of CD, remissive stage of CD and HC.And the cut-off value of submucosal thickness was calculated to diagnose the stage of CD.Results The mean submucosal thicknesses of active stage and remissive stage of CD were 6.48±1.95 mm and 2.47±1.08 mm,respectively (P<0.01).The correlation analysis showed that submucosal thickness had a positive correlation with Crohn disease activity index(CDAI)(r=0.708,P<0.01) and SES-CD(r=0.807,P<0.01).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used for 10 cases of CD patients and the area under the curve was 0.985(P<0.01).The cut-off value of submucosal thickness to diagnose active stage of CD was 3.85 mm, and the sensitivity and specificity reached 100% and 90% respectively.The Youden index was 0.9.Conclusion Measurement of gastrointestinal submucosal thickness by EUS could contribute to evaluate the stage of CD and to guide clinical treatment.