Objective To explore the role and molecular mechanism of major vault protein (MVP) in tumor-associated macrophages in the occurrence and development of liver cancer. Methods The expression of MVP in macrophages was analyzed by bioinformatics method and multi-fluorescent immunohistochemical staining. Mice with MVP deficiency in macrophages were constructed by Cre/LoxP recombinant enzyme system. The proliferation and migration abilities of tumor cells were detected by cloning formation and Transwell migration assays. The effect of MVP in macrophages on tumorigenesis and development was investigated by mouse primary liver cancer model and subcutaneous tumor transplantation model. The effect of MVP on the tumor microenvironment was investigated by multi-fluorescent immunohistochemical staining. The effect of MVP on CD8⁺ T cells was detected by cell co-culture, flow cytometry, qPCR, and ELISA. Results The high expression of MVP in tumor-associated macrophages. The downregulation of the expression of MVP in tumor-associated macrophages compared with para-carcinoma tissues. MVP deficiency in macrophages promoted the proliferation and migration of tumor cells (P<0.05), promoted the development of tumor in vivo (P<0.05), formed an immunosuppressive microenvironment and weakened CD8⁺ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity (P<0.05). Conclusion MVP deficiency in macrophages can promote the occurrence and development of liver cancer by suppressing the function of CD8⁺ T cells.

Objective To investigate differences in postoperative analgesia efficacy,inflammatory response,and recovery between intraplanar(in-plane)and extraplanar(out-of-plane)thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB)techniques under ultrasound guidance in patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer,thereby providing evidence for selecting the optimal block technique in clinical practice.Methods Eighty patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer between March and September 2022 were randomly assigned to an intraplanar group(n=40)or an extraplanar group(n=40).Before induction of anesthesia,both groups received 10 mL of 0.33％ropivacaine injected into the T4 and T6 paravertebral spaces under ultrasound guidance,using their respective in-plane or out-of-plane techniques.The following parameters were compared between the groups:nerve block procedure duration,onset time of block,visual analogue scale(VAS)pain scores within 48 hours postoperatively,incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV),and serum inflammatory and stress markers including C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),cortisol(Cor),and norepinephrine(NE).Results No significant differences were observed between the groups in block procedure duration,onset time,or analgesic duration(P＞0.05).Compared with the extraplanar group,the intraplanar group demonstrated a significantly reduced incidence of PONV(15.0％vs.35.0％,P=0.039)and significantly lower serum levels of CRP,IL-6,and Cor at 24 hours postoperatively(P＜0.05).No pleural punctures occurred in the intraplanar group(0％),whereas the extraplanar group had a 15.0％incidence rate.However,the overall complication rate in both groups showed no statistically significant difference(P=0.060).Conclusion Both ultrasound-guided in-plane and out-of-plane TPVB techniques provide effective postoperative analgesia for thoracoscopic radical lung cancer surgery.However,the in-plane technique significantly reduces the incidence of PONV and postoperative inflammatory responses while demonstrating higher operational safety,making it the preferred clinical choice.

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) in patients with stage IIB cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy (rCCRT).Methods:Clinical data of 115 patients with stage IIB CSCC who underwent rCCRT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2017 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Fourteen clinical factors, including ACCI, were assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The optimal cut-off value for ACCI was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and patients were divided into the high ACCI (ACCI > 3) and low ACCI (ACCI ≤ 3) groups. Survival differences between two groups were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared by log-rank tests.Results:Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that ACCI was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS ( HR=3.405, 95% CI: 1.108-10.467, P=0.032; HR=4.732, 95% CI: 1.363-16.425, P=0.014). Significant differences were observed in PFS and OS between the high and low ACCI groups ( P=0.023 and 0.003, respectively). The median PFS was 44 months in the high ACCI group and 56 months in the low ACCI group. The 2-year and 3-year PFS rates were 81.9% and 80.1% in the high ACCI group, and 94.4% and 94.4% in the low ACCI group, respectively. The median OS was 46 months in the high ACCI group and 56 months in the low ACCI group. The 2-year and 3-year OS rates were 88.3% and 84.7% in the high ACCI group, and 94.4% and 94.4% in the low ACCI group, respectively. Conclusions:For patients with stage IIB CSCC receiving rCCRT, ACCI is an independent and significant prognostic factor, with patients in the high ACCI group exhibiting worse prognosis.

Objective To investigate differences in postoperative analgesia efficacy,inflammatory response,and recovery between intraplanar(in-plane)and extraplanar(out-of-plane)thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB)techniques under ultrasound guidance in patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer,thereby providing evidence for selecting the optimal block technique in clinical practice.Methods Eighty patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer between March and September 2022 were randomly assigned to an intraplanar group(n=40)or an extraplanar group(n=40).Before induction of anesthesia,both groups received 10 mL of 0.33％ropivacaine injected into the T4 and T6 paravertebral spaces under ultrasound guidance,using their respective in-plane or out-of-plane techniques.The following parameters were compared between the groups:nerve block procedure duration,onset time of block,visual analogue scale(VAS)pain scores within 48 hours postoperatively,incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV),and serum inflammatory and stress markers including C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),cortisol(Cor),and norepinephrine(NE).Results No significant differences were observed between the groups in block procedure duration,onset time,or analgesic duration(P＞0.05).Compared with the extraplanar group,the intraplanar group demonstrated a significantly reduced incidence of PONV(15.0％vs.35.0％,P=0.039)and significantly lower serum levels of CRP,IL-6,and Cor at 24 hours postoperatively(P＜0.05).No pleural punctures occurred in the intraplanar group(0％),whereas the extraplanar group had a 15.0％incidence rate.However,the overall complication rate in both groups showed no statistically significant difference(P=0.060).Conclusion Both ultrasound-guided in-plane and out-of-plane TPVB techniques provide effective postoperative analgesia for thoracoscopic radical lung cancer surgery.However,the in-plane technique significantly reduces the incidence of PONV and postoperative inflammatory responses while demonstrating higher operational safety,making it the preferred clinical choice.

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) in patients with stage IIB cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy (rCCRT).Methods:Clinical data of 115 patients with stage IIB CSCC who underwent rCCRT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2017 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Fourteen clinical factors, including ACCI, were assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The optimal cut-off value for ACCI was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and patients were divided into the high ACCI (ACCI > 3) and low ACCI (ACCI ≤ 3) groups. Survival differences between two groups were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared by log-rank tests.Results:Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that ACCI was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS ( HR=3.405, 95% CI: 1.108-10.467, P=0.032; HR=4.732, 95% CI: 1.363-16.425, P=0.014). Significant differences were observed in PFS and OS between the high and low ACCI groups ( P=0.023 and 0.003, respectively). The median PFS was 44 months in the high ACCI group and 56 months in the low ACCI group. The 2-year and 3-year PFS rates were 81.9% and 80.1% in the high ACCI group, and 94.4% and 94.4% in the low ACCI group, respectively. The median OS was 46 months in the high ACCI group and 56 months in the low ACCI group. The 2-year and 3-year OS rates were 88.3% and 84.7% in the high ACCI group, and 94.4% and 94.4% in the low ACCI group, respectively. Conclusions:For patients with stage IIB CSCC receiving rCCRT, ACCI is an independent and significant prognostic factor, with patients in the high ACCI group exhibiting worse prognosis.

Objective To explore the main factors affecting the MV imager projection offset in the machine performance check(MPC)for Varian Vital Beam linear accelerator.Methods The MV imager projection offsets in the MPC after repairing the MV imaging arm encoder of shoulder motor,locking the treatment couch,and isocenter calibration were analyzed.Results MPC results revealed that the MV imager projection offset after repairing the MV imaging arm encoder of shoulder motor was(0.310±0.001)mm,significantly less than(0.450±0.010)mm in the blank group.The difference in MV imager projection offset between the isocenter calibration group and the blank group was trivial.The MV imager projection offset after locking the treatment couch was(0.240±0.030)mm,significantly less than(0.450±0.010)mm in the blank group.When MPC was carried out after repairing the imaging arm encoder and performing isocenter calibration,there was no significant statistical difference in MV imager center offset between the locked and unlocked treatment couch.Conclusion The damage of MV imaging arm encoder of shoulder motor is the main factor causing abnormal MV imager projection offsets.Locking the treatment couch before the MV imaging center check can reduce the results,but it cannot eliminate the MV imager projection offset.

Objective To explore the role and molecular mechanism of Lnc-BM in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC). Methods GC tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues of 36 GC patients were collected, and the expression of Lnc-BM was detected by RT-qPCR. Colony formation and CCK-8 assays were used to investigate the proliferation of GC cells. The migration and invasion properties of GC cells were investigated via Transwell assay. RNA pull-down assay was applied to confirm the interaction between FASTK and Lnc-BM. Western blot assay was used to detect FASTK protein level in Lnc-BM overexpressing or knockdown cells. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity and the related proteins expression levels were detected by Seahorse and Western blot assays, respectively. Lnc-BM stably overexpressing GC cells were constructed and then injected subcutaneously into nude mice. The tumor growth was observed. Results Lnc-BM was highly expressed in GC tissues compared with their paired adjacent normal tissues. Lnc-BM overexpression significantly promoted GC cells proliferation migration and invasion, while Lnc-BM knockdown inhibited GC cells proliferation, migration and invasion (P < 0.05). RNA pull-down experiment demonstrated that Lnc-BM can directly bind to FASTK. Western blot results indicated that overexpression of Lnc-BM increased the protein levels of FASTK, while knockdown of Lnc-BM inhibited the expression of FASTK (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, overexpression of Lnc-BM increased the levels of mitochondria associated proteins, such as MT-ND6 and TOM20 (P < 0.05). Seahorse results indicated that overexpression of Lnc-BM enhanced mitochondrial respiratory capacity (P < 0.05). Knocking down FASTK in Lnc-BM stably overexpressing cells can reverse the increase in mitochondrial respiratory capacity caused by Lnc-BM overexpression (P < 0.05). In vivo, the results of subcutaneously implanted tumor model in nude mouse showed that Lnc-BM overexpression promoted the tumor growth (P < 0.05). Conclusion Lnc-BM promotes GC progression by regulating mitochondrial respiratory function through the FASTK/MT-ND6 axis.

Objective To observe the value of augmented reality(AR)navigation system for assisting CT-guided puncture of pulmonary nodules in dog models.Methods Five healthy dogs were selected,and 4 target lung rings were implanted in each dog to build pulmonary nodule models.Deferring to crossover design,CT-guided punctures were performed with or without AR navigation 2 and 4 weeks after successful modeling,respectively,while punctures with AR navigation were regarded as AR group and the others as conventional group,respectively.The time duration of puncturing,the times of CT scanning,of needle adjustment,and the deviation distance between needle pinpoint to the center of pulmonary nodule shown on three-dimensional reconstruction were compared between groups.Results The duration time of puncture in AR group and conventional group was(13.62±5.11)min and(20.16±4.76)min,respectively.In AR group,the times of CT scanning,of needle adjustment,and the deviation distance was 2.40±0.50,2.75±0.44 and(2.94±1.92)mm,respectively,while in conventional group was 3.10±0.64,3.70±0.57 and(4.90±3.38)mm,respectively.The introduction of AR navigation was helpful to shortening the duration of puncture,reducing times of CT scanning and needle adjustment,also decreasing positioning error of needle pinpoint(all P＜0.05).In contrast,the variance of puncture sequences and dogs had no obvious effect on the results(both P＞0.05).Conclusion AR navigation system could improve accuracy and efficiency in CT-guided puncture of pulmonary nodules in dog models.

The occurrence of gastric cancer is closely related to environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. Currently, RNA modification is a research frontier and hotspot in the field of epigenetics. With the advancements in analytical chemistry and high-throughput sequencing technologies, new technologies and methods of exploring RNA modification are constantly being presented. Numerous studies have confirmed the involvement of RNA modifications in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Recent studies have shown that RNA modifications such as m6A, m5C, and ac4C regulate the malignant progression of various tumors, including gastric cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and leukemia. This article systematically reviews the research status and mechanism of different RNA modifications in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer, as well as discusses its potential value in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.

Background Air pollutants PM_2.5 and its adsorbed metal elements are important factors affecting public health. Objective To explore the distribution characteristics and sources of metal elements in atmospheric PM_2.5 in Lanzhou from 2019 to 2020, and to assess the health risks of metal elements to different groups of residents through inhalation. Methods From January 2019 to December 2020 in two districts of Lanzhou City (Chengguan District and Xigu District), regular PM_2.5 and metal elements [antimony (Sb), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and thallium (Tl)] were regularly monitored, and their concentrations were described by the median (M) and 25^th and 75^th percentiles (P₂₅, P₇₅) as not following a normal distribution (because the detection rates of the five elements Be, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Se were less than 70%, the five elements were not included in subsequent analysis), and then compared with the secondary concentration limits in the Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095-2012). The differences between the medians of the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test, and the differences among the medians of multiple groups were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test; the enrichment factor (EF) method and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the pollution degree of the metals and their sources; the health risks of five non-carcinogenic metals (Sb, Al, Pb, Mn, and Tl) and two carcinogenic metals (As and Cd) in PM_2.5 were evaluated by hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (LCR) model and the non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, respectively. Results The PM_2.5 concentrations [M (P₂₅, P₇₅)] in Lanzhou City were 38.50 (26.00, 65.00) and 41.00 (29.00, 63.10) μg·m⁻³ in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (Z=−0.989, P > 0.05). The average levels of the metal elements from high to low were: Al > Pb > Mn > As > Cd > Sb > Tl, and the annual average concentration of each metal element in 2019 was higher than that in 2020 (P<0.05). The M ( P₂₅, P₇₅) of PM_2.5 concentrations in Chengguan and Xigu districts were 52.98 (17.00, 61.00) and 55.40 (17.00, 67.00) μg·m⁻³, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P<0.05); the concentrations of Sb and Al in Chengguan District were lower than those in Xigu District (P<0.05), and the concentrations of other metal elements were not different between the two areas (P>0.05). There were seasonal differences in the concentrations of PM_2.5 and seven metal elements in Lanzhou City (except P_Al=0.007, the other P_s < 0.001). The results of the enrichment factor method showed that the EF values of the six metals (Sb, Al, As, Cd, Pb and Tl) were all greater than 1. Among them, except As, the EF values of other metal elements were all greater than 10, and the EF values of Al and Cd were both greater than 100. The results of principal component analysis showed that the variance contributions of the three principal components were 45.61%, 24.22%, and 14.42%, and the cumulative contribution reached 84.25%. The principal component 1 included Pb, As, Cd, and Sb, the principal component 2 included Al and Mn, and the principal component 3 contained Tl. The non-carcinogenic risks of the five metals were, in descending order, Al > Mn > Pb > Tl > Sb, among which the HQ values of the remaining four metals were less than 1 for adults and children, except the HQ value of Al for adults, which was greater than 1. The ILC values of carcinogenic metal As for adult males, adult females, and children were 2.68×10⁻⁵, 2.51×10⁻⁵, and 1.45×10⁻⁵, respectively; the ILC values of carcinogenic metal Cd for adult males, adult females, and children were 1.53×10⁻⁶, 1.43×10⁻⁶, and 8.26×10⁻⁷, respectively. Conclusion There is pollution of atmospheric PM_2.5 and its adsorbed metal elements in Lanzhou. As and Cd elements may pose potential carcinogenic risks to the residents.