Purpose: Lung cancer is frequently observed as a second primary malignancy following gastric cancer, yet the genetic causality between them remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the causal relationship between gastric and lung cancers using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Materials and Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with gastric and lung cancers were selected from genome-wide association study in East Asian and European populations as instrumental variables. The causal effects between gastric and lung cancers were evaluated using univariable and multivariable MR analysis, with the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method serving as the primary criterion. Heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the robustness of the findings. Results: Univariable MR analysis demonstrated that genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer in the European population was significantly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (IVW: odds ratio [OR], 1.285; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072 to 1.541; p=6.83E-03), which was consistently validated in the East Asian population (IVW: OR, 1.356; 95% CI, 1.114 to 1.651; p=2.40E-03). Multivariable MR analysis further indicated that the significant positive causal relationship between gastric cancer and lung cancer persisted in both populations after adjusting for confounding factors (all p < 0.05). Conversely, no significant causal relationship was observed for the risk of developing gastric cancer following the diagnosis of lung cancer in either population (p > 0.05). Conclusion This study confirms that genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer increases the risk of lung cancer. This finding provides a theoretical basis for exploring the underlying biological mechanisms and suggests that enhancing lung cancer screening in patients with gastric cancer may be necessary to improve patient prognosis.

Dysfunction of anti-tumor immune responses is crucial for cancer progression. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), which can potentiate T cell responses, is an effective strategy for the normalization of host anti-tumor immunity. In recent years, immune checkpoints, expressed on both tumor cells and immune cells, have been identified; some of them have exhibited potential druggability and have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical treatment. However, limited responses and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) cannot be ignored. This review outlines the development and applications of ICBs, potential strategies for overcoming resistance, and future directions for ICB-based cancer immunotherapy.
Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Animals

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of precise mechanical thrombectomy based on ABC 2D scale in acute intracranial large artery occlusion stroke (ALVOs). Methods:A prospective study was performed. Two hundred and two patients with ALVOs accepted early mechanical thrombectomy in Department of Neurology, Maoming Clinical School of Guangdong Medical University from January 2021 to February 2022 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into experimental group ( n=102) and control group ( n=100). Stent retriever partially retracted with intermediate catheter for mechanical thrombectomy (SWIM) was the first choice for patients in control group. ABC 2D scale was used to prejudge the pathogenesis of patients in experimental group: patients with scores of 0-3 were considered as having embolic occlusion and a direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) was the first choice, and SWIM would be chosen if suction catheter could not be in place; patients with scores of 4-7 were considered as having intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis occlusion and SWIM was the first choice. The clinical data, surgical effectiveness, surgical safety, and good prognosis rate 90 d after mechanical thrombectomy (modified Rankin scale scores of 0-2 as good prognosis) of the 2 groups were compared. Results:Experimental group had significantly shorter time from puncture to recanalization (51.0[35.0, 78.5] min vs. 67.0[45.0, 100.0] min), and statistically lower NIHSS scores 24 h after mechanical thrombectomy (10.00[4.75, 16.25] vs. 13.00[8.00, 19.00]), significantly higher good prognosis rate 90 d after mechanical thrombectomy (69.6% vs. 46.0%), statistically lower mortality 90 d after mechanical thrombectomy (3.9% vs. 13.0%) compared with control group ( P<0.05). No significant differences were noted in first-pass effect rate, successful vascular revascularization rate, or incidences of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and ectopic embolization between the control group and experimental group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Patients with ALVOs accepted early mechanical thrombectomy can have shorter time from puncture to vascular recanalization and better prognosis after etiologically prejudging by ABC 2D scale for thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the repair method of type Ⅱc injury in the lateral meniscus popliteal tendon area based on the porcine knee joint. METHODS: Eighteen commercially available fresh porcine knee joints were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n=6). After preparing a type Ⅱc injury in the lateral meniscus popliteal tendon area, and the anterior (group A), posterior (group B), or anterior and posterior (group C) of the popliteal hiatus (PH) was sutured by vertical mattress. The tension meter was used to apply gradient tensions of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 N along the tibial plateau horizontally, respectively, to pull the midpoint of the lateral meniscus popliteal tendon area. The displacement values before modeling, after modeling, and after suture were recorded. The reduction value of lateral meniscus displacement and reduction rate after suture were calculated and compared between groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups ( P>0.05) in the displacement values before modeling, after modeling, and after suture under different tensions. There was no significant difference between groups A and C ( P>0.05) in the reduction value of lateral meniscus displacement and reduction rate after suture under different tensions. The reduction value of lateral meniscus displacement and reduction rate after suture in group B were lower than those in groups A and C. The reduction value of lateral meniscus displacement under tension of 2 N and the reduction rates under tensions of 2, 4, and 6 N between groups A and B showed significant differences ( P<0.05). The reduction value of lateral meniscus displacement and the reduction rate under tensions of 2, 4, and 6 N between groups B and C showed significant differences ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Suturing the anterior area of PH is the key to repairing type Ⅱc injury of lateral meniscus popliteal tendon area.
Animals ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Menisci, Tibial/surgery* ; Swine ; Tendons ; Tibia

Aim To investigate the role of ATP-sensi-tive potassium channels-Akt pathway in exogenous hy-drogen sulfide( H2 S) inhibiting the high glucose( HG)-induced injury in H9c2 cardiac cells. Methods The expression level of Akt protein was tested by Western blot assay. The cell viability was measured by cell counter kit-8(CCK-8 assay). The number of apoptotic cells was tested by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining fol-lowed by photofluorography. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) were detected by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography. Mi-tochondrial membrane potential ( MMP ) was examined by JC-1 staining followed by photofluorography. Results H9c2 cells were treated with 35 mmol·L-1 glucose (high glucose, HG) for 0 ~24 h respectively. After treating for 3 h, the expression level of phosphorated ( p )-Akt protein began to be obviously reduced, the maximum reduced expression level was observed after the cells were exposed to HG for 24 h. Pretreatment of the cells with 50 μmol · L-1 pinacidil ( Pin, a KATP channel opener) or 400 μmol·L-1 NaHS( a donor of H2 S) prior to exposure to HG considerably blocked the down regulation of p-Akt expression level induced by HG. However, pretreatment with 1 mmol · L-1 KATP channel blocker glibenclamide( Gli) obviously attenua-ted the inhibitory effect of NaHS on HG-induced down-regulation of p-Akt expression level. On the other hand, the protective effects of NaHS against the HG-induced cardiomyocyte injury were markedly blocked by 30 μmol·L-1 Ly294002(an inhibitor of Akt), as indicated by the decrease in cell viability and MMP dissipation as well as the increases in the number of apoptotic cells and ROS generation. Conclution KATP channels-Akt pathway mediates the protective effect of H2 S against the HG-induced cardiac injury.

AIM: To investigate whether Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription ( JAK/STAT) signaling pathway mediates high glucose-induced damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs ) . METHODS:The cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay.The expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, caspase-9 and en-dothelial nitric oxide synthase ( eNOS) were detected by Western blot .The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were tested by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography .Mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) was measured by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorography .RESULTS:Treatment of HUVECs with high glucose (40 mmol/L glucose) for 6~12 h enhanced the protein level of phosphorylated JAK 2, peaking at 9 h.Treatment of the cells with high glucose for 6~12 h also increased the protein level of p-STAT3 with the peak value at 12 h.Pretreatment with the inhibitor of JAK/STAT pathway AG490 for 1 h before exposure of the HUVECs to high glucose significantly inhibi-ted the high glucose -induced injury , as evidenced by an increase in the cell viability , decreases in the expression of caspase-9 and the intracellular ROS production , and increases in MMP and the expression of eNOS .CONCLUSION:JAK/STAT signaling pathway is involved in the high glucose-induced damage in HUVECs .

AIM:To study whether hydrogen sulfide (H2S) protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against high glucose ( HG)-induced injury by inhibiting necroptosis .METHODS:The protein levels of RIP3 ( an indicator of necroptosis ) and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot .The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The intracellular le-vels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by 2’, 7’-dichlorfluorescein diacetate staining followed by photofluo-rography.Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was examined by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorogra-phy.The number of apoptotic cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography .RE-SULTS:After the H9c2 cells were treated with HG (35 mmol/L glucose) for 0~24 h, the protein expression of RIP3 in the H9c2 cells was significantly increased at 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h and 24 h, reaching the maximum level at 24 h.Pretreat-ment of the cells with 400μmol/L NaHS (a donor of H2S) or co-treatment of the cells with necrostatin-1 (Nec-1;a speci-fic inhibitor of necroptosis) considerably blocked the up-regulation of RIP3 protein induced by HG.Moreover, pretreatment with NaHS or co-treatment with Nec-1 obviously inhibited HG-induced injuries , leading to an increase in the cell viability , and decreases in the generation of ROS and MMP loss .On the other hand , pretreatment with NaHS also reduced the num-ber of apoptotic cells and the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 in the HG-treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes .CONCLUSION:H2 S protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against HG-induced injury by inhibiting necroptosis .

AIM:To investigate whether the opening of ATP-sensitive K+(KATP) channels protects H9c2 car-diac cells against high glucose ( HG)-induced injury and inflammation by inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 )/nu-clear factor-κB ( NF-κB) pathway.METHODS:The protein levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were determined by Western blot.The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were detected by ELISA.The cell viabil-ity was measured by CCK-8 assay.Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was examined by rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) staining followed by photofluorography.The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were detected by 2′, 7′-
dichlorfluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining followed by photofluorography.The number of apoptotic cells was ob-served by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography.RESULTS: After the H9c2 cardiac cells were treated with HG (35 mmol/L glucose) for 24 h, the protein levels of TLR4 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 ( p-NF-κB p65) were significantly increased.Pretreatment of the cells with 100 μmol/L diazoxide ( DZ, a KATP channel opener) for 30 min before exposure to HG considerably blocked the up-regulation of the TLR4 and p-NF-κB protein levels induced by HG.Moreover, co-treatment of the cells with 30 μmol/L TAK-242 (an inhibitor of TLR4) obviously inhibited the HG-in-duced up-regulation of the p-NF-κB p65 protein level.On the other hand, pretreatment of the cells with 100 μmol/L DZ had a clear myocardial protection effect, which attenuated the HG-induced cytotoxicity, inflammatory response, mitochon-drial damage, oxidative stress and apoptosis, evidenced by an increase in the cell viability, and decreases in the levels of IL-1βand TNF-α, MMP loss, ROS generation and the number of apoptotic cells.Similarly, co-treatment of H9c2 cardiac cells with 30μmol/L TAK-242 or 100μmol/L PDTC ( an inhibitor of NF-κB) and HG for 24 h also obviously reduced the above injuries and inflammation induced by HG.CONCLUSION: The opening of KATP channels protects H9c2 cardiac cells against HG-induced injury and inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Aim To investigate the role of the interac-tion between necroptosis ( Nec ) and p38 mitogen-acti-vated protein kinase ( MAPK) pathway in the high glu-cose (HG)-induced H9c2 cardiac cells injury.Meth-ods The cell viability was measured by cell counter kit-8 assay .The intracellular level of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) was tested by DCFH-DA stating fol-lowed by photofluorography .Mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) was detected by Rhodamine 123 stai-ning followed by photofluorography . The expression levels of receptor interaction protein 3 ( RIP3, an indi-cator of Nec ) and p38 MAPK protein were tested by Western blot assay .Results The treatment of H9c2 cardiac cells with 35 mmol? L-1 glucose ( high glu-cose, HG) for 24 h induced considerable injuries , in-cluding a decrease in cell viability , increases in ROS generation as well as MMP loss .The co-treatment of the cells with 100 μmol? L-1 necrostatin-1(Nec-1,a specific inhibitor of Nec ) and HG for 24 h or the pre-treatment of the cells with 3 μmol? L-1 SB 2 0 3 5 8 0 ( an inhibitor of p38MAPK) for 60 min before HG exposure attenuated the above injuries induced by HG .Moreo-ver, the treatment of the cells with HG for 1,3,6,9, 12 ,24 ,36 and 48 h significantly increased the expres-sion levels of RIP3, peaking at 24 h.The co-treatment of the cells with 100 μmol? L-1 Nec-1 or the pre-treatment of the cells with 3 μmol? L-1 SB203580 considerably blocked the up-regulation of RIP3 expres-sion induced by HG .On the other hand , the co-treat-ment of the cells with 100 μmol? L-1 Nec-1 alleviated the HG-induced up-regulation of the expression of p-p38MAPK.Conclusion The interaction between Nec and p38 MAPK pathway mediates the HG-induced inju-ry in H9c2 cardiac cells.

Aim To investigate whether nicorandil (Nic)protects H9c2 cardiac cells against high glucose (HG)-induced injury and inflammation by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB )/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2 )pathway.Methods Cell viability was measured by cell counter kit-8 (CCK-8)assay.The expression lev-els of NF-κB,COX-2 and cleaved caspase-3 were de-termined by Western blot.The activity of lactate dehy-drogenase (LDH)in the culture medium was measured with commercial kits.The intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS)was detected by 2′,7′-dichlor-fluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA)staining followed by photofluorography.The number of apoptotic cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography.Mitochondrial membrane poten-tial (MMP)was examined by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorography.The secretion levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were detected by ELISA.Results After H9 c2 cardiac cells were treated with 35 mmol · L-1 glucose (high glucose,HG)for 24 h,the cell viability was significantly decreased .Pre-treatment of the cells with 20~100 μmol·L-1 Nic for 60 min or 50 μmol· L-1 Nic for 30~120 min before exposure to HG signif-icantly attenuated the decrease in viability induced by HG.On the other hand,HG increased the expression levels of phosphorated (p)-NF-κB p65 and cyclooxy-genase-2 (COX-2 )in H9c2 cardiac cells.Pre-treat-ment of the cells with 50 μmol·L-1 Nic for 60 min at-tenuated the up-regulation of p-NF-κB p65 and COX-2 expression levels induced by HG.Furthermore,HG induced considerable injuries and inflammatory re-sponse,leading to increases in LDH activity,ROS generation,MMP loss,the number of apoptotic cells, the expression of cleaved caspase-3 as well as the se-cretion levels of IL-1βand TNF-α.Pre-treatment of the cells with 50 μmol·L-1 Nic for 60 min before HG exposure,or co-treatment of the cells with 100 μmol· L-1 PDTC (an inhibitor of NF-κB)or 10 μmol·L-1 NS-398 (an inhibitor of COX-2)and HG for 24 h ob-viously reduced the above injuries and inflammatory re-sponse induced by HG. Conclusion Nic protects H9 c2 cardiac cells against HG-induced injury and in-flammation by inhibiting NF-κB/COX-2 pathway.