OBJECTIVES: Increasing detection of low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is associated with overdiagnosis and overtreatment. N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A)-mediated microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation plays a critical role in tumor metastasis and progression. However, the functional role of m⁶A-miRNAs in PTC remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of m⁶A-miR-139-5p expression in PTC, determine its association with PTC metastasis, and evaluate its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for PTC metastasis, thereby providing experimental evidence for precision diagnosis and therapy. METHODS: Expression profiles of m⁶A-miRNAs were compared between the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE130512 cohorts to identify metastasis-associated candidates. Clinical specimens from 13 metastasis and 18 non-metastasis PTC patients were analyzed to assess m⁶A-miR-139-5p expression and its correlation with metastasis. Functional experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) on pri-miR-139 methylation and processing, clarifying its regulatory role in miR-139-5p expression. In TPC-1 cells, MTT assays were performed to evaluate whether miR-139-5p overexpression could counteract FTO-mediated cell proliferation. Transwell invasion assays were used to determine the impact of miR-139-5p on PTC cell invasion, exploring whether it functions through the ZEB1/E-cadherin axis. RESULTS: By comparing TCGA and GSE130512 cohorts, it was found that circulating m⁶A-miR-139-5p could serve as a biological indicator for detecting PTC metastasis. Detection of 13 metastatic and 18 non-metastatic clinical specimens showed that FTO inhibited the processing of pri-miR-139 by reducing its methylation level, leading to the dysregulation of miR-139-5p in PTC (P<0.05). In TPC-1 cells, MTT assay showed that overexpression of miR-139-5p could partially reverse FTO overexpression-mediated cell proliferation (P<0.05). In addition, miR-139-5p inhibited the invasive ability of PTC cells by targeting the ZEB1/E-cadherin axis, while FTO overexpression could partially weaken this inhibitory effect. CONCLUSIONS Circulating miR-139-5p can be a potential marker for evaluating PTC metastasis. FTO affects the expression and function of miR-139-5p by regulating m⁶A modification of pri-miR-139, but its clinical value needs further verification.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/metabolism* ; Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO/metabolism* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Adenosine/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Female ; Male ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a preoperative planning strategy for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) in improving the quality of LVA and the outcome of short-term limb volume reduction in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema.Methods:Patients with breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema who underwent LVA at the Department of General Surgery Cancer Center Division of Breast Surgery of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from August 2021 to August 2023 were enrolled retrospectively. According to whether preoperative ultrasound lymphography was performed, the patients were divided into CEUS assisted group and control group. In the CEUS assisted group, preoperative CEUS lymphography combined with high-frequency ultrasound color Doppler imaging was utilized for precise localization of lymphatic vessels and recipient veins, as well as surgical target planning for LVA. In the control group, preoperative indocyanine green lymphography was employed to guide surgical exploration. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the number of LVA surgical exploration incisions per limb and the number of successful anastomoses per limb between the two groups. The success rate of anastomosis (total number of successful anastomoses/total number of surgical exploration incisions) was compared by the chi-square test. The duration of single anastomosis, mean arm circumference, and the difference between preoperative and postoperative mean arm circumference were compared by independent sample t-test. Paired-sample t-test was used to compare the improvement of the mean arm circumference of the operated limb of the two groups after 3 months of follow-up. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 47 female patients were enrolled, including 27 patients in the CEUS assisted group, with an average age of (57.1±9.0) years and a median edema course of 2 years. There were 20 cases in the control group, with an average age of (58.1±9.6) years and a median duration of edema of 2 years. The CEUS group, compared with the control group, exhibited a higher number of surgical exploration incisions per limb [6.0 (4.0, 7.0) cases vs. 5.0 (3.0, 6.0) cases], a greater number of successful anastomoses per limb [5.0 (3.0, 6v0) cases vs. 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) cases], and a significantly increased overall success rate of anastomosis [82.8% (125/151) vs. 61.4% (54/88)]. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the preoperative and postoperative mean arm circumference difference [(6.2±3.3) cm vs. (3.9±1.9) cm]. The duration of single anastomosis was significantly shortened [(57.4±16.0) min vs. (92.8±18.5) min], with statistically significant differences observed in all comparisons (all P < 0.05). The preoperative and postoperative mean arm circumference were compared between the CEUS group [(31.4±4.6) cm vs. (25.3±4.7) cm] and the control group [(31.3±4.3) cm vs. (27.5±3.8) cm], respectively, with statistically significant differences observed in both groups (both P < 0.01). Conclusion:CEUS lymphography, as a preoperative planning strategy for LVA, can significantly increase the number and success rate of LVA anastomosis in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema, shorten the duration of single anastomosis, and improve the short-term effect of limb volume reduction after LVA.

Objective To investigate the expression of FBXW12 in pancreatic cancer and elucidate its impact on cancer cell migration and invasion.Methods The present study utilized the GEPIA 2 database to analyze the differential expression of FBXW12 between pancreatic cancer tissues and normal tissues.Clinical data from 31 pancreatic cancer patients who underwent radical resection at Linyi People's Hospital from June 2016 to December 2022 were collected.Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to assess FBXW12 expression in both cancerous and adjacent normal tissues obtained during surgery,with subsequent follow-up for survival prognosis.Western blot and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)techniques were employed to determine FBXW12 protein expression levels in pancreatic cancer cell lines.The impact of FBXW12 on cancer cell invasion and migration was evaluated using Transwell cell invasion and scratch test.Results The results from the analysis of the GEPIA 2 database revealed a significant downregulation of FBXW12 mRNA expression in pancreatic cancer tissues compared to normal pancreatic tissues(P＜0.05).Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a positive expression rate of FBXW12 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues at 75.19％(23/31),whereas adjacent normal tissues exhibited a higher positive expression rate at 93.55％(29/31),indicating a statistically significant difference in FBXW12 expression between pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues(P＜0.05).Additionally,the expression level of FBXW12 in pancreatic cancer tissues was found to be closely associated with lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05),patients with low expression of FBXW12 have a worse prognosis(P＜0.05).Furthermore,transfection with FBXW12 overexpression plasmid resulted in a significant decrease in the invasion and migration abilities of pancreatic cancer cells.Conclusion FBXW12 is low expressed in pancreatic cancer and is associated with the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer.

Objective:To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a preoperative planning strategy for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) in improving the quality of LVA and the outcome of short-term limb volume reduction in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema.Methods:Patients with breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema who underwent LVA at the Department of General Surgery Cancer Center Division of Breast Surgery of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from August 2021 to August 2023 were enrolled retrospectively. According to whether preoperative ultrasound lymphography was performed, the patients were divided into CEUS assisted group and control group. In the CEUS assisted group, preoperative CEUS lymphography combined with high-frequency ultrasound color Doppler imaging was utilized for precise localization of lymphatic vessels and recipient veins, as well as surgical target planning for LVA. In the control group, preoperative indocyanine green lymphography was employed to guide surgical exploration. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the number of LVA surgical exploration incisions per limb and the number of successful anastomoses per limb between the two groups. The success rate of anastomosis (total number of successful anastomoses/total number of surgical exploration incisions) was compared by the chi-square test. The duration of single anastomosis, mean arm circumference, and the difference between preoperative and postoperative mean arm circumference were compared by independent sample t-test. Paired-sample t-test was used to compare the improvement of the mean arm circumference of the operated limb of the two groups after 3 months of follow-up. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 47 female patients were enrolled, including 27 patients in the CEUS assisted group, with an average age of (57.1±9.0) years and a median edema course of 2 years. There were 20 cases in the control group, with an average age of (58.1±9.6) years and a median duration of edema of 2 years. The CEUS group, compared with the control group, exhibited a higher number of surgical exploration incisions per limb [6.0 (4.0, 7.0) cases vs. 5.0 (3.0, 6.0) cases], a greater number of successful anastomoses per limb [5.0 (3.0, 6v0) cases vs. 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) cases], and a significantly increased overall success rate of anastomosis [82.8% (125/151) vs. 61.4% (54/88)]. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the preoperative and postoperative mean arm circumference difference [(6.2±3.3) cm vs. (3.9±1.9) cm]. The duration of single anastomosis was significantly shortened [(57.4±16.0) min vs. (92.8±18.5) min], with statistically significant differences observed in all comparisons (all P < 0.05). The preoperative and postoperative mean arm circumference were compared between the CEUS group [(31.4±4.6) cm vs. (25.3±4.7) cm] and the control group [(31.3±4.3) cm vs. (27.5±3.8) cm], respectively, with statistically significant differences observed in both groups (both P < 0.01). Conclusion:CEUS lymphography, as a preoperative planning strategy for LVA, can significantly increase the number and success rate of LVA anastomosis in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema, shorten the duration of single anastomosis, and improve the short-term effect of limb volume reduction after LVA.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of 3-dimensional CT angiography(3D-CTA) in the repair of mandibular defects with deep circumflex iliac arterial flaps.Methods:From January 2019 to January 2020, 5 patients with postoperative defects of mandibular tumors were treated in the Department of Stomatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, including 2 males and 3 females. The ages of the patients ranged from 30 to 70 years, with an average of 52 years. CT angiography of both lower limbs was performed before operation. Data were processed using the CT workstation. According to the size and shape of the defect in the recipient site, the 3D model of the deep circumflex iliac arterial flap(DCIA) was constructed. the contour of the DCIA was observed and measured, and the data was recorded, including the diameter of the vassel at the starting point, the angle between the line from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine and the line between the bilateral anterior superior iliac spine, and the distance from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine. According to the 3D model, a composite tissue flap pedicled with DCIA was designed and prepared for mandibular defect repair. The actual situation during the procedure was compared with the preoperative 3D model simultaneously.Results:The diameter of the DCIA at the starting point was (2.30±0.24) mm. The angle between the line from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine and the line between the bilateral anterior superior iliac spine was 39.3°±6.1°, and the distance from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine was (5.83±0.24) cm. The shape and position of the DCIA were basically consistent with the three-dimensional model. All the flaps survived well after operation. All the patients were followed up for 3 to 6 months, the bilateral maxillofacial region were basically symmetrical. The postoperative imaging examination showed that the iliac osteocutaneous flap healed well, and the height and width of mandibular alveolar ridge were restored satisfactorily. There were no complications such as numbness in the donor site, abdominal hernia and gait abnormality.Conclusions:The 3D model of the DCIA produced by 3D-CTA can accurately locate the position and route of the vessel, clearly display the three-dimensional spatial relationship between the skin, muscles and bones around the target blood vessel, and significantly reduce the complications and operative time.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of 3-dimensional CT angiography(3D-CTA) in the repair of mandibular defects with deep circumflex iliac arterial flaps.Methods:From January 2019 to January 2020, 5 patients with postoperative defects of mandibular tumors were treated in the Department of Stomatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, including 2 males and 3 females. The ages of the patients ranged from 30 to 70 years, with an average of 52 years. CT angiography of both lower limbs was performed before operation. Data were processed using the CT workstation. According to the size and shape of the defect in the recipient site, the 3D model of the deep circumflex iliac arterial flap(DCIA) was constructed. the contour of the DCIA was observed and measured, and the data was recorded, including the diameter of the vassel at the starting point, the angle between the line from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine and the line between the bilateral anterior superior iliac spine, and the distance from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine. According to the 3D model, a composite tissue flap pedicled with DCIA was designed and prepared for mandibular defect repair. The actual situation during the procedure was compared with the preoperative 3D model simultaneously.Results:The diameter of the DCIA at the starting point was (2.30±0.24) mm. The angle between the line from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine and the line between the bilateral anterior superior iliac spine was 39.3°±6.1°, and the distance from the starting point to the anterior superior iliac spine was (5.83±0.24) cm. The shape and position of the DCIA were basically consistent with the three-dimensional model. All the flaps survived well after operation. All the patients were followed up for 3 to 6 months, the bilateral maxillofacial region were basically symmetrical. The postoperative imaging examination showed that the iliac osteocutaneous flap healed well, and the height and width of mandibular alveolar ridge were restored satisfactorily. There were no complications such as numbness in the donor site, abdominal hernia and gait abnormality.Conclusions:The 3D model of the DCIA produced by 3D-CTA can accurately locate the position and route of the vessel, clearly display the three-dimensional spatial relationship between the skin, muscles and bones around the target blood vessel, and significantly reduce the complications and operative time.

Objective To understand the distribution of novel coronaviruses in the external environment of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Methods Environmental surface swab specimens such as bed rails, doorknob, closestool, hand washing sink, table, locker,ward pager, mobile phone, cup, clothes, were collected from the sentinel hospital of COVID-19, and samples were collected for the nucleic acid detection by RT-PCR. Results A total of 150 environmental samples were collected from 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6 samples were determined to be novel coronaviruses postive (positive rate 4.00%). The total 14 mobile phone showed 3 novel coronaviruses positive.Among the 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6 cases (positive rate 20.00%)were found novel coronaviruses in the external environment. Conclusions Novel coronaviruses exists in external environment of confirmed COVID-19 cases, which indicates the potential risk of COVID-19 infection.

Objective    To investigate the clinical effect of Maze Ⅳ in the treatment of elderly patients with valvular heart disease and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 78 elderly patients with cardiac valve disease combined with persistent AF in our hospital from 2017 to 2018. The patients were allocated to two groups including a trial group (n=37) and a control group (n=41). There were 21 males and 16 females aged 61 to 74 (65.2±2.5) years in the trial group. There were 23 males and 18 females aged 62 to 76 (64.8±3.3) years in the control group. The clinical effects of the two groups were compared. Results    There was no statistical difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). The aortic occlusion time, extracorporeal circulation time, and operation time of the trial group were longer than those of the control group with statistical differences (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in postoperative ventilator assistance time, complication rate, mortality, ICU retention time, perioperative drainage, red blood cell transfusion volume, or length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). At the time of discharge, postoperaive 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm in the control group were statistically different from those of the trial group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, left atrial diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter and the decrease of pulmonary artery systolic blood pressure were statistically different (P<0.05). Conclusion    Maze Ⅳ is safe and effective in the treatment of elderly patients with valvular heart disease and persistent AF, which is conducive to the recovery and maintenance of sinus rhythm, and is beneficial to the remodeling of the left atrium and left ventricle and the reduction of pulmonary systolic blood pressure with improvement of life quality of the patients.

To evaluate the clinical effect of digital assisted chimeric deep circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (DCIAPF) in the reconstruction of mandibular composite defects. Methods From January, 2018 to January, 2019, 6 cases of mandibular tumor patients with postoperative defect within side were treated. Preoperative CTA was used to evaluate the deep branches of spin iliac artery.Digital simulation software and 3D printing technolo-gy was taken, vascularized iliac flap of the design guide of bone was made, and the rebuilding effect was simulated. DCIAPF was used to repair the defect of lower jawbone. The donor sites were sutured directly. The patients were fol-lowed-up in outpatient department for 3-6 months to evaluate the recovery of the patient′s shape, jaw height and oc-clusal function, as well as the complications in the donor area. Results Postoperation pathological examination re-sults: ameloblastoma in 2 cases, 4 cases of gingival cancer. The length of cut out ilium was 6.0-13.0 cm, carrying the flap area of 3.0 cm×1.0 cm-6.0 cm×5.0 cm.Six cases of DCIAPF and iliac bone flap survived.The shape, mandibular height and occlusal function were satisfactory.And no obvious complications were found in the donor area. Conclu-sion The blood supply of DCIAPF is rich with enough bone mass and height. The position of terminal skin perfora-tors is invariant. The complications of donor sites is less. With the help of digital technology, the accuracy of mandibular defect repair and the 3-dimensional wound repair can be realized, and provides an advantage condition for subsequent dental implant.It is one of the ideal method of reconstruction of mandibular defect.

Accelerated forgetting has been identified as a feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the therapeutic efficacy of the manipulation of biological mechanisms of forgetting has not been assessed in AD animal models. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), a small GTPase, has been shown to regulate active forgetting in Drosophila and mice. Here, we showed that Rac1 activity is aberrantly elevated in the hippocampal tissues of AD patients and AD animal models. Moreover, amyloid-beta 42 could induce Rac1 activation in cultured cells. The elevation of Rac1 activity not only accelerated 6-hour spatial memory decay in 3-month-old APP/PS1 mice, but also significantly contributed to severe memory loss in aged APP/PS1 mice. A similar age-dependent Rac1 activity-based memory loss was also observed in an AD fly model. Moreover, inhibition of Rac1 activity could ameliorate cognitive defects and synaptic plasticity in AD animal models. Finally, two novel compounds, identified through behavioral screening of a randomly selected pool of brain permeable small molecules for their positive effect in rescuing memory loss in both fly and mouse models, were found to be capable of inhibiting Rac1 activity. Thus, multiple lines of evidence corroborate in supporting the idea that inhibition of Rac1 activity is effective for treating AD-related memory loss.