Pulmonary endothelial barrier dysfunction is a hallmark of clinical pulmonary edema and contributes to the development of acute lung injury (ALI). Here we reported that ruscogenin (RUS), an effective steroidal sapogenin of Radix Ophiopogon japonicus, attenuated lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced pulmonary endothelial barrier disruption through mediating non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC IIA)‒Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) interactions. By in vivo and in vitro experiments, we observed that RUS administration significantly ameliorated LPS-triggered pulmonary endothelial barrier dysfunction and ALI. Moreover, we identified that RUS directly targeted NMMHC IIA on its N-terminal and head domain by serial affinity chromatography, molecular docking, biolayer interferometry, and microscale thermophoresis analyses. Downregulation of endothelial NMMHC IIA expression in vivo and in vitro abolished the protective effect of RUS. It was also observed that NMMHC IIA was dissociated from TLR4 and then activating TLR4 downstream Src/vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) signaling in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells after LPS treatment, which could be restored by RUS. Collectively, these findings provide pharmacological evidence showing that RUS attenuates LPS-induced pulmonary endothelial barrier dysfunction by inhibiting TLR4/Src/VE-cadherin pathway through targeting NMMHC IIA and mediating NMMHC IIA‒TLR4 interactions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.09.017.].

Objective    To investigate the short-term follow-up results of inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Methods    Clinical data of 102 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy were enrolled in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods, including a single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy group (group A, n=59, 53 males and 6 females, aged 63.3±7.6 years, ranging from 45 to 75 years) and a video-assisted thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy group (group B, n=43, 35 males and 8 females, aged 66.7±6.7 years, ranging from 50-82 years). The short-term follow-up results of the two groups were compared. Results    Compared with the group A, the rate of postoperative pulmonary complication of the group B was significantly lower (18.64% vs. 4.65%, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in other postoperative complications (P>0.05). The 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates were 96.61%, 89.83%, and 73.33%, respectively in the group A, and were 95.35%, 93.02%, and 79.17%, respectively in the group B. There was no significant difference in short-term survival rate after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion    In the treatment of esophageal cancer, the incidence of pulmonary complications of inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy is lower than that of traditional video-assisted thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy, and there is no significant difference in other postoperative complications or short-term survival rate between the two methods. Inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy for radical esophageal cancer is a relatively safe surgical method with good short-term curative effects, and long-term curative effects need to be further tested.

Objective:To understand the situation supported by the National Natural Science Foundation in the field of occupational diseases (H2402) in China, so as to provide a reference basis for the application and research of scientific researchers in the field of occupational diseases in China.Methods:The information system of scientific and technological achievements was used to search the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the field of occupational diseases from 2010 to 2019.Results:From 2010 to 2019, a total of 55 projects were funded under the Occupational Disease code (H2402) , with a total funding of 22.33 million yuan, of which 30 were supported by the Youth Science Foundation, 20 by the Youth Science Foundation and 5 by the Regional Science Foundation. Thirty five items of the research projects focused on pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases which accounted for 63.64 per cent. Forty one items of scientific research projects are supported by domestic institutions of higher learning which accounted for 74.55 per cent.Conclusion:The research support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China to the field of occupational diseases (H2402) has increased steadily, but the support of different research directions and supporting units is not balanced. It is suggested that departments concerned strengthen guidance and support for the applicants in less developed areas and weak research directions of the projects in the National Natural Science Foundation.

Objective:To understand the situation supported by the National Natural Science Foundation in the field of occupational diseases (H2402) in China, so as to provide a reference basis for the application and research of scientific researchers in the field of occupational diseases in China.Methods:The information system of scientific and technological achievements was used to search the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the field of occupational diseases from 2010 to 2019.Results:From 2010 to 2019, a total of 55 projects were funded under the Occupational Disease code (H2402) , with a total funding of 22.33 million yuan, of which 30 were supported by the Youth Science Foundation, 20 by the Youth Science Foundation and 5 by the Regional Science Foundation. Thirty five items of the research projects focused on pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases which accounted for 63.64 per cent. Forty one items of scientific research projects are supported by domestic institutions of higher learning which accounted for 74.55 per cent.Conclusion:The research support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China to the field of occupational diseases (H2402) has increased steadily, but the support of different research directions and supporting units is not balanced. It is suggested that departments concerned strengthen guidance and support for the applicants in less developed areas and weak research directions of the projects in the National Natural Science Foundation.

Objective To evaluate the role of two-dimensional ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the classification of liver nodules in cirrhotic patients.Methods Consecutively cirrhotic patients with intrahepatic nodules at Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou were included from November 2015 to December 2016.All (142 nodules in 109 patiens) presented as non-cancerous focal lesions on conventional magnetic resonance imaging and CT examination and had available information of liver biopsy.Each lesion was percutaneous biopsied under the guidance of two-dimensional ultrasound.Ultrasonographic parameters evaluated were as following:(1) sizes of nodules under US;(2) ultrasonographic characteristics of the nodular;(3) CEUS enhancement features of the nodules.Four types of hepatic nodule suggesting different histology were defined according to the ultrasonographicparameters.x2 test was used to compare the difference of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence among liver nodules with varying sizes and nodules with different enhancement features under CEUS.As for the statistical differences of HCC and high-grade dysplastic nodule (HGDN) incidence between type Ⅲ & Ⅳ nodules and type Ⅰ & Ⅱ nodules,x2 test was also used for analysis.Results A total of 142 eligible nodules were detected in 109 patients with cirrhosis,including 16 HCCs,2 intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas (ICC),41 HGDNs,40 low-grade dysplastic nodules (LGDN) and 43 regenerative nodules (RN).In terms of diameter,all (6/6) the nodules larger than 2.0 cm,20.0％ (8/40) of middle size nodules (1.5-2.0 cm),were HCCs.The remained 2 lesions of HCC came from two subgroups with even small size nodules [1.0-1.4 cm (n=93),and ＜ 1.0 cm (n=3),in diameter],respectively.Two lesions of ICC were attributed to nodules with a 1.0-1.4 cm diameter.About 28 nodules with a diameter of 1.5-2.0 cm,13 nodules with a diameter of 1.0-1.4 cm were HGDN.HCC incidences between these 4 groups were different significantly (x2=61.425,P ＜ 0.001).Asfor the CEUS,14 nodules exhibited a rapid enhancement feature in arterial phase,12 of which were HCC.In56 nodules with a slow enhancement feature,4 nodules were HCC.HCC incidences between these 3 groups were different significantly (x2=75.752,P ＜ 0.001).Under the combined ultrasonography,HCC incidences of type Ⅲ and type Ⅳ nodules were significantly higher than that of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ lesions [21.9％ (16/73)vs 0 (0/65),x2=15.222,P ＜ 0.001],similar result was observed in the comparison of HGDN incidences between type Ⅲ & Ⅳ and type Ⅰ & Ⅱ nodules[53.4％ (39/73) vs 3.1％ (2/65),x2=38.842,P ＜ 0.001].Conclusion The classification presented by this study,combining the three ultrasonographic parameters,which is nodule size,nodular echo characteristics and enhancement features of the nodules under CEUS,could be helpful for the diagnosis of HCC in cirrhotic patients with ill-defined nodule on routine image examination.