Objective To analyze the levels of serum CTCs and ctDNA in NSCLC patients receiving first-line EGFR-TKI treatment, and to explore the clinical value of CTCs and ctDNA detection in assessing the efficacy of treatment for advanced lung cancer. Methods A total of 109 NSCLC patients receiving first-line EGFR-TKI treatment were enrolled. Serum tumor markers CEA, CTCs, and ctDNA were detected at baseline and after one month of treatment. Chest CT scans were performed, and treatment efficacy was evaluated based on RECIST1.1 criteria. CTCs were counted by enrichment-staining-computational algorithm to analyze malignant features, while ctDNA was assessed using digital PCR. Results Survival rate was low in patients with abnormal CEA and ctDNA tests at baseline and in patients with reduced serum CTCs after treatment. In the SD subgroup of patients with brain metastases and advanced stage, the PFS benefit was low. Conclusion Patients in the SD subgroup have significantly higher recurrence risks than those in the PR or CR subgroups. Therefore, CTC and ctDNA testing should be applied to patients in the SD subgroup to identify high-risk patients with poor response to EGFR-TKI treatment, intervene with additional treatment promptly, and obtain long progression-free survival.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert pivotal roles in fostering chemoresistance across diverse tumors. Nevertheless, the precise involvement of lncRNAs in modulating chemoresistance within the context of gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains obscure. This study aimed to uncover how lncRNAs regulate chemoresistance in gallbladder cancer, offering potential targets to overcome drug resistance. METHODS: To elucidate the relationship between gemcitabine sensitivity and small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 ( SNHG1 ) expression, we utilized publicly available GBC databases, GBC tissues from Renji Hospital collected between January 2017 and December 2019, as well as GBC cell lines. The assessment of SNHG1, miR-23b-3p, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression was performed using in situ  hybridization, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to quantify the cell viability. Furthermore, a GBC xenograft model was employed to evaluate the impact of SNHG1 on the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were executed to assess the specificity and sensitivity of SNHG1. RESULTS: Our analyses revealed an inverse correlation between the lncRNA SNHG1 and gemcitabine resistance across genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, GBC cell lines, and patients. Gain-of-function investigations underscored that SNHG1 heightened the gemcitabine sensitivity of GBC cells in both in vitro and in vivo  settings. Mechanistic explorations illuminated that SNHG1 could activate PTEN -a commonly suppressed tumor suppressor gene in cancers-thereby curbing the development of gemcitabine resistance in GBC cells. Notably, microRNA (miRNA) target prediction algorithms unveiled the presence of miR-23b-3p binding sites within SNHG1 and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of PTEN . Moreover, SNHG1 acted as a sponge for miR-23b-3p, competitively binding to the 3'-UTR of PTEN , thereby amplifying PTEN expression and heightening the susceptibility of GBC cells to gemcitabine. CONCLUSION The SNHG1/miR-23b-3p/PTEN axis emerges as a pivotal regulator of gemcitabine sensitivity in GBC cells, holding potential as a promising therapeutic target for managing GBC patients.
Humans ; Deoxycytidine/pharmacology* ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics* ; Gemcitabine ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Animals ; Mice ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Mice, Nude ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical characteristics of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) in children and to enhance the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 children diagnosed with DPB who were hospitalized at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2011 to December 2019. RESULTS: Among the 6 patients, there were 2 males and 4 females; the age at diagnosis ranged from 7 to 12 years. All patients presented with cough, sputum production, and exertional dyspnea, and all had a history of sinusitis. Two cases showed positive serum cold agglutinin tests, and 5 cases exhibited pathological changes consistent with chronic bronchiolitis. High-resolution chest CT in all patients revealed centrilobular nodules diffusely distributed throughout both lungs with a tree-in-bud appearance. Five patients received low-dose azithromycin maintenance therapy, but 3 showed inadequate treatment response. After empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment, non-tuberculous Mycobacteria were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Follow-up over 2 years showed 1 case cured, 3 cases significantly improved, and 2 cases partially improved. CONCLUSIONS The clinical presentation of DPB is non-specific and can easily lead to misdiagnosis. In cases where DPB is clinically diagnosed but does not show improvement with low-dose azithromycin treatment, special infections should be considered.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Bronchiolitis/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Haemophilus Infections/diagnosis*

Objective:To observe and analyze the levels of vitamin D（VD） and their influencing factors in children undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy. Methods:A total of 147 children who received adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy in our hospital from November 2018 to March 2019 were selected as the experimental groups, gender and age matched 147 healthy children of the same period were selected as the control group. The differences of VD levels between the two groups were compared, the factors affecting VD levels were investigated, and patients with VD deficiency/insufficiency in the experimental groups were followed up postoperatively. Results:The VD levels of the experimental groups were（19.6±6.6） ng/mL and those of the control groups were （22.5±6.5）ng/mL, which was significantly different （P<0.01）. The experimental groups were divided into inflammation groups and Sleeping disorder breathing（SDB）groups. The VD levels of the two groups were （19.1±6.7）ng/mL and （21.9±6.4）ng/mL, which was significantly different （P<0.05）. Regression analysis showed that VD levels were negatively correlated with age, body mass index （BMI）, adenoid hypertrophy, tonsil hypertrophy and Anti-streptolysin O（ASO）levels （P<0.05）. VD values were remeasured one year postoperatively in 23 of 72 children in the VD deficiency/deficiency groups, and there was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative VD values[（14.3±3.9）ng/mL and （17.1±5.5） ng/mL, respectively, P<0.05]. There was a significant difference in postoperative VD value between the inflammation groups and the SDB groups[ （15.6±5.9） ng/mL and （20.5±2.1） ng/mL, respectively, P<0.05]. Conclusion:Children who underwent adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy had lower VD levels than healthy children.VD levels decreased with increasing age,BMI and ASO values,and associated with the size of adenoid and tonsil. Preoperative VD levels were lower in the inflammation groups, adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy improved VD deficiency/insufficiency status, and postoperative elevation of VD levels was more pronounced in the SDB groups.
Humans ; Tonsillectomy ; Adenoidectomy ; Vitamin D/blood* ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Male ; Female ; Postoperative Period ; Child ; Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of the BNIP3-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in mediating the inhibitory effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWT) on mitochondrial autophagy in human synovial fibroblasts from rheumatoid arthritis patients (FLS-RA) cultured under a hypoxic condition. METHODS: Forty normal Wistar rats were randomized into two groups (n=20) for daily gavage of BYHWT or distilled water for 7 days to prepare BYHWT-medicated or control sera. FLS-RA were cultured in routine condition or exposed to hypoxia (10% O₂) for 24 h wigh subsequent treatment with IL-1β, followed by treatment with diluted BYHWT-medicated serum (5%, 10% and 20%) or control serum. AnnexinV-APC/7-AAD double staining and T-AOC kit were used for detecting apoptosis and total antioxidant capacity of the cells, and the changes in ROS, ATP level, mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca²⁺ homeostasis were analyzed. The changes in mRNA and protein expressions of BNIP3, PI3K and AKT and mRNA expressions of LC3, Beclin-1 and P62 were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment with BYHWT-medicated serum dose-dependently lowered apoptosis rate of IL-1β-induced FLS-RA with hypoxic exposure. The treatment significantly decreased T-AOC concentration, increased ROS production, autophagosome formation and ATPase levels, and lowered mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca²⁺ level in the cells. In IL-1β-induced FLS-RA with hypoxic exposure, treatment with BYHWT-medicated serum significantly increased BNIP3 protein expression, decreased the protein expressions of PI3K and AKT, increased the mRNA expressions of BNIP3 and P62, and lowered the mRNA expressions of PI3K, AKT, LC3 and Beclin-1 without significantly affecting Beclin-1 protein expression. The cells treated with 5% and 10% BYHWT-medicated serum showed no significant changes in LC3 expression. CONCLUSIONS BYHWT inhibits mitochondrial autophagy in IL-1β-induced FLS-RA with hypoxic exposure possibly by inhibiting BNIP3-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/pathology* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Humans ; Fibroblasts/cytology* ; Rats, Wistar ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Rats ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Hypoxia ; Synovial Membrane/cytology* ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Objective To investigate the bacterial community diversity in human Demodex mites, so as to provide insights into unraveling the role of human Demodex mites in them caused infectious diseases. Methods From June to July 2023, Demodex mites were collected from the faces of college students in a university in Wuhu City using the adhesive tape method, and the V4 region of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene of nuclear ribosomal DNA were amplified on an Illumina PE250 high-throughput sequencing platform. Sequencing data were spliced according to the overlapping relations and filtered to yield effective sequences, and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was clustered. The diversity index of obtained OUTs was analyzed, and the structure of the bacterial community was analyzed at various taxonomic levels. Results A total of 57 483 valid sequences were obtained using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and 159 OUTs were classified according to similarity. Then, OUTs at a 97% similarity were included for taxonomic analyses, and the bacteria in Demodex mites belonged to 14 phyla, 20 classes, 51 orders, 72 families, and 94 genera. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum, and Vibrio, Bradyrhizobium and Variovorax were dominant genera. A total of 56 362 valid sequences were obtained using ITS gene sequencing, and 147 OTUs were obtained, which belonged to 5 phyla, 17 classes, 34 orders, 68 families, and 93 genera and were annotated to Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Chytridiomycota, with Ascomycota as the dominant phylum, and Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum, Penicillium, and Sarocladium as dominant genera. Conclusions There is a high diversity in the composition of bacterial communities in human Demodex mites, with multiple types of microorganisms and high species abundance.

Objective To summarize the clinical experience of the treatment for complex aortic coarctation with extra anatomic bypass and anatomic correction techniques. Methods The clinical data of patients with complex aortic coarctation treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Friendship Hospital of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture between April 2012 and November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results A total of 12 patients were enrolled, including 5 males and 7 females aged 11-54 (34.3±16.2) years. Extra anatomic bypass grafting was performed in 8 patients and anatomic correction was performed in 4 patients. The operations were successful in all patients. There was no perioperative death. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 203.0±46.0 min (7 median incision patients), and the average intraoperative blood loss was 665.0±102.0 mL. The average postoperative ventilator support time was 32.3±7.5 h, and the average postoperative hospital stay time was 10.2±4.3 d. The mean drainage volume of median incision was 1 580.0±360.0 mL, and the mean drainage time was 9.3±2.7 d. The mean drainage volume of left thoracotomy was 890.0±235.0 mL, and the mean drainage time was 4.8±2.5 d. One patient had a transient hoarse after operation and recovered 6 months later. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 10 years with an average time of 81.0±27.0 months. All patients had a recovery of hypertension, cardiac afterload after 2 years postoperatively. One patient who received an artificial blood vessel replacement in situ was examined stenosis recurrence at the third year after discharge. Others were asymptomatic during the follow-up period. There were no death or other complications. Conclusion The treatment strategy for complex aortic coarctation should be individualized according to the anatomical features and concomitant heart diseases. Extra anatomic bypass technique is a safe and feasible choice.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the evolution of the transition from unicellular organisms to multicellular organisms from a phylogenetic stratigraphy perspective, combining the "cancer atavism hypothesis". To investigate the evolutionary chronology of cancer-related genes to guide research on cancer mechanisms and the development of treatment strategies. METHODS Phylostratr was used to identify the systematic evolutionary strata of all human protein-coding genes, housekeeping genes, cancer driver genes, tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, neutral genes, and differentiation genes. Differential distribution of genes from different functional categories and human protein-coding genes was analyzed using log-odds ratios and hypergeometric distributions. TCGA was utilized to investigate transcriptional expression datas in cancer tumor samples and normal samples, and calculations and analysis were performed using transcriptome age index. RESULTS A total of 20291 protein-coding genes were classified into 27 different strata based on the farthest homologous species in the sequence alignment results. Within the phylogenetic stratigraphic structure, the datasets of 4159 housekeeping genes, 527 cancer driver genes, 87 tumor suppressor genes, 134 oncogenes, 10755 neutral genes, and 4274 differentiation genes exhibit distinct distribution patterns. The overall distribution of these genes significantly differs from that of all human protein-coding genes. Cancer-related genes exhibited a more ancient phylogenetic stratigraphic distribution. Transcriptome age index results for bile duct cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, and kidney chromophobe samples showed strong expression of highly conserved and ancient genes within the tumors. CONCLUSION Cancer-related genes exhibit older evolutionary origins within the phylogenetic context suggesting a more conserved function during species evolution. And the phenomenon of enhanced expression of highly conserved ancient genes in tumor tissues can be used to explore tumor gene expression patterns, and provide new ideas for the discovery of new anti-tumor drug targets and drug research.

Objective To utilize bioinformatic approaches to elucidate the correlation between secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)and immune infiltration in various malignancies,elucidating the mechanism of gene function in cancer-immune cell interplay.Methods Cancer samples were derived from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype-tissue Expression(GTEx)database,examining SPP1 expression difference between tumors and normal tissues using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis(GEPIA2),and its correlation with different immune cells in extracellular matrix via TIMER2 Database.SPP1's association with interacting molecules was scrutinized on the STRING website,followed by assessment of its distinct functional state across various cancers from Cancer Single-cell State Atlas Database(Cancer SEA).Results In 32 tumor types,SPP1 mRNA is significantly elevated in 23 types of cancers and correlates heavily with fibroblast,integrin family,and CD44.Furthermore,the SPP1 gene exhibits profound specificity in tumor functions such as vascular invasion,metastasis,DNA damage,and repair.Conclusion Specific expression of SPP1 in tumors signifies a significant correlation with tumor immune cells in the extracellular matrix,promoting tumor progression and invasion.This suggests that targeted monitoring of SPP1 could serve as a prospective cancer diagnostics/therapeutics biomarker.