Objective To explore the value of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (OCEUS) combined with contrast-enhanced CT in predicting preoperative T staging in patients with gastric cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 patients with gastric cancer confirmed via endoscopic biopsy or postoperative pathology at the First People’s Hospital of Jining from January 2021 to November 2024. The cohort included 56 males and 24 females, aged 38-79 years, with a median age of 55.9 years. All patients underwent both OCEUS and contrast-enhanced CT within one week prior to surgery. T staging of gastric cancer was determined using OCEUS, contrast-enhanced CT, or their combination. The results were compared with pathological T staging, and statistical differences in accuracy were analyzed. Results Pathological T staging identified T1 in 9 cases, T2 in 16 cases, T3 in 42 cases, and T4 in 13 cases. OCEUS indicated T1 in 6 cases, T2 in 14 cases, T3 in 50 cases, and T4 in 10 cases, with an accuracy rate of 80.0%. Contrast-enhanced CT indicated T1 in 4 cases, T2 in 12 cases, T3 in 52 cases, and T4 in 12 cases, with an accuracy rate of 75.0%. The combination of OCEUS and contrast-enhanced CT indicated T1 in 6 cases, T2 in 15 cases, T3 in 47 cases, and T4 in 12 cases, with an accuracy rate of 87.5%. The combined approach demonstrated significantly higher accuracy in preoperative T staging compared to either method alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion The combination of OCEUS and contrast-enhanced CT improves the accuracy of preoperative T staging in gastric cancer patients, providing valuable support for their diagnosis and treatment.

Glioma is difficult to treat due to the unique tumor microenvironment and blood-brain barrier. (13aS)-3-Hydroxyl-6,7-dimethoxyphenanthro[9,10-b] indolizidine (PF403), a phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, has been identified as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma. However, the anti-glioma mechanism of PF403 in vivo has not been conclusively verified and must be further elucidated. Hence, a strategy without chemical modification was applied to identify the target of PF403. In this study, we identified nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) as the target of PF403 by using thermal proteome profiling (TPP). Moreover, microscale thermophoresis (MST), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments confirmed that NAMPT exhibits good affinity for PF403. Direct and indirect enzyme activity assays revealed that PF403 inhibited the catalytic activity of NAMPT, leading to a decrease in the concentration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) in U87 cells. X-ray diffraction and amino acid spot mutation experiments revealed that PF403 primarily relies on the formation of pi-pi interactions with residue Tyr188 to maintain binding with NAMPT (PDB code 8Y55). After NAMPT was knocked down with lentivirus, PF403 lost or partially lost its antitumor activity at the cellular and animal levels. These findings suggest that PF403 exerts antitumor activity by directly targeting NAMPT.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prognostic significance of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) in pan-cancer and its potential as a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: PBK expression levels were investigated in 33 cancer types based on data from TCGA, GEO and CPTAC databases. RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to examine PBK expression in clinical pancreatic cancer specimens and cell lines. The diagnostic and prognostic value of PBK in pancreatic cancer was evaluated using survival analysis, Cox regression analysis, ROC curve analysis, and clinical correlation studies. Gene enrichment and immune correlation analyses were conducted to explore the potential role of PBK in tumor microenvironment, and its correlation with drug sensitivity was investigated using GDSC and CTRP datasets. In pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated PBK knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were examined using CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. The interaction between PBK and non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2 (NCAPG2) was analyzed using co-immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. RESULTS: PBK was overexpressed in multiple cancer types, including pancreatic cancer. A high PBK expression was associated with a poor prognosis of the patients and correlated with immune infiltration and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Elevated PBK expression was positively correlated with the sensitivity to MEK inhibitors (Trametinib) and EGFR inhibitors (Afatinib) but negatively with the sensitivity to Bcl-2 inhibitors (TW37) and niclosamide. In BXPC-3 cells, PBK knockdown significantly suppressed NCAPG2 expression and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed a direct binding between PBK and NCAPG2. CONCLUSIONS PBK is a key regulator of pancreatic cancer and interacts with NCAPG2 to promote tumor progression, suggesting its value as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Adenocarcinoma/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Cell Movement ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases

Objective To observe the effect of abdominal acupuncture in treating allergic rhinitis(AR).Methods Twenty-seven AR patients who attended Fangshan Hospital,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from August to October 2022 were selected.They were divided into treatment group(15 cases)and control group(12 cases)according to randomized numerical table method.The treatment group received abdominal acupuncture.The control group at the same point was used one-time sterile cannula acupuncture to simulate acupuncture,but no needle was inserted into the acupoint.Two groups were treated,3 times a week for 4 weeks.The visual analogue scale(VAS),rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire(RQLQ),Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)scores,and the histamine(HIS),leukotriene D4(LTD4),immunoglobulin E(IgE)levels were compared between two groups before and after treatment.Results At each time point after treatment,the VAS,RQLQ,PSQI scores and HIS,LTD4,IgE levels of patients in treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in VAS,RQLQ,and PSQI scores,the HIS,LTD4,and IgE levels after 2-week treatment in both groups(P>0.05).After 4-week treatment and follow-up 4-week,the VAS,RQLQ,and PSQI scores,the HIS,and LTD4 levels in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture has good therapeutic effect on AR and significantly improves life quality of the patients,which can reduce the levels of HIS,LTD4 and IgE.The therapy is worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICI)for patients with tumor recurrence after liver transplantation(LT).Methods:A single-center retrospective study was conducted for 6 recipients of tumor recurrence after LT on a therapy of ICI admitted into Shulan(Hang Zhou)Hospital from September 2015 to June 2018.The authors examined the occurrences of graft rejection and clinical outcomes of overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival after dosing of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.Results:Six patients enrolled with tumor recurrence on a therapy of ICI undergoing LT due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nivolumab (n=4) and duvalizumab (n=2) were administrated.The median session of treatment was 8.3(2-31) cycles.The disease outcomes were stable (3/6, 50%) and progressive (3/6, 50%), The progression-free survival time of 3 disease-controlled patients was 1.5, 16.2 and 18 months and the median survival time after recurrence was 19.75(10.8-37.8) months.Rejection occurred in 1 patients (1/6, 16.7%) and the occurring time of rejection was 28 days after PD-1 inhibitor dosing.After acute rejection, high-dose corticosteroids and immunoglobulin were ineffective and the patient died from acute rejection related liver failure.Conclusions:ICI may be employed as a salvage treatment for tumor recurrence after LT for HCC.Due to a possibility of severe acute rejection, usage should be cautious under close monitoring of liver function.

ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of electromyography (EMG) and postural stability of lower limb muscles during Y-balance test (YBT) and their relationship. MethodsFrom October to November, 2021, a total of 26 female students aged 18 to 22 years were recruited from Binzhou Medical University to complete YBT; while the EMG of rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius of supporting legs were collected synchronously to measure root mean square (RMS), integral electromyography (iEMG), and muscle contribution rate; and the postural stabilities were measured with three-dimensional force platform, to record total, antero-posterior (A/P) and medio-lateral (M/L) path length of center of pressure (COP). ResultsIn three directions of YBT, the RMS of rectus femoris was the most (χ² > 56.952, P < 0.001), and the iEMG and contribution rate of the tibialis anterior were the most (χ² > 38.507, P < 0.001). All the path length of COP was the shortest in the anterior (P < 0.05). In the anterior, the total path length of COP correlated with iEMG of biceps femoris (r = 0.452, P = 0.02) and gastrocnemius (r = 0.397, P = 0.045); in the postero-medial, the total path length of COP correlated with iEMG of gastrocnemius (r = 0.478, P = 0.014); and in the postero-lateral, the total path length of COP correlated with iEMG of tibialis anterior (r = 0.437, P = 0.026). ConclusionFor YBT, the activation of rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles of supporting legs are significant, and different with the indicators of EMG. Postural stability is the best in the posterolateral. The joint extensors or flexors play a different role for dynamic postural stability in the different directions.

Twelve new grayanoids (-) along with five known compounds were isolated from flowers of . Their structures were fully characterized using a combination of spectroscopic analyses, computational calculations, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Rhomollone A () possesses an unprecedented 5/6/6/5 tetra-cyclic ring system (B- grayanane) incorporating a cyclopentene-1,3-dione scaffold. Rhodomollein XLIII () is a dimeric grayanoid, containing a novel 14-membered heterocyclic ring with a symmetry axis. The antinociceptive activities of compounds , , , , and - were evaluated by an acetic acid-induced writhing test. Among them, compounds , , , and displayed significant antinociceptive activities at a dose of 20 mg/kg with inhibition rates ranging from 41.9% to 91.6%. Compounds and inhibited 46.0% and 39.4% of the acetic acid-induced writhes at a dose of 2 mg/kg, while compound inhibited 34.3% of the writhes at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg.

Objective To evaluate the effects of day surgery on average days of stay, and to provide scientific basis for shorter average days of stay. Methods Data of average days of stay from November 2011 to December 2016 were extracted from 6 departments, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was used to analyze the trend of average days of stay of pre-and post-day surgery. Results Thanks to the application of day surgery, average days of stay decreased by 0. 071 days per month, and the monthly decline increased by 0. 049 days (P<0. 001) than before. Average days of stay in the department of stomatology, ear-nose-throat, general surgery and hepatobiliary & enteric surgery research center were the most obvious, and the monthly decline increased by 0. 110 days (P<0. 001), 0. 049 days (P=0. 008) , 0. 075 days (P<0. 001), and 0. 057 days (P=0. 003), respectively than before. Conclusions Day surgery could decrease average days of stay, enhancing the utilization of hospital resources.

Sepsis is a common complication in critically ill patients. The incidence rate was significantly higher in recent years, and it has been as the main cause of death in critically ill patients. The traditional treatment measures failed to significantly improve mortality. In recent years, the treatment of sepsis by traditional Chinese medicine are getting far more attention, the combination of Chinese traditional and western medicine treatment of sepsis bring out new treatment ideas and thoughts,and has achieved good results. This paper reviews the TCM recognition of sepsis from the etiology and pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, treatments, signgle traditional Chinese medicine and compound preparations and so on,following a brief analysis of existing problems and solutions.

AIM:To investigate the inhibitory effect of aliskiren on the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs) induced by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) and to explore its possible mechanism.METHODS:HUVECs were cultured and randomly divided into blank group and renin group.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the culture supernatant were detected by ELISA.The protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4) and ICAM-1 in the HUVECs were determined by Western blot.HUVECs were cul-tured and randomly divided into control group, LPS group, low-dose (1μmol/L) aliskiren group, middle-dose (10μmol/L) aliskiren group and high-dose (100 μmol/L) aliskiren group.The proliferation of HUVECs was detected by MTT and BrdU assays.The mobility of HUVECs was measured by Transwell assay.The formation of the vessels was judged by ob-serving the formation of the luminal structure by HUVECs in Matrigel.The levels of TNF-α, ICAM-1 and monocyte chemo-tactic protein 1 ( MCP-1) in the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA.The expression of renin, TLR4, matrix me-talloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) at mRNA and protein levels in the HUVECs was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Renin stimulated the expression of inflammatory factors and TLR4 in the HUVECs.Aliskiren inhibited the growth, migration and angiogenesis of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner, de-creased the levels of TNF-α, ICAM-1 and MCP-1 and the expression of renin, MMP-2 and MMP-9, and inhibited TLR4 expression (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Aliskiren inhibits LPS-induced angiogenesis of HUVECs, which may be related to the down-regulation of renin expression, the inhibition of TLR4-mediated inflammatory reaction, and the formation of MMP-9 and MMP-2.