Objective: To explore the association between preoperative aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio and the outcomes of urothelial cancers. Methods: After a systematic search of Web of Science，PubMed and Embase before Aug.2024，14 studies were included in the Meta-analysis.The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival (OS)，cancer-specific survival (CSS)，and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using STATA 15.0 software. Results: The Meta-analysis included a total of 8190 patients.Urothelial cancer patients with an elevated preoperative AST/ALT ratio had worse OS (HR=1.92，95% CI：1.38-2.67，P<0.001)，CSS (HR=2.12，95% CI：1.48-3.05，P<0.001)，and RFS (HR=1.63，95% CI：1.27-2.10，P<0.001).In subgroup analyses，preoperative AST/ALT ratio had a better predictive value for OS，CSS，and RFS in patients with bladder cancer than in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma，and a better predictive value in Asian population than in Caucasian population (P<0.001). Conclusion: A high preoperative AST/ALT ratio is associated with poor OS，CSS and RFS in urothelial cancers，particularly among the Asian population.

Objective To investigate the effect of palmitoleic acid(POA)on pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes after hy-poxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in the human myocardium.Methods The experiment comprised a control group(Control,normal culture),a hypoxia/reoxygenation group(HR),a palmitoleic acid-treated group(HR+POA),and an anhydrous ethanol control group(HR+ET).Cardiomyocytes viability was assessed using CCK-8 assay,and the level of pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes was measured through the double staining with Hoechst33342/PI and LDH assay.ELISA was employed to detect the release of inflammatory factors IL-1 β and IL-18 in the cell culture supernatant.qRT-PCR and Western blot were utilized to determine the relative expression levels of mRNA and protein of pyroptosis-related genes,namely NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1 β and IL-18,respective-ly.Results CCK-8 assay showed that the survival of hypoxic/reoxygenated cardiomyocytes increased with the ad-dition of POA at concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 μmol/L,as compared to the HR group;a hypoxia/reoxy-genation model of cardiomyocyte was established.The expression of protein and mRNA increased in NLRP3,ASC,Cleaved caspase-1,GSDMD-N,IL-Iβ and IL-18 vs the control group(P＜0.05),the positive percentage of Ho-echst33342/PI staining in cardiomyocytes increased significantly(P＜0.05),the release of LDH,IL-Iβ,and IL-18 increased(P＜0.05).After intervention with 100 μmol/L POA,the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,Cleaved caspase-1,GSDMD-N,IL-Iβ,and IL-18 were significantly reduced in the HR+POA group vs HR+ET group(P＜0.05).The positive percentage of Hoechst33342/PI staining in cardiomyocytes de-creased significantly,and the levels of LDH,IL-Iβ and IL-18 significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Palmitoleic acid may alleviate hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury of cardiomyocytes by inhibiting pyroptosis and inflammatory response after hypoxia/reoxygenation in human myocardium.

Background::Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a microbarrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells.Methods::The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results::Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts.Conclusions::The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of in-hospital mortality and establish a risk prediction model for patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VA-ECMO).Methods We retrospectively collected the data of 302 patients receiving VA-ECMO in ICU of 3 hospitals in Guangdong Province between January,2015 and January,2022 using a convenience sampling method.The patients were divided into a derivation cohort(201 cases)and a validation cohort(101 cases).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death of these patients,based on which a risk prediction model was established in the form of a nomogram.The receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the discrimination ability,calibration and clinical validity of this model.Results The in-hospital mortality risk prediction model was established based the risk factors including hypertension(OR=3.694,95%CI:1.582-8.621),continuous renal replacement therapy(OR=9.661,95%CI:4.103-22.745),elevated Na2+ level(OR=1.048,95%CI:1.003-1.095)and increased hemoglobin level(OR=0.987,95%CI:0.977-0.998).In the derivation cohort,the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of this model was 0.829(95%CI:0.770-0.889),greater than those of the 4 single factors(all AUC<0.800),APACHE Ⅱ Score(AUC=0.777,95%CI:0.714-0.840)and the SOFA Score(AUC=0.721,95%CI:0.647-0.796).The results of internal validation showed that the AUC of the model was 0.774(95%CI:0.679-0.869),and the goodness of fit test showed a good fitting of this model(χ2=4.629,P>0.05).Conclusion The risk prediction model for in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO has good differentiation,calibration and clinical effectiveness and outperforms the commonly used disease severity scoring system,and thus can be used for assessing disease severity and prognostic risk level in critically ill patients.

Objectives:To examine the functional outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with preservation of pelvic floor stabilized structure and early elevated retrograde liberation of the neurovascular bundle (PEEL).Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Between June 1, 2022, and March 20, 2023, 27 cases of RARP with PEEL and 153 cases of RARP with preservation of pelvic floor stabilized structure (PPSS) were included in this study. All patients were males, aged (62.5±5.2) years (range: 50 to 73 years). There were 18 cases of ≤T2b stage and 9 cases of T2c stage. After 1∶1 propensity score matching, the postoperative functional outcomes of 27 cases of RARP with PEEL and 27 cases of RARP with PPSS were compared. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon and included patients were clinically staged as cT1-2N0M0 without preoperative urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction. In RARP with PEEL, the prostate was cut near the midline at the front when dissecting the neurovascular bundle, dissection was performed between the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia and the prostatic fascia, preserving the parietal layer and the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia, and the neurovascular bundle was retrogradely released from the apex. The cumulative probability curve was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-rank test was used to compare the differences in functional outcomes between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare postoperative urinary continence and sexual function.Results:The recovery time of continence and potency was significantly longer in the PPSS group than in the PEEL group (all P<0.05). The continence rate of the PEEL group was significantly higher than that of the PPSS group (92.59% vs. 68.10%, P=0.026) at 3 months after surgery. The potency rate of the PEEL group was also significantly higher than that of the PPSS group (40.70% vs. 15.10%, P=0.037) at 3 months after surgery. In the univariate analysis, compared to the PPSS technique, the PEEL technique was associated with a shorter recovery time of continence ( HR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.08 to 3.48, P=0.027) and a shorter recovery time of potency ( HR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.03 to 4.13, P=0.042). In the multivariate analysis, the PEEL technique was an independent prognosis factor for postoperative recovery of continence ( HR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.01 to 4.17, P=0.047) and potency ( HR=3.57, 95% CI: 1.43 to 8.92, P=0.007). All the cases of the PPSS group and the PEEL group were performed successfully with negative surgical margins. Conclusion:Compared with PPSS, PEEL may be more conducive to the recovery of urinary continence and sexual function after RARP.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of in-hospital mortality and establish a risk prediction model for patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VA-ECMO).Methods We retrospectively collected the data of 302 patients receiving VA-ECMO in ICU of 3 hospitals in Guangdong Province between January,2015 and January,2022 using a convenience sampling method.The patients were divided into a derivation cohort(201 cases)and a validation cohort(101 cases).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death of these patients,based on which a risk prediction model was established in the form of a nomogram.The receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the discrimination ability,calibration and clinical validity of this model.Results The in-hospital mortality risk prediction model was established based the risk factors including hypertension(OR=3.694,95%CI:1.582-8.621),continuous renal replacement therapy(OR=9.661,95%CI:4.103-22.745),elevated Na2+ level(OR=1.048,95%CI:1.003-1.095)and increased hemoglobin level(OR=0.987,95%CI:0.977-0.998).In the derivation cohort,the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of this model was 0.829(95%CI:0.770-0.889),greater than those of the 4 single factors(all AUC<0.800),APACHE Ⅱ Score(AUC=0.777,95%CI:0.714-0.840)and the SOFA Score(AUC=0.721,95%CI:0.647-0.796).The results of internal validation showed that the AUC of the model was 0.774(95%CI:0.679-0.869),and the goodness of fit test showed a good fitting of this model(χ2=4.629,P>0.05).Conclusion The risk prediction model for in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO has good differentiation,calibration and clinical effectiveness and outperforms the commonly used disease severity scoring system,and thus can be used for assessing disease severity and prognostic risk level in critically ill patients.

Objectives:To examine the functional outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with preservation of pelvic floor stabilized structure and early elevated retrograde liberation of the neurovascular bundle (PEEL).Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Between June 1, 2022, and March 20, 2023, 27 cases of RARP with PEEL and 153 cases of RARP with preservation of pelvic floor stabilized structure (PPSS) were included in this study. All patients were males, aged (62.5±5.2) years (range: 50 to 73 years). There were 18 cases of ≤T2b stage and 9 cases of T2c stage. After 1∶1 propensity score matching, the postoperative functional outcomes of 27 cases of RARP with PEEL and 27 cases of RARP with PPSS were compared. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon and included patients were clinically staged as cT1-2N0M0 without preoperative urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction. In RARP with PEEL, the prostate was cut near the midline at the front when dissecting the neurovascular bundle, dissection was performed between the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia and the prostatic fascia, preserving the parietal layer and the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia, and the neurovascular bundle was retrogradely released from the apex. The cumulative probability curve was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-rank test was used to compare the differences in functional outcomes between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare postoperative urinary continence and sexual function.Results:The recovery time of continence and potency was significantly longer in the PPSS group than in the PEEL group (all P<0.05). The continence rate of the PEEL group was significantly higher than that of the PPSS group (92.59% vs. 68.10%, P=0.026) at 3 months after surgery. The potency rate of the PEEL group was also significantly higher than that of the PPSS group (40.70% vs. 15.10%, P=0.037) at 3 months after surgery. In the univariate analysis, compared to the PPSS technique, the PEEL technique was associated with a shorter recovery time of continence ( HR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.08 to 3.48, P=0.027) and a shorter recovery time of potency ( HR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.03 to 4.13, P=0.042). In the multivariate analysis, the PEEL technique was an independent prognosis factor for postoperative recovery of continence ( HR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.01 to 4.17, P=0.047) and potency ( HR=3.57, 95% CI: 1.43 to 8.92, P=0.007). All the cases of the PPSS group and the PEEL group were performed successfully with negative surgical margins. Conclusion:Compared with PPSS, PEEL may be more conducive to the recovery of urinary continence and sexual function after RARP.

Iron (Fe) deficiency and excess cadmium (Cd) in rice grain are important problems to be solved in agricultural production. Previous studies have shown that OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 are vacuolar iron transporters. In this study, wild-type ZH11 was selected as the background material and OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 were overexpressed in endosperm by using endosperm specific promoter Glb-1. Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 overexpression on Fe and Cd accumulation in different parts of rice. The results showed that OsVIT1 overexpression in endosperm significantly reduced Fe content in grain by about 50%, while significantly increased zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) contents in straw and Cu content in grain. OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm significantly decreased Fe and Cd contents in grain by about 50%, and significantly increased Fe content in straw by 45%-120%. Overexpression of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 in endosperm did not affect the agronomic traits of rice. In conclusion, OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm reduced Fe accumulation in rice grain, which did not achieve the expected effect. OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm also decreased Cd accumulation in grain and increased Fe accumulation in straw, which provided reference for iron biofortification and cadmium reduction in rice.
Cadmium ; Endosperm/chemistry* ; Oryza/genetics* ; Iron ; Zinc ; Edible Grain ; Soil Pollutants

Objective:To explore the clinical outcome of early endoscopic realignment with flexible cystoscope for pelvic fracture urethral injury.Methods:We retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical data of patients with pelvic fracture urethral injuries in ER of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from March 2018 to June 2022.Seventy-six male patients with PFUI were reviewed and 60 patients were included due to the integrity of data collected. The patients were divided into early endoscopic realignment (EER) group and suprapubic cystostomy (SC) group according to the acute management. There were 33 patients and 27 patients in EER group and SC group, respectively. The age of the patients were (42.2±13.8)years and (44.1±15.0) years in EER group and SC group, respectively. The causes of the injuries were car accident, falling and crush, the percentage of the patients were 60.6%(20 cases), 33.3%(11 cases), 6.1%(2 cases) and 55.6%(15 cases), 44.4%(12 cases), 0 in EER group and SC group, respectively. The difference between two groups was statistically insignificant. The procedure of EER began with a cystostomy guided by B ultrasound, then an antegrade cystoscopy was performed through the cystostomy while negociating the bladder neck to the proximal side of injured urethra. A ureteral stent was inserted into the broken urethra and retrieved by a forceps through retrograde urethroscopy with another flexible cystoscope. We inserted a guidewire into the ureteral stent before removing it and placed a 16F urethral catheter along the guidewire. We analyzed the difference between two groups including the incidence, the length and the management of urethral stricture and the complexity of urethroplasty if needed. The simple urethroplasty was defined as performing anastomosis after dissection of the bulbar urethral and removing the scar tissue, while the procedure was defined as complex urethroplasty if ancillary procedures, such as separating the corporal bodies and partial pubectomy, was needed.Results:The EER group and SC group had 33 patients and 27 patients, respectively. The mean operation time of EER was (24.5±7.0)minutes and there was no intra-operative complications. Postoperatively, 4 cases of bleeding and 2 cases of UTI were found, which were successfully treated by conservative managements. Twenty-eight out of 33 patients(84.8%) in EER group developed urethral stricture and the mean length of it was (3.10±1.20)cm. However, all patients in SC group developed urethral stricture (100.0%) with the mean stricture length of (3.83±1.18)cm. The difference between two groups in term of the length of stricture was statistically significant ( P=0.026). 24 patients(85.7%) in EER group were treated by urethroplsty, 2 patients(7.1%) with endoscopic urethrotomy and 2 patients (7.1%) with dilation. All were treated with urethroplasty but 2 patients with endoscopic in SC group. In EER group, 8 strictures (33.3%)finished with simple urethroplasty and 16 strictures (66.7%) with complex urethroplasty.While in SC group, 6 strictures(24.0%) completed with simple urethroplasty and 19 strictures (76.0%)with complex urethroplasty. The complexity of urethroplasty performed in EER group was not statistically significant when compared with it in SC group( P=0.538). Conclusions:The procedure of EER with flexible cystoscope is reliable and safe. Most patients with formed urethral stricture after PFUI would be treated with urethroplasty. EER can reduce the urethral stricture formation and may decrease the need of the ancillary procedures during the urethroplasties if needed.

Objective:To observe the efficacy of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combined with targeted drug apatinib in the treatment of gallbladder cancer.Methods:The data of 82 patients with gallbladder cancer who were admitted to Haiyang People's Hospital, Yantaishan Hospital and Rongjun Hospital of Yantai City in Shandong Province from May 2017 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into control group and observation group according to the medication, with 41 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with gemcitabine combined with oxaliplatin regimen (gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m 2 was injected intravenously for 30 minutes on the 1st and 8th day, and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m 2 was injected intravenously for 3 hours on the 1st day), the observation group was combined with apatinib mesylate 500 mg/d based on the treatment method of the control group. The treatment effect, serum tumor marker levels, adverse reactions and survival were compared between the two groups. Results:The disease control rate of the control group was 70.73% (29/41), which was significantly lower than that of the observation group [92.68% (38/41)] ( χ2 = 6.609, P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and Dickkopf-1 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the observation group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 6.011, 3.048, 4.444, and 4.514, all P < 0.05). The incidence of proteinuria and hand-foot syndrome in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2 values were 6.116 and 4.986, both P < 0.05). During the 1-year follow-up, 2 patients in the observation group died, and the survival rate was 95.13% (39/41); 8 patients in the control group died, and the survival rate was 80.49% (33/41). There was a statistical difference in the survival rate between the two groups ( χ2 = 4.100, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combined with apatinib mesylate are effective in treating gallbladder cancer, which can effectively reduce serum tumor marker levels and improve the prognosis of gallbladder cancer patients.