OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of single-stage vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) combined with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) and liposuction (LS) (3L) versus LVA combined with LS (2L) for the treatment of moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 16 patients with moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, treated between June 2022 and June 2024, who met the selection criteria. Patients were divided into 3L group (n=7) and 2L group (n=9) based on the surgical approach. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in baseline data between the groups, including age, body mass index, duration of edema, volume of liposuction, International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stage, preoperative affected limb volume, preoperative circumferences of the affected limb at 12 levels (from 4 cm distal to the wrist to 42 cm proximal to the wrist), preoperative Lymphoedema Quality of Life (LYMQoL) score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes. The 2L group underwent LS on the upper arm and proximal forearm and LVA on the middle and distal forearm. The 3L group received additional VLNT in the axilla, with the groin serving as the donor site. Outcomes were assessed included the change in affected limb volume at 12 months postoperatively, and comparisons of limb circumferences, LYMQoL score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes between preoperative and 12-month postoperative. Ultrasound evaluation was performed at 12 months in the 3L group to assess lymph node viability. RESULTS: Both groups were followed up 12-20 months, with an average of 15.13 months. There was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the groups (t=-1.115, P=0.284). All surgical incisions healed by first intention. No adverse events, such as flap infection or necrosis, occurred in the 3L group. At 12 months after operation, ultrasound confirmed good viability of the transferred lymph nodes in the 3L group. Palpation revealed significant improvement in skin fibrosis and improved skin softness in both groups. Affected limb volume significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively (P<0.05). The reduction in limb volume significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05). Circumferences at all 12 measured levels significantly decreased in both groups compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). The reduction in circumference at all 12 levels was better in the 3L group than in the 2L group, with significant differences observed at 7 levels (8, 12, 16, 30, 34, 38, and 42 cm) proximal to the wrist (P<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in the frequency of cellulitis episodes and LYMQoL scores postoperatively (P<0.05). While the improvement in LYMQoL scores at 12 months did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), the reduction in cellulitis episodes was significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of VLNT+LVA+LS provides more durable and comprehensive outcomes for moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery compared to LVA+LS, offering an improved therapeutic solution for patients.
Humans ; Female ; Lipectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods* ; Lymphedema/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Upper Extremity/surgery* ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/blood supply* ; Adult ; Lymphatic Vessels/surgery* ; Iliac Artery/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Treatment Outcome ; Mastectomy/adverse effects* ; Quality of Life ; Aged

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of polygonatum and astragalus compound(PA)in inhibiting the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods:CCK-8 assay was used to assess the inhibitory rate of proliferation in A549 and H1299 cells treated with PA at different concentrations and to calculate the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50).C57BL/6 mice(KRASG12D/+;TP53flox/flox)were treated with adenovirus carrying Cre enzyme via nasal inhalation to establish a mouse model of primary lung adenocarcinoma.The model mice were fed with PA-containing diet to directly observe the effect of PA on the lung adenocarcinoma tissue.Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the pathological status of the lung tissue.Bioinformatics analysis indicated that PA affects the progression of lung adenocarcinoma through the apelin-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PGC1α)-mitochondrial brown fat uncoupling protein 1(UCP1).Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to study the effect of PA on the mRNA and protein expression levels of apelin-PGC1α-UCP1 signaling pathway related genes.An ATP detection kit and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effect of PA on the ATP and mitochondrial ROS production,respectively,in A549 and H1299 cells.siUCP1 was used to silent the expression of UCP1 while Z160 was used to induce UCP1 overexpression in A549 and H1299 cells,and the changes in ATP and mitochondrial ROS production were examined to further investigate whether PA acts on apelin-PGC1α-UCP1 signaling pathway to affect the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. Results:PA could obviously inhibit the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells with the IC50 values of 10.66 mg/mL for A549 cells and 9.66 mg/mL for H1299 cells.In the mouse primary lung adenocarcinoma model,PA could effectively inhibit the growth of tumor,downregulate apelin-PGC1α-UCP1 signaling pathway and inhibit the expression of lung adenocarcinoma-promoting gene UCP1.In A549 and H1299 cells,PA could significantly inhibit the expression of apelin,PGC1α and UCP1(P＜0.05),promote the production of ATP(P＜0.000 1)and ROS,restore mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation,and inhibit aerobic glycolysis(P＜0.01).UCP1 silencing could increase the production of ATP(P＜0.01)and mitochondrial ROS and decrease the expression of key glycolysis enzymes hexokinase 2(HK2)and pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2(PKM2)(P＜0.05).Increasing the expression of UCP1 could reduce the ATP production(P＜0.01)and mitochondrial ROS generation in cells while increase the expression of HK2 and PKM2(P＜0.05).Treating cells with PA and Z160 simultaneously(PA+Z160)could reverse the inhibitory effect of PA on the ATP production and glycolysis of tumor cells(P＜0.05). Conclusion:PA can downregulate the apelin-PGC1α-UCP1 signaling pathway,inhibit mitochondrial uncoupling,restore mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation,inhibit aerobic glycolysis,reverse the Warburg effect,and thus inhibit lung adenocarcinoma progression.

Objective: To investigate the effect of manganese chloride (MnCl₂) or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP ⁺) on oxidative stress and autophagy in human neuroblastomaSK-N-SH cells and the mechanism of the neurotoxicity of manganese. Methods: SK-N-SH cells were treated with MnCl₂ or MPP⁺ at doses of 0.062 5, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol/L for 24 hours, and MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. The cells weretreated with MnCl₂ or MPP⁺ at doses of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mmol/L for 24 hours, and flow cytometry was used to measure the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, a laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe autophagosome in cells, and Western blot was used to measure the expression of autophagy-related proteins P62 and LC3-II/LC3-I. Results: Compared with the control group, the 0.0625-2.0 mmol/L MnCl₂ and 0.125-2.0 mmol/L MPP ⁺ treatment groups had significant reductions in the viability of SK-N-SH cells, and the 0.25-2.0 mmol/L MnCl₂ treatment groups had significantly lower viability than the groups treated with the same doses of MPP⁺ (all P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the 0.125-0.25 mmol/L MnCl₂ and 0.125-0.5 mmol/L MPP⁺ treatment groups had significant increases in the content of ROS, and the 0.25-0.5 mmol/L MPP⁺ treatment groups had significantly higher content of ROS than the groups treated with the same doses of MnCl₂ (all P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the 0.25-0.5 mmol/L MnCl₂ andMPP⁺ treatment groups had significant increases in autophagy-related proteins LC3-II/LC3-I and significant reductions in P62 expression; the 0.125-0.5 mmol/L MPP⁺ treatment groups had significantly higher LC3-II/LC3-I than the groups treated with the same doses of MnCl₂, and the 0.125 and 0.25 mmol/L MPP ⁺ treatment groups had significantly lower P62 expression than the groups treated with the same doses of MnCl₂ (all P<0.05) . Conclusion Both MnCl₂ and MPP⁺ can induce oxidative stress and autophagy in SK-N-SH cells, and MPP⁺ has a significantly greater inductive effect on autophagy of SK-N-SH cells than MnCl₂.