Background and Purpose:The early prediction of local tumor progression-free survival(LTPFS)after radiofrequency ablation(RFA)for colorectal cancer(CRC)lung metastases has significant clinical importance.The application of radiomics in the prediction of tumor prognosis has been explored.This study aimed to construct a radiomics-based nomogram for predicting LTPFS after RFA in CRC patients with lung metastases.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed 172 CRC patients with 401 lung metastases admitted to Department of Interventional Radiology,Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from August 2016 to January 2019.This study was reviewed by the medical ethics committee of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center(ethics number:2402291-24).After augmentation of pre-ablation and immediate post-ablation computed tomography(CT)images,the target metastases and ablation regions were segmented manually to extract the radiomic features.Maximum relevance and minimum redundancy algorithm(MRMRA)and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression models were applied for feature selection.The clinical model,the radiomics model,and the fusion model were constructed based on the selected radiomic features and clinical variables screened by the multivariate analysis.The Harrell concordance index(C-index)and area under receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the prediction performance.Finally,the corresponding nomogram of the best model was drawn.Results:Among all the lung metastases,102(25.4%)had final recurrence,and 299(74.6%)had complete response(CR).The median follow-up time was 21 months(95%CI:19.466-22.534),and the LTPFS rates at 1,2,and 3 years after RFA were 76.5%(95%CI:72.0-80.4),72.1%(95%CI:66.6-76.9)and 69.9%(95%CI:64.0-75.1).In both the training and test dataset,the fusion model based on the final 12 radiomic features through the LASSO regression and 4 clinical variables screened by multivariate analysis achieved the highest AUC values for LTPFS,with C-index values of 0.890(95%CI:0.854-0.927)and 0.843(95%CI:0.768-0.916),respectively.Conclusion:The fusion model based on radiomic features and clinical variables is feasible for predicting LTPFS after RFA of CRC patients with lung metastases,whose performance is superior to the single radiomic and clinical model.At the same time,the nomogram of the fusion model can intuitively predict the prognosis of CRC patients with lung metastases after RFA,thus assisting clinicians in developing individualized follow-up review plans for patients and adjusting treatment strategies flexibly.

Objective:To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -infected pneumonia in Enshi, Hubei, and to improve the awareness of the disease, which is key for surveillance and control measures of 2019-nCoV pneumonia in the region.Methods:The first 66 laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV patients in Enshi between January 23, 2020 and February 1, 2020 were included. Their epidemiological data, demographic data, clinical data and therapeutic effect were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the first 66 patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV, patients had an average age of 46±9 years, 35 (53.0%) patients were male and 31 (47.0%) female; 38 (57.6%) patients were Han, 18 (27.3%) were Tujia, and 10 (15.1%) were Miao. Thirty-seven (56%) patients had chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, chronic bronchus, inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis. All the patients had a history of exposure or indirect exposure in Wuhan epidemic area, mainly history of Wuhan sojourner. The mean incubation period varied from 2.5-16 days, with the 95th percentile of the distribution at 7 days. The main clinical manifestation were fever [66 (100%) patients], dry cough [56 (84.8%)], chest tightness [21 (31.8%)], shortness of breath [8 (12.1%)], massive fatigue [23 (34.8%)], muscle ache [6 (9.1%)], headache [4 (6.1%)], sore throat [13 (19.7%) ], rhinorrhoea [11 (16.7%) ], and diarrhea [ 5 (7.6%)]. Six (9.1%) critically ill patients and 4 (6.1%) critically ill patients had dyspnea. White blood cell counts were normal or decreased in 51 (77.3%) patients, and increased in 15 (22.7%). Lymphocyte counts were reduced or normal in 58 (87.9%) patients, and increased in 8 (12.1%) patients. Most patients had elevated CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation, and some patients had normal ranges of liver function, renal function, and electrolytes. Ten severely ill patients had elevated liver enzymes and cardiac enzymes (especially K and CKMB). There were significant differences in inflammatory markers among patients of different nationalities. Arterial blood gas analysis in 56 (84.8%) mild patients showed no significant abnormalities. Chest CT scans of 66 patients showed single or multiple small patchy shadows and interstitial changes, which were evident in the extrapulmonary band. All patients were hospitalized and isolated for treatment. Of the 66 patients received oxygen therapy, most of them received antiviral therapy (abidol/Kaletra, 0.2 g po tid/2 pills po bid) and interferon (aerosol inhalation), few patient received antibacterial therapy (Tanreqing, 20 mL ivgtt qd) and glucocorticoid therapy (methylprednisolone, 40 mg ivgtt bid), and supplemented by traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Six (9.1%) severely ill patients and 4 (6.1%) critically ill patients treated with non-invasive or invasive ventilator.Conclusions:The patients in this study are all imported cases. Most patients have mild clinical symptoms. The lungs show single or multiple small patchy shadows and interstitial changes, which are obvious with extrapulmonary bands. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, and the above-mentioned symptomatic treatment scheme is effective. The overall morbidity and mortality in this region are lower than those in other parts of the province, and the mortality and critical illness rate of ethnic minority patients are lower than those of Han patients. There are significant differences in inflammatory markers such as leukocytes and lymphocytes among patients of different nationalities.

Objective    To explore the effect of expression of miRNA-21 on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods    In this study, flow cytometry was used to identify the surface-associated antigens of BMSCs. The 10 μmol/L 5-azacytidine was used to induce BMSCs to differentiate to cardiomyocyte-like cells. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of troponin I (cTnI). The samples were assigned to 3 groups: a blank group, a miRNA-21 mimic group, and a negative control (NC) group. The proliferation of BMSCs was detected by methyl thiazolylte-trazolium (MTT), the apoptosis of BMSCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western-blotting was used to identify the expression of cTnI and myod in the BMSCs. Results    The proliferation of BMSCs was increased, because of the over expression of miRNA-21. But the apoptotic rate of the BMSCs was slower in the miRNA-21 group, on account of the expression of miRNA-21 was higher than that in the NC group and the CK group. The expression of cTnI in the miRNA-21 group was higher than that in the NC group or the CK group. Conclusion    The results suggest that the up-regulation of miRNA-21 enhances proliferation of BMSCs, reduces the apoptosis of BMSCs. miRNA-21 promotes the differentiation of BMSCs, which may pave the way for the treatment directed toward restoring miRNA-21 function for myocardial ischemia.

Objective To analyze and compare the differentially expressed plasma proteins between patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and search for the biomarkers that maybe used for early diagnosis of UAP. Methods Sixty plasma samples were collected respectively from normal controls group (N group), SAP group and UAP group during Jun. 2014 to Apr. 2015 from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. Ten samples (100μl) of each group were selected randomly to pool into 3 groups severally. After removing high-abundance proteins from plasma, two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) was used to isolate the total proteins, and then the protein spots with more than 2-fold changes between UAP and SAP were picked up after the differential software analysis. Afterward, the varied proteins were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Finally, 40 plasma samples were collected respectively from N, SAP and UAP group, and the UAP specific differential proteins were selected to be verified by ELISA. Results A total of 10 varied protein spots with more than 2-fold changes in UAP and SAP were found including 9 up-regulated proteins and 1 down-regulated one. MS identification indicated that the up-regulated proteins included fibrinogen gamma chain (FGG), complement C4-B (C4B), immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa chain C region (IGKC) and hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA1), whereas the down-regulated one was haptoglobin (HP). After comparing the varied proteins with that in N group, 2 specifically UAP-related proteins, IGKC and HP, were detected totally. IGKC was selected to validate by ELISA, and the corresponding results showed that IGKC was increased specifically in UAP plasma (P<0.05) when compared with N and SAP group, which was consistent with DIGE. Conclusion IGKC and HP have been detected as specifically related proteins to UAP, and IGKC might serve as a potential specific biomarker for screening and early diagnosis of UAP.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among circadian blood pressure rhythm, autonomic nervous system and myocardial energy expenditure (MEE) level in patients with primary hypertension.

METHODSA total of 102 hypertensive and 45 normotensive subjects were recruited. According to blood pressure reduction rate at night, the hypertensive patients were divided into non-dipper group (NDH group, n=54) with a reduction rate of <10% and dipper group (DH group, n=48) with a reduction rate of ≥10%. The circadian blood pressure rhythm and heart rate variability were measured with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and 24-hour electrocardiograph monitoring, respectively, and MEE was measured by Doppler echocardiography to analyze their correlations.

RESULTSSDNN, SDANN, SDNNindex, RMSSD, PNN50, and HF were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients than in the control group (P<0.05); these parameters, except for PNN50, were all significantly lower in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). The hypertensive patients had significantly higher MEE than the control group (P<0.05), and MEE was significantly higher in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed significant correlations of MEE with SDANN in the hypertensive patients (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPatients with primary hypertension, especially those in NDH group, have impaired autonomic nervous system function. The hypertensive patients in NDH group show a more prominent increase in MEE in relation to sympathetic activation, suggesting the importance of restoring circadian blood pressure rhythm in the treatment of hypertension.

Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Case-Control Studies ; Circadian Rhythm ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Energy Metabolism ; Essential Hypertension ; Heart ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the relationship among circadian blood pressure rhythm, autonomic nervous system and myocardial energy expenditure (MEE) level in patients with primary hypertension. Methods A total of 102 hypertensive and 45 normotensive subjects were recruited. According to blood pressure reduction rate at night, the hypertensive patients were divided into non-dipper group (NDH group, n=54) with a reduction rate of<10%and dipper group (DH group, n=48) with a reduction rate of≥10%. The circadian blood pressure rhythm and heart rate variability were measured with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and 24- hour electrocardiograph monitoring, respectively, and MEE was measured by Doppler echocardiography to analyze their correlations. Results SDNN, SDANN, SDNNindex, RMSSD, PNN50, and HF were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients than in the control group (P<0.05);these parameters, except for PNN50, were all significantly lower in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). The hypertensive patients had significantly higher MEE than the control group (P<0.05), and MEE was significantly higher in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed significant correlations of MEE with SDANN in the hypertensive patients (P<0.01). Conclusion Patients with primary hypertension, especially those in NDH group, have impaired autonomic nervous system function. The hypertensive patients in NDH group show a more prominent increase in MEE in relation to sympathetic activation, suggesting the importance of restoring circadian blood pressure rhythm in the treatment of hypertension.

Objective To investigate the relationship among circadian blood pressure rhythm, autonomic nervous system and myocardial energy expenditure (MEE) level in patients with primary hypertension. Methods A total of 102 hypertensive and 45 normotensive subjects were recruited. According to blood pressure reduction rate at night, the hypertensive patients were divided into non-dipper group (NDH group, n=54) with a reduction rate of<10%and dipper group (DH group, n=48) with a reduction rate of≥10%. The circadian blood pressure rhythm and heart rate variability were measured with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and 24- hour electrocardiograph monitoring, respectively, and MEE was measured by Doppler echocardiography to analyze their correlations. Results SDNN, SDANN, SDNNindex, RMSSD, PNN50, and HF were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients than in the control group (P<0.05);these parameters, except for PNN50, were all significantly lower in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). The hypertensive patients had significantly higher MEE than the control group (P<0.05), and MEE was significantly higher in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed significant correlations of MEE with SDANN in the hypertensive patients (P<0.01). Conclusion Patients with primary hypertension, especially those in NDH group, have impaired autonomic nervous system function. The hypertensive patients in NDH group show a more prominent increase in MEE in relation to sympathetic activation, suggesting the importance of restoring circadian blood pressure rhythm in the treatment of hypertension.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional gene silencing process by targeting mRNA for degradation in a sequence-specific manner. This powerful platform has enormous potential in functional genomics and medical research. As a tool to knock out expression of specific genes in a variety of organisms, RNAi was used to investigate gene function in a high throughput fashion. Highly conserved in evolution RNAi appears to have evolved as a cellular defense mechanism in plants and animals to suppress viral infection, transposon jumping and endogenous aberrant genes. Exploiting the natural mechanism, the researchers can shut down disease-causing genes and develop novel therapeutics against infection, tumor and other disease.
Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Silencing ; Genomics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; RNA-Induced Silencing Complex

Objective To examine loss of heterozygosity(LOH) and microsatellite instability(MSI) of locus D8S277 on chromosome 8 and their influence on the expression of PINX1 in the gastric carcinoma,which may provide an experimental basis for the mechanism of PINX1 gene and tumor development.Methods DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and ordinary silver staining were used to study LOH and MSI of locus D8S277.Envision immunohistochemistry and Leica-Qwin computer imaging techniques were used to assess the expression of PINX1.Results The frequency of LOH was significantly higher in the cases with lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis(21.15% vs 0,P

100 mm/h, group D).The tumor size/stage of the 4 ESR groups were analyzed by means of SPSS10.0. Results There were 89 cases with normal ESR,18 cases in group A,49 cases in group B,14 cases in group C and 3 cases in group D.For the correlation of ESR and tumor size,the analysis resulted in ?2 =13.621,P=0.003;Spearman correlation analysis results were:correlation coefficient of 0.341,P=0.002.For the correlation of ESR and tumor stage, the analysis resulted in ?2 =5.959 and P=0.114;Spearman correlation analysis results were:correlation coefficient of 0.208,P=0.057. Conclusions These results suggest that ESR is positively correlated with the size of renal cell carcinoma;however,there is no association between ESR and tumor stages.