Gingival recessions (GRs) result in root hypersensitivity, root surface caries, and esthetic problems. Various root coverage surgeries are being developed for periodontal plastic therapy. The tunnel technique (TUN) is one of the most widely applied surgeries due to its features of being minimally invasive, practical, excellent outcomes and long-term stability; however, there are still some limitations of this technique. The history and evolution from the envelope flap to TUN, including its efficiency when compared with coronally advanced flaps with a connective tissue graft (CTG), are reviewed in this paper. The limitations of TUN are discussed in consideration of our clinical experience; for example, there is high technique sensitivity when TUN is applied in GR>5 mm because of the great difficulty in covering the grafts. The advantages of surgical access, including vertical incisions in the vestibule, “W” type and pinhole access, are discussed for different situations. Mattress sutures and sling sutures in a single tooth or multiple teeth are applied in TUN. The different types of grafts, such as CTG, platelet-rich plasma, articular dermal matrix and xenogeneic collagen matrix, are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological conditioning of the root surface are recommended during surgery. Protecting the surgical area and taking antibiotics postoperatively are also very important. Finally, the modifications when TUN is applied with other kinds of techniques are discussed, including lateral closed TUN, laterally positioned flaps, double papilla flaps and frenuloplasty. Minimally invasive, esthetic, long-term stability and simplified techniques are the development trends of TUN in the future.

Pancreatic cancer, notorious for its late diagnosis and aggressive progression, poses a substantial challenge owing to scarce treatment alternatives. This review endeavors to furnish a holistic insight into pancreatic cancer, encompassing its epidemiology, genomic characterization, risk factors, diagnosis, therapeutic strategies, and treatment resistance mechanisms. We delve into identifying risk factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental exposures, and explore recent research advancements in precursor lesions and molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, we highlight the development and application of multi-omics approaches in pancreatic cancer research and discuss the latest combinations of pancreatic cancer biomarkers and their efficacy. We also dissect the primary mechanisms underlying treatment resistance in this malignancy, illustrating the latest therapeutic options and advancements in the field. Conclusively, we accentuate the urgent demand for more extensive research to enhance the prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients.
Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Prognosis ; Pancreas/pathology* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genomics

Primary adrenal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is clinically rare. This article reported a patient, who was diagnosed as primary adrenal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma complicated with renal vein cancer thrombus, and underwent laparoscopic left adrenal + left kidney + left renal vein tumor embolectomy.The carcinoma relapsed after 19 months of follow-up after surgery. The patient and his family refused further treatment.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) level and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods:Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University from September 2021 to November 2021 and whose duration from onset to hospitalization <14 d were prospectively enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum LCN-2. Fazekas scale was used to assess the severity of periventricular and subcortical WMHs. A total WMHs score ≥3 was defined as severe WMHs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between serum LCN-2 level and WMHs. Results:A total of 179 patients were enrolled, including 122 males (68.2%), aged 64.7±11.6 years. The median serum LCN-2 level was 387.1 g/L, and 86 patients (48.0%) had severe WMHs. Serum LCN-2 in the severe WMH group was significantly higher than that in the non-severe WMH group (505.3±342.4 g/L vs. 367.8±224.5 g/L; t=3.110, P=0.002). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for the relevant confounding factors, there was a significant correlation between higher serum LCN-2 and severe WMHs (odds ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval 1.17-4.63; P=0.017) and higher total WMHs score (odds ratio 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.35; P=0.011). Conclusion:Higher serum LCN-2 level is associated with severe WMHs in patients with ischemic stroke.

Objective:To establish the normal values of water-perfused high resolution esophageal manometry (HREM)(GAP-36A) at resting period, water swallowing, semisolid swallowing and solid swallowing in Chinese population.Methods:From September 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, 91 healthy volunteers receiving water-perfused HREM (GAP-36A) at resting period, water swallowing, semisolid swallowing and solid swallowing were selected from 9 hospitals (Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University; the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; the Second Affiliated Hospital, Naval Medical University; the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; the First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China; Aviation General Hospital of China Medical University; the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University and the First People′s Hospital of Yichang). Parameters included the position of the upper and lower edges of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the length of the LES and UES, the position of the pressure inversion point (PIP), the resting pressure of UES and LES and swallow-related parameters such as the distal contraction integral (DCI), 4 s integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), distal latency (DL) and UES residual pressure. One-way analysis of variance, post-hoc test and sum rank test were used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 87 healthy volunteers were enrolled, including 40 males and 47 females, aged (38.5±14.2) years old (ranged from 19 to 65 years old). The position of the upper and lower edges of the LES was (42.7±2.8) and (45.6±2.8) cm, respectively, the length of the LES was (2.9±0.4) cm, and the position of PIP was (43.3±2.8) cm. The position of the upper and lower edges of the UES was (18.1±3.0) and (22.6±2.0) cm, respectively, and the length of the UES was (4.8±1.0) cm. The resting pressure of LES and UES was (17.4±10.7) and (84.1±61.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively. The DCI value at solid swallowing was higher than those at water swallowing and semisolid swallowing ((2 512.4±1 448.0) mmHg·s·cm vs. (2 183.2±1 441.2) and (2 150.8±1 244.8) mmHg·s·cm), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.30 and -3.74, both P<0.001). The values of 4 s IRP at semisolid swallowing and solid swallowing were lower than that at water swallowing ((4.6±4.1) and (4.9±3.9) mmHg vs. (5.4±3.9) mmHg), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=3.38 and 2.09, P=0.001 and 0.037). The DL at water swallowing was shorter than those at semisolid swallowing and solid swallowing ((8.5±1.8) s vs. (9.8±2.2) and (10.6±2.8) s), and the DL at semisolid swallowing was shorter than that at solid swallowing, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-10.21, -13.91 and -4.68, all P<0.001). The UES residual pressure at water swallowing was higher than those at semisolid swallowing and solid swallowing (9.5 mmHg, 6.5 to 12.3 mmHg vs. 8.0 mmHg, 4.5 to 11.7 mmHg and 5.5 mmHg, 2.0 to 9.3 mmHg), and the UES residual pressure at semisolid swallowing was higher than that at solid swallowing, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=3.48, 10.30 and 6.35, all P<0.001). Conclusions:The normal values of water-perfused HREM (GAP-36A) in Chinese population at resting period, water swallowing, semisolid swallowing and solid swallowing can provide a reference basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment for patients receiving water-perfused HREM examination.

Objective: To investigate the safety of argatroban in vertebral artery stenting and its effect on postoperative restenosis. Methods: From January 2013 to September 2017, patients undergoing vertebral artery stenting in the Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital were enrolled prospectively. They were divided into agatraban group and heparin group by random number table method. The argatroban group received argatroban anticoagulation during the procedure, and was continuously used for 5 d after procedure; while the heparin group underwent heparin anticoagulation during the procedure, and used saline as placebo after procedure. Clinical follow-up was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after procedure. Digital subtraction angiography, CT angiography, or magnetic resonance angiography were performed at 6 months to evaluate the restenosis of the treated blood vessels. The primary endpoints included intraoperative safety, in-stent restenosis after procedure, and any clinical events that occurred during the follow-up period, including stroke, cardiovascular events, and death. Major safety events included bleeding from various organs, allergic reactions, liver dysfunction, and embolism events. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the incidence of vascular events during the follow-up period. Results: A total of 105 patients were enrolled in the analysis, including 53 in the argatroban group and 52 in the heparin group. During the periprocedural period, no hemorrhagic events, allergic reactions, liver dysfunction or embolism events occurred in both groups. There were no significant differences in preoperative vertebral artery stenosis degree, postoperative residual stenosis degree, and stenosis degree at 6 months after procedure between the two groups, but the increase of stent stenosis at 6 months after procedure in the agatroban group was significantly lower than that in the heparin group (13.56%±26.41% vs. 4.25%±15.76%; P=0.031). There was no significant difference in the incidence of stroke recurrence (P=1.000) and clinical events (P=0.739) between the two groups during the long-term follow-up period. Conclusions It is safe to use agatraban anticoagulant therapy in the vertebral artery stenting. Continuous use of agatraban anticoagulation after procedure may effectively reduce the increase of stent stenosis at 6 months after procedure.

Objective To investigate the related factors and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension (PAH) in hemodialysis (HD) patients for early diagnosis and intervention of PAH.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 183 long-term hemodialysis patients with complete follow-up data from January 1,2010 to December 30,2015 from the blood purification center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.The follow-up deadline was December 30,2017,and the endpoints were death and cardiovascular events.The clinical data,laboratory examinations,cardiac color Doppler ultrasound parameters and prognosis of patients with and without PAH were compared.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for PAH in HD patients.The survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival curves were compared by Log-rank test between the two groups.A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to examine the association between PAH and all-cause mortality in HD patients.Results Of the 183 hemodialysis patients,79(43.2％) were female,104(56.8％) were male,and the age was (56.1±16.9) years,of which 72(39.3％) were complicated with PAH.Compared with the non-PAH group,patients in the PAH group was older and had a longer duration of dialysis (both P ＜ 0.05).The left atrial diameter (P=0.002) and the proportion of valvular calcification (P=0.004) were significantly higher in the PAH group than that in the non-PAH group.Logistic regression analysis showed increased age (OR=1.027,95％ CI 1.001-1.053,P=0.041) and increased duration of dialysis (OR=1.129,95％ CI 1.004-1.269,P=0.042) were risk factors for PAH in HD patients.After a median follow-up of 27.8 months,Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that all-cause mortality was higher in the PAH group than that in the non-PAH group ~x2=5.636,P=0.018).The main cause of death in two groups was cardiovascular event.Afteradjusting for age,diabetes mellitus,duration of dialysis,valvular calcification,and hypertension,Cox regression showed that PAH increased the risk of all-cause mortality in HD patients (HR=1.894,95％ CI 1.083-3.313,P=0.025).Conclusions HD patients complicated with PAH are more common and the prognosis is poor.Increased age and increased duration of dialysis may be risk factors for PAH in HD patients.Regular color Doppler echocardiography is helpful for early detection and diagnosis of PAH.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of exosomes released by adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) cell line SACC-83 on the proliferation of ACC cells.

METHODSExosomes were isolated from SACC-83 cell culture supernatants using total exosome isolation reagents. The whole-mount exosomes were characterized using transmission electron microscope and Western blotting. The exosomes were labeled with green fluorescent dye PKH67 and co-cultured with SACC-83 cells for 48 h, followed by staining with Alexa Fluor 594 phalloidin and DAPI to observe exosome uptake by the cells using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay and wound healing assay, and the expressions of ERK and P-ERK in the co-cultured SACC-83 cells were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe exosomes isolated from SACC-83 cells showed a size range of 30-100 nm and expressed the exosomal markers CD9, CD63 and TSG101. LSCM showed exosome uptake by SACC-83 cells, which exhibited accelerated proliferation and significantly enhanced P-ERK expression ( < 0.05) without significant changes in ERK expression.

CONCLUSIONSSACC-83 cells produce exosomes that promote the tumor cell proliferation and enhances the cellular expression of P-ERK, suggesting a potential role of MAPK/ERK pathway activation in exosome-mediated acceleration of ACC cell proliferation.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors and clinical significance of high-resolution magnetic renounce imaging (HR-MRI) plaque enhancement in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic (ICAS) stenosis.Methods Patients with symptomatic ICAS stenosis confirmed by digital subtraction angiography and examined by HR-MRI were enrolled prospectively.The demographic data,vascular risk factors,laboratory tests,and imaging features of plaques were compared according to whether the plaques were enhanced or not.They were randomly divided into an ischemic stroke group and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) group according to the results of diffusion-weighted imaging.The relationship between plaque enhancement and ischemic stroke was analyzed.Results Thirty-fiwe patients with symptomatic ICAS stenosis were enrolled.Their mean age was 53 ± 13 years and 25 were males.There were 21 patientswith ischemic stroke and 14 patients with TIA;22 had plaque enhancement and 13 did not have.The leukocyte count ([7.50±2.30] × 109/L vs.[5.80± 1.00] × 109/L;t=2.487,P=0.018) and proportion of severe stenosis (86.4％ vs.53.8％;P =0.040) of the plaque enhancement group were significantly higher than those of the non-enhancement group.The proportion of smoking was significantly lower than the non-enhancement group (13.6％ vs.46.2％;P=0.050).The plaque enhancement rate of the ischemic stroke group was higher than that of the TIA group (71.4％ vs.50.0％;P =0.288),but there was no significant difference.Conclusions In patients with symptomatic ICAS,the degree of vascular stenosis and the leukocyte level were associated with plaque enhancement.In addition,there was no significant correlation between plaque enhancement and the occurrence of ischemic stroke in patients with symptomatic ICAS.

Purpose To explore the clinical features and multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) imaging characteristics of nodule-type and mass-type parotid eosinophilic lymphogranuloma,in order to improve the understanding of the disease.Materials and Methods The clinical and imaging data of 6 patients with nodule-type or mass-type parotid eosinophilic lymphogranuloma confirmed by surgery pathology in Chongqing Jiulongpo Chinese Medicine Hospital from June 2007 to March 2016 (experimental group) were retrospectively analyzed.Another 32 synchronous patients with Warthin tumor confirmed by surgery pathology were enrolled as the control group.MSCT conventional and enhanced scanning were performed on all these patients,and the clinical features and MSCT characteristics were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with patients with Warthin tumor,the value and percentage of peripheral eosinophil and serum IgE level increased in all the 6 patients (age ＜ 50) with eosinophilic lymphogranuloma,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Compared with Warthin tumor,eosinophilic lymphogranuloma was often accompanied by ipsilateral parotid enlargement,neck deep fascia thickening and edge blurring,lesions reducing,and neck lymph node enlargement.The enhanced scanning of eosinophilic lymphogranuloma showed delayed enhancement,and the enhancement in venous phase and delayed-phase was significant;while Warthin tumor showed significant enhancement in arterial phase and contrast clearing features in delayed-phase.Conclusion The MSCT findings of eosinophilic lymphogranuloma characterized by nodules or masses shows features of inflammatory lesions,in which mass density is relatively uniform and presents delayed enhancement.Combining clinical manifestation with laboratory tests will contribute to distinguish eosinophilic lymphogranuloma and Warthin tumor.