Objective:To investigate the value of lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRG) for predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods:GSE46862, a genome-wide expression data of LARC treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy, was obtained from the Gene Expression Database, and differential expression analysis was performed to obtain differentially expressed genes. The LMRG were collected from the MSigDB database and intersected with differentially expressed genes to obtain differentially expressed LMRG. Candidate LMRG were identified based on three machine learning algorithms including least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), support vector machine - recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), and random forest (RF). Functional enrichment analysis was performed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis to obtain potential function and involved pathways. The accuracy of the candidate LMRG in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for LARC was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results:A total of eight candidate LMRG ( ALOX5AP, FADS2, GALC, PLA2G12A, AGPAT1, AACS, DGKG, ACSBG2) were screened which were mainly involved in biological processes related to lipid metabolism and were involved in the regulation of several important lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways. In addition, these eight candidate LMRG possessed high area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for LARC. Conclusion:The eight LMRG identified based on three machine learning algorithms had high accuracy in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for LARC, providing clues to identify molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets for preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy evaluation of LARC.

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth characteristics of primarily cultured astrocytes and microglia of different generations and then optimize the method for obtaining primary astrocytes and microglia effectively. Primarily cultured microglia were isolated and purified from the cortices of neonatal mice. The proliferation curve of mixed glia cells was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, the proportion of astrocytes and microglia was detected by flow cytometry, and the polarization of the two types of glia cells was identified by immunofluorescence staining. Cell growth results showed that the mixed glia cells of P0 and P1 generation had the best proliferative activity; 97.3% of the high purity microglia could be obtained by mechanical shaking at 170 r/min for 30 min, and there was no significant difference in the morphology of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) positive microglia and the proportion of M1 and M2 phenotype among the P0, P1 and P2 generations of microglia isolated by the above methods. Moreover, 95.7 % of the high purity astrocytes could be obtained by astrocyte cell surface antigen-2 (ACSA-2) magnetic beads separation, and there was no significant difference in the morphology of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive astrocyte and the proportion of A1 and A2 phenotype among the P0, P1 and P2 generations of astrocyte isolated by the above methods. Taken together, this study observed the growth characteristics of primarily cultured microglia and astrocyte in vitro, and then proved the best generations for purifying microglia and astrocytes. Finally, we optimized the methods of obtaining microglia and astrocyte, and verified that continuous culture within 2 generations will not affect the functional phenotypes of glia cells. These results provide technical support for studying the molecular mechanism of inflammation-associated diseases in nervous system.
Mice ; Animals ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Cell Count ; Flow Cytometry/methods* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of the combination of 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in identifying the grade group of prostate cancer, using parameters derived from the two imaging modalities. Method:Prostate cancer patients diagnosed by histopathology and received 18F-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI during September 2018 to May 2021 in our hospital were retrospectively studied. The median age was 68(64-75), with the median PSA level of 14.74(7.75-24.19)ng/mL. All patients received mpMRI before biopsy. On biopsy, 6(12.2%) patients had International Society of Urological Pathology grade group(ISUP GG) 1 diseases, 16(32.7%) had ISUP GG 2 diseases, 12(24.5%) had ISUP GG 3 diseases, and 15(10.9%) had ISUP GG 4 or 5 diseases. Patients were then divided into high-grade group (ISUP 4-5) and low-grade group(ISUP 1-3). The median age of patients in high-grade group and low-grade group were 65(62-76) and 71(65-74), respectively. The PSA level in high-grade group and low-grade group were 15.11(6.63-42.86) ng/ml and 12.31(7.94-18.25) ng/ml, respectively. No significant differences were found in age and PSA level between the two groups ( P=0.334, P=0.448). All patients underwent 18F-PSMA PET/CT within 4 weeks after biopsy. The maximum standardized uptake value(SUV max) and the minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC min)were recorded, and the ratio of SUV max/ ADC minwere calculated. The correlation between the above parameters and ISUP grade group were analyzed.The diagnostic value of the parameters was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:The data of 49 patients were analyzed. The average ADC minwas (0.57±0.16)×10 -3 mm 2/s, with the average SUV max and SUV max/ADC min of 15.30±12.54 and (29.69±23.72)×10 3, respectively. Statistical differences were found in SUV max ( P=0.012) and SUV max/ADC min ( P=0.002) between the high- and low-grade groups, while ADC min ( P=0.411) showed no statistical differences between the two groups. Significant positive correlations were found between SUV max(r=0.501, P<0.001), SUV max/ADC min (r=0.527, P<0.001) and ISUP grade group, respectively. There was a negative correlation between ADC min and ISUP grade group (r=-0.296, P=0.039). SUV max/ADC min was the best index to distinguish high-grade group from low-grade group prostate cancer with the area under the curve(AUC) of 0.749. In contrast, the AUC of SUV maxand ADC min were 0.731 and 0.615, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of SUV max/ADC min were 73.3% and 85.3%, respectively, with a critical value of 37.23×10 3. Conclusion:The combination use of 18F-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI could improve the diagnostic efficiency for prostate cancer, compared to either modality alone. The ratio of SUV max/ADC min has a positive correlation with ISUP grade group, and is a promising index for distinguishing the high-grade prostate cancer from low-grade cancer.

Objective:To analyze the prognosis of patients with positive resection margin after radical prostatectomy, as well as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)level and risk factors for PSA progression.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 141 patients with pathologically diagnosed prostate cancer who underwent RP from May 2012 to August 2020 in Beijing Hospital. The mean age was (67.4±6.7)years, the preoperative median PSA was 9.6 (1.4-152.8) ng/ ml and the median follow-up time was 56 months. Postoperative pathology was T 2 stage 74 (52.5%), T 3 stage 63 (44.7%), T 4 stage 4 (2.8%). Biochemical recurrence after radical resection was defined as PSA rose to more than 0.2 ng/ml and showed an upward trend after two consecutive follow-ups. In this study, serum PSA ≥ 0.1 ng/ml without biochemical recurrence after radical operation was defined as PSA progression. The PSA level, risk factors of PSA progression and prognosis of patients with positive resection margin were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between age, preoperative PSA level, pathological stage (pT), ISUP classification, surgical approach, lymph node dissection, single/multiple positive margins and PSA progression. Results:The median follow-up of 141 patients was 52 months(1-104 months). There were 69 (48.9%) patients in the PSA progression group and 72 (51.1%) patients in the non PSA progression group. In the PSA progression group, 13 (18.8%) patients did not receive treatment and 8 (61.5%) patients had biochemical recurrence. 4 (5.8%) patients received radiotherapy alone, and 2 (50.0%) patients had biochemical recurrence. 52 (75.4%) patients received endocrine therapy or endocrine therapy combined with radiotherapy, and 5 (9.6%) patients developed castration resistance. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed preoperative PSA ( HR=1.015, 95% CI 1.005-1.025, P =0.004), ISUP grade and group ( HR=1.351, 95% CI 1.091-1.673, P =0.006), surgical method ( HR=2.233, 95% CI 1.141-4.370, P =0.019) was correlated with PSA progression. Conclusions:The incidence of surgical positive margin is high after RP. Nearly half of the patients with surgical positive margin developed a PSA progression status. Preoperative PSA, ISUP grade group, and the surgical approach are risk factors for PSA progression in patients with positive surgical margins. Patients with these risk factors should be monitored more closely and treated more aggressively.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of in situ amniocyte culture for prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: 2716 amniotic fluid samples were cultured in situ on slides. After the culture, the slides were stained, photographed and analyzed. RESULTS: All samples were successfully analyzed, with the success rates for primary culture and subculture being 98.42% and 1.58%, respectively. 224 samples (8.25%) were detected with chromosomal aberrations, which included 125 cases with trisomy 21, 31 with trisomy 18, 3 with trisomy 13, 4 with 45,X, 17 with 47,XXY, 5 with 47,XYY, 1 with 48,XXY,+18, 1 with 48,XXYY, 26 with structural chromosomal aberrations, and 11 with mosaicisms for aneuploidies. CONCLUSION In situ amniocyte culture is stable and has a high success rate, and is capable of identifying true and false mosaicisms, which can improve the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis.

Rectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in China, and the proportion of elderly patients is also increasing. Due to the lack of prospective evidence-based medical research for elderly patients, no consensus on the optimal treatment model has been reached. In this article, relevant researches on the comprehensive treatment strategy of locally advanced rectal cancer in the elderly patients were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for individualized treatment of elderly patients.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) has become the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).However,the response to NCRT varies among LARC patients and a subset of patients show resistance to NCRT.NCRT may delay the timing of surgery and even reduce the overall survival.Therefore,it is of significance to identify biomarkers for predicting the clinical efficacy of NCRT,screen patients who are resistant to NCRT and perform surgery as early as possible,eventually establishing an individualized therapeutic strategy.MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression,which areinvolved in multiple signaling pathways and DNA damage repair process and affect the radiosensitivity of rectal cancer cells.Many recent studies have evaluated the role of microRNA in predicting the response to NCRT.The purpose of this article is to review the research progress and validate the role of microRNA in predicting the clinical efficacy of NCRT for rectal cancer.

Objective: To compare the efficacy between hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in post-mastectomy breast cancer by a meta-analysis. Methods: The controlled clinical trials of comparing hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in post-mastectomy breast cancer were searched from PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database, VIP, CNKI, and CBM databases. The obtained data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software. The differences between two groups were estimated by calculating the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 19 controlled clinical trials involving 2652 post-mastectomy breast cancer patients were selected in this meta-analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that no statistical significance was observed in the tumor-free survival (OR=1.10, 95%CI: 0.78-1.56, P=0.59), overall survival (OR=1.18, 95%CI: 0.92-1.53, P=0.19), locoregional recurrence (OR=1.01, 95%CI: 0.68-1.51, P=0.96), distant metastasis (OR=1.14, 95%CI: 0.82-1.59, P=0.43), skin toxicity (OR=1.01, 95%CI=0.80-2.16, P=0.96), cardiac toxicity (OR=1.17, 95%CI: 0.71-1.93, P=0.53) and pulmonary toxicity (OR=0.78, 95%CI: 0.44-1.37, P=0.38) between two groups. Conclusions Hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventionally fractionated radiotherapy post-mastectomy yield similar clinical efficacy, both of which are safe and efficacious radiotherapy patterns. However, the findings remain to be validated by large-scale randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up of the advanced stage complications.

For locally advanced rectal cancer,neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy,followed by surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy has become a standard treatment mode.Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can induce the tumors to shrink to different extent.Partial patients can obtain complete remission validated by postoperative pathological examination,which contributes to increasing the probability of radical surgery for rectal cancer patients,reducing the recurrence rate and improving the long-term clinical prognosis.In recent years,the prediction and evaluation of the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy has captivated widespread attentions from clinicians.In terms of imaging methods,conventional morphological imaging techniques cannot accurately assess the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy,whereas DWI-MRI,DCE-MRI,PET-CT and other functional imaging techniques can not only reflect the degree of tumor shrinkage,but also reveal the changes in the functional metabolism of tumors before and after treatment and yield higher accuracy.In this article,recent application of imaging techniques in the evaluation of clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer was reviewed.

Radiotherapy is an important part of the postoperative adjuvant therapy of breast cancer. Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) of postoperative radiotherapy severely reduces the quality of life of breast cancer patients. In this article, the general situation, mechanism, diagnosis, risk factors, treatment and preventive measures of RIBP were reviewed.