Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor of digestive tract.Remarkable regional difference is a prominent feature of the clinical epidemiology of esophageal cancer.They are mainly manifested in incidence rate,incidence type,onset age,and gene mutation.These differences may be related to dietary habits,lifestyle,and environmental factors.In recent years,research on the regional differences in esophageal cancer has gradually deepened.This article summarizes the differences in incidence rate,incidence type,gene mutations,epigenetics,risk factors,and prognosis of esophageal cancer in different regions,including Asia(China,India,Japan,and other countries),Europe,America(the United States),Africa,and other regions.Understanding these differences can help doctors and public health experts understand the risk factors and causes of esophageal cancer and further develop highly effective prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the occurrence and mortality rate of this malignancy.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM)is a rare,highly aggressive,and lethal tumor with poor prognosis.Its survival period ranges from four months to one year,and the 5-year survival rate is only about 10%.MPM is highly resistant to chemotherapy,and conventional treatments such as cisplatin combined with pemetrexed or raltitrexed only have a certain effect in about 20%of patients.In recent years,with the continuous in-depth understanding of the genetic variation characteristics of MPM,some progress has been made in the molecular mechanism underlying the chemotherapy resistance of MPM.This article will summarize the research progress of the molecular mechanism underlying the chemotherapy resistance of MPM,including BAP1 gene mutation,microRNA,MTA1-mediated DNA damage repair pathway,GITR-GITRL pathway,TGFa pathway,tumor stem cell,EGFR,and PTEN.The aim of this work is to provide a reference for exploring new therapeutic targets and combined treatment options for MPM.

Objective To explore the feasibility of second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT ab-dominal virtual non-contrast(VNC) for diagnosing fatty liver.Methods The imaging data of 128 patients with second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT abdominal enhanced CT in West China Hospital of Si-chuan University from June 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The CT values of the left lobe,right anterior lobe,right posterior lobe and spleen of all patients were measured on TNC,arterial stage VNC (A-VNC) and venous stage VNC (V-VNC) images.The difference value (L-S) and ratio value (L/S) between the CT value of liver and CT value of spleen were calculated.According to the threshold value of TNC image diagnosis of fatty liver in previous studies,the included cases were divided into two groups:fatty liver group and non-fatty liver group.The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference of quanti-tative parameters between the fatty liver group and non-fatty liver group.The efficiency of VNC in the diagno-sis of fatty liver was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,and the difference be-tween ROC curves was compared with DeLong's test.The intra-group and inter-group correlation coefficient (ICC) values were used to evaluate the consistency of data measurement.Results The ICC values of intra-group and inter-group consistency of data ranged (0.835-0.986) and (0.810-0.978),respectively (P<0.05).The mean value of left lobe,right anterior lobe,right posterior lobe and triple lobe of liver and CT val-ue of spleen in A-VNC and V-VNC images were lower than those of TNC images,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The CT values of TNC,A-VNC,V-VNC,(L-S) values and (L/S) values of the non-fatty liver group were higher than those of the fatty liver group,and the differences were statistical-ly significant (P<0.05).The CT value,(L-S) value and (L/S) value of TNC,A-VNC and V-VNC images in the non-fatty liver group were higher than those in the fatty liver group,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The area under the curve (AUC) of CT values of A-VNC and V-VNC for the diagnosis of fatty liver all were 0.997,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver had no statistical difference (Z=0.407,P=0.684).AUC of A-VNC (L-S) and V-VNC (L-S) in the diagnosis of fatty liver was 1.000 and 0.981,respectively,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver had no statistical difference (Z=1.790,P=0.074).AUC of A-VNC (L/S) and V-VNC (L/S) in the diagnosis of fatty liver was 0.992 and 0.987,respec-tively,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver also had no statistical difference (Z=0.665,P=0.506). Conclusion The CT values of liver and spleen in VNC images reconstructed by second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT are lower than TNC,but it is still feasible to diagnose fatty liver based on VNC images.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of air moxibustion combined with pushpin-like needle acupuncture,which is formulated based on the"suppressing wood-supporting earth"theory in the doctrine of the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),in the treatment of pain,nausea and vomiting after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods A total of 160 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma,who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China to receive initial TACE between July 2020 and June 2023,were enrolled in this study.The patients were randomly divided into 4 groups with 40 patients in each group.The patients of the control group received TACE with conventional nursing care,the patients of the pushpin-like needle group received pushpin-like needle acupuncture on the basis of the control group,the patients of the air moxibustion group received air moxibustion treatment on the basis of the control group,and the patients of the combination group received air moxibustion combined with pushpin-like needle acupuncture on the basis of the control group.The post-TACE pain degree(VAS scoring)and nausea/vomiting extent(INVR scoring)were compared between each other among the four groups.Results The differences in the VAS score and INVR score(including main effect and interaction effect)between each other among the four groups were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Statistically significant differences in the VAS score and INVR score existed between the control group and the other three groups(all P＜0.05).The differences in the VAS score and INVR score between combination group and pushpin-like needle group,as well as between combination group and air moxibustion group were statistically significant(both P＜0.05).Conclusion Air moxibustion combined with pushpin-like needle acupuncture can effectively and remarkably relieve post-TACE pain,nausea and vomiting,which is superior to simple use of air moxibustion or pushpin-like needle acupuncture.Therefor,the combination use of air moxibustion and pushpin-like needle acupuncture should be popularized in clinical practice.

Objective:To evaluate the role of sphingosine-1-phospho-1 receptor 1 (S1PR1) in remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats with incisional pain and the relationship with KCNQ2/3 potassium channels in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG).Methods:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats with successful caudal vein catheterization, aged 2-3 months, weighing 260-280 g, were divided into 6 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), S1PR1 inhibitor group (FTY720) group (group F), remifentanil group (group R), remifentanil + S1PR1 inhibitor (FTY720) group (group RF), remifentanil + incision pain group (group RI) and remifentanil + incision pain + S1PR1 inhibitor (FTY720) group (group RIF). In group C, normal saline 0.1 ml· kg -1·min -1 was intravenously infused for 60 min. In group F, FTY720 3 nmol was intrathecally injected at 10 min before normal saline injection, and 0.1 ml · kg -1·min -1 normal saline was infused into the caudal vein for 60 min. Remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused for 60 min through the caudal vein in group R. In RF group, FTY720 (3 nmol) was intrathecally injected, and 10 min later remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused via the caudal vein for 60 min. The incisional pain model was established, and remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused via the caudal vein for 60 min in RI group. In RIF group, FTY720 3 nmol was intrathecally injected at 10 min before remifentanil infusion, then the incisional pain model was developed, and remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused via the caudal vein at the same time for 60 min. The mechanical paw withdraw threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdraw latency (TWL) were measured at 24 h before remifentanil or normal saline infusion (T 0) and 2, 6, 24 and 48 h after remifentanil or normal saline infusion (T 1-4). The rats were sacrificed after the last measurement of pain threshold, and the L 4-6 segments of the DRG were taken for determination of the expression of S1PR1, KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 protein and mRNA in the DRG by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with group C, the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1 protein and mRNA in the DRG was up-regulated, the expression of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 protein and mRNA in the DRG was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in each parameter in R and RI groups ( P>0.05). Compared with group R, the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1 protein and mRNA in the DRG was up-regulated, and the expression of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 protein and mRNA in the DRG was down-regulated in group RI, and the MWT was significantly increased, and the TWL was prolonged at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1 protein and mRNA in the DRG was down-regulated, and the expression of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 protein and mRNA in the DRG was up-regulated in group RF ( P<0.05). Compared with group RI, the MWT was significantly increased, and the TWL was prolonged at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1 protein and mRNA in the DRG was down-regulated, and the expression of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 protein and mRNA in the DRG was up-regulated in group RIF ( P<0.05). Conclusions:S1PR1 is involved in the process of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats with incisional pain, which is related to the inhibition of KCNQ2/3 potassium channel expression in the DRG.

ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongdu Xingshen needling method （通督醒神针刺法） on post-stroke cognitive impairment. MethodsSD rats were randomly divided into a normal group （n=12）， a sham surgery group （n=12）， a model group （n=12）， and a electroacupuncture group （n=13）. The rats in the model group and electroacupuncture group were subjected to the wire bolus method to establish the rats model with learning memory impairment after cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion. After successful modelling， the rats in the electroacupuncture group were given electroacupuncture interventions at “Shenting （GV 24）” and “Baihui （GV 20）” once a day for 30 minutes for 14 days. The other three groups did not receive other interventions but grasp. A 5-day localisation navigation experiment was conducted on the 9th day of intervention， and a spatial exploration experiment was conducted on the 14th day of intervention to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of the rats. After the spatial exploration experiment， hippocampal tissues were taken from each group of rats， and the changes in the volume of cerebral infarction were observed by TTC staining； the changes in the morphology of pyramidal neurons and the density of dendritic spines in the CA1 area of the hippocampus were observed by Golgi staining； protein immunoblotting was used to detect the relative protein expression of the subunits of the α-amino-3-carboxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid （AMPA） receptor including glutamate receptor 1 （GluR1）， glutamate receptor 2 （GluR2）， glutamate receptor 3 （GluR3） and auxiliary proteins TARPγ2， TARPγ8 in hippocampal tissues of rats in each group； the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect GluR1， GluR2， GluR3 mRNA levels in the hippocampal tissues of rats. ResultsIn the localisation navigation experiment， compared with the normal group and sham surgery group， the escape latency and total distance of rats in the model group were significantly extended （P＜0.05） at day 1， 2， 3， 4， and 5； and the escape latency and total distance of rats in the electroacupuncture group tended to be significantly shorter than those in the model group （P＜0.05）. In the spatial exploration experiment， compared with the normal group and the sham surgery group， the number of rats crossing the platform in the model group was significantly reduced （P＜0.05）， and the number of crossings of the platform in the electroacupuncture group increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The results of TTC staining showed that the volume of cerebral infarction increased clearly in the model group compared with the sham surgery group （P＜0.05）， and apparently decreased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group （P＜0.05）. Golgi staining showed that the number of dendritic branches of pyramidal neurons and dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region significantly decreased in the model group compared with the normal group and the sham surgery group （P＜0.05）. The number of dendritic branches of pyramidal neurons and the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region significantly increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group （P＜0.05）. The protein relative expression levels of GluR1， GluR2， GluR3， TARPγ2 and TARPγ8， and the mRNA levels of GluR1， GluR2 and GluR3 in hippocampus decreased in the model group compared with the normal group and the sham surgery group （P＜0.05）. The protein relative expression levels of GluR1， GluR2， GluR3， TARPγ2 and TARPγ8， and the mRNA levels of GluR1， GluR2 and GluR3 in hippocampus increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with model group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe Tongdu Xingshen needling method can improve learning memory impairment after cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion， which may be related to up-regulation of the expression of AMPA receptor and their auxiliary protein TARP， and promoting the synaptic plasticity of hippocampal tissues.

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on fatigue improvement and gut microbiota in mice with cancer-related fatigue(CRF),and explore its possible mechanism of action.Methods The mice model of CRF of breast cancer after chemotherapy was established by tumor bearing and chemotherapy.After acupuncture intervention,fatigue was evaluated by general condition,forced swimming and open field experiment.Then 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the structural abundance of gut microbiota in mice.Results Acupuncture could significantly improve the fatigue degree and general condition of the mice model of CRF of breast cancer after chemotherapy.At the same time,acupuncture could adjust the abundance of gut microbiota structure,up-regulate the abundance levels of Lactobacillus,Bacteroides,firmicutes,actinobacteria,and down-regulate the abundance levels of Proteobacteria and Staphylococcus.There were also differences in the abundance of flora structure among the groups,but the abundance of beneficial bacteria was relatively high in the acupuncture group,and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria was relatively high in the other two groups.Conclusion Acupuncture may play a role in the treatment of CRF by regulating the abundance of gut microbiota structure,increasing intestinal beneficial bacteria,inhibiting pathogenic bacteria,improving body immunity,and alleviating adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Objective:To explore the influence of head nurse empowerment on nurses′ voice behavior and the mediating and moderating effects of nurses′ job crafting and proactive personality.Methods:A total of 805 nurses from the 4 grade A hospitals in Shandong province from February to March 2022 were selected by convenience sampling method, the Nurse Managers′ Empowering Behavioral Scale For Staff Nurses, Job Crafting Scale, Voice Behavior Scale and Proactive Personality Scale were used for cross-sectional survey. The mediating effect was analyzed by SPSS 26.0 and Process 3.4 macro.Results:The total score of nurses′ perception of head nurse empowerment was (4.01 ± 0.57) points, the total score of nurses′ job crafting was (4.19 ± 0.66) points, the total score of nurses′ voice behavior was (4.12 ± 0.62) points, and the total score of nurses′ proactive personality was (6.07 ± 0.90) points. Head nurse empowerment, nurse job crafting, voice behavior and proactive personality were positively correlated with each other ( r values were 0.483-0.824, all P<0.01). The mediating effect of job crafting was 0.541, accounting for 86.4% of the total effect; proactive personality had a positive moderating effect on the first half path of the mediation model ( ? R 2=0.163, P<0.01). Conclusions:Head nurse empowerment influenced voice behavior of nurses directly and indirectly through the mediating role of job crafting, proactive personality can moderate the effect of head nurse empowerment on nurse job crafting. It is suggested that the head nurse appropriately delegate power to the nurses and actively authorize them, identify nurses with high proactive personality, stimulate their job remodeling and voice behavior, and improve the quality of nursing work.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance and there are currently no approved drugs for its treatment. Hyperactivation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and subsequent impairment of the transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) are implicated in the development of NAFLD. Accordingly, agents that augment hepatic TFEB transcriptional activity may have therapeutic potential against NAFLD. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nuciferine, a major active component from lotus leaf, on NAFLD and its underlying mechanism of action. Here we show that nuciferine activated ALP and alleviated steatosis, insulin resistance in the livers of NAFLD mice and palmitic acid-challenged hepatocytes in a TFEB-dependent manner. Mechanistic investigation revealed that nuciferine interacts with the Ragulator subunit hepatitis B X-interacting protein and impairs the interaction of the Ragulator complex with Rag GTPases, thereby suppressing lysosomal localization and activity of mTORC1, which activates TFEB-mediated ALP and further ameliorates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Our present results indicate that nuciferine may be a potential agent for treating NAFLD and that regulation of the mTORC1-TFEB-ALP axis could represent a novel pharmacological strategy to combat NAFLD.

Objective:To identify new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for gastric adenocarcinoma.Methods:The public datasets of gastric adenocarcinoma collected from GEO database (GSE33335 and GSE63089) were downloaded for analysis. There were 70 GC tissues and paired normal tissues in the two profile datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between GC tissues and normal stomach tissues were selected by the R software. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) of these DEGs were visualized by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING). The key gene sets were analyzed by Cytoscape and Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE). The mRNA and protein expression levels of prognosis related genes identified by public database were confirmed by using GC tissues and paired normal tissues collected from July 2019 to September 2019 in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University.Results:DEGs were identified in the two datasets by using R software. A total of 128 DEGs were detected, including 85 up-regulated genes ( log2FC>1.2 and FDR<0.01) and 43 down-regulated genes ( log2FC<-1.2 and FDR<0.01) in the GC tissues. PPI network model and MCODE model were established by using the Online String tool and Cytoscape software, and 27 key genes were obtained, including 25 genes related with prognosis of GC patients ( P<0.05). We identified 14 significant DEGs in GC tissues, including cyclin B1 (CCNB1), polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and pituitary-tumor transforming gene (PTTG1), which were significantly enriched in the cell cycle pathway through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The positive expression rate of PTTG1 in GC tissues was 68.8% (22/32), significantly higher than 18.8% (6/32) in normal gastric tissues ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of PTTG1 is different in GC and gastric tissues, implicates it is the key gene in gastric carcinogenesis. The prognoses of GC patients with higher PTTG1 expression are worse. PTTG1 might participate in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma by regulating cell cycle.