Objective:To construct a prognostic risk model for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and elucidate the immune characteristics and immunotherapy response in patients with different prognostic stratification.Methods:RNA-seq data of TCGA-LIHC and ICGC(LIRI-JP),and gene microarray data of GSE14520 and GSE54236 in hepatocellular carcinoma,as well as clinical informa-tion of the corresponding samples were downloaded.First,screening of differentially expressed genes in tumor and non-tumor tissue samples from TCGA-LIHC,GSE14520 and GSE54236.For the common differential genes,univariate cox regression analysis was per-formed using TCGA-LIHC data to obtain HCC prognosis-related genes.Five genes were randomly selected as a panel,and the optimal prognostic marker panel was screened among 10 000 panels using Lasso-cox regression analysis combined with a five-fold cross-valida-tion method.TCGA-LIHC data were used as training set to construct the prognostic risk model,and ICGC data were used as validation set to test the model performance.Tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion(TIDE)algorithm and Immunophenotypic score(IPS)were used to predict immunotherapy efficacy in patients in different prognostic groups.Results:Overall survival was significantly lon-ger in low-risk group of HCC patients compared with high-risk group.Tumor proliferation rate,Treg and Th2 cell chemotaxis,stromal remodeling,and pro-tumor cytokines were significantly increased in high-risk patients,while NK cells,Th1 cells,effector cells and endothelial cells were significantly increased in low-risk patients.Immune checkpoint analysis showed that PDCD1,CTLA4 and CD276 were up-regulated in high-risk patients,while PDCD1LG2 was upregulated in low-risk patients.TIDE score and IPS results predicted that patients in low-risk group had better efficacy to immunotherapy.Conclusion:This study constructed a prognostic risk model containing three genes,DNASE1L3,RDH16 and DLGAP5,which can effectively predict the prognosis of HCC patients and assist in clinical decision making for individualized immunotherapy.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and macrophage polarization plays an important role in its pathogenesis. However, which molecule regulates macrophage polarization in NAFLD remains unclear. Herein, we showed NAFLD mice exhibited increased 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 (17β-HSD7) expression in hepatic macrophages concomitantly with elevated M1 polarization. Single-cell RNA sequencing on hepatic non-parenchymal cells isolated from wild-type littermates and macrophage-17β-HSD7 knockout mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks revealed that lipid metabolism pathways were notably changed. Furthermore, 17β-HSD7 deficiency in macrophages attenuated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance and liver injury. Mechanistically, 17β-HSD7 triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation by increasing free cholesterol content, thereby promoting M1 polarization of macrophages and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, to help demonstrate that 17β-HSD7 is a potential drug target for NAFLD, fenretinide was screened out from an FDA-approved drug library based on its 17β-HSD7 dehydrogenase inhibitory activity. Fenretinide dose-dependently abrogated macrophage polarization and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, and subsequently inhibited fat deposition in hepatocytes co-cultured with macrophages. In conclusion, our findings suggest that blockade of 17β-HSD7 signaling by fenretinide would be a drug repurposing strategy for NAFLD treatment.

OBJECTIVE To study pharmacodynamics and potential mechanism of Blumea balsamifera total flavonoids against acute myocardial infarction （AMI） model rats. METHODS AMI model of SD rats was established by ligating anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. Fifty model rats were randomly divided into model group （0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose solution）， positive control group （Compound danshen tablet， 300 mg/kg）， B. balsamifera total flavonoids low-dose， medium-dose and high- dose groups （3， 10， 30 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Other 10 rats were included in sham operation group （0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose solution）. After 1 day of surgery， they were given relevant medicine 3 mL/kg intragastrically， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks. The changes of S-T segment were recorded before and after operation， after weekly intragastric administration. The hemodynamic indexes of rats were all determined， i.e. systolic blood pressure （SBP）， diastolic blood pressure （DBP）， mean arterial pressure （MAP）， left ventricular systolic pressure （LVSP）， left ventricular end diastolic blood pressure （LVEDP）， maximal left ventricular pressure rising rate （+LVdp/dtmax）， maximal left ventricular pressure decreasing rate （－LVdp/ dtmax）. The levels of serum myocardial enzymes [lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB （CK-MB）] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-1β] were determined. The myocardial infarction rate of rats and the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K） and protein kinase B （Akt） proteins in myocardial tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with model group， S-T segments of electrocardiogram were all decreased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05）. SBP， DBP， MAP， LVSP， +LVdp/dtmax， －LVdp/dtmax， and ratio of p-PI3KTyr607/ PI3K， p-AktThr308/Akt， p-Aktser473/Akt were increased significantly in B. balsamifera total flavonoids medium-dose and high-dose groups （P＜0.05）. The levels of LVEDP， serum myocardial enzymes and inflammatory factors， myocardial infarction rate were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS balsamifera total flavonoids can improve cardiac function of AMI model rats， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factor and activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Malnutrition is a common complication of cancer patients, and solving nutrition problems is still one of the challenging tasks in clinical practice. The incidence of malnutrition in head and neck cancer patients during the peri-radiotherapeutic period is high, which is not only related to disease-mediated metabolic disorders, complications and psychological factors, but also associated with the toxic and side effects induced by radiotherapy. Malnutrition will reduce the tolerance, accuracy, and therapeutic effects of radiotherapy, which in turn lowers the quality of life and even adversely affects the prognosis of disease. Medical nutrition therapy can improve the nutritional status of the body, ensure smooth progress of radiotherapy, and improve the efficacy of comprehensive cancer treatment. It is necessary and urgent to deliver standardized nutrition therapy and management of head and neck cancer patients during the peri-radiotherapeutic period. Nutritional risk screening, nutritional assessment, and acute radiation injury assessment are required to develop an individualized nutrition treatment plan and make dynamic adjustment. In this article, relevant literature of nutrition therapy for head and neck radiotherapy at home and abroad was summarized, and the standardized nutrition therapy for head and neck cancer patients during the peri-radiotherapeutic period was reviewed.

By comparing the training status of clinical research methods between United States and China, this article introduces comprehensive training system in the United States in and after the university, and discusses the problems in clinical research methodology training in China. These issues include that when medical students at school do not receive the training of professional clinical research courses, and after they go to the work, they also lack professional and accurate clinical research methodology training, which make it difficult for doctors to independently conduct clinical research. Therefore, it is recommended that Chinese medical schools should systematically establish clinical research methodology courses for undergraduates and graduate students to cultivate the clinical research capabilities of medical students. Secondly, according to the clinical research levels of doctors, different training models are proposed in the study. The existing social resources should be scientifically guided. We hope our work would provide some references for the improvement of clinical research methodology in China, to promote clinicians to be independently responsible for conducting clinical research, and improve the national medical level.

Objective:To study the efficacy and safety of EndoClot polysaccharide hemostatic system (EndoClot PHS) for heparinized arterial hemorrhage of upper digestive tract (Forrest Ⅰa) in animal model.Methods:Twelve experimental pigs were randomly divided into the test group ( n=6) and the control group ( n=6) by simple random grouping method. Gastric arterial hemorrhage models were established. Endoclot PHS and Hemospray were used to spray on the wound to stop bleeding in the test group and the control group respectively. The time of effective hemostasis, the amount of hemostatic particles used, and the blockage of the powder feeding tube and its replacement were compared between the two groups. The survival and complications of experimental pigs were observed after the operation. In 10 days after the operation, the experimental pigs were euthanized for pathological dissection. Results:Spurting or pulsatile bleeding was achieved in all experimental pigs. There were significant differences in the time of effective hemostasis (8.75±0.84 min VS 9.83±0.62 min, t=-2.53, P=0.030) and the amount of hemostatic particles used to achieve effective hemostasis (6.71±0.39 g VS 14.10±1.62 g, t=-10.86, P<0.001) between the test group and the control group. There was no significant difference in the occurence of clogging or the replacement of powder feeding pipes between the two groups (0.64±0.02 times VS 0.67±0.04 times, t=-1.64, P=0.131). In addition, the gas source of the test group was stable, and the visual field under the endoscope was clear. Neither the test group nor the control group had gastric lesions, perforation, or embolism. The blood glucose, blood routine, and liver and kidney functions were normal, and no thrombosis or embolism of the main organs occurred in either group. Conclusion:EndoClot PHS is safe and effective for heparinized upper gastrointestinal arterial hemorrhage (Forrest Ⅰa) in animal models.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of cathepsin L(CTSL)-mediated kidney injury in trichloroethene(TCE)-sensitized mice. Methods: 41 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into blank group(n=5), solvent group(n=5), TCE treatment group(n=15) and TCE+CTSLi treatment group(n=16). TCE percutaneous sensitization mouse model was established, and the mice were evaluated as positive group and negative group according to skin sensitization score. The renal pathology of mice was observed by electron microscopy and HE staining, the renal function level of mice was assessed by serum urea nitrogen(BUN). The expression of CTSL was detected by immunofluorescence, the apoptosis of renal cells was assessed by TUNEL staining, and the activation of renal protein kinase C(PKC) signal molecule was detected by Western blot. Results: The sensitization rates of TCE treatment group and TCE+CTSLi treatment group were 53.3%(8/15) and 50.0%(8/16), respectively, and there was no statistical difference in sensitization rates(P>0.05). Pathological results showed that TCE sensitized-mice showed edema and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular cells, thickening of glomerular basement membrane, fusion of podocytes and mitochondria vacuolar degeneration. The results of renal function showed that the serum BUN level of TCE sensitized mice was higher than that of other groups. Immunofluorescence results showed that the expression level of CTSL in the kidney of TCE-sensitized positive mice increased(P<0.05,F=82.438), and the apoptosis level of renal structure cells was also higher than that of other groups(P<0.05). Western blot showed that the phosphorylation of PKC protein in the kidney of TCE-sensitized mice increased, while the expression of PKC protein in TCE+CTSLi sensitized mice was down-regulated after CTSLi pretreatment(P<0.05,F=35.686), the level of renal cell apoptosis decreased, and renal damage was improved. Conclusion CTSL might aggravate renal damage via activation of PKC signaling in TCE-sensitized mouse.

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics and classification of gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm(NEN) and prognostic factors of mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) and gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC).Methods:A total of 148 gastric NENs were divided into type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ based on the classification of European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS). Kaplan-Meier test and Cox regression model were used in univariate and multivariate survival analysis in 108 cases with pathological G3 gastric NEN.Results:In this study, the percentages of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ were 25.0%(37), 3.4%(5) and 71.6%(106) respectively. Among type Ⅰ patients, 28(75.7%) lesions were located in gastric fundus or body, 29(78.4%) had bumps. Lymph node involvement was found in 4 (10.8%) patients. Twenty-six (70.3%) patients received endoscopic treatment and 11 (29.7%) with surgery. All 5 type Ⅱ patients presented lesions in gastric fundus or body, including 4 with ulcers, who were all treated by endoscope. Three type Ⅱ patients had gastrinoma, and 2 combined with multiple endocrine neoplasmⅠ. In type Ⅲ patients, 56(52.8%) showed ulcerative lesions. The majority of patients (102, 96.2%) had a single lesion, 94(88.7%) with lymph node or other organ metastasis. In this study, no deaths were reported in gastric NEN with a pathological grade of G1 or G2. The mortality rate was 38.9%(42/108) in patients with G3 NEN. Survival analysis suggested that age, metastasis of tumor were associated with poor prognosis ( P=0.041, 0.025). Conclusions:Patients with gastric NEN have heterogenous clinical presentations according to gender, age, endoscopic features, infiltration and metastasis, and pathological grade. Aging and metastasis are negative prognostic factors of G3 gastric NEN.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of rapamycin on Parkinson's disease (PD) and its underlying mechanism in mice. METHODS: Sixty SPF adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) was used to induce Parkinson's disease in model group and treatment group. All mice were trained to cross the runway and were subjected to computer-assisted CatWalk. The numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) were assessed by unbiased stereology using the optical fractionator method; protein expression was detected by Western blot analysis; and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: In the model group, a decrease in stride rate and an increase in variation of stance and swing were noted by CatWalk system (<0.05 or <0.01); the numbers of TH neurons decreased (<0.01); expression of p-Akt, p-S6K, p-S6 and p-ULK increased (all <0.01); LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio decreased (<0.01); MDA level was elevated while the levels of SOD and GSH-PX were reduced (all <0.01). Compared with the model group, after treated with rapamycin, the abnormal behavior including the stride length, variation of stance and swing and step patterns induced by MPTP were all improved (<0.05 or <0.01); the numbers of TH neurons increased (<0.05); the expression of p-Akt, p-S6K, p-S6 and p-ULK was suppressed (all <0.01); the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio was upregulated (<0.05); MDA level decreased while the levels of GSH-Px and SOD increased (all <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Rapamycin inhibits the activation of mTOR pathway, which contributes to protect against the loss of dopaminergic neurons and provide behavioral improvements in mice with Parkinson's disease. These results are partially related to the ability of rapamycin in inducing autophagy and reducing oxidative stress.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Substantia Nigra ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the core acupoints and compatibility of electroacupuncture (EA) for simple obesity based on complex network technique, and to explore the usage of EA waveform.

METHODSThe clinical research literature regarding EA for simple obesity published from January of 1980 to June of 2016 were searched in PubMed, CNKI, , VIP, CBM and TCM online database to establish a prescription database of EA for simple obesity. The Matlab2014a software was used to perform the center analysis and cluster analysis, and the analysis of core points and compatibility were conducted. Gephi 9.1 software was used to demonstrate the complex network diagram to further analyze the usage of EA waveform.

RESULTSTotally 238 prescriptions were obtained. The selection of acupoints at -meridians were equally important with acupoints at -meridians. The meridians with highest core degree were stomach meridian, conception vessel and spleen meridian. The acupoints with highest core degree were Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36). The cluster analysis indicated three acupoint clusters, including the key-acupoint cluster, syndrome-acupoint cluster, and -point cluster; it was revealed Tianshu (ST 25) and Zhongwan (CV 12) had the highest intensity of compatibility. The sparse-dense wave was mostly used in EA for simple obesity, followed by continuous wave, indicating both sparse-dense wave and continuous wave had high clinical application value.

CONCLUSIONThe acupoints of EA for simple obesity are mainly in stomach meridian, conception vessel and spleen meridian; sparse-dense wave is mostly used, followed by continuous wave.