Pancreatic cancer often has an insidious onset and difficulties in treatment,with various limitations in early diagnosis and treatment.This article reviews the application of Mendelian randomization(MR)in exploring the risk factors for pancreatic cancer,with a special focus on the causal relationships of factors such as gut microbiota,lifestyle,and metabolic diseases.Leveraging data from large-scale genome-wide association studies(GWAS),MR analysis has revealed several biomarkers associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer.The two-sample MR approach is commonly used in current research,including the methods such as Inverse Variance Weighted,Weighted Median,and MR-Egger,which helps to explain the causal network of the disease from a genetic perspective.While MR strategy provides a new perspective for understanding the etiology of pancreatic cancer,caution is still needed in data synthesis,selection of instrumental variables,and pleiotropy assessment.The use of emerging analytical models such as BWMR,CAUSE,and MVMR offers new possibilities for the comprehensive evaluation of multiple risk factors and their interaction.In the future,with the combination of these methods and the ever-increasing genetic epidemiological data,MR analysis is expected to provide more solid evidence for identifying potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer and formulating prevention strategies.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients who had survived for more than 5 years after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and to analyze its relationship with postoperative time. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study. The study cohort comprised patients who had survived for at least 5 years (60 months) after undergoing sphincter- preserving radical resection of pathologically diagnosed rectal adenocarcinoma within 15 cm of the anal verge in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital from January 2005 to May 2016. Patients who had undergone local resection, had permanent stomas, recurrent intestinal infection, local recurrence, history of previous anorectal surgery, or long- term preoperative defecation disorders were excluded. A LARS questionnaire was administered by telephone interview, points being allocated for incontinence for flatus (0-7 points), incontinence for liquid stools (0-3 points), frequency of bowel movements (0-5 points), clustering of stools (0-11 points), and urgency (0-16 points). The patients were allocated to three groups based on these scores: no LARS (0-20 points), minor LARS (21-29 points), and major LARS (30-42 points). The prevalence of LARS and major LARS in patients who had survived more than 5 years after surgery, correlation between postoperative time and LARS score, and whether postoperative time was a risk factor for major LARS and LARS symptoms were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up time of the 160 patients who completed the telephone interview was 97 (60-193) months; 81 (50.6%) of them had LARS, comprising 34 (21.3%) with minor LARS and 47 (29.4%) with major LARS. Spearman correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between LARS score and postoperative time (correlation coefficient α=-0.016, P=0.832). Multivariate analysis identified anastomotic height (RR=0.850, P=0.022) and radiotherapy (RR=5.760, P<0.001) as independent risk factors for major LARS; whereas the postoperative time was not a significant risk factor (RR=1.003, P=0.598). The postoperative time was also not associated with LARS score rank and frequency of bowel movements, clustering, or urgency (P>0.05). However, the rates of incontinence for flatus (3/31, P=0.003) and incontinence for liquid stools (8/31, P=0.005) were lower in patients who had survived more than 10 years after surgery. Conclusions: Patients with rectal cancer who have survived more than 5 years after sphincter-preserving surgery still have a high prevalence of LARS. We found no evidence of major LARS symptoms resolving over time.
Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Low Anterior Resection Syndrome ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Flatulence/complications* ; Anal Canal/pathology* ; Diarrhea ; Quality of Life

Objective: To understand the current status of diagnosis and treatment regarding the protection of defecation function in Chinese surgeons performing sphincter-preserving resections (SPR) for rectal cancer in order to discover the problems existing in the function protection during SPR and provide support and reference for the standardized clinical management of rectal cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed. Colorectal surgeons who obtained the medical qualifications and volunteered to participate in this study were included, and respondents with incomplete information were excluded. From October 18 to 22, 2020, randomized sampling was conducted among Chinese colorectal surgeons from Chinese Association of Colorectal Surgeons, Chinese Colorectal Cancer Committee, Chinese Sexology Association Anal functional Surgery Committee and National Health Commission Capacity Building and Continuing Education Committee. The questionnaire included basic information of the respondents, assessment of defecation function before SPR, intraoperative details, postoperative follow-up, evaluation and intervention of patients with low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Observation indicator: results of the questionnaire survey. Result: A total of 231 questionnaires were collected, and 230 were effective, with an effective rate of 99.6%. Among these participants, 217 (94.3%) were males; 107 (46.5%) had medical doctor degrees; 129 (56.1%) were national commission members in colorectal surgery; 137 (59.6%) performed more than 50 SPR operations per year; 211 (91.7%) assessed defection function by auxiliary examinations before SPR. Rigid sigmoidoscopy (n=116, 55.0%) and anorectal manometer (n=81, 38.4%) were the most commonly used method. Among the 230 respondents, 64.8% (n=149) of surgeons used 2D laparoscopy for SPR surgery most commonly, and 51.3% (n=118) of surgeons performed direct colorectal anastomosis for reconstruction, and 98.3% (n=226) used staplers during anastomosis. All the surgeons indicated that they would follow up patients after SPR, and outpatient clinic was the most common method (84.4%, 184/230). When LARS occurred, 50.0% (115/230) of surgeons chose defecation function scale and 78.7% (181/230) actively provided guidance and intervention for patients. Conclusions: Chinese colorectal surgeons still have shortcomings in the protection of defecation function during SPR for rectal cancer. They do not make enough preoperative functional evaluation and postoperative functional recovery estimate for patients. The knowledge and use of defecation function scales and interventions on LARS are expected to be standardized.
Anal Canal/surgery* ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Defecation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Surgeons ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syndrome

Six new bisabolane-type phenolic sesquiterpenoids, including plakordiols A-D (1-4), (7R, 10R)-hydroxycurcudiol (5) and (7R, 10S)-hydroxycurcudiol (6) were isolated from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were determined based on extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Their configurations were assigned by coupling constant analysis, NOESY correlations, and the modified Mosher's method. Furthermore, their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities were evaluated.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; China ; Molecular Structure ; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology* ; Pacific Ocean ; Plakortis/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE： To establish the method for the content determination of gentiopicrin and loganic acid in Gentiana scabra， and to investigate the correlation of their contents with appearance traits and quality gradation criterion. METHODS： HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Ascentis Express C18 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.1％ phosphoric acid-acetonitrile （gradient elution） at the flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The column temperature was 30 ℃， and detection wavelength was set at 240 nm. The sample size was 1 μL. Taking the length， number and diameter of fibrous roots as indexes， the appearance and morphological characteristics of G. scabra were studied. The relationship of gentiopicrin and loganic acid content with the appearance property of medicinal material was analyzed by SPSS 21.0 software. k-mean clustering analysis was carried out by using SPSS 21.0 software， and gradation standard for G. scabra was established preliminarily. RESULTS： The linear range of gentiopicrin and loganic acid were 0.5-3.0 μg/mL （r＝0.999 9） and 0.05-0.50 μg/mL （r＝0.999 9）. The limit of quantification of gentiopicrin and loganic acid were 0.295， 0.289 μg/mL； the detection limit were 0.082， 0.081 μg/mL； RSDs of precision， stability， repeatability tests were all lower than 2％； the recovery rates were 97.56％- 102.23％ （RSD＝1.56％， n＝6） and 97.58％-102.67％ （RSD＝1.86％， n＝6）. Correlation results showed that there was a significant positive correlation of the length of G. scabra， the number of roots， root diameter， with the contents of gentiopicrin and loganic acid. The order of affecting content was the number of roots ＞length ＞root diameter. k-means clustering analysis showed that 54 batches of G. scabra was divided into two categories； S4-S6，S13，S17-S23，S25，S28，S31-S34 were clustered into a category； S1-S3， S7-S12， S14-S16， S24， S26，S27，S29， S30，S35-S54 were clustered into the other category. The results of gradation showed that 54 batches of G. scabra could be divided into two grades， and the results were consistent with the cluster analysis. CONCLUSIONS： Established method is simple and stable， and can be used for simultaneous determination of gentiopicrin and loganic acid in G. scabra. The more fibrous roots， the longer the length， the thicker the root， the higher the content of gentiopicroside and loganic acid， the better the quality of G. scabra.

Objective To explore the effect of the diet recovery time on postural hypotension after gynecological laparoscopic operation. Methods A total of 300 patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy were randomly divided into observation group and control group according to the order of admission,150 cases in each group. Patients in observation group took liquid food since recovery from anesthetic, their appetite and dietary levels restored to preoperative level within 24 h after surgery from liquid diet to regular diet. Patients in control group were given routine nursing care of diet after belly operation. Results The diet recovery time and the anal exhaust time of patients in observation group were (21.2±3.5) h and (15.5±4.7) h, the control group were (46.8±5.4) h and (23.4±5.4) h, there was significant difference between two groups (t=7.543,5.126, P<0.05).The incidence rate of orthostatic hypotension in observation group was 9.3% (14/150), the control group was 33.3% (50/150), there wassignificant difference between two groups (χ2=8.907, P<0.05). Conclusions Patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy took food as soon as possible, their appetite and dietary levels restored to preoperative level within 24 h after operation. It didn′ t increase abdominal distension, but helped the intestinal function recovery and helped to reduce the incidence of postoperative orthostatic hypotension.

Objective To investigate the correlation between cognitive development and levels of dopamine(DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC)in the hippocampus of 80-day-old neonatal rats born of fear-impaired pregnant rats. Methods The pregnant rat model of fear-impaired kidney was established by watching other rats shocked with electricity. The cognitive development of the neonatal rats was assessed by Morris water maze test at 80 days after birth. The brain microdialysis samples of the right hippocampus were collected using a stereotaxic instrument, and the levels of DA and DOPAC were determined by HPLC-ECD. Results Compared with the control group, the mean escape latency of the 80-day-old neonatal rats in the model group was increased. Their swimming speed was slower. The 20% time spent in the peripheral zone became longer, and the frequency of platform crossing was decreased, showing significant differences(P< 0.05). The levels of DA and DOPAC in the extracellular fluid of the hippocampus of the 80-day-old neonatal rats in the model group were decreased at each time points of perfusion, showing a significant difference(P <0.05). The level of DA, a kind of monoamine neurotransmitter in the hippocampus, was positively correlated with the mean escape latency,the frequency of passing the platform of the 80-day-old rats,while was negatively correlated with the 20% time spent in the peripheral zone, with a significant correlation(P < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the DOPAC level and the mean escape latency, the frequency of passing the platform(P< 0.05). Conclusions Fear-impaired pregnant rats can affect the spatial learning and memory ability of their 80-day-old neonatal rats,with reduction in the levels of DA and DOPAC in the hippocampus, which is closely correlated with the cognitive development of the neonatal rats.

OBJECTIVELyme disease and Human granulocytic anaplasmosis are tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum respectively. We have investigated infection and co-infection of the two diseases in the population of forest areas of eight provinces in China by measuring seroprevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum.

METHODSForest areas in 8 provinces were chosen for investigation using whole sampling and questionnaire survey methods. 3 669 serum samples from people in the forest areas were tested for the presence of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA).

RESULTSSeroprevalence against B. burgdorferi was 3% to 15% and against A. phagocytophilum was 2% to 18% in the study sites in the 8 provinces in China. We also found co-infection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in 7 of the 8 provinces (the exception being the Miyun area in Beijing). The seroprevalence for both B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was significantly higher among people exposed to ticks than among people who were not exposed to ticks.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that both pathogens are endemic in the forest areas in the eight provinces, but the prevalence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum differs between the provinces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; pathogenicity ; Anaplasmosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; pathogenicity ; Child ; China ; Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Lyme Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trees ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the cognitive, intelligent and cranial MRI status of 4 patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Methods A pedigree of 4 patients,admitted to our hospital from September 2011 to December 2011 and diagnosed as having DM1, were chosen in our study; Chinese edition tests of Wechsler adult intelligence scale and Wechsler memory scale were used to test the intelligence of these patients; Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and Neurobehavioral cognitive status examination (NCSE) were applied to evaluate the patients' cognitive function.All of the 4 patients received a cranial MRI scan. Results Except for 1 patient,the other 3 patients had low intelligent quotient (IQ) and memory quotient (MQ),and their verbal IQs were all lower than performance IQs.Three patients showed impaired visual space/executive skills,calculation,memory,and conceptual thinking abilities; 1 patient showed impaired sentence repetition and verbal fluency on MoCA,though his final scores were within normal range. Three patients had brain atrophy to some extent on MRI scan,prominently in the frontal lobe and temporal lobe; white matter lesions and thickened skull were founded in all 4 patients. Conclusion Multiple cognition disorders and brain involvements can be found in DM1 patients and deserve further investigation.

Objective To assess the clinical value of laparoscopic colorectal resection combined with simultaneous radiofrequency ablation for liver metastases.Methods Twenty-two patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases were treated by laparoscopie colorectal resection and simultaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA)in Third People's Hospital of Chengdu from December 2001 to July 2006.Areas of colliquative necrosis were detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography postoperatively.The outcomes were analyzed by chi-square test.Results Of all patients,8 had muhiple liver metastases,16 had complications.Thirty-one liver metastases were treated by RFA,and no complication oecurred.The mean postoperative hospital stay was(14±5)days,and there was no perioperative death.Five of the 22 patients were identified as incomplete ablation of the tumor,and the RFA was reperformed.The recurrence of liver metastases in the RFA necrotic zone was observed in 4 patients,and RFA was reperformed on 2 of them.Six patients died,and 2 of them died of liver metastases recurrence in the RFA necrotic zone.The recurrence rate of liver metastases and mortality was 18%(4/22)and 27%(6/22),respectively.The recurrence rate of patients with the diameter of the metastatic lession≥2.0 cm was significantly higher than those with the diameter of the metastatic lession＜2.0 cm(x2=5.867,P＜0.05).Conclusions Laparoseopie colorectal resection combined with simultaneous RFA provide a curative opportunity for colorectal cancer patients who are old and have multiple liver metastases,complications,poor tolerance of operation,and for patients whose tumors are difficult to resect.