Combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and mesenchymal stem cell therapy to treat toxoplasmic encephalitis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A case report.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is a life-threatening infection that may occur following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is one of the most severe manifestations of this infection and often results in unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes, especially regarding neurological damage. Recent studies have demonstrated that human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) can significantly aid in neural repair and remodeling. Furthermore, hUC-MSCs have been shown to reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) associated with the reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy. In this case report, we present a pediatric patient who developed TE as a complication of haploidentical HSCT. The patient received a combined treatment regimen of standard anti-Toxoplasma therapy and adjunctive hUC-MSC therapy. The outcomes were satisfactory. The patient regained consciousness, maintained a stable body temperature, and regained the ability to perform daily activities independently. Additionally, next-generation sequencing revealed a decrease in Toxoplasma DNA sequences in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid to undetectable levels. This case report underscores the potential of hUC-MSCs as a promising therapeutic modality for TE.

Efficacy of electro-acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: study protocol for a three-armed randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Specific treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is still lacking, and acupuncture may relieve the symptoms. We intend to investigate the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture (EA) in alleviating symptoms associated with DPN in diabetes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, three-armed, participant- and assessor-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial will recruit 240 eligible participants from four hospitals in China and will randomly assign (1:1:1) them to EA, sham acupuncture (SA) or usual care (UC) group. Participants in the EA and SA groups willl receive either 24-session EA or SA treatment over 8 weeks, followed by an 8-week follow-up period, while participants in the UC group will be followed up for 16 weeks. The primary outcome of this trial is the change in DPN symptoms from baseline to week 8, as rated by using the Total Symptom Score. The scale assesses four symptoms: pain, burning, paraesthesia and numbness, by evaluating the frequency and severity of each. All results will be analysed with the intention-to-treat population. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (Identifier: 2022BZYLL0509). Every participant will be informed of detailed information about the study before signing informed consent. The results of this trial will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2200061408.

Structural design and dynamic characteristics analysis of braided composite two-stage gear transmission system.

In order to realize the lightweight design of the transmission system, the braided composite material is applied to the two-stage gear transmission system. According to the structural characteristics of the two-stage gear reducer box, the whole box is designed to be assembled with the braided base and the box wall. Woven composite materials are applied to the web parts of mixed metal composite gears to realize the design goal of lightweight gears. Then, under the assumption of ignoring the influence of friction, bearings and other factors on the system, the dynamic model of the two-stage gear transmission system considering the box is established. By normalizing and dimensionless processing of the equations, the dimensionless differential equations of motion are obtained. The fourth-order Runge-Kutta method is used to analyze the relationship between the connection parameters and the dynamic characteristics of the system under the two working conditions of rigid and flexible connection between the composite base and the box wall.Through the analytical analysis of vibration displacement of two-stage gear reducer and box, the theoretical basis is found for the numerical analysis results. Finally, the dynamic characteristics of the transmission system are studied by vibration resonance analysis through high and low frequency interference. It is found that in a certain frequency range, with the decrease of the mass and moment of inertia of the transmission parts corresponding to the mixed metal composite gear, the amplitude-frequency characteristic Q of the lightweight gear and gearbox transmission system is slightly lower than that of the common gear and gearbox system, and the stability of the system is increased, and the dynamic characteristics of the system are improved.

Efficacy and safety of esaxerenone (CS-3150) in primary hypertension: a meta-analysis.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of esaxerenone (CS-3150) in treating primary hypertension. PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Embase databases were searched for articles published until April 18, 2023. The outcomes included were diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), 24 h DBP, 24 h SBP, and adverse events. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3. This study included three trials. CS-3150 5 mg had a greater effect on lowering the SBP, DBP, 24 h SBP, and 24 h DBP than either CS-3150 2.5 mg or eplerenone 50 mg. In contrast, CS-3150 2.5 mg and eplerenone 50 mg showed no significant difference in lowering DBP, SBP, 24 h DBP, and 24 h SBP. Moreover, adverse events occurred at comparable rates in the three groups. CS-3150 (especially CS-3150 5 mg) is an effective and safe treatment for primary hypertension; which can reduce blood pressure and alleviate hypertensive symptoms.

Identification of key genes in chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced lung cancer progression based on transcriptome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk of lung cancer mortality. Nevertheless, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. This research aimed to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and explore their function in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-bearing mice exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) by transcriptome sequencing. METHODS: Lung cancer tissues in LLC-bearing mice exposed to CIH or normoxia were subjected for transcriptome sequencing to examine DEGs. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were employed to explore the function of DEGs. To evaluate the prognostic value of DEGs, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis in combination with Cox proportional hazard model were applied based on The Cancer Genome Atlas. RESULTS: A total of 388 genes with 207 up-regulated and 181 down-regulated genes were differentially expressed between the CIH and normoxia control groups. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the DEGs were related to various signaling pathways such as chemokine signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TGF-ß signaling pathway, transcriptional misregulation in cancer, natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, PPAR signaling pathway. In addition, the DEGs including APOL1, ETFB, KLK8, PPP1R3G, PRL, SPTA1, PLA2G3, PCP4L1, NINJ2, MIR186, and KLRG1 were proven to be significantly correlated with poorer overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: CIH caused a significant change of gene expression profiling in LLC-bearing mice. The DEGs were found to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes and correlated with poorer prognosis in lung cancer.

Bifidobacteria in disease: from head to toe.

Bifidobacteria as a strictly anaerobic gram-positive bacteria, is widely distributed in the intestine, vagina and oral cavity, and is one of the first gut flora to colonize the early stages of life. Intestinal flora is closely related to health, and dysbiosis of intestinal flora, especially Bifidobacteria, has been found in a variety of diseases. Numerous studies have shown that in addition to maintaining intestinal homeostasis, Bifidobacteria may be involved in diseases covering all parts of the body, including the nervous system, respiratory system, genitourinary system and so on. This review collects evidence for the variation of Bifidobacteria in typical diseases among various systems, provides mild and effective therapeutic options for those diseases that are difficult to cure, and moves Bifidobacteria from basic research to further clinical applications.

Aberrant SUMO2/3 modification of RUNX1 upon SENP1 inhibition is linked to the development of diabetic retinopathy in mice.

Our previous report established that RUNX family transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) promotes proliferation of mouse retinal microvascular endothelial cells (mRMECs) and exacerbates diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the mechanism behind the upregulation of RUNX1 remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the possible correlation between histone SUMOylation and RUNX1 in DR, as well as the involved molecules. A mouse model of diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). These mice had increased retinal thickness and elevated production of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, they showed elevated levels of SUMO1 and SUMO2/3, but reduced levels of SUMO specific peptidase 1 (SENP1) in retinal tissues. Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot assays revealed that the RUNX1 protein was primarily modified by SUMO2/3, and SENP1 inhibited SUMO2/3 modification, thereby reducing RUNX1 expression. Overexpression of SENP1 alleviated symptoms in mice and alleviated inflammation. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the SENP1 overexpression suppressed the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of high-glucose-induced mRMECs. However, further overexpression of RUNX1 counteracted the alleviating effects of SENP1 both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the downregulation of SENP1 in DR leads to SUMO2/3-dependent activation of RUNX1. This activation promotes proliferation of mRMECs and exacerbates DR symptoms in mice.

M6A transcriptome-wide map of circRNAs identified in the testis of normal and AZ-treated Xenopus laevis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence showed that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is strongly associated with male germline development. However, the role of m6A methylation on circRNAs in amphibians remains unknown. In this study, we conducted m6A sequencing analysis to explore the m6A transcriptome-wide profile of circRNAs in testis tissues of Xenopus laevis (X. laevis) with and without treatment with 100 µg/L atrazine (AZ). RESULTS: The analysis showed that m6A modification of circRNAs enriched in sense overlapping in testes of X. laevis. We identified the differential m6A modification sites within circRNAs in testes of AZ-exposed X. laevis and compared that with animals from control group. The results showed that a total of 1507 methylated m6A sites was induced by AZ (760 up-methylated and 747 down-methylated). The cross-analysis exhibited a negative correlation of differentially methylated m6A peaks and circRNAs expression level. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that 20 key pathways may be involved in the mechanism of testis damage of AZ-exposed X. laevis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that differentially m6A-methylated circRNAs may play important roles in abnormal testis development of AZ-exposed X. laevis. This study is the first report about a map of m6A modification of circRNAs in male X. laevis and provides a basis for further studying on the function and mechanism of m6A methylation of circRNAs in the testis development of amphibian.

Comminuted lunate fracture combined with distal radius fracture and scaphoid fracture: A case report.

RATIONALE: Incidence of lunate fractures is very low, less than 1% of all fractures. Lunate fractures generally come from high-energy injuries, often combined with other wrist fractures. Simple lunate fractures can be fixed with screws or Kirschner wires. However, Comminuted lunate fractures are difficult to reduce and fixe by conventional methods. PATIENT CONCERNS: Here we report a 42-year-old male construction worker who was crushed by an excavator bucket and presented with comminuted lunate fracture combined with distal radius fracture and scaphoid fracture. DIAGNOSES: Comminuted lunate fracture, distal radius fracture, and scaphoid fracture. INTERVENTIONS: The posterior approach was used to reconstruct the radial lunate bone with polymethylmethacrylate cement, and cannulated screws were used to fix the scaphoid and distal radius fractures. OUTCOMES: At the 3rd month after surgery, the movement of the right wrist joint improved. At the sixth month after surgery, the patient returned to the building site and began working at the same intensity as before the injury. LESSONS: Although the incidence of comminuted lunate fractures is very low, they occur sometimes. For comminuted lunate fractures, early identification and intervention can preserve most of the function of the wrist joint.

Elimination of Carbides in Carburized Layer of Stainless Steel/Carbon Steel by Horizontal Continuous Liquid-Solid Composite Casting.

The carbides in the carburized layer of stainless steel (SS)/carbon steel (CS) clad plates are prone to inducing intergranular cracks and reducing the interfacial bonding strength. In this paper, SS/CS clad plates were fabricated by horizontal continuous liquid-solid composite casting (HCLSCC), and the formation mechanism of the interfacial carbides and their effect on the elimination of carbides in the carburized layer were revealed by numerical simulation and thermodynamic calculations. During the HCLSCC process, the cladding interface encountered re-melting and re-solidification after rapid melting and solidification, resulting in liquid-liquid and solid-solid diffusion at the cladding interface, where the atomic ratio of Cr/C (Cr/C) gradually increased. Therefore, strip M7C3 and M23C6 carbides as well as blocky M23C6 carbides formed at the cladding interface in turn and had a coherent relationship with the matrix. The blocky M23C6 carbides led to an increase of 240% in the interfacial ferrite strength. The formation of interfacial carbides reduced the difference in C activity between the cladding interface and SS, thus preventing the diffusion of C to SS and inhibiting carbide precipitation in the carburized layer of SS, which was beneficial to improving the interfacial bonding strength.

A clinical study of the effect of 3D reconstruction on exophthalmos after an operation on an old orbital wall fracture.

BACKGROUND: Orbital blowout fracture is common in ocular trauma. Accurate measurement of orbital volume after fracture is key in improving intraocular correction. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the impact of 3D reconstruction technology in restoring normal exophthalmos in patients with old orbital wall fractures. METHODS: A total of 31 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (n= 15) and a control group (n= 16). For orbital wall repair and reconstruction, the conventional group used the conventional surgical scheme, and the 3D group used 3D printing technology. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the preoperative mean extraocular muscle volume of the healthy eye and the affected eye. However, the mean orbital volume (24.76 vs 27.11, P= 0.005) and mean retrobulbar fat volume (17.53 vs 16.42, P= 0.006) were significantly different between the healthy eye and the affected eye. After an average follow-up of 16 weeks, the differences in pre- and post-surgery exophthalmos in the two groups were 0.42 ± 0.08 mm and 1.63 ± 0.51 mm, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t= 4.42, P= 0.003). The complications were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: Using 3D reconstruction technology preoperatively can significantly improve exophthalmos in patients with old orbital wall fractures.

Hydrothermal synthesis of sewage sludge biochar for activation of persulfate for antibiotic removal: Efficiency, stability and mechanism.

The use of biochar materials as catalysts to activate persulfate (PS) for the degradation of antibiotics has attracted much attention. In this study, a carbonaceous material (Cu/Zn-SBC) was prepared from sewage sludge by hydrothermal modification. The efficiency of PS activation by Cu/Zn-SBC was investigated using tetracycline (TC) as the model antibiotic. In the Cu/Zn-SBC + PS system, the TC removal rate reached 90.13% at 10 min and exceeded 99% within 4 h. This not only met the requirement of removing large amounts of pollutants in a short time but also achieved the complete removal of pollutants in the subsequent time. Additionally, the Cu/Zn-SBC + PS system was found to be dominated by radical and nonradical pathways. Cu, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of Cu/Zn-SBC promoted the production of free radicals and non-free radicals. Under several changes in reaction conditions and water environment factors, the TC removal rate remained above 85% within 10 min. Furthermore, the removal rate of TC was still 85.79% when Cu/Zn-SBC combined with PS was reused twice and 77.14% when reused four times. This study provides an ideal solution for the treatment of sewage sludge, and offers a stable and efficient material for removing antibiotics from wastewater.

Analysis of Treatment Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light (M22) for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction with Demodex Mites.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of intense pulsed light (M22) in treating patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) caused by demodex mites. Methods: A total of 100 patients (100 eyes) diagnosed with demodex mites through microscopic examination at Shanxi Bethune Eye Clinic between June 2021 and May 2023 were selected using convenience sampling. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). The control group received comprehensive treatment consisting of artificial tears, warm compress, anti-inflammatory eye ointment, hypochlorous acid cleansing, okra cotton pad, and meibomian gland massage. In addition to the comprehensive treatment, the experimental group received intense pulsed light (M22) therapy. After 8 weeks of treatment, the mite clearance rate and cure rate of dry eye were measured for both groups. The recurrence rate of dry eye was also observed 4 weeks after discontinuing M22 treatment. Results: The experimental group achieved a mite clearance rate of 88.0%, while the control group had a rate of 58.0%, with a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 5.43, P = 0.017). Regarding the cure rate of dry eye, the experimental group showed a rate of 92.0%, while the control group had a rate of 82.0%, with a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 3.61, P = 0.021). In terms of the recurrence rate of dry eye, the experimental group exhibited a rate of 13.04%, while the control group had a rate of 26.83%, with a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 4.18, P = 0.016). Conclusion: Intense pulsed light (M22) demonstrated superior efficacy in eradicating demodex mites, treating dry eye, and maintaining the treatment's effectiveness compared to comprehensive treatment with medication in patients suffering from meibomian gland dysfunction with demodex mites.

Scrophulariae Radix-Atractylodes sinensis pair and metformin inhibit inflammation by modulating gut microbiota of high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Introduction: Type 2 mellitus (T2DM), a chronic metabolic disorder, causes severe impairment of patients' quality of life and has attracted global attention. Many studies have suggested the importance of the gut microbiota in the occurrence of T2DM. The Scrophulariae Radix and Atractylodes sinensis (XC) pair, recommended in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been used for treating diabetes for many years. However, research on the role of the XC pair in modulating gut microbial communities is lacking, but it is important to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: In this study, we detected bacterial communities by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: The results showed that XC + MET reduced postprandial hyperglycemia and inflammatory response in diabetic rats more effectively than metformin (MET) alone. The XC + MET treatment reshaped the intestinal microbial composition of diabetic rats. XC can help MET regulate carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, particularly the insulin signaling pathway. Discussion: This research would help elucidate potential mechanisms and the treatment methods.

Two-year follow-up of a young male with possible acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is a rare but fetal fulminant demyelinating disease of unknown etiology. It is commonly regarded as a severe variant of acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Its rapid clinical deterioration and high mortality appeal to clinicians to attach importance to early diagnosis. Immunosuppressive therapy is the main management to attenuate the autoimmune process, but with varied response and prognosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: A young male presented with moderate fever, headache and seizures after extraction of impacted teeth, and then deteriorated rapidly to deep coma. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple plaque-like lesions in bilateral cerebra, right thalamus and pontobulbar region with massive edematous swelling and multifocal small hemorrhagic foci. Inflammatory parameters in the peripheral blood were only mild higher with a pleocytosis in CSF. DIAGNOSIS: His clinical presentation, laboratory evaluation and radiological features were consistent with a suspected diagnosis of AHLE. INTERVENTIONS: He underwent pulse corticosteroids initially but failed to respond to it. However, his consciousness improved obviously when he was treated with multiple courses of intravenous injection of immunoglobulin (IVIG) combined with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). OUTCOMES: The patient regained consciousness gradually on day 180 and was in minimally conscious state (MCS) during the two-year follow-up. LESSONS: AHLE presents distinctly from classical ADEM, and the situation may pose a diagnostic challenge. Clinicians should be vigilant in recognizing AHLE because of its rapid clinical deterioration and high mortality. We highlight the critical role of multimodal MRI, particularly susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in the diagnosis of AHLE if cerebral biopsies are unavailable. Multiple courses of IVIG with MMF may be effective when early single pulse of corticosteroids fails. Individual who survives the initial insult may carry relatively good prognosis.

Excess sludge biochar facilitates persulfate activation for highly efficient tetracycline removal.

This study proposed a novel advanced oxidation system to treat metal and antibiotic pollution in water simultaneously. Meanwhile, the enhancement effect of absorbed metal pollution on the activation of persulfate in the system was also investigated. As the most widely used and polluting material, tetracycline (TC) and metal Fe were used as the pollutant models. In this study, a carbonaceous material (BC) was prepared from excess sludge and then combined with the persulfate system (Fe/BC/PS). It was found that the best biochar was obtained when the pyrolysis temperature reached 500 °C (BC500), with the specific surface area of 39.712 m2/g. Combining it with 300 mg/L PS, the removal rate of 120 mg/L TC reached 70.6%. Moreover, the sludge biochar itself possessed numerous reaction sites and good defective structure, which provided a perfect reaction site for the variable metals absorbed by BC. They accelerated electron conduction greatly, which led to the activation of PS very active and generating far more active radicals than normal. In addition, it also proposed the rational pathway and potential mechanism of TC degradation based on the degradation intermediates. This study has a high reference value for resource utilization of sewage sludge and antibiotics removal from water.

The rhizosphere bacterial community contributes to the nutritional competitive advantage of weedy rice over cultivated rice in paddy soil.

BACKGROUND: Weedy rice competes for nutrients and living space with cultivated rice, which results in serious reductions in rice production. The rhizosphere bacterial community plays an important role in nutrient competition between species. It is therefore important to clarify the differences in the diversities of the inter rhizosphere bacterial community between cultivated rice and weedy rice. The differences in compositions and co-occurrence networks of the rhizosphere bacterial community of cultivated rice and weedy rice are largely unknown and thus the aim of our study. RESULTS: In our study, the different rhizosphere bacterial community structures in weedy rice (AW), cultivated rice (AY) and cultivated rice surrounded by weedy rice (WY) were determined based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The majority of the WY rhizosphere was enriched with unique types of microorganisms belonging to Burkholderia. The rhizosphere bacterial community showed differences in relative abundance among the three groups. Network analysis revealed a more complex co-occurrence network structure in the rhizosphere bacterial community of AW than in those of AY and WY due to a higher degree of Microbacteriaceae and Micrococcaceae in the network. Both network analysis and functional predictions reveal that weedy rice contamination dramatically impacts the iron respiration of the rhizosphere bacterial community of cultivated rice. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that there are many differences in the rhizosphere bacterial community of weedy rice and cultivated rice. When cultivated rice was disturbed by weedy rice, the rhizosphere bacterial community and co-occurrence network also changed. The above differences tend to lead to a nutritional competitive advantage for weedy rice in paddy soils.

Perioperative Acupuncture Optimizes Surgical Outcomes: Theory, Clinical Practice and Future Perspectives.

A growing body of evidence supports the use of perioperative acupuncture as part of an enhanced postsurgical recovery protocol. Data from both clinical trials and animal studies has shown that the integration of acupuncture into perioperative patient care leads to a reduction of perioperative complications such as preoperative anxiety, intraoperative hemodynamic instability, postoperative pain, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and postoperative nausea and vomiting in surgical patients. Despite these favorable outcomes, perioperative acupuncture has yet to be widely adopted in current anesthesia practice. This review summarized data from clinical perioperative acupuncture studies and cites recent discoveries regarding the anatomical location and characteristics of acupoint(s), acupuncture stimulation techniques, and treatment practice protocols, as well as identified the areas of deficiency in perioperative acupuncture applications. To facilitate acupuncture integration in perioperative care practice, the authors propose to establish a perioperative acupuncture registry which can be used for data mining as well as a resource for studying the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture. Through this acupuncture registry, clinical guidelines and research protocols can be established, additional large/multi-center clinical and pragmatic trials can be easily performed to determine if the integration and expansion of perioperative acupuncture practice is cost-effective.

Impact of rapid on-site evaluation combined with endobronchial ultrasound and virtual bronchoscopic navigation in diagnosing peripheral lung lesions.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the value of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) combined with rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) in diagnosing peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). METHODS: Between January 1st 2019 to September 1st 2021, EBUS and VBN examination were performed in expected consecutive patients with PPLs who were admitted to Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (Fujian, China). Finally, based on the calculation of expected diagnostic yield of R-EBUS biopsy and drop out, 198 eligible patients were randomly divided into ROSE group (100 cases) and non-ROSE group (98 cases). The diagnostic yield of brushing and biopsy, the complications, the procedure time, the diagnosis time and expense during diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: In the ROSE group, the positive rate of EBUS brushing and biopsy were 68%, 84%, respectively. The average procedure time and diagnosis time were 18.6 ± 6.8 min, 3.84 ± 4.28 days, respectively, and the average expense was 643.44 ± 706.56 US.$ (4093.15 ± 4494.67 yuan ¥). In the controls, the positive rate of brushing and biopsy were 44%, 74%, respectively. The average procedure time and diagnosis time were 15.4 ± 5.7 min, 6.46 ± 3.66 days, respectively. And the average expense during diagnosis was 1009.27 ± 713.89 US.$ (6420.28 ± 4541.33 yuan ¥). There was significant difference in the positive rate of EBUS brushing and biopsy, diagnosis time and expense during diagnosis between both groups. And no significant difference was observed in the complications and the procedure time. Additionally, the impact of ROSE on diagnostic yield in right upper lobe and the size of lesion ≤ 2 cm in diameter was significant. CONCLUSION: In combination with ROSE, EBUS could significantly improve the positive rate of diagnosing PPLs, shorten diagnosis time and reduce expense during diagnosis. ROSE will be of great importance in the diagnosis of PPLs and medical resource.

LINC00665 sponges miR-641 to promote the progression of breast cancer by targeting the SNF2-related CREBBP activator protein (SRCAP).

The regulatory network of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) exists widely in tumors and affects the expression of cancer-related genes, thus playing an important role in the development and prognosis of human tumors. In this research, we explored the role and mechanism of LINC00665 as a ceRNA in breast cancer. We analyzed the expression and targets of LINC00665 in breast cancer using bioinformatics, and detected their effects on breast cancer cells by CCK8, transwell, colony formation and flow cytometry assays. From our results, LINC00665 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion and induced the apoptosis through inactivating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. LINC00665 had five potential downstream target miRNAs (miR-542-3p, miR-624-5p, miR-641, miR-425-5p, and miR-30-3p). In dual-luciferase report gene assay, the fluorescence activity of cells transfected with miR-641 mimics decreased, and the expression of miR-641 decreased significantly after knocking down LINC00665. miR-641 mimics significantly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. We detected five potential direct targets of miR-641 using qPCR (SRCAP, SIKE1, NADK, KHDC4, and HSPG2). SRCAP expression decreased significantly in miR-641 overexpression cells and the binding of SRCAP's 3'UTR and miR-641 was further confirmed by dual-luciferase report gene assay. SRCAP blocked the proliferation and invasion inhibition induced by miR-641 or si-LINC00665 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, LINC00665 could promote the survival and metastasis of breast cancer cells through sponging miR-641 and targeting SRCAP. This research provided new potential targets for targeted therapy in human breast cancer.