Near-infrared fluorescence-assisted superficial inguinal lymph-node excision for low-risk penile cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Identification of superficial inguinal lymph nodes during low-risk penile cancer surgery using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence to improve the accuracy of lymph-node dissection and reduce the incidence of missed micrometastases and complications. METHODS: Thirty-two cases were selected, which were under the criteria of < T1, and no lymph-node metastasis was found with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection. Two groups were randomly divided based on the fluorescence technique, the indocyanine green (ICG) group and the non-ICG group. In the ICG group, the ICG preparation was subcutaneously injected into the edge of the penile tumor 10 min before surgery, and the near-infrared fluorescence imager was used for observation. After the lymph nodes were visualized, the superficial inguinal lymph nodes were removed first, and then, the penis surgery was performed. The non-ICG group underwent superficial inguinal lymph-node dissection and penile surgery. RESULTS: Among the 16 patients in the ICG group, we obtained 11 lymph-node specimens using grayscale values of images (4.13 ± 0.72 vs. 3.00 ± 0.82 P = 0.003) along with shorter postoperative healing time (7.31 ± 1.08 vs. 8.88 ± 2.43 P = 0.025), and less lymphatic leakage (0 vs. 5 P = 0.04) than the 16 patients in the non-ICG group. Out of 11, 3 lymph nodes that are excised were further grouped into fluorescent and non-fluorescent regions (G1/G2) and found to be metastasized. CONCLUSION: Near-infrared fluorescence-assisted superficial inguinal lymph-node dissection in penile carcinoma is accurate and effective, and could reduce surgical complications.

Effects of intrathecally administered interferon α on chronic constriction injury model rats' mechanical pain threshold and G protein expression in the spinal cord.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to explore the analgesic mechanism of effects of intrathecally administered interferon a (IFN-a) on chronic constriction injury (CCI) model rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 rats were divided into 6 groups, with 4 rats in each group, including the negative control group (Group N, no operation or treatment), the sham operation group (Group S, only the left sciatic nerve of the rats was exposed without ligation, 0.9% NaCl was intrathecally administered), and four experimental groups (CCI model was established first and then different drugs were intrathecally administered respectively), including 0.9% NaCl (Group C), IFN-a (Group CI), morphine (Group CM), and IFN-a combined with morphine (Group CIM). The mRNA levels of G proteins in both the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), as well as the content of amino acid and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 6 (CXCL-6) in the cerebrospinal fluid were measured and analysed in each group. RESULTS: Intrathecal administration of IFN-a increased the mechanical pain threshold in CCI rats (33.32 ±1.36 vs. 21.08 ±1.59, p < 0.001), achieving the effect comparable to that of morphine (33.32 ±1.36 vs. 32.44 ±3.18, p > 0.05), increased the mRNA expression level of Gi protein (0.62 ±0.04 vs. 0.49 ±0.05, p = 0.006), and decreased the mRNA expression level of Gs protein in the spinal cord (1.80 ±0.16 vs. 2.06 ±0.15, p = 0.035) and DRG (2.11 ±0.10 vs. 2.79 ±0.13, p < 0.001). The intrathecal administration of both IFN-a and morphine can reduce the glutamate content in the cerebrospinal fluid (261.55 ±38.12 vs. 347.70 ±40.69, p = 0.012), but without any statistically significant difference in the content of CXCL-6 across all groups ( p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal injection of IFN-a improved the mechanical pain threshold in CCI rats, so we inferred that intrathecal administration of IFN-a had analgesic effects on neuropathic pain, possibly related to the activation of G-proteincoupled µ receptors in the spinal cord and the inhibition of glutamate release.

[Advances in the plant multicellular network analysis].

Multicellular network analysis is a method for topological properties analysis of cells. The functions of organs are determined by their inner cells. The arrangement of cells within organs endows higher-order functionality through a structure-function relationship, though the organizational properties of these multicellular configurations remain poorly understood. Multicellular network analysis with multicellular models established by 3D scanning of plants, will further discover the plant development mechanism, and provide clues for synthesizing plant multicellular systems. In this paper, we review the development of multicellular models, summarize the process of multicellular network analysis, and describe the development and application of multicellular network analysis in plants. In addition, this review also provides perspective on future development of plant multicellular network analysis.

Probiotics reduce psychological stress in patients before laryngeal cancer surgery.

AIM: Laryngeal cancer is a common malignancy; surgery is the preferred treatment. Psychosocial stress is one of the negative impacts on patient recovery. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of probiotics on ameliorating anxiety, and on serum corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in laryngeal cancer patients before surgery. METHODS: A total 30 patients with laryngeal cancer and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. During the 2 weeks before surgery, 20 patients were randomly allocated to receive probiotics or placebo twice a day. Heart rate was recorded daily. The degree of anxiety was assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). RESULTS: Serum CRF levels in laryngeal cancer patients increased significantly in approaching surgery. After ingestion of probiotics, serum levels of CRF and heart rate did not increase before surgery. In addition, taking probiotics relieved the degree of anxiety of the patients from HAMA 19.8 to 10.2. CONCLUSION: Probiotics can ameliorate the clinical anxiety and biochemical features of stress in patients scheduled for laryngectomy.