[Scimitar syndrome with pulmonary sequestration containing carcinoma: a case report].

We reported the manifestations, auxiliary examination, and treatment courses of a case of scimitar syndrome with pulmonary sequestration containing carcinoma. The clinical characteristics of scimitar syndrome with pulmonary sequestration, pulmonary sequestration containing carcinoma were summarized based on the data of this case and the related literatures before January 2022. Scimitar syndrome can coexist with ipsilateral pulmonary sequestration. Because sequestered lung tissue has a risk of malignant transformation, a cancer screening test is useful for early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Trichostatin A alleviates the process of breast carcinoma by downregulating LPAR5.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) in affecting metastasis of breast carcinoma, and its molecular mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LPAR5 levels in breast carcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and its expression pattern was further verified in breast carcinoma cell lines. The relationship between LPAR5 and prognosis of breast carcinoma patients was analyzed. After TSA induction (100-400 nmol/L) for 6-48 h, the proliferative and migratory abilities of SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231 cells in overexpressing LPAR5 were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell and wound healing assay. By constructing a xenograft model in nude mice, the influences of TSA and LPAR5 on in vivo growth of breast carcinoma were examined. RESULTS: LPAR5 was upregulated in breast carcinoma samples. High level of LPAR5 predicted higher rates of lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis, as well as lower overall survival and progression-free survival in breast carcinoma patients. LPAR5 level was dose-dependently downregulated in TSA-induced SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, TSA induction dose-dependently declined proliferative ability, and time-dependently attenuated migratory ability in breast carcinoma cells. In vivo overexpression of LPAR5 in nude mice reversed the inhibitory effect of TSA on breast carcinoma growth. CONCLUSIONS: TSA induction can suppress proliferative and migratory abilities in breast carcinoma by downregulating LPAR5.

[Clinical observation on the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with early-stage breast cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of 64 patients (aged from 36 to 59 years old) with early-stage breast cancer after surgery. Patients were divided into ACT group (n=21), FAC group (n=19) and EC group (n=24). The NCI CTC 4.0 scores was used to evaluate the side effects at the time of 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks after chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the level of cTnT, the incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were used to evaluate the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity, the follow-up observation points were as follows: at the acute cardiotoxicity (time A), subacute cardiotoxicity (time B), 24 months after chemotherapy (time C), 36 months after chemotherapy (time D), 48 months after chemotherapy (time E), 60 months after chemotherapy (time F). The 3-years and 5-years overall survival and progress free disease survival among three groups were compared. Results: The ages, clinical stage, the size of tumor, axillary lymph node positivity and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Scores were similar among three groups (P>0.05); the incidence of side effects level 4 was 0. The levels of cTnT in the three groups were significantly lower than those at the baseline and time points C, D, E and F (all P<0.05), and the levels of cTnT were significantly higher in EC group than in FAC and ACT group at the time points B, C, D, E and F (P<0.05); however, the incidence of abnormal ECG and LVEF was similar among the 3 groups (P>0.05). The 5-year overall survival was 95.2% (20/21) ,100% (19/19) and 95.8% (23/24) in ACT group, FAC group and EC group, respectively; 5-year progress free disease survival was 95.2% (20/21) ,94.7% (18/19) and 91.7% (22/24) in ACT group, FAC group and EC group, respectively (P>0.05) . Conclusions: Patients with early-stage breast cancer after surgery could tolerate the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity. Three chemotherapy schemes of ACT, FAC and EC, especially the EC protocol, could affect the myocardial damage. However, outcome is comparable among patients treated with above chemotherapy schemes in this patient cohort.

[Outcome determinants in cardiac arrest patients secondary to acute myocardial infarction receiving extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation combined with percutaneous coronary intervention therapy].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and outcome determinants in cardiac arrest patients secondary to acute myocardial infarction treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The clinical data of 27 patients hospitalized from January 2014 to March 2017 in 3 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical data of the surviving group (12 cases) and the death group (15 cases) were compared and the outcome determinants were explored. Results: Twenty seven patients were successfully treated with coronary angiography and emergency PCI under ECMO assistance, and the successful procedure rate was 100%. The survival rate was 44.4% (12/27). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body weight, myocardial infarct location, past disease history and smoking status between the two groups (all P>0.05). Traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation time was significantly longer, the CCU hospitalization time was significantly shorter, the number of diseased vessels was significantly higher, and the prevalence of distribution of blood vessels in left main stem was significantly higher and mean artery pressure at 24 and 48 hours post ECMO was significantly lower in the death group than in survival group (all P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that left anterior descending artery lesion, higher number of lesion vessels, longer traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation time, longer time interval between cardiac arrest and ECMO placement were related increased risk of death post ECMO and emergency PCI in this patient cohort(OR=1.316, 95%CI 1.217-5.792, P=0.002; OR=1.238, 95%CI 1.107-4.961, P=0.000; OR=1.712, 95%CI 1.136-3.973, P=0.001; OR=1.629, 95%CI 1.132-4.521, P=0.000, respectively), while higher mean artery pressure at 48 hours post ECMO was related with reduced risk of death post ECMO and emergency PCI in this patient cohort(OR=0.672, 95%CI 0.326-0.693, P=0.001). Conclusions: ECMO combined with emergency PCI can improve the success rate of traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients with cardiac arrest secondary to acute myocardial infarction. Left anterior descending artery lesion, number of lesion vessels, traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation time, time interval between cardiac arrest and ECMO placement and mean artery pressure at 48 hours post ECMO are outcome determinants post ECMO and emergency PCI in this patient cohort.

Low-temperature synthesis and photocatalytic properties of ZnO nanotubes by thermal oxidation of Zn nanowires.

A low-cost and catalyst-free two-step approach has been developed to produce ZnO nanotubes (ZNTs) by simple thermal oxidation of Zn nanowires under 20 Pa at a low temperature of 400 °C. The growth mechanism of ZNTs is discussed in detail. The formation of these tubular structures is closely linked to the oxidation pressure and temperature, which involves a process consisting of the deposition of Zn nanowires, cracking of the Zn nanowires and sublimation of the Zn cores, and subsequent oxidation to ZNTs. The optical properties were studied by using Raman and photoluminescence spectra, where a strong green emission related to the single ionized oxygen vacancy appears. The photocatalytic activity measurement indicates an enhanced photocatalytic activity of the prepared ZNTs due to their high surface-to-volume ratios and abundant oxygen vacancies near the surfaces of the ZNTs. This type of high surface area structural ZNTs could find promising potential for optoelectronic and environmental applications.

The pharmacological and pathological studies on Taiwan folk medicine (VII): The anti-inflammatory effect of Echinops grjiisii.

The hepatotoxic-protective effects of "San-fang-feng" (the root of E. grijisii) and "Lou-lu" (the root of E. latifolius) on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity have been proposed in our previous paper (Lin et al, 1990). The anti-inflammatory effects of these two crude drugs were investigated in this experiment. The results indicated that both of them displayed pronounced anti-inflammatory activities against carrageenan-induced edema. Furthermore, in order to isolated the main active components of E. grijisii, fractions obtained from the methanolic extract of E. grijisii were investigated in mice for their 24-h LD50 and 95% confidence limits, which could be used as a guiding for further animal experiments. Our findings demonstrated that n-hexane (100,300 mg/kg), chloroform (30,100, 300 mg/kg) and ethyl acetate (30,100, 300 mg/kg) fractions could markedly inhibit the carrageenan-induced inflammation, and the main active principle was found to be concentrated in the chloroform fraction, which possessed significant inhibitory activities even more than does indomethacin.