Alleviating Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator-induced Hemorrhagic Transformation in Ischemic Stroke via Targeted Delivery of a Ferroptosis Inhibitor.

Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the primary treatment for ischemic stroke. However, rtPA treatment can substantially increase blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and susceptibility to hemorrhagic transformation. Herein, the mechanism underlying the side effects of rtPA treatment is investigated and demonstrated that ferroptosis plays an important role. The ferroptosis inhibitor, liproxstatin-1 (Lip) is proposed to alleviate the side effects. A well-designed macrocyclic carrier, glucose-modified azocalix[4]arene (GluAC4A), is prepared to deliver Lip to the ischemic site. GluAC4A bound tightly to Lip and markedly improved its solubility. Glucose, modified at the upper rim of GluAC4A, imparts BBB targeting to the drug delivery system owing to the presence of glucose transporter 1 on the BBB surface. The responsiveness of GluAC4A to hypoxia due to the presence of azo groups enabled the targeted release of Lip at the ischemic site. GluAC4A successfully improved drug accumulation in the brain, and Lip@GluAC4A significantly reduced ferroptosis, BBB leakage, and neurological deficits induced by rtPA in vivo. These findings deepen the understanding of the side effects of rtPA treatment and provide a novel strategy for their effective mitigation, which is of great significance for the treatment and prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke.

Adipsin inhibits Irak2 mitochondrial translocation and improves fatty acid ß-oxidation to alleviate diabetic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) causes the myocardium to rely on fatty acid ß-oxidation for energy. The accumulation of intracellular lipids and fatty acids in the myocardium usually results in lipotoxicity, which impairs myocardial function. Adipsin may play an important protective role in the pathogenesis of DCM. The aim of this study is to investigate the regulatory effect of Adipsin on DCM lipotoxicity and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus model was constructed in mice with adipose tissue-specific overexpression of Adipsin (Adipsin-Tg). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down technique, Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and immunofluorescence colocalization analyses were used to investigate the molecules which can directly interact with Adipsin. The immunocolloidal gold method was also used to detect the interaction between Adipsin and its downstream modulator. RESULTS: The expression of Adipsin was significantly downregulated in the HFD-induced DCM model (P < 0.05). Adipose tissue-specific overexpression of Adipsin significantly improved cardiac function and alleviated cardiac remodeling in DCM (P < 0.05). Adipsin overexpression also alleviated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation function in diabetic stress (P < 0.05). LC-MS/MS analysis, GST pull-down technique and Co-IP studies revealed that interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-like 2 (Irak2) was a downstream regulator of Adipsin. Immunofluorescence analysis also revealed that Adipsin was co-localized with Irak2 in cardiomyocytes. Immunocolloidal gold electron microscopy and Western blotting analysis indicated that Adipsin inhibited the mitochondrial translocation of Irak2 in DCM, thus dampening the interaction between Irak2 and prohibitin (Phb)-optic atrophy protein 1 (Opa1) on mitochondria and improving the structural integrity and function of mitochondria (P < 0.05). Interestingly, in the presence of Irak2 knockdown, Adipsin overexpression did not further alleviate myocardial mitochondrial destruction and cardiac dysfunction, suggesting a downstream role of Irak2 in Adipsin-induced responses (P < 0.05). Consistent with these findings, overexpression of Adipsin after Irak2 knockdown did not further reduce the accumulation of lipids and their metabolites in the cardiac myocardium, nor did it enhance the oxidation capacity of cardiomyocytes expose to palmitate (PA) (P < 0.05). These results indicated that Irak2 may be a downstream regulator of Adipsin. CONCLUSIONS: Adipsin improves fatty acid ß-oxidation and alleviates mitochondrial injury in DCM. The mechanism is related to Irak2 interaction and inhibition of Irak2 mitochondrial translocation.

Analysis of Chinese Medical Syndrome Features of Ischemic Stroke Based on Similarity of Symptoms Subgroup.

OBJECTIVE: To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup. RESULTS: Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.

Mechanism and Molecular Targets of Ejiao Siwu Decoction for Treating Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia Based on High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Cytokines Validation.

We explored the mechanisms and molecular targets of Ejiao Siwu Decoction (EJSW) for treating primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Active compounds of EJSW were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and their targets were obtained from HERB and SwissTargetPrediction, and ITP targets were obtained from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and GeneCards. STRING and Cytoscape were used for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses by WebGestalt yielded a gene-pathway network, Autodock molecular docking was applied to screen targets and active compounds, and cytokines were detected using a cytometric bead array (CBA) human inflammation kit. We identified 14 compounds and 129 targets, and 1,726 ITP targets. RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL6), caspase-3 (CASP3) and tumour suppressor protein (TP53) were core targets (nodes and edges). Functional annotation identified cofactor binding and coenzyme binding, and 20 significantly enriched pathways. Active compounds of EJSW were successfully docked with ITP targets. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) were upregulated in ITP patients, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) were downregulated, and EJSW treatment reversed these trends. EJSW may regulate key ITP targets based on the in silico analyses, and protect vascular integrity through AGE-RAGE signalling, complement and coagulation cascades, and VEGF signalling by downregulating TNF-α, IL-1ß and other inflammatory factors.

Suprasellar cistern tuberculoma presenting as unilateral ocular motility disorder and ptosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial tuberculoma is a rare and serious type of tuberculosis, which mostly occurs in the frontoparietal and cerebellar hemispheres, with predominance in the gray-white matter junction area, while tuberculomas only in the cistern are extremely rare with only a few reported cases in the literature. We describe a unique case of isolated tuberculoma in the suprasellar cistern, with only right ocular motility disorder and upper eyelid ptosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 5-year-old boy without any medical history presented with right ocular motility disorder and upper eyelid ptosis one month ago. He had no history of fever, headache, vomiting, convulsions, or limb weakness. Neurological examination showed right third cranial nerve palsy with restrictions of eye movements and ptosis, pupil dilation and negative light reflex. Imaging suggested a space-occupying lesion in the suprasellar cistern with calcification and ring-enhancement. Moreover, no Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The lesion was initially diagnosed as a tumor, while postoperative pathology combined with PCR indicated tuberculoma. The patient continued postoperative anti-tuberculosis treatment. At present, the patient's condition is stable and the symptoms are partially relieved compared with those before surgery. CONCLUSION: This case confirmed that isolated intracranial tuberculoma can occur in the suprasellar cistern. Therefore, for space-occupying lesions in the suprasellar cistern, tuberculoma should be included in the differential diagnosis even if there is no history or indication of tuberculosis infection.

Tai Chi for spatiotemporal gait features and dynamic balancing capacity in elderly female patients with non-specific low back pain: A six-week randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP) is a serious public health problem. Tai Chi is promising in reducing the risk of falls and alleviating symptoms in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Tai Chi on gait and dynamic balance in elderly women with NS-LBP. METHODS: 20 women (age > 65 yr.) with NS-LBP were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group (n= 10) or a control group (n= 10). The Tai Chi group practiced Tai Chi exercise 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Each session lasted 60 minutes. Pain, spatiotemporal gait features and dynamic balancing capacity were assessed at 0 and 6 weeks. RESULTS: Compared to the control group at 6 weeks, the Tai Chi group had a significant decrease in VAS (p= 0.027) and stride width (p= 0.019), significant improvement in gait velocity, stride length (p< 0.001). Regarding dynamic balance capacity, the Tai Chi group had significant improvements in anterior (Left: p= 0.001; Right: p= 0.038), postero-lateral (Left: p< 0.001; Right: p= 0.038), and postero-medial (Left: p= 0.015; Right: p= 0.018). CONCLUSION: 6-week Tai Chi can relieve pain and improve gait and dynamic balance in elderly women with NS-LBP, which suggests Tai Chi could be a promising rehabilitation intervention to reduce the risk of falls in this population.

The Proliferation of Glioblastoma Is Contributed to Kinesin Family Member 18A and Medical Data Analysis of GBM.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is widely known as a classical kind of malignant tumor originating in the brain with high morbidity and mortality. Targeted therapy has shown great promise in treating glioblastoma, but more promising targets, including effective therapeutic targets, remain to be identified. 18A (KIF18A) is a microtubule-based motor protein that is dysregulated and involved in the progression of multiple human cancers. However, the possible effects of KIF18A on GBM progression are still unclear. Methods: We performed DEG analysis, medical data analysis, and network analysis to identify critical genes affecting glioma progression. We also performed immunohistochemical analysis of the KIF18A levels in 94 patients with glioblastoma and the associated surrounding tissues. Patients were divided into two groups according to the high and low expression. Using a clinical analysis, we showed the potential associations between KIF18A expression and clinical characteristics of 94 GBM patients. We then investigated the effects of KIF18A on GBM cell proliferation by colony establishment, MTT, and immune blogging. The possible effect of KIF18A on GBM tumor growth was determined in mice. Results: We identified KIF18A as a potential gene affecting GBM progression. We further demonstrated that GBM tissues expressed KIF18A much higher, and its presentation was associated with recurrence in glioblastoma patients. We believe KIF18A promotes GBM cell proliferation. Conclusion: We demonstrated that KIF18A could be a promising target in treating GBM.

[Simulation of Lanzhou urban land expansion based on multi-agent model]. / åŸºäºŽå¤šæ™ºèƒ½ä½“æ¨¡åž‹çš„å °å·žå¸‚åŸŽé•‡ç”¨åœ°æ‰©å±•æ¨¡æ‹Ÿ.

Using the four periods of land use data and socio-economic statistics of Lanzhou City in 1995, 2005, 2015 and 2018, we examined the evolution characteristics and driving forces of urban land use in Lanzhou, with expansion intensity index, Logistic regression, and principal component analysis method. Based on the multi-agent model, the expansion of urban land use in Lanzhou under multiple scenarios in 2025 was simulated using Netlogo software. The results showed that the intensity and scale of urban land expansion in Lanzhou City from 1995 to 2018 showed an increasing trend, with a total of 307 km2 of cultivated land and water area. The expansion of urban land in Lanzhou City was significantly related to regional GDP, social fixed asset investment, population density, population, policy, and terrain. The multi-agent model on the Netlogo software could simulate the expansion trend of urban land in Lanzhou, which provided a reliable simulation method for the expansion of valley-type cities. From 2020 to 2025, urban land use under the comprehensive development scenario, natural expansion development scenario, ecological and farmland protection development scenario all showed an increasing trend. The scale of expansion would range between 42.6-134.3 km2. The expansion mode would mainly be infilled expansion. Our results could provide decision support for the land space planning and ecological environment layout optimization for Lanzhou City.

Sum of High-Risk Gene Mutation (SHGM): A Novel Attempt to Assist Differential Diagnosis for Adrenocortical Carcinoma with Benign Adenoma, Based on Detection of Mutations of Nine Target Genes.

There has been no research on applying gene detection to differential diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). We attempted to explore a novel auxiliary method for differential diagnosis between ACC with benign adrenocortical adenoma (ACA), based on mutations of target genes in tissues. Nine genes were chosen as target genes, including TP53, CTNNB1, ARMC5, PRKAR1A, ZNRF3, RB1, APC, MEN1, and RPL22. Exons sequencing of target genes were performed in 98 cases of tissue samples by FastTarget technology, including 41 ACC tissues, 32 ACA tissues, and 25 normal adrenal gland tissues. Significant mutations were detected and identified, and the clinical information was collected, for further comparative analysis and application to assist differential diagnosis of ACC. We identified 132 significant gene mutations and 227 significant mutation sites in 37 ACC tissues, much more than ACA and normal adrenal gland tissues. Mutation rates of 6 genes in ACC tissues were obviously higher than ACA tissues, including ZNRF3, ARMC5, TP53, APC, RB1, and PRKAR1A, regarded as high-risk genes. The sum of mutated high-risk genes detected in each sample was denominated sum of high-risk gene mutation (SHGM), and the rates of SHGM > 0 and SHGM > 1 in ACC tissues were 73.0% and 62.2%, respectively, both obviously higher than those in ACA tissues, with significant statistic differences. Especially for 8 cases of ACC with diameter < 5 cm, SHGM > 0 and SHGM > 1 were found in 6 samples (75%) and 4 samples (50%), respectively. However, no relevance was found between SHGM and clinical characteristics of ACC. We identified 6 high-risk genes in ACC tissues, with significantly higher mutation rates than ACA or normal adrenal gland tissues. The sum of mutated high-risk genes detected in ACC tissues was denominated SHGM, which was potential to assist the differential diagnosis of ACC with ACA, especially for the small-size ACC.

[Spatial-temporal evolution pattern and terrain gradient differentiation of ecosystem service value in Zhangye, Northwest China at the grid scale]. / æ ¼ç½‘å°ºåº¦ä¸‹å¼ æŽ–ç”Ÿæ€ç³»ç»ŸæœåŠ¡ä»·å€¼æ—¶ç©ºæ¼”å˜åŠåœ°å½¢æ¢¯åº¦åˆ†å¼‚ç‰¹å¾.

Zhangye serves as a good case for studying ecological services because of its fragile ecological environment and its ecological importance. Using land use data from 1987, 2000 and 2016 as well as the modified ecosystem service value (ESV) equivalent, the ESV was estimated and its spatial and temporal changes and gradient differentiation characteristics were analyzed by dividing the studied region into a grid of 3 km×3 km in size. The results showed that from 1987 to 2016, the ESV in Zhangye increased by 564 million Yuan, with the mountainous areas in the south and the desert areas in the north being stable. The ESV of central oasis areas with concentrated human acti-vities significantly changed. Forests contributed to most of the ESVs. Water regulation value was the strongest among all the individual ESVs. The ESV showed strong spatial dependence. Based on the spatial pattern of the two aggregated poles, it shaped three "flower arrangement" clusters, including Ganzhou District, Yanzhi Mountain, and Jingtie Mountain. The ESV distribution showed a topographic differentiation as the value decreased from the Qilian Mountains to the plain oasis, and further to the desert areas. The linear correlation of the terrain and the ESV was negative. As the increasing elevation gradient, the ESV showed a "decreased-increased-decreased" trend, while and it had a "decreased-stable-decreased" in the increasing slope gradient. Overall, the ESV presented two turning zones on the terrain gradient, indicating that both the piedmont zone and the oasis desert transition zone acted as transition zones of the ESV. Areas with the strongest ESV were distributed in the low slope and low terrain relief zones, and the development of oases in flat terrain areas were strongly constrained by water resources.

Cryopreserved biopsy tissues of rectal cancer liver metastasis for assessment of anticancer drug response in vitro and in vivo.

Living tumors are of great scientific value for clinical medicine and basic research, especially for drug testing. An increasing number of drug tests fail due to the use of imperfect models. The aim of the present study was to develop a novel method combining vitrification­based cryopreservation of tumor biopsies and precision­cut slice cultivation for the assessment of anticancer drug responses. Biological characteristics of rectal cancer liver metastasis biopsies could be retained by vitrification­based cryopreservation. The patient­derived xenograft models were successfully established using both fresh and warmed biopsy tissues. Precision­cut slicing provided a similar three­dimensional architecture and heterogeneity to the original tumor. The positive drug responses in the xenograft model were consistent with those in precision­cut slice cultures in vitro. The present study demonstrated that live tumor biopsies could be preserved using vitrification­based cryopreservation. The warmed tissues developed xenograft tumors, which were also useful for either in vivo or in vitro anticancer drug testing. Precision­cut slices derived from the warmed tissues provided an efficient tool to assess anticancer drug response in vitro.

Nucleobindin-2 Promotes the Growth and Invasion of Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant tumors in the brain with high mortality. In recent years, immunotherapy and targeted therapy show great prospects in the treatments for glioblastoma, whereas more effective therapeutic targets are still urgently needed to be developed. Nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2) is the precursor protein of nesfatin-1, which have a variety of metabolic functions, such as food intake and temperature regulation. In recent years, the potential link between NUCB2 and the development of multiple cancer was gradually revealed; however, the effects of NUCB2 on the progression of glioblastoma are still unclear. Methods: Immunohistochemical assays were performed to explore the NUCB2 expression levels in 94 samples of glioblastoma and corresponding nontumor tissues; patients were divided into NUCB2 high expression group and low expression group. Clinical analysis related to the clinical features, the potential link between NUCB2 expression levels, and clinical features were analyzed; the effects of NUCB2 on cell proliferation and invasion of glioblastoma were detected through colony formation and MTT assay, and transwell assay respectively. The possible effects of NUCB2 on tumor growth and metastasis were measured in mice. Results: In this study, we demonstrated that NUCB2 over-expression was correlated with the high degree of recurrence of patients with glioblastoma. Further, we also revealed that NUCB2 promoted cell proliferation and invasion of glioblastoma in vitro and promoted the growth and metastasis of glioblastoma in mice. Conclusion: This study provided evidence that NUCB2 might be a novel therapeutic target of glioblastoma.

Ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis caused by foreign body: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Foreign bodies related ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis is rare and usually cause numerous problems for clinical physicians. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 36-year-old female who was referred to our hospital due to a 4-year history of dull pain on the left back. DIAGNOSIS: X-ray and abdominal CT revealed a foreign body around the upper part of the left ureter with ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopy was performed and a 3-cm sewing needle was removed successfully. OUTCOMES: After 6 months' follow-up, the patient's ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis were significantly reduced, and the double-J ureteral stent was removed. LESSONS: This case indicated that ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis caused by foreign bodies needed to be early diagnosed and located. Invasive therapies rather than conservative treatments are preferred to remove the FBs and relieve obstruction.

Plaque Distribution of Basilar Artery Fenestration by 3D High-Resolution MR Vessel Wall Imaging.

The association between fenestrations and neurovascular pathology is not well defined. The morphology of vessel wall plays an important role in the development of neurovascular pathology. We sought to explore the plaque distribution around basilar artery fenestration (BAF) by three-dimensional high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging (3D HRMRI). Patients with BAF on 3D HRMRI images were enrolled. All cross-sectional slices of basilar arteries were assessed and categorized based on the location of fenestration as proximal segment, in-bifurcation segment, and distal segment. Furthermore, plaques in the in-bifurcation segment were classified according to their orientation being centered on the lateral, interior, dorsal, or ventral wall of the vessel. In all, 12 cases with BAF involving 661 cross-sectional image slices in entire basilar arteries were included. Plaques were found in 190 image slices, with the distribution of 41 slices in the proximal segment, 144 slices in the in-bifurcation segment and 67 slices in the distal segment. Plaques were found more frequently in the proximal and in-bifurcation segments than in the distal segment (P < 0.001), but there was no statistical difference between the proximal and in-bifurcation segment (P = 0.11). In the in-bifurcation segment, plaques were more frequently located at the lateral (50.0%) than other interior (16.0%), dorsal (21.0%), and ventral (13.0%) wall (P < 0.001).Plaques of BAF tend to locate in the proximal and in-bifurcation segments, especially at the lateral wall of the in-bifurcation segment.

Efficacy of One-Stage Posterior Debridement and Bone Grafting with Internal Fixation in the Treatment of Monosegmental Thoracolumbar Tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: We explored the clinical effect of one-stage posterior debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation for the treatment of monosegmental thoracolumbar tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: The data from 90 patients with thoracolumbar TB, who had undergone one-stage posterior debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation, were retrospectively reviewed. Data on the operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, improvement of neurological function, visual analog scale score, vertebral Cobb angle, bone healing, and complications were collected. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were finally included in the present retrospective study, included 42 men and 46 women. The mean patient age was 45.4 ± 12.3 years (range, 27-70), and the mean duration of disease until treatment was 11 ± 4.5 months (range, 3-19). The mean operative time was 167.0 minutes (range, 130-210), and the mean blood loss was 767.4 mL (range, 500-1150). At the final follow-up examination, the correction in the Cobb angle was 19°, the visual analog scale score had decreased to 3 ± 1.72, the neurologic deficits using the Frankel grade had improved, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level had returned to normal levels. CONCLUSION: One-stage posterior debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation might be a better choice for treating patients with monosegment thoracolumbar TB.

[Selective internal pudendal arteriography in the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the procedure of selective internal pudendal arteriography (IPA) and its application in the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (AED). METHODS: We performed selective IPA for 62 patients highly suspected of AED with abnormal nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the penile cavernosal artery < 25 ml/s. Using digital subtraction angiography, we assessed the stenosis of the main internal pudendal artery and measured the lengths of the dorsal penile arteries and cavernosal arteries. RESULTS: Of the total number of patients, 21 were found with normal internal pudendal arteries, dorsal penile arteries and cavernosal arteries, 7 with abnormal pudendal arteries and atherosclerotic lesions, 37 with inadequately visualized dorsal penile arteries and/or cavernosal arteries, and 3 with both abnormal pundendal and dorsal penile arteries or inadequately visualized cavernosal arteries. No complications were observed except for 3 cases of subcutaneous hematoma at the puncture site. CONCLUSIONS: Selective IPA can display the morphological features of internal pudendal, dorsal penile and cavernosal arteries and help to localize arterial lesions and evaluate blood supply in the penile artery. Therefore, it is a safe and reliable method for the diagnosis of AED.

Pre-cesarean prophylactic balloon placement in the internal iliac artery to prevent postpartum hemorrhage among women with pernicious placenta previa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pre-cesarean prophylactic balloon placement (PBP) in the internal iliac artery among women with pernicious placenta previa. METHODS: The present retrospective study included women with pernicious placenta previa who underwent cesarean delivery at Shanghai Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China, between March 1, 2011, and June 30, 2017. Data were compared between patients who did and did not undergo PBP. RESULTS: Among 42 patients included, 20 underwent PBP and 22 did not. Mean ± SD estimated blood loss was 2900.00 ± 2352.21 mL in the PBP group, and 4549.77 ± 2366.67 mL in the non-PBP group (P=0.025). The amount of transfused red blood cells was 8.40 ± 7.14 U and 13.00 ± 7.93 U (P=0.018), respectively. No patients in the PBP group developed postoperative disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, compared with 3 (14%) in the non-PBP group (P=0.087). In the PBP and non-PBP groups, the hospital stay duration was 7.40 ± 3.07 and 8.68 ± 2.58 days (P=0.029), and there were 1 and 7 patients who had obstetric hysterectomies (P=0.027), respectively. Two patients experienced PBP-related adverse events, including thrombosis and re-bleeding. There were no deaths. CONCLUSION: Pre-cesarean PBP in the internal iliac artery was a safe and effective treatment that could reduce the incidence of both postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy among women with pernicious placenta previa.

High resolution magnetic resonance imaging in pathogenesis diagnosis of single lenticulostriate infarction with nonstenotic middle cerebral artery, a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: It is usually difficult to identify stroke pathogenesis for single lenticulostriate infarction with nonstenotic middle cerebral artery (MCA). Our aim is to differentiate the two pathogeneses, non-branch atheromatous small vessel disease and branch atheromatous disease (BAD) by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI). METHODS: Thirty-two single lenticulostriate infarction patients with nonstenotic MCA admitted to the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to August 2017 were enrolled for retrospective analysis. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), atherosclerotic risk factors, imaging features, and the characteristic of MCA vessel wall in HR-MRI were evaluated. RESULTS: MCA plaques were detected in 15(46.9%) patients which implied BAD and 8 of 15 (53.3%) patients had plaques location in upper dorsal side of the vessel wall. Patients with HR-MRI identified plaques had a significantly larger infarction lesion length (1.95 ± 0.86 cm versus 1.38 ± 0.55 cm; P = 0.031) and larger lesion volume (2.95 ± 3.94 cm3 versus 0.90 ± 0.94 cm3; P = 0.027) than patients without plaques. Patients with HR-MRI identified plaques had a significant higher percentage of proximal lesions than patients without plaques (P = 0.055). However, according to the location of MCA plaques, there were no significant differences in terms of imaging features, NIHSS and mRS. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated high frequency of MCA atheromatous plaques visualized in single lenticulostriate infarction patients with nonstenotic MCA by using HR-MRI. Patients with HR-MRI identified plaque presented larger infarction lesions and more proximal lesions than patients without plaque, which were consistent with imaging features of BAD. HR-MRI is an important and effective tool for identifying stroke etiology in patients with nonstenotic MCA.

Open adrenalectomy versus laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenocortical carcinoma: a retrospective comparative study on short-term oncologic prognosis.

PURPOSE: Open adrenalectomy (OA) remains the gold standard of surgical therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma, while the role of laparoscopic approach is controversial. We aim to explore the influence of surgical approaches on the oncologic prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma by comparing the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing OA with those undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the baseline characteristics, perioperative data and short-term prognosis of 42 patients diagnosed with stage I-III adrenocortical carcinoma, receiving OA (n=22) and LA (n=20) as primary therapy. The primary end point was the first recurrence. RESULTS: OA group had larger mean maximum diameter of tumor (10.1±3.6 versus 6.3±2.2 cm) and lesser benefits in operative time, bleeding loss and postoperative hospital stay than laparoscopic group. Mean disease-free survival (DFS) of OA was 44.8±35.1 months, which was longer than 17.5±10.4 months of LA, and the rate of 2-year DFS after primary surgery in the open group was higher than in the laparoscopic group (61.1% versus 21.4%, respectively). Rates of 1- and 3-year DFS showed no significant difference. All patients undergoing LA (11/11) showed local recurrent lesions at the first time of recurrence, while 5 of 13 patients undergoing OA did not show local recurrence (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: OA for adrenocortical carcinoma is superior to laparoscopic approach in terms of DFS and rate of 2-year DFS, in spite of the larger maximum diameter of tumors and lesser benefit during perioperation. After LA, patients are more likely to show local recurrent lesions at the first time of relapse.

Synergistically suppressive effects on colorectal cancer cells by combination of mTOR inhibitor and glycolysis inhibitor, Oxamate.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, representing a major cancer burden. As a natural mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin has been demonstrated to regulate various cellular biological behaviors of cancer cells, including growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in multiple types of malignant tumors. In this study, we report mTOR inhibitor treatments significantly decreased colon cancer cells glucose metabolism. The glucose uptake and lactate product of DLD-1 and LoVo cells were suppressed by rapamycin. In addition, rapamycin resistant DLD-1 cells display elevated glycolysis rate. The expressions of glycolysis enzymes, Hexokinase 2, PKM2 and LDHA are upregulated in rapamycin resistant cells. We observed promotion of cellular glycolysis by overexpressing LDHA renders colon cancer cells resistant to rapamycin and inhibition of glycolysis by knockdown LDHA sensitizes colon cancer cells to rapamycin. Importantly, we demonstrate the combination of rapamycin and glycolysis inhibitor, Oxamate showed a synergistically inhibitory effect on colon cancer cells. Our study will contribute to the development of therapeutic approaches through combination of mTOR inhibitor with glycolysis inhibitor for the treatment of colorectal cancer patients.