A review: structure-activity relationship between saponins and cellular immunity.

Saponins, which exhibit many different biological and pharmacological activities, are present in a wide range of plant species and in some marine organisms. Notably, the researchers have found that saponins can activate the immune system in mammals. The strength of this function is closely related to the chemical structure of saponins. The present study of the structure-activity relationship suggests that aglycones, glycochains on aglycones and special functional groups of saponins affect the immune activity of saponins. This paper reviews the effects of different saponins on cellular immunity. As well as the structure-activity relationship of saponins. It is hoped that the information integrated in this paper will provide readers with information on the effects of saponins on cellular immunity and promote the further study of these compounds.

Health risk assessment of nitrate pollution of drinking groundwater in rural areas of Suihua, China.

In order to investigate the health risks of NO3- in rural drinking groundwater in Suihua, China and provide a basis for healthy drinking water, 40 sets of groundwater samples were collected in the Suihua area, and the average concentration of nitrate in the study area was 71.66 mg/L, statistical analysis software (SPSS19), Hydrogeochemical Analysis Software (AqQA) and groundwater pollution analysis software were used. Through water sample collection, chemical analysis and construction of human health risk model (HHRA), a qualitative and quantitative assessment of NO3- health risk was carried out for people of different ages and sexes, and it was concluded that there was NO3- pollution health risk in rural drinking groundwater in Suihua. Health risk level: infants > children > adult females > adult males. The evaluation provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of NO3- pollution in groundwater and new ideas for preventing human health risks.

Task-Similarity-Based VNF Aggregation for Air-Ground Integrated Networks.

In a harsh environment, function aggregation of air-ground integrated network service function chaining (SFC) deployment can easily cause network load imbalance, which affects the network security and reliability. In this study, a task-similarity-based virtual network function (VNF) aggregation scheme was proposed. It considered air-ground network resource consumption and load balance before SFC mapping. A model for selecting VNFs to be aggregated based on task similarity was built. The tasks were classified based on their similarity. Furthermore, the VNFs to be aggregated were selected within the class under the constraints of the underlying physical resources. Load balancing was achieved by adjusting the similarity threshold. Moreover, an SFC mapping selection scheme based on network resource awareness was used to obtain the most suitable physical nodes for single-chain and multi-chain mapping according to various attributes of physical network nodes. The simulation results indicated that the proposed scheme with a better load balance design outperformed existing works on VNF aggregation. We also demonstrated that the task-similarity-based scheme was resource-consumption efficient and effective.

Efficacy and safety of CT-guided microwave ablation for stage T1a renal cell carcinoma in patients with a solitary kidney.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate early clinical outcomes of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for stage T1a renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) in solitary kidney patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 solitary kidney patients with 16 stage T1a N0M0 biopsy-proved RCCs underwent CT-guided percutaneous microwave ablation between October 2016 and July 2020. The patients were followed up with contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging at 1, 3, and 6 months and every 6 months thereafter. Serum creatinine levels of each patient pre MWA, 1 day after MWA and the most recent record were collected. Technical effectiveness, local recurrence, survival rates and complications were accessed. RESULTS: Complete ablation was achieved in all 16 tumors (100%) including 13 clear cell carcinomas and 3 papillary carcinomas. Within the follow-up time (median: 24 months) no tumor recurrence or major complication was detected. No significant change in serum creatinine level was noted. The cancer-specific survival rate was 100% (15 of 15), and 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 100%, 93.3%, and 93.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous MWA is an effective and safe treatment option for stage T1a RCCs in solitary kidney patients; it can achieve high complete ablation rate in selected lesions of appropriate size and location.

The role of clinical characteristics and pulmonary function testing in predicting risk of pneumothorax by CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy of the lung.

BACKGROUND: We aim to analyze the risk factors for pneumothorax associated with computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) of the lung. Whether the lung function characteristics are related to pneumothorax is unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 343 patients who received CT-guided pulmonary PCNBs and underwent preoperative pulmonary function testing. Demographical, lesion-related, procedure-related features and histopathological diagnosis, as well as results of pulmonary function test were analyzed as risk factors of pneumothorax RESULTS: Variables associated with higher rate of pneumothorax were location of lesion, presence of emphysema, and dwell time. The proportion of middle lobe, lingular, or lower lobe lesions in pneumothorax group (30/50, 60.0%) is higher than non-pneumothorax group (113/293, 38.6%). The incidence of emphysema in pneumothorax group was significantly higher than that in non-pneumothorax group (34.0% vs. 7.5%). Obstructive pulmonary function abnormalities, not restrictive, mixed ventilation function abnormalities and small airway dysfunction, correlated with pneumothorax. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed lower location of lesion sampled and presence of emphysema were independent predictors of pneumothorax. Although dwell time, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF50%, FEF75% and FEF25-75% were significantly correlated with pneumothorax on univariate analysis, these were not confirmed to be independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with obstructive pulmonary dysfunction have a higher risk of pneumothorax. Presence of emphysema was the most important predictor of pneumothorax, followed by location of lesion.

Efficacy of a virtual reality-based basic and clinical fused curriculum for clinical education on the lumbar intervertebral disc.

OBJECTIVE: Today, minimally invasive procedures have become mainstream surgical procedures. Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) requires profound knowledge of the laparoscopic lumbar anatomy. Immersive virtual reality (VR) provides three-dimensional patient-specific models to help in the process of preclinical surgical preparation. In this study, the authors investigated the efficacy of VR application in LDH for training orthopedic residents and postgraduates. METHODS: VR images of the lumbar anatomy were created with immersive VR and mAnatomy software. The study was conducted among 60 residents and postgraduates. A questionnaire was developed to assess the effect of and satisfaction with this VR-based basic and clinical fused curriculum. The teaching effect was also evaluated through a postlecture test, and the results of the prelecture surgical examination were taken as baselines. RESULTS: All participants in the VR group agreed that VR-based education is practical, attractive, and easy to operate, compared to traditional teaching, and promotes better understanding of the anatomical structures involved in LDH. Learners in the VR group achieved higher scores on an anatomical and clinical fusion test than learners in the traditional group (84.67 ± 14.56 vs 76.00 ± 16.10, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An immersive VR-based basic and clinical fused curriculum can increase residents' and postgraduates' interest and support them in mastering the structural changes and complicated symptoms of LDH. However, a simplified operational process and more realistic haptics of the VR system are necessary for further surgical preparation and application.

Diagnostic value of 3.0 T cardiac MRI in children with suspected myocarditis: multi-parameter analysis for the evaluation of acute and chronic myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is an established tool for detection of myocarditis. However, no comprehensive data for CMR based on the "Lake Louise" criteria in pediatric myocarditis exists to date. PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of multi-parameter CMR in children with suspected acute (AMC) and chronic myocarditis (CMC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 73 pediatric patients with clinically suspected AMC (n = 25) and CMC (n = 48). We compared them to 17 controls. All individuals underwent CMR, including function analyses, T2 ratio, early gadolinium enhancement ratio (EGEr), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). RESULTS: In AMC, 19 (76%) patients were abnormal in any two of three parameters (T2 ratio, EGEr, and LGE). There was a significant difference between AMC and controls in LVEF (51.2% vs. 61.3%), mass (130.2 ± 14.0 vs. 120.5 ± 13.9 g), T2 ratio (1.96 ± 0.2 vs. 1.69 ± 0.13), and EGEr (4.1 ± 0.27 vs. 3.4 ± 0.39) (P < 0.05). In CMC, 26 (54.1%) patients were abnormal in any two of three parameters. There was no significant difference between CMC and controls in LVEF and mass, but there was a statistical difference in T2 ratio (1.88 ± 0.18 vs. 1.69 ± 0.13) and in EGEr (3.93 ± 0.22 vs. 3.4 ± 0.39) (P < 0.05). There was an increase in LVEF while both T2 ratio and EGEr significantly decreased (P < 0.05) during follow-up of acute fulminant myocarditis. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive CMR may serve as a powerful tool in children with suspected AMC. CMR in assessment of CMC may be valuable, but it is not satisfactory.

Comparison of outcomes of arthrodesis and reconstruction (advancement), posterior tibial tendon with excision of accessory tarsal navicular bone (Kidner procedure) in type 2 accessory navicula.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic outcome of the local arthrodesis surgery for type 2 accessory navicula (AN) is rarely reported. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between Kidner and arthrodesis procedures for type 2 AN. METHODS: Sixteen patients (20 feet) with symptomatic type 2 AN receiving surgical treatment in our hospital between November 2013 and December 2015 were retrospectively included. Ten patients (13 feet) underwent the Kidner surgery (Kidner group) and 6 patients received local arthrodesis procedure (arthrodesis group). Radiographic indices before/after surgery were compared between the two groups. Patient's satisfaction with surgery outcome was evaluated by patient self-assessment questionnaire. RESULTS: The calcaneal pitch angle was significantly increased after surgery in both groups (bothp<0.01), while the talocalcaneal coverage angle and lateral talo-first metatarsal angle were not significantly changed after surgery. There was no significant difference regarding the postoperative changes in the three radiographic indices between the two groups. In the arthrodesis group, 3 patients (4 feet) had an excellent outcome, 2 patients (2 feet) a good outcome, and 1 patient (1 foot) had a fair outcome. In the Kidner group, 6 patients (8 feet), 2 patients (3 feet), 1 patient (1 foot) and 1 patient (1 foot) had excellent, good, fair, and poor treatment outcomes, respectively. The rate of good-to-excellent outcomes was comparable between the arthrodesis group and Kidner group (83% vs. 80%, p=0.696). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that both the Kidner surgery and arthrodesis surgery were an effective treatment for symptomatic type 2 AN.

Efficacy and Radiation Exposure of Ultra-Low-Dose Chest CT at 100 kVp with Tin Filtration in CT-Guided Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy for Small Pulmonary Lesions Using a Third-Generation Dual-Source CT Scanner.

PURPOSE: To prospectively investigate efficacy and radiation dose of ultra-low-dose CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) at 100 kVp with tin filtration (100Sn kVp) for small pulmonary lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study enrolled and randomly assigned 210 patients to standard-dose CT (n = 70) or ultra-low-dose CT (n = 140; 1:2 randomization scheme) protocol. Standard-dose CT settings were reference 110 kVp and 50 mAs, and ultra-low-dose CT settings were fixed at 100Sn kVp and 70 mAs. All PCNBs in patients with small pulmonary lesions (< 3 cm) were performed on a third-generation dual-source CT scanner. Diagnostic performance, complication rate, image quality, and radiation dose were compared. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for diagnosis of malignancy were 95.7%, 100%, and 96.9% with standard-dose CT and 93.8%, 100%, and 95.4% with ultra-low-dose CT (P > .05). Complication rate showed no significant differences between protocols (P > .05). Mean volume CT dose index) and total dose-length product were significantly lower in ultra-low-dose CT compared with standard-dose CT (0.24 mGy vs 3.3 mGy ± 1.1 and 9.84 mGy-cm ± 0.70 vs 110.5 mGy-cm ± 45.1; P < .001). Effective dose for ultra-low-dose CT was significantly lower than that for standard-dose CT (0.14 mSv ± 0.02 vs 1.78 mSv ± 0.76; -92.1%; P < .001). Image quality of ultra-low-dose CT met the requirements of PCNB. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-low-dose CT-guided PCNB at 100Sn kVp spectral shaping significantly reduced radiation dose on a third-generation dual-source CT, while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy and safety for small pulmonary lesions.

Simultaneous analysis of 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural potentially formed in fermented soy sauce by "quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe" purification and UHPLC with tandem mass spectrometry.

2-Methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural are harmful by-products potentially formed via Maillard reaction in fermented soy sauce. The present study proposed a new method based on "quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe" purification and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous analysis of 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in fermented soy sauce. The sample was dissolved in water after addition of internal standard 4-methylimidazole-d6 and extracted with acetonitrile. After dehydration, it was centrifuged and the supernatant was subsequently purified using two sorbents namely primary-secondary amine and multi-walled carbon nanotube. Three target analytes were separated by gradient elution and determined under multiple reactions monitoring mode. The limit of detection, matrix effect, recovery and precision of the developed method were investigated. Results found that three target analytes displayed excellent linearity in concentration range of 1-250 µg/L. Limit of detection was in the range of 0.3-1 µg/kg for three target analytes. The mean recoveries for fermented soy sauce samples at three spiked concentrations were in the range of 91.2-112.5%, and the intra- and interday precision were in the ranges of 3.6-9.2 and 7.1-10.8%, respectively. This validated method was successfully applied to determine 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural concentrations in fermented soy sauce.

Conformational Regulation and Crystalline Manipulation of PLLA through a Self-Assembly Nucleator.

Self-assembly nucleators have been increasingly used to manipulate the crystallization of PLLA due to their strong intermolecular interaction with PLLA, while the molecular mechanism of such interaction is still unrevealed. In present work, one special self-assembly nucleator (TMC-300) with relatively high solubility in PLLA matrix, is chosen to investigate how the interaction works at molecular level to promote the crystallization of PLLA mainly through time-resolved spectroscopy. The results indicate that due to the dipole-dipole NH···O═C interaction between dissolved TMC-300 and PLLA, PLLA chains are transformed into gt conformer before TMC-300 phase-separating from PLLA melt, resulting in low energy barrier to pass for the following formation of PLLA α-crystal (α-crystal is consisted of gt conformer). Once the dissolved TMC-300 starts to self-assemble into frameworks upon cooling, the transformed PLLA chains with high population of gt conformer form the primary nuclei on the surface of such self-assembling TMC-300 frameworks. For the first time, not only the heterogeneous nucleation but also the conformational regulation of PLLA chains are proved to be responsible for the high efficiency of the self-assembly nucleators (TMC-300) in promoting the crystallization of PLLA. Therefore, conformational regulation is proposed for crystalline manipulation of PLLA, and this work brings new insight on promoting the crystallization of PLLA even other polymers by regulating their molecular conformation.

Regulation of a disintegrins and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 7 during inflammation in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells: role of AP-1, Sp1 and NF-κB signaling.

AIM: The objective of this study is to explore the effect of inflammatory cytokines on a disintegrins and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 7 (ADAMTS7) and to demonstrate the role of Sp1, AP-1 and NF-κB signaling on the ADAMTS7 regulation during inflammation in NP cells. METHODS: Real-time PCR was to detect the effect of ADAMTS7 knockdown on the expression of catabolic enzymes during inflammatory condition in NP cells. Real-time PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence and transfection experiments were used to observe the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin-1ß on the expression and the activity of ADAMTS7, and demonstrated the role to Sp1, AP-1 and NF-κB in the regulation of ADAMTS7 during inflammation. RESULTS: As other cells, ADAMTS7 knockdown suppressed the mRNA expression of catabolic factors during inflammation in human NP cells. However, the expression of ADAMTS7 mRNA and protein and the activity of ADAMTS7 promoter were refractory to inflammatory cytokines. In addition, Sp1, AP-1, not NF-κB signaling sustained the expression of ADAMTS7 mRNA, protein, as well as promoter activity during inflammation in NP cells. CONCLUSION: ADAMTS7 played a crucial role in the expression of catabolic genes in the presence of TNF-α and AP-1, Sp1, not NF-κB signaling were critical for the maintenance of ADAMTS7 expression during inflammation in NP cells.

SIRT1 expression is refractory to hypoxia and inflammatory cytokines in nucleus pulposus cells: Novel regulation by HIF-1α and NF-κB signaling.

Hypoxia and a marked increase in inflammatory cytokines are common hallmarks of intervertebral disc degeneration; these events disrupt the normal balance between extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and synthesis in degenerative intervertebral discs. SIRT1, one of the NAD+-dependent class III histone deacetylases, controls cellular processes and is regulated by hypoxia and inflammatory cytokines in a cell-type-dependent manner. SIRT1 protects degenerative human nucleus pulposus cells against apoptosis. However, the role of SIRT1 in inflammation in intervertebral discs is still unclear. The current study showed that in rat NP cells, as in other cells, SIRT1 suppressed the induction of the mRNA expression of proteases that degrade ECM induced by TNF-α. Moreover, real-time PCR, transfection, and loss- and gain-of-function experiments revealed that SIRT1 mRNA and protein expression were refractory to hypoxia and HIF-1α. Additionally, SIRT1 mRNA and protein expression and the activity of the SIRT1 promoter were not affected by inflammatory cytokines but were sustained by NF-κB signaling in the presence or absence of TNF-α. In summary, the present study suggested that SIRT1 is not affected by hypoxia and inflammatory cytokines in rat intervertebral discs. Moreover, not HIF-1α but NF-κB signaling is critical for the maintenance of SIRT1 expression in NP cells under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Microwave Ablation for Treating Postsurgical Intrapulmonary Oligometastases or Oligorecurrence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) in treating tumour patients with postsurgical intrapulmonary oligometastases or oligorecurrence (PIORO). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Departments of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, Jinan Central Hospital and Qilu Hospital, Jinan, China, from January 2014 to June 2023. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data of 31 patients with PIORO receiving treatment with MWA were retrospectively analysed. After undergoing MWA, the patients were followed up for computed tomography (CT) examination on the 7th day, 1st month, and every 3 months, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcomes; overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to local progression (TTLP). RESULTS: All patients with PIORO were successfully treated with MWA. The 3-year survival rate of patients was 35.5%. The median OS was 26.0 months, the median PFS was 11.1 months, and the median TTLP was 14.4 months. Patients with oligometastatic or oligorecurrent tumours ≤3 cm in diameter showed better PFS (≤3 cm, 14.261 m vs. >3 cm, 7.786 m; p <0.01) and TTLP (≤3 cm, 19.522 m vs. >3 cm, 12.214 m; p <0.05) than those with tumours >3 cm in diameter. Clinical characteristics of the patients were not significantly correlated with OS. CONCLUSION: MWA, as a topically therapeutic method, is an effective procedure for tumour patients with PIORO, especially in cases of oligometastatic or oligorecurrent tumours ≤3 cm in diameter. KEY WORDS: Microwave ablation, Thermal ablation, Oligometastases, Oligorecurrence, Progression-free survival, Survival.

Research progress on pharmacological properties and application of probiotics in the fermentation of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a medicinal herb with a rich history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. This review concentrates on the chemical constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, with a particular emphasis on flavonoids such as baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin. Additionally, it examines the effects of probiotic fermentation on the plant's chemical profile and pharmacological actions. Evidence suggests that probiotic fermentation markedly modifies the bioactive components of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, thereby augmenting its medicinal potency. The paper delves into the mechanisms by which the primary active constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi are altered during fermentation and how these changes influence its pharmacological properties. This review aims to lay a theoretical groundwork for the clinical utilization of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and the formulation of innovative therapeutic approaches.

Progress of research and application of Heyndrickxia coagulans (Bacillus coagulans) as probiotic bacteria.

Probiotics are defined as living or dead bacteria and their byproducts that maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiome. They are non-toxic, non-pathogenic, and do not release any toxins either within or outside the body. Adequate consumption of probiotics can enhance metabolite production, increase immunity, maintain a balanced intestinal flora, and stimulate growth. Probiotics do not have negative antibiotic effects and help maintain the natural flora in animals in a balanced state or prevent dysbacteriosis. Heyndrickxia coagulans (H. coagulans) is a novel probiotic species that is gradually being used for the improvement of human health. Compared to commonly used probiotic lactic acid bacteria, H. coagulans can produce spores, which provide the species with high resistance to adverse conditions. Even though they are transient residents of the gut, beneficial bacteria can have a significant impact on the microbiota because they can outnumber harmful germs, and vice versa. This article discusses the probiotic mechanisms of H. coagulans and outlines the requirements for a substance to be classified as a probiotic. It also addresses how to assess strains that have recently been discovered to possess probiotic properties.

Clinical outcomes of percutaneous microwave ablation for pulmonary oligometastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary oligometastases are common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the existing therapeutic options have several limitations. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of HCC-originating pulmonary oligometastases. METHODS: A total of 83 patients, comprising 73 males and 10 females with a median age of 57 years, who had pulmonary oligometastases from HCC, underwent MWA treatment at four different medical institutions. Inclusion criteria for patients involved having primary HCC under control and having less than three oligometastases with a maximum diameter of ≤ 5 cm in the unilateral lung or less than five oligometastases with a maximum diameter of ≤ 3 cm in the bilateral lung. A total of 147 tumors were treated with MWA over 116 sessions. The primary endpoints assessed included technical success, treatment efficacy, and local progression rate, while secondary endpoints encompassed complications, clinical outcomes, overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The technical success rate for MWA was 100% (116/116 sessions), and the treatment efficacy rate was 82.3% (121/147 tumors). Six months after MWA, the local progression rate was 23.1% (18/147 tumors). Complications were observed in 10.3% (major) and 47.4% (minor) of the 116 sessions, with no cases of ablation-related deaths. The median follow-up period was 21.6 months (range: 5.7-87.8 months). Median OS was 22.0 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 82.6%, 44.5%, and 25.2%, respectively. Median LPFS was 8.5 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during initial diagnosis and the number of oligometastases as potential independent prognostic factors for OS (p = 0.017 and 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous MWA is a safe and effective treatment modality for pulmonary oligometastases originating from HCC.

Increased macroautophagy in the pathological process of intervertebral disc degeneration in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Macroautophagy increases with age in rat intervertebral discs; however, the effect of macroautophagy on the process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of autophagosome, as well as the levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 proteins, in vivo. Additionally, in vitro evidence of macroautophagy and GRP78 and GADD153 protein levels were investigated to explore the mechanism of macroautophagy in the process of IVDD. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2 months, were randomly divided into six groups (three control and three model groups, n = 8 per group). At the 6-, 12-, and 18-week time points, autophagosomes in nucleus pulposus cells were detected with transmission electron microscope (TEM). Expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 protein levels within intervertebral disc was detected using Western blotting analysis. Then, the rat annulus fibrosus cells were isolated and cultured with Earle's balanced salt solution. At 1, 2, and 3 hr of culture, autophagosomes were detected using monodansylcadaverine assay, and LC3, Beclin-1, GRP78, and GADD153 protein levels were detected using Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy revealed autophagosomes within nucleus pulposus cells in both the control and model groups. At 6-, 12-, and 18-week posttreatments, the levels of Beclin-1 and the LC3-II/LC3-I protein ratio in the model groups were higher than those in the control groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the control rats, amino acid starvation increased the number of monodansylcadaverine-positive cells and the LC3-II/LC3-I protein ratio in the model rats. Moreover, the in vitro levels of Beclin-1, GRP78, and GADD153 proteins were increased with the prolongation of amino acid starvation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Macroautophagy was present and was associated with increased pathological process of IVDD in rats. Macroautophagy of intervertebral disc cells is possibly secondary to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Computed tomography-guided localization of pulmonary nodules prior to thoracoscopic surgery.

With the increasing awareness of physical examination, the detection rate of pulmonary nodules is gradually increasing. For pulmonary nodules recommended for management by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), preoperative localization of the nodule is required if its location is difficult to determine intraoperatively by palpation. The computed tomography (CT)-guided preoperative localization technique is the most widely used method with low operational difficulty and high efficiency, which can include hook wire, microcoil, medical dye, medical surgical adhesive, combined application, and emerging localization techniques according to the material classification. Each method has its corresponding advantages and disadvantages, but there is still a lack of unified guidelines or standards for the selection of CT-guided preoperative localization methods in clinical practice. This review summarizes the operation precautions, advantages, and shortcomings of the above localization techniques in order to provide references for clinical application.

Prognostic nomogram in patients with epithelioid sarcoma: A SEER-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic factors for patients with epithelial sarcoma remain unclear. The study aims to develop a practical clinical nomogram that predicts prognosis in patients with ES using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS: We extracted clinical data from 2004 to 2015 from the SEER database about patients with ES. All patients were randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to compare outcomes between different subgroups. In order to estimate the chance of survival for patients with ES, we developed a nomogram. Nomogram performance was evaluated by discrimination and calibration. Additionally, an analysis of decision curves was conducted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this newly developed model. RESULTS: In the primary cohort,320 met the inclusion criteria to be entered into this study. The median OS was 66.000 months (range 34.704 to 94.296 months), and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 70.7%, 56.1%, and 50.4%, respectively. For the validation cohort, we studied 136 consecutive patients. Age, primary site, grade, AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) T, AJCC M, and surgery were included in the nomogram. The C-index values for the training set and validation set were 0.817 and 0.832, respectively. The calibration plots showed good agreement between the prediction and the observation. Based on the clinical decision curve, the model has a good clinical net benefit for ES patients. CONCLUSIONS: It is the first study that developed an effective survival prediction model for patients with ES. Using this nomogram can assist in clinical decision-making as it has satisfactory accuracy. Even so, additional external validation is needed.