[Mechanism of Mailuo Shutong Pills on posterior limb muscle swelling caused by femoral fracture in rats based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of Mailuo Shutong Pills(MLST) on posterior limb muscle swelling caused by femoral fracture(SCFF) through network pharmacology and animal experiments. The plasma components of MLST were analyzed by LC-MS, and the target and signal pathway of SCFF were predicted by network pharmacology and verified by molecular docking. SCFF model rats were established through animal experiments, and different doses of MLST were administered to detect the degree of limb swelling. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in muscle tissue, and interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1ß(interleukin-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in peripheral blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of relevant signaling pathways was measured by Western blot. Network pharmacological results showed that MLST and SCFF had a total of 153 disease targets, and the key targets were IL-6, TNF, etc., involving mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathway, etc. The binding energies of the main components and key targets were lower than-7.0 kcal·mol~(-1), indicating that the network analysis results were reliable. The results of animal experiments showed that MLST could reduce the swelling degree and pathological damage of the posterior limb muscles of SCFF rats compared with the model group. ELISA results showed that MLST could reduce the levels of IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in the serum of SCFF rats. Western blot results showed that MLST can reduce the expression of p-AKT, p-PI3K, p-NF-κB, p-p38 MAPK, and p-ERK in SCFF rats. MLST may reduce the content of inflammatory factors in serum by regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT and MAPK-related signaling pathway protein and improving posterior limb muscle SCFF in rats.

The oxidant-antioxidant imbalance was involved in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Background: Although oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiological process of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), the specific underlying mechanism is still unclear. Whether antioxidant therapy can treat CRSwNP needs further investigation. Methods: Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses were performed to detect the distribution and expression of oxidants and antioxidants in nasal polyp tissues. qPCR revealed correlations between oxidase, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory cytokine levels in CRSwNP patients. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) and primary macrophages were cultured to track the cellular origin of oxidative stress in nasal polyps(NPs) and to determine whether crocin can reduce cellular inflammation by increasing the cellular antioxidant capacity. Results: The expression of NOS2, NOX1, HO-1 and SOD2 was increased in nasal epithelial cells and macrophages derived from nasal polyp tissue. Oxidase levels were positively correlated with those of inflammatory cytokines (IL-5 and IL-6). Conversely, the levels of antioxidant enzymes were negatively correlated with those of IL-13 and IFN-γ. Crocin inhibited M1 and M2 macrophage polarization as well as the expression of NOS2 and NOX1 and improved the antioxidant capacity of M2 macrophages. Moreover, crocin enhanced the ability of antioxidants to reduce inflammation via the KEAP1/NRF2/HO-1 pathway in HNEpCs treated with SEB or LPS. Additionally, we observed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of crocin in nasal explants. Conclusion: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of CRSwNP by promoting various types of inflammation. The oxidative stress of nasal polyps comes from epithelial cells and macrophages. Antioxidant therapy may be a promising strategy for treating CRSwNP.

Diagnosis and Therapeutic Strategies of Unusual Subglottic Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is primarily found in the salivary glands, and is extremely rare in the subglottic region. Here we present a subglottic PA that presented with symptoms of dry cough and dyspnea. A submucosal mass was found in the subglottic region under laryngoscopy, occluding approximately 40% of the lumen. The patient underwent the transoral endoscopic CO2 laser microsurgery under high-frequency jet ventilation for mass resection, and the pathology report supported the diagnosis of PA. At the 2-year follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence, and the patient is currently under regular long-term monitoring. Dyspnea and dry cough are nonspecific respiratory symptoms. When no findings discovered in the regular site, it should be noted that the subglottic area is often a blind spot for both pulmonologists and otolaryngologists, and as such, requires careful examination. Transoral endoscopic CO2 laser microsurgery under high-frequency jet ventilation was found to be an effective and less invasive method for treating subglottic PA. This approach helped avoid tracheostomy and resulted in better postoperative recovery.

Methyl vanillate for inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ovarian cancer cells via the ZEB2/Snail signaling pathway.

Background: Globally, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of female reproductive-related death, with a 5-year survival rate below 50%. Conventional therapies, such as cancer cell reduction and paclitaxel chemotherapy, have strong toxicity and are prone to drug resistance. Thus, the development of alternatives for the treatment of ovarian cancer is urgently needed. Methyl vanillate is a principal component of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg. It is known that several cancer cells are inhibited by methyl vanillate; however, whether methyl vanillate can inhibit the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells still needs to be further studied. Methods: In this study, cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) was used to examine the effects of methyl vanillic acid on the proliferation of SKOV3 cell lines and human ovarian surface epithelial cell (HOSEpiC) lines. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to determine the effect of methyl vanillate on cell migration. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins (E-cadherin and vimentin), transcription factors (Snail and ZEB2), and skeletal proteins (F-actin) were evaluated with Western blotting. F-actin was detected by immunofluorescence assay. Results: The proliferation and migration of SKOV3 cells were dose-dependently inhibited by methyl vanillate, but HOSEpiC cells were not inhibited by low concentrations of methyl vanillate. Western blotting analyses revealed a significant decrease in the expression of vimentin and a significant increase in the expression of E-cadherin in SKOV3 cells treated with methyl vanillate. This finding indicated that EMT inhibition was induced by the vanillate. Furthermore, methyl vanillate inhibited the expression of transcription factors (Snail and ZEB2) in SKOV3 cells as well as cytoskeletal F-actin assembly. Conclusions: Methyl vanillate plays an important role in inhibiting EMT and cell proliferation and the migration of ovarian cancer, likely via the inhibition of the ZEB2/Snail signaling pathway. Consequently, methyl vanillate may be a promising therapeutic drug for ovarian cancer.

Chlorogenic acid delays the progression of Parkinson's disease via autophagy induction in Caenorhabditis elegans.

OBJECTIVES: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenolic substance derived from various medicinal plants. Although CGA is reported to have potential anti-PD effect, the beneficial effect and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to further investigate the protective effect and clarify the mechanism of action of CGA in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models of PD. METHODS: Measurements of a-synuclein aggregation, movement disorders, and lipid, ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were observed in NL5901 nematodes. Determinations of dopamine (DA) neuron degeneration, food perception, and ROS content were performed in 6-OHDA-exposed BZ555 nematodes. The autophagy activation of CGA was monitored using DA2123 and BC12921 nematodes. Meanwhile, RNAi technology was employed to knockdown the autophagy-related genes and investigate whether the anti-PD effect of CGA was associated with autophagy induction in C. elegans. RESULTS: CGA significantly reduced α-synuclein aggregation, improved motor disorders, restored lipid content, and decreased ROS and MDA contents in NL5901 nematodes. Meanwhile, CGA inhibited DA neuron-degeneration and improved food-sensing behavior in 6-OHDA-exposed BZ555 nematodes. In addition, CGA increased the number of GFP::LGG-1 foci in DA2123 nematodes and degraded p62 protein in BC12921 nematodes. Meanwhile, CGA up-regulated the expression of autophagy-related genes in NL5901 nematodes. Moreover, the anti-PD effect of CGA was closely related to autophagy induction via increasing the expression of autophagy-related genes, including unc-51, bec-1, vps-34, and lgg-1. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that CGA exerts neuroprotective effect in C. elegans via autophagy induction.

Transcriptome analysis of well-differentiated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells in below-background environment.

Background: Preliminary research has shown an inhibited growth rate of well-differentiated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells (FD-LSC-1) in below-background radiation (BBR), but how the cells respond to this environmental stress and the potential mechanisms are yet unknown. The current study aimed to reveal the molecular differences in cells grown under BBR conditions and normal radiation at the transcriptional level. Methods: The expression profiles between FD-LSC-1 cells grown in a deep underground laboratory and above ground laboratory collected on day 4 were investigated by whole-transcriptome analysis, including messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs). Functional analyses of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were then implemented for differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and target genes of lncRNAs and circRNAs. Co-expression levels and the Bayesian network of DE genes were subsequently constructed, and the reliability of expression patterns were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The study identified a total of 671 mRNAs, 286 lncRNAs, 489 circRNAs, and 6 miRNAs as significantly expressed in response to the environmental stress. The GO annotations regarding the biological processes category were mainly biological regulation, metabolic process, response to stimulus, cell cycle, and modification process. The KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that TGF-ß and Hippo signaling played a crucial role in the transcriptional regulation of FD-LSC-1 cell growth under background radiation. Further network construction suggested that the enriched KEGG pathways affected this process by regulating cell proliferation-related genes including SMAD, SMAD7, CDH1, EGR1, and BMP2. Conclusions: Below-background radiation can lead to transcriptional changes in FD-LSC-1 cells cultured in the deep underground. The inhibitory growth effect is associated with multiple biological processes as well as canonical pathways of proliferation.

Integrated analysis of 14 lymphoma datasets revealed high expression of CXCL14 promotes cell migration in mantle cell lymphoma.

Lymphoma is accompanied by the impairment of multiple immune functions. Cytokines play an important role in a variety of immune-related functions and affect the tumor microenvironment. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms between them remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the cytokines expression and function in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We performed a transcriptome integration analysis of 14 lymphoma datasets including 240 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 891 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 216 mantle cell lymphoma, and 64 health samples. The results showed that multiple immune functions and signal pathway damage were shared by all three types of lymphoma, and these functions were related to cytokines. Furthermore, through co-expression network and functional interaction network analysis, we identified CXCL14 as a key regulator and it affects cell chemotaxis and migration functions. The functional experiment showed that CXCL14 knockdown inhibited cell migration in MCL cell lines. This study suggested that high expression of CXCL14 may aggravate MCL via promoting cell migration. Our findings provide novel insights into the biology of this disease and would be helpful for the pathogenesis study and drug discovery of lymphomas.

ATG12 is involved in the antiviral immune response in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

ATG12, a core autophagy protein, forms a conjugate with ATG5 to promote the formation of autophagosome membrane, and plays an important role in antiviral immunity. However, little is known about the function of ATG12 in fish. Here, we cloned the open reading frame (ORF) of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) ATG12 (LcATG12), which is 354 nucleotides long and encodes a protein of 117 amino acids. The deduced LcATG12 possesses a conserved APG12 domain (residues 31 to 117), and shares 91.45% identities with ATG12 in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). LcATG12 was constitutively expressed in all examined tissues, with the highest level in intestine. Its transcript was also detected in primary head kidney granulocytes (PKG), primary head kidney macrophages (PKM), primary head kidney lymphocytes (PKL), and large yellow croaker head kidney (LYCK) cell line, and was significantly up-regulated by poly(I:C). LcATG12 was regularly distributed in both cytoplasm and nucleus of LYCK and epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC) cells. Overexpression of LcATG12 in EPC cells significantly inhibited the replication of spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV). Further studies reveled that LcATG12 could induce the occurrence of autophagy in LYCK cells. Furthermore, overexpression of LcATG12 in LYCK cells increased the expression levels of large yellow croaker type I interferons (IFNs, IFNc, IFNd, and IFNh), IFN regulatory factors (IRF3 and IRF7), and IFN-stimulated genes (PKR, Mx, and Viperin). All these data indicated that LcATG12 plays a role in the antiviral immunity possibly by inducing both autophagy and type I IFN response in large yellow croaker.

Associação entre vitamina D sérica e rinossinusite crônica: uma metanálise / Association between serum vitamin D and chronic rhinosinusitis: a meta-analysis

Resumo Introdução: A rinossinusite crônica é uma inflamação crônica altamente heterogênea do trato respiratório superior causada por uma disfunção imune nos seres humanos. Entretanto, a etiologia subjacente dessa doença ainda não foi bem estabelecida. Diversos estudos revelaram que anormalidades nos níveis séricos de vitamina D podem desempenhar um papel na fisiopatologia da doença. Objetivo: Fazer uma metanálise de estudos para comparar os níveis séricos de vitamina D entre pacientes com rinossinusite crônica e controles saudáveis e avaliar as potenciais associações do nível sérico de vitamina D com a ocorrência da doença. Método: Seguindo as diretrizes Prisma, bancos de dados relevantes, inclusive Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase e Cochrane Library, foram pesquisados desde a sua data de início até 1° de dezembro de 2018. A simetria do gráfico de funil (funnel plot symmetry) e o teste de Egger foram usados para detectar o viés da publicação. Os desfechos foram apresentados como diferença média ponderada e combinamos a diferença média ponderada e intervalos de confiança de 95% para estimar a diferença dos níveis séricos de vitamina D entre pacientes com rinossinusite crônica e os controles. O valor de I2 de Higgins foi usado para testar a heterogeneidade entre os estudos incluídos. Resultados: Dos 176 estudos que identificamos, apenas oito, que envolveram 337 pacientes com rinossinusite crônica e 179 controles saudáveis, preencheram os critérios e foram incluídos na metanálise. Em uma análise combinada de todos os estudos, a diminuição do nível sérico de vitamina D foi demonstrada na rinossinusite crônica (DMP = −7,80, IC95% −13,28 ± −2,31, p = 0,000). Análises de subgrupos com base no local do estudo (EUA vs. Não EUA), tipos de biomarcadores (25[OH]D3 vs. 25[OH]D) e desenho do estudo (retrospectivo vs. prospectivo) não explicaram a heterogeneidade. No entanto, o fenótipo da rinossinusite crônica (rinossinusite crônica com pólipos nasais vs. rinossinusite crônica sem pólipos nasais) pode explicar algum grau de heterogeneidade. Contudo, um nível sérico mais baixo de vitamina D foi observado em pacientes com rinossinusite crônica com pólipos nasais. Conclusão: Nossos achados indicam que o nível sérico de vitamina D pode estar associado à rinossinusite crônica, pois detectamos uma associação significante entre níveis séricos mais baixos de vitamina D em pacientes com rinossinusite crônica, especialmente na rinossinusite crônica com pólipos nasais. No entanto, mais estudos abrangentes são necessários para se chegar a conclusões abalizadas.

A rare case of nevus sebaceous of the bilateral labia minora: A case report and review of literature.

RATIONALE: Nevus sebaceous (NS) is a lesion caused by congenital hyperplastic disorder of the sebaceous glands. It commonly noted in the scalp and face and rarely in the trunk, neck, or oral mucosa. We present a rare case of a lesion arising in the genital region. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 47-year-old woman complained of a gradual increase in the size of her bilateral labia minora over 2 years, which affected her sexual life and caused walking difficulty. She was admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. On physical examination, no ulcer, discharge, and vulval or vaginal bleeding were found. The bilateral inguinal lymph nodes were not palpable, bilateral labia minora were asymmetric, and the right side was evidently bigger than the left. The labia minora had serrated edges and numerous papillae with a maximum diameter of 0.5 cm. The vagina, cervix, and uterus with its attachments were normal. Blood samples tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus, human papilloma virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. DIAGNOSIS: A diagnosis of NS of the bilateral labia minora was made following histopathological examination of the resected specimen. INTERVENTION: The bilateral labia minora lesions were resected general anesthesia on August 29, 2016. The operation was successful, and intraoperative blood loss was about 10 ml. OUTCOMES: After 40 months of postoperative follow-up, no recurrence or appearance of other tumors were noted. LESSONS: We recommend surgical removal of lesions in the genital area during adolescence or before adulthood. Adolescence may be the best period for surgical intervention owing to a greater risk of malignant change in adulthood. On the other hand, surgical risk should be avoided in children considering the low incidence of malignant transformation.

Phenylboronic acid-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles for high loading and efficient delivery of curcumin.

In order to achieve high loading and efficient delivery of curcumin, phenylboronic acid-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by a simple desolvation method. These nanoparticles exhibited a regular spherical shape with the average size about 200-230 nm and narrow size distribution, which were kinetically stable under physiological condition. Due to boronate ester formation between curcumin and phenylboronic acid groups in the nanoparticles, and the hydrogen bonding interactions between curcumin and nanocarriers, curcumin was successfully loaded into the nanoparticles with high drug loading content. These curcumin-loaded nanoparticles showed pH and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered drug release behavior. In vitro cell experiments revealed that the blank nanoparticles were completely nontoxic to cultured cells, and the curcumin-loaded nanoparticles exhibited efficient antitumor efficiency against cancer cells. Moreover, the drug-loaded nanoparticles performed an enhanced growth inhibition in three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroids. Thus, these nanocarriers would be a promising candidate for curcumin delivery in tumor treatment.

Impact of obesity on operative complications and outcome after sacrocolpopexy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery is required by many obese women with pelvic organ prolapse, and sacrocolpopexy is considered to be an effective method to correct apical prolapse. However, to the authors' knowledge, epidemiological studies have not been summarized formally. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic literature search of Pubmed, Medline (Ovid) and Embase databases was undertaken for articles written in English. Statistical analysis was performed using Revman 5.3. RESULTS: In total, 7315 patients in 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. No significant differences were found between obese women and non-obese women in terms of re-operation rate [risk ratio (RR) 1.19, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.59; p = 0.25], postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage ≥2 (RR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.64-1.16; p = 0.33), transfusion rate (RR 0.91, 95 % CI 0.57-1.44; p = 0.68), mesh erosion rate (RR 1.62, 95 % CI 0.74-3.51; p = 0.23), overall rate of surgical complications (RR 1.17, 95 % CI 0.91-1.50; p = 0.23) and length of hospital stay [mean difference (MD) 0.13 days, 95 % CI -0.05 to 0.31; p = 0.15). Additionally, no differences were found in the rates of bladder injury, ileus and urinary incontinence between obese women and non-obese women. However, obese women were associated with a higher laparoconversion rate (RR 3.00, 95 % CI 1.71-5.31; p = 0.0002), higher rate of infection (RR 1.65, 95 % CI 1.25-2.20; p = 0.0005), longer operative duration (MD 14.93 min, 95 % CI 10.14-19.73; p < 0.00001) and higher estimated blood loss (MD 18.01 ml, 95 % CI 8.22-27.80; p = 0.0003) compared with non-obese women. CONCLUSIONS: The complications and curative effects of sacrocolpopexy for obese women are similar to those of non-obese women, except for the higher laparoconversion rate, higher rate of infection, longer operative duration and higher estimated blood loss in obese women. Obesity increases the operational difficulty of sacrocolpopexy to a certain extent, although it does not increase the mesh erosion rate or prolapse recurrence rate. Gynaecologists need to be aware of the possibility of the abovementioned risks when choosing sacrocolpopexy for obese patients with middle pelvic defects.

Lychee seed polyphenol protects the blood-brain barrier through inhibiting Aß(25-35)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1-mediated autophagy in bEnd.3 cells and APP/PS1 mice.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is closely linked to the release of proinflammatory cytokines in brain capillary endothelial cells. We have previously reported that lychee seed polyphenols (LSP) exerted anti-neuroinflammatory effect. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effect of LSP on BBB integrity. The monolayer permeability of bEnd.3 cells, and the mRNA level and protein expression of tight junction proteins (TJs), including Claudin 5, Occludin, and ZO-1, were examined. In addition, the inhibition of Aß(25-35)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the autophagy induced by LSP were investigated by detecting the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, LC3, AMPK, mTOR, and ULK1. Furthermore, the cognitive function and the expression of TJs, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1ß, and p62 were determined in APP/PS1 mice. The results showed that LSP significantly decreased the monolayer permeability and inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome in Aß(25-35)-induced bEnd3 cells. In addition, LSP induced autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway in bEnd.3 cells, and improved the spatial learning and memory function, increased the TJs expression, and inhibited the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1ß, and p62 in APP/PS1 mice. Therefore, LSP protects BBB integrity in AD through inhibiting Aß(25-35)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1-mediated autophagy.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Appropriate Empiric Anti-Enterococcal Therapy for Intra-Abdominal Infection.

Background: Delayed treatment of seriously infected patients results in increased mortality. However, antimicrobial therapy for the initial 24 to 48 hours is mostly empirically provided, without evidence regarding the causative pathogen. Whether empiric anti-enterococcal therapy should be administered to treat intra-abdominal infection (IAI) before obtaining culture results remains unknown. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the effects of empiric enterococci covered antibiotic therapy in IAI and the risk factors for enterococcal infection in IAI. Methods: We searched multiple databases systematically and included 23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 13 observational studies. The quality of included studies was assessed, and the reporting bias was evaluated. Meta-analysis was performed using random effects or fixed effects models according to the heterogeneity. The risk ratio (RR), odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Results: Enterococci-covered antibiotic regimens provided no improvement in treatment success compared with control regimens (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.00; p = 0.15), with similar mortality and adverse effects in both arms. Basic characteristic analysis revealed that most of the enrolled patients with IAI in RCTs were young, lower risk community-acquired intra-abdominal infection (CA-IAI) patients with a relatively low APACHE II score. Interestingly, risk factor screening revealed that malignancy, corticosteroid use, operation, any antibiotic treatment, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and indwelling urinary catheter could predispose the patients with IAI to a substantially higher risk of enterococcal infection. "Hospital acquired" itself was a risk factor (OR, 2.81; 95% CI, 2.34-3.39; p < 0.001). Conclusion: It is unnecessary to use additional agents empirically to specifically provide anti-enterococcal coverage for the management of CA-IAI in lower risk patients without evidence of causative pathogen, and risk factors can increase the risk of enterococcal infection. Thus, there is a rationale for providing empiric anti-enterococcal coverage for severely ill patients with CA-IAI with high risk factors and patients with hospital-acquired intra-abdominal infection (HA-IAI).

Prognostic comparison of transoral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer with or without anterior commissure involvement: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) has gradually gained approval in the treatment of early glottic cancer. However, the oncological outcomes of TLM for glottic cancer with anterior commissure (AC) involvement are still a controversial topic. We aimed to systematically review the literature on glottic cancer (Tis-T2) with patients who received TLM as first choice therapy and to evaluate several prognostic outcomes in patients with or without AC involvement. METHODS: A systematic literature retrieval was conducted in PubMed, Medline (Ovid) and Web of Science. Risk ratio (RR) between AC involvement (AC+) or without AC involvement (AC-) was assessed and 95% confidence interval(95%CI) was calculated, which was performed on RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 20 literatures were included when comparing the local recurrence (LR) rate of patients with or without AC involvement, and the results suggested LR matters in group AC+ over group AC- (RR = 2.39, 95%CI = 1.99-2.86, p < 0.00001). The 5-year overall survival(5yOS) rate included 10 studies, and there was no significant difference between AC+ and AC- (RR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.93-1.02, p = 0.35). The laryngeal preservation rate (LPR) of AC+ was lower than that of AC- (RR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.94-1.00, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the prognosis of early glottic cancer with AC involvement is more likely to have higher local recurrence and lower LPR but no statistical difference in 5yOS rate.

Association between serum vitamin D and chronic rhinosinusitis: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis is a highly heterogeneous chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract caused by immune dysfunction in human beings. However, the underlying etiology of this disease has not yet been well established. Several trials have revealed that serum vitamin D level abnormality might play a role in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of present study was to perform a meta-analysis of studies to compare the serum vitamin D levels between patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and healthy controls and to evaluate the potential associations of serum vitamin D level with the occurrence of chronic rhinosinusitis. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, relevant databases incorporating Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to December 1, 2018. Funnel plot symmetry and Egger' test were used to detect publication biases. The outcomes were presented as Weighted Mean Difference combined with 95% Confidence Intervals to estimate the difference of serum vitamin D levels between patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and controls. Higgins I2 value was used to test for heterogeneity between the included studies. RESULTS: Out of 176 studies, only eight studies involving 337 chronic rhinosinusitis patients and 179 healthy controls met the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. In a pooled analysis of the studies, chronic rhinosinusitis patients showed decreased serum vitamin D status (WMD=-7.80, 95% CI -13.28 to -2.31, p=0.000). Subgroups analyses based on study location (USA vs. Non-USA), types of biomarkers (25(OH)D3 vs. 25(OH)D) and the study design methods (retrospective vs. prospective) did not reveal heterogeneity. However, phenotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis, with versus without polyposis might account for some degree of heterogeneity. Meanwhile, a lower serum vitamin D level was observed in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that serum vitamin D level might be associated with patients with chronic rhinosinusitis as we detected a significant association between lower serum vitamin D status and chronic rhinosinusitis, especially in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients. However, further comprehensive studies are warranted in order to draw firm conclusions.

Intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Biliary cystadenoma (BCA) is a rare benign tumor, accounting for only 5% of reported cystic lesions of the liver. Given its potential for malignancy and high rate of recurrence, surgical resection is the preferred treatment. Therefore, early and accurate preoperative diagnosis is critical to the choice of treatment. We here report the first male case of BCA in our hospital, diagnosed by our team and confirmed by pathological biopsy. This article aims to improve the understanding of this disease and help make a correct diagnosis to better manage it. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old man with irregular abdominal discomfort came to our clinic and was found to have a distended abdomen during physical examination. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging both showed a huge cystic mass in the liver. The patient underwent left hepatic lobectomy, cholecystectomy, and liver cyst fenestration, and most of the masses had decreased in size as of the 6-mo follow-up. The pathological diagnosis was consistent with BCA, and no recurrence was detected after the surgery. BCA occurred mainly in middle-aged women. To the best of our knowledge, this patient is the 11th male case of BCA reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: The combination of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is of great significance for the early accurate diagnosis of the disease and the choice of surgical methods.

Proteomic Characterization of Proliferation Inhibition of Well-Differentiated Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells Under Below-Background Radiation in a Deep Underground Environment.

Background: There has been a considerable concern about cancer induction in response to radiation exposure. However, only a limited number of studies have focused on the biological effects of below-background radiation (BBR) in deep underground environments. To improve our understanding of the effects of BBR on cancer, we studied its biological impact on well-differentiated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells (FD-LSC-1) in a deep underground laboratory (DUGL). Methods: The growth curve, morphological, and quantitative proteomic experiments were performed on FD-LSC-1 cells cultured in the DUGL and above-ground laboratory (AGL). Results: The proliferation of FD-LSC-1 cells from the DUGL group was delayed compared to that of cells from the AGL group. Transmission electron microscopy scans of the cells from the DUGL group indicated the presence of hypertrophic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and a higher number of ER. At a cutoff of absolute fold change ≥ 1.2 and p < 0.05, 807 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs; 536 upregulated proteins and 271 downregulated proteins in the cells cultured in the DUGL) were detected. KEGG pathway analysis of these DAPs revealed that seven pathways were enriched. These included ribosome (p < 0.0001), spliceosome (p = 0.0001), oxidative phosphorylation (p = 0.0001), protein export (p = 0.0001), thermogenesis (p = 0.0003), protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (p = 0.0108), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (p = 0.0421). Conclusion: The BBR environment inhibited the proliferation of FD-LSC-1 cells. Additionally, it induced changes in protein expression associated with the ribosome, gene spliceosome, RNA transport, and energy metabolism among others. The changes in protein expression might form the molecular basis for proliferation inhibition and enhanced survivability of cells adapting to BBR exposure in a deep underground environment. RPL26, RPS27, ZMAT2, PRPF40A, SNRPD2, SLU7, SRSF5, SRSF3, SNRPF, WFS1, STT3B, CANX, ERP29, HSPA5, COX6B1, UQCRH, and ATP6V1G1 were the core proteins associated with the BBR stress response in cells.

Comparative physiological and transcriptomic analyses of photosynthesis in Sphagneticola calendulacea (L.) Pruski and Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski.

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski is one of the fast-growing malignant weeds in South China. It has severely influenced local biodiversity and native plant habitat. Photosynthesis is the material basis of plant growth and development. However, there are few reports on the photosynthetic transcriptome of S. trilobata. In this study, S. trilobata had a relatively large leaf area and biomass. The gas exchange parameters per unit area of leaves, including net photosynthetic capacity (Pn), intercellular CO2 (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), water use efficiency (WUE), photosynthetic pigment and Rubisco protein content were higher than those of the native plant Sphagneticola calendulacea (L.) Pruski. On this basis, the differences in photosynthesis pathways between the two Sphagneticola species were analyzed by using the Illumina HiSeq platform. The sequencing results for S. trilobata and S. calendulacea revealed 159,366 and 177,069 unigenes, respectively. Functional annotation revealed 119,350 and 150,846 non-redundant protein database annotations (Nr), 96,637 and 115,711 Swiss-Prot annotations, 49,159 and 60,116 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotations (KEGG), and 83,712 and 97,957 Gene Ontology annotations (GO) in S. trilobata and S. calendulacea, respectively. Additionally, our analysis showed that the expression of key protease genes involved in the photosynthesis pathway, particularly CP43, CP47, PsbA and PetC, had high expression levels in leaves of S. trilobata in comparison to native species. Physiological and transcriptomic analyses suggest the high expression of photosynthetic genes ensures the high photosynthetic capacity of leaves, which is one of the inherent advantages underlying the successful invasion by S. trilobata.