Effect of da Vinci robot versus thoracoscopic surgery on lung function and oxidative stress levels in NSCLC patients: a propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the short-term efficacy, lung function, and oxidative stress levels between the robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group (VATS) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, selecting 248 NSCLC patients who underwent minimally invasive lobectomy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, from August 2019 to February 2023. There were 105 patients in the RATS group and 143 patients in the VATS group. The patients in the two groups were subjected to 1:1 propensity score matching analysis (PSM), and the perioperative indicators were recorded. The levels of oxidative stress factors (superoxide dismutase, SOD; malondialdehyde, MDA) and inflammatory factors were measured 1 day before surgery and 3 days after surgery, respectively. Pulmonary function and patient quality of life were measured at 1 day preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There are 93 patients in each group after PSM. Compared to the VATS group, the RATS group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, greater number and groups of lymph nodes cleared, and shorter postoperative hospital stay. The SOD level in the RATS group was higher and the MDA level was lower than that in the VATS group after surgery. Postoperative inflammatory cytokine levels were less elevated in the RATS group than in the VATS group. At 3 months postoperatively, FVC%, FEV1%, and GQOLI-74 scores were higher in the RATS group than in the VATS group. CONCLUSION: Compared to VATS lobectomy, RATS lobectomy has the advantages of shorter operative time, lesser bleeding, more lymph node dissection, faster postoperative recovery, and lesser impact on postoperative lung function. It is also capable of reducing the postoperative oxidative stress and inflammatory response, which can improve patients' quality of life.

Application of telemedicine in the COVID-19 epidemic: An analysis of Gansu Province in China.

This paper analyzes the application of various telemedicine services in Gansu Province, China during the COVID-19 epidemic, and summarizes the experiences with these services. In addition, the satisfaction levels of patients and doctors with the application of telemedicine in COVID-19 were investigated, the deficiencies of telemedicine in Gansu were determined, and recommendations for modification were proposed. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has broken out in China, and Gansu Province in Northwest of China has not been spared. To date, there are 91 local COVID-19 cases and 42 imported cases. 109 hospitals were selected as designated hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak, and most of them were secondary hospitals. However, it was unsatisfactory that the ability of medical services is relatively low in most of secondary hospitals and primary hospitals. Therefore, we helped the secondary hospitals cope with COVID-19 by means of remote consultation, long-distance education, telemedicine question and answer (Q&A). Our practical experience shows that telemedicine can be widely used during the COVID-19 epidemic, especially in developing countries and areas with lagging medical standards.

Effects of Icaritin on the physiological activities of esophageal cancer stem cells.

Icaritin is a compound extracted from herb, recent study have found it is able to influence the activity of various types of cancer. Our aim was to investigate the effects of Icaritin on the physiological activities of esophageal cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, esophageal cancer cells were cultured and CD133 positive esophageal CSCs were sorted by flow cytometry. Changes in the physiological activity of esophageal CSCs following treatment with different concentrations of Icaritin (0, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µmol/L) were evaluated. The CCK-8 method and Transwell assay were used to determine the effects of Icaritin on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal CSCs. Flow cytometery was used to investigate its effect on the apoptosis of CSCs. The effect of Icaritin on the expression of proteins in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways were determined using western blot test. Consequently, Icaritin inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal CSCs in a dose-dependent manner. It promoted cell apoptosis, and influenced the levels of proteins in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways. It may act as a promising drug in the therapy of esophageal cancer.

Cold-regulated protein (SlCOR413IM1) confers chilling stress tolerance in tomato plants.

Chilling stress severely affects the growth, development and productivity of crops. Chloroplast, a photosynthesis site, is extremely sensitive to chilling stress. In this study, the functions of a gene encoding a cold-regulated protein (SlCOR413IM1) under chilling stress were investigated using sense and antisense transgenic tomatoes. Under chilling stress, SlCOR413IM1 expression was rapidly induced and the sense lines exhibited better growth state of seedlings and grown tomato plants. Overexpression of SlCOR413IM1 alleviated chilling-induced damage to the chloroplast membrane and structure, whereas suppression of SlCOR413IM1 aggravated the damage to chloroplast. Moreover, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII) and the activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and stromal fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase (sFBPase) were higher in the sense lines than those in the antisense lines. Hence, the inhibition of photosynthetic capacity was less severe in the sense lines but more severe in the antisense lines compared with that in wild-type (WT) plants. Taken together, overexpression of SlCOR413IM1 enhanced the chilling stress tolerance, whereas suppression of this gene increased the chilling sensitivity of tomato plants.

SlCOR413IM1: A novel cold-regulation gene from tomato, enhances drought stress tolerance in tobacco.

Drought stress adversely affects plant growth, development, and productivity. Genes functioning in plant response to drought stress are essential for drought tolerance. In this study, SlCOR413IM1, a cold-regulated gene isolated from Solanum lycopersium, was transferred to Nicotiana tabacum to investigate its function under drought stress. The subcellular localisation of SlCOR413IM1-GFP fusion protein in Arabidopsis protoplasts suggested that SlCOR413IM1 is a chloroplast protein. Expression analyses revealed that SlCOR413IM1 responded to drought and cold stresses. Under drought stress, transgenic plants maintained the high maximum photochemical efficiency, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and D1 protein content of photosystem II (PSII). Compared with wild-type (WT) plants, transgenic plants showed higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and proline and soluble sugar content, which reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, the high SOD and APX activities in transgenic plants were independent of their transcription levels. Moreover, the transgenic plants exhibited better seed germination, water status and survival, as well as lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative electrical conductivity (REC) than WT plants under drought stress. Taken together, these data demonstrated that overexpression of SlCOR413IM1 enhanced drought stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco.

Overexpression of violaxanthin de-epoxidase gene alleviates photoinhibition of PSII and PSI in tomato during high light and chilling stress.

A tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) violaxanthin de-epoxidase gene (LeVDE) was isolated. The deduced amino acid sequence of LeVDE showed high identities with violaxanthin de-epoxidase in other plant species. RNA gel blot analysis showed that the mRNA accumulation of LeVDE in the wild-type (WT) was regulated by diurnal rhythm and temperature. RNA and protein gel blot analyses confirmed that the sense LeVDE was transferred into the tomato genome and overexpressed under the control of 35S-CaMV. The ratio of (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) and the values of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were higher in transgenic plants than those in WT under high light and chilling stress (4 degrees C). The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) decreased markedly in WT compared to transgenic lines under high light stress. The maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry of PSII (Fv/Fm) in transgenic plants decreased more slowly during stresses and recovered faster than that in WT under optimal conditions. The oxidizable P700 in transgenic plants was higher than that in WT under chilling stress. These results suggest that overexpression of LeVDE increased the function of the xanthophyll cycle and alleviated photoinhibition of PSII and PSI in tomato during high light and chilling stress with low irradiance.

Overexpression of sweet pepper glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene enhanced thermotolerance of photosynthetic apparatus in transgenic tobacco.

In order to investigate the relationship between the lipid composition in thylakoid membrane and thermostability of photosynthetic apparatus, tobacco transformed with sweet pepper sense glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) gene were used to analyze the lipid composition in thylakoid membrane, the net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under high temperature stress. The results showed that the saturated extent of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol in thylakoid membrane of transgenic tobacco T(1) lines increased generally. Particularly, the saturated extent in MGDG increased obviously by 16.2% and 12.0% in T(1)-2 and T(1)-1, respectively. With stress temperature elevating, the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII in the light (Phi(PSII)) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the two lines and wild type tobacco plants decreased gradually, but those parameters decreased much less in transgenic plants. Even though the recovery process appeared differently in the donor and acceptor side of PSII in transgenic tobacco compared with wild-type plants, the entire capability of PSII recovered faster in transgenic tobacco, which was shown in the parameters of PI, Fv/Fm and Phi(PSII), as a result, the recovery of Pn was accelerated. Conclusively, we proposed that the increase in saturated extent of thylakoid membrane lipids in transgenic plants enhanced the stability of photosynthetic apparatus under high temperature stress.

[Treatment effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with interventional chemotherapy on vertebral metastases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vertebral metastasis is a common manifestation of patients with advanced cancer without effective treatment. This study was to explore treatment value and efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) combined with interventional chemotherapy on vertebral metastases. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with vertebral metastases (42 men, 33 women; aged 31-76 years) were divided into 2 groups: 39 were treated by PVP combined with chemotherapy (VPCC group), and 36 were treated by PVP alone (VP group). All procedures were guided by CT scan. The results and complications were evaluated by pain questionnaire and routine follow-up. RESULTS: Response rate was significantly higher in VPCC group than in VP group (93.0% vs. 74.4%, P < 0.05); complete response rates of VPCC group and VP group were 25.6% and 10.3%. Common complication of VPCC was transient aggravation of pain. CONCLUSIONS: PVP may release the pain, and consolidate the vertebrae of patients with vertebral metastases. Its short-term effect may be enhanced by adding drugs into bone cement.

[Effect of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy on apoptosis and p53 expression of gastric cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Regional chemotherapy is charactized by a high drug concentration in tumor tissues and slight side-effects. Some significant histopathological changes were observed in the patients with gastric carcinoma treated by selective intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy before operation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy on apoptosis and p53 expression in human gastric cancer and its clinical significance. METHODS: The apoptosis was examined by terminal uridine deoxynucleotide nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the expression of p53 was detected with immunohistochemistry in 33 patients with gastric carcinoma pre- and post-chemotherapy respectively. RESULTS: Apoptosis index(AI) was significantly higher in the post-chemotherapeutic patients than in the pre-chemotherapeutic ones (19.29 +/- 6.48 versus 9.24 +/- 5.03, P < 0.01). In contrast, the positive expression rate of p53 was significantly lower, in the post-chemotherapeutic patients, than in the pre-chemotherapeutic ones(30.30% versus 54.55%, P < 0.05). In the post-chemotherapeutic patients, the droped group of p53 expression were strongly associated with a better clinical response(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy could enhance the apoptosis of gastric cancer cell, decrease the level of p53 expression and keep the patients for a longer survival.