CircRAD23B facilitates proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells by sponging miR-5095.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most malignant tumors in digestive system, but the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer is still unclear. It has been verified that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in development and progression of tumors. However, little research concentrates on the role of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. In the present study, we found that circular RNA-RAD23B (circRAD23B) was upregulated in specimens of patients with esophageal cancer. Further investigation revealed that circRAD23B promoted proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells. Next, we identified microRNA-5095 (miR-5095) as a target of circRAD23B, and found that miR-5095 was negatively correlated to the expression of circRAD23B in esophageal cancer. In addition, circRAD23B facilitated expression of PARP2 and AKT2 by sponging miR-5095, which might underlie the growth of esophageal cancer. In summary, these data displayed the crucial role of circRAD23B/miR-5095 regulating PARP2 and AKT2 in esophageal cancer, and provided a novel mechanism in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer.

Novel risk prediction models for deep vein thrombosis after thoracotomy and thoracoscopic lung cancer resections, involving coagulation and immune function.

The main focus of this study was to compare the predictive value of coagulation, fibrinolysis, thromboelastography, stress response, and immune function in predicting the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in lung cancer (LC) patients undergoing thoracoscopic LC resection vs thoracotomy LC resection. To do that, a prospective, single-center, case-control study involving 460 LC patients was conducted. The risk indicators affecting patients with DVT after LC resection in the testing cohort were determined using logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses. One validation cohort was used to assess the risk prediction models. DVT incidence was higher in the thoracoscopic group (18.7%) than in the thoracotomy group (11.2%) in the testing cohort (χ 2 = 4.116, P = 0.042). The final model to predict the incidence of DVT after thoracoscopic LC excision (1 day after surgery) was as follows: Logit(P) = 9.378 - 0.061(R-value) - 0.109(K value) + 0.374(α angle) + 0.403(MA) + 0.298(FIB) + 0.406(D-D) + 0.190(MDA) - 0.097(CD4+/CD8+). For thoracotomy LC resection, the final model (3 days after operation) was: Logit(P) = -2.463 - 0.026(R-value) - 0.143(K value) + 0.402(α angle) + 0.198(D-D) + 0.237(MDA) + 0.409(SOD). In the validation cohort, this risk prediction model continued to demonstrate good predictive performance. As a result, the predictive accuracy of postoperative DVT in patients who underwent thoracoscopic LC resection and thoracotomy LC resection was improved by risk prediction models.

TRPM8 facilitates proliferation and immune evasion of esophageal cancer cells.

Esophageal cancer is seen with increasing incidence, but the underlying mechanism of esophageal cancer is still unknown. Transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) is non-selective cation channels. It has been verified that TRPM channels play crucial roles in development and progression of multiple tumors. Increasing studies have shown that TRPM8, a member of TRPM channels, promotes growth of tumors. However, it is still unclear whether TRPM8 has biological effect on esophageal cancer. In the current work, we found that TRPM8 was overexpressed in esophageal cancer samples and cell lines. Further investigation revealed that TRPM8 promoted proliferation of esophageal cancer cells. Next, the co-incubation assay including EC109 cells and CD8+ T cells revealed that TRPM8 overexpression and TRPM8 agonist reduced the cytotoxic effect of CD8+ T cell on esophageal cancer cells. Finally, we explored the mechanism and found that calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T cells 3 (NFATc3) pathway contributed to the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) induced by TRPM8 overexpression and TRPM8 agonist, which might lead to immune evasion of esophageal cancer cells. These findings uncovered the crucial role of TRPM8 in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer.

Three-dimensional printing in the preoperative planning of thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to explore whether 3D printing has a better clinical value for making a preoperative plan than three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) in thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy. METHODS: We collected a total of 124 patients' clinical data who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy from October 2017 to August 2018. According to the preoperative examination, the patients were divided into three groups: general group, 3D-CT group, and 3D printing group. The clinical data of each group were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Compared with the general group, intraoperative blood loss in 3D-CT group and 3D printing group decreased significantly (P<0.05). Operation time in 3D-CT group and 3D printing group was significantly shorter than in the general group (P<0.05). Between 3D-CT group and 3D printing group intraoperative blood loss and operation time had no significant differences (P>0.05). Postoperative chest tube duration and postoperative hospital stay had no significant differences between each group P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative hemoptysis in the general group occurred higher than in the 3D-CT group and 3D printing group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative complications of pneumonia, atelectasis, and pulmonary air leakage (>6 d) had no significant differences between each group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 3D printing and 3D-CT for making a preoperative plan have an equivalent effect in thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy for experienced surgeons. Preoperative simulations using 3D printing for the assessment of pulmonary vessel and bronchi branching patterns is beneficial for the safe and efficient performance of thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy.