[En1 promotes cell proliferation and migration via Hedgehog signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the function and mechanism of transcription factor En1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: The correlations of En1 with prognosis were analyzed using the overall survival data of 9 397 pan-cancer patients and progression-free survival data of 4 349 pan-cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The En1 expression data in 53 and 155 cases of ESCC and their paired adjacent tissues were from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and National Genomics Data Center-Genome Sequence Archive(NGDC-GSA)database. Lentivirus was used to generate En1 stable knockout cell lines KYSE180 and KYSE450. The proliferation ability of the cells was detected by cell counting kit 8 and clone formation assay. The migration ability of the cells was detected by Transwell assay. The effect of En1 on the proliferation of ESCC was detected by xenograft experiment in BALB/c-nu/nu mice. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expressions of En1, glioma-associated oncogene family zinc finger 1 (GLI1), glioma-associated oncogene family zinc finger 2 (GLI2) and smoothened (SMO). Results: Pan-cancer data from TCGA showed that patients with low En1 expression had longer overall survival and progression-free survival than patients with high En1 expression (P< 0.001). Data from GEO and GSA databases also showed a high expression level of En1 in ESCC tissues compared with paired tissues (P＜0.001). Proliferation was inhibited after knockout of En1 in KYSE180 and KYSE450 cells (P＜0.001). The colony formation numbers decreased. The colony formation numbers of KYSE180 cells in the shEn1#1 group and the shEn1#2 group were 138.33±23.07 and 127.00±19.70, respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group 340.67±12.06 (P<0.001). The colony formation numbers of KYSE450 cells in the shEn1#1 group and the shEn1#2 group were 65.33±2.52 and 9.00±3.00, respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group 139.00±13.00 (P<0.001). The migration numbers was inhibited after knockout of En1 [the Transwell numbers of KYSE180 cells in the shEn1#1 group and the shEn1#2 group were 66.67±12.66 and 71.33±11.02, respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group 334.67±16.56 (P<0.001). The Transwell numbers of KYSE450 cells in the shEn1#1 group and the shEn1#2 group were 112.33±14.57 and 54.33±5.51, respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group 253.33±21.03 (P<0.001)]. Xenograft model showed a slower growth rate of shEn1#1 and shEn1#2 cell lines (P＜0.001). The tumor weights of KYSE450 cells in the shEn1#1 group and the shEn1#2 group were (0.046±0.026)g and (0.047±0.025)g, respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group (0.130±0.038)g (P＜0.001). After knockdown of En1, the relative expression levels of GLI1 in KYSE180 cells of the shEn1#1 group and the shEn1#2 group were 0.326±0.162 and 0.322±0.133, and the relative expression levels of GLI1 in KYSE450 cells of the shEn1#1 and shEn1#2 groups were 0.131±0.006 and 0.352±0.050, respectively, which were all lower than that in the shNC group (P＜0.01). After knockdown of En1, overexpression of GLI1 attenuated the inhibitory effect of knockdown of En1 on cell proliferation (P＜0.001), colony formation[the colony formation numbers of the shEn1#1-GLI1 group were 151.00±9.54, higher than 102.33±10.02 (P=0.004) of the shEn1#1-vector group] and migration [the migration numbers of the shEn1#1-GLI1 group were 193.67±10.07, higher than 109.33±11.50 (P<0.001) in the shEn1#1-vector group]. In clinical samples of ESCC, major regulatory factors of the Hedgehog pathway were up-regulated and the pathway was activated. Conclusion: En1 promotes the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells by regulating the Hedgehog pathway and can be used as a new potential target for targeted therapy of ESCC.

[Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antibiotics in septic children treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters of antibacterial agents in children with sepsis treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 20 children with sepsis (confirmed or suspected) who were treated with ECMO and antimicrobial in the Department of Critical Medicine of Hunan Children's Hospital from March 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled as the ECMO group. Through therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), the PK-PD parameters of antibacterial agents were analyzed. Twenty five children with sepsis in the same department who were treated with vancomycin but no ECMO at the same time were enrolled as the control group. The individual PK parameters of vancomycin were calculated by Bayesian feedback method. The PK parameters in the two groups were compared, and the correlation between trough concentration and area under the curve (AUC) was analyzed. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for inter group comparison. Results: Twenty patients in the ECMO group, included 6 males and 14 females, with an onset age of 47 (9, 76) months. In the ECMO group, 12 children (60%) were treated with vancomycin, and the trough concentration was less than 10 mg/L in 7 cases, 10-20 mg/L in 3 cases, and >20 mg/L in 2 cases; AUC/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (MIC=1 mg/L)<400 was in 1 case, 400-600 in 3 cases, and >600 in 8 cases. Among the 11 children (55%) who were treated with ß-lactam antibiotics, there were 10 cases with drug concentration at 50% dosing interval (CT50)>4 MIC and 9 cases with trough concentration>MIC, both CT50 and trough concentration of cefoperazone reached the target. Among the 25 cases of control group, 16 were males and 9 females, with an onset age of 12 (8, 32) months. There was a positive correlation between vancomycin trough concentration and AUC (r2=0.36, P<0.001). The half-life of vancomycin and the 24-hour AUC (AUC0-24 h) in the ECMO group were higher than those in the control group (5.3 (3.6, 6.8) vs. 1.9 (1.5, 2.9) h, and 685 (505, 1 227) vs. 261 (210, 355) mg·h/L, Z=2.99, 3.50, respectively; both P<0.05), and the elimination rate constant and clearance rate was lower than those in the control group (0.1 (0.1, 0.2) vs. 0.4 (0.2, 0.5), 0.7 (0.5, 1.3) vs. 2.0 (1.1, 2.8) L/h, Z=2.99, 2.11, respectively; both P<0.05). Conclusion: The PK-PD parameters in septic children treated by ECMO varied with a longer half-life, higher AUC0-24 h, lower elimination rate constant and clearance rate.

[Factors associated with malnutrition in infants with congenital heart disease within one year after surgery].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of malnutrition in infants with congenital heart disease within one year after surgery. Methods: This retrospective cohort study selected 502 infants with congenital heart disease who underwent surgical treatment in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from February 2018 to January 2019. Their basic information and clinical data were analyzed, and their nutrition status after the surgery was followed up by questionnaire survey. Weight-for-age Z score (WAZ)≤-2 one year after operation was defined as malnutrition group, and WAZ>-2 was non-malnutrition group. The perioperative indicators and complementary food advancement were compared between the two groups by chi-square test, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. The risk factors of malnutrition were analyzed by Logistic regression. Results: A total of 502 infants were selected, including 301 males and 201 females, with the age of 4.1 (2.0, 6.8) months. There were 90 cases in malnutrition group and 412 cases in non-malnutrition group. The body length and weight at birth in the malnutrition group were lower than those in the non-malnutrition group ((47.8±3.8) vs. (49.3±2.5) cm, (2.7±0.6) vs.(3.0±0.5) kg, both P<0.001). The proportion of paternal high school education or above and the proportion of family per capita income of 5 000 yuan or above in the malnutrition group were lower than those in the non-malnutrition group ((18.9% (17/90) vs. 30.8% (127/412), 18.9% (17/90) vs. 33.7% (139/412), both P<0.05). Compared to the non-malnutrition group, the proportion of complex congenital heart disease in the malnutrition group was higher (62.2% (56/90) vs. 47.3% (195/412), P<0.05). The postoperative mechanical ventilation time, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, postoperative hospital stay, total length of ICU stay and total hospital stay in the malnutrition group were significantly longer than those in non-malnutrition group (all P<0.05). The proportion of egg and fish supplementation over 2 times/week within one year after the surgery was also lower in the malnutrition group (both P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that mother's weight at delivery (OR=0.95,95%CI 0.91-0.99), the pre-operative WAZ≤-2 (OR=6.04, 95%CI 3.13-11.65), the complexity of the cardiac disease (OR=2.23, 95%CI 1.22-4.06), the hospital stay after the surgery over 14 days (OR=2.61, 95%CI 1.30-5.26), the types of complementary food<4 (OR=2.57, 95%CI 1.39-4.76), and the frequency of meat and fish<2 times/week (OR=2.11, 95%CI 1.13-3.93) were the risk factors associated with malnutrition within one year after the surgery. Conclusion: Mother's weight at delivery pre-operative nutritional status, complexity of cardiac disease, postoperative hospital stay, types of daily supplements and frequency of fish are risk factors associated with malnutrition within one year after surgery in children with congenital heart disease.

[Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Escherichia coli causing bloodstream and abdominal co-infection].

Objective: To analyze the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Escherichia coli causing bloodstream and abdominal co-infection (CoECO), and provide clues for empirical antibiotics treatment. Methods: The strains of Escherichia coli isolated from blood and abdominal samples in the Department of Laboratory Medicine of the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from 2010 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Mass spectrometer was used to identify all of the strains and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were detected by VITEK 2 Compact. All isolates were sequenced by 2×150 bp double terminal sequencing strategy on the HiSeq X Ten sequencer (Illumina). After the genome sequence was spliced, the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of the strain sequence was performed using kSNP3 software to clarify the homologous relationship between strains. If the strains isolated from two different parts had high homology, they were regarded as the same strain and the case was with CoECO infection. Meanwhile, the multilocus sequence type (MLST) was determined using PubMLST website and resistant genes were screened by CARD website. Results: A total of 70 cases of CoECO infection were screened, including 45 males and 25 females, and aged (59.2±16.3) years old. The 70 CoECO isolates belonged to 35 sequence types (STs). The most prevalent STs included ST38 (n=6), ST 405 (n=6), ST 1193 (n=6) and ST131 (n=5), and other ST types contained less than 5 strains. The homologous relationship among strains was relatively scattered, presenting a sporadic trend as a whole, and only a few strains had a small-scale outbreak. The CoECO isolates showed significantly resistance to ampicillin (91.4%, 64/70), ampicillin/sulbactam (74.3%, 5 2/70), ceftriaxone (72.9%, 51/70), ciprofloxacin (71.4%, 50/70) and levofloxacin (71.4%, 50/70), and high-sensitivity to piperacillin/tazobactam, carbapenems and amikacin. The most prevalent resistant gene was tet (A/B) (70%, 49/70), followed by blaTEM (58.6%, 41/70), sul1 (55.7%, 40/70), sul2 (54.3%, 38/70), blaCTX-M-14(25.7%, 18/70), blaCTX-M-15(17.1%, 13/70), blaCTX-M-55(15.7%, 11/70), blaCTX-M-64/65(5.7%, 4/70), blaCTX-M-27(4.3%, 3/70), mcr-1 (4.3%, 3/70), blaNDM-5(2.9%, 2/70). Conclusions: CoECO is distributed dispersedly and has no obvious advantage clone. No genotype with obvious advantages was found. Although the strain has a high resistance rate to some antibacterial drugs, the proportion of carrying resistant genes is low, and it has a high sensitivity to some first-line antibacterial drugs.

[MIR503HG promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion and migration via hsa-miR-503 pathway].

Objective: To explore the function and mechanism of long non-coding RNA MIR503HG in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: The MIR503HG expression data in 60, 119 and 23 cases of ESCC and their paired adjacent tissues were chosen from three ESCC datasets GSE53622, GSE53624 and GSE130078, respectively. The expression data of MIR503HG in 81 ESCC tissues and 271 unpaired normal esophageal tissues were screened from the combined dataset of Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression Database (TCGA+ GTEx). The MIR503HG knockdown plasmid was constructed, packaged into lentivirus. The lentivirus was used to infect with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines KYSE30 and KYSE510 to screen out the stable MIR503HG knockdown cell lines. ESCC cell line KYSE30 was transiently transfected with miRNA mimics to overexpress hsa-miR-503-3p and hsa-miR-503-5p.The expression levels of MIR503HG, hsa-miR-503-3p and hsa-miR-503-5p were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The proliferation ability of the cells was detected by cell counting kit 8 and clone formation assay. The invasion and migration ability of the cells were detected by Transwell assay. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. The effect of MIR503HG on the proliferation of ESCC was detected by xenograft experiment in BALB/c-nu/nu mice. Results: Both GEO and TCGA+ GTEx databases showed that the expression of MIR503HG in ESCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues and normal esophageal tissues (P<0.01). Compared with shNC group, the proliferation rates of KYSE30 and KYSE510 cells after knockdown of MIR503HGwere significantly inhibited (P<0.001). The colony formation numbers of KYSE30 cells in shMIR503HG1 group and shMIR503HG2 group were (2.00±1.41) and (1.33±0.47), respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group (P=0.002). The clone formation numbers of KYSE510 cells in shMIR503HG1 group and shMIR503HG2 group were (174.67±15.97) and (80.33±6.34), respectively, significantly lower than that of the shNC group (P<0.001). The invasive numbers of KYSE30 cells in shMIR503HG1 group and shMIR503HG2 group were 75.33±6.02 and 45.67±7.59, significantly lower than that of the shNC group(P<0.001). The migrating number of KYSE30 cells in shMIR503HG1 group and shMIR503HG2 group were 244.00±10.23 and 210.67±13.52, significantly lower than that of the shNC group(P<0.001), and the cell cycle was arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase. The xenograft experiment showed that the subcutaneous tumor in shMIR503HG group was significantly smaller than that in shNC group, and the tumor weight in shMIR503HG group was (0.097±0.026) g, which was lower than (0.166±0.021) g in shNC group (P<0.001). After knockdown of MIR503HG, the relative expression levels of hsa-miR-503-3p in KYSE30 cells of shMIR503HG1 group and shMIR503HG2 group were 0.66±0.02 and 0.58±0.00, respectively, the relative expression levels of hsa-miR-503-5p were 0.64±0.00 and 0.68±0.03, respectively, which were all lower than those in shNC group (P<0.01). After knockdown of MIR503HG, overexpression of hsa-miR-503-3p and hsa-miR-503-5p attenuated the inhibitory effects of knockdown of MIR503HG on proliferation (P<0.001), invasion (P<0.01) and migration (P<0.001) of KYSE30 cells. Conclusions: MIR503HG promotes the proliferation, invasion and migration of ESCC cells by regulating hsa-miR-503 pathway and can be used as a new potential target for targeted therapy of ESCC.

[Effects of cinepazide maleate injection on blood pressure in patients with acute ischemic stroke and hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the blood pressure change in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and hypertension treated with cinepazide maleate injection. Methods: This was a subgroup analysis of post-marketing clinical confirmation study of cinepazide maleate injection for acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, placebo-parallel controlled trial, which conducted in China from August 2016 to February 2019. Eligible patients fulfilled the inclusive criteria of acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of 7-25. The primary endpoints were mean blood pressure of AIS patients treated with cinepazide maleate or control, which were assessed during the treatment period (14 days), and the proportion of the patients with normal blood pressure was analyzed after the treatment period. Furthermore, a subgroup analysis was performed to investigate a possible effect of the history of hypertension on outcomes. Results: This analysis included 809 patients with hypertension. There was no significant difference in patients blood pressure and the proportion of patients with normal blood pressure (60.5% vs. 59.0%,P>0.05) between cinepazide maleate group and control group. Conclusion: Administration of cinepazide maleate injection does not affect the management of clinical blood pressure in patients with AIS.

Heavy clinical and economic burden of osteoporotic fracture among elderly female Medicare beneficiaries.

We comprehensively described elderly Medicare women with an outpatient visit in 2011 and fracture within 2 years before. These women were at very high risk for subsequent fracture and high healthcare utilization and cost, especially those with vertebral or multiple fractures. However, rates of fracture prevention treatments were low. INTRODUCTION: Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are stratified to high and very-high fracture risk categories, and this categorization drives algorithms for osteoporosis management in osteoporosis treatment guidelines. This study comprehensively describes a very-high-risk cohort. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Medicare 20% database; elderly women with an outpatient visit in 2011 and fracture within 2 years before the visit were included. Outcomes included fracture risk, all-cause and fracture-related healthcare resource utilization and cost, and osteoporosis medication use in the 5 years after the visit. RESULTS: Overall, 43,193 patients were included. The 5-year probability was 0.36 for major fracture and 0.11 and 0.17 for hip fracture and vertebral fracture, respectively, much higher than the guidelines' 10-year probability thresholds for very-high-risk (0.3 for major fracture, 0.045 for hip fracture). Rates of hospitalizations, emergency department visits or observation stays, and skilled nursing facility stays in year 1 were 53.7, 57.0, and 18.8 per 100 patient-years, respectively, decreasing slightly in subsequent years. Mean healthcare cost was $23,700 in year 1, decreasing to $18,500 in year 5. About 29.1% of patients received osteoporosis medications in year 1, decreasing to 16.9% by year 5. Rates for all outcomes, especially fractures, were much higher among vertebral and multiple fracture cohorts. CONCLUSION: Elderly women with a fracture within last 2 years were at very-high-risk for subsequent fracture and high healthcare utilization and cost, especially those with vertebral or multiple fractures. However, rates of fracture prevention treatments were low. More effort is needed to identify and treat patients at very-high-risk for fracture.

[Advances in researches on neoadjuvant therapy for resectable colorectal liver metastasis].

Surgery is recognized as the core treatment for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), while its recurrence rate remains relatively high, even for resectable CRLM. This hints that the efficacy of treatment involves not only technological factors of surgery, but also biological behavior of tumor. For resectable CRLM, neoadjuvant therapy is beneficial to eliminate the micro-metastasis, reduce postoperative recurrence rate, screen tumor biological behavior and improve prognosis. However, questions about which kind of CRLM patients fits for neoadjuvant therapy and what regimen should be used are still debatable. This paper reviews stratified management of resectable CRLM, choice of neoadjuvant regimen, especially the application value of targeted therapy, based on the latest guidelines and studies.

[SERPINE2 promotes cellular migration and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by activating ß-catenin].

Objective: To clarify the function and molecular mechanisms of serpin family E member 2 (SERPINE2) in cellular migration and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: The expression of SERPINE2 in ESCC was analyzed by using online databases TCGA (http: //gepia.cancer-pku.cn/detail.php and http: //ualcan.path.uab. edu/index.html). The expressions of SERPINE2 mRNA in normal human esophageal epithelial cell line NE2, human ESCC cell lines KYSE30 and KYSE150 were detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). SERPINE2-konckdown or SERPINE2-overexpressed plasmid was transfected into KYSE30 cells, and the efficiencies of the knockdown and overexpression system were tested by qRT-PCR. The relationships of SERPINE2 and ESCC migration and invasion were determined by migration and invasion assays in vitro. The associations between SERPINE2 expression and ß-catenin as well as its target genes including c-Myc, cyclin D1 and CD44 were analyzed by immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Results: The expressions of SERPINE2 were significantly upregulated in both esophageal cancer (ESCA) and ESCC tissues compared to normal tissues by analyzing 182 and 95 cases, respectively (P<0.01). SERPINE2 is highly expressed in both KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells (P<0.05). The number of migrating and invading cells in control group were (212.66±24.11)/field and (136.00±14.42)/field, while were (88.33±9.71)/field and (77.00±9.53)/field in SERPINE2-knockdown 1 group, and (66.00±8.00)/field and (45.66±3.78)/field in SERPINE2-knockdown 2 group, respectively, and the differences were dramatically significant compared with the control group (P<0.01). The number of migrating and invading cells in control group were (250.00±30.00)/field and (203.33±15.27)/field, while were (383.33±35.11)/field and (246.66±25.16)/field in SERPINE2-overpressed group, and the differences were strikingly significant compared with the control group (P<0.01). The protein expression of ß-catenin was upregulated while phosphorylated ß-catenin protein expression was downregulated in SERPINE2-overexpressed KYSE30 cells when compared to control cells.The transcription activity of ß-catenin was significantly upregulated and the mRNA expressions of its target genes including c-Myc, cyclin D1 and CD44 were all increased. After treated with 25 µM iCRT14, the number of migrated cells in the control and SERPINE2-overpressed groups were (200.00±36.05)/field and (258.33±22.54)/field, and the number of invaded cells were (160.00±17.32)/field and (188.33±25.65)/field, respectively, the differences were dramatically significant compared with the group without iCRT14 treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion: SERPINE2 is significantly upregulated in ESCC cells and can promote cellular migration and invasion by activating ß-catenin, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for patients with ESCC.

EpsR Negatively Regulates Streptococcus mutans Exopolysaccharide Synthesis.

Streptococcus mutans is considered the primary etiological agent of human dental caries. Glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) from S. mutans play important roles in the formation of biofilm matrix and the development of cariogenic oral biofilm. Therefore, Gtfs are considered an important target to prevent the development of dental caries. However, the role of transcription factors in regulating gtf expression is not yet clear. Here, we identify a MarR (multiple antibiotic resistance regulator) family transcription factor named EpsR (exopolysaccharide synthesis regulator), which negatively regulates gtfB expression and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in S. mutans. The epsR in-frame deletion strain grew slowly, aggregated more easily in the presence of dextran, and displayed different colony morphology and biofilm structure. Notably, epsR deletion resulted in altered 3-dimensional biofilm architecture, increased water-insoluble EPS production, and upregulated GtfB protein content and activity. In addition, global gene expression profiling revealed differences in the expression levels of 69 genes in which gtfB was markedly upregulated. The conserved DNA motif for EpsR binding was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and DNase I footprinting assays. Moreover, analysis of ß-galactosidase activity suggested that EpsR acted as a repressor and inhibited gtfB expression. Taken together, our findings indicate that EpsR is an important transcription factor that regulates gtfB expression and EPS production in S. mutans. These results add new aspects to the complexity of regulating the expression of genes involved in the cariogenicity of S. mutans, which might lead to novel strategies to prevent the formation of cariogenic biofilm that may favor diseases.

[Genetic diversity of Sparganum isolates from snakes in Hunan Province based on mitochondrial nad4 and nad5 genes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Sparganum isolates from snakes in Hunan Province. METHODS: The partial mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (pnad4) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (pnad5) genes were amplified using a PCR assay in 7 Sparganum isolates from snakes in Hunan Province and the amplification product was sequenced. The homology and genetic evolution were investigated using the software DNAMAN 7.0, MegAlign, DnaSP 5.0 and MEGA 5.0. RESULTS: The pnad4 and pnad5 gene sequences were approximately 578 bp and 484 bp in length in the 7 Sparganum isolates from Hunan Province, and the percentages of genetic variations were 0 to 2.8% and 0 to 0.8%, respectively. There were 4 haplotypes detected in both the pnad4 and pnad5 genes, with global haplotype diversities of 0.810 ± 0.016 and 0.905 ± 0.011, nucleotide diversities of 0.006 ± 0.005 and 0.004 ± 0.003, and mean nucleotide variations of 3.960 and 1.905, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all 7 Sparganum isolates from snakes in Hunan Province were clustered into the same branch with Spirometra erinaceieuropaei isolates from different regions/hosts in the world, which belonged to S. erinaceieuropaei, which were close to Diphyllobothrium latum and far from other tapeworms. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low genetic variation in snake-derived S. erinaceieuropaei isolates from Hunan Province, and both pnad4 and pnad5 genes may be potential molecular genetic markers for identification of S. erinaceieuropaei.

[Clinical study of peripheral vascular intervention via radial artery].

Objective: To discuss the safety and feasibility of transradial access (TRA) in performing peripheral arterial intervention. Methods: The clinical data of the patients underwent peripheral vascular intervention via TRA in our hospital from September 2017 to March 2019 were reviewed. The success rate of radial artery puncture and subsequent operation after puncture, and related postoperative complications within 30 days were analyzed. Results: The clinical data of 112 peripheral arterial intervention procedures via TRA performed on 106 patients were reviewed, including transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in 83 cases, bronchial arterial infusion in 4 cases, pelvic tumor embolization in 11 cases and 14 other cases. The success rate of all interventional punctures was 97.3% (109/112), the operative success rate of interventional procedures was 98.2% (107/109). The TRA operation was failed in 5 patients, who were then converted to receive the femoral artery puncture and complete successfully. The severe complication of the operation was aortic dissection (2 cases). Minor complications included 2 cases of radial artery occlusion, radial artery spasm, arm pain and puncture point hematoma for each case. The severe complication and the minor complication rates were 1.8% (2/112) and 4.5% (5/112), respectively. Sixteen emergency operations were performed successfully, and no complication occurred. Conclusion: The TRA is a clinically safe and feasible approach for peripheral arterial interventional procedure.

Impacts of Glycemic Control on Intracranial Plaque in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Vessel Wall MRI Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and intracranial atherosclerotic plaque features has remained understudied. This study aimed to investigate the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic control with the characteristics of intracranial plaques using vessel wall MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 311 patients (217 [69.8%] men; mean age, 63.24 ± 11.44 years) with intracranial atherosclerotic plaques detected on vessel wall MR imaging were enrolled and divided into 3 groups according to type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic control statuses: the non-type 2 diabetes mellitus group, the type 2 diabetes mellitus with good glycemic control group, and the type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control group. The imaging features of intracranial plaque were analyzed and compared among the groups. The clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis were also analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The plaque length and thickness were significantly higher in the type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control group than in the non-type 2 diabetes mellitus group. The prevalence of strongly enhanced plaques was significantly higher in the type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control group than in the non-type 2 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus with good glycemic control groups (92.9%, 63.4%, and 72.7%, respectively; P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of poor glycemic control with the plaque length (OR = 1.966; 95% CI, 1.170-3.303; P = .011), plaque thickness (OR = 1.981; 95% CI, 1.174-3.340; P = .010), and strongly enhanced plaque (OR = 5.448; 95% CI, 2.385-12.444; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor glycemic control, compared with the history of diabetes, might have a greater impact on the burden and vulnerability of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques.

The circular RNA circPTK2 inhibits EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma by acting as a ceRNA and sponging miR-92a to upregulate E-cadherin.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in a wide variety of cellular processes. However, there are few reports about the role and underlying molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: qRT-PCR and Western blots were performed to quantify the expression of miR-92a, E-cadherin, and circPTK2. Proliferation and invasion assays were performed to explore the function of miR-92a and circPTK2. A Luciferase assay was used to test the relationship between miR-92a, E-cadherin, and circPTK2. RESULTS: In this study, we found that miR-92a was upregulated in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines. Overexpression of miR-92a enhanced cell proliferation and invasion by targeting the E-cadherin 3'UTR in HCC cells. Furthermore, we found that circPTK2 inhibited EMT by inhibiting miR-92a, preventing its ability to downregulate E-cadherin in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a regulatory axis comprising circPTK2/miR-92a/E-cadherin in HCC cells that may serve as a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with HCC.

Discriminating between bronchiolar adenoma, adenocarcinoma in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung with CT.

PURPOSE: To identify computed tomography (CT) features that may help distinguish bronchiolar adenoma (BA) from lung adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (MIA) among lung lesions presenting as ground-glass nodules (GGNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 140 patients with GGNs confirmed by surgery and pathology, were reviewed retrospectively. There were 68 men and 72 women with a mean age of 64.3±8.9 (SD) years (range: 31 - 85 years). The CT features of BA, AIS, and MIA were analyzed and compared. CT features, including percentage of solid component, maximum diameter of solid component, lesion density, location, margin, shape, pseudo-cavitation, calcification, ill-defined peripheral opacity, and air bronchogram, were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: There were 11/140 (7.9%) patients with BA (mean age, 67.7±7.5 [SD]; range 45 - 77 years), 63/140 (45.0%) patients with AIS (mean age, 62.5±8.6 [SD]; range 36 - 69 years) and 66/140 (47.1%) patients with MIA (mean age, 63.5±7.9 [SD]; range 35 - 72 years). By comparison with AIS and MIA, significantly different CT features of BA included tumor size, solid component diameters, low CT attenuation of the ground-glass component, irregular shape, ill-defined peripheral opacity, pseudo-cavitation, and abnormal pulmonary vein. Ill-defined peripheral opacity (odds ratio, 1.060; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.020 - 1.380) and pseudo-cavitation (odds ratio, 1.236; 95% CI: 1.070 - 1.565) were variables independently associated with the diagnosis of BA. CONCLUSION: CT provides morphological features that allow differentiating between BA and AIS-MIA among lung lesions presenting as GGNs.

Intrinsic Fluoride Tolerance Regulated by a Transcription Factor.

Fluoride facilitates the remineralization of dental hard tissues and affects bacterial activities. Therefore, it is extensively used as an anti-caries agent in clinical practice and daily life. Although some studies focused on understanding Streptococcus mutans' response to fluoride, the mechanism regulating intrinsic fluoride tolerance is not yet clear. Since the TetR family of transcription factors is associated with multidrug resistance, our aim was to evaluate whether they are related to fluoride tolerance in S. mutans. A mutant library including each S. mutans TetR gene was constructed and the transcription factor fluoride related transcriptional regulator (FrtR) was identified. The in-frame deletion of the S. mutans frtR gene resulted in decreased cell viability under fluoride in both the planktonic state and single-/dual-species biofilms. This in-frame frtR mutant was used for RNA-sequencing and the fluoride related permease gene (frtP) was found as 1 of the downstream genes directly regulated by FrtR. The recombinant FrtR protein was purified, and conserved DNA binding motifs were determined using electrophoretic mobility shift and DNase I footprinting assays. Finally, a series of mutant and complement strains were constructed to perform the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, which indicated that frtP upregulation led to the increase of fluoride sensitivity. Collectively, our results indicate that FrtR is an important transcription factor regulating the frtP expression in S. mutans, thus affecting the intrinsic fluoride tolerance. Therefore, this study provides novel insights into a potential target to increase the S. mutans sensitivity to fluoride for a better prevention of dental caries.

HIF-1α Stabilization Enhances Angio-/Vasculogenic Properties of SHED.

The outcome of regenerative procedures could be augmented by enhancing the biological performances of stem cells prior to their transplantation. The current study aimed to investigate whether hypoxic preconditioning through stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) could enhance the angio-/vasculogenic properties of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). HIF-1α expression in SHED under normoxia was stabilized by silencing the expression of prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein 2 (PHD2) via lentiviral small hairpin RNA. This in turn significantly increased the expression of an angiogenic factor: vascular endothelial growth factor. Conditioned medium of HIF-1α-stabilized SHED increased the migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating enhanced paracrine signaling of SHED following PHD2 knockdown (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the coculture of HIF-1α-stabilized SHED with HUVECs directly and in fibrin beads demonstrated significantly longer vascular sprouts through juxtacrine and paracrine effects (P < 0.05). When HIF-1α-stabilized SHED were added to a preformed HUVEC vascular tube network on Matrigel, it not only stabilized the vessels, as shown by the increased thickness (P < 0.05) and junctional area (P < 0.01) of tubes, but also gave rise to new sprouting (P < 0.01). This observation, with the morphologic changes and increased CD31 expression, suggested that HIF-1α stabilization enhanced the endothelial differentiation capacity of SHED through autocrine signaling. In vivo Matrigel plug assay demonstrated that HIF-1α-stabilized SHED alone could give rise to a vasculature that was significantly higher than that of control SHED ± HUVECs and similar to that of HIF-1α-stabilized SHED + HUVECs. In addition to vasculogenesis by endothelial differentiation, HIF-1α-stabilized SHED recruited host blood vessels into the implant by exerting a significant paracrine effect. Taken together, our results confirmed that HIF-1α-stabilized SHED could replace the function of HUVECs and act as the sole cell source of vascularization. Thus, targeting PHD2 to stabilize HIF-1α expression is an appealing strategy that enables the use of a single cell source for achieving vascularized tissue regeneration.