[HVPG minimally invasive era: exploration based on forearm venous approach].

Objective: The transjugular or transfemoral approach is used as a common method for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement in current practice. This study aims to confirm the safety and effectiveness of measuring HVPG via the forearm venous approach. Methods: Prospective recruitment was conducted for patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach at six hospitals in China and Japan from September 2020 to December 2020. Patients' clinical baseline information and HVPG measurement data were collected. The right median cubital vein or basilic vein approach for all enrolled patients was selected. The HVPG standard process was used to measure pressure. Research data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 statistical software. Quantitative data were used to represent medians (interquartile ranges), while qualitative data were used to represent frequency and rates. The correlation between two sets of data was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. Results: A total of 43 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 41 (95.3%) successfully underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach. None of the patients had any serious complications. The median operation time for HVPG detection via forearm vein was 18.0 minutes (12.3~38.8 minutes). This study confirmed that HVPG was positively closely related to Child-Pugh score (r = 0.47, P = 0.002), albumin-bilirubin score (r = 0.37, P = 0.001), Lok index (r = 0.36, P = 0.02), liver stiffness (r = 0.58, P = 0.01), and spleen stiffness (r = 0.77, P = 0.01), while negatively correlated with albumin (r = -0.42, P = 0.006). Conclusion: The results of this multi-centre retrospective study suggest that HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach is safe and feasible.

[A case of acute poisoning of typhonium giganteum engler].

Unicorn lotus is a plant tuber in the araceae family, which has therapeutic effects such as dispelling cold and dampness, dispelling wind and phlegm, and treating stroke. However, acute poisoning of fresh Unicorn lotus has been rarely reported domestically and internationally. This article reports a case of poisoning caused by chewing unicorn lotus. The patient experienced numbness in the lips, swelling and rupture of the oral cavity, continuous salivation, difficulty swallowing and obvious burning sensation in the throat, accompanied by shortness of breath and mild hypoxemia. After receiving comprehensive treatments such as oxygen therapy, electrocardiographic monitoring, cleaning of necrotic oral mucosa, anti infection, inhibition of oral salivary secretion, and nutritional support, the patient finally recovered and was discharged.

[Status of HVPG clinical application in China in 2021].

Objective: The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China. Methods: This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems. Results: According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%). Conclusion: Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Proton Compton Scattering from Linearly Polarized Gamma Rays.

Differential cross sections for Compton scattering from the proton have been measured at scattering angles of 55°, 90°, and 125° in the laboratory frame using quasimonoenergetic linearly (circularly) polarized photon beams with a weighted mean energy value of 83.4 MeV (81.3 MeV). These measurements were performed at the High Intensity Gamma-Ray Source facility at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. The results are compared to previous measurements and are interpreted in the chiral effective field theory framework to extract the electromagnetic dipole polarizabilities of the proton, which gives α_{E1}^{p}=13.8±1.2_{stat}±0.1_{BSR}±0.3_{theo},ß_{M1}^{p}=0.2∓1.2_{stat}±0.1_{BSR}∓0.3_{theo} in units of 10^{-4} fm^{3}.

[Use of fibrinolytics and deoxyribonuclease in patients with pleural infection].

Just over a decade ago, it was widely accepted that intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytics was ineffective in treatment of pleural infection. Due to the accumulation of clinical study evidence, an expert team from several countries developed an international consensus and recommended that tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease should be instilled intrapleurally at the same time as the initial treatment, or as a follow-up treatment after surgery for pleural infection. The recommended dosages are as follows: tissue plasminogen activator 10 mg, twice a day, deoxyribonuclease 5 mg, twice a day. The future researches should focus on optimizing the tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease schemes and developing more effective fibrinolytics.

[New advances in targeted therapy for breast cancer].

Objective: Breast cancer is a kind of malignant tumor which seriously endangers women's health. With the development of molecular biology technology and the further understanding of pathogenesis, the treatment of breast cancer has entered a new era of molecular targeted therapy, and has been making new progress. At present, molecular targeted drugs for the treatment of breast cancer keep emerging, mainly including endocrine therapy targeting estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR), targeted drugs treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2); phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway inhibitors, anti-angiogenic drugs, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for BRCA1/2 mutations, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors, etc. Because some signal pathway abnormalities may occur in different molecular types of breast cancer, the same targeted drugs are cross-used in different types.

[miR-455 Inhibits HepG2 Cell Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis by Targeting RhoC].

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The aberrant expression or alteration of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes to the development and progression of cancer. Studies have shown that miR-455 plays a regulatory role in the development of HCC. Therefore, in the present study, the role of miR-455 was analyzed in HepG2 cells proliferation and apoptosis using MTT and flow cytometry methods. Binding sites were predicted by bioinformatics and luciferase assay was used to verify the target relationship between miR-455 and RhoC-encoding gene RHOC. After that, the effects of miR-455 on RHOC and its product RhoC, were explored by qPCR and Western blotting. As PTEN is a key tumor suppressor gene in HCC, and Bcl-2 and Caspase 3 are important indication of apoptosis, expression levels of PTEN, Bcl2 and Caspase 3 proteins were determined in cells overexpressing RhoC. We show that miR-455 promotes HepG2 cells apoptosis and inhibits proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assay indicate that specific recognition sites for miR-455 are within the RhoC 3'-UTR. Luciferase activity was significantly lower in the cells co-transfected with miR-455 mimics and RhoC-WT (p < 0.01) as compared to that in control cells, pointing that RHOC gene is, indeed, targeted by miR-455. RHOC mRNA was significantly reduced after miR-455 transfection in HepG2 cells. In addition, we show that RhoC could activate the HCC cells proliferation ability and inhibit apoptosis rate (p < 0.01), and decrease expression of PTEN and Caspase 3 (p < 0.01), while upregulating levels of Bcl2. In conclusion, our study indicates that miR-455 plays a suppressive role in HCC development by targeting RhoC-encoding mRNA.

[Clinical value of (125)I radioactive seed implantation plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in treating patient with sub-capsular hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of (125)I radioactive seed implantation in the treatment of sub-capsular hepatocellular carcinoma (sub-HCC) with sequential radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: The clinical data of 76 cases with advanced HCC with sub-capsular nodules including 68 males and 8 females, with an average age of (58±9) years, ranging from 33 to 78 years, enrolled in Lishui Central Hospital from January 2010 to December 2016 were collected.The average maximum diameter of tumor is (5.7±2.3) cm, ranging from 3.1 cm to 12.0 cm.The patients were divided into TACE+ RFA group and (125)I + TACE+ RFA group with 38 cases in each group.The overall survival (OS) and progression free survival(PFS) were calculated.The clinical efficiency and adverse events were evaluated. Results: The disease control rate were 84.2%(32/38) in (125)I + TACE+ RFA group and 63.2% (24/38) in TACE+ RFA group, χ(2)=4.34, P= 0.04.The median PFS were 18 months in (125)I + TACE+ RFA group and 11 months in TACE+ RFA group, χ(2)=4.84, P=0.03.The FPS cumulative rate in (125)I + TACE+ RFA group were higher than that in TACE+ RFA group at 6 months (94.7%±3.6% vs 81.3%±6.4%, Z=24.1>2.58, P=0.00), 1 year (89.2%±5.1% vs 40.7%±8.3%, Z=13.3>2.58, P=0.00) and 2 year (55.9%±8.6% vs 29.6%±8.2%, Z=7.2>2.58, P=0.00). The median OS were 42 months in (125)I + TACE+ RFA group and 30 months in TACE+ RFA group, χ(2)=4.76, P=0.029.The survival cumulative rate in (125)I+ TACE+ RFA group were higher than that in TACE+ RFA group at 1 year (92.1%±4.4% vs 83.8%±6.1%, Z=23.5>2.58, P=0.00), 2 year (75.8%±7.0% vs 59.8%±8.4%, Z=12.43>2.58, P=0.00), 3 year (59.0%±8.2% vs 41.7%±8.9%, Z=8.3>2.58, P=0.00), 5 year (34.2%±8.2% vs 18.2%±8.1%, Z=5.5>2.58, P=0.00). In addition, there was no statistical difference in liver function and complications between TACE+ RFA group and (125)I+ TACE+ RFA group. Conclusion: (125)I radioactive seed implantation plus TACE combined with RFA treatment is an effective and safe treatment for sub-capsular hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adhesive internal hernia: multidetector CT findings and clinical relevance.

AIM: To review the clinical and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of adhesive internal hernias (IHs) and to ascertain specific MDCT criteria to assist in the diagnosis of adhesive IHs and the early detection of intestinal strangulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records and preoperative abdominal MDCT findings of 34 patients with surgically confirmed abdominal adhesive IHs were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: The specific MDCT features of adhesive IHs included the following: dislocating and clustering of intestinal segments (100%); stretching and crowding of the mesenteric vessels (100%); presence of hernial orifice (88.2%), peritoneal adhesive bands (76.5%); and the fat notch sign (85.3%). In addition, the significant MDCT features indicative of intestinal strangulation compared with those without intestinal strangulation were bowel wall thickening (p=0.009), intramural haemorrhage (p=0.007), and abnormal bowel wall enhancement (p=0.023). Furthermore, bowel obstruction occurred in 17 (50%) patients, and mesenteric whirl was apparent in 8 (23.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: This article illustrates the specific MDCT criteria of adhesive IHs. Knowledge of MDCT findings in adhesive IHs and their complications is essential for making the correct diagnosis and may help guide early clinical management.

[Effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with thymosin alpha 1 on the autophagy of immune cells from advanced hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with thymosin alpha1(Tα1)on the autophagy of immune cells from advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A total of 30 patients with advanced liver cancer enrolled in Lishui Central Hospital from September 2015 to June 2016 were collected in this study. The average age of patients was 16-75(56±12) years. All patients were treated with TACE after enrolled in hospital in a week. Patients were divided into TACE group and TACE+ Tα1 treatment group(15 cases in each group). Patients in TACE group received a conventional treatment, without any immunotherapy, while the TACE+ Tα1 treatment group accepted TACE following a subcutaneously injection of 1.6 mg Tα1 twice a week for 4 weeks. Flow cytometry was used to detect the T cell subsets in two groups both before and after TACE treatment for 1, 4 weeks and at 3 months follow-up. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation. The expression of Beclin-1, LC3 protein and mRNA were detected by Western blot (WB) and PCR respectively. Results: There was no statistical difference of the percentage of CD3(+) , CD4(+) , CD8(+) T cell subsets and Beclin-1, LC3 protein and mRNA expression between the two groups before TACE treatment (P>0.05). The percentage of CD3(+) , CD4(+) , CD8(+) T cell subsets in TACE+ Tα1 group at 1 week post-TACE treatment (58.45%±16.34%, 38.33%±15.16%, 27.31%±12.54%), at 4 weeks post-TACE treatment (62.38%±18.62%, 43.19%±13.86%, 29.54%±10.33%) and 3 months follow-up (64.15%±13.76%, 41.28%±14.65%, 29.38%±15.65%) were statistically higher than those in TACE group at 1 week post-TACE treatment (53.71%±11.17%, 32.12%±10.53%, 24.45%±13.72%) at 4 weeks post-TACE treatment (52.12%±14.26%, 31.16%±15.43%, 23.39%±15.33%) and 3 months follow-up (54.28%±13.15%, 32.17%±14.98%, 24.34%±14.12%) (P<0.05). The Beclin-1, LC3 protein and mRNA expression in TACE+ Tα1 group at 1 week post-TACE treatment (protein: 0.57±0.08, 2.26±0.36, mRNA: 0.62±0.11, 2.69±0.27), at 4 weeks post-TACE treatment (protein: 0.66±0.09, 3.11±0.45, mRNA: 0.78±0.13, 3.43±0.61) were higher than those in TACE group at 1 week post-TACE treatment (protein: 0.45±0.16, 1.43±0.30, mRNA: 0.52±0.15, 1.15±0.37), at 4 weeks post-TACE treatment (protein: 0.51±0.13, 1.81±0.35, mRNA: 0.56±0.10, 1.98±0.41) ( P<0.05). But there was no statistically significant difference in the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 in two groups at 3 months follow-up (P>0.05). Conclusions: TACE combined with Tα1 significantly increase the level of autophagy in the immune cells of patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

[The role of FOXO3a-Bim signaling in triptolide induced bladder cancer T24 cells apoptosis].

Objective: To investigate the role of FOXO3a-Bim signaling in triptolide induced bladder cancer T24 cells apoptosis. Methods: T24 cells were used and divided into control group, triptolide group(50 nmol/L), MK2206 group(50 nmol/L triptolide+ 5 µmol/L MK2206), FOXO3a-siRNA group(50 nmol/L triptolide+ 100 nmol/L FOXO3a-siRNA), Bim-siRNA group (50 nmol/L triptolide+ 100 nmol/L Bim-siRNA). MTT assay was used to analyze the cells growth inhibition.Annexin V/PI staining was implemented to detect cell apoptosis rate, the expression of p-Akt, Akt, p-FOXO3a, FOXO3a, Bim, Bax.Cleaved-caspase 3 was analyzed by Western blot. Results: After treatment with triptolide 25, 50, 100, 250 nmol/L, the cell growth inhibition rates at 24 hours(17%±9%, 24%±5%, 43%±8%, 61%±8%), 48 hours (20%±7%, 34%±6%, 56%±7%, 74%±5%) and 72 hours(32%±8%, 41%±7%, 69%±7%, 84%±3%) were significantly higher than control group respectively.The IC(50) at 24, 48, 72 hours were (113±10), (91±8), (68±5) nmol/L; the cell apoptosis rates at 24 hours (10%±4%, 15%±5%, 29%±8%, 46%±8%), 48 hours (16%±5%, 24%±6%, 40%±7%, 55%±9%) and 72 hours (27%±4%, 38%±5%, 50%±9%, 65%±8%) were significantly increased (P<0.05). Western blot showed that triptolide reduced the expression of p-Akt, p-FOXO3a and increased the expression of Bim, Bax, cleaved-caspase 3.The cell inhibition rate in Triptolide group (30%±8%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) and the rates in MK2206 group (54% ±6%), FOXO3a-siRNA group (18%±7%) and Bim-siRNA group (11%±6%) were also higher than the control group.Compared with the triptolide group, the inhibition rate in MK2206 group was significantly increased, but decreased in FOXO3a-siRNA group and Bim-siRNA group(P<0.05). Conclusion: Triptolide induces T24 cells apoptosis through FOXO3a-Bim signaling pathway.

p62/SQSTM1 enhances breast cancer stem-like properties by stabilizing MYC mRNA.

Aberrant p62 overexpression has been implicated in breast cancer development. Here, we found that p62 expression was elevated in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), including CD44+CD24- fractions, mammospheres, ALDH1+ populations and side population cells. Indeed, short-hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of p62 impaired breast cancer cells from self-renewing under anchorage-independent conditions, whereas ectopic overexpression of p62 enhanced the self-renewal ability of breast cancer cells in vitro. Genetic depletion of p62 robustly inhibited tumor-initiating frequencies, as well as growth rates of BCSC-derived tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice. Consistently, immunohistochemical analysis of clinical breast tumor tissues showed that high p62 expression levels were linked to poorer clinical outcome. Further gene expression profiling analysis revealed that p62 was positively correlated with MYC expression level, which mediated the function of p62 in promoting breast cancer stem-like properties. MYC mRNA level was reduced upon p62 deletion by siRNA and increased with p62 overexpression in breast cancer cells, suggesting that p62 positively regulated MYC mRNA. Interestingly, p62 did not transactivate MYC promoter. Instead, p62 delayed the degradation of MYC mRNA by repressing the expression of let-7a and let-7b, thus promoting MYC mRNA stabilization at the post-transcriptional level. Consistently, let-7a and let-7b mimics attenuated p62-mediated MYC mRNA stabilization. Together, these findings unveiled a previously unappreciated role of p62 in the regulation of BCSCs, assigning p62 as a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer treatments.

Characterising genes associated with flowering time in carrot (Daucus carota L.) using transcriptome analysis.

Carrot is generally regarded as a biennial plant with an obligatory vernalization requirement. Early spring cultivation makes plants vulnerable to premature bolting, which results in a loss of commercial value. However, our knowledge of flowering time genes and flowering mechanisms in carrot remain limited. Bolting behavior of D. carota ssp. carota 'Songzi', a wild species sensitive to flower induction by vernalization and photoperiod, and orange cultivar 'Amsterdam forcing', and their offspring were investigated in different growing conditions. We performed RNA-seq to identify the flowering time genes, and digital gene expression (DGE) analysis to examine their expression levels. The circadian patterns of related genes were identified by qPCR. The results showed bolting behavior of carrot was influenced by low temperature, illumination intensity and photoperiod. A total of 45 flowering time-related unigenes were identified, which were classified into five categories including photoperiod, vernalization, autonomous and gibberellin pathway, and floral integrators. Homologs of LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) and CONSTANS-LIKE 2 (COL2) were more highly expressed under short day condition than under long day condition. Homologs of COL2, CONSTANS-LIKE 5 (COL5), SUPPRESSION OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1), FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and GIBBERELLIC ACID INSENSITIVE (GAI) were differentially expressed between 'Songzi' and 'Amsterdam forcing'. The homolog of COL2 (Dct43207) was repressed by light, but that of COL5 (Dct20940) was induced. A preliminary model of genetic network controlling flowering time was constructed by associating the results of DGE analysis with correlation coefficients between genes. This study provides useful information for further investigating the genetic mechanism of flowering in carrot.

[Association between ultrasound screening frequency and mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To discuss the association between ultrasound screening frequency and total mortality in patients with HCC before diagnosing HCC, and explore the optimal ultrasound screening frequency for HCC high-risk groups. Methods: Retrospectively collected clinical data of 615 cases of liver cirrhosis who developed to HCC from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015. Before diagnosing HCC, all patients were divided into five groups according to ultrasound screening frequency: 0-6, 7-12, 13-24, 25-36 months and not screened within 3 years (never screened). The chance to receive curative therapy, 5-year cumulative mortalities and independent factors of mortality in patients with HCC were analyzed. Results: Chances to receive curative therapy among the 0-6, 7-12, 13-24, 25-36 months and never screened groups were 38.2%, 27.2%, 25.4%, 23.8% and 19.7%, respectively (P<0.05). The 5-year overall mortality rates were 76.4%, 77.7%, 79.3%, 82.5% and 84.6%, respectively. Compared with 0-6 months, the adjusted OR of mortality for the other groups were 1.112, 1.235, 1.305 and 1.451, respectively (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that ultrasound screening frequency, curative treatment and Child-Pugh (class A/B) were the factors to affect long-term survival in patients with HCC (all P<0.05). Conclusion: For HCC high-risk groups, optimal ultrasound screening frequency is within 6 months, and high-frequency ultrasound screening can increase the chance of receiving curative treatment, reduce total mortality, and improve overall survival.

[Effect comparison of ultrasound-guided lower extremity nerve block and spinal anesthesia in ankle surgery].

Objective: To compare the anesthesia effect between ultrasound-guided lower extremity nerve block and spinal anesthesia in ankle surgery. Methods: Upon the approval of institutional Ethics Committee and informed consent, 80 patients American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA)Ⅰ-Ⅱaged 18-70 yr, undergoing ankle surgery from December 2014 to May 2015 in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wen Zhou Medical College, were randomly divided by random numbers into two groups (n=40): nerve block group (group N) and spinal anesthesia (group S). The group N was combined with ultrasound-guided femoral nerve, obturator nerve, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and sacral plexus block; group S was selected spinal anesthesia in the gap of L3-L4. Times of anesthesia procedure (Tr), sensory block (Tfb), motor block (Tmb), duration of sensory block (Tfr) and duration of motor block (Tmr) were recorded. The incidence of hypotension within 30 min after anesthesia and 24 hours postoperatively analgesic were also recorded. The effect of anesthesia was evaluated. Results: The Tr, Tfb, Tmb, Tfr and Tmr in group N and group S were (15.0±1.5), (11.2±1.2), (13.4±1.4), (816.0±112.9), (432.0±138.9)min and (8.7±1.2), (2.3±0.6), (3.8±1.1), (436.7±130.5), (320.0±34.6)min, respectively. Tr, Tfb, Tmb, Tfr and Tmr in group N were significantly longer than that in group S (t=20.742, 41.945, 34.101, 13.901, 4.948, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidences of hypotension within 30 min after anesthesia (0 vs 7.5%, P>0.05). The incidence of 24 hours postoperatively analgesic in group N were significantly lower than that in group S (45.0% vs 77.5%, P<0.05). Compared with group S, there was no significant difference in the percentage of anesthetic effect reached gradeⅠ(95% vs 100%, P>0.05) in group N. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided nerve block could be safe and effective in patients undergoing ankle surgery, and postoperative analgesia time of nerve block is longer than that of spinal anesthesia.

[Effects and mechanism ofitraconazole on prostate cancer PC-3 cell apoptosis].

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of itraconazole on prostate cancer PC-3 cells proliferation. Methods: The PC-3 cells were divided into four group: control group, itraconazole group, itraconazole+ CerS-1-shRNA group and itraconazole+ PDMP group.3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay was used to detect the growth of PC-3 cells.Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC /PI.The intracellular ceramide production was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase3 and the expression and phosphorylation of Akt, mTORC1 were detected by Western blot. Results: After treatment with 0, 5, 10, 20 µmol/L itraconazole, apoptosis rate was 3.23%±1.32%, 5.87%±2.45%, 23.22%±5.29%, 48.57%±8.37%.The percentage content of ceramide was 100%, 109%±18%, 156%±12%, 197%±22%.Compared with the control group, there were statistically differences when the concentration of itraconazole were 10 and 20 µmol/L(all P<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the Bax, cleaved-caspase 3 expression of itraconazole group and itraconazole+ PDMP group was significantly higher than control group, while Bcl-2 expression was significantly lower than the control; the Bax, cleaved-caspase 3 expression ofitraconazole+ CerS1-shRNA group was significantly lower than itraconazole group, while Bcl-2 expression was significantly higher than the itraconazole group.After 5, 10, 20 µmol/L itraconazole treatment, the expression of p-Akt and p-mTORC1 were significantly lower than the control group; the expression of p-Akt and p-mTORC1 in itraconazole+ CerS-1-shRNA group were significantly higher than itraconazole group. Conclusion: Itraconazole induces apoptosis of PC-3 cell through increasing the intracellular ceramide content, which might relate to upregulation of cleavage-caspase 3 and Bax, downregulation of Bcl-2 and inactivation of Akt-mTORC signal pathway.

[A multicenter study on the prognostic factors of one year outcomes in patients with poor grade intracranial aneurysm after early treatment].

OBJECTIVES: To explore the one year outcome of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients with poor grade intracranial aneurysm who underwent early treatment (within 72 hours), and to analyze the possible predictors of the prognosis. METHODS: This clinical study was a prospective, multicenter, observational registry of SAH patients with poor grade intracranial aneurysm. Data pertaining to 203 SAH patients with poor grade intracranial aneurysm between October 2010 and March 2013 from 10 medical centers. There were 100 male and 103 female patients. Neurological outcomes at 12 months after the surgery were measured using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Genders, age, smoke, breath, herniation, aneurysm location, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade, CT Fisher's grade, alcohol consumption, aneurysm diameter, surgical procedure and operation time were identified as possible prognostic factors, the association between possible prognostic factors and outcome were analyzed, using univariate and multivariate analysis. Univariate analysis included Wilcoxon rank sum test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Nemenyi test, multivariate analysis included Logistic regression test. RESULTS: Among 203 patients, 94 patients were WFNS grade Ⅳ, and 109 patients were WFNS grade Ⅴ; 31 patients were CT Fisher's grade 1 to 2, 172 patients were CT Fisher's grade 3 to 5. Herniation (OR=2.535, 95%CI: 1.204 to 5.339, P=0.014), WFNS grade Ⅴ (OR=3.728, 95%CI: 1.972 to 7.043, P=0.000), CT Fisher's grade 3 to 5 (OR=5.641, 95%CI: 2.032 to 15.643, P=0.001), and anterior circulation location (OR=6.234, 95%CI: 1.996 to 19.472, P=0.002) were found to be independent prognostic factors of unfavorable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical treatment could improve the prognosis of SAH patients with poor-grade-aneurysm. The patients with herniation, WFNS grade Ⅴ, CT Fisher's grade 3 to 5, anterior circulation aneurysms suffered unfavorable prognosis.

Proteomic analysis of mycelial proteins from Magnaporthe oryzae under nitrogen starvation.

Magnaporthe oryzae is an important model system in studies of plant pathogenic fungi, and nitrogen is a key nutrient source affecting microbial growth and development. In order to understand how nitrogen stress causes changes in mycelial proteins, we analyzed differentially expressed mycelial proteins from the M. oryzae virulent strain CH-63 using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry in complete medium or under nitrogen starvation conditions. A total of 975 ± 70 and 1169 ± 90 protein spots were detected in complete medium and under nitrogen starvation conditions, respectively. Forty-nine protein spots exhibited at least 2-fold up-regulation or down-regulation at the protein level according to PDQuest7.4. Moreover, 43 protein spots were successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Among these spots, 6 proteins were functionally unknown and 37 proteins were categorized into 5 groups according to their functions, including development, metabolism, biosynthesis, and biological process. These 37 proteins were further analyzed for their enriched metabolic pathways by KOBAS2.0, and 14 proteins were found to be involved in glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and nitrogen metabolism. Taken together, the regulation of M. oryzae growth under the nitrogen starvation conditions appears to be complex because of the various proteins and enzymes involved.

[Efficacy analysis of radiofrequency ablation combined with 125I seed for multiple nodular hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency ablation(RFA)combined with (125)I seed in patients with multiple nodular hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS: The clinical data of 47 patients with multiple nodular HCC confirmed clinically or pathologically in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2009 and September 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into two groups depending on treatment: RFA group(n=29); RFA combined with (125)I seed group(n=18). Survival time was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The survival curve was compared by Log-rank test. RESULTS: The clinical data and tumor situation of patients between two groups did not show significant differences. The follow-up time ranged from 2 to 55 months. At the end of the study, the median progression-free survival of two groups were 18 months and 11 months, and the differences were statistically significant(P=0.036). The overall survival rates in RFA combined with (125)I seed group at 1, 2, and 3 years (94.4%, 78.0%, 66.8%, respectively) were higher than those in RFA group (88.5%, 68.6%, 57.1%, respectively). However, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant(P=0.554). CONCLUSIONS: For multiple nodular HCC, RFA combined with (125)I seed can prolong progression-free survival, have an advantage in local control rate, and is better than single RFA at short-term curative effect.However, its long-term outcomes should be further explored by a large-sample, multi-center and randomized trial.

Effects of plant roots on the hydraulic performance during the clogging process in mesocosm vertical flow constructed wetlands.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant roots (Typha angustifolia roots) on the hydraulic performance during the clogging process from the perspective of time and space distributions in mesocosm vertical flow-constructed wetlands with coarse sand matrix. For this purpose, a pair of lab-scale experiments was conducted to compare planted and unplanted systems by measuring the effective porosity and hydraulic conductivity of the substrate within different operation periods. Furthermore, the flow pattern of the clogging process in the planted and unplanted wetland systems were evaluated by their hydraulic performance (e.g., mean residence time, short circuiting, volumetric efficiency, number of continuously stirred tank reactors, and hydraulic efficiency factor) in salt tracer experiments. The results showed that the flow conditions would change in different clogging stages, which indicated that plants played different roles related to time and space. In the early clogging stages, plant roots restricted the flow of water, while in the middle and later clogging stages, especially the later stage, growing roots opened new pore spaces in the substrate. The roots played an important role in affecting the hydraulic performance in the upper layer (0-30 cm) where the sand matrix had a larger root volume fraction. Finally, the causes of the controversy over plant roots' effects on clogging were discussed. The results helped further understand the effects of plant roots on hydraulic performance during the clogging process.