Effect of different treatment modalities on the prognosis of patients with stage IIIC cervical cancer.

Objective: To compare the effects of different treatments on the prognosis of patients with stage IIIC cervical cancer and to identify the main influencing factors to predict the outcomes of patients. Methods: In this study, a total of 1763 patients with stage IIIC cervical cancer from 2010-2015 were retrospectively analyzed, and these patients were divided into the radical radiotherapy ± chemotherapy group (877 patients) and the radical surgery + radiotherapy ± chemotherapy group (886 patients) according to the treatment methods. The survival differences between the two groups were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. Unifactorial and multifactorial COX analyses screened the clinical factors affecting the prognosis. The nomogram was constructed, and the accuracy of the line graph was verified using the C-index, calibration, and ROC (receiver operator characteristic curve, ROC). Results: Age, race, T-stage, pathologic type, mass size, whether or not they underwent surgery, and whether or not they received radiotherapy were independent factors affecting Overall Survival (OS). For all patients with TxN1M0 in cervical cancer stage IIIC, radical synchronized radiotherapy was better than the radical surgery group (p<0.0001). After comparing the tumor size breakdown, it could be found that in the T1N1M0, T2N1M0, and T3N1M0 groups, none of the OS in the surgical group achieved an improvement in OS compared with that in the non-surgical group (p>0.05). Conclusion: In patients with stage IIIC cervical cancer, OS did not improve in the radical surgery group compared with the radical simultaneous radiotherapy group. And surgery did not benefit patients' survival regardless of tumor size.

The Association between Diet-Exercise Patterns and Cirrhosis: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES 2017-March 2020.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis (LC) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease worldwide. Nutrition may be an important component of primary prevention of chronic liver disease. Diet-exercise patterns frame the eating behaviors and exercise habits of people through statistical methods related to nutritional epidemiology, which can explore the relationship between living habits and diseases among diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between diet-exercise patterns and cirrhosis, and provide guidance on preventive diets for liver patients. METHODS: This study identified diet-exercise patterns via clustering analysis of principal components and assessed their association with cirrhosis through the population samples of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to March 2020. RESULTS: We identified two diet-exercise patterns that were named the "prudent pattern" (consumption of various staple foods, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables; less sedentary) and the "dangerous pattern" (higher consumption of desserts, nuts, milk, meat, alcoholic beverages; recreational activities). The t-test demonstrated a significant relationship between patterns and multiple foods. The simple logistic regression test showed a lower risk of cirrhosis in those in the "prudent pattern" (OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.59-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Two diet-exercise patterns associated with cirrhosis were identified: "prudent pattern" and "dangerous pattern". The results of this study may be useful for suggesting preventive diets for people at risk of cirrhosis.

Different projection neurons of basolateral amygdala participate in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory with diverse molecular pathways.

Context-induced retrieval of drug withdrawal memory is one of the important reasons for drug relapses. Previous studies have shown that different projection neurons in different brain regions or in the same brain region such as the basolateral amygdala (BLA) participate in context-induced retrieval of drug withdrawal memory. However, whether these different projection neurons participate in the retrieval of drug withdrawal memory with same or different molecular pathways remains a topic for research. The present results showed that (1) BLA neurons projecting to the prelimbic cortex (BLA-PrL) and BLA neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (BLA-NAc) participated in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (2) there was an increase in the expression of Arc and pERK in BLA-NAc neurons, but not in BLA-PrL neurons during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (3) pERK was the upstream molecule of Arc, whereas D1 receptor was the upstream molecule of pERK in BLA-NAc neurons during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (4) D1 receptors also strengthened AMPA receptors, but not NMDA receptors, -mediated glutamatergic input to BLA-NAc neurons via pERK during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. These results suggest that different projection neurons of the BLA participate in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory with diverse molecular pathways.

A giant teratoma in the anterior mediastinum found prenatally: A case report.

Prenatal anterior mediastinal teratomas are rare. Anterior mediastinal teratomas can cause edema during the perinatal period. Color Doppler ultrasonography and chest computed tomography (CT) are of great value in diagnosing neonatal anterior mediastinal teratomas. Here, we report a case of prenatally diagnosed neonatal anterior mediastinal teratoma. After birth, transthoracic echocardiography and chest enhanced CT showed a large solid mass in the pericardial cavity. Owing to compression of the heart, the tumor was completely removed 1 day after birth, and cardiopulmonary bypass was performed. Pathology results indicated an immature teratoma (Grade I). At 9-month follow-up, the patient remained in good overall condition without observed recurrences.

Metabolomics analysis of poly(l-lactic acid) nanofibers' performance on PC12 cell differentiation.

The aim of this article is to reveal the influence of aligned/random poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers on PC12 cell differentiation from the perspective of metabolic level. First, three materials-PLLA aligned nanofibers (PLLA AF), PLLA random nanofibers (PLLA RF) and PLLA films (control)-were prepared by electrospinning and spin coating. Their surface morphologies were characterized. Subsequently, the cell viability, cell morphology and neurite length of PC12 cells on the surface of the three materials were evaluated, indicating more neurites in the PLLA RF groups but the longer average neurite length in the PLLA AF groups. Next, the metabolite profiles of PC12 cells cultured on the surface of the three nanofibers after 12 h, 24 h and 36 h showed that, compared with the control, 51, 48 and 31 types of differential metabolites were detected at the three time points among the AF groups, respectively; and 56, 45 and 41 types among the RF groups, respectively. Furthermore, the bioinformatics analysis of differential metabolites identified two pathways and three metabolites critical to PC12 cell differentiation influenced by the nanofibers. In addition, the verification experiment on critical metabolites and metabolic pathways were performed. The integrative analysis combining cytology, metabolomics and bioinformatics approaches revealed that though both PLLA AF and RF were capable of stimulating the synthesis of neurotransmitters, the PLLA AF were more beneficial for PC12 cell differentiation, whereas the PLLA RF were less effective.

Paraglaciecola marina sp. nov., isolated from marine alga (Sargassum natans (L.) Gaillon).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, straight or curved rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, strictly aerobic, motile bacterium with a single polar flagellum, designated D3211T, was isolated from marine alga collected at the seashore of Yantai, PR China. The organism grew optimally at 24 °C, pH 7.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain D3211T contained ubiquinone 8 as the major respiratory quinone and C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 1 B and/or iso-C17 : 1 I as the major fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids of strain D3211T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content of strain D3211T was 39.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strain was related most closely to Paraglaciecola arctica BSs20135T, Paraglaciecola aestuariivivens JDTF-33T, Paraglaciecola aquimarina KCTC 32108T, Paraglaciecola mesophila DSM 15026T, Paraglaciecola psychrophila JCM 13954T and Paraglaciecola polaris ARK 150T with 97.6, 97.6, 97.5, 97.4, 97.3 and 97.1 % sequence similarities, respectively. Calculated average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNAhybridization values between strain D3211T and its phylogenetically related Paraglaciecola species were in the range 70.2-73.4 % and 19.1-20.4 %, respectively. On the basis of polyphasic analyses, strain D3211T represents a novel species of the genus Paraglaciecola, for which the name Paraglaciecola marina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D3211T (=KCTC 72122T=MCCC 1K03603T).

Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate Attenuates Tumor Oxidative Stress and Promotes Apoptosis in an Intermittent Hypoxia Mouse Model.

OBJECTIVE: Intermittent hypoxia, a significant feature of obstructive sleep apnea, has pro-tumorigenic effects. Here, we investigated the effect of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate on oxidative stress and apoptosis in a mouse model of Lewis lung carcinoma with intermittent hypoxia. METHODS: Mice were randomly assigned to normoxia (control), normoxia plus sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (control + sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate), intermittent hypoxia, and intermittent hypoxia + sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate groups. Intermittent hypoxia administration lasted 5 weeks in the intermittent hypoxia groups. Lewis lung carcinoma cells were injected into the right flank of each mouse after 1 week of intermittent hypoxia exposure. Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate was injected intraperitoneally in the control + sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate and intermittent hypoxia + sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate groups. Tumor oxidative stress was evaluated by detection of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase. The apoptosis of tumor cells was evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay as well as by Western blot analysis of B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Additionally, the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, and nuclear factor kappa B was also evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the intermittent hypoxia treatment significantly increased Lewis lung carcinoma tumor growth and oxidative stress (serum malondialdehyde) but decreased serum levels of SOD and pro-apoptotic markers (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling staining, B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein, and cleaved caspase-3). These changes were significantly attenuated by intraperitoneal injection of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate. Lower nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and higher nuclear factor kappa B levels in the intermittent hypoxia group were clearly reversed by sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate treatment. In addition, sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate administration decreased the high expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α induced by intermittent hypoxia. CONCLUSION: Intermittent hypoxia treatment resulted in high oxidative stress and low apoptosis in Lewis lung carcinoma-implanted mice, which could be attenuated by sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate administration possibly through a mechanism mediated by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway.