Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and has the fourth highest death rate among all cancers. There is a lack of studies examining the impact of liver metastases on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in individuals diagnosed with GC. AIM: To investigate the influence of liver metastases on the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in patients with advanced GC. METHODS: This retrospective investigation collected clinical data of patients with advanced stomach cancer who had immunotherapy at our hospital from February 2021 to January 2023. The baseline attributes were compared using either the Chi-square test or the Fisher exact probability method. The chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and survival duration in GC patients with and without liver metastases. RESULTS: The analysis comprised 48 patients diagnosed with advanced GC, who were categorized into two groups: A liver metastasis cohort (n = 20) and a non-liver metastatic cohort (n = 28). Patients with liver metastasis exhibited a more deteriorated physical condition compared to those without liver metastasis. The objective response rates in the cohort with metastasis and the cohort without metastasis were 15.0% and 35.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. Similarly, the disease control rates in these two cohorts were 65.0% and 82.1% (P > 0.05), respectively. The median progression-free survival was 5.0 months in one group and 11.2 months in the other group, with a hazard ratio of 0.40 and a significance level (P) less than 0.05. The median overall survival was 12.0 months in one group and 19.0 months in the other group, with a significance level (P) greater than 0.05. CONCLUSION: Immunotherapy is less effective in GC patients with liver metastases compared to those without liver metastasis.

Prediction model of stress ulcer after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer established by machine learning algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are prone to stress ulcer after laparoscopic surgery. The analysis of risk factors for stress ulcer (SU) in patients with CRC is important to reduce mortality and improve patient prognosis. AIM: To identify risk factors for SU after laparoscopic surgery for CRC, and develop a nomogram model to predict the risk of SU in these patients.METHODSThe clinical data of 135 patients with CRC who underwent laparoscopic surgery between November 2021 and June 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. They were divided into two categories depending on the presence of SUs: The SU group (n = 23) and the non-SU group (n = 112). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen for factors associated with postoperative SU in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, and a risk factor-based nomogram model was built based on these risk factors. By plotting the model's receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve, a Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was performed. RESULTS: Among the 135 patients with CRC, 23 patients had postoperative SU, with an incidence of 17.04%. The SU group had higher levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 70, HSP90, and gastrin (GAS) than the non-SU group. Age, lymph node metastasis, HSP70, HSP90, and GAS levels were statistically different between the two groups, but other indicators were not statistically different. Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, lymph node metastasis, and increased levels of HSP70, HSP90 and GAS were all risk factors for postoperative SU in patients with CRC (P < 0.05). According to these five risk factors, the area under the ROC curve for the nomogram model was 0.988 (95%CI: 0.971-1.0); the calibration curve demonstrated excellent agreement between predicted and actual probabilities, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test revealed that the difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.753, P = 0.999), suggesting that the nomogram model had good discrimination, calibration, and stability. CONCLUSION: Patients with CRC aged ≥ 65 years, with lymph node metastasis and elevated HSP70, HSP90, GAS levels, are prone to post-laparoscopic surgery SU. Our nomogram model shows good predictive value.

Adjuvant treatment for patients with incidentally resected limited disease small cell lung cancer-a retrospective study.

Background: With the exception of very early-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), surgery is not typically recommended for this disease; however, incidental resection still occurs. After incidental resection, adjuvant salvage therapy is widely offered, but the evidence supporting its use is limited. This study aimed to explore proper adjuvant therapy for these incidentally resected SCLC cases. Methods: Patients incidentally diagnosed with SCLC after surgery at the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital in China from January 2005 to December 2014 were included in this study. The primary outcome was overall survival. Patients were classified into different group according to the type of adjuvant therapy they received and stratified by their pathological lymph node status. Patients' survival was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis. Results: A total of 161 patients were included in this study. Overall 5-year survival rate was 36.5%. For pathological N0 (pN0) cases (n=70), multivariable analysis revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy (ad-chemo) was associated with reduced risk of death [hazard ratio (HR): 0.373; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.141-0.985, P=0.047] compared to omission of adjuvant therapy. For pathological N1 or N2 (pN1/2) cases (n=91), taking no adjuvant therapy cases as a reference, the multivariable analysis showed that ad-chemo was not associated with a lower risk of death (HR: 0.869; 95% CI: 0.459-1.645, P=0.666), while adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (ad-CRT) was associated with a lower risk of death (HR: 0.279; 95% CI: 0.102-0.761, P=0.013). Conclusions: Patients who incidentally receive surgical resection and are diagnosed with limited disease SCLC after resection should be offered adjuvant therapy as a salvage treatment. For incidentally resected pN0 cases, ad-chemo should be considered and for pN1/2 cases, ad-CRT should be received.

[Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Soil Nutrient Characteristics and Microbial Resource Restrictions in a Terrace on the Loess Plateau].

Long-term fertilization has an important effect on soil fertility and soil microbial activity. In order to explore the effects of long-term fertilization on soil extracellular enzyme activities and nutrient characteristics in a terrace on the Loess Plateau, we based our investigation on the long-term nutrient localization plot of Ansai Soil and Water Conservation Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We measured the soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and extracellular enzyme activities of six fertilization treatments, which included no fertilization (CK); manure and nitrogen fertilization (MN); manure and phosphate fertilization (MP); manure, nitrogen, and phosphate fertilization (MNP); manure (M); and nitrogen and phosphate fertilization (NP). The results showed that all fertilization treatments significantly increased soil nutrient content and soil extracellular enzyme activities compared with that in CK. Correlation analysis showed that extracellular enzyme activity and soil physicochemical properties had an extremely significant correlation. The redundancy analysis indicated that soil nutrient and soil microbial biomass could explain 79.66% and 74.87% of the variation in soil extracellular enzyme activity and its stoichiometric ratio, respectively. Thus, the effects of fertilization on soil fertility were primarily through influencing soil extracellular enzyme activities indirectly. M, MN, MP, and MNP significantly improved soil organic carbon (SOC); soil total nitrogen (STN); and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) source enzyme content; however, MNP changed the soil pH, which had an inhibitory effect on microbial activities. Vector analysis showed that the microbial communities of all treatments were in the condition of P limitation. Although MNP could alleviate the extent of P limitation, there was no significant difference between M and MP. Our study indicated that long-term application of manure[7500 kg·(hm2·a)-1]could meet the nutrient requirements of dryland crop growth, and long-term application of manure combined with phosphorus fertilization could alleviate the resource constraints faced by microorganisms. Consequently, our results provide a new insight into improving regional nitrogen excess.

Interleukin-5-induced eosinophil population improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

AIMS: Interleukin (IL)-5 mediates the development of eosinophils (EOS) that are essential for tissue post-injury repair. It remains unknown whether IL-5 plays a role in heart repair after myocardial infarction (MI). This study aims to test whether IL-5-induced EOS population promotes the healing and repair process post-MI and to reveal the underlying mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed elevated expression of IL-5 in the heart at 5 days post-MI. Immunohistostaining indicated that IL-5 was secreted mainly from macrophages and CD127+ cells in the setting of experimental MI. External supply of recombinant mouse IL-5 (20 min, 1 day, and 2 days after MI surgery) reduced the infarct size and increased ejection fraction and angiogenesis in the border zone. A significant expansion of EOS was detected in both the peripheral blood and infarcted myocardium after IL-5 administration. Pharmacological depletion of EOS by TRFK5 pretreatment muted the beneficial effects of IL-5 in MI mice. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that IL-5 increased the accumulation of CD206+ macrophages in infarcted myocardium at 7 days post-MI. In vitro co-culture experiments showed that EOS shifted bone marrow-derived macrophage polarization towards the CD206+ phenotypes. This activity of EOS was abolished by IL-4 neutralizing antibody, but not IL-10 or IL-13 neutralization. Western blot analyses demonstrated that EOS promoted the macrophage downstream signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: IL-5 facilitates the recovery of cardiac dysfunction post-MI by promoting EOS accumulation and subsequent CD206+ macrophage polarization via the IL-4/STAT6 axis.

A Recurrent Cryptic MED14-HOXA9 Rearrangement in an Adult Patient With Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia, T/myeloid, NOS.

To define the fusion genes in T/myeloid mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (T/M MPAL), we performed transcriptome sequencing of diagnostic bone marrow samples from 20 adult patients. Our analysis identified a second instance of a recurrent MED14-HOXA9 chimeric gene resulting from the in-frame fusion of exon 23 of MED14 and exon 1 of HOXA9, the first in an adult patient. The MED14-HOXA9 fusion gene was detected in both the diagnostic and relapsed blasts with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. The patient received combined conventional chemotherapy but suffered relapse at 11 months and died of disease progression one year after the initial diagnosis. Our data suggest that MED14-HOXA9 is a cryptic recurrent aberration in T/M MPAL, which might indicate an aggressive clinical course and inferior outcome after conventional chemotherapy. Further studies will be carried out to reveal the effects of the MED14-HOXA9 fusion on the differentiation and proliferation of leukemia stem cells, as well as suitable treatment strategies for this emerging entity.

Collision-Energy Dependent Stereodynamics of Dissociative Charge Exchange Reaction between Ar+ and CO.

Long-distance charge-dipole attraction between atomic ion and randomly oriented polar molecule potentially makes the molecular orientation, which profoundly influences the products' kinetics of collisional reaction. Using the three-dimensional ion velocity map imaging technique, here we report a collision-energy dependent stereodynamics of dissociative charge exchange reaction Ar+ + CO → Ar + O + C+ in a range of 7.46-9.97 eV. At the lowest collision energy, the most C+ products are forward-scattered and are along the collision axis and are attributed to three different dissociation channels including the predominant one experiencing the rotating intermediate ArC+. At the high collision energies, the remarkably diffusive distribution of C+ arises from the prompt dissociation of the rebounded CO+. The different dynamic processes arising from the nearly collinear collision are elaborated explicitly on the basis of the data analyses using the Doppler kinetics models.

Superposition-state N2 + produced in the intermolecular charge transfer from low-energy Ar+ to N2.

Molecular electronic or vibrational states can be superimposed temporarily in an extremely short laser pulse, and the superposition-state transients formed therein receive much attention, owing to the extensive interest in molecular fundamentals and the potential applications in quantum information processing. Using the crossed-beam ion velocity map imaging technique, we disentangle two distinctly different pathways leading to the forward-scattered N2 + yields in the large impact-parameter charge transfer from low-energy Ar+ to N2. Besides the ground-state (X2Σg +) N2 + produced in the energy-resonant charge transfer, a few slower N2 + ions are proposed to be in the superpositions of the X2Σg +-A2Πu and A2Πu-B2Σu + states on the basis of the accidental degeneracy or energetic closeness of the vibrational states around the X2Σg +-A2Πu and A2Πu-B2Σu + crossings in the non-Franck-Condon region. This finding potentially shows a brand-new way to prepare the superposition-state molecular ion.

Stereodynamics Observed in the Reactive Collisions of Low-Energy Ar+ with Randomly Oriented O2.

Stereodynamics of the collisional reaction between mutually aligned or oriented reactants has been a striking topic of chemical dynamics for decades. However, the stereodynamic aspects are scarcely revealed for the low-energy collision with a randomly oriented target. Here in the dissociative charge-exchange reaction between randomly oriented O2 and low-energy Ar+, we, using the three-dimensional ion velocity map imaging technique, clearly observe a linear alignment and a nearly isotropic distribution of the O+ yields along the collision axis. These observations are rationalized with the Doppler kinetic models in which the O2 bond is assumed to be parallel or unparallel to the collision axis of the large impact parameter collision. The linearly aligned O+, as the predominant yield, is produced in the parallel collision, while a rotating O2+, as the intermediate in the unparallel collision, leads to the isotropic distribution of O+.

Benign esophageal schwannoma: A case report and brief overview.

RATIONALE: Schwannoma is a tumor of the peripheral nervous system that originated in the Schwann cells of the neural sheath. Esophageal schwannomas are rare esophageal submucosal tumors, comprising approximately 2% of esophageal tumors. Since the symptoms, signs, and images of esophageal schwannoma are not specific, its preoperative diagnosis remains challenging. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 67-year-old woman visited our department with complaints of gradually developed dysphagia and dyspnea for 4 years. A chest computed tomography scan showed a well-demarcated, enhancing homogeneous tumor measuring 61 × 46 × 60 mm in the upper third of the esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a smooth elevated lesion located 19 to 24 cm from the incisor teeth. An endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration demonstrated the presence of benign spindle cells. DIAGNOSES: Histopathologic examination revealed spindle-shaped cells in a fasciculated and disarrayed architecture. The immunohistochemical study showed positivity for S-100 protein antibody and absence of staining for CD117, CD34, smooth muscle actin, and Desmin. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of benign esophageal schwannoma. INTERVENTIONS: The tumor was considered to be difficult to repair the esophagus by direct anastomosis after tumor resection. Therefore, subtotal esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy in the right thorax were performed. OUTCOMES: The patient has been doing well with no recurrence at 36 months after the operation. LESSONS: The symptoms and surgical procedures for benign esophageal schwannoma depend on the size and location of the tumor, proper and timely treatment is essential. A definitive diagnosis is confirmed by histology, and complete excision should yield good results.

[Clinical Significance of Common Gene Mutations in 53 Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Harboring 11q23/MLL Rearrangements].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of AML patients with 11q23/MLL rearrangement, and to evaluate the effect of those mutations on the AML patients. METHODS: 53 cases involving translocations of chromosome 11q23 were identified by chromosome banding analysis. MLL rearrangements were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and/or multiplex nested PCR. The samples were screened for mutations in the candidate genes FLT3-ITD, FLT3-TKD, TET2, N-RAS, ASXLI, EZH2, DNMT3, C-Kit, NPM1, WT1, CEBPA by using genomic DNA-PCR and deep-sequencing. RESULTS: 21/53 MLL-rearranged AML cases showed at least one additional chromosomal aberrations. The most common additional aberration was +8. Gene mutations were observed in 23 cases (43.4%) and most cases showed singal mutation. N-RAS mutation was more frequent (8 cases, 15.1%), followed by WT1 mutation in 4 cases (7.5%), FLT3-ITD mutation in 3 cases, ASXL1 mutation in 2 cases, DNMT3A mutation in 2 cases, EZH2 mutation in 1 case, c-Kit17 mutation in 1 case, FLT3-TKD mutation in 1 case, and FLT3-ITD and TKD mutation coexistent in 1 case. No mutation was detected in CEBPA, NPM1, C-KIT8, TET2. Median OS for gene mutated patients was 8.5 months and 13 months for no mutated patients. Median OS for patients who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was 22.5 months and 7.5 months for patients who olny received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: A relatively high mutation frequency is observed in AML patients with 11q23/MLL rearrangements and most cases shows single mutation. The RAS signaling pathway alterations are most common. Gene mutation does not affect the OS of these patients, who show poor prognosis. A significantly higher Hb at initial diagnosis in FLT3 mutated patients is significantly higher than that in FLT3 wild-type cases. Patients who underwent HSCT show a better prognosis than those only received chemotherapy.

Collision-Energy Dependence of the Ion-Molecule Charge-Exchange Reaction Ar+ + CO → Ar + CO.

Ion-molecule charge-exchange reactions Ar+ + CO → Ar + CO+ at the center-of-mass collision energies of 4.40, 6.40, and 8.39 eV are investigated using ion velocity map imaging technique. Although multiple electronically excited states of CO+ are accessed, the population of CO+ at the A2Π state is predominant in the present collision-energy range. In contrast to our previous study for NO, but similar to the case of O2, the forward-scattered CO+ yields show a broader angular distribution at the higher collision energy. Typically, the Franck-Condon-region charge transfer, energy resonant charge transfer, and intimate collision are three different mechanisms in which the intimate collision experiences an intermediate complex, and this mechanism usually plays an essential role in the thermal-energy reactions. However, the present observations indicate that this mechanism, concerning the intermediate (Ar-CO)+, is still of utmost importance in a relatively high collision-energy range.

Ion momentum imaging study of the ion-molecule reaction Ar+ + O2→ Ar + O2.

Charge exchange reactions between Ar+(2P) and O2 (X3Σ) are investigated in the collision energy range of 3.40-9.24 eV within the center-of-mass coordinate, by using the ion momentum imaging technique. The internal energy of the product O2+ is enhanced gradually with the increase of collision energy, and the forward-scattered O2+ ions are distributed in the broader range of scattering angle at higher collision energies. At the low collision energy of 3.40 eV, the resonant charge transfer, similar to a photon ionization process, leads to the Franck-Condon-like vibrational state population of O2+ at the a4Πu state. At the higher collision energies, besides a4Πu and the high-lying states that are visible in the photoionization process, the O2+ products could be populated at some electronically bound states in the non-Franck-Condon region. The present observations indicate again the strong collision-energy dependences of the charge exchange reactions, but distinctly different from our previous findings for Ar+ + NO → Ar + NO+.

Ion Momentum Imaging Study of the Ion-Molecule Charge Exchange Reaction of Ar+ + CO2.

Three-dimensional ion momentum imaging is developed in a combination of ion velocity map imaging technique and delay-line anode ion detection, and it is applied for the ion-molecule charge exchange reaction between Ar+ and CO2. In a center-of-mass collision energy range of 7.23-15.96 eV, CO2+ products are primarily populated at the ground state X2Πg and the single-electron excited states A2Πu, B2Σu+, and C2Σg+; the multielectron excited states of CO2+ are also found at the higher collision energies. The production efficiency profiles of CO2+ are distinctly different from the photoionization electron spectrum of CO2, implying that the charge transfer from Ar+ would be not fast as expected. The strong electron correlations in the short-lived intermediate (Ar-CO2)+ should be responsible for the CO2+ yields at the multielectron excited states.

Salivary gland carcinoma in Shanghai (2003-2012): an epidemiological study of incidence, site and pathology.

BACKGROUND: Salivary gland carcinoma ranks the sixth in head and neck cancers while it is relatively rare in its incidence. Epidemiological studies have been based mostly on institutional data, leading to selection bias in incidence evaluation. Most population-based cancer registries have grouped cancers of the minor salivary glands with oral cancer instead of with salivary gland carcinoma as a whole, because of the international disease coding. Thus, the incidence of salivary gland carcinoma has not been well assessed. The aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence of both minor and major salivary gland cancers in Shanghai during the years 2003-2012, and to analyse the site and histological distributions. METHODS: Data from the Shanghai Cancer Registry system were extracted for patients diagnosed with malignancies of the major or minor salivary glands for the year 2003 to 2012. Pertinent socio-demographic data were obtained from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security. The age-standardized incidence rates were calculated directly according to the world standard population. The change in incidence during the study period was analysed by comparing the rates during the first and next five years. The distributions of anatomic subsites and histology were also analysed. RESULTS: A total of 1831 cases were identified, representing 0.35% of all malignancies during the study period. The median age was 59 and 57 years for men and women, respectively. The age-standardized incidence was 7.99 per 1,000,000 person-year, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.10. There was no significant change in the incidence during the 10-year period. The anatomic distribution confirmed the 4:1:2 rule for the parotid, submandibular, and minor glands. In men, adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified was the most common histological type followed by mucoepidermoid; in women, the mucoepidermoid was the most common histotype, followed by the adenoid cystic. CONCLUSION: Salivary gland carcinoma is relatively rare in incidence. However, the variations in age and sex distribution in sites and histology types suggest differences in aetiology which warrants further investigation.

Collision-Energy Dependence of the Ion-Molecule Charge Exchange Reaction Ar+ + NO.

High-lying quantum states of molecule are apt to be populated by translational-to-internal energy transfer in the collisions with atom, which usually becomes more significant with the increase of collision energy. However, in the charge exchange reaction Ar+ + NO → Ar + NO+, the products NO+ prefer a dominant population at the lowest triplet state a3Σ+, in particular, in the higher energy collisions; the higher states b3Π and w3Δ of NO+ are accessed only at the lower collision energies. Such a striking collision-energy dependence is attributed to two distinctly different processes: the former is controlled with an energetically resonant charge-transfer mechanism; while the latter experiences an intermediate complex (Ar-NO)+ which permits a more efficient translational-to-internal energy transfer.

Electroacupuncture exerts neuroprotective effects on ischemia/reperfusion injury in JNK knockout mice: the underlying mechanism.

Simple regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways is not enough to trigger cell apoptosis. However, activation of the stress activated pathway (JNK/p38 MAPK) together with inhibition of the growth factor activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway can promote cell apoptosis. We hypothesized that inhibition of the JNK or p38 pro-apoptotic pathway and activating the ERK pathway could be the mechanism of anti-apoptosis following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. To investigate the mechanism of the protective effect of electroacupuncture on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in JNK knockout mice, mouse models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established by Longa's method. Electroacupuncture was conducted at acupoints Chize (LU5), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Zusanli (ST36) 1.5 hours after ischemia/reperfusion injury for 20 minutes, once a day. The neurological function was evaluated using neurological deficit scores. The expression of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and phospho-p38 (p-p38) in JNK knockout mice was detected using double-labeling immunofluorescence and western blot assay. The mRNA expression of ERK and p38 was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Electroacupuncture improved neurological function, increased the immunoreactivity and relative expression of p-ERK and reduced that of p-p38 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus on the injured side. Electroacupuncture increased mRNA expression of ERK, but decreased that of p38 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus on the injured side. In conclusion, electroacupuncture upregulated the protective ERK pathway and inhibited the pro-apoptotic p38 pathway, thereby exerting a neuroprotective effect and improving the neurological function in JNK knockout mice.

Note: A well-confined pulsed low-energy ion beam: Test experiments of Ar.

Here we report a pulsed low-energy ion beam source for ion-molecule reaction study, in which the ions produced by the pulsed electron impact are confined well in the spatial size of each bunch. In contrast to the ion focusing method to reduce the transverse section of the beam, the longitudinal section in the translational direction is compressed by introducing a second pulse in the ion time-of-flight system. The test experiments for the low-energy argon ions are performed. The present beam source is ready for applications in the ion-molecule reaction dynamics experiments, in particular, in combination with the ion velocity map imaging technique.

Oral cancer incidence in Shanghai ---- a temporal trend analysis from 2003 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a serious problem owing to its poor prognosis and destruction of patients' eating ability as well as facial appearance. Epidemiological studies can provide aetiological clues for prevention. The prevalence of oral cancer in densely populated cities in eastern China is unclear. The aim of the study is to analyse the incidence rates of oral cancer in Shanghai over the period 2003-2012 and estimate the temporal trends. METHODS: Cases of oral cancer were retrieved from the Shanghai Cancer Registry system in the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention for the years 2003 to 2012. Information on the corresponding population was obtained from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security. Age-standardised incidence rates were directly calculated according to the world standard population. An annual percent change model was employed to analyse the temporal trends of cancer incidence. RESULTS: A total of 3860 oral cancer cases were reported, representing 0.69% of all malignancies in Shanghai during the 10-year study period. The mean age at diagnosis was 64 years. The age-standardised incidence rate was 1.34 per 100,000 person-years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.41. Annually, the incidence rates increased by 3.83 and 2.54% for men and women, respectively. The increase was most noticeable in males aged 45-64 years. CONCLUSION: In Shanghai, the oral cancer incidence is relatively low. However, it is continuously increasing, especially among middle-aged males. This finding urges further investigations on the risk factors of oral cancer in this population, especially on changes in living patterns, such as the smoking, drinking, and dietary habits.

Electroacupuncture reduces apoptotic index and inhibits p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in the hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Electroacupuncture attenuates cerebral hypoxia and neuronal apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. To further identify the involved mechanisms, we assumed that electroacupuncture used to treat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was associated with the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. We established rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury using the modified Zea-Longa's method. At 30 minutes before model establishment, p38 MAPK blocker SB20358 was injected into the left lateral ventricles. At 1.5 hours after model establishment, electroacupuncture was administered at acupoints of Chize (LU5), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) for 20 minutes in the affected side. Results showed that the combination of EA and SB20358 injection significantly decreased neurologic impairment scores, but no significant differences were determined among different interventional groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining also showed reduced brain tissue injuries. Compared with the SB20358 group, the cells were regularly arranged, the structures were complete, and the number of viable neurons was higher in the SB20358 + electroacupuncture group. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay showed a decreased apoptotic index in each group, with a significant decrease in the SB20358 + electroacupuncture group. Immunohistochemistry revealed reduced phosphorylated p38 expression at 3 days in the electroacupuncture group and SB20358 + electroacupuncture group compared with the ischemia/reperfusion group. There was no significant difference in phosphorylated p38 expression between the ischemia/reperfusion group and SB20358 group. These findings confirmed that the electroacupuncture effects on mitigating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury are possibly associated with the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. A time period of 3 days could promote the repair of ischemic cerebral nerves.