Exploring the role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in cancer development and therapeutic potential.

The process of acetylation and deacetylation of histones within the nucleus operates within a dynamic equilibrium. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) collaboratively and precisely regulate normal gene transcription and expression. Any disorder in the activity of HATs/HDACs can lead to uncontrolled gene expression, consequently resulting in tumorigenesis. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have the capacity to block the cell cycle, thereby restraining tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth. Also, HDACIs exhibit a significant capability to diminish the expression of apoptosis protein inhibitors such as Bcl-2 and B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL), while concurrently up-regulating pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bad, and Bim. Also, HDACIs demonstrate the ability to inhibit tumor cell angiogenesis. Representing a new category of targeted anti-cancer therapeutics, HDACIs possess the capability to restore the expression of tumor suppressor genes, induce apoptosis, and stimulate cell differentiation. Additionally, they exert anti-cancer effects through diverse pathways both in vivo and in vitro, thereby presenting promising prospects in tumor therapy. This review delves into the involvement of HDACs in cancer pathology and the therapeutic potential of HDACIs as emerging drugs in cancer treatment.

[Impact of obesity on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications following laparoscopic colorectal surgery].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of obesity on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) following laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: A total of 150 patients with pathological diagnosis of colorectal cancer who accepted laparoscopic colorectal excision from January to May 2023 were retrospectively recruited. All the patients scored 26 points or more in the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) model, making them all in intermediate to high risks of PPCs. Patients were divided into obesity group and non-obesity group depending on whether they were obese or not. Propensity score matching (1∶1) was performed to achieve the balance of clinicopathological characteristics with the matching factors of age, sex, respiratory complications and ARISCAT score. A total of 96 patients were eventually enrolled, with 48 patients in obesity group and 48 patients in non-obesity group. Besides, the patients were divided into 25°-30° Trendelenburg subgroup and ±10°-15° Trendelenburg subgroup according to surgical sites for further analysis. The incidence of PPCs, the intraoperative airway pressure and blood biomarker expression of lung injury, including soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and angiopoietin-2 (ANG2) at postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD3 between the two groups were compared. The relationship between obesity and incidence of PPCs within 30 postoperative days were analyzed with unifactorial Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The obesity group was comprised of 35 males and 13 females with a median age of 60 (49, 69) years, and the non-obesity group was comprised of 35 males and 13 females with a median age of 60 (52, 67) years. The incidence of PPCs was 50.0% (24/48) in the obesity group, which was higher than 20.8% (10/48) in the non-obesity group and the incidence of grade Ⅰ PPCs and microatelectasis were 31.3% (15/48) and 33.3% (16/48), higher than the 12.5% (6/48) and 12.5% (6/48) of the non-obesity group (all P<0.05). The peak airway pressure (Ppeak) and plateau airway pressure (Pplat) of patients in obesity group were 34.0(31.5, 36.5) and 30.0(27.0, 32.0) cmH2O(1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa), which were significantly higher than the 26.0 (24.0, 29.5) and 22.0 (21.0, 26.5) cmH2O of the non-obesity group (all P<0.001). The ANG2 level of the obesity group at POD3 was 11.9 (8.4, 16.5) µg/L, which was higher than 9.2 (6.0, 12.3) µg/L of the non-obesity group (P=0.045). In 25°-30°Trendelenburg subgroup, the incidence of PPCs in obese patients were significantly higher than that of non-obese patients [41.4% (12/29) vs 11.4% (4/35), P=0.005]. In ±10°-15°Trendelenburg subgroup, no significant difference was found in PPCs incidence between obese and non-obese patients [63.2% (12/19) vs 46.2% (6/13), P=0.215]. The unifactorial Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed that obesity was a risk factor of PPCs in 30 postoperative days (HR=3.015, 95%CI: 1.438-6.321, P=0.001). Conclusion: In patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery with intermediate to high risk of PPCs, obesity raises intraoperative airway pressure and aggravates intraoperative lung endothelial injury. Obesity is a risk factor of PPCs in 30 postoperative days.

[Aprospective study of detection and clinical significance of bone marrow tumor cells in small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To investigate the detection of bone marrow tumor cells in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients and their relationship with clinical features, treatment response and prognosis. Methods: A total of 113patients with newly diagnosed SCLC from January 2018 to October 2022 at Beijing Chest Hospital were prospectively enrolled. Before treatment, bone marrow was aspirated and separately submitted for tumor cells detection by liquid-based cytology and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) detection by the substrction enrichment and immunostaining fluorescence in situ hybridization (SE-iFISH) platform. The correlation between the detection results of the two methods with patients' clinical features and treatment response was evaluated by Chi-square. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to create survival curves and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The positive rate of bone marrow liquid-based cytology in SCLC was 15.93% (18/113). The liver and bone metastases rates were significantly higher (55.56% vs 11.58% for liver metastasis, P＜0.001; 77.78% vs 16.84% for bone metastasis, P＜0.001) and thrombocytopenia was more common (16.67% vs 2.11%, P=0.033) in patients with tumor cells detected in liquid-based cytology than those without detected tumor cells. As for SE-iFISH, DTCs were detected in 92.92% of patients (105/113), the liver and bone metastasis rates were significantly higher (37.93% vs 11.90% for liver metastasis, P=0.002; 44.83% vs 20.23 % for bone metastasis, P=0.010), and the incidence of thrombocytopenia was significantly increased (13.79% vs 1.19%, P=0.020) in patients with DTCs≥111 per 3 ml than those with DTCs＜111 per 3 ml. The positive rates of bone marrow liquid-based cytology in the disease control group and the disease progression group were 12.00% (12/100) and 46.15% (6/13), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.002). However, the result of SE-iFISH revealed the DTCs quantities of the above two groups were 29 (8,110) and 64 (15,257) per 3 ml, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.329). Univariate analysis depicted that the median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) of liquid-based cytology positive patients were significantly shorter than those of tumor cell negative patients (6.33 months vs 9.27 months for PFS, P=0.019; 8.03 months vs 19.50 months for OS, P=0.019, P=0.033). The median PFS and median OS in patients with DTCs≥111 per 3 ml decreased significantly than those with DTCs＜111 per 3 ml (6.83 months vs 9.50 months for PFS, P=0.004; 11.2 months vs 20.60 months for OS, P=0.019). Multivariate analysis showed that disease stage (HR=2.806, 95%CI:1.499-5.251, P=0.001) and DTCs quantity detected by SE-iFISH (HR=1.841, 95%CI:1.095-3.095, P=0.021) were independent factors of PFS, while disease stage was the independent factor of OS (HR=2.538, 95%CI:1.169-5.512, P=0.019). Conclusions: Both bone marrow liquid-based cytology and SE-iFISH are clinically feasible. The positive detection of liquid-based cytology or DTCs≥111 per 3 ml was correlated with distant metastasis, and DTCs≥111 per 3 ml was an independent prognostic factor of decreased PFS in SCLC.

[Relationship between gut microbiota and its metabolite dysregulation and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly male C57BL/6J mice after laparotomy exploration].

Objective: To explore the relationship between gut microbiota and its metabolite dysregulation and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly male C57BL/6J mice after laparotomy exploration. Methods: A total of 48 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male C57BL/6J mice, aged 16-17 months, were divided into two groups by random number table method: control group (n=24) and operation group (n=24). Mice in the operation group were induced with 1.4% isoflurane for 15 minutes, followed by a 10 minutes exploratory laparotomy anesthetized with 1.4% isoflurane and 100% oxygen, and anesthesia continued for 2 hours after surgery. Mice in control group were put in 100% oxygen for 2 hours. Feces and venous blood samples of both groups were collected 48 hours after surgery. Changes in the abundance and diversity of intestinal bacteria in the feces were detected by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Functional changes of fecal metabolic profiles were detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) metabolomics and differential metabolite functions were analyzed. The serum level of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cognitive function of the mice was detected by Morris water maze test 3 days after operation. Results: The postoperative escape latency of mice in control group and operation group was (22.0±4.9) and (35.0±5.1) s, and the target quadrant residence time was (26.0±3.7) and (16.0±2.9) s, respectively. Compared with the control group, the postoperative escape latency of mice in the operation group was prolonged (P=0.035), and the residence time in the target quadrant was reduced (P=0.006). The difference of intestinal flora between the two groups was comparable. The expression levels of Escherichia coli, shigella and clostridium in the operation group were up-regulated, while the expression levels of rumen bacteria and butyricobacteria were down-regulated. Fecal metabolic profiles of mice in control group and operation group were obtained by LC/MS, and 14 and 21 different metabolites were screened in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. The different metabolites in positive ion mode were glutamic acid, 2-indoleic acid, kynuuric acid and glyceraldehyde. The negative ion pattern differential metabolites are methionine, aspartic acid, L-threonine, tyrosyl-threonine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. The identified differential metabolite pathways are mainly involved in amino acid, fatty acid and tryptophan metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. There were no significant differences in serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The dysregulated changes of gut microbiota and its metabolites are correlated with the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly male C57BL/6J mice. Anesthesia and surgery alter the structure of mice intestinal bacteria on the level of abundance, and change the metabolic balance and feces metabolomic phenotype.

[The effect of deep neuromuscular block combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal surgery].

Objective: To investigate the effect of deep neuromuscular blockade (DNMB) combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure anesthesia strategy on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and twenty patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from December 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 were selected and randomly divided into two groups by random number table method. Moderate neuromuscular blockade [train of four stimulations count (TOFC)=1-2] was maintained in patients of the control group (group C, n=60) and pneumoperitoneum pressure level was set at 15 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). DNMB [post-tonic stimulation count (PTC)=1-2] was maintained in patients of the DNMB combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressuregroup (group D, n=60) and pneumoperitoneum pressure level was set at 10 mmHg. The primary measurement was incidence of moderate to severe pain at 1 h after surgery. The secondary measurements the included incidence of moderate to severe pain at 1, 2, 3, 5 d and 3 months after surgery, the incidence of rescue analgesic drug use, the doses of sufentanil in analgesic pumps, surgical rating scale (SRS) score, the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular block, postoperative recovery [evaluated with length of post anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, time of first exhaust and defecation after surgery and length of hospital stay] and postoperative inflammation conditions [evaluated with serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 at 1 d and 3 d after surgery]. Results: The incidence of moderate to severe pain in group D 1 h after surgery was 13.3% (8/60), lower than 30.0% (18/60) of group C (P<0.05). The incidence of rescue analgesia in group D at 1 h and 1 d after surgery were 13.3% (8/60) and 4.2% (5/120), respectively, lower than 30.0% (18/60) and 12.5% (15/120) of group C (both P<0.05). The IL-1ß level in group D was (4.1±1.8)ng/L at 1 d after surgery, which was lower than (4.9±2.6) ng/L of group C (P=0.048). The IL-6 level in group D was (2.0±0.7)ng/L at 3 d after surgery, which was lower than (2.4±1.1) ng/L of group C (P=0.018). There was no significant difference in the doses of sufentanil in analgesic pumps, intraoperative SRS score, incidence of neuromuscular block residue, time spent in PACU, time of first exhaust and defecation after surgery, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and length of hospitalization between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: DNMB combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure anesthesia strategy alleviates the early-stage pain in patients after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Molecular rectification induced by magnetization alignment in organic-ferromagnetic devices.

Spin-dependent transport in ferromagnet/organic-ferromagnet/ferromagnet junctions is investigated theoretically under different alignment of magnetization orientations. The results demonstrate a significant current rectification at low bias voltages, and the rectifying direction relies on the relative magnetization orientation in each component. The orbital analysis demonstrates two underlying mechanisms for the rectification, the slight structural asymmetry of the molecule from spin radicals and distinct spin match between conducting electrons and the magnetic molecule upon the reversal of bias. The latter is responsible for the strong low-bias rectification and relies on the magnetization alignment. The effects of parameter strength, temperature and size on the rectification are discussed. This work explores a new route to achieve high-performance molecular rectifiers operating at low bias with controlled rectifying direction.

Signature of spin-phonon coupling driven charge density wave in a kagome magnet.

The intertwining between spin, charge, and lattice degrees of freedom can give rise to unusual macroscopic quantum states, including high-temperature superconductivity and quantum anomalous Hall effects. Recently, a charge density wave (CDW) has been observed in the kagome antiferromagnet FeGe, indicative of possible intertwining physics. An outstanding question is that whether magnetic correlation is fundamental for the spontaneous spatial symmetry breaking orders. Here, utilizing elastic and high-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering, we observe a c-axis superlattice vector that coexists with the 2[Formula: see text]2[Formula: see text]1 CDW vectors in the kagome plane. Most interestingly, between the magnetic and CDW transition temperatures, the phonon dynamical structure factor shows a giant phonon-energy hardening and a substantial phonon linewidth broadening near the c-axis wavevectors, both signaling the spin-phonon coupling. By first principles and model calculations, we show that both the static spin polarization and dynamic spin excitations intertwine with the phonon to drive the spatial symmetry breaking in FeGe.

[Mammary myofibroblastoma: a clinicopathological analysis of fifteen cases].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of breast myofibroblastoma. Methods: The clinicopathological data and prognostic information of 15 patients with breast myofibroblastoma diagnosed at the Department of Pathology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China from 2014 to 2022 were collected. Their clinical characteristics, histological subtypes, immunophenotypes and molecular characteristics were analyzed. Results: There were 12 female and 3 male patients, ranging in age from 18 to 78 years, with a median and average age of 52 years. There were 6 cases in the left breast and 9 cases in the right breast, including 12 cases in outer upper quadrant, 2 cases in inner upper quadrant and 1 case in outer lower quadrant. Most of the cases showed a well-defined nodule grossly, including pushing growth under the microscope in 13 cases, being completely separated from the surrounding breast tissue in 1 case, and infiltrating growth in 1 case. Among them, 12 cases were classic subtype and composed of occasional spindle cells with varying intervals of collagen fiber bundles; eight cases had a small amount of fat; one case had focal cartilage differentiation; one case was epithelioid subtype, in which epithelioid tumor cells were scattered in single filing or small clusters; one case was schwannoma-like subtype, and the tumor cells were arranged in a significant palisade shape, resembling schwannoma, and one case was invasive leiomyoma-like subtype, in which the tumor cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm and were arranged in bundles, and infiltrating into the surrounding mammary lobules like leiomyoma. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the tumor cells expressed desmin (14/15) and CD34 (14/15), as well as ER (15/15) and PR (15/15). Three cases with histologic subtypes of epithelioid subtype, schwannoma-like subtype and infiltrating leiomyoma-like subtype showed RB1 negative immunohistochemistry. Then FISH was performed to detect RB1/13q14 gene deletion, and identified RB1 gene deletion in all three cases. Fifteen cases were followed up for 2-100 months, and no recurrence was noted. Conclusions: Myofibroblastoma is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of the breast. In addition to the classic type, there are many histological variants, among which the epithelioid subtype is easily confused with invasive lobular carcinoma. The schwannoma-like subtype is similar to schwannoma, while the invasive subtype is easily misdiagnosed as fibromatosis-like or spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma. Therefore, it is important to recognize the various histological subtypes and clinicopathological features of the tumor for making correct pathological diagnosis and rational clinical treatment.

[Risk factors analysis and prediction model establishment of malignant tumor in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis].

Objective: To analyze the risk factors of polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) complicated with malignant tumor and to construct clinical prediction model. Methods: A total of 427 PM/DM patients, who were admitted to Rheumatism Immunity Branch, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Air Force Medical University from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2021, were enrolled in the study, including 129 males and 298 females. The mean age was (51.4±12.2) years. The patients were divided into control group (without malignant tumor, n=379) and case group (with malignant tumor, n=48) according to whether they were complicated with malignant tumors. In the two groups, 70% of the patients' clinical data were randomly selected as the training set data, and the remaining 30% were used as the validation set data. The clinical parameters were retrospectively collected, and risk factors of PM/DM complicated with malignant tumor were analyzed by binary logistic regression. R software was used to construct a clinical prediction model for malignant tumors in PM/DM patients using training set data. Validation set data were used to assess the feasibility of the model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the predictive ability, accuracy and clinical applicability of the nomogram model. Results: The age of the control group was (50.4±11.8) years, and males accounted for 26.9%(102/379); the age of the case group was (59.1±12.7) years, and the proportion of males was 56.3% (27/48). The proportion of male, age, the positive rate of anti-transcription mediator 1-γ (TIF1-γ) antibody, glucocorticoid therapy resistance, and levels of creatine kinase (CK), carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125) and carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) were all higher in the case group than those in control group, while incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD), arthralgia, Raynaud's phenomenon, serum albumin (ALB) level and lymphocyte (LYM) count were all lower than those in control group (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that male (OR=2.931, 95%CI: 1.356-6.335), glucocorticoid therapy resistance (OR=5.261, 95%CI: 2.212-12.513), older age (OR=1.056, 95%CI: 1.022-1.091), elevated CA125 (OR=8.327, 95%CI: 2.448-28.319) and positive anti-TIF1-γ antibody (OR=7.529, 95%CI: 2.436-23.270) were risk factors of malignancy in PM/DM patients (all P<0.05); and complicated with ILD (OR=0.261, 95%CI: 0.099-0.689), complicated with arthralgia (OR=0.238,95%CI:0.073-0.779), elevated LYM count (OR=0.267, 95%CI: 0.103-0.691) were protective factors of malignancy in PM/DM patients (all P<0.05). The AUC of ROC curve predicting malignancy in PM/DM patients with the training concentrated prediction model was 0.887 (95%CI: 0.852-0.922), with a sensitivity of 77.9% and a specificity of 86.3%; it was 0.925 (95%CI: 0.890-0.960), 86.5% and 88.0% in the validated centralized prediction model, respectively. The correction curves of the training set and the validation set indicated that the predictive model had good calibration ability. Both the DCA curves of the training set and the validation set showed that the proposed predictive model had good clinical applicability. Conclusions: Older age, male, glucocorticoid therapy resistance, not complicated with ILD and arthralgia, elevated CA125, positive anti-TIF1-γ antibody, decreased LYM count are risk factors for malignancy in PM/DM patients, and the established nomogram model shows good predictive ability.

Tuberculosis complicated by spinal cord cryptococcosis: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord involvement by Cryptococcus neoformans infection is extremely rare, with most cases occurring in immunosuppressed patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A young male patient presented with a 10-day history of progressive lower limb weakness culminating in paralysis, urinary incontinence, and constipation. The patient had no known immunodeficiency induced by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malignancy, or organ transplantation. Laboratory investigations showed elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels; however, all other immune indicators were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed oval-shaped extradural masses (1.3-3.5 cm) with isointense T1-weighted signal and heterogeneous T2-weighted signal in the spinal canal at the level of the 9th thoracic vertebra. The lesions spread along the intervertebral foramen and involved both sides, showing significant enhancement in contrast-enhanced MRI. The patient was managed surgically, in combination with antifungal and anti-tuberculous therapy and could walk independently 3 months after the treatment. Cryptococcosis was confirmed by histopathology and fungal culture. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that for lesions that affect spinal stability or cause severe nerve damage, surgical treatment should be considered along with medical management.

[Double-edged sword of opioids in the treatment of cancer pain: hyperalgesia].

Hyperalgesia is an occult complication during the treatment of cancer pain, not only related to opioids, but also pertaining to the tumor itself and cancer therapeutic drugs. Yet it is often ignored by clinicians. Patients with cancer pain who were treated with opioids often have sensory abnormalities presented with reduced pain threshold and increased sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli. This phenomenon is clinically called opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). However, due to the complexity of pathogenesis and the lack of clinical diagnostic criteria, the pain management of cancer patients is still facing great challenges. Therefore, this article focuses on the clinical diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of hyperalgesia related to cancer pain treatment, in order to provide a basis for optimal use of opioids in the future.

[Effects of myocardial fibrosis on ischemic preconditioning against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in type 2 diabetic rats].

Objective: To assess whether myocardial fibrosis affects the protective efficiency of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) in type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: Type 2 diabetic rat model was established. Fifty-four normal and 54 diabetic spragus-dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into 6 groups (n=18) using the random number table method: (1) Control group (C group); (2) Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) control group (IRI group); (3) IPC group; (4) Diabetic control group (DC group); (5) Diabetic IRI group (DIRI group); (6) Diabetic IPC group (DIPC group). After the reperfusion, blood samples were obtained for measuring serum concentrations of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The myocardial infarction size (IS) was assessed by double staining method with Evan's blue and Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), and the myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) and perivascular collagen area (PVCA) were assessed by Masson staining. Results: A stable and effective rat model with long-term diabetes was established in the current study. Compared with the normal rat groups, the CVF and PVCA significantly increased (all P<0.05) in the diabetic rat groups. The levels of CK-MB, cTnI and IS in the IPC group were (6.6±0.8) ng/ml, (0.5±0.1) ng/ml and (25.1±4.7) %, which showed significant decrease compared with (12.3±1.1) ng/ml, (1.2±0.3) ng/ml and (52.3±8.1) % in IRI group (all P<0.05). Among the diabetic rat groups, the CK-MB and cTnI levels in DIPC group were (11.5±0.9) and (1.1±0.1) ng/ml, apparently lower than the levels of (16.6±2.2) and (1.4±0.3) ng/ml in the DIRI group (both P<0.05). Compared with the IPC group, the IS, CK-MB and cTnI levels significantly increased in the DIPC group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Myocardial fibrosis exists in rats with long-term type 2 diabetes, which weakens the protective effect of IPC on diabetes MIRI.

[A retrospective safety study on screening of the samples in the clinical biobank of Beijing Hospital].

To investigate whether the laboratory specimens preserved in Beijing Hospital Biobank during a specific period had been contaminated by SARS-Cov-2 through a cross-sectional study, and to establish a retrospective biobank safety screening system. Laboratory specimens were collected from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and the Fever Clinic of Beijing Hospital from November 1, 2019 to January 22, 2020, nucleic acid and serological antibody testing were performed for SARS-CoV-2 in these specimens (including 79 serum, 20 urine, 42 feces and 21 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens). The safety of the stored samples during this period was defined by negative and positive results. Both the nucleic acid test and serological antibody test showed negative for SARS-CoV-2, indicating that these specimens were safely stored in the biobank. High-risk specimens collected in our hospital during the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak are free of SARS-CoV-2, and a safety screening strategy for the clinical biobank is established to ensure the biosafety of these samples.

[Free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of major and complex defects in the craniofacial regions after ablation of advanced sinonasal carcinomas].

Objective: To explore the method and plausibility of using free rectus abdominis flap (FRAF) to reconstruct the major and complex defects in the craniofacial regions after ablation of advanced sinonasal carcinoma. Methods: From 2007 to 2018 at No. 980 Hospital of Joint Logistic Supportive Force of People's Liberation Army of China, 13 patients with advanced carcinoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, including 11 males and 2 females, aged from 33 to 67 years, were treated with FRAF to repair the invasion of skull base, face and orbit. Based on adequate and meticulous preoperative evaluations on patients and tumors, complete resection of tumor bulks was performed. According to the sites, characters and extents of the defects, FRAF was introduced in different ways into reconstruction of major and complex defects in the craniofacial regions after resection of advanced sinonasal carcinomas, restoring the structure and contour of the craniofacial region. Results: Complete resection of tumors was achieved in all cases. For repairing the major and complex defects resulted from tumor ablation, FRAF graft was conducted in 13 patients with advanced sinonasal carcinomas. The recipient vessels were facial artery and vein in 9 cases, superficial temporal artery and vein in 4 cases. Vascular bridging with the external jugular vein was carried out in 2 cases who underwent submandibular neck dissections, in which facial artery and vein were used as recipient vessels. Free fibular flap was used along with FRAF in a case undergone bilateral maxillectomy. Pedicled galea capitis and periosteal flap were applied simultaneously in 3 cases with dura defects at the skullbase resulted from tumor resection. All flaps used in 13 cases survived uneventfully without major complications, with successful repair of defects, reconstruction of structures and restoration of contour of craniofacial regions. Conclusion: With adequate evaluation of resectability of tumors as well as nature and extent of defects after tumor removal, FRAF transplantation is an ideal method and strategy of choice for reconstructing the major and complex defects in craniofacial regions resulted from tumor ablation of advanced sinonasal carcinomas.

[Prevalence and associated factors for malnutrition among children under 6 years of age in Hunan province].

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and associated factors of malnutrition among children under 6 years of age in Hunan province. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. A combination of multistage stratified cluster sampling and systematic sampling approach was used to recruit 10 442 children aged 0-71 months from 144 communities (villages) across 48 streets(towns) in 24 districts(counties) from Hunan province between August and November 2019. Data concerning the children and their mothers, caregivers, and family conditions was collected using unified questionnaire, with the lengths/heights and weights of the children being measured using unified instruments. The length/height for age, weight for age, weight for length/height, and body mass index for age Z scores were calculated and used to evaluate the prevalence of children's stunting, underweight, and wasting. The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of malnutrition among children with different characteristics. The multivariate Logistic regression model was used to conduct multivariate analysis for childrens' malnutrition. Results: The prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) among children under 6 years of age was 6.8% (710/10 442), and the prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting were 3.1% (328/10 442), 2.7% (280/10 442), and 3.3% (343/10 442), respectively. Rural areas (OR=1.60), older age of children (compared with children of 0-11 months, the OR for 12-23, 24-35, 36-47, 48-59, and 60-71 months were 1.42, 1.75, 1.55, 1.70, and 1.88, respectively), low birth weight (OR=2.72), caregivers of minority ethnicity (OR=1.95), and large family size (OR=1.25) were risk factors for children's PEM. Rural areas and low birth weight were risk factors for stunting in children (OR=2.13 and 3.28). Rural areas, low birth weight, caregivers of minority ethnicity, and large family size were risk factors for underweight in children (OR=2.57, 3.34, 1.86, and 1.32). Rural areas (OR=1.43), older age of children (compared with children of 0-11 months, the OR for 24-35, 36-47, 48-59, and 60-71 months were 1.63, 1.80, 1.84 and 2.17, respectively), low birth weight (OR=2.36), caregivers of minority ethnicity (OR=2.88), and large family size (OR=1.42) were risk factors for children's wasting. Higher education level of caregivers was a common protective factor for PEM, stunting, and underweight (OR=0.85, 0.76, and 0.82). Conclusions: The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among children under 6 years of age in Hunan province were all at a low level. Nevertheless, the urban-rural differences still existed, with these prevalence being affected by children age, birth weight, ethnicity of caregivers, education level, and family size.

[Analysis of early recurrence within 6 months in patients of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery].

Objectives: To examine the prognosis factors of recurrence of esophageal carcinoma within 6 months after neoadjuvant therapy followd by surgery. Methods: The clinical data of 187 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by curative esophagectomy between January 2018 and April 2020 at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 160 males and 27 females, aging (63.0±7.1) years (range:43 to 76 years). The t test, χ2 test and rank-sum test were used for univariate analysis of the prognosis factors for recurrence within 6 months postoperative, while the Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results: There were 30 patients (16.0%) developed recurrence within 6 months after operation, including local recurrence in 1 case, regional recurrence in 11 cases, hematogenous recurrence in 13 cases, and combined recurrence in 5 cases. Univariate analysis suggested that there was a significant difference in T staging of tumor before neoadjuvant therapy (cT), tumor regression grade, circumferential resection margin, pathological T stage (ypT) and pathological N stage (ypN) between the recurrence patients and non-recurrence patients (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the cT3-4 (OR=2.701, 95%CI: 1.161 to 6.329, P=0.021) and ypN(+)(OR=1.654, 95%CI: 1.045 to 2.591, P=0.032) were the independent prognosis factors for recurrence within 6 months. Conclusion: The combination of neoadjuvant therapy and surgery is not effective in reducing early postoperative recurrence in patients who have invaded the epineurium before treatment, and still have positive lymph nodes after neoadjuvant therapy.