A systematic review and meta-analysis of short-term outcomes comparing the efficacy of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal surgery in obese patients.

This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate and contrast the effectiveness of robotic-assisted and laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the treatment of obese patients. In February 2024, we carried out an exhaustive search of key global databases including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, limiting our focus to studies published in English and Chinese. We excluded reviews, protocols lacking published results, articles derived solely from conference abstracts, and studies not relevant to our research objectives. To analyze categorical variables, we utilized the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method along with random-effects models, calculating inverse variances and presenting the outcomes as odds ratios (ORs) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was determined when p values were less than 0.05. In our final meta-analysis, we included eight cohort studies, encompassing a total of 5,004 patients. When comparing the robotic surgery group to the laparoscopic group, the findings revealed that the robotic group experienced a longer operative time (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 37.53 min, 95% (CI) 15.58-59.47; p = 0.0008), a shorter hospital stay (WMD = -0.68 days, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.10; p = 0.02), and reduced blood loss (WMD = -49.23 mL, 95% CI -64.31 to -34.14; p < 0.00001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding overall complications, conversion rates, surgical site infections, readmission rates, lymph node yield, anastomotic leakage, and intestinal obstruction. The results of our study indicate that robot-assisted colorectal surgery offers benefits for obese patients by shortening the length of hospital stay and minimizing blood loss when compared to laparoscopic surgery. Nonetheless, it is associated with longer operation times and shows no significant difference in terms of overall complications, conversion rates, rehospitalization rates, and other similar metrics.

Arctigenin Induces Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells by Reducing the Expression of BCL-2 and VEGF.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the biological effects of arctigenin on B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro were treated with the blank control solution and arctigenin solution of different concentrations, respectively. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed using the CCK-8 assay and cell loss assay, and the effect of arctigenin on melanoma cell proliferation was evaluated. Western blot was used to analyze the expression of BCL-2 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the cells of different groups and to explore the mechanism of action of arctigenin. RESULTS: The proliferation rate of B16-F10 melanoma cells treated with arctigenin solutions was significantly lower than that of the blank control group (P < .05), and the proliferation rate decreased with increasing concentration of arctigenin. The apoptosis rate of B16-F10 melanoma cells treated with arctigenin solutions was significantly higher than that of the blank control group (P < .05), and the apoptosis rate increased with increasing concentration of arctigenin. The expression levels of BCL-2 and VEGF in B16-F10 melanoma cells treated with arctigenin solutions were significantly lower than those in the blank control group (P < .05), and the expression levels decreased as the concentration of arctigenin increased. CONCLUSIONS: Arctigenin can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of melanoma cells, and the mechanism may be associated with decreasing the expression of BCL-2 and VEGF in melanoma cells.

Gene expression analysis of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cell in response to immune stimulation of Poly I:C.

Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) is an analogue of natural double strand RNA (dsRNA), which can simulate the viral dsRNA and stimulate the immune response. In the present study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from piglets of Dapulian and Landrace with different disease resistance, and stimulated with 20 µg/mL Poly I:C for 24 hours in vitro culture. The expression of several cytokines (IL6, IL8, TNFα, IL10, IRF3, IFNα and IFNγ) and three pattern recognition receptors (TLR3, TLR4 and RIG1) was determined by qRT-PCR. The results showed that, most of the cytokines or receptors had obvious expression change compared with the control (without Poly I:C stimulation), especially the three cytokine genes IL6, IL8 and IL10, whose average expression change times were 20.71, 10.87 and 5.18, respectively. Expression comparison between breeds and among individuals of the same breed indicated that there was obvious difference not only between Dapulain and Landrace (Dapulain higher than Landrace) but also among the three individuals of the same breed. Our study simulated the infection of dsRNA to host cells using Poly I:C, and provided experimental foundation for further study on selecting the immune genes in response to Poly I:C stimulation and identifying the unique disease-resistance genes of Dapulian.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 concentrations in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) concentrations in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and to compare the results according to disease severity and duration. METHODS: Fifty-one children with OSAHS underwent polysomnography and were classified as having mild, moderate, or severe disease. All children underwent bilateral tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy or adenoidectomy. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations were assessed before surgery and 3 and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Before surgery, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations were significantly higher (P < .05) in the < 5-y group (125.20 ± 42.38 µg/L and 2.00 ± 0.54 mg/L) compared with the ≥ 5-y group (61.92 ± 19.07 µg/L and 1.20 ± 0.37 mg/L). After surgery, concentrations significantly increased (P < .05) in both groups, but remained lower in the ≥ 5-y group. Before surgery, there were no significant differences in IGF-1 (mild: 93.82 ± 37.52 mg/L; moderate: 109.06 ± 58.42 mg/L; severe: 73.88 ± 28.51 mg/L) and IGFBP-3 (mild: 1.76 ± 0.57 mg/L; moderate: 1.67 ± 0.72 mg/L; severe: 1.33 ± 0.45 mg/L) concentrations by severity. After surgery, concentrations significantly increased (P < .05) in both groups, but did not differ by severity. After adjusting for time after surgery, disease duration, apnea-hypopnea index, time spent at SpO2 < 90%, and body mass index Z score, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations significantly decreased with every year of age. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that disease duration, but not severity, affects the concentrations of 2 important mediators of growth/development (IGF-1 and IGFBP-3) in children with OSAHS before and after surgery.

[Impact in response control, attention and hyperactivity behavior on children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome by integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact in response control, attention and hyperactivity behavior on children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT). METHODS: Fifty-one children aged between 5 and 12 years were diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnography (PSG), and received adenotonsillectomy and adenoidectomy or only adenoidectomy. Then received IVA-CPT and PSG before surgery, 3 months after surgery and 6 months after surgery (named as first, second and third time point). These children were divided into two groups according to the disease course (group A: course of disease < 5 years; group B: course of disease ≥ 5 years). The SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: By balanced test, there were no differences in gender, body mass index (BMI) and disease severity among the two groups before surgery (P > 0.05). The numbers of children with abnormal psychological behavior at three time points were 32 (62.7%), 25 (49.0%) and 8 (15.7%). The abnormal rate did not show statistical difference between the first and second time point (χ(2) = 1.49, P = 0.163), but did show statistical difference between the second and third time point (χ(2) = 12.95, P < 0.001). Repetitive measurement and analysis of variance showed that there were statistical differences in means of FRCQ, FAQ and HYP between three time points in two groups (F were 342.15, 263.12, 380.57, P < 0.001), and all the means improved with time. It also showed that there were statistical differences in means of FRCQ, FAQ and HYP between two groups at every time point (F were 167.05, 126.47, 117.683, P < 0.001). FRCQ and HYP all showed interation effect between two groups (P < 0.001). Means of apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest arterial (LaSO2) were compared between three time points in two groups and all showed statistical differences (F were 99.057, 70.742, P < 0.001). Means of AHI and LaSO2 were compared between two groups at every time point. AHI and LaSO2 did not show statistical difference (P > 0.05). AHI and LaSO2 did not exist interation effect of disease course and time. CONCLUSIONS: OSAHS obviously affect the children's response control, attention and hyperactivity behavior, but can recover gradually after adenotonsillectomy and adenoidectomy or only adenoidectomy. Therefore, Children with OSAHS should receive treatment as early as possible so as to reduce the influence on psychology.

[Primary mechanism of the role of dual oxidase-1 causing airway allergic diseases in human bronchial epithelium].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of dual oxidase-1 (DUOX-1) inducing airway hyperresponsiveness in human bronchial epithelium. METHODS: The human bronchial epithelial cells were divided into several groups: control group, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) group, methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (M-ß-CD)+TNF-α group, desipramine (DES)+ TNF-α group, diphenylene iodonium (DPI) + TNF-α group and apocynin (APO)+TNF-α group. Fractionation was performed by sucrose gradient centrifugation and the protein DUOX-1 was measured by western blotting. The lipid raft clusters and its colocalization with DUOX-1 were confocal analysed. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was measured by fluorescence of reactive oxygen probe of intracellular measurement. Sigmastat 3.02 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: (1) Detection of ROS, control group: 1.00 ± 0.00; TNF-α group: 1.95 ± 0.16; M-ß-CD+TNF-α group: 0.91 ± 0.16; DES+TNF-α group: 1.49 ± 0.20; DPI+TNF-α group: 1.03 ± 0.16; APO+TNF-α group: 1.47 ± 0.26. The difference was statistically significant (F = 3.83, P < 0.05). (2) Extracts in rafts to lipid rafts region represents the ratio of total protein, protein content DUOX-1 each group, control group: 0.21 ± 0.02; TNF-α group: 0.49 ± 0.04; M-ß-CD+TNF-α group: 0.08 ± 0.02; DES+TNF-α group: 0.09 ± 0.03; the difference was statistically significant (F = 3.96, P < 0.05). (3) DUOX-1 protein fluorescence values, control group: 1.72 ± 0.21; TNF-α group: 8.11 ± 1.23; M-ß-CD+TNF-α group: 1.51 ± 0.32; DES+TNF-α group: 1.43 ± 0.11; the difference was statistically significant (F = 4.87, P < 0.05). (4) DUOX-1 gene detection, control group: 1.00 ± 0.00 ScrRNA+TNF-α group: 1.75 ± 0.04; DUOX-1siRNA+TNF-αgroup: 1.15 ± 0.02; the difference was statistically significant (F = 4.19, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TNF-α can induce DUOX-1 expression increasing in lipid raft, then the DUOX-1 can be activated to increase reactive oxygen species level; acidic sphingomyelinase inhibitor desipramine can inhibit this process, the results disclose that the process will depend on the ceramide of lipid raft.

[Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells regulate the proliferation and activity of natural killer cells].

This study was aimed to explore the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on proliferation and activity of natural killer (NK) and NK-T cells. MSC was co-cultured with peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy donors in presence of IL-2, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and mouse anti-human CD3 McAb (culture condition known to expand NK cells). The ratio of NK cells and NK-T cells was measured by flow cytometry and the effect of MSC on killing activity of NK cells against K562 cells was detected by MTT method after co-cultured with different densities of MSC. The results showed that MSC inhibited the production of NK cells in a dose-dependent manner generally. At the densities of 0, 1 × 10(5) and 5 × 10(5)/ml, the ratios of NK cells in the co-culture conditions were (16.9 ± 4.6), (14.0 ± 8.6) and (6.4 ± 4.6), respectively (P < 0.05). However, MSC could promote the formation of NK cells at lower MSC density (1 × 10(4)/ml), the ratio of NK cells reached to (20.9 ± 7.1), which was higher than that of culture condition without MSC (P < 0.05). The different densities of MSC in the co-culture conditions had no much influence on the ratio of NK-T cells (P > 0.05). MTT assay showed that the killing activity of suspended cells in co-culture system against K562 cells was parallel with the ratio of NK cells. Different densities of MSC regulated bidirectionally killing activity of NK to K562 cells by regulating bidirectionally ratio of NK cells. It is concluded that the MSC can promote the formation of NK cells and enhance its activity against tumor cells in the lower doses, while suppress the formation of NK cells and attenuate its tumor-killing effect in higher dose condition.

Genetic diversity and relationship of global faba bean (Vicia faba L.) germplasm revealed by ISSR markers.

Genetic diversity and relationships of 802 faba bean (Vicia faba L.) landraces and varieties from different geographical locations of China and abroad were examined using ISSR markers. A total of 212 repeatable amplified bands were generated with 11 ISSR primers, of which 209 were polymorphic. Accessions from North China showed highest genetic diversity, while accessions from central China showed low level of diversity. Chinese spring faba bean germplasm was clearly separated from Chinese winter faba bean, based on principal component analysis and UPGMA clustering analysis. Winter accessions from Zhejiang (East China), Jiangxi (East China), Sichuan (Southwest China) and Guizhou (Southwest China) were quite distinct to that from other provinces in China. Great differentiation between Chinese accessions and those from rest of the world was shown with a UPGMA dendrogram. AMOVA analyses demonstrated large variation and differentiation within and among groups of accessions from China. As a continental geographic group, accessions from Europe were genetically closer to those from North Africa. Based on ISSR data, grouping results of accessions from Asia, Europe and Africa were obviously associated with their geographical origin. The overall results indicated that the genetic relationship of faba bean germplasm was closely associated with their geographical origin and their ecological habit.

Base and copper(I) catalyzed Mannich, alkyne hydroamination cascades for the direct synthesis of 2-methylenepyrrolidines.

An efficient, simple-to-perform, one-pot reaction cascade to 2-methylenepyrrolidines from p-toluenesulfonyl protected imines and propargylated malonates under a combination of base and copper(I) catalysis is reported.