Targeting FGFR for cancer therapy.

The FGFR signaling pathway is integral to cellular activities, including proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Dysregulation of this pathway is implicated in numerous human cancers, positioning FGFR as a prominent therapeutic target. Here, we conduct a comprehensive review of the function, signaling pathways and abnormal alterations of FGFR, as well as its role in tumorigenesis and development. Additionally, we provide an in-depth analysis of pivotal phase 2 and 3 clinical trials evaluating the performance and safety of FGFR inhibitors in oncology, thereby shedding light on the current state of clinical research in this field. Then, we highlight four drugs that have been approved for marketing by the FDA, offering insights into their molecular mechanisms and clinical achievements. Our discussion encompasses the intricate landscape of FGFR-driven tumorigenesis, current techniques for pinpointing FGFR anomalies, and clinical experiences with FGFR inhibitor regimens. Furthermore, we discuss the inherent challenges of targeting the FGFR pathway, encompassing resistance mechanisms such as activation by gatekeeper mutations, alternative pathways, and potential adverse reactions. By synthesizing the current evidence, we underscore the potential of FGFR-centric therapies to enhance patient prognosis, while emphasizing the imperative need for continued research to surmount resistance and optimize treatment modalities.

Comparison of drug-eluting bead with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) has shown efficacy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). However, whether DEB-TACE is superior to conventional TACE (cTACE) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of DEB-TACE versus cTACE in treating HCC with PVTT. METHODS: The study was conducted in a tertiary care center in Southeast China. HCC patients with PVTT were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to the DEB-TACE or cTACE groups. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and incidence of adverse events (AEs). An independent review committee assessed the radiologic response according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). AEs were assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Systemic therapies were not limited. RESULTS: Between September 2018, and July 2020, 163 patients were randomized to undergo DEB-TACE (n=82) or cTACE (n=81). Nine patients were excluded, and 154 patients were included in the final analysis; the median age was 55 years (range, 24-78 y), and 140 (90.9%) were male. The median PFS in the DEB-TACE group was 6.0 months (95% CI, 5.0 to 10.0) versus 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.0 to 5.0) in the cTACE group (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.95; P=0.027). The DEB-TACE group showed a higher response rate (51[66.2%] vs. 36 [46.8%]; P=0.0015) and a longer median OS (12.0 months [95% CI, 9.0 to 16.0] vs. 8.0 months [95% CI, 7.0 to 11.0], P=0.039) than the cTACE group. Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment group, ALBI score, distant metastasis and additional TKIs were the four independent prognostic factors correlated with PFS. In addition, the treatment group, PVTT group and combined with surgery were independently correlated with OS. AEs were similar in the two groups, and postembolization syndrome was the most frequent AEs. CONCLUSION: DEB-TACE is superior to cTACE in treating HCC patients with PVTT due to the improved PFS and OS with an acceptable safety profile and may become a promising treatment strategy for HCC patients with PVTT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800018035.

Epidemiological Characterisation of Chronic Diseases Among Civil Servants in Hebei Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Real-World Study of Approximately 50,000 Adults.

Background: The objective of this investigation was to explore the health status and epidemiological features of civil servants working in Hebei Province, China. Methods: Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey that involved 50,039 adult civil servants in Hebei Province. The research was conducted at the Hebei Provincial Medical Examination Centre and included inquiries about demographics, health behaviours, chronic illnesses, and abnormal check-up indicators. Statistical data were used to determine the prevalence of chronic diseases and abnormal health examination indicators. Subgroup analyses by sex were then conducted to calculate the similarities and differences in health status between men and women. Results: The findings of the survey indicate that 14.2% of individuals who work in civil service suffer from obesity. Additionally, a considerable proportion of this group display poor health behaviours, including smoking and alcohol consumption. Hypertension (21.03%), dyslipidaemia (10.88%), and diabetes mellitus (8.56%) were identified as the top three chronic diseases, while cardiovascular diseases were prevalent at 6.27% among civil servants. Ultrasound showed a high prevalence of fatty liver, non-smooth gallbladder and liver cysts (44.61%, 33.24% and 23.26% respectively). The occurrence of pulmonary nodules was alarmingly high at 88.48%, while thyroid nodules were found in as much as 62.65% of patients. Abnormal E/A values≤1, prostate hyperplasia, breast nodules, and carotid plaques were also prevalent, with percentages ranging from 46.76% to 63.04%. In subgroup analyses by gender, the prevalence of chronic diseases and abnormal screening indicators was consistently higher in men than in women, with the exception of thyroid nodules and thyroid surgery. Conclusion: The survey revealed a large proportion of civil servants in Hebei Province, China, suffering from chronic diseases, underscoring the necessity for enhanced attention to chronic disease prevention and management in this group and emphasising the requirement for focused interventions aimed at improving health outcomes.

The effects of different impeller combinations in the Sphingan WL gum fermentation process.

The fermentation of the high-viscosity polysaccharide WL gum has always been associated with poor mass transfer. Appropriate impeller configurations are key factors in maintaining homogeneity and sufficient mass transfer conditions. Therefore, a flat-folded disc turbine impeller (FFDT) taking into account both the reduced cavitation effect and the increased contact area was designed. Besides, a curved cross impeller (CC) and a fishbone-shaped impeller (FS) generating axial flow were also designed. The energy consumption and efficiency of the designed impellers and eight reported impellers were evaluated through fermentation and principal component analysis (PCA). Compared to the commonly-used six-blade flat-blade disc turbine (FBDT), the ungassed power number of FFDT was reduced by 50 %. Combinations of six-blade Brumajin impeller (BM) + FFDT and CC + FFDT produced high WL gum production and viscosity (34.0 g/L, 35.50 g/L, and 62.64 Pa·s, 61.68 Pa·s, respectively) and were suitable impellers for WL biosynthesis. WL gum from BM + FFDT showed higher viscosity, viscoelasticity, and molecular weight than that from FBDT + FBDT. In addition, fewer amino acids and pyruvic acid intermediates were formed using BM + FFDT, indicating a greater metabolic flux towards WL gum synthesis. This work provided an important reference for the design of impellers in high-viscosity fermentation systems.

Sigmoid Sinus Wall Anomalies Can Progress and May Not Be Congenital.

OBJECTIVE: Sigmoid sinus wall anomalies (SSWA) are closely linked to venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT). This study aims to demonstrate that SSWA develops progressively rather than being congenital. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 42 PT patients with SSWA who had at least two non-operative CT scans at our clinic. CT images were longitudinally assessed to track SSWA progression, while MRI and Doppler ultrasound evaluated transverse sinus stenosis and venous hemodynamics. Changes in PT perception were tracked using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 42 SSWA patients, 12 (28.6%) exhibited progression. Anastomosis between diploic vein and diverticulum was significantly higher compared to the dehiscence cohort (p < 0.01). Within the diverticulum group, seven individuals (30.4%) experienced enlargement, with a mean diverticular wall expansion of 5.9% ± 11.4%. Progressive erosion was observed in two cases (12.5%) in the dehiscence cohort, with a mean sigmoid plate erosion of 3.8% ± 10.1%. In cases progressing from dehiscence to diverticulum, three subjects transitioned, with a mean sigmoid sinus wall length expansion of 43.8% ± 31.9%. SSWA progression showed a significant negative correlation with QBILATERAL (r = -0.857, p = 0.014), and there was a significant difference between initial and revisit THI scores (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SSWA can undergo morphological progression, indicating it is a progressive clinical condition rather than congenital. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

[Correlation of nutritional status with clinical characteristics and lung function in children with cystic fibrosis]. / å›Šæ€§çº¤ç»´åŒ–å„¿ç«¥è¥å »çŠ¶å†µä¸Žä¸´åºŠç‰¹å¾å’Œè‚ºåŠŸèƒ½çš„ç›¸å ³æ€§åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nutritional status of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and understand the correlation between malnutrition and clinical characteristics as well as lung function. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of CF children admitted from January 2016 to June 2023. Clinical characteristics of CF children with different nutritional statuses were compared, and the correlation between malnutrition and lung function was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 52 CF children were included, comprising 25 boys (48%) and 27 girls (52%), aged between 7 months and 17 years. Respiratory symptoms were the predominant clinical manifestations (96%, 50/52). The prevalence of malnutrition was 65% (34/52), with moderate/severe malnutrition being the most common (65%, 22/34). The malnutrition group had a longer duration of illness, higher proportion of digestive system symptoms, and lower levels of serum albumin (P<0.05). Pulmonary function parameters, including forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of the predicted value, ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity exhaled, forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity exhaled, forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity exhaled, and maximum mid-expiratory flow as a percentage of the predicted value, were lower in the malnutrition group compared to the normal nutrition group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed body mass index Z-score was positively correlated with the above six pulmonary function parameters (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in CF children and is associated with decreased lung function. CF children with higher body mass index have better lung function. Therefore, screening and evaluation of nutritional status as well as appropriate nutritional intervention should be emphasized in CF children.

The Protective Effects of L-Theanine against Epigallocatechin Gallate-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a main bioactive constituent in green tea. Being a redox-active polyphenol, high-dose EGCG exhibits pro-oxidative activity and could cause liver injury. L-theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid in green tea and could provide liver-protective effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of L-theanine on EGCG-induced liver injury and the underlying mechanisms. A total of 300 mg/kg L-theanine was administrated to ICR mice for 7 days. Then, the acute liver injury model was established through intragastric administration of 1000 mg/kg EGCG. Pretreatment with L-theanine significantly alleviated the oxidative stress and inflammatory response caused by high-dose EGCG through modulation of Nrf2 signaling and glutathione homeostasis. Furthermore, metabolomic results revealed that L-theanine protects mice from EGCG-induced liver injury mainly through the regulation of amino acid metabolism, especially tryptophan metabolism. These findings could provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of L-theanine and highlight the importance of the interactions between dietary components.

Both arthroscopic one-step Broström-Gould and Lasso-loop stitch techniques achieved favourable clinical outcomes for chronic lateral ankle instability.

PURPOSE: Both the arthroscopic Broström-Gould and Lasso-loop stitch techniques are commonly used to treat chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). The purpose of this study is to introduce an arthroscopic one-step outside-in Broström-Gould (AOBG) technique and compare the mid-term outcomes of the AOBG technique and Lasso-loop stitch technique. METHODS: All CLAI patients who underwent arthroscopic lateral ankle stabilization surgery in our department from 2018 to 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods employed: the AOBG technique (Group A) and the Lasso-loop technique (Group B). The visual analogue scale pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle hindfoot score, Tegner activity score and Karlsson-Peterson score were evaluated preoperatively and during the follow-up from June to December 2022. The surgical duration, return to sports, sprain recurrence and surgical complications were also recorded and compared. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients (Group A, n = 42; Group B, n = 32) were included in this study with a mean follow-up of 39 months. No statistically significant differences were observed in demographic parameters or follow-up time between the two groups. Postoperative clinical scores indicated a significant improvement (all with p < 0.001) with no significant difference between the two groups (not significant [n.s.]). There was no significant difference in the surgical duration (46.1 vs. 49.7 min, n.s.), return to sports (92.9% vs. 93.8%, n.s.), or sprain recurrence (4.8% vs. 6.3%, n.s.). Only two cases in Group A reported knot irritation (4.8% vs. 0, n.s.), and one case in Group A experienced local skin numbness (0 vs. 3.1%, n.s.), with no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Both the AOBG and Lasso-loop stitch techniques yielded comparable favourable mid-term outcomes and return to sports with a low rate of surgical complications. Both procedures could be feasible strategies for CLAI patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Survival after minimally invasive radical hysterectomy with protective colpotomy for early-stage cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Minimally invasive surgery on treatment of early-stage cervical cancer is debatable. Traditional approaches of colpotomy are considered responsible for an inferior oncological outcome. Evidence on whether protective colpotomy could optimize minimally invasive technique and improve prognoses of women with early-stage cervical cancer remains limited. We produced a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare oncological outcomes of the patients treated by minimally invasive radical hysterectomy with protective colpotomy to those treated by open surgery according to existing literature. We explored PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to December 2022. Inclusion criteria were: (1) randomized controlled trials or observational studies published in English, (2) studies comparing minimally invasive radical hysterectomy with protective colpotomy to abdominal radical hysterectomy in early-stage cervical cancer, and (3) studies comparing survival outcomes. Two reviewers performed the screening, data extraction, and quality assessment independently. A total of 8 retrospective cohort studies with 2020 women were included in the study, 821 of whom were in the minimally invasive surgery group, and 1199 of whom were in the open surgery group. The recurrence-free survival and overall survival in the minimally invasive surgery group were both similar to that in the open surgery group (pooled hazard ratio, 0.88 and 0.78, respectively; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.38 and 0.42-1.44, respectively). Minimally invasive radical hysterectomy with protective colpotomy on treatment of early-stage cervical cancer had similar recurrence-free survival and overall survival compared to abdominal radical hysterectomy. Protective colpotomy could be a guaranteed approach to modifying minimally invasive technique.

Tobacco Quitline Callers Who Use Cannabis and Their Likelihood of Quitting Cigarette Smoking.

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoking continues to decline in the U.S., but cannabis use is increasing. Many people who smoke cigarettes also use cannabis. This study examines the characteristics of persons who co-use and those who do not co-use and the likelihood of quitting cigarettes for callers to Kick It California, a large state tobacco quitline. METHODS: Data were examined from Kick It California callers from January 2020 through December 2023 (N=45,151), including those from a subgroup randomly sampled and reached for evaluation at 7 months after quitline enrollment (n=3,545). The rate of cigarette smoking cessation at 7 months after enrollment for people who co-use cannabis was compared with that for people who do not. Analyses started in 2023 and concluded in January 2024. RESULTS: More than a quarter (27.2%) of Kick It California callers co-used cannabis. They were more likely to be male, to be younger, and to have a mental health condition than those who did not. Those who co-use cannabis and those who do not have similar rates of receiving quitline counseling or using Food and Drug Administration-approved cessation aids. Controlled for effects of personal characteristics and use of smoking-cessation services, people who co-use cannabis were less likely to quit cigarette smoking 7 months after enrollment (23.2% vs 28.9%; p<0.001). Among those who co-use, 42.9% intended to quit using cannabis in the next 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial percentage of tobacco quitline callers use cannabis. Those who do co-use quit cigarette smoking at a lower rate than those who do not. Over 40% of people who co-use reported intention to quit cannabis, making tobacco quitlines a rich environment to learn about people who co-use and develop strategies for intervention.

Covalent modification of γ-cyclodextrin with geraniol: An antibacterial agent with good thermal stability, solubility and biocompatibility.

Geraniol (Ger) is an essential oil molecule with excellent biological activity. High hydrophobicity and volatility limit its practical application. Cyclodextrins (CDs) are water-soluble cyclic oligosaccharides with hydrophobic cavities. Physical encapsulation of CDs to improve the solubility and stability of essential oil molecules is not satisfactory. Therefore, this study synthesized the γ-CD derivative (γ-CD-Ger) by grafting Ger onto γ-CD using a bromide-mediated method. Compared to the inclusion complexes (γ-CD/Ger) formed by both, the derivatives exhibit better solubility and thermal stability. The derivative has better antibacterial activity when the ratio of γ-CD to Ger was 1:2. In addition, the derivatives did not exhibit cytotoxic and hemolytic properties. These results indicate that this research provides a water-soluble antibacterial agent with a wide range of promising applications and offers new ideas for the application of alcohol hydrophobic molecules in aqueous systems.

Expert consensus on difficulty assessment of endodontic therapy.

Endodontic diseases are a kind of chronic infectious oral disease. Common endodontic treatment concepts are based on the removal of inflamed or necrotic pulp tissue and the replacement by gutta-percha. However, it is very essential for endodontic treatment to debride the root canal system and prevent the root canal system from bacterial reinfection after root canal therapy (RCT). Recent research, encompassing bacterial etiology and advanced imaging techniques, contributes to our understanding of the root canal system's anatomy intricacies and the technique sensitivity of RCT. Success in RCT hinges on factors like patients, infection severity, root canal anatomy, and treatment techniques. Therefore, improving disease management is a key issue to combat endodontic diseases and cure periapical lesions. The clinical difficulty assessment system of RCT is established based on patient conditions, tooth conditions, root canal configuration, and root canal needing retreatment, and emphasizes pre-treatment risk assessment for optimal outcomes. The findings suggest that the presence of risk factors may correlate with the challenge of achieving the high standard required for RCT. These insights contribute not only to improve education but also aid practitioners in treatment planning and referral decision-making within the field of endodontics.

Expert consensus on irrigation and intracanal medication in root canal therapy.

Chemical cleaning and disinfection are crucial steps for eliminating infection in root canal treatment. However, irrigant selection or irrigation procedures are far from clear. The vapor lock effect in the apical region has yet to be solved, impeding irrigation efficacy and resulting in residual infections and compromised treatment outcomes. Additionally, ambiguous clinical indications for root canal medication and non-standardized dressing protocols must be clarified. Inappropriate intracanal medication may present side effects and jeopardize the therapeutic outcomes. Indeed, clinicians have been aware of these concerns for years. Based on the current evidence of studies, this article reviews the properties of various irrigants and intracanal medicaments and elucidates their effectiveness and interactions. The evolution of different kinetic irrigation methods, their effects, limitations, the paradigm shift, current indications, and effective operational procedures regarding intracanal medication are also discussed. This expert consensus aims to establish the clinical operation guidelines for root canal irrigation and a position statement on intracanal medication, thus facilitating a better understanding of infection control, standardizing clinical practice, and ultimately improving the success of endodontic therapy.

Two new cassane diterpenoids from the seed kernels of Caesalpinia sinensis.

Two new cassane diterpenoids, sucupiranin MN (1) and sucupiranin ML (2), together with two known compounds sucutinirane C (3) and deacetylsucutinirane C (4) were isolated from the seed kernels of Caesalpinia sinensis. Their structures were elucidated by means of analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data, especially HRESIMS and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1-4 are typical furan-type cassane derivatives with an aromatized C ring. Biological evaluation revealed that compounds 1-4 at the concentration of 10 µM could inhibit the overproduction of NO in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Synthesis of Efficient S-Scheme Heterostructures Composed of BiPO4 and KNbO3 for Photocatalytic N2 Fixation and Water Purification.

The preparation of catalysts with heterojunction structures is a strategy to achieve efficient charge separation and high photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts. In this work, BiPO4/KNbO3 heterostructure photocatalysts were fabricated by a combination of hydrothermal and precipitation methods and subsequently employed in catalyzing N2-to-NH3 conversion and RhB degradation under light illumination. Morphological analysis revealed the effective dispersion of BiPO4 on KNbO3 nanocubes. Band structure analysis suggests that KNbO3 and BiPO4 exhibit suitable band potentials to form an S-scheme heterojunction. Under the joint action of the built-in electric field at the interface, energy band bending, and Coulomb attraction force, photogenerated electrons and holes with low redox performance are consumed, while those with high redox performance are effectively spatially separated. Consequently, the BiPO4/KNbO3 shows enhanced photocatalytic activity. The NH3 production rate of the optimal sample is 2.6 and 5.8 times higher than that of KNbO3 and BiPO4, respectively. The enhanced photoactivity of BiPO4/KNbO3 is also observed in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. This study offers valuable insights for the design and preparation of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts.

Mirror QCD phase transition as the origin of the nanohertz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background.

Several Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) Collaborations have recently provided strong evidence for a nHz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background (SGWB). Here we investigate the implications of a first-order phase transition occurring within the early Universe's dark quantum chromodynamics epoch, specifically within the framework of the mirror twin Higgs dark sector model. Our analysis indicates a distinguishable SGWB signal originating from this phase transition, which can explain the measurements obtained by PTAs. Remarkably, a significant portion of the parameter space for the SGWB signal also effectively resolves the existing tensions in both the H0 and S8 measurements in Cosmology. This intriguing correlation suggests a possible common origin of these three phenomena for 0.2<ΔNeff<0.5, where the mirror dark matter component constitutes less than 30% of the total dark matter abundance. Next-generation CMB experiments such as CMB-S4 can test this parameter region.

Dt1 inhibits SWEET-mediated sucrose transport to regulate photoperiod-dependent seed weight in soybean.

Soybean is a photoperiod-sensitive short-day crop whose reproductive period and yield are markedly affected by day-length changes. Seed weight is one of the key traits determining the soybean yield; however, the prominent genes that control the final seed weight of soybean and the mechanisms underlying the photoperiod's effect on this trait remain poorly understood. In this study, we identify SW19 as a major locus controlling soybean seed weight by QTL mapping and determine Dt1, an orthologous gene of Arabidopsis TFL1 that is known to govern the soybean growth habit, as the causal gene of the SW19 locus. We showed that Dt1 is highly expressed in developing seeds and regulates photoperiod-dependent seed weight in soybean. Further analyses revealed that the Dt1 protein physically interacts with the sucrose transporter GmSWEET10a to negatively regulate the import of sucrose from seed coat to the embryo, thus modulating seed weight under long days. However, Dt1 does not function in seed development under short days due to its very low expression. Importantly, we discovered a novel natural allelic variant of Dt1 (H4 haplotype) that decouples its pleiotropic effects on seed size and growth habit; i.e., this variant remains functional in seed development but fails to regulate the stem growth habit of soybean. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into how soybean seed development responds to photoperiod at different latitudes, offering an ideal genetic component for improving soybean's yield by manipulating its seed weight and growth habit.

Impacts of angiotensin II on retinal artery changes in apolipoprotein E deficient mice.

AIM: To investigate the impacts of angiotensin II (Ang II) on retinal artery changes in apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE-/-) mice. METHODS: apoE-/- male mice were infused by minipumps with Ang II at 1000 ng/kg·min (Ang II group) or saline (control group) for 28d. They were underwent ophthalmic fundus examination on day 0, 14, and 28 of infusion. Histopathologic examination, ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and local Ang II measurement of retinas were conducted. RESULTS: Ophthalmic fundus examination showed Ang II infusion promoted the formation of retinal arterial aneurysm-like lesions on day 28. Optical coherence tomography revealed the ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in the control group was significantly thinner than that in Ang II group (P<0.001). Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated diffused swelling of GCIPL layer and its disordered structure in Ang II group. Transmission electron microscopy showed Ang II infusion caused aggravation of atherosclerotic lesions, including increased swelling, roughness, disorganization of the retinal vasculature, and vacuoles formation. RNA-sequencing and gene ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated that the structure and function of cellular membrane might be disturbed and visual function might be compromised by Ang II. The local level of Ang II was higher in Ang II infusion group but did not show significant differences compared to the control group (P=0.086). CONCLUSION: Ang II infusion promotes the formation of retinal arterial aneurysm-like lesions in apoE-/- mice, causing aggravation of atherosclerotic lesions, more severe disorganization of the retinal vasculature and disturbance of the cellular membrane.

Patent vitellointestinal duct with ileal prolapse in a newborn: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Patent vitellointestinal duct is the most common omphalomesenteric duct anomaly to present with symptoms. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 10-day-old child presented with increase in the size of a polypoidal lesion into a large, "Y"-shaped reddish, prolapsing lesion, discharging gaseous, and fecal matter at her umbilicus. A laparoscopic exploration was performed, followed by wedge resection and anastomosis. No complications occurred during postoperative follow-up. DIAGNOSES: A patent vitellointestinal duct with ileal prolapse. INTERVENTIONS: The resection of extended intraperitoneal intestinal tube was performed. OUTCOMES: During the follow-up 3 months after surgery, the umbilical cord of the child healed well after surgery. LESSONS: Timely surgical treatment can minimize the occurrence of complications, and the overall prognosis is good after surgery.