Change of indocyanine green clearance ability and liver function after transcatheter intraarterial therapies and its impact on outcomes of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test is a classical measurement of hepatic reserve, which involves surgical safety and patient recovery of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to compare effects of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on liver function and outcomes of subsequent hepatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HCC patients receiving HAIC/TACE in SYSUCC with repeated ICG clearance tests were retrospectively enrolled. ICG eliminating rate (ICG-K), ICG retention rate at 15-minutes (ICG-R15) and ordinary laboratory tests were collected. Peri-therapeutic changes of values were compared between the groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighing (IPTW) were employed to validate findings. Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed in patients with subsequent curative hepatectomy. RESULTS: 204 patients treated with HAIC (n=130) and TACE (n=74) were included. ΔICG-R15 was greater in the HAIC arm before matching (mean, 3.8% vs. 0.7%, P<0.001), after PSM (mean, 4.7% vs. 1.1%, P=0.014) and IPTW (mean, 2.0% vs. -3.6%, P<0.001). No difference was found for ΔALB, ΔALBI, ΔTBIL, ΔALT, ΔAST and ΔPT-INR. Multivariable analyses revealed elder age, cirrhosis, HAIC, greater ΔTBIL and ΔALBI were associated with deteriorating ICG-R15. Among those (105 for HAIC and 48 for TACE) receiving hepatectomy, occurrence of grade B/C PHLF (4.8% vs. 8.3%, P=0.616), OS (median, unreached vs. unreached, P=0.94) and RFS (median, 26.7 vs. 17.1 mo, P=0.096) were comparable between the two arms. In subgroup analyses, preoperative HAIC yield superior RFS (median, 26.7 vs. 16.2 mo, P=0.042) in patients with baseline ICG-R15≤10%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative FOLFOX-HAIC caused apparent impairment of ICG clearance ability than TACE yet comparable impact on liver function and post-hepatectomy outcomes.

Gender differences in the association between anxiety symptoms and thyroid hormones in young patients with first-episode and drug naïve major depressive disorder.

Objective: Gender differences are prevalent in major depressive disorder (MDD), but the gender differences in the relationship between comorbid anxiety and thyroid hormones in young first-episode and drug-naive (FEND) MDD patients are unknown. Methods: A total of 1,289 young outpatients with FEDN MDD were recruited. Demographic and clinical data were collected for each patient. The patient's blood glucose, blood pressure, thyroid hormone, and thyroid antibody levels were measured. The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess patients' depression, anxiety, and positive symptoms, respectively. Results: The prevalence of comorbid anxiety disorders was 80.4 and 79.4% in male and female MDD patients, respectively. Patients with anxiety had higher HAMD and PANSS scores, higher serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (A-TG), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (A-TPO) levels, higher blood glucose and blood pressure levels, and more patients with psychotic symptoms and suicide attempts. Male patients were younger and had a younger age of onset. Logistic regression analysis showed that HAMD score and comorbid suicide attempts were significant predictors of anxiety symptoms in both males and females, whereas A-TG predicted anxiety symptoms in female patients only. Limitations: No causal relationship could be drawn due to the cross-sectional design. Conclusion: This study showed gender differences in factors associated with anxiety symptoms in patients with MDD. Some factors were associated with anxiety symptoms in both male and female patients, while A-TG was only associated with anxiety symptoms in female patients.

Development and reliability and validity test of the Fear of Cancer Scale (FOCS).

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Fear of Cancer Scale (FOCS) for non-cancer populations. METHODS: FOCS was developed by classical measurement theory. A total of 15 college students were invited to conduct semi-structured interviews. Seven experts were invited for expert consultation. A total of 2012 Chinese college students who had completed the electronic questionnaire on WJX.cn platform was included. The reliability and validity of FOCS were verified. Multiple linear regression analysis was adopted to explore the influencing factors of cancer fear among college students and further verify the validity of FOCS. RESULTS: There were 17 items in the FOCS, including two subscales - direct fear (8 items), and indirect fear (9 items). FOCS had good validity and reliability. Multiple linear regression showed that GAD-7 score, CSDS score, negative coping score, positive coping score, guardian's highest education, gender, life satisfaction, nationality and major were the influencing factors of cancer fear (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The 17-item FOCS was a reliable and valid measure to examine the level of cancer fear in non-cancer populations.

Detection of advanced brain aging in schizophrenia and its structural underpinning by using normative brain age metrics.

Conceptualizing mental disorders as deviations from normative functioning provides a statistical perspective for understanding the individual heterogeneity underlying psychiatric disorders. To broaden the understanding of the idiosyncrasy of brain aging in schizophrenia, we introduced an imaging-derived brain age paradigm combined with normative modeling as novel brain age metrics. We constructed brain age models based on GM, WM, and their combination (multimodality) features of 482 normal participants. The normalized predicted age difference (nPAD) was estimated in 147 individuals with schizophrenia and their 130 demographically matched controls through normative models of brain age metrics and compared between the groups. Regression analyses were also performed to investigate the associations of nPAD with illness duration, onset age, symptom severity, and intelligence quotient. Finally, regional contributions to advanced brain aging in schizophrenia were investigated. The results showed that the individuals exhibited significantly higher nPAD (P < 0.001), indicating advanced normative brain age than the normal controls in GM, WM, and multimodality models. The nPAD measure based on WM was positively associated with the negative symptom score (P = 0.009), and negatively associated with the intelligence quotient (P = 0.039) and onset age (P = 0.006). The imaging features that contributed to nPAD mostly involved the prefrontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, especially the precuneus and uncinate fasciculus. This study demonstrates that normative brain age metrics could detect advanced brain aging and associated clinical and neuroanatomical features in schizophrenia. The proposed nPAD measures may be useful to investigate aberrant brain aging in mental disorders and their brain-phenotype relationships.

Prevalence of mental health problems and associated risk factors among military healthcare workers in specialized COVID-19 hospitals in Wuhan, China: A cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION: China has been severely affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since December 2019. Military healthcare workers in China have experienced many pressures when combating COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate the current psychological status and associated risk factors among military healthcare workers. METHODS: We collected data from 194 military healthcare workers from three inpatient wards in two specialized COVID-19 hospitals using a web-based cross-sectional survey. The survey covered demographic information, the patient health questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the patient health questionnaire-15. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explore potential risk factors for mental health problems. RESULTS: The overall prevalence rates of depressive, generalized anxiety, and somatic symptoms were 37.6%, 32.5%, and 50%, respectively. Rates of severe depression, generalized anxiety, and somatic symptoms were 5.2%, 3.6%, and 15.5%, respectively. In 22.7% of cases, comorbidities existed between depression, generalized anxiety, and somatization. A junior-grade professional title was associated with depression, older age was associated with generalized anxiety and somatization, and short sleep duration and poor sleep quality were associated with all three symptoms. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of depression, generalized anxiety, and somatic symptoms among military healthcare workers in specialized COVID-19 hospitals is high during the current COVID-19 outbreak. A junior-grade professional title, older age, short sleep duration, and poor sleep quality significantly affect military healthcare workers' mental health. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak should be routine to promote mental health among military healthcare workers.

Sex differences in association between cognitive impairment and clinical correlates in Chinese patients with first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness with significant sex differences. Cognitive impairment is common in patients with schizophrenia, even in remission. This study was designed to examine the sex differences in the relationship between cognitive impairment and clinical correlations with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia. METHODS: 93 FEDN patients (male/female = 45/48) and 160 controls (male/female = 74/86) were enrolled to compare the sex differences in cognitive functions measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were used to evaluate patients' clinical symptoms. We compared cognitive impairment with sociodemographic characteristics and measures of different genders, as well as group-by-sex interactions. RESULTS: Our results showed that male patients had significantly lower scores for symbol coding, digital sequence, and verbal learning than female patients, while the healthy controls showed similar sex differences. In female patients, multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that PANSS negative symptoms and general psychopathology scores, HAMD total score, and education level were independent contributors to MCCB total score. In male patients, only education was an independent contributor to MCCB total score. CONCLUSIONS: These findings revealed significant sex differences in cognitive impairments and clinical symptoms in FEDN, which will be worthy of a follow-up study of schizophrenia in the future.

Whole Brain White Matter Tract Deviation and Idiosyncrasy From Normative Development in Autism and ADHD and Unaffected Siblings Link With Dimensions of Psychopathology and Cognition.

OBJECTIVE: The heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) preclude definitive identification of neurobiomarkers and biological risks. High clinical overlap suggests multifaceted circuit-level alterations across diagnoses, which remains elusive. This study investigated whether individuals with ADHD or ASD and their unaffected siblings constitute a spectrum of neurodevelopmental conditions in terms of white matter etiology. METHODS: Sex-specific white matter tract normative development was modeled from diffusion MRI of 626 typically developing control subjects (ages 5-40 years; 376 of them male). Individualized metrics estimating white matter tract deviation from the age norm were derived for 279 probands with ADHD, 175 probands with ASD, and their unaffected siblings (ADHD, N=121; ASD, N=72). RESULTS: ASD and ADHD shared diffuse white matter tract deviations in the commissure and association tracts (rho=0.54; p<0.001), while prefrontal corpus callosum deviated more remarkably in ASD (effect size=-0.36; p<0.001). Highly correlated deviance patterns between probands and unaffected siblings were found in both ASD (rho=0.69; p<0.001) and ADHD (rho=0.51; p<0.001), but only unaffected sisters of ASD probands showed a potential endophenotype in long-range association fibers and projection fibers connecting prefrontal regions. ADHD and ASD shared significant white matter tract idiosyncrasy (rho=0.55; p<0.001), particularly in tracts connecting prefrontal regions, not identified in either sibling group. Canonical correlation analysis identified multiple dimensions of psychopathology/cognition across categorical entities; autistic, visual memory, intelligence/planning/inhibition, nonverbal-intelligence/attention, working memory/attention, and set-shifting/response-variability were associated with distinct sets of white matter tract deviations. CONCLUSIONS: When conceptualizing neurodevelopmental disorders as white matter tract deviations from normative patterns, ASD and ADHD are more alike than different. The modest white matter tract alterations in siblings suggest potential endophenotypes in these at-risk populations. This study further delineates brain-driven dimensions of psychopathology/cognition, which may help clarify within-diagnosis heterogeneity and high between-diagnosis co-occurrence.

An analysis of 20 clinical cases of refractory mycoplasma pneumonia in children.

BACKGROUND: Refractory mycoplasma pneumonia (RMPP) is one of the important pathogens of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. Its treatment is difficult. The aims of this study were to analyze the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of 20 cases of RMPP in children in order to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of RMPP. METHODS: The clinical data of 20 patients with RMPP admitted to the Pediatrics Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in the recent three years were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical data of 36 patients with common mycoplasma pneumonia in the same period were compared. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, and imaging characteristics of RMPP were discussed. Intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary complications and treatment were also analyzed in order to provide assistance in the diagnosis and treatment of RMPP. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the refractory group and the general group in terms of heat duration, hospitalization time, hypoxemia, lung rales, CRP, ESR, PCT, LDH, ALT, PLT, WBC, D dimer and other laboratory examinations, intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary complications, and treatment (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the age, sex, and wheezing between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Long duration of fever, tachycardia, and lung rale protrusion may be the clinical characteristics of RMPP. Unilateral pulmonary shadow and atelectasis should be paid more attention, which may be a high-risk factor for the development of RMPP. The inflammation index of RMPP cases increased and there were many complications inside and outside the patients' lungs. It was necessary to give enough macrolides to fight the infection by using Glucocorticoid and Intravenous immunoglobulin reasonably while liver, heart, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy was completed to improve the effectiveness of the diagnosis and treatment.

Generalization of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-based brain age prediction model through transfer learning.

Brain age prediction models using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and machine learning techniques enable individual assessment of brain aging status in healthy people and patients with brain disorders. However, dMRI data are notorious for high intersite variability, prohibiting direct application of a model to the datasets obtained from other sites. In this study, we generalized the dMRI-based brain age model to different dMRI datasets acquired under different imaging conditions. Specifically, we adopted a transfer learning approach to achieve domain adaptation. To evaluate the performance of transferred models, brain age prediction models were constructed using a large dMRI dataset as the source domain, and the models were transferred to three target domains with distinct acquisition scenarios. The experiments were performed to investigate (1) the tuning data size needed to achieve satisfactory performance for brain age prediction, (2) the feature types suitable for different dMRI acquisition scenarios, and (3) performance of the transfer learning approach compared with the statistical covariate approach. By tuning the models with relatively small data size and certain feature types, optimal transferred models were obtained with significantly improved prediction performance in all three target cohorts (p â€‹< â€‹0.001). The mean absolute error of the predicted age was reduced from 13.89 to 4.78 years in Cohort 1, 8.34 to 5.35 years in Cohort 2, and 8.74 to 5.64 years in Cohort 3. The test-retest reliability of the transferred model was verified using dMRI data acquired at two timepoints (intraclass correlation coefficient â€‹= â€‹0.950). Clinical sensitivity of the brain age prediction model was investigated by estimating the brain age in patients with schizophrenia. The prediction made by the transferred model was not significantly different from that made by the reference model. Both models predicted significant brain aging in patients with schizophrenia as compared with healthy controls (p â€‹< â€‹0.001); the predicted age difference of the transferred model was 4.63 and 0.26 years for patients and controls, respectively, and that of the reference model was 4.39 and -0.09 years, respectively. In conclusion, transfer learning approach is an efficient way to generalize the dMRI-based brain age prediction model. Appropriate transfer learning approach and suitable tuning data size should be chosen according to different dMRI acquisition scenarios.

[Gray mold disease of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis and its pathogen identification].

Gray mold disease is one of the most important diseases of planted Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, the disease appeared primarily as blossom blights and fruit rots, but also as stem rots, leaf rots.In this study, the pathogenetic fungi was isolated from plant tissue or sclerotia that covering the fruit of diseased P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis, the pathogen was certified according to Koch's Postulation. The pathogen produced abundant black, irregular sclerotia on surface of diseased plants and potato dextrose agar. The conidiophores and clusters of oval conidia resembled a grape-like cluster, the size of conidia was 9.70-13.70 µm [average of (11.32±0.82)µm]×7.05-9.12 µm [average of (8.24±0.48)µm], the microconidia produced on potato dextrose agar were spherical,and the size was （3.34±0.31） µm,the pathogen was identified as Botrytis sp based on morphological characteristics. The DNA sequence analysis of the G3PDH, HSP60, RPB2 genes placed the pathogen in a single clade that outside defined species of Botrytis, so the pathogen could be identified as a new species of Botrytis. The pathogen requires 20 °C, pH 8, darkness or low light condition for the best growth.

Tumor Size Is a Critical Factor in Adjuvant Chemotherapy for T3-4aN0M0 Gastric Cancer Patients after D2 Gastrectomy.

Aim. To investigate whether tumor size is a reasonable indication for adjuvant chemotherapy for T3-4aN0M0 gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy. Method. We performed a retrospective study of 269 patients with a histological diagnosis of T3-4aN0M0 stage gastric cancer who underwent D2 radical surgery at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center or the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2006 and December 2010. The follow-up lasted until June of 2015. Chi-square tests and Kaplan-Meier methods were employed to compare the clinicopathological variables and prognoses. Result. For this group of patients, univariate analyses revealed that tumor size (p < 0.001), pathological T stage (p < 0.001), and tumor location (p = 0.025) were significant prognostic factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not exhibit prognostic benefits. For patients with tumors larger than 5 cm, univariate analysis revealed that tumor location (p = 0.007), Borrmann type (p = 0.039), postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.003), and pathological T stage (p < 0.001) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative chemotherapy and pathological T stage were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion. Our results imply that tumor size should be a critical factor in the decision to utilize adjuvant chemotherapy for T3-4aN0M0 gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy. Additional randomized controlled trials are required before this conclusion can be considered definitive.

Characterization of mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic implications for Chinese black ant, Polyrhachis dives (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Chinese black ant, Polyrhachis dives Smith, also known as P. vicina Roger has been used as a traditional edible insect and Chinese medicine in China and some southeast countries for thousands of years. In this study, Mitogenome of this species was assembled with high coverage using Illumina sequencing data and is 15,806 bp long in size. The base composition is 37.8% for A, 12.5% for C, 6.4% for G and 43.3% for T. The mitogenome contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The phylogeny showed that it was closely related to Camponotus atrox (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with high bootstrap value supported. The mitogenome of P. dives can provide essential DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Simao pine caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus kikuchii (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) and the related phylogenetic analysis.

Dendrolimus kikuchii, the Simao pine caterpillar moth is an economically important forest pest causing great damage to coniferous trees in south China. The whole mitogenome for the moth was sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology. The moth has a total length of 15,422 bp in mitogenome size. The nucleotide composition is biased toward adenine and thymine, accounting for 79.2%: A = 40.7%, T = 38.5%, G = 8.1%, and C = 12.7%. The phylogeny showed that D. kikuchii was closely grouped with D. punctatus, D. tabulaeformis, Euthrix laeta, and Trabala vishnou guttata to form the monophyletic clad for the Lasiocampidae family of Bombycoidea superfamily with strong nodal support.

A novel anti-p21Ras scFv antibody reacting specifically with human tumour cell lines and primary tumour tissues.

BACKGROUND: The ras genes play an important role in the development and progression of human tumours. Neutralizing Ras proteins in the cytoplasm could be an effective approach to blocking ras signalling. In this study, we prepared anti-p21Ras single chain fragment variable antibody (scFv) and investigated its immunoreactivity with human tumours. METHODS: The coding sequences of H-ras, K-ras, and N-ras were separately ligated into the vector pET-28a(+). Then, recombinant expressing plasmids were induced by IPTG for p21Ras expression in E. coli. Hybridoma cell lines producing anti-p21Ras monoclonal antibodies were isolated using wildtype p21Ras proteins as immunogens. Anti-p21Ras scFv antibody was prepared from the hybridoma by the phage scFv display method. The immunoreactivity of the anti-p21Ras monoclonal antibody and the scFv antibody was identified by ELISA and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: We prokaryotically expressed wildtype H-p21Ras, K-p21Ras and N-p21Ras and generated the hybridoma cell line KGH-R1, producing anti-p21Ras monoclonal antibodies. It was demonstrated that KGH-R1 monoclonal antibody could recognize wildtype and mutated H-p21Ras, K-p21Ras and N-p21Ras in human tumour cell lines. In all 14 types of primary human cancer tissues tested, the monoclonal antibody presented strong immunoreactivity but showed weak or negative immunoreactivity in the corresponding normal tissues. Subsequently, we prepared anti-p21Ras scFv from hybridoma KGH-R1, which showed the same immunoreactivity as the original monoclonal antibody. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the nucleotides and amino acids of the scFv exhibited an approximately 50 % difference from the anti-p21Ras scFv reported previously. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a novel anti-p21Ras scFv antibody. Our data suggest that the scFv may be useful for ras signalling blockage and may be a potential therapeutic antibody for ras-derived tumours.

[DNA Barcode Screening and Identifying for Anredera cordifolia and Its Related Species].

Objective: To identify Anredera cordifolia and its closely related species using the DNA barcode. Methods: 28 individuals of Anredera cordifolia and its close related species were collected from different habitats. ITS and ITS2 of ribosomal DNA,matK,rbcL and psb A-trn H of chloroplast DNA were amplified and sequenced. The amplification and sequencing success rate,barcoding gap,and NJ trees were used to evaluate the efficiency of species identification. Results: After amplified and sequenced, base deletion was occurred in psb A-trnH sequences of Basella alba. The sequencing success rates of mat K,rbc L,ITS and ITS2 were 100%,100%,78. 75% and64. 28%,respectively. Among the four DNA barcoding sequences,ITS and mat K had remarkable barcoding gap. The NJ tree showed that Anredera cordifolia could differed obviously from its closely related species by ITS and mat K. Conclusion: The sequences of ITS and matK provide an effective and fast tool for the identification and authentication of medicinal plant of Anredera cordifolia and its related species.

Tuberculous abdominal aortic aneurysm with alimentary tract hemorrhage: a case report with medico-legal implications.

An autopsy case of sudden death induced by alimentary tract hemorrhage was presented, which was caused by the unexpected rupture of clinically unrecognized tuberculous abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). The initial diagnosis was made of the syndrome of coronary heart disease and hypertensive disease. The detailed autopsy showed that the alimentary tract hemorrhage was caused by a sudden rupture of the mass after posture changing was ascertained as the cause of death. The diagnosis of TAAA was determined by the autopsy findings. Analysis for the medical dispute of TAAA was described, and the difficulty of the diagnosis and medico-legal implications were also discussed.

Cytotoxic oxepinochromenone and flavonoids from the flower buds of Rosa rugosa.

A new oxepinochromenone, rugosachromenone A (1), seven new flavonoids, rugosaflavonoids A-G (2-8), and 11 known compounds (9-19) were isolated from the flower buds of Rosa rugosa. Compound 1 is found from Nature for the first time. Compound 2 displayed cytotoxicity against NB4, SHSY5Y, and MCF7 cells with IC50 values of 2.2, 2.5, and 2.3 µM, respectively, and 3 was toxic to A549 and MCF7 cells with IC50 values of 1.2 and 2.8 µM, respectively.

Antiviral chromones from the stem of Cassia siamea.

Seven new chromones, siamchromones A-G (1-7), and 12 known chromones (8-19) were isolated from the stems of Cassia siamea. Compounds 1-19 were evaluated for their antitobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) and anti-HIV-1 activities. Compound 6 showed antitobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activity with an inhibition rate of 35.3% and IC50 value of 31.2 µM, which is higher than that of the positive control, ningnamycin. Compounds 1, 10, 13, and 16 showed anti-TMV activities with inhibition rates above 10%. Compounds 4, 6, 13, and 19 showed anti-HIV-1 activities with therapeutic index values above 50.

ER81-shRNA inhibits growth of triple-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in vivo and in vitro.

The lack of effective treatment targets for triple-negative breast cancers make them unfitted for endocrine or HER2 targeted therapy, and their prognosis is poor. Transcription factor ER81, a downstream gene of the HER2, is highly expressed in breast cancer lines, breast atypical hyperplasia and primary breast cancers including triple-negative examples. However, whether and how ER81 affects breast cancer carcinogenesis have remained elusive. We here assessed influence on a triple-negative cell line. ER81-shRNA was employed to silence ER81 expression in the MDA-MB-231 cell line, and MTT, colony-forming assays, and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, colony-forming capability, cell cycle distribution, and cell apoptosis in vitro. MDA-MB-231 cells stably transfected with ER81-shRNA were inoculated into nude mice, and growth inhibition of the cells was observed in vivo. We found that ER81 mRNA and protein expression in MDA-MB-231 cells was noticeably reduced by ER81-shRNA, and that cell proliferation and clonality were decreased significantly. ER81-shRNA further increased cell apoptosis and the residence time in G0/G1 phase, while delaying tumor-formation and growth rate in nude mice. It is concluded that ER81 may play an important role in the progression of breast cancer and may be a potentially valuable target for therapy, especially for triple negative breast cancer.