[Clinical characteristics of 272 437 patients with different histopathological subtypes of primary esophageal malignant tumors].

Objective: To characterize the histopathological subtypes and their clinicopathological parameters of gender and onset age by common, rare and sparse primary esophageal malignant tumors (PEMT). Methods: A total of 272 437 patients with PEMT were enrolled in this study, and all of the patients were received radical surgery. The clinicopathological information of the patients was obtained from the database established by the State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment from September 1973 to December 2020, which included the clinical treatment, pathological diagnosis and follow-up information of esophagus and gastric cardia cancers. All patients were diagnosed and classified by the criteria of esophageal tumor histopathological diagnosis and classification (2019) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The esophageal tumors, which were not included in the WHO classification, were analyzed separately according to the postoperative pathological diagnosis. The χ2 test was performed by the SPSS 25.0 software on count data, and the test standard α=0.05. Results: A total of 32 histopathological types were identified in the enrolled PEMT patients, of which 10 subtypes were not included in the WHO classification. According to the frequency, PEMT were divided into common (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ESCC, accounting for 97.1%), rare (esophageal adenocarcinoma, EAC, accounting for 2.3%) and sparse (mainly esophageal small cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, etc., accounting for 0.6%). All the common, rare, and sparse types occurred predominantly in male patients, and the gender difference of rare type was most significant (EAC, male∶ female, 2.67∶1), followed with common type (ESCC, male∶ female, 1.78∶1) and sparse type (male∶ female, 1.71∶1). The common type (ESCC) mainly occurred in the middle thoracic segment (65.2%), while the rare type (EAC) mainly occurred in the lower thoracic segment (56.8%). Among the sparse type, malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were both predominantly located in the lower thoracic segment (51.7%, 66.7%), and the others were mainly in the middle thoracic segment. Conclusion: ESCC is the most common type among the 32 histopathological types of PEMT, followed by EAC as the rare type, and esophageal small cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma as the major sparse type, and all of which are mainly occur in male patients. The common type of ESCC mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment, while the rare type of EAC mainly in the lower thoracic segment. The mainly sparse type of malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma predominately occur in the lower thoracic segment, and the remaining sparse types mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment.

[Research progress of alpha-fetoprotein vaccine in hepatocellular carcinoma].

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth world's largest malignant tumor, which seriously endangers human health. The commonly used treatment effects are not satisfactory and the mortality rate is still high. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective adjuvant treatment to improve patient survival. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) acts as the most common tumor marker used for HCC diagnosis. Studies have shown that alpha-fetoprotein can self-induce T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and its immunogenic antigenic epitopes provide new ideas for the study of AFP vaccine. Presently, a variety of AFP vaccines have been developed, such as DC vaccine, DNA vaccine, and peptide vaccine, which have been successfully applied to HCC mouse model and phase I /II clinical trials, with evident results. This article discusses the molecular mechanism, categories and application prospects of AFP vaccine in HCC.

[Safety and efficacy of percutaneous intervention for children with combined congenital heart abnormality solely guided by transthoracic echocardiography].

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous intervention of children with combined congenital heart abnormality solely guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) . Methods: From September 2015 to June 2017, 21 children with combined congenital heart abnormality undergoing percutaneous interventional guided by TTE in Fuwai hospital were enrolled in our study, and the clinical data were retrospective analyzed. The atrial septal defect(ASD) closure, ventricular septal defect(VSD) closure, patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) closure or balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty were performed under the guidance of TTE. The procedural effect was evaluated by TTE after operation. The patients were followed up after discharged from the hospital. Results: The age was (37.3±11.6) months, and there were 9 male and 12 female patients. There were 4 cases with ASD and VSD, 6 cases with VSD and PDA, 6 cases with ASD and PDA, 2 cases with VSD and pulmonary stenosis, 3 cases with ASD and pulmonary stenosis. The operations were successfully performed in all patients. No one required extra X ray guidance or open heart surgery. The operation time was (44.6±7.5)min. All patients did not require blood transfusion, inotropic support, and analgesia. There were no complications such as peripheral vascular injury and pericardialeffusion after the operation. The length of hospital stay time was (3.5±0.6) days. All patients were recovered well. The follow-up was (17.6±5.2) months, and post-procedural conduction disturbances, residual shunts, occlude fall off, thrombosis, and new onset of valvular regurgitation were not observed in these patients. Conclusion: Percutaneous interventional of children with combined congenital heart abnormality solely guided by TTE is safe and effective, and the procedure can avoid the potential injuries of X ray and contrast agent.

[Effects of three-dimensional computed tomography angiography-assisted free medial sural artery perforator flap in repairing foot wounds].

Objective: To investigate the effects of three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA)-assisted free medial sural artery perforator flap in repairing foot wounds. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From May 2018 to August 2021, 18 patients with foot soft tissue defects who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Spine and Trauma Orthopedics of the Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, including 13 males and 5 females, aged 19 to 55 years, with a wound area of 4.0 cm×3.0 cm-9.0 cm×8.0 cm at admission. Before the operation, CT scanner was used to scan the area from the supracondylar femur to the middle segment of the fibula of patients, and the obtained data were extracted into the Mimics16.0 software and analyzed to determine the pre-selected perforator, and then the image data of the pre-selected perforator side were analyzed further, and the body surface projection position of the perforating point of the medial sural artery in the calf region was marked. Based on the above examination, the flap was designed and cut according to the shape and area of the patient's foot tissue defect, and the area of flaps ranged from 5.0 cm×4.0 cm to 10.0 cm×9.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly or covered by skin grafting. The type of perforator, the diameters of perforator at the beginning and outlet point, and the location of the outlet point of perforator of the medial sural artery were observed under 3D-CTA examination before operation and compared to see if they were consistent with the observation under intraoperative condition. The survival of the flaps after operation was recorded. During follow-up, the satisfaction of patients with the wound repair effects, the sensory recovery of the recipient flaps, the healing of the donor wound, and whether there were complications affecting limb functions were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed with Kappa consistency test and equivalence test, and the 95% confidence intervals of measurement difference of perforator diameter and outlet point position of perforator were -0.50-0.50 mm and -2.0-2.0 cm, respectively. Results: The types of medial sural artery perforators observed during operation were type Ⅰ in 3 cases, type ⅡA in 6 cases, type ⅡB in 8 cases, and type Ⅲ in 1 case, which was consistent with the results of 3D-CTA before operation (Kappa=1.00, P<0.05). The blood vessel diameter detected by 3D-CTA before operation at the beginning of perforator of medial sural artery was (1.81±0.39) mm, and the blood vessel diameter at the outlet point of the perforator was (0.83±0.21) mm, which were close to the actual intraoperative measurement of (1.83±0.43) and (0.86±0.22) mm, respectively; equivalence test showed that the 95% confidence intervals of the measurement differences of diameter of medial sural artery perforator at beginning and outlet point were -0.18-0.22 and -0.08-0.14 mm, respectively, with both P values <0.05. The preoperative 3D-CTA detected that the perforating position at the deep fascia of the perforator of the medial sural artery, namely the vertical distance with the popliteal fold was (12.2±1.4) cm, and the horizontal distance with the posterior midline was (2.6±0.7) cm, which were respectively close to the actual intraoperative measurement of (12.4±1.4) and (2.6±0.7) cm; equivalence test showed that the 95% confidence intervals of the measurement differences in the vertical distance with the popliteal fold and the horizontal distance with the posterior midline of the outlet point of medial sural artery perforator were -1.06-1.26 and -0.46-0.66 cm, respectively, with both P values <0.05. After surgery, all flaps of 18 patients survived without vascular crisis. After 1 year of follow-up, the satisfaction degree of 16 patients was excellent and 2 patients was good with the wound repair effects, with a satisfaction ratio of 16/18; the sensory recovery of flap was evaluated as S3 in 11 cases and S2 in 7 cases; the donor wounds healed well without obvious scar or contracture, with no effect on limb joint functions. Conclusions: The medial sural artery perforator flap achieved good results in repairing foot wound with high degree of patient satisfaction. Preoperative application of 3D-CTA can realize the standardization, systematization, and visualization of artery perforator flap.

MiR-200c inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of Wilms tumor cells by regulating akt signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-200c on the proliferation and apoptosis of Wilms tumor cells, and to further elucidate its potential mechanisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression level of miR-200c in cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues of 20 patients with Wilms tumor. Human primary Wilms tumor cells were taken as research objects, and were divided into Control group and miR-200c mimic group. In miR-200c mimic group, miR-200c was overexpressed in Wilms tumor cells using liposome transfection technology. Subsequently, the proliferation and apoptosis of cells in each group were observed by functional assays. The expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), total Akt (T-Akt) and glucose transporter protein type 1 (GLUT1) in each group of cells were finally detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: In Wilms tumor patients, the expression level of miR-200c in cancer tissues was notably lower than that in adjacent normal tissues (p<0.05). Wilms tumor cells were cultured in vitro, and were transfected with miR-200c mimic. Subsequent cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay results showed that the proliferation ability of cells in miR-200c mimic group was remarkably weakened (p<0.05). Colony formation assay indicated the number of formed colonies in miR-200c mimic group was remarkably less than that in Control group (p<0.05). Western blotting results manifested that overexpression of miR-200c markedly increased the ratio of B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) to Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) (p<0.05). Flow cytometry results revealed that miR-200c overexpression significantly elevated the apoptosis rate of Wilms tumor cells (p<0.05). In addition, it was discovered that the overexpression of miR-200c could prominently reduce the phosphorylation level of intracellular Akt and the expression of its downstream protein GLUT1. Finally, immunohistochemical staining results verified that the expression levels of p-Akt and GLUT1 in cancer tissues of Wilms tumor patients were significantly higher than those in adjacent normal tissues (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MiR-200c was lowly expressed in cancer tissues of Wilms tumor patients. Besides, overexpression of miR-200c inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of cells through targeted inhibition of the Akt/GLUT1 signaling pathway.

Antitumour and antimicrobial activities of endophytic streptomycetes from pharmaceutical plants in rainforest.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to screen antitumour and antimicrobial activities of endophytic actinomycetes isolated from pharmaceutical plants in rainforest in Yunnan province, China. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antitumour activity was studied by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and antimicrobial activity was determined by agar well diffusion method. The high bioactive endophytic isolates were identified and further investigated for the presence of polyketide synthases (PKS-I, PKS-II) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) sequences by specific amplification. The molecular identification confirmed that the 41 isolates showed significant activities were members of the genus Streptomyces. Among them, 31.7% of endophytic streptomycete cultures were cytotoxic against A549 cells, 29.3% against HL-60 cells, 85.4% against BEL-7404 cells, 90.2% against P388D1 cells, 65.9% were active against Escherichia coli, 24.4% against Staphylococcus aureus, 31.7% against Staphylococcus epidermidis, 12.2% against Candida albicans and no strain displayed antagonistic activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae. High frequencies of positive PCR amplification were obtained for PKS-I (34.1%), PKS-II (63.4%) and NRPS (61.0%) biosynthetic systems. CONCLUSIONS: Many endophytic streptomycetes isolated from pharmaceutical plants in rainforest possess remarkable and diverse antitumour and antimicrobial bioactivities. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These endophytic streptomycetes are precious resources obtained from rainforests, and they could be a promising source for bioactive agents.

[Three dimensional reconstruction measurement study of palatal contour changes in different bone ages after rapid maxillary expansion].

Objective: To compare dental and skeletal changes after rapid maxillary expansion in patients with different bone ages. Methods: Thirty-seven patients in different growth period were divided into three groups according to cervical vertebral maturation (CVM). There were 13 patients in the growth acceleration group, 13 patients in growth peak group, and 11 patients in growth deceleration group. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were segmented and reconstructed using Mimics image processing software to assess the change of palatal morphology before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0 software. Results: After the expansion the posterior teeth and alveolar bone were tilted and the mid-palatal suture was opened in all three groups. The first molar angle in the three groups decreased by 2.66°±1.04°, 3.53°±0.81° and 12.32°±1.64°, respectively and no significant difference was found between the acceleration group and the peak group (P >0.05), but the changes in the acceleration group and the peak groups were significantly less than that in the deceleration group (P<0.05). The palatal angle in the three groups increased by 6.01° ± 2.06°, 4.79° ± 1.31° and 6.73° ± 1.71°, respectively and no significant difference was found between the acceleration group and the deceleration group (P>0.05), but the changes in the acceleration group and the deceleration group were significantly greater than that in the peak group (P<0.05). The palatal cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) width, the middle palate width and the mid-palatal suture width in the three groups increased by (7.37 ± 1.31), (6.68 ± 0.72) and (5.13 ± 1.42) mm; (5.72±1.68), (4.82±1.66) and (3.42±1.15) mm; (3.14±0.45), (2.98±0.51) and (0.96±0.83) mm, respectively and no significant difference was found between the acceleration group and the peak group (P >0.05), but the changes in the acceleration group and the peak group were significantly greater than that in the deceleration group (P <0.05). Conclusions: The mid-palatal suture could be opened in patients in different CVM period. More skeletal and less dental effects were found in patients in the growth acceleration and peek group than in those in the growth deceleration group and the inclination of the alveolar bone could be avoided to a greater degree in patients in the growth peek group.

Safe separation of sputum cells from mucoid glycoprotein.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of homogenizing sputum with deoxyribonuclease I (DNAse I), dithiothreitol (DTT), N-acetyl-L-cysteine, sodium EDTA and trypsin against standard mechanical blending to provide mucus-free, single-cell suspensions for quantitative analysis. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical sputum specimens or cultured human bronchogenic carcinoma cells were preserved in 2% polyethylene glycol/50% ethanol, divided into aliquots, counted and stained (Papanicolaou and avidin-biotin complex immunostained) at baseline. Cells of each aliquot were separated from mucus by the standard physical blending method or by chemical or enzymatic mucus liquefaction. After staining, washing and resuspending in the original volume of polyethylene glycol/ethanol mixture, aliquots were again counted and stained. RESULTS: Cell counts, Papanicolaou staining and immunostaining showed that homogenization of induced, preserved sputum with 0.5 mM DTT is safe and provides mucus-free monolayers for immunocytochemistry and single-cell suspensions for flow cytometry. Mucolysis with 0.5 mM DTT resulted in a significant (16%) increase in cells available. In contrast, mechanical blending resulted in up to a 24% reduction in specimen cellularity. CONCLUSION: Homogenization with low-concentration DTT will probably facilitate the exploration of sputum for protein and gene markers of carcino genesis.

[Genetic analysis for introgressive genes of petal color from Gossypium bickii to G. hirsutum L].

The character of red petals with a large basal spot was transferred from Gossypium bickii into G. hirsutum L., and the pure lines (HBRL) with the character were obtained by Liang Zhenglan in 1988. Results of genetic analysis for G. hirsutum pure line of red petals (R3bic) and large basal spot (R2bic) were reported in the present study. The large basal spot was dominant to the small basal-spot and spotlessness of G. hirsutum. R2bic was shown to be allelic to R2 of G. hirsutum, and R2bic, R2 and r2 were multiple alleles. R2bic was found to be linked with Lc1, and linkage between R2bic and Lc1 was estimated at 37.31 +/- 2.44 centimorgans, The red petal (R3bic) was epistatic dominance to the yellow petal (Y1) and cream petal (y1), and R3bic is closely linked with R2bic. It is proposed that the introgressive gene of the large basal spot from G. bickii into G. hirsutum be assigned gene symbol R2bic, and the red petals be given the gene symbol R3bic.

[Study of the charge transfer reaction between clotrimazolum and alizarin red].

The charge transfer reaction between clotrimazolum and alizarin red was studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction was achieved with good results in water-acetone solution. The apparent molar absorptivity is 8.7 x 10(3) L.mol-1.cm-1 at 525 nm. The Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 0-100 micrograms.mL-1 of clotrimazolum. The composition of the complex is 1:1. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the determination of clotrimazolum tablets.

[Effects of permanent magnetic field on DNA metabolism of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts in vitro].

In order to investigate the biological effects of permanent magnetic field on cell's DNA metabolism, human periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts in vitro were treated in a DC electromagnetic field with strength of 0.14T. The microscopic-spectrum quantitative analysis showed that in once-everyday-treating group, the DNA contents in cells increased if they were treated 10, 40, 60 and 120 minutes everyday in one week and the longer the treating time lasted, the more remarkably the DNA contents increased. But in the other two groups, in which cells were treated once every other day as well as one time in one week, no remarkable changes were found. It indicated that 0.14T magnetic field has a time-delayed effect and an accumulation effect on PDL cell's DNA metabolism. When the threshold was achieved, it could promote the cell's DNA synthesis.

Inhibition of formalin-induced responses of spinal dorsal horn neurons by stimulation of lateral reticular nucleus in rats.

The effects of stimulation of the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) on responses of spinal dorsal horn neurons produced by formalin (5%, 50 microliters, sc) were investigated. In 12 out of 19 neurons tested, formalin induced 2 distinct phases of response. The first phase was initiated immediately after the injection of formalin and lasted for 3-8 min. The second phase started gradually 20-35 min after administration of formalin and lasted 30-65 min. Both phases of the response were inhibited by LRN stimulation.

[Preparation and evaluation of anti-human growth hormone immunoserum].

Using small dosage of human growth hormone to immunize rabbit or guinea pig, it is able to induce anti-hGH antibody formation with high titre and high affinity that could be applied to hGH RIA. In the present study five rabbits and three guinea pigs were immunized with 125-200 micrograms and 250-285 micrograms per animal of hGH respectively, followed by boosters of 10-20 or 160-250 micrograms of hGH at 2-4 week intervals for 6 or 3 months. Blood was drown 1-2 weeks before each booster for determination of antibody formation. Antibody titre and affinity were successively observed and specificity of antibody was determined for the final bleeding. It was shown that titres of immune sera from guinea pigs were much higher than those of rabbit immune sera, but vice versa for antibody affinity. This might be due to larger immunogen dose used for guinea pigs than for rabbits. Fourteen different peptide hormones were tested in reference to cross-immunoreactivity to anti-hGH antibody. It could be demonstrated that the major cross-reactive hormones are hFSH and hLH, and hTSH also reacts to rabbit anti-hGH immune sera at a lesser degree. These cross reactivities are obviously owing to the molecular homogeneities between hGH and these hormones especially of their alpha-subunits.