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Abstract Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of monolayer suture combined with a hem-o-lok clip during partial nephrectomy among patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods Eighty patients with RCC underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy from January to October 2021. They were assigned into a control group and an intervention group, each with 40 cases using random number table. The control group received double-layer sutures on the wound, while the intervention group had single-layer sutures with a hem-o-lok clip for hemostasis. The study compared operative indexes and postoperative recovery of the two groups. Results Intraoperative bleeding and warm ischemia time in the intervention group were significantly shorter than that in the control group. There were no significant differences in operation time, drainage volume on the first day after operation, and hospital stay between the two groups. Before operation, there were no significant differences in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen between the two groups. However, 24 h post-operation, both groups experienced a significant increase in these levels, with the intervention group showing lower levels than the control group. Changes in glomerular filtration rate were significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group. Complication rates were similar, with 7.5% in the research group and 10.0% in the control group. Conclusion Monolayer suture combined with a hem-o-lok clip can shorten the time of warm ischemia, reduce intraoperative bleeding and the loss of normal renal parenchyma in patients undergoing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. More studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm the results.

Plant calmodulins (CaMs) and calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) mediate Ca2+ signaling in response to abiotic stresses. Manipulation of this signaling in crops could increase stress tolerance. We review methods for detecting Ca2+ signals, regulatory roles of CaMs and CMLs, binding targets, and Ca2+ networks under abiotic stress in organelles.

BackgroundFibromyalgia (FM) is a common illness with a wide range of symptoms, mainly manifested by unexplained chronic systemic musculoskeletal pain, sleep disorders and fatigue, sometimes accompanied by cognitive impairment, psychiatric symptoms and autonomic dysfunction. Previous studies have indicated a correlation between depression and the risk of FM; however, it remains uncertain whether this association reflects a causal relationship.MethodsWe evaluated the etiological association between the genetically predicted depression and the risk of developing FM by conducting a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study. The data on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to depression were obtained from the UK Biobank (UKB) and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) of White British European ancestry, and the data for FM were from the 5th release of the FinnGen study. We adopted the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) approach as the principal standard. In order to detect the existence of horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity, we adopted the MR-Egger approach as the sensitivity analysis.ResultsIn our MR analysis, 42 depression-related variants were identified as valid instrumental variables (IVs). The IVW approach’s results manifest that there is no etiologic causality between genetically predicted depression and the risk of FM (odds ratio [OR]: 1.673, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.852—3.287, P = 0.135). The study did not find any significant heterogeneities or horizontal pleiotropies (P > 0.05).ConclusionsOur results suggest that there is no significant genetic evidence linking depression to an increased risk of FM. However, further research is necessary to investigate the potential relationship and underlying mechanisms between depression and the risk of FM.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of banana intake during hemodialysis on serum potassium levels in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods: This study was a single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted from September 15 to December 15, 2021, at a tertiary hospital in southern China. A total of 126 MHD patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 64) or the control group (n = 62). Patients in the intervention group consumed approximately 250 g of bananas during hemodialysis, while those in the control group did not consume any food during hemodialysis. Demographic information and hemodialysis-related parameters were collected through case information collection before hemodialysis. Laboratory indicators (such as complete blood count, biochemical indicators, inflammation markers, liver function, kidney function, etc.) were evaluated by collecting pre-hemodialysis blood samples from patients. Serum potassium and blood glucose levels were measured at 2 h and 4 h of hemodialysis, as well as before the next hemodialysis session, and hemodialysis-related complications were recorded. The blood potassium and blood glucose indicators during hemodialysis were compared using repeated measures analysis. Results: A total of 122 MHD patients completed the study (61 in each group). The results showed that there was no significant interaction between group and time on serum potassium levels. However, serum potassium levels in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group at 2 h (3.9 ± 0.5 mmol/L vs. 3.6 ± 0.3 mmol/L, P

Abstract Background SIRPB1 expression is upregulated in various tumor types, including gliomas, and is known to contribute to tumor progression; nevertheless, its function in the immune milieu of gliomas is still mainly unknown. Methods This study, we analyzed 1152 normal samples from the GTEx database and 670 glioma samples from the TCGA database to investigate the relationship between the expression of SIRPB1 and clinicopathological features. Moreover, SIRPB1 gene knockout THP-1 cell lines were constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 and were induced into a co-culture of macrophages and glioma cells in vitro to learn more about the role of SIRPB1 in the glioma immune milieu. Lastly, we established a prognostic model to predict the effect of SIRPB1 on prognosis. Results Significantly higher levels of SIRPB1 expression were found in gliomas, which had an adverse effect on the immune milieu and correlated poorly with patient survival. SIRPB1 activation with certain antibodies results in SYK phosphorylation and the subsequent activation of calcium, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways. This phenomenon is primarily observed in myeloid-derived cells as opposed to glioma cells. In vitro co-culture demonstrated that macrophages with SIRPB1 knockout showed decreased IL1RA, CCL2, and IL-8, which were recovered upon ectopic expression of SIRPB1 but reduced again following treatment with SYK inhibitor GS9973. Critically, a lower overall survival rate was linked to increased SIRPB1 expression. Making use of SIRPB1 expression along with additional clinicopathological variables, we established a nomogram that showed a high degree of prediction accuracy. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that glioma cells can be activated by macrophages via SIRPB1, subsequently reprogramming the TME, suggesting that SIRPB1 could serve as a promising therapeutic target for gliomas.

In order to investigate the changes in volatile compounds of Morchella esculenta during drying treatments, the volatile compounds of fresh, vaccum freezed-dried, and hot air-dried Morchella esculenta from two different parts (the pileus and stipe) were compared and analyzed by electronic nose combined with headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (HS-GC-IMS) techniques. The principal component analysis (PCA) of electronic nose data showed that the drying treatment significantly changed the volatile profiles of Morchella esculenta regardless of the sampling parts. The HS-GC-IMS analysis yielded a total of 41 volatile flavor compounds, and abundant amounts of alcohols (40.02%~50.76%), esters (15.82%~25.66%), and aldehydes (18.24%~20.33%) were observed for the fresh sample. Furthermore, the drying treatments resulted in the reduction of alcohols and esters in fresh Morchella esculenta, specifically by 27.39% to 33.51% and 62.14% to 68.51% respectively, while the total contents of ketones and pyrazines increased significantly (P

Primary atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs) in the spinal canal are rare central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms that are challenging to diagnose and treat. To date, there has been no standard treatment regimen for these challenging malignant tumors. Thus, we conducted this research to explore potential prognostic factors and feasible treatment modalities for improving the prognosis of these tumors. Articles were retrieved from the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases, using the keywords “atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor,” “rhabdoid tumor,” “spine,” “spinal,” “spinal neoplasm”, and “spinal cord neoplasm.” All eligible cases demonstrated SMARCB1-deficient expression validated by pathological examination. We collected and analyzed data related to clinical presentation, radiological features, pathological characteristics, treatment modalities and prognosis via Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Thirty-six articles comprising 58 spinal AT/RT patients were included in the study. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 18 and 22 months, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significant survival improvements for OS in the nonmetastasis, male, radiotherapy and intrathecal chemotherapy groups as well as for PFS in the chemotherapy and radiotherapy groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were prognostic factors for improved PFS, and that intrathecal chemotherapy reduced the risk of mortality. Spinal AT/RTs are uncommon malignant entities with a dismal survival rate. Although our review is limited by variability between cases, there is some evidence revealing potential risk factors and the importance of systematic chemotherapy, intrathecal chemotherapy and radiotherapy in spinal AT/RT treatment modalities.

Glycogen, a highly branched polysaccharide of essential energy and carbon resource, is an important flavor quality trait of oysters, and its content is closely linked to the reproductive cycle of these mollusks. However, there is a significant lack of research on the regulatory mechanisms governing glycogen in oysters. Here, we investigated the variations in glycogen levels during the reproductive cycle of Jinjiang oyster Crassostrea (Magallana) ariakensis. It revealed that glycogen content was highest during the formative stage and lowest during the mature stage in gonadal tissues. Subsequently, transcriptome and metabolome analyses were conducted, revealing 3016 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 162 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Comprehensive analysis indicated that glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, glycolysis, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle played crucial roles in energy supply during the formative stage. Gluconeogenesis was more important during the mature stage as it facilitated glycogen storage for reproduction preparation. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying gonad development-related glycogen metabolism and offer a theoretical foundation for enhancing oyster flavor.

Abstract Background Cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK-2) is an important regulatory factor in the G1/S phase transition. CDK-2 targeting has been shown to suppress the viability of multiple cancers. However, the exploration and application of a CDK-2 inhibitor in the treatment of glioblastoma are sparse. Methods We synthesized P129 based on isolongifolanone, a natural product with anti-tumor activity. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to predict the structural stability, affinity, and pharmacological and toxicological properties of P129. Binding analysis and CETSA verified the ability of P129 to target CDK-2. The effect of P129 on the biological behavior of glioma cells was analyzed by the cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and other experiments. Western blotting was used to detect the expression changes of proteins involved in the cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Results Bioinformatics analysis and CETSA showed that P129 exhibited good intestinal absorption and blood–brain barrier penetrability together with high stability and affinity with CDK-2, with no developmental toxicity. The viability, proliferation, and migration of human glioma cells were significantly inhibited by P129 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and western blotting analyses showed G0/G1 arrest and lower CDK-2 expression in cells treated with P129 than in the controls. The apoptotic ratio of glioma cells increased significantly with increasing concentrations of P129 combined with karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis. Apoptosis occurred via the mitochondrial pathway. Conclusion The pyrazole ring-containing isolongifolanone derivate P129 exhibited promising anti-glioma activity by targeting CDK-2 and promoting apoptosis, indicating its potential importance as a new chemotherapeutic option for glioma.

Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.) has been used in the production of bakery goods either as a functional ingredient or a natural flavoring that, when roasted, exerts a fragrant rice-like aroma and an attractive green color. This study elucidated the typical aroma compounds from pandan leaves and explored the influence of thermal treatments on their aroma profiles using GC-O-MS, E-nose, and GC-IMS analyses. The effects of formulation and baking conditions on the qualities of pandan-flavored sponge cake were comprehensively evaluated through a holistic approach covering several aspects including cake batter gravity, color, texture, and sensory characteristics. The baking treatment introduced more types of pleasant aromas (9 aromas vs. 17 aromas) and increased the odor intensities of the original volatile compounds, especially for the roasted and steamed rice-like odors. The increased amount of pandan flavoring reshaped the color of the cake crumb (especially for the L* and a* spaces) and significantly decreased the hardness (3.87 N to 1.01 N), gumminess (3.81 N to 0.67 N), and chewiness (13.22 mJ to 4.56 mJ) of the sponge cake. The perceived intensities of bitterness and sweetness can be adjusted by modulating the levels of 2-phenylethanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, hexyl alcohol, and decanal, along with the total alcohols and aldehydes, due to their significant correlations revealed by correlation heatmap analyses.

Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) polysaccharides were modified by ultrasound at the rated power of 150 W and 900 W. The monosaccharide composition, ultraviolet-visible, and Fourier transform infrared spectral characteristics of F. velutipes polysaccharides (FVP) and their ultrasonic modification products (U-FVPs) were determined. The protective effects of FVP and U-FVPs on human gastric mucosal cells GES-1 were confirmed for the first time. The mole ratios of glucose and galactose were decreased and the mole ratio of mannose was increased after ultrasonic modification. Compared with the original FVP and the FVP modified by ultrasound of 150 W (U-FVP1), the FVP modified by ultrasound of 900 W (U-FVP2) could better prevent ethanol-induced damage to GES-1 cells. With increasing ultrasound intensity, the protective effect of FVPs on GES-1 cells was significantly enhanced by more effective prevention of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and more promotion of expression of triglyceride factor 2 (TFF2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA. The ultrasonic modification might be an effective way to develop novel F. velutipes polysaccharides that could effectively resist the gastric injury caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Abstract The templating method holds great promise for fabricating surface nanopatterns. To enhance the manufacturing capabilities of complex surface nanopatterns, it is important to explore new modes of the templates beyond their conventional masking and molding modes. Here, we employed the metal-organic framework (MOF) microparticles assembled monolayer films as templates for metal electrodeposition and revealed a previously unidentified guiding growth mode enabling the precise growth of metallic films exclusively underneath the MOF microparticles. The guiding growth mode was induced by the fast ion transportation within the nanochannels of the MOF templates. The MOF template could be repeatedly used, allowing for the creation of identical metallic surface nanopatterns for multiple times on different substrates. The MOF template-guided electrochemical growth mode provided a robust route towards cost-effective fabrication of complex metallic surface nanopatterns with promising applications in metamaterials, plasmonics, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing fields.

Coffee pulp wines were produced through the mixed fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the flavor and sensory characteristics were comparatively evaluated. A total of 87 volatile components were identified from five coffee pulp wines, of which 68 were present in all samples, accounting for over 99% of the total concentration. The sample fermented contained significantly higher levels of volatile metabolites (56.80 mg/g). Alcohols (22 species) and esters (26 species) were the main flavor components, with the contents accounting for 56.45 ± 3.93% and 31.18 ± 4.24%, respectively, of the total. Furthermore, 14 characteristic components were identified as potential odor-active compounds, contributing to sweet and floral apple brandy flavor. Although the characteristic components are similar, the difference in the content makes the overall sensory evaluation of the samples different. The samples formed by fermentation of four strains, which obtained the highest score (86.46 ± 0.36) in sensory evaluation, were further interpreted and demonstrated through the Mantel test. The results of the component analysis were effectively distinguished by OPLS-DA and PCA, and this validation was supported by sensory evaluation. The research results provided a technical reference for the production of coffee pulp wines.

Zn–Ag alloys are recently regarded as highly promising biodegradable materials for medical applications, but they suffer from inferior mechanical properties. In this work, a Zn-0.5Ag-0.08Mg (wt.%) alloy with high strength and ductility was obtained by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Zn-0.5Ag-0.08Mg samples were ECAP processed for six different passes (1P, 2P, 3P, 4P, 8P, and 12P) to investigate the effect of ECAP on the microstructure and mechanical properties. Samples processed for 3P, 4P, 8P, and 12P exhibit mechanical properties satisfying the application requirements. The sample processed for 4P possesses the largest ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 388.1 MPa, accompanied by an excellent elongation (EL) of 45.3%. The sample processed for 12P shows the best EL of 58.3%, along with a high UTS of 332.5 MPa. The high strength is attributed to grain boundary strengthening and dislocation strengthening. The high ductility is closely related to relatively weak texture, grain refinement, and twin boundary suppression.

Abstract Background Immunocheckpoint inhibitor(ICI) is a major breakthrough in tumor treatment. It can activate the patient’s own immune system and play an anti-tumor role, but not all patients can benefit from it. At present, there is still a lack of effective biomarkers to guide clinical application. The systemic immune inflammation(SII) index reflects the systemic inflammatory state and immune state of patients. Prognostic nutrition index(PNI) can be used to evaluate immune status of patients. Therefore, SII and PNI indexes may have some value in predicting the efficacy and prognosis of immunotherapy, but there is still a lack of relevant research. The purpose of our study was to explore the influence of SII and PNI index on the efficacy and prognosis of immunotherapy. Methods A total of 1935 patients treated with ICIs treatment in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from November 2016 to October 2021 were retrospectively collected. 435 patients who met the inclusion criteria and did not meet the exclusion criteria. The imaging data, blood results of each patient were collected within 1 week before ICIs treatment. The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio(PLR), monocyte lymphocyte ratio(MLR), PNI,systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI),neutrophil-eosinophil ratio(NER) was calculated. The patients were followed up by in-patient, out-patient reexamination and telephone contact, and the efficacy evaluation and survival status were recorded. The deadline of follow-up: January 2021. SPSS-24.0 software was employed for statistical analysis. Results Among the 435 patients receiving ICI treatment, 61,236 and 138 patients were evaluated respectively as partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). The overall response rate(ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of this cohort were 14.0% and 68.3%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) is 4.0 months, The overall survival (mOS) of this cohort is 6.8 months. Multivariate analysis showed that SIRI(Hazard Ratio, HR = 1.304, P = 0.014), PNI (HR = 0.771, P = 0.019), prealbumin (PAB) (HR = 0.596, P = 0.001), and PNI(HR = 0.657, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for PFS and OS, respectively. Conclusions Patients with high SIRI value and low PNI value before ICI treatment have shorter PFS. Patients with higher PNI value have better prognosis. Therefore, hematological indicators may become predictors of immunotherapy.

Abstract Background and Aims The mortality rate associated with malignant tumors remains high and there is a lack of effective diagnostic and tumor progression markers. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can promote tumor‐associated thrombosis, invasive metastasis, and inflammatory responses, but there is a lack of research on the value of measuring NETs in the peripheral blood of patients with malignancies. Methods We included 263 patients with malignancies (55 gliomas, 101 ovarian, 64 colorectal, and 43 lung cancers) and 75 healthy controls in this study. We compared the levels of citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), cell‐free DNA (cfDNA), and systemic inflammation‐related parameters, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammation index, and systemic inflammation response index. We assessed the value of changes in NETs in peripheral blood to determine the diagnosis, venous thromboembolism, clinical staging, and systemic inflammatory response in patients with malignancy. Results The levels of citH3 and cfDNA in peripheral blood can distinguish between healthy controls and tumor patients. The levels of citH3 and cfDNA before clinical intervention did not predict the risk of combined venous thromboembolism in oncology patients in the short‐term after clinical intervention. The levels of citH3, cfDNA, and systemic inflammation‐related parameters in the peripheral blood of tumor patients increased with the clinical stage. There was a correlation between cfDNA levels in peripheral blood and systemic inflammation‐related parameters in tumor patients, and this correlation was more significant in patients with advanced tumors. Conclusions Changes in NETs in the peripheral blood differ between healthy controls and patients with malignant tumors. NETs may be involved in tumor‐induced systemic inflammatory responses through interaction with circulating inflammatory cells, thus promoting tumor progression. NETs may be used as markers to assist in the diagnosis and progression of tumor malignancy.

As a major global health concern, coronary artery disease (CAD) demands precise, noninvasive diagnostic methods like cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for effective assessment and management, balancing the need for accurate disease severity evaluation with improved treatment decision-making. Our objective was to develop and validate a nomogram based on CPET parameters for noninvasively predicting the severity of CAD, thereby assisting clinicians in more effectively assessing patient conditions. This study analyzed 525 patients divided into training (367) and validation (183) cohorts, identifying key CAD severity indicators using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. A predictive nomogram was developed, evaluated by average consistency index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA), confirming its reliability and clinical applicability. In our study, out of 25 variables, 6 were identified as significant predictors for CAD severity. These included age (OR = 1.053, P

BackgroundThe development of endometrial cancer (EC) is closely related to the abnormal activation of the estrogen signaling pathway. Effective diagnostic markers are important for the early detection and treatment of EC.MethodWe downloaded single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptome (ST) data of EC from public databases. Enrichment scores were calculated for EC cell subpopulations using the "AddModuleScore" function and the AUCell package, respectively. Six predictive models were constructed, including logistic regression (LR), Gaussian naive Bayes (GaussianNB), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and neural network (NK). Subsequently, receiver-operating characteristics with areas under the curves (AUCs) were used to assess the robustness of the predictive model.ResultWe classified EC cell coaggregation into six cell clusters, of which the epithelial, fibroblast and endothelial cell clusters had higher estrogen signaling pathway activity. We founded the epithelial cell subtype Epi cluster1, the fibroblast cell subtype Fib cluster3, and the endothelial cell subtype Endo cluster3 all showed early activation levels of estrogen response. Based on EC cell subtypes, estrogen-responsive early genes, and genes encoding Stage I and para-cancer differentially expressed proteins in EC patients, a total of 24 early diagnostic markers were identified. The AUCs values of all six classifiers were higher than 0.95, which indicates that the early diagnostic markers we screened have superior robustness across different classification algorithms.ConclusionOur study elucidates the potential biological mechanism of EC response to estrogen at single-cell resolution, which provides a new direction for early diagnosis of EC.

The 3D printing (3DP) technology shows great potential in the food industry, but the development of edible ink is currently insufficient. Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) emerges as a novel promising candidate. In this study, a mixed ink was obtained by incorporating butter into P. ostreatus. The effects of different ratios of P. ostreatus and butter, as well as the influence of ink steaming were investigated on 3D printed products. The results indicated that all inks of the P. ostreatus system exhibited positive shear-thinning behavior, and the system maintained stable intermolecular hydrogen bonding when P. ostreatus powder concentration was 40 % (w/v). Furthermore, the L* value of the system was elevated for butter adding. The system with steaming exhibited superior stabilized molecular structure compared to the native system, particularly with a steaming duration of 5 min, showcasing its outstanding supporting capacity. This study suggests that P. ostreatus is a promising candidate in 3DP for the development of an edible ink that promotes innovation and nutritional food.

The contents of cadmium and arsenic in dried Auricularia auricula were rapidly detected by high definition X-ray fluorescence (HDXRF) spectrometry. In the process of the experiment, the dried Auricularia auricula samples were pre-treated, and the three experimental conditions of particle size, sample weight, and instrument measurement time were optimized. Figures of merit such as precision, reproducibility, and stability were evaluated. The results showed that, the optimal detection conditions of HDXRF were: particle size of 100 meshes, sample weight of 0.80 g, and measurement time of 600 s. This method allowed direct detection of cadmium and arsenic in 15 min, and a detection limit of 0.035 mg/kg of cadmium and 0.012 mg/kg of arsenic, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of precision, reproducibility and stability of HDXRF were all below 10%. Finally, the results of HDXRF were compared with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results were accurate and the relative errors were less than 20%. It indicates that the method of HDXRF can meet the rapid detection requirements of cadmium and arsenic in dried Auricularia auricula.

Zn–Ag alloys are particularly promising for application as biodegradable implant materials due to their harmless degradation products, suitable degradation rate, and remarkable biocompatibility. Nonetheless, their mechanical properties are generally below the requirements for medical implants. In this work, a bimodal grain structured Zn–0.5Ag–0.2Mg alloy with excellent strength and ductility was achieved through combined equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and cold rolling (CR), significantly superior to their counterparts obtained through ECAP or CR. Specifically, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation (EL) of the alloy are as high as 332 MPa and 63%, respectively, far exceeding the application requirements. In achieving the excellent mechanical properties, a key role is played by hetero-deformation induced (HDI) strengthening. This work may provide practical guidance for developing high-performance Zn alloys.

Purpose Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and this study aimed to develop a conatumumab decorated, irinotecan prodrug and quercetin co-loaded delivery system for combined and targeted colorectal cancer treatment. Methods A conatumumab (C) decorated, irinotecan prodrug (I-p) and quercetin (Q) co-encapsulated NLC (C I-p/Q NLC) was developed. In vitro and in vivo antitumor efficiency of NLC was evaluated on CRC cells and mice xenograft. Results The results showed that the HT-29 cells uptake of C I-p/Q NLC was over 70%. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitive irinotecan prodrug formulation showed improved drug release ability in hypoxic conditions. C I-p/Q NLC showed significantly higher cytotoxicity than non-decorated NLC, single drug-loaded NLC and free drugs. In vivo studies in a CRC-bearing model corroborated the capability of nanoparticles for the inhibition of cancer, leading to a reduction of tumor growth without systemic toxicity. Conclusion The conatumumab decorated, ROS sensitive prodrug contained combination nano-system is a promising platform for CRC therapy.

As the lightest metallic structural materials with excellent damping capacity, good castability, and high specific strength, Mg alloys have huge potential for application in many industries including aircraft, automobile, and rail traffic. However, the strength of Mg alloys generally falls below the application benchmark and the development of high-strength Mg alloys relies on the addition of rare earth (RE) elements, which raises their cost and limits their application. Mg–Sn based alloys are promising age-hardenable RE-free Mg alloys which exhibit the potential of replacing those containing RE elements and becoming heat-resistant high-strength Mg alloys. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Sn based alloys have attracted enormous research interest over the past two decades. A comprehensive review of recent advances in this field is beneficial for their development, but such a review is still unavailable. This paper reviews recent progress of Mg–Sn based alloys from the perspective of the relationship between aging response and mechanical performance, striving to provide guidance for the development of high-performance Mg–Sn based alloys. Several key aspects are discussed including aging response, room temperature strength and ductility, and tension-compression yield asymmetry.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (AT/RTs) are rare central nervous system neoplasms that frequently occur in infants and children and have a very poor prognosis. In recent years, molecular analysis of AT/RTs has shown that biallelic inactivation of SMARCB1 (INI1, SNF5, BAF47) or SMARCA4 (BRG1) frequently occurs. Here, we present a case of basal ganglia AT/RT with SMARCB1 gene deficiency and CDK6 gene amplification in a 5-year-old child. A 5-year-old boy was hospitalized due to a 1-week history of frontal and parietal headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a 3 cm × 2 cm × 1.5 cm heterogeneous enhanced mass located at the right basal ganglia that partially protruded into the right lateral ventricle. The lesion was successfully resected under electrophysiological monitoring and neuronavigation. The postoperative pathological examination implied an AT/RT diagnosis, with loss of SMARCB1 protein, SMARCB1 gene deficiency and CDK6 gene amplification. Unfortunately, the patient died due to respiratory and circulatory failure at 5 weeks after the operation. To date, standard regimens have not yet been established due to the lack of large-scale prospective studies for AT/RT. The p16-RB signalling pathway should be considered as a potential target for AT/RT treatment modalities. Apart from traditional regimens, targeted therapies, especially CDK4/6 inhibitors, are likely a promising therapeutic option for AT/RT treatment.

Nanoparticles that can disperse in a broad range of solvents are desirable. Here, the authors report nanoparticles featuring rotatable surface ligands that enable the formation of stable dispersions in a wide range of solvents.

In order to explore the changes of flavor characteristics of Hericium erinaceus before and after drying, the effects of hot air-drying and vacuum freeze-drying on flavor components of pileus and stipe of H. erinaceus were studied using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) in this paper. The results showed that the contents of soluble sugar, 5’-nucleotide and free amino acid in H. erinaceus significantly decreased after drying (Phot air-drying samples>fresh samples. A total of 64 volatile compounds in fresh and dried H. erinaceus were detected by GC-IMS, mainly alcohols (17) and aldehydes (14), followed by ketones (11) and esters (10). In general, vacuum freeze-drying was more conducive to retain eight carbon atom (C8) compounds and other alcohols and aldehydes of H. erinaceus than hot air-drying, while hot air-drying was easier to form ketones and esters than vacuum freeze-drying. Meanwhile, the content of total soluble sugar, total 5’-nucleotides and total free amino acids in the pileus was significantly higher than that of stipe (P

Abstract Bupivacaine, a local anaesthetic, is widely applied in the epidural or subarachnoid space to clinically manage acute and chronic pain. However, the underlying mechanisms are complex and unclear. Glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) in the spinal cord plays a critical role in various pathologic pain conditions. Therefore, we sought to determine whether bupivacaine exerts its analgesic effect by regulating GlyT1 expression and to determine the underlying mechanisms of regulation. Primary astrocytes prepared from the spinal cord of rats were treated with bupivacaine. The protein levels of GlyT1, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase α (p-AMPKα) were measured by western blotting or immunofluorescence. In addition, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF, BDNF receptor agonist) and AMPK shRNA were applied to verify the relationship between the regulation of GlyT1 by bupivacaine and the p-AMPKα/BDNF signalling pathway. After treatment with bupivacaine, GlyT1 expression was diminished in a concentration-dependent manner, while the expression of BDNF and p-AMPK was increased. Moreover, 7,8-DHF decreased GlyT1 expression, and AMPK knockdown suppressed the upregulation of BDNF expression by bupivacaine. Finally, we concluded that bupivacaine reduced GlyT1 expression in spinal astrocytes by activating the p-AMPKα/BDNF signalling pathway. These results provide a new mechanism for the analgesic effect of intrathecal bupivacaine in the treatment of acute and chronic pain.

Introduction and Aims. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal tumors of the digestive system, but its mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to study HCC-related genes, build a survival prognosis prediction model, and provide references for treatment and mechanism research. Methods. Transcriptome data and clinical data of HCC were downloaded from the TCGA database. Screen important genes based on the random forest method, combined with differential expression genes (DEGs) to screen out important DEGs. The Kaplan‒Meier curve was used to evaluate its prognostic significance. Cox regression analysis was used to construct a survival prognosis prediction model, and the ROC curve was used to verify it. Finally, the mechanism of action was explored through GO and KEGG pathway enrichment and GeneMANIA coexpression analyses. Results. Seven important DEGs were identified, three were highly expressed and four were lowly expressed. Among them, GPRIN1, MYBL2, and GSTM5 were closely related to prognosis (P

Background: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has been associated with vascular tone and blood pressure (BP), however, its role in the genesis of hypertension remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the regulating effect of CFTR on angiotensin II (Ang II) -induced hypertension and defined the molecular role of CFTR in vasoconstriction. Results: We found that CFTR mRNA and protein expression were markedly down-regulated in the arteries from Ang II induced hypertensive animals. During the development of hypertension, BP of Cftr-⁣/- mice was significantly higher than that of Cftr+⁣/+ mice. Arteries from Cftr-⁣/- mice or pre-incubated with CFTR specific inhibitor CFTR(inh)-172 exhibited a greater contractile response to Ang II. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC), which is the core of VSMCs contraction, was negatively modulated by CFTR. Furthermore, intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) rise in response to Ang II was negatively modulated by CFTR, while no alteration was observed in resting VSMCs. Ras homolog family member A/Rho-associated protein kinase (RhoA/Rock) mediated phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1), a regulator of MLC phosphorylation, was negatively modulated by CFTR in both resting and Ang II-stimulated VSMCs. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that CFTR is a negative regulator of vasoconstriction and hypertension, and the underlying mechanism contains two possible pathways: (1) in resting VSMCs, CFTR altered MLC phosphorylation through RhoA/Rock pathway; (2) in Ang II stimulated VSMCs, the regulating effect was mediated by both Ca2+ influx and RhoA/Rock mediated pathway.

Microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), a component of the extracellular matrix, is important in controlling growth factor signal transduction. Recent studies have shown that MFAP2, an effective prognostic molecule for various tumors, is associated with tumor occurrence and development and may be involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix and regulating proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, tumor cell metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis. However, MFAP2’s specific mechanism in these tumor processes remains unclear. This article reviewed the possible mechanism of MFAP2 in tumorigenesis and progression and provided a reference for the clinical prognosis of patients with cancer and new therapeutic target discovery.

Aims: microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), a component of the extracellular matrix, plays key roles in regulating growth factor signal transduction and various malignant tumors. However, the clinicopathological features of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 in gliomas have not been elucidated to date.Methods: TCGA and CGGA databases were used to study the expression of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 in glioma and its relationship with clinicopathological features of patients with glioma. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 protein in tissue samples from glioma patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to detect biological processes and signal pathways related to microfibrillar-associated protein 2. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, TIMER 2.0, and TISIDB databases were used to evaluate the role of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 in tumor immune characteristics. The prognostic role of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 in glioma was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Survival data were used to establish a nomogram prediction model.Results: microfibrillar-associated protein 2 expression was significantly elevated in gliomas. receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed good discrimination of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 between glioma and normal tissues. High expression of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 was associated with malignant phenotypes, such as histological type. Based on gene set enrichment analysis, we identified pathways associated with high microfibrillar-associated protein 2 expression. High microfibrillar-associated protein 2 expression was related to the infiltration of tumor immune cells, including Th2 cells and macrophages, and correlated with key markers of T-cell exhaustion. Based on the TISIDB database, microfibrillar-associated protein 2 was observed to be associated with chemokines, chemokine receptors, and multiple immunoinhibitors in glioma. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses revealed that high microfibrillar-associated protein 2 expression predicted poor overall survival, DSS, and PFS in patients with glioma. By combining microfibrillar-associated protein 2 and other prognostic factors, a nomogram prognostic prediction model was constructed, which demonstrated an ideal prediction effect.Conclusion: microfibrillar-associated protein 2 is a potential prognostic marker that plays a key role in glioma development given its association with malignant phenotypes, cancer-related pathways and tumor immunity.

In order to enhance the aqueous solubility and stability of etoposide preparation,the central composite design-response surface method was used to optimize the prescription technology of etoposide nano-mixed micelles (ETP mPEG-PLA/P123).Based on the results of single factor test,central composite design-response surface method of three factors and five levels was carried out to optimize the prescription technology with drug dosage,the mass ratio of mPEG-PLA and hydration volume as independent variables,and the entrapment efficiency,drug loading and particle size as dependent variables.The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined by fluorescence probe method,and the physicochemical properties and release behavior of the prepared micelle preparations were evaluated.The results showed that the optimal prescription of ETP mPEG-PLA/P123 micelle preparation was that mPEG-PLA∶P123=38∶62,the drug dosage was 5 mg,and the hydration volume was 6 mL.After optimization,the entrapment efficiency and drug loading were 874% and 419%,the particle size was 1156 nm,PDI was 0216,and Zeta potential was -163 mV.The CMC value was 17×10-3 g/L,so mPEG-PLA/P123 micelles had high stability.In vitro release experiments,etoposide could be released from micelles slowly and continuously,up to 80% within 48 h.The optimized ETP mPEG-PLA/P123 nano-mixed micelles were able to enormously improve the aqueous solubility of etoposide,and the micelle preparation had good stability and a certain slow-release effect.The results of this study could provide theoretical guidance for further broadening the range of application of new etoposide preparations.

Auricularia polytricha possesses hypolipidemic effects and decreases lipid accumulation, leading to potential food additives for functional food processing. In this research, we explored the potential effects of A. polytricha noodles on hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota dysbiosis, and elucidated their possible regulatory mechanisms on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. A. polytricha noodles treatment significantly (P

Background: We aimed to analyze the predictive role of serum test and questionnaire in Early Gastric Cancer in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College, Hebei Province from 2019 to 2020. Methods: In this prospective study, 280 medical examiners underwent questionnaire, serum test and gastroscopy. They were divided into Gastric cancer (GC) and Non-Gastric cancer (NGC) group. NGC group was divided into Low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and Non-chronic atrophic gastritis (NCAG) group. Results: Age, drinking, sex and Gastrin-17(G-17) was respectively independent risk factors for GC. Age, drinking and G-17 was independent risk factors for GC in men. G-17 of GC group was higher than that of LGIN and NCAG group (P

This study aimed to isolate and characterize the structures of glycoproteins from peas and determine their hypoglycemic activity. The crude pea glycoproteins (PGP) were extracted by hot water and purified by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-Sepharose chromatography and Sephadex G-100 size-exclusion chromatography in sequence. Then three main fractions were obtained, namely PGP1, PGP2 and PGP3, with molecular weights of 897 615, 846 740 and 1 194 692 Da, respectively. The physical and chemical properties of the three fractions were evaluated and compared by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and other analytical techniques. The fraction PGP2 with the highest hypoglycemic activity, was screened using the Caco-2 monolayer cell model. It can inhibit the uptake of glucose in the small intestine, as well as the activities of maltase and sucrase. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion, PGP2 significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of α-glucosidase, and slightly reduced the inhibitory ability of α-amylase. In summary, PGP2 possessed strong hypoglycemic activity after digestion. These results indicated that PGP2 has the potential to be developed into a functional food or natural medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and common intracranial malignant tumor, and the prognosis is still poor after various treatments. Based on the poor prognosis of glioma, new drugs that suppress the rapid progression and aggressive growth of glioma are urgently needed. It has been reported that nitidine chloride (NC) can inhibit tumor growth and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and EMT is associated with cancer stem cell properties. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of NC on the EMT process and stem cell‐like properties in glioma cells. The results showed that the migration and invasion abilities in U87 and LN18 glioma cells were significantly increased after the induction of EMT and these effects were inhibited by NC in a concentration‐dependent manner. NC treatment decreased the expression of EMT markers in glioma cells and self‐renewal capacity of glioma stem‐like cells. We demonstrated that these effects of NC were achieved via JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Taken together, these results indicate that NC inhibits the EMT process and glioma stem‐like properties via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting that NC may be a potential anti‐glioma drug.

Flammulina velutipes contains bioactive polysaccharides that can activate the immune system. Here we report the functional characterization in an immunomodulatory F. velutipes polysaccharide (FVP) both in vitro and in vivo. In cell experiment, FVP was discovered to be an activator to induce the M1-polarization of the RAW 264.7 cells. In animal experiment, FVP was found to raise the gene expression of IL-1β, iNOS and ZO-1 in mice colon tissue. Moreover, it seemed to achieve the immune regulative function by raising the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium. Gut microbiota also caused the body’s functional changes, enriched the harmful chemicals’ degradation ability and weakened the metabolism of carbohydrates. These findings suggest that FVP is an immunomodulatory polysaccharide that can boost cellular immune responses and a potential prebiotic agent in regulating gut microbiota.

The controllable ultrasonic modification was hindered due to the uncertainty of the relationship between ultrasonic parameters and polysaccharide quality. In this study, the ultrasonic degradation process was established with kinetics. The physicochemical properties and prebiotic activity of ultrasonic degraded Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides (U-FVPs) were investigated. The results showed that the ultrasonic degradation kinetic models were fitted to 1/Mt-1/M0 = kt. When the ultrasonic intensity increased from 531 to 3185 W/cm2, the degradation proceeded faster. The decrease of polysaccharide concentration contributed to the degradation of FVP, and the fastest degradation rate was at 60 °C. Ultrasound changed the solution conformation of FVP, and partially destroyed the stability of the triple helix structure of FVP. Additionally, the viscosity and gel strength of FVP decreased, but its thermal stability was improved by ultrasound. Higher ultrasonic intensity led to larger variations in physicochemical properties. Compared with FVP, U-FVPs could be more easily utilized by gut microbiota. U-FVPs displayed better prebiotic activity by promoting the growth of Bifidobacterium and Brautella and inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. Ultrasound could be effectively applied to the degradation of FVP to improve its physicochemical properties and bioactivities.

Smallpox, a severe infectious disease caused by the smallpox virus, causes a death rate as high as 30% within 15-20 days after infection. Therefore, development of anti-Smallpox product as a strategic reserve is urgently needed. We prepared and tested pepsin-digested F(ab′) 2 fragments of serum IgG from horses. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the purified virus showed morphology consistent with VVTT. The titer was above 1.0 × 10 7 PFU/mL. The purity of the antigen exceeded 90%, according to HPLC. After purification and cleavage, the yield of the purified product F(ab′) 2 was approximately 1.3%, its purity exceeded 90%, and the neutralizing antibody titer exceeded 1:3200. F(ab′) 2 fragments had good preventive and therapeutic effects in mice at antibody doses of 5.2 mg/mL and 2.6 mg/mL. The viral loads of the drug-treated mice were suppressed to varying degrees, and the higher dose groups (5.2 and 2.6 mg/mL) showed a 2-3 fold lower viral load than that in the control group. A process for producing equine immunoglobulin F(ab′) 2 against VVTT was established. The prepared horse anti-smallpox immunoglobulin product had good neutralizing antibody effects on VVTT. The highly purified preparation may serve as a potential candidate for smallpox treatment.

BackgroundCerebellar liponeurocytoma is a rare benign neoplasm of the central nervous system, which arises mainly in adult patients with only 3 cases reported in children. Due to its rarity, the diagnosis and treatment strategies for cerebellar liponeurocytoma remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the epidemiology, clinical features, imaging findings, pathological characteristics, different diagnoses, treatment, and prognosis of cerebellar liponeurocytoma in juveniles.Case DescriptionA 5-year-old boy was admitted to the department of neurosurgery due to a 5-month history of headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dysphoria, as well as visual blurring associated with the peak of the headache. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 4.9×5.4×6.2 cm mass located in the fourth ventricle and cerebellar vermis combined with hydrocephalus and periventricular edema. The mass was completely removed, and pathological examination indicated a cerebellar liponeurocytoma of the World Health Organization Grade II classification.ConclusionThe present study was the first to report a cerebellar liponeurocytoma with total tumor resection and adjuvant radiotherapy in a pediatric patient. Total tumor resection and postoperative radiotherapy together with close and long-term follow-up seem to be the optimal treatment strategy for juvenile patients. However, the side-effect of radiation needs to be considered.

Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) is one of the most common pathogens causing clinical mastitis in cattle, but no vaccine is available to prevent this disease in China. Therefore, development of an E. coli vaccine against bovine clinical mastitis is urgently needed. The candidate vaccine (Ch-O111-1) and challenge (LZ06) strains were screened from milk samples of cows with clinical mastitis. To extend the cross-protection of the Ch-O111-1 strain, we deleted the galE gene fragment of the Ch-O111-1 strain through homologous recombination between the Ch-O111-1 strain and pCVD442/ΔgalE plasmid, which was identified through conventional methods, including PCR, SDS-PAGE and sequencing. The Ch-O111-1/ΔgalE (Z9) strain was characterized by extensive cross-reactivity and attenuated virulence. We prepared inactivated Z9 vaccines with different adjuvants. Immunization of inactivated Z9 antigen induced adjuvant-, dosage- and inoculation time-dependent antibody titers in cows and mice. Furthermore, immunization with SP01-adjuvanted inactivated Z9 vaccine protected cows against severe clinical mastitis caused by LZ06 and protected mice against death due to LZ06. An SP01-adjuvanted inactivated Z9 vaccine was successfully developed and found to protect cows against severe mastitis caused by Escherichia coli .

Background: The management of warfarin-treated patients has been recognized as a challenge due to narrow therapeutic range and food and drug interactions in warfarin therapy. We aim to evaluate the effect of a pharmacist-led remote warfarin management model using a smartphone application (app) on anticoagulation therapy.Methods: Eligible patients who had received warfarin therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement were enrolled. The intervention group was offered a pharmacist-led remote warfarin management model using the app named Yixing. Yixing incorporates functions including automatic daily reminder, personal health record, educational program, and online counseling. The control group received traditional pharmacy services without Yixing. Co-primary outcomes were patients’ awareness score of warfarin therapy obtained from questionnaire, the medication adherence measured by the percentage of the correct-warfarin-taken days in the monitored period, the fraction of time in therapeutic range (FTTR), and the incidence of anticoagulation-related complications. The needed information of the patients was acquired via electronic medical records from the hospital, Yixing system and telephone follow-up when necessary.Results: 64 and 66 patients were initially in the intervention and control groups respectively. After propensity score matching, 50 patients were assigned in each group. The intervention group had a median age of 51.0 years, in which 27 (54%) were male. The control group had a median age of 50.5 years, in which 28 (56%) were male. Patient awareness score in the intervention group was 8.00 (2.00), which was higher than that in the control group, with score at 6.50 (2.50) (p = 0.001). No significant difference was found in the percentage of the correct-warfarin-taken days between the two groups (p = 0.520). The median (interquartile range) value of FTTR was 80.3% (21.9%) and 72.1% (17.7%) in the intervention and control groups respectively (p = 0.033), and no significant differences in the incidence of anticoagulation-related complications were observed (p = 0.514).Conclusion: The pharmacist-led remote warfarin management model using Yixing improves patients’ awareness of warfarin therapy and increases FTTR, but may not have significant improvements on medication adherence and safety.

BackgroundBrainstem glioma is a primary glial tumor that arises from the midbrain, pons, and medulla. The objective of this study was to determine the population-based epidemiology, incidence, and outcomes of brainstem gliomas.MethodsThe data pertaining to patients with brainstem gliomas diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 were extracted from the SEER database. Descriptive analyses were conducted to evaluate the distribution and tumor-related characteristics of patients with brainstem gliomas. The possible prognostic indicators were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves and a Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsThe age-adjusted incidence rate was 0.311 cases per 100,000 person-years between 2004 and 2016. A total of 3387 cases of brainstem gliomas were included in our study. Most of the patients were white and diagnosed at 5-9 years of age. The most common diagnosis confirmed by histological review was ependymoma/anaplastic ependymoma. The median survival time was 24 months. Patients with tumors less than 3 cm in size had a better prognosis. Surgery was effective at improving overall survival. There was no evidence that radiotherapy and chemotherapy improved overall survival.ConclusionBrainstem gliomas can be diagnosed at any age. Ependymoma/anaplastic ependymoma is the most common pathological diagnosis. The prognosis is poor, and timely diagnosis and surgery are effective at improving the prognosis. We suggest that more attention should be given to the treatment of patients with brainstem gliomas.

Ependymomas are primary glial tumors arising from cells related to the ependymal lining of the ventricular system. They are classified into at least nine different molecular subtypes according to molecular phenotype, histological morphology, and tumor location. Primary sellar ependymoma is an extremely rare malignancy of the central nervous system, with only 12 known cases reported in humans. We herein report a case of ependymoma located at the pituitary region in a 44-year-old female patient and discuss the molecular subtype, natural history, clinical presentation, radiological findings, histological features, immunohistochemical characteristics, ultrastructural examinations, treatment, and prognosis of sellar ependymoma. This case report may serve as a helpful reference for clinicians and radiologists in clinical practice.

A crude polysaccharide derived from Flammulina velutipes (FVP), mainly consisting of glucose linked with β-glycosidic bonds, was administered to 6 week-old male ICR mice by gavage for five weeks, to investigate the effects on mice intestinal microbiota and immune response. The pH of the intestinal compartments decreased while short chain fatty acids concentrations increased in FVP-fed groups, in a dose dependent manner. High throughput sequencing revealed the enrichment in the diversity and an alteration in the composition of the fecal microbiota in the FVP fed mice. A significant decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Akkermansia were related to the energy absorption. The relative abundances of Porphyromonadaceae and Bacteroidaceae positively correlated with an increase in serum immunoglobulin and cytokines. This study indicated that this crude polysaccharide from F. velutipes could modulate the gut microbiota and represented a potential capacity of obesity suppression and immune regulation.

Brucellosis is a serious zoonotic infection worldwide. To date, vaccination is the most effective measure against brucellosis. This study was aimed at obtaining a vaccine strain that has high protective efficacy and low toxicity, and allows vaccination to be differentiated from infection. Using homologous recombination, we constructed a double gene-deletion Brucella strain MB6 Δbp26ΔwboA (RM6) and evaluated its characteristics, safety and efficacy. The RM6 strain had good proliferative ability and stable biological characteristics in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, it had a favorable safety profile and elicited specific immune responses in mice and sheep. The RM6 strain may have substantial practical application value.

BackgroundLeiomyosarcoma is a highly malignant soft-tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis. In recent years, treatment for leiomyosarcoma has not shown much progress. Primary intracranial leiomyosarcoma (PILMS) is a much rarer type of neoplasm, which occurs more frequently in immunocompromised patients. PILMS cases reported in the literature are scarce and treatment strategy and prognosis are still under debate. In this study, a case of PILMS secondary to the total resection of giant cell glioblastoma is reported.Case DescriptionA 38-year-old male was hospitalized with a three-month history of a temporal opisthotic bump. His medical history included a total resection of a tumor located in the right temporal lobe performed 4 years earlier. Pathological examination led to a diagnosis of giant cell glioblastoma, and the patient underwent postoperative chemotherapy with temozolomide for 6 weeks plus simultaneous radiotherapy with 63.66 Gary. Four years later, during regular follow-up, a preoperative MRI brain scan resulted in a well-defined signal pointing out two nodule-like features located at the right temporal lobe and subcutaneous soft tissue, respectively, and near the area where the previous giant cell glioblastoma was located. The mass was completely removed by a transtemporal approach and postoperative pathology revealed that the mass was a leiomyosarcoma. The patient underwent postoperative radiotherapy and no recurrence occurred until now.ConclusionsTo date, research on soft-tissue sarcoma, especially PILMS, has not made much progress, and a limited number of studies have provided few details on the management of PILMS. The treatment of choice for PILMS is aggressive multimodal treatment based on total tumor resection and radiotherapy. Moreover, systemic treatment with chemotherapy and targeted therapy, such as olaratumab, as well as further research still needs to be performed as many questions are left unanswered. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a case of PILMS secondary to glioblastoma, which might serve as a potential reference for clinicians and clinical studies.

ObjectiveSpinal epidural cavernous hemangiomas are very rare vascular lesions and are, therefore, seldom reported and easily misdiagnosed. Herein, we present a series of 9 cases with spinal epidural cavernous hemangiomas and discuss their pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, radiological findings, differential diagnosis, surgical interventions, pathological characteristics, and prognosis.MethodsWe retrospectively retrieved and analyzed the data of patients with pure epidural cavernous hemangiomas, who underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical intervention at the First Hospital of Jilin University, China, between January 2005 and December 2019. The data on patients’ clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics, surgical intervention, histopathological findings, and postoperative follow-up were also recorded and analyzed.ResultsIn all, 5 men and 4 women with the mean age of 61 years (range, 41–78 years) were recruited. All patients experienced a gradual onset of symptoms and a slowly progressive clinical course, and no patient presented an acute onset of symptoms. The clinical manifestations include myelopathic signs in 8 patients (88.9%) and radicular symptoms in 3 patients (33.3%). On T1-weighted imaging, 6 lesions appeared isointense (55.6%), and 4 lesions exhibited hypointense (44.4%) signals. On T2-weighted imaging, 8 lesions appeared hyperintense (88.9%), and 1 lesion was heterogeneously intense (11.1%). Following gadolinium administration, 5 lesions appeared homogeneous with significant enhancement (55.6%), 1 lesion was homogeneous and mild enhancement (11.1%), and 3 lesions were heterogeneous with mild enhancement (33.3%). All patients received early microsurgery assisted by intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring and neuronavigation in the lateral position via the posterior midline approach. Five patients underwent total laminectomy (55.6%), and 4 underwent hemilaminectomy (44.4%). Total excision was achieved in all cases. The average follow-up period was 55.1 months (ranging 10–123 months). All patients exhibited significant clinical improvement of their neurological deficits and achieved a favorable outcome with no recorded recurrence at last follow-up.ConclusionsSpinal epidural cavernous hemangiomas are rare vascular malformations. Early surgical treatment with total resection is an optimum treatment, particularly for patients with an acute exacerbation onset. The prognosis is mostly good and depends predominantly on the severity of the preoperative status.

Background: Primary intracranial Ewing sarcoma (ES)/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (pPNETs) are extremely rare malignancies, which arise in children and adolescents, with only 9 cases reported in patients over 30 years of age. Due to its rarity, MRI features and treatment strategies for primary intracranial ES/pPNETs remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features, imaging findings, pathological characteristics, different diagnoses, treatment, and prognosis of cerebellar liponeurocytoma in adults.Case Description: A 55-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with memory decline over 1 month, which aggravated in the last 2 weeks. MRI showed a 4.3 × 6.5 × 3.5 cm heterogeneous large mass in the left frontal lobe with mild peritumoral edema. The mass was successfully removed under neuronavigation and electrophysiological monitoring. The entire mass was removed, and postoperative pathology indicated an ES pPNET diagnosis, with an EWSR1 gene rearrangement. Subsequently, the patient underwent disciplinary radiotherapy.Conclusion: The diagnosis of primary intracranial ES/pPNETs depends on the comprehensive consideration of histological examination, immunohistochemical analysis, and genetic detection. Gross tumor resection combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy might be the most beneficial treatment.