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Abstract Background Aerobic glycolysis is a tumor cell phenotype and a hallmark in cancer research. The alternative splicing of the pyruvate kinase M (PKM) gene regulates the expressions of PKM1/2 isoforms and the aerobic glycolysis of tumors. Polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTBP1) is critical in this process; however, its impact and underlying mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of PTBP1 crotonylation in CRC progression. Methods The crotonylation levels of PTBP1 in human CRC tissues and cell lines were analyzed using crotonylation proteomics and immunoprecipitation. The main crotonylation sites were identified by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescent staining. The glycolytic capacities of CRC cells were evaluated by measuring the glucose uptake, lactate production, extracellular acidification rate, and glycolytic proton efflux rate. The role and mechanism of PTBP1 crotonylation in PKM alternative splicing were determined by Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), RNA immunoprecipitation, and immunoprecipitation. The effects of PTBP1 crotonylation on the behaviors of CRC cells and CRC progression were assessed using CCK-8, colony formation, cell invasion, wound healing assays, xenograft model construction, and immunohistochemistry. Results The crotonylation level of PTBP1 was elevated in human CRC tissues compared to peritumor tissues. In CRC tissues and cells, PTBP1 was mainly crotonylated at K266 (PTBP1 K266-Cr), and lysine acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B) acted as the crotonyltranferase. PTBP1 K266-Cr promoted glycolysis and lactic acid production, increasing the PKM2/PKM1 ratio in CRC tissues and cells. Mechanistically, PTBP1 K266-Cr enhanced the interaction of PTBP1 with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 and A2 (hnRNPA1/2), thus affecting the PKM alternative splicing. PTBP1 K266-Cr facilitated CRC cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Pathologically, a high level of PTBP1 K266-Cr was associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Conclusions Crotonylation of PTBP1 coordinates tumor cell glycolysis and promotes CRC progression by regulating PKM alternative splicing and increasing PKM2 expression.

Abstract Background Malnutrition can lead to an increased risk of blood transfusion in elderly patients. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a tool used to assess nutritional status, but its predictive value for blood transfusion in elderly patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is not well established. This study aimed to investigate the association between GNRI and the risk of perioperative blood transfusion in this population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on elderly patients aged 60 and above who underwent PLIF at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. Preoperative GNRI was calculated using height, weight, and serum albumin levels. The primary outcome was perioperative blood transfusion. Logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for potential confounders such as demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgical factors, and laboratory tests. Results A total of 1,246 elderly patients were included, with 144 (11.6%) requiring blood transfusion. After adjusting for all confounders, a lower GNRI was associated with a significantly higher risk of blood transfusion (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.9–3.1, p

Abstract The importance of uncommon/rare oncogenic drivers in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was underscored during the 20th China Lung Cancer Summit. These drivers, while present in a significant proportion of NSCLC patients, remain a challenge for diagnosis and therapeutic targeting. In the never‐smokers/low smokers category with mutations such as EGFR and HER2, the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains suboptimal, attributed to lower PD‐L1 expression and tumor mutation burden (TMB). However, heavy smokers, often with mutations like KRAS, may derive benefits from ICIs, as supported by trials like CheckMate‐057. With the complex landscape of these drivers and their clinical implications, the summit culminated in six pivotal consensus points, aiming to guide future research and clinical decisions. Despite the advancements, the detection, interpretation, and therapeutic strategies involving these drivers necessitate further exploration and standardization.

The genus Illiesonemoura Baumann, 1975 (Plecoptera, Nemouridae) is a small-sized stonefly with slender and curved embranous cerci. Currently, 18 species of the genus are known worldwide, mainly distributed in the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions, with a total of two species known to China.Three new species of Illiesonemoura Baumann, 1975, I. bituberculata Wang & Du, sp. nov., I. motuoensis Du & Ji, sp. nov. and I. weii Du & Ji, sp. nov. are described and illustrated, based on male adults from China. Illiesonemoura bituberculata is characterised by two pairs of tubercles arising posteromedially from tergum 10 and by two rows of spinules outlining the lateral edge of the ventral sclerite of the epiproct. Illiesonemoura motuoensis is characterised by the heart-shaped epiproct with a thin and slightly sclerotised protrusion between the sclerotised bands. Illiesonemoura weii is characterised by a pair of small knobs on tergum 10, outer lobes of paraprocts basally broad, then slender towards apices with a pointed tip and the epiproct with lateral spinules.

Abstract Background Evidence on the influence of programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) in EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is at variance. Methods A single‐center retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the influence of PD‐L1 expression on the efficacy of EGFR‐TKIs for NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation. Clinical information was retrieved from electronic medical records. The patients were divided into three subgroups according to PD‐L1 expression level: PD‐L1

In order to further study the cushioning performance of concave hexagonal cores (CHCs) and expand their application range, the in-plane finite element model of CHCs is established in this paper. A dynamic cushioning coefficient method was proposed to characterize the cushioning performance of CHCs. The dynamic cushioning coefficient curve and minimum dynamic cushioning coefficient (MDCC) of CHCs with different impact velocities and structural parameters are obtained. The influence rules of structural parameters and impact velocities on the MDCC are analyzed; the deformation mode and transformation empirical formula are also obtained. The results show that when other parameters are constant, the MDCC of CHCs decreases with the increase of impact velocity, increases with the increase of wall thickness and side length ratio, and decreases with the increase of expansion angle. The theoretical analysis is consistent with the finite element results, which further verifies the reliability of the model. This paper provides a solid theoretical basis for the industrial application of the cushioning performance of CHCs and forms a key technical support.

ObjectiveTo examine the status of visual health among primary and middle school students in minority regions and compare the status with that of the Han students in non-minority regions for providing evidences to the development of strategies on visual health promotion of the minority students.MethodsThe data on 59 189 primary students of grade 4 – 6 and junior high school students were extracted from a visual health promotion program conducted from 2018 to 2020 in minority regions (5 counties of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region) and non-minority regions mainly with Han populations (10 counties of Shaanxi province). The data included vision examination results and self-reported visual health-related information for 24 054 students in minority regions and 35 135 in non-minority regions. Multivariate logistic regression model was adopted in data analyses.ResultsThe prevalence rate of poor vision was 28.86% and 41.40% in the students in minority and non-minority regions, respectively. The prevalence of poor vision of the students in minority regions was significantly lower than that of the students in non-minority regions (P < 0.001). Compared to those in non-minority regions, the students with poor vision in minority regions reported a significantly lower rate of glasses wearing (8.04% vs. 30.31%, P < 0.001). Both the rate of poor vision and the rate of glasses wearing for poor eyesight were significantly higher among the girl and junior middle school students and the students with mothers staying at home frequently and high paternal education (P < 0.001 for all). After adjusting for various variables, the poor vision students in non-minority regions were more likely to have glasses wearing in comparison to the students in minority regions (P < 0.001).ConclusionThere were significant disparities in the prevalence rate of poor vision and the rate of glasses wearing for poor vision between the primary and junior high school students in minority and non-minority regions. The students in minority regions had a lower rate of poor vision and an even more lower rate of glasses wearing for poor vision and the situation should be concerned.

Abstract Background In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), higher blood tumor mutational burden (bTMB) was usually associated with better progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). However, the association between bTMB and overall survival (OS) benefit remains undefined. It has been reported that patients harboring a high level of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) had poor survival. We hypothesized that ctDNA-adjusted bTMB might predict OS benefit in NSCLC patients receiving ICIs. Methods Our study was retrospectively performed in three cohorts, including OAK and POPLAR cohort (n = 853), Shanghai and Wuhan (SH&WH) cohort (n = 44), and National Cancer Center (NCC) cohort (n = 47). Durable clinical benefit (DCB) was defined as PFS lasting ≥ 6 months. The cutoff value of ctDNA-adjusted bTMB for DCB prediction was calculated based on a receiver operating characteristic curve. Interaction between treatments and ctDNA-adjusted bTMB was assessed. Results The bTMB score was significantly associated with tumor burden, while no association was observed between ctDNA-adjusted bTMB with tumor burden. In the OAK and POPLAR cohort, significantly higher ORR (P = 0.020) and DCB (P

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocyte population in the human circulatory system and are rapidly recruited to sites of inflammation. Neutrophils play a multifaceted role in intestinal inflammation, as they contribute to the elimination of invading pathogens. Recently, their role in epithelial restitution has been widely recognized; however, they are also associated with bystander tissue damage. The intestinal epithelium provides a physical barrier to prevent direct contact of luminal contents with subepithelial tissues, which is extremely important for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that transepithelial migration of neutrophils is closely related to disease symptoms and disruption of crypt architecture in inflammatory bowel disease and experimental colitis. There has been growing interest in how neutrophils interact with the epithelium under inflammatory conditions. Most studies focus on the effects of neutrophils on intestinal epithelial cells; however, the effects of intestinal epithelial cells on neutrophils during intestinal inflammation need to be well-established. Based on these data, we have summarized recent articles on the role of neutrophil–epithelial interactions in intestinal inflammation, particularly highlighting the epithelium-derived molecular regulators that mediate neutrophil recruitment, transepithelial migration, and detachment from the epithelium, as well as the functional consequences of their crosstalk. A better understanding of these molecular events may help develop novel therapeutic targets for mitigating the deleterious effects of neutrophils in inflammatory bowel disease.

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are the only enzyme class known to deiminate arginine residues into citrulline in proteins, a process known as citrullination. This is an important post-translational modification that functions in several physiological and pathological processes. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are generated by NETosis, a novel cell death in neutrophils and a double-edged sword in inflammation. Excessive activation of PADs and NETs is critically implicated in their transformation from a physiological to a pathological state. Herein, we review the physiological and pathological functions of PADs and NETs, in particular, the involvement of PAD2 and PAD4 in the digestive system, from inflammatory to oncological diseases, along with related therapeutic prospects.

Quantitative evaluation of the relationship between land use/land cover (LULC) change and ecosystem service values (ESVs) is of great significance for the scientific optimization of land use structure and the formulation of sustainable land use policy, However, the responses of ESVs to LULC changes in fragile ecosystem regions over long time scales and large spatial scopes in the context of ecological restoration measures have seldom been studied. In this study, the Yungui Plateau in China was used as the study region. Based on annual Moderate–Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover datasets (MCD12Q1) from 2001 to 2020, using the equivalent coefficient value of ESVs modified for the specific situation of China, and adopting the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic method and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis, the study estimated the values of 11 types of ecosystem services, and analyzed the dynamics of LULC and its impact on ESVs from 2001 to 2020. The results showed that the LULC pattern in the Yungui Plateau changed dramatically in the past two decades, with a significant increase in forestland. The total ESVs improved remarkably from 638.10 billion yuan in 2001 to 746.99 billion yuan in 2020, and was mainly affected by forest restoration and the conversion of grassland to forestland and farmland to grassland. The distribution of ESVs shows obvious spatial and temporal heterogeneity; ESV hot spots were mainly distributed in the edge regions, while ESV cold spots were concentrated on the central and eastern of Yungui Plateau, and the decline in total ESVs still existed and displayed an increasing trend caused by farmland expansion and forestland degradation. Thus, we conclude that the LULC changes caused by ecological restoration measures have a significant positive effect on the improvement of the total ESVs in the Yungui Plateau and suggest that declines in ESVs in local areas should be of high concern in future land use planning and management.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common digestive tumor in the world and has a high mortality rate. The development and treatment of CRC are related to the immune microenvironment, but immune response-related prognostic biomarkers are lacking. In this study, we used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to explore the tumor microenvironment (TME) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify significant prognostic genes. We also identified differentially expressed genes in the TCGA data and explored immune-related genes and transcription factors (TFs). Then, we built a TF regulatory network and performed a comprehensive prognostic analysis of an lncRNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA network (ceRNA network) to build a prognostic model. CCR8 and HAMP were identified both in the WGCNA key module and as immune-related genes. HAMP had good prognostic value for CRC and was highly expressed in CRC tissues and had a negative correlation with CD4+ T cells and M0 macrophages based on immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining of clinical specimens.We found that HAMP had high prognostic and therapeutic target value for CRC and was associated with liver metastasis. These analysis results revealed that HAMP may be a candidate immune-related prognostic biomarker for CRC.

In vertebrates, most somatosensory pathways begin with the activation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The development of an appropriate DRG culture method is a prerequisite for establishing in vitro peripheral nerve disease models and for screening therapeutic drugs. In this study, we compared the changes in morphology, molecular biology, and transcriptomics of chicken embryo DRG cultured on tissue culture plates (T-DRG) versus three-dimensional collagen hydrogels (C-DRG). Our results showed that after 7 days of culture, the transcriptomics of T-DRG and C-DRG were quite different. The upregulated genes in C-DRG were mainly related to neurogenesis, axon guidance, and synaptic plasticity, whereas the downregulated genes in C-DRG were mainly related to cell proliferation and cell division. In addition, the genes related to cycles/pathways such as the synaptic vesicle cycle, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway were activated, while those related to cell-cycle pathways were downregulated. Furthermore, neurogenesis- and myelination-related genes were highly expressed in C-DRG, while epithelial–mesenchymal transition-, apoptosis-, and cell division-related genes were suppressed. Morphological results indicated that the numbers of branches, junctions, and end-point voxels per C-DRG were significantly greater than those per T-DRG. Furthermore, cells were scattered in T-DRG and more concentrated in C-DRG, with a higher ratio of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive cells in T-DRG compared with C-DRG. C-DRG also had higher S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and lower α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression than T-DRG, and contained fewer terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells after 48 hours of serum starvation. After cryopreservation, C-DRG maintained more intact morphological characteristics, and had higher viability and less TUNEL-positive cells than T-DRG. Furthermore, newly formed nerve bundles were able to grow along the existing Schwann cells in C-DRG. These results suggest that C-DRG may be a promising in vitro culture model, with better nerve growth and anti-apoptotic ability, quiescent Schwann cells, and higher viability. Results from this study provide a reference for the construction, storage, and transportation of tissue-engineered nerves. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Aier School of Ophthalmology, Central South University, China (approval No. 2020-IRB16), on March 15, 2020.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, clinical effectiveness, and safety of the Chinese herb Bupleuri radix for the treatment of acute uncomplicated respiratory tract infections (ARTIs).Methods: Four English and four Chinese databases were searched from their inception to June 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing therapeutic effects of Bupleuri radix on ARTI were eligible for inclusion. The risk of bias for each trial was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. RevMan 5.4 software was used for data analyses with effects estimated as risk ratios (RR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the online GRADEpro tool.Results: Seven randomized trials involving 910 patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection (AURTI) were included. The review identified Bupleuri radix agents with four administration routes (oral, acupoint injection, intramuscular injection, nebulized inhalation). Bupleuri radix acupoint injection compared with placebo showed statistically significant effects in reducing fever resolution time (MD: −33.32 h, 95%CI: −35.71, −30.93), and in increasing the proportion of participants with fever resolved within 48 h from treatment onset (RR: 14, 95%CI: 1.96, 99.94). Bupleuri radix acupoint injection combined with usual care is more effective in reducing the temperature at day 1 from treatment onset (MD: −1.00°C, 95%CI: −1.19, −0.81) compared with usual care alone. Bupleuri radix pills showed similar antipyretic effects to acetaminophen. However, Bupleuri radix intramuscular injection plus vitamins failed to demonstrate an effect in reducing fever, when compared with ribavirin plus vitamins. It suggested that oral administration of Bupleuri radix solution for injections, pills, and Bupleuri radix decoction have a similar effect on improving global AURTI symptoms including two key symptoms (nasal discharge and cough), when compared with usual care alone. Only two trials reported whether or not there were any AEs and found no occurrence of adverse events in the herbal group.Conclusion: Low-certainty or very low-certainty evidence demonstrated that Bupleuri radix (solution for injections and pills) has an antipyretic effect on febrile patients with AURTI, but it has no effect on other AURTI symptoms. However, these findings need to be further confirmed by well-designed clinical trials with adequate sample sizes.Systematic review registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails), PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021234066.

Introduction: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in some high-risk groups including children and older adults. There is evidence that Chinese herbal medicine has an effect on RTIs. Reynoutria japonica Houtt (better known under its synonym Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr.) (F. japonica), a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, has a high content of resveratrol and glycosides. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, F. japonica has the effect of clearing heat in the body, improving blood and qi circulation, eliminating phlegm, and relieving cough, so it may have an effect on RTIs.Methods: This systematic review was registered under PROSPERO CRD42020188604. Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of F. japonica as a single herb, or as a component of a complex herbal formula for RTIs. Quality of methodology was assessed by two reviewers independently using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The primary outcome was symptom improvement rate. The secondary outcome measures were fever clearance time, Murray lung injury score and incidence of adverse effects. The extracted data were pooled and meta-analysed by RevMan 5.3 software.Results: Eight RCTs with 1,123 participants with acute RTIs were included in this systematic review, and all the RCTs used F. japonica as part of a herbal mixture. Only one included trial used F. japonica in a herbal mixture without antibiotics in the treatment group. The findings showed that herbal remedies that included F. japonica could increase the symptom improvement rate (risk ratio 1.14, 95% confidence intervals [1.09, 1.20], I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001, n = 7 trials, 1,013 participants), shorten fever duration, reduce Murray lung injury score and did not increase adverse events (RR 0.33, 95% CI [0.11, 1.00], I2 = 0%, p = 0.05, n = 5 trials, 676 participants).Conclusion: There is limited but some evidence that F. japonica as part of a herbal mixture may be an effective and safe intervention for acute RTIs in clinical practice. In future studies it would be preferable to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using F. japonica without antibiotics for acute RTIs.

In this paper, it is proved that the Beurling-type theorem holds for the shift operator on a class of reproducing analytic Hilbert spaces.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common digestive tract tumor worldwide. In recent years, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been the most comprehensive treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In this study, we explored immune infiltration in rectal cancer (RC) and identified immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs). Then, we identified response markers in datasets in GEO databases by principal component analysis (PCA). We also utilized three GEO datasets to identify the up- and downregulated response-related genes simultaneously and then identified genes shared between the PCA markers and three GEO datasets. Based on the hub IRDEGs, we identified target mRNAs and constructed a ceRNA network. Based on the ceRNA network, we explored prognostic biomarkers to develop a prognostic model for RC through Cox regression. We utilized the specimen to validate the expression of the two biomarkers. We also utilized LASSO regression to screen hub IRDEGs and built a nomogram to predict the response of LARC patients to CRT. All of the results show that the nomogram and prognostic model offer good prognostic value and that the ceRNA network can effectively highlight the regulatory relationship. hsa-mir-107 and WDFY3-AS2 may be prognostic biomarkers for RC.

Background. Memory loss and cognitive impairment characterize the neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) is the key factor that triggers the course of AD, and reducing the deposition of Aβ in the brain has been considered as a potential target for the treatment of AD. In clinical and animal studies, electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for AD. In recent years, substantial evidence has accumulated suggesting the important role of the glymphatic system in Aβ clearance. Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore whether EA modifies the accumulation of Aβ through the glymphatic system and may thus be applied to alleviate cognitive impairments. Methods. Seven-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomized into a control group (Pc) and an electroacupuncture group (Pe). Age-matched SAMR1 mice were used as normal controls (Rc). Mice in the Pe group were stimulated on Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29) for 10 min and then pricked at Shuigou (GV26) for ten times. EA treatment lasted for 8 weeks. In each week, EA would be applied once a day for the first five consecutive days and ceased at the remaining two days. After EA treatment, Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the cognitive function; HE and Nissl staining was performed to observe the brain histomorphology; ELISA, contrast-enhanced MRI, and immunofluorescence were applied to explore the mechanisms underlying EA effects from Aβ accumulation, glymphatic system function, reactivity of astrocytes, and AQP4 polarization, respectively. Results. This EA regime could improve cognition and alleviate neuropathological damage to brain tissue. And EA treatment might reduce Aβ accumulation, enhance paravascular influx in the glymphatic system, inhibit the reactivity of astrocytes, and improve AQP4 polarity. Conclusion. EA treatment might reduce Aβ accumulation from the brain via improving clearance performance of the glymphatic system and thereby alleviating cognitive impairment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract and lacks specific diagnostic markers. In this study, we utilized 10 public datasets from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (NCBI-GEO) database to identify a set of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and control samples and WGCNA (Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis) to construct gene co-expression networks incorporating the DEGs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and then identify genes shared between the GEO datasets and key modules. Then, these genes were screened via MCC to identify 20 hub genes. We utilized regression analyses to develop a prognostic model and utilized the random forest method to validate. All hub genes had good diagnostic value for CRC, but only CLCA1 was related to prognosis. Thus, we explored the potential biological value of CLCA1. The results of gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immune infiltration analysis showed that CLCA1 was closely related to tumor metabolism and immune invasion of CRC. These analysis results revealed that CLCA1 may be a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CRC.

Background. Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a common and devastating postoperative issue for patients who have undergone anterior resection of rectal carcinoma and can lead to increased short-term morbidity and mortality. Moreover, it might be associated with a worse oncological prognosis of tumors. This study is aimed at exploring the risk factors for symptomatic AL after laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR) for rectal tumors without a preventive diverting stoma. Materials and Methods. This case control study retrospectively reviewed the data of 496 consecutive patients who underwent LAR of the rectum without a preventive diverting stoma at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between September 2016 and September 2017. All patients were divided into an AL group and a control group based on the occurrence of postoperative symptomatic AL. Factors regarding patient-related variables, operation-related variables, and tumor-related variables were collected and assessed between the two groups through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify independent risk factors for AL. Results. In total, 18 (3.6%) patients developed postoperative symptomatic AL. Univariate analysis showed that a synchronous primary malignancy of the left hemicolon (P=0.047), intraoperative chemotherapy (P=0.003), and level of anastomosis (P=0.033) were significantly related with AL. Multivariate analysis was subsequently performed to adjust for confounding biases and confirmed that a synchronous primary malignancy of the left hemicolon (odds ratio (OR), 12.225; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.764-84.702; P=0.011), intraoperative chemotherapy (OR, 3.931; 95% CI, 1.334-11.583; P=0.013), and level of anastomosis (OR, 3.224; 95% CI, 1.124-9.249; P=0.030) were independent risk factors for symptomatic AL for patients who received LAR for rectal neoplasms without a preventive diverting stoma. Conclusions. Synchronous primary malignancy of the left hemicolon, intraoperative chemotherapy, and a low anastomotic level can increase the risks of postoperative symptomatic AL after LAR of the rectum without a protective diverting stoma.

Objective(s):Spinal cord injury (SCI) often causes serious and irreversible neurological deficit leading to disability or impairment of normal physical activity. Atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibitor has gained much attention in the field of the neurodevelopmental disorder, but its effect on SCI has not been evaluated. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the neuroprotective effects of atomoxetine. Materials and Methods: Administration of atomoxetine 20 mg/kg IP was compared with methylprednisolone (MP) 30 mg/kg IP in traumatic spinal cord injured Wistar rats. Tissue samples were evaluated for apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, along with histopathological examination and neurological evaluation. Results: There was no significant difference in the caspase-3 activity between the control and the sham groups or between the MP and the atomoxetine groups (P=0.811). The administration of atomoxetine significantly reduced tissue tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) levels compared to the trauma group (P