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Objective To investigate the relationship between circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and clinical characteristics and prognosis of elderly patients with esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (AEG) by detecting CTCs in their peripheral blood. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 95 elderly AEG patients at Liaocheng People's Hospital from August 2016 to May 2020. Negative enrichment-immuno fluorescence in situ hybridization (NE-FISH) was used to detect CTCs one week before treatment. The relationship between positive CTCs count and clinical characteristics of patients was analyzed. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of elderly AEG patients were obtained through follow-up, and survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between CTCs count and prognostic indicators (PFS, OS) in elderly AEG patients. Results The positive rate of CTCs (≥2) in 95 elderly AEG patients was 72.6% (69/95). The positivity of CTCs in elderly AEG patients was closely related to TNM pathological staging, T staging, lymph node metastasis, and surgery (P＜0.05). Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that, compared with the CTCs＜2 group, the median PFS (12 months vs 50 months) and median OS (20 months vs 50 months) of elderly AEG patients in the CTCs≥2 group were shorter and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01). Conclusion The use of NE-FISH technology for peripheral blood CTCs detection in elderly AEG patients is feasible. Positive CTCs are closely related to tumor metastasis and disease progression in elderly AEG patients, and CTCs≥2 may be an indicator of poor prognosis in elderly AEG patients.

Abstract Background The level of linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) has been proved to be a sensor of cell state, but its relationship with hyperoxia-induced alveolar type 2 epithelial cells injure and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has not been clarified. In this study, we evaluated if these effects ultimately led to functional damage in hyperoxia-induced alveolar cells. Methods We treated RLE-6TN cells at 85% hyperoxia for 0, 24 and 48 h with Thiamet G (TG), an OGA inhibitor; OSMI-1 (OS), an OGT inhibitor; or with UDP-GlcNAc, which is involved in synthesis of O-GlcNAc as a donor. The metabolic rerouting, cell viability and apoptosis resulting from the changes in O-GlcNAc glycosyltransferase levels were evaluated in RLE-6TN cells after hyperoxia exposure. We constructed rat Park2 overexpression and knockdown plasmmids for in vitro verification and Co-immunoprecipitation corroborated the binding of Parkin and O-GlcNAc. Finally, we assessed morphological detection in neonatal BPD rats with TG and OS treatment. Results We found a decrease in O-GlcNAc content and levels of its metabolic enzymes in RLE-6TN cells under hyperoxia. However, the inhibition of OGT function with OSMI-1 ameliorated hyperoxia-induced lung epithelial cell injury, enhanced cell metabolism and viability, reduced apoptosis, and accelerated the cell proliferation. Mitochondrial homeostasis was affected by O-GlcNAc and regulated Parkin. Conclusion The results revealed that the decreased O-GlcNAc levels and increased O-GlcNAcylation of Parkin might cause hyperoxia-induced alveolar type II cells injurys.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants. However, it is unclear whether the prognosis of NEC is different between very preterm infants (VPIs) with and without heart diseases. This was an observational cohort study that enrolled VPIs (born between 24+0 and 31+6 weeks) admitted to 79 tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in the Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) between 2019 and 2021. The exposure was CHD or isolated PDA, and VPIs with NEC were divided into three groups: complicated with CHD, with isolated PDA, and without heart diseases. The primary outcomes were NEC-related adverse outcomes (death or extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR)). Logistic regression models were used to adjust potential confounders and calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidential intervals (CIs) for each outcome. A total of 1335 VPIs with NEC were enrolled in this study, including 65 VPIs with CHD and 406 VPIs with isolated PDA. The VPIs with heart diseases had smaller gestational ages and lower body weights at birth, more antenatal steroids use, and requiring inotrope prior to the onset of NEC. While suffering from NEC, there was no significant increased risks in NEC-related death in VPIs with either CHD (adjusted OR [aOR]: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.41–2.50) or isolated PDA (aOR: 1.25; 95% CI 0.82–1.87), and increased risks in EUGR were identified in either survival VPIs with CHD (aOR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.31–4.20) or isolated PDA (aOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.16–2.01) in survivors. The composite outcome (death or EUGR) was also more often observed in VPIs with either CHD (aOR: 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–3.60) or isolated PDA (aOR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.17–1.94) than that without heart diseases. VPIs with either CHD or isolated PDA were associated with significantly prolonged duration of fasting, extended time to achieve full enteral feeding, and longer ventilation duration and hospitalization duration. Similar characteristics were also seen in VPIs with isolated PDA, with the exception that VPIs with CHD are more likely to undergo surgical intervention and maintain a prolonged fast after NEC. Conclusion: In VPIs with NEC, CHD and isolated PDA are associated with an increased risk in worse outcomes. We recommend that VPIs with cardiac NEC be managed with aggressive treatment and nutrition strategies to prevent EUGR. What is Known: • CHD and PDA are risk factors for NEC in infants, which can lead to adverse outcomes such as death and EUGR. • NEC in infants with heart disease differs clinically from that in infants without heart disease and should be recognized as a separate disease process. What is New: • CHD and isolated PDA are associated with increased risks of EUGR in VPIs with NEC. • Risk factors associated with VPIs with cardiac NEC suggested these patients should be managed with aggressive treatment and nutrition strategies to adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The test of mine unmanned vehicle has problems of great danger, long test time, high test cost and narrow test coverage. In order to solve the above problems, the simulation system of unmanned mine vehicle based on parallel control theory is studied. The system adopts key technologies such as mine vehicle dynamics modeling, high-fidelity scene reconstruction, and virtual sensor modeling. The system realizes the functions of comprehensive deduction of the unmanned driving algorithm, system integration reliability test, mining area production prediction simulation, and virtual and actual interactive parallel deduction. The main step of dynamic modeling of the mine vehicle is divided into two parts: vehicle model building and visual scene creation. The vehicle dynamic model is associated with the virtual scene. The simulation data generated by the vehicle model is used for driving the vehicle in the virtual scene to move in real-time. In view of the complex and irregular characteristics of the large-scale open-pit mine scene, the high-precision 3D model data of the mine is obtained by means of UAV aerial mapping and laser radar 3D scanning. Based on the virtual micro polygon geometry technology, high pixel virtual texture technology, and 3D scene real-time rendering technology, a high-fidelity virtual 3D scene is constructed. The virtual sensor mainly comprises virtual laser radar, virtual millimeter wave radar, virtual inertial navigation device and virtual vision camera. The virtual sensor is carried on the virtual mine car. It is responsible for generating virtual data information in a simulated mining area scene, and sending the data to the automatic driving controller for processing. Based on the simulation system, single-vehicle test, multi-vehicle scheduling test and intelligent scheduling algorithm test can be carried out. The dynamic virtual-reality interaction between on-site vehicles and virtual vehicles can be tested. The system is used to provide a verification platform for stable transportation of the whole mining area, deduction simulation of complex intersections and optimal decision of intelligent scheduling algorithm. The system ensures the efficiency and safety of unmanned driving test and accelerates the upgrading of unmanned driving technology in the mining area.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to investigate the patterns and risk factors for recurrence in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). METHODS Between January 2008 and December 2018, a total of 96 patients with pCR were enrolled in this study. Lymph nodes with a pCR [LN-ypCR response (+)] were defined as those lymph nodes without residual tumour but with the presence of treatment response to nCRT. Prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analysed with Cox proportional hazards models and Fine-Gray competing risk models. Lymph node (LN) stations were counted according to the Japan Esophageal Society classification. RESULTS The median follow-up time was 51.5 months. Recurrence occurred in 15 cases (15.6%) with a 9.9-month median time to recurrence and a 15.6-month median survival after recurrence. The majority of recurrent diseases developed within the first 2 years postoperatively. Distant recurrences were detected in 14 cases (14.6%), in which the most common recurrence sites were no.104 LN and the lung, followed by no.16 LN. The mean RFS in the whole cohort was 116.6 months. The LN-ypCR response (+) was identified as the independent prognostic factor for worse RFS in both the multivariate Cox model and the Fine–Gray competing risk model (P  =   0.001 and P  =   0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Relapse is not rare in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases with pCR after nCRT. Distant recurrences, the predominant pattern of relapse, occur primarily within the first 2 years after oesophagectomy. Patients with pCR with an LN-ypCR response (+) have a higher risk for postoperative recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate damaging effects of clomifene citrate (CC) on endometrial stromal cells (hEndoSCs), and to study effects of spermidine on autophagy and inflammatory cytokine expression in damaged endometrial stromal cells. Methods: Groups were firstly divided into control group, spermidine group, clomiphene group (CC group), CC+Spermidine group. MTT assay was used to detect cell survival rate of hEndoSCs after co-incubation with different concentrations of CC or Spermidine for 24 h. Content of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and level of apoptosis in cells of the 4 groups were detected by flow cytometry technique. Western blot was used to detect expressions of autophagy pathway-related proteins ULK1, p-ULK1, LC-3 H, and apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, Cleaved-caspase 3. RT-qPCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. Results: Compared with control group, CC group showed decreased cell survival, increased apoptosis rate, ROS content, Bax, Cleaved-caspase 3 expressions, decreased Bcl-2 expression, decreased levels of autophagy-related proteins p-ULK1 and LC-3 II/I, and elevated expressions of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA (P<0.01). There was no significant changes viability of cells in spermidine group compared with control group (P>0.05). Compared with CC group, cell survival rate in CC+spermidine group was significantly increased, apoptosis rate, ROS content, Bax and Cleaved-caspase 3 expressions were decreased, Bcl-2 expression was increased, expressions of autophagy-related proteins p-ULK1 and LC-3 H/I were elevated, while expressions of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA were decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: CC can inhibit endometrial stromal cell proliferation, promote apoptosis, and increase the transcript levels of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. Spermidine can reduce intracellular ROS in clomiphene-injured endometrial stromal cells by activating cellular autophagy, increase cell survival, and inhibit the expressions of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]