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Despite the case study research method has been widely adopted in qualitative research, few scholarly articles addressed the comprehensive guidance on the use of embedded case study research design. This paper aims to contribute to the literature by demonstrating the use of embedded case study research design in qualitative research. A pseudo case was exemplified by exploring the relationship between a holding company and its subsidiary companies of a corporate group. What constructs a case and the rationale for the case being studied is exemplified. The paper further outlines the research protocol, the procedure of inquiry, and the design of the embedded case analysis. A brief explanation of the context of the case enriches the understanding of the investigated cases.

Qiao-Ting Fu,1,* Xiao-Qin Zhong,1,* Mei-Yu Chen,1,* Jia-Yi Gu,2 Jian Zhao,3 De-Hong Yu,4 Fei Tan1,5 1Shanghai Skin Disease Clinical College, The Fifth Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Shanghai, 200443, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Solna, Sweden; 4Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, People’s Republic of China; 5Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200443, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fei Tan; Dehong Yu, Email tanfeitrue@126.com; dehongyu@126.comBackground and Purpose: Luteolin (LUT), a flavonoid found in various plants, has been reported to have potential therapeutic effects in melanoma. However, poor water solubility and low bioactivity have severely restricted the clinical application of LUT. Based on the high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in melanoma cells, we developed nanoparticles encapsulating LUT with the ROS-responsive material poly(propylene sulfide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PPS-PEG) to enhance the water solubility of LUT, accelerate the release of LUT in melanoma cells, and further enhance its anti-melanoma effect, providing a viable solution for the application of LUT nano-delivery systems in melanoma therapy.Methods: In this study, LUT-loaded nanoparticles were prepared with PPS-PEG and named as LUT-PPS-NPs. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to determine the size and morphology of LUT-PPS-NPs. In vitro studies were carried out to determine the uptake and mechanism of LUT-PPS-NPs by SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells. According to the CCK-8 assay, the cytotoxic effects of LUT-PPS-NPs on human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and SK-MEL-28 cells were assessed. Apoptosis assays, cell migration and invasion assays, and proliferation inhibition assays with low and normal density plating were also applied to test the in vitro anti-melanoma effect. Additionally, melanoma models were established utilizing BALB/c nude mice and initially evaluated the growth inhibitory impact following intratumoral injection of LUT-PPS-NPs.Results: The size of LUT-PPS-NPs was 169.77 ± 7.33 nm with high drug loading (15.05 ± 0.07%). In vitro, cellular assays confirmed that LUT-PPS-NPs were efficiently internalized by SK-MEL-28 cells and showed low cytotoxicity against HSF. Moreover, LUT released from LUT-PPS-NPs significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Animal experiments showed that LUT-PPS-NPs inhibited tumor growth more than 2-fold compared with the LUT group.Conclusion: In conclusion, the LUT-PPS-NPs developed in our study enhanced the anti-melanoma effect of LUT.Keywords: luteolin, melanoma, nanoparticles, PPS-PEG, drug delivery system

Chi Zhou,1,&ast; Fang Tan,1,&ast; Sihong Lai,1 Jingchun Chen,1 Qi Cai,1 Xiaoyu Yin,1 Shuli Guo,1 Shuang Wu,2 Lei Yang1 1School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, People’s Republic of China; 2The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563100, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei Yang, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Road, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-0571-28865510, Email yanglei62@hznu.edu.cnBackground: This study evaluated the current health promotion capacity level of Chinese healthcare professionals and explored the association between health promotion capacity and preventive health service practices.Methods: A total of 124 doctors and 72 nurses were recruited from 6 county hospitals and 12 community health centers from June to August 2019 in Zhejiang Province, China. Health promotion capacity was measured using the revised Chinese version of the Health Promotion Professionals Core Competency Scale.Results: The mean total score on the health promotion capacity scale was 45.04 (SD = 7.30). Total health promotion capacity score was negatively associated with county hospitals (β = − 0.32, p < 0.001; Ref: community health center) and positively associated with a monthly income of more than 5001 RMB ($786.39) (β = 0.25, p = 0.004; Ref: less than 5000 RMB ($786.24)). All domain scores of the health promotion capacity scale were positively related to preventive health service practices.Conclusion: Health promotion capacity is one of the most important capacities among healthcare professionals, and there is a particular need to improve nurses’ capacity. A higher level of health promotion capacity is beneficial for implementing preventive health services.Keywords: healthcare professionals, health promotion, primary care, capacity

We study the W/Cu multilayers as a spin current source and the coherent spin–orbit torques in a Fe layer using the spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (STFMR) technique. With increasing numbers of layers, the line shape of the STFMR signals changes from predominantly antisymmetric to predominantly symmetric. When using [W(0.5)/Cu(0.5)]5 as a spin current source, the symmetric amplitude increases by a factor of 5 compared to a single W layer. Simultaneously, the effective damping parameter also increases slightly due to enhanced spin pumping. Along with an increasing trend in the damping-like torque efficiency, this suggests that the extrinsic spin Hall effect is enhanced. Concurrently, the antisymmetric amplitude decreases significantly by a factor of 27, which indicates an increase in the field-like torque when multilayers are used as a spin current source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qian Tan,1,2,* Jing Hu,3,* Yujing Zhou,1,2 Yunxiao Wan,1,2 Chuanlan Zhang,1,2 Xin Liu,1,2 Xingyao Long,1,4 Fang Tan,5 Xin Zhao1 1Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Food, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, 400067, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, 400067, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pharmacy, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Cha University, Seongnam, 13488, South Korea; 5Department of Public Health, Our Lady of Fatima University, 838 Valenzuela, Philippines*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xin ZhaoChongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Xuefu Main Street 9, Chongqing, 400067, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-23-6265-3650Email zhaoxin@cque.edu.cnFang TanDepartment of Public Health, Our Lady of Fatima University, 120 McArthur Highway, 838 Valenzuela, PhilippinesTel +86-23-6265-3650Email tanfang@foods.ac.cnAim: The naturally fermented yak yogurt of pastoralists in the Tibetan Plateau, China, because of its unique geographical environment and the unique lifestyle of Tibetan pastoralists, is very different from other kinds of sour milk, and the microorganisms it contains are special. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis HFY14 (LLSL-HFY14) is a new lactic acid bacterium isolated from naturally fermented yak yogurt. The purpose of this study was to study the inhibitory effect of the bacterium on constipation.Methods: Constipation was induced in ICR mice with diphenoxylate, and the constipated mice were treated with LLSL-HFY14. The weight and feces of the mice were visually detected. Colonic tissues were observed on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Serum indices were detected with kits. mRNA expression in the colon was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay.Results: Constipation caused weight loss, the number of defecation granules, defecation weight, fecal water content decreased, and the first black stool excretion time increased. LLSL-HFY14 alleviated these symptoms, and the effects were similar to those of lactulose (drug). The pathological examination revealed that constipation caused pathological changes in the colon, and LLSL-HFY14 effectively alleviated the disease. LLSL-HFY14 increased serum levels of motilin, gastrin, endothelin, substance P, acetylcholinesterase, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and decreased serum levels of somatostatin in constipated mice. In addition, LLSL-HFY14 upregulated VIP, cAMP, protein kinase A, and aquaporin 3 expression in colonic tissues of constipated mice in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion: LLSL-HFY14 inhibited constipation, similar to lactulose, and has the potential to become a biological agent.Keywords: yak yogurt, lactic acid bacterium, diphenoxylate, constipation, mice

Composited p-type electrodes with high reflectivity have been investigated in AlGaN-based ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) to improve the light extraction efficiency, which are composed of a patterned ITO layer and an Al reflector. It is verified that the patterned ITO with a thickness of 30 nm can not only well form Ohmic contact with p-GaN capping layer, but also be nearly 90% transparent to ultraviolet light, and thus presenting a reflectivity of 73% at 280 nm when combined with an Al reflector. Further experimental efforts confirm that the performance of the UV-LEDs is dramatically improved with such p-type electrodes. The maximum light output power and wall plug efficiency in the current range of 0–100 mA are severally increased by 49.8% and 54.2% compared to the device with traditional Ni/Au electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This study investigated the relationships of quality indices with the severity of wooden breast (WB) myopathy in chicken breast meat under refrigerated storage. The physicochemical properties, water-holding capacity (WHC), microbial quality and fatty acid profiles of normal chicken breast meat samples (NOR samples, n = 63), moderate WB (MWB, n = 63) myopathy and severe WB (SWB, n = 63) myopathy (MWB and SWB samples, respectively) were evaluated immediately after sampling and after 4 and 8 d of refrigerated storage at 4°C. 2. Total collagen, fat, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid contents, redness and pH of the SWB and MWB samples were higher than the NOR samples. The SWB samples that were stored for 8 d had poor WHC, total viable counts (TVC) of higher than 7.0log colony-forming units, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content of greater than 15 mg/100 g and a thiobarbituric acid – reactive substance level of higher than 1 mg/kg malondialdehyde. 3. No significant difference was observed in the TVB-N content and TVC of the MWB and NOR samples during storage. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content was lower in the SWB and MWB samples than in the NOR samples. The SWB samples were tougher than the MWB and NOR samples after 8 d of refrigeration. 4. In conclusion, the quality of chicken breast meat with SWB myopathy degraded considerably over time; thus, such meat should not be subjected to extended refrigeration for storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chong Li,1– 3,* Jun Si,4,* Fang Tan,5 Kun-Young Park,1– 3 Xin Zhao1– 3 1Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, People’s Republic of China; 2Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, People’s Republic of China; 3Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, People’s Republic of China; 4Pre-Hospital Emergency Department, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing 400014, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Public Health, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela 838, Philippines*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xin Zhao; Kun-Young Park Tel +86-23-6265-3650Email zhaoxin@cque.edu; kunypark@foods.ac.cnAim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the preventive effect of Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY06 (LP-KSFY06) on D-galactose/lipopolysaccharide (D-Gal/LPS)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice.Methods: We evaluated the antioxidant capacity of LP-KSFY06 in vitro, detailed the effects of LP-KSFY06 on the organ index, liver function index, biochemical index, cytokines, and related genes, and noted the accompanying pathological changes.Results: The results clearly showed that LP-KSFY06 can remove 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline − 6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free radicals in vitro. The analysis of the organ index and pathology demonstrated that LP-KSFY06 significantly prevented ALI. Biochemical and molecular biological analysis showed that LP-KSFY06 prevented a decrease in the antioxidant-related levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and also prevented an increase in aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitric oxide (NO) levels. LP-KSFY06 upregulated the anti-inflammatory factor interleukin (IL)-10 and downregulated the pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). These oxidative and inflammatory indicators were consistent with the results of gene detections. Furthermore, we determined that LP-KSFY06 downregulated Keap1, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), caspase-1, nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), IL-18, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14 or p38), upregulated Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), B-cell inhibitor-α (IκB-α), and thioredoxin (Trx) mRNA expression. These may be related to the regulation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) and NLRP3/NF-κB pathways.Conclusion: LP-KSFY06 is an effective multifunctional Lactobacillus with strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory ability that can prevent D-gal/LPS-induced ALI in mice and assist in maintaining health.Keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY06, D-galactose, lipopolysaccharide, acute liver injury, mice

Jinchun Wu,1 Haiyan Zhou,2 Xiaoping Yi,3 Qiongzhi He,4 Tianxiang Lei,5 Fengbo Tan,5 Heli Liu,5 Bin Li1 1Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People’s Republic of China; 4Geneplus-Beijing Institute, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Heli Liu; Bin Li Email heliliu@csu.edu.cn; bincsuxy@csu.edu.cnPurpose: NF1-deficient GISTs account for about 1% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and are usually considered as a subtype of KIT/PDGFRA wild-type GISTs that have no detectable KIT and PDGFRA mutations. Some KIT/PDGFRA wild-type GISTs actually have cryptic KIT mutations (mKIT). So we investigate whether concurrent mKIT existed in NF1-associated GISTs.Patients and Methods: Three independent cohorts were retrospectively analyzed. KIT/PDGFRA wild-type GISTs in Xiangya Hospital between May 2017 and Oct 2019 were investigated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach targeted 1021 cancer-related genes regions. GISTs cases in Gene+ dataset from May 2017 to May 2020 were collected from the platform of this company. The genotypes of GISTs in MSKCC cohort were downloaded from cBioPortal.Results: A total of 290 cases including 23 KIT/PDGFRA wild-type GISTs in Xiangya Hospital, 136 GISTs in Gene+ database, and 131 GISTs in MSKCC were enrolled. Twenty-six cases have NF1 mutations (mNF1), and 48% (12/26) of NF1-mutated GISTs have concurrent mKIT. Compared with MSKCC (2/10, 20%), a higher ratio of mKIT in NF1-associated GISTs was detected in Xiangya Hospital (3/5, 60%) and Gene+ (7/11, 64%) (p< 0.05). No mutation hotspot existed in mNF1. Most of mKIT centered within exon 11 (7/12, 58%) and others including exon 17 (3/12, 25%), exon 9(1/12, 8%), exon 13 (1/12, 8%) and exon 21 (1/12, 8%). No differences in age, gender, and location were detected between NF1-related GISTs with mKIT and those without mKIT. Three GIST cases of type I neurofibromatosis, skin neurofibromas and micro-GISTs (≤ 1 cm) were devoid of mKIT, but all the mini-GISTs (1∼ 2 cm) and clinic GIST lesions (> 2 cm) in two cases harbored mKIT.Conclusion: mKIT was not unusual in NF1-associated GISTs, especially in Chinese populations. The gain-of-function mKIT possibly facilitated the progression of NF1-deficient lesions to clinic GISTs, however, the underlying mechanism warrants further studies.Keywords: gastrointestinal stromal tumor, NF1, KIT, deep sequencing

Yun Bai,1,* Yinjuan Wang,2,* Huajun Zheng,3 Fei Tan,1 Chao Yuan4 1Central Laboratory, The Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital of Tongji Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China; 2Symrise (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Shanghai 201206, People’s Republic of China; 3Shanghai-Ministry of Science and Technology Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Skin & Cosmetic Research, The Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital of Tongji Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fei TanCentral Laboratory, The Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital of Tongji Medical University, No. 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail tanfeitrue@126.comChao YuanDepartment of Skin & Cosmetic Research, The Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital of Tongji Medical University, No. 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail yuanchaocn@163.comBackground and Aim: The association of microbiota changes with sensitive skin remains controversial until now. Although a strong correlation is detected between skin microbiota distribution and biophysical parameters, there is little knowledge on the link between sensitive skin and skin microbiota in Chinese women. This study aimed to unravel the correlation between facial skin microbiota distribution and skin barriers in Chinese women with sensitive skin.Materials and Methods: In total, 34 volunteers were enrolled, including 24 subjects with sensitive skin (SS group) and 10 subjects with non-sensitive skin (NS group). The cuticle moisture content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and facial skin sebum secretion were measured, and the facial skin surface morphology was evaluated. Sensitive skin samples were collected from the facial (SS-F group) and chest skin of subjects in the SS group (SS-C group), while non-sensitive skin samples were collected from the facial skin of subjects in the NS group (NS-F group). All skin samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing.Results: 16S rRNA sequencing detected Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria as the three most common microbiota phyla and Propionibacterium, Paracoccus, and Corynebacterium as the three most common microbiota genera, and there were no significant differences in the relative frequency of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, or Proteobacteria, or Propionibacterium, Paracoccus, or Corynebacterium among the SS-F, SS-C, and NS-F groups (P> 0.05). We detected no significant difference in the diversity of bacterial communities among the SS-F, SS-C, and NS-F groups; however, the Shannon’s diversity index was significantly higher in the NS-F group than in the SS-C group. In addition, Spearman correlation analysis showed a correlation between the microbiota genera and skin physiological parameters (P< 0.05).Conclusion: This study preliminarily unravels the skin microbiota of sensitive skin using a high-throughput tool, and there are no microbiota genera with strong associations with skin physiological parameters.Keywords: sensitive skin, skin microbiota, skin barrier, Chinese woman

Jiadi Xing,* Maoxing Liu,* Kai Xu,* Pin Gao, Fei Tan, Zhendan Yao, Nan Zhang, Hong Yang, Chenghai Zhang, Ming Cui, Xiangqian Su Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiangqian Su KeyLaboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, NO. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13801262916Email suxiangqian@bjmu.edu.cnBackground: Few studies have evaluated the outcomes of transhiatal and right thoracoabdominal resection of Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. This study investigated the relative effect of these two methods in the surgical treatment of Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.Methods: Clinical data for 211 Siewert type II cancer patients were collected and classified into transhiatal group (n = 181) and right thoracoabdominal group (n = 30) according to surgical approach. Short-term outcomes were compared between these two groups. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed using a logistic regression model. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were compared between the matched groups.Results: The right thoracoabdominal group had significantly greater intraoperative blood loss and longer operative time compared with transhiatal group. Complications corresponding to Clavien–Dindo grade III or higher were 4.4% in transhiatal group and 30% in right thoracoabdominal group (P < 0.05). The right thoracoabdominal group exhibited greater blood loss, longer operative time, longer hospitalization, and a smaller number of lymph nodes retrieved than the transhiatal group as evidenced by PSM analysis, and patients in transhiatal group also experienced significantly better survival than patients in right thoracoabdominal group.Conclusion: In this study, the transhiatal approach was associated with more favorable short-term and oncological outcomes than the right thoracoabdominal group approach for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. The transhiatal approach with total gastrectomy appears to be an optional choice for this type of tumor, especially for esophagus invasion ≤ 2 cm. Well-designed randomized control trials are necessary to validate our findings.Keywords: adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction, Siewert type II, transhiatal resection, right thoracoabdominal resection

Fengbo Tan,1,2 Dongren He,2 Kuan Hu,1,2 Dong Wang,2 Sai Zhang,3 Juanni Li,4 Zhiming Wang,1,2 Yiming Tao1 1Department of General Surgery Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 3Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yiming Tao Department of General SurgeryResearch, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-731-8432-7191Fax +86-731-8975-3510Email yimingtao@csu.edu.cnBackground: Cancer cell migration, tumor angiogenesis, and activated hepatic stellate cells (a-HSCs) promote the development of colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin-homologous protein 2 (WAVE2) has been associated with CLM, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.Methods: In the current study, we evaluated the relationship between WAVE2 and CLM in 103 CLM patients who underwent liver resection. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to determine the association between WAVE2 protein expression and hepatic micro-metastasis in human CLM tissues. WAVE2 knockout was performed in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to explore the function and signaling pathways of WAVE2 in colorectal cancer progression.Results: Significantly higher levels of WAVE2 were detected in portal-associated relative to sinusoid-associated micro-metastasis. A strong correlation was identified between WAVE2 levels and microvessel density (MVD) in hepatic metastasis. Similarly, expression of WAVE2 was closely associated with activation of HSCs. Mechanistically, WAVE2 regulated the progression of human CLM acts by regulating the growth factor β (TGF-β) and Hippo pathways via effector yes-associated protein (YAP1).Conclusion: Overall, our results demonstrated that WAVE2 participates in CLM tumor microenvironment, and can be a potential latent therapeutic target for CLM.Keywords: colorectal cancer, hepatic stellate cells, liver metastasis, WAVE2

Tianxiang Lei,1,* Fengbo Tan,1,* Heli Liu,1 Miao Ouyang,2 Haiyan Zhou,3 Peng Liu,1 Xianhui Zhao,1 Bin Li4 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Heli Liu; Miao Ouyang Email heliliu@csu.edu.cn; oym3399@csu.edu.cnPurpose: The surgical or endoscopic resection is the current treatment modality for 2– 5 cm gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). However, evidence is lacking as to which treatment modality is better. Our objective is to provide a new reference for the standardization of the treatment of 2– 5 cm gastric GISTs.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 177 patients who underwent resection for 2– 5cm gastric GISTs between January 2007 and July 2019 at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The cases were divided into surgical group (n=118) and endoscopic group (n=59). The clinical data, pathological and genetic characteristics, short- and long-term outcomes were compared.Results: Symptoms showed more obvious in the surgical group including abdominal pain and bleeding. In the endoscopic group, tumor size was smaller (p< 0.001), and risk classification was lower (p< 0.001). Patients in the endoscopic group had shorter anal exhaust time (p< 0.001) and lesser hospital cost (p< 0.001). However, the incidence rate of complications (25.42 vs 4.20%; p< 0.001) and reoperation (22.03 vs 0.00%; p< 0.001) in the endoscopic group was relatively higher than these in the surgical group. There was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival or overall survival between two groups.Conclusion: Gastric GISTs of 2– 5cm may be suitable to select laparoscopic surgery.Keywords: gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors, surgical resection, endoscopic resection, prognosis

Peng Liu,* Fengbo Tan,* Heli Liu, Jie Ge, Sheng Liu, Tianxiang Lei, Xianhui Zhao Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Heli Liu Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryXiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13874967285Email heliliu@csu.edu.cnBackground: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) extremely and rarely metastasize to the skin, and such metastases have not been well characterized.Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data of patients with skin metastasis of a GIST (SM-GIST) admitted to Xiangya Hospital (Changsha, Hunan, China) and literature review were conducted.Results: Including our 4 cases, a total of 17 cases have been reported to date. The mean age of the patients was 55.4 years (29∼ 70 years) and there was not sex predominance (male 10 and female 7). Primary tumors were often located in the stomach (n=9), duodenum (n=2) and small bowel (n=2). Meanwhile, SM-GIST mainly occurred in head and face (n=6), extremities (n=6), followed by abdomen wall (n=5), back (n=3) and chest (n=2). Mutation analysis revealed that the frequency of wild-type GIST (WT-GIST), exon 9, 11 and 13 mutations was 6, 1, 4 and 1, respectively. The average time to SM-GIST was 4.22 years, specifically 4.59 years in gastric and 3.8 years in non-gastric. Moreover, for the resection only group (including chemotherapy), such average time was 3.63 years, while for the combined group (resection and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)), it was about 4.74 years. The mean survival was approximately 6.2 years. However, after the diagnosis of SM-GIST, survival was only about 1.69 years.Conclusion: SM-GIST is a rare malignant condition. Non-gastric GIST, surgery without TKIs, high invasiveness and tumor burden, and molecular subtype (mutation in exon 9, 11 and wild-type) may be conducive to the development of SM-GIST. Additionally, it is also a sign of poor prognosis.Keywords: gastrointestinal stromal tumor, skin metastasis, tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Yi Gan,1– 3 Fang Tan,4 Ruokun Yi,1– 3 Xianrong Zhou,1– 3 Chong Li,1– 3 Xin Zhao1– 3 1Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 3Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Public Health, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela, PhilippinesCorrespondence: Xin Zhao No. 9, Xuefu Road, Nan’an District, Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional FoodChongqing University of Education Chongqing 400067, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-23-6265-3650Email zhaoxin@cque.edu.cnAbstract: Coronaviruses (CoVs) are common pathogens that can infect both animals and humans, thereby posing a threat to global public health. CoV infection mostly occurs during winter and spring in temperate countries; the virus has high transmission efficiency and may have severe infection outcomes. The recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak exhibited transboundary transmission due to international transportation, trade, and economic exchange. Animal hosts provide a persistent source for CoVs and their recombination. Domestic camels have been shown to be one of the hosts of CoVs, while livestock, poultry and other warm-blooded animals may act as intermediate hosts for CoVs. This paper outlines the biological and epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of CoVs and describes the origin, transmission route, animal-source food risk, and control measures for CoVs. Such knowledge can be used to prevent CoVs from harming consumers through animal-sourced foods and can help to prevent new zoonoses from occurring. This work will provide a reference for strengthening the controls on the production process in meat production companies, thereby improving food safety.Keywords: coronavirus, meat, food safety, prevention and control

Shuangshuang Li, Xiao Hu, Fang Tan,* Wenxian Li* Department of Anesthesiology, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenxian LiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13917426838Email liwenxian@eentanesthesia.comFang TanDepartment of Anesthesiology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13611716000Email tanfang@eentanesthesia.comObjective: Maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP) is important in preventing ocular complications in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery for general anesthesia. The effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers on IOP remain unclear. The present study compared the effects of cisatracurium, rocuronium, and mivacurium on IOP during induction of general anesthesia in vitreous retinal surgery.Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized double-blinded study, 133 patients undergoing vitreous retinal surgery were randomized into one of the three groups: Group cisatracurium (n=45), Group rocuronium (n=44), or Group mivacurium (n=44). Each drug (cisatracurium 0.1 mg kg− 1 in Group cisatracurium, rocuronium 0.6 mg kg− 1 in Group rocuronium, and mivacurium 0.2 mg kg− 1 in Group mivacurium) was administered during induction of anesthesia. IOP and hemodynamic parameters were measured at 1 min before anesthesia induction (T0). Bispectral index (BIS) was maintained between 45 and 55 after propofol administration (T1). Train-of-four stimulation (TOF) was below 0 after muscle relaxant administration (T2) and after laryngeal mask implantation (T3).Results: Both ipsi-operative and control-operative IOP at T1, T2, and T3 significantly decreased from the baseline values (T0) in all three groups (P< 0.05). The IOP changes between T1 and T2 among three groups were similar (P> 0.05). The values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at T1 and T2 significantly decreased in all three groups compared to T0 (P< 0.05).Conclusion: Bilateral IOP significantly decreased from the baseline values in all three groups during the induction phase. Cisatracurium, rocuronium, and mivacurium did not induce significant changes in bilateral IOP.Keywords: intraocular pressure, cisatracurium, rocuronium, mivacurium, general anesthesia, ophthalmic surgery