Effects of the Remaining and/or Spontaneously Regenerated Facial Axons After Hypoglossal-Facial Nerve Neurorrhaphy for Facial Paralysis.

The incidence of incomplete facial paralysis is now relatively higher in clinical practice, and surgical intervention is still desirable for patients with significant facial paralysis. However, the importance and usefulness of the remaining and/or spontaneously regenerated facial axons for regaining facial function when using hypoglossal-facial nerve (HN-FN) neurorrhaphy or other nerve-transferring methods to treat facial paralysis remain controversial. We designed a rat FN injury model with preservation of the anatomical structure followed by HN-FN side-to-side neurorrhaphy to investigate the effects of the remaining and/or spontaneously regenerated FN axons on restoration of facial function.

Meta-analysis investigating the relationship between clinical features, outcomes, and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical characteristics, outcomes and the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pneumonia.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of confirmed COVID-19 cases and compared severe (ICU) and nonsevere (non-ICU) groups.

Results: We included 12 cohort studies including 2,445 patients with COVID-19.

Somatic SF3B1 hotspot mutation in prolactinomas.

The genetic basis and corresponding clinical relevance of prolactinomas remain poorly understood. Here, we perform whole genome sequencing (WGS) on 21 patients with prolactinomas to detect somatic mutations and then validate the mutations with digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of tissue samples from 227 prolactinomas. We identify the same hotspot somatic mutation in splicing factor 3 subunit B1 (SF3B1) in 19.

Assemblies of indocyanine green and chemotherapeutic drug to cure established tumors by synergistic chemo-photo therapy.

Indocyanine green (ICG), a safe and clinically approved near-infrared (NIR) dye, was recently explored as a potential photosensitizer due to its excellent photophysical properties. However, ICG tends to form aggregations in physiological solution, causing fluorescence quenching, fast blood clearance and thereby inefficient tumor accumulation. Herein, we report ICG-based nanodrug delivery systems formed by self-assembly of ICG and chemotherapeutic drugs without any excipients for combined chemo- and photo-therapy.

Intracranial hemodynamic relationships in patients with cerebral small vessel disease.

Objective: To investigate cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), blood flow, vascular and CSF pulsatility, and their independent relationship with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) features in patients with minor ischemic stroke and MRI evidence of SVD.

Methods: We recruited patients with minor ischemic stroke and assessed CVR using blood oxygen level-dependent MRI during a hypercapnic challenge, cerebral blood flow (CBF), vascular and CSF pulsatility using phase-contrast MRI, and structural magnetic resonance brain imaging to quantify white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and perivascular spaces (PVSs). We used multiple regression to identify parameters associated with SVD features, controlling for patient characteristics.

IGFBP5 increases cell invasion and inhibits cell proliferation by EMT and Akt signaling pathway in Glioblastoma multiforme cells.

Background: Recurrence of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) seems to be the rule despite combination therapies. Cell invasion and cell proliferation are major reasons for recurrence of GBM. And insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) is the most conserved of the IGFBPs and is frequently dysregulated in cancers and metastatic tissues.

Self-assembly of oxidation-responsive polyethylene glycol-paclitaxel prodrug for cancer chemotherapy.

Amphiphilic drug conjugates can self-assemble into nanovehicles for cancer drug delivery, but the key is to design stable yet intracellular labile drug linkers for drug retention during blood circulation but fast intracellular drug release. The conjugation of paclitaxel (PTX) is generally via the ester of its 2'-hydroxyl group, but the ester is either too stable to release PTX in the cytosol or so labile that hydrolyzes during circulation. Herein, we report a p-(boronic ester)benzyl-based tumor-specifically cleavable linker for preparing PTX-conjugate with polyethylene glycol (PEG, Mw = 5000 Da) (PEG-B-PTX).

Tumor extravasation and infiltration as barriers of nanomedicine for high efficacy: The current status and transcytosis strategy.

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery platforms have been explored for cancer treatments and resulted in several nanomedicines in clinical uses and many in clinical trials. However, current nanomedicines have not met the expected clinical therapeutic efficacy. Thus, improving therapeutic efficacy is the foremost pressing task of nanomedicine research.

Integrated analysis of DNA methylation and mRNA expression profiles to identify key genes involved in the regrowth of clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma.

Tumour regrowth is a key characteristic of clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA). No applicable prognosis evaluation method is available for post-operative patients. We aimed to identify DNA methylation biomarkers that can facilitate prognosis evaluation.

Formation of new lymphatic vessels in glioma: An immunohistochemical analysis.

We investigated the distribution and formation of new lymphatic vessels in gliomas. Specimens from seven glioma cases were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for CD34, lymphatic endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1), prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox1), nestin, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Three types of vessels were observed in glioma specimens: LYVE-1 lymphatic vessels, CD34 blood vessels, and LYVE-1 /CD34 blood vessels.

Autocrine BMP4 Signaling Enhances Tumor Aggressiveness via Promoting Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in IDH1-mutant Gliomas.

The isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1/2) mutations are frequent genetic abnormalities in the majority of WHO grade II/III glioma and secondary GBM. IDH1-mutated (IDH1) glioma exhibits distinctive patterns in cancer biology and metabolism. In the present study, we showed that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP4) are significantly upregulated in IDH1 glioma.

Identification of key genes in invasive clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma by integrating analysis of DNA methylation and mRNA expression profiles.

Background: Tumor surrounding the internal carotid artery or invading to the cavernous sinus is an important characteristic of invasive pituitary adenoma, and a pivotal factor of tumor residue and regrowth. Without specific changes in serum hormone related to the adenohypophyseal cell of origin, clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma is more likely to be diagnosed at invasive stages compared with functioning pituitary adenoma. The underlying mechanism of tumor invasion remains unknown.

Identification of a novel somatic mutation of POU6F2 by whole-genome sequencing in prolactinoma.

Background: Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are one of the most common intracranial tumors; approximately half of PAs are prolactin (PRL)-secreting PAs (prolactinomas). The genetic alterations prevalent in prolactinomas are unknown.

Methods: Here, we present a patient with an extremely aggressive and giant prolactinoma accompanied by serious destruction of the surrounding bone mass.

The clinical characteristics and molecular mechanism of pituitary adenoma associated with meningioma.

Background: Pituitary adenoma and meningioma are the most common benign tumors in the central nervous system. Pituitary adenoma associated with meningioma (PAM) is a rare disease and the clinical features and mechanisms of PAM are unclear.

Methods: We summarized the clinical data of 57 PAM patients and compared with sporadic pituitary adenoma (SPA) and sporadic meningioma (SM).

PBK as a Potential Biomarker Associated with Prognosis of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive intracranial tumors. Despite the comprehensive treatments, the median survival of GBM patients is still dismal. Consequently, it is critical to explore potential biomarkers and underlying molecular mechanisms of GBM.

Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 1 activation mediates amyloid precursor protein site-specific Ser655 phosphorylation and triggers amyloid pathology.

Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 1 (ROCK1) is proposed to be implicated in Aβ suppression; however, the role for ROCK1 in amyloidogenic metabolism of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to produce Aβ was unknown. In the present study, we showed that ROCK1 kinase activity and its APP binding were enhanced in AD brain, resulting in increased β-secretase cleavage of APP. Furthermore, we firstly confirmed that APP served as a substrate for ROCK1 and its major phosphorylation site was located at Ser655.

Predicting the regrowth of clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma with a statistical model.

Background: Compared with clinically functioning pituitary adenoma (FPA), clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) lacks of detectable hypersecreting serum hormones and related symptoms which make it difficult to predict the prognosis and monitoring for postoperative tumour regrowth. We aim to investigate whether the expression of selected tumour-related proteins and clinical features could be used as tumour markers to effectively predict the regrowth of NFPA.

Method: Tumour samples were collected from 295 patients with NFPA from Beijing Tiantan Hospital.

Quality Appraisal of Guidelines on Cancer-Associated Thrombosis Using AGREE II Instrument and Analysis of Current Status of New Oral Anticoagulants.

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) studies have increased in recent years and the quality of guidelines to guide the clinical practice of CAT prevention and treatment becomes crucial. The therapy status of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has been established in some thrombotic diseases, but the evidence for CAT remains unconvincing. The aim of this research is to evaluate the quality of CAT guidelines and discuss the role of NOAC in CAT.

Exosomes secreted by mesenchymal stromal/stem cell-derived adipocytes promote breast cancer cell growth via activation of Hippo signaling pathway.

Objective: Although adipocytes are the most abundant stromal cell component in breast cancer tissues, their interaction with breast cancer cells has been less investigated compared to cancer-associated fibroblasts or macrophages. Exosomes are a novel way of cell-cell communication and have been demonstrated to play an important role in various biological processes. However, to our knowledge, only a few studies have reported the effects of adipocyte exosomes on tumor development.

Primary spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor: A single center series with literature review.

: Primary spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the central nervous system has a low incidence. The intraspinal case is very rare. Around 30 cases have been reported so far.

Overexpression of Mst1 reduces gastric cancer cell viability by repressing the AMPK-Sirt3 pathway and activating mitochondrial fission.

Background And Objective: Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) plays a critical role in regulating cell survival and apoptosis. However, its influence on gastric cancer cell viability is not understood. Our study aims to explore the specific role of Mst1 in gastric cancer.

The association between metabolic syndrome and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in menopausal women: a cross-sectional study in a Chinese population.

Background: To examine the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with carotid artery stenosis (CAS), especially in menopausal women in China.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study of menopause women aged ≥40 years were enrolled from the Jidong community of Tangshan City between 2013 and 2014 to examine the association between MetS and CAS. Logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the association between MetS and the presence of CAS.