Effects of Alexithymia to Stigma of Patients with Lymphedema

BACKGROUND: Secondary lymphedema is one of the common complications after malignant tumor surgery. It is a chronic and complex disease. Once lymphedema occurs, there will be discomfort such as limb swelling, pain, numbness and tension, which will eventually lead to changes in the appearance of the affected limb and will seriously affect the quality of life and require lifelong treatment and psychosocial support. This study investigated the current situation of stigma and alexithymia in patients with lymphedema, and discussed the impact of alexithymia on stigma in patients with lymphedema. AIMS: To understand the current situation of stigma and alexithymia in patients with lymphedema, and to analyze the influence of alexithymia on stigma. METHODS: 195 patients with lymphedema in a hospital were selected by convenient sampling. General information questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and social impact scale were used to investigate respectively, to study the general situation, stigma and alexithymia of the respondents. RESULTS: The results showed that the total score of stigma in 195 patients with lymphedema was (60.36 ± 11.08), and the total score of alexithymia was (56.53 ± 8.43). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that alexithymia and family relationship were the influencing factors of stigma in patients with lymphedema. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with lymphedema have obvious stigma, and alexithymia and family relationship are the influencing factors.

CircMYBL2 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating E2F1 expression

Circular RNAs(circRNAs)have been recognized as pivotal regulators in tumorigenesis,yet the biological functions as well as molecular mechanisms of the majority of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain elusive.We sought to unveil the expression profile and biological role of circMYBL2 in HCC.Initial microarray analyses were conducted to probe the expression profile of circMYBL2 in HCC cells,and qRT‒PCR analysis was then performed in HCC cell lines and tissues,revealing significant upregulation of circMYBL2.Subsequent experiments were conducted to evaluate the biological function of circMYBL2 in HCC progression.Furthermore,bioinformatics analysis,qRT‒PCR analysis,luciferase reporter assays,and western blot analysis were employed to investigate the interplay among circMYBL2,miR-1205,and E2F1.CircMYBL2 was found to exhibit marked upregulation in tumor tissues as well as HCC cell lines.Elevated expression of circMYBL2 increased the proliferation and migration of HCC cells,whereas circMYBL2 knockdown elicited contrasting effects.Mechanistically,our results indicated that circMYBL2 promoted E2F1 expression and facilitated HCC progression by sponging miR-1205.Our findings revealed that circMYBL2 contributed to HCC progression through the circMYBL2/miR-1205/E2F1 axis,suggesting the potential of circMYBL2 as a novel target for HCC treatment or a prognostic biomarker for HCC.

Circular RNAs in breast cancer diagnosis,treatment and prognosis

Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer to become the most common malignancy worldwide.The incidence rate and mortality rate of breast cancer continue to rise,which leads to a great burden on public health.Circular RNAs(circRNAs),a new class of noncoding RNAs(ncRNAs),have been recognized as important oncogenes or suppressors in regulating cancer initiation and progression.In breast cancer,circRNAs have significant roles in tumorigenesis,recurrence and multidrug resistance that are mediated by various mechanisms.Therefore,circRNAs may serve as promising targets of therapeutic strategies for breast cancer management.This study reviews the most recent studies about the biosynthesis and characteristics of circRNAs in diagnosis,treatment and prognosis evaluation,as well as the value of circRNAs in clinical applications as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in breast cancer.Understanding the mechanisms by which circRNAs function could help transform basic research into clinical applications and facilitate the development of novel circRNA-based therapeutic strategies for breast cancer treatment.

The biogenesis,function and clinical significance of circular RNAs in breast cancer

Circular RNAs(circ RNAs)are noncoding RNAs that form covalently closed loop structures.Circ RNAs are dysregulated in cancer and play key roles in tumorigenesis,diagnosis,and tumor therapy.Circ RNAs function as competing endogenous RNAs or micro RNA sponges that regulate transcription and splicing,binding to proteins,and translation.Circ RNAs may serve as novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis,and they show potential as therapeutic targets in cancers including breast cancer(BC).In women,BC is the most common malignant tumor worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death.Although evidence indicates that circ RNAs play a critical role in BC,the mechanisms regulating the function of circ RNAs in BC remain poorly understood.Here,we provide literature review aiming to clarify the role of circ RNAs in BC and summarize the latest research.We provide a systematic overview of the biogenesis and biological functions of circ RNAs,elaborate on the functional roles of circ RNAs in BC,and highlight the value of circ RNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in BC.

Array Antenna Pattern Synthesis Based on Selective Levy Flight Culture Wolf Pack Algorithm

Due to the shortcomings such as the premature convergence and the bad local optimal searching capability in traditional intelligence methods for pattern synthesis,a new type of wolf pack algorithm named Levy⁃Cultural Wolf Pack Algorithm(LCWPA)was designed on the basis of the Cultural Wolf Pack Algorithm(CWPA),which obeys the selective Levy flight.Because of the good overall management ability provided by the cultural algorithm in optimization process and the characteristics of excellent population diversity brought by Levy flight,the search efficiency of the new algorithm was greatly improved.When the algorithm was applied in the pattern synthesis of array antenna,the simulation results showed its high performance with multi⁃null and low side⁃lobe restrictions.In addition,the algorithm was superior to the Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization(QPSO),Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO),and Genetic Algorithm(GA)in optimization accuracy and operation speed,and is of very good generalization.

保乳治疗的T1期乳腺癌患者是否可以免除外科腋窝分期?

背景与目的在后"Z0011"时代,外科腋窝分期在保乳治疗(breast-conserving therapy,BCT)的早期乳腺癌患者中的重要性逐渐受到质疑。我们使用监测、流行病学和最终结果(Sur veillance,Epidemiology,andEndResults,SEER)数据库进行了一项回顾性队列研究,评估保乳治疗的T1期乳腺癌患者免除外科腋窝分期的安全性。方法166,615例T1期乳腺癌患者于2000–2012年期间实施了保乳治疗(保乳手术+放疗),根据外科腋窝分期情况被分为两组:分期组(前哨淋巴结活检术或腋窝淋巴结清扫术)和未分期组(无淋巴结手术或仅行淋巴结针吸活检)。倾向评分匹配(propensity score matching,PSM)用于减少组间偏差和混杂变量的影响。多因素Cox比例风险模型用于分析乳腺癌特异性生存(breast cancer-specific survival,BCSS)的预后因素。结果虽然肿瘤大小随时间推移呈缩小趋势,但外科腋窝分期的比例从93.3%增加到96.9%。所有患者(PSM之前)和配对患者(PSM之后)的5年BCSS率分别为98.0%和97.5%。配对后分期组患者的BCSS明显优于未分期组(P<0.001)。然而,在分层分析中,外科腋窝分期没有使50–79岁、肿瘤直径<1 cm、组织学分级I级或预后良好组织型(管状/黏液性/乳头状)的患者获益(P>0.05)。种族、婚姻状况、激素受体、化疗与外科腋窝分期对BCSS的有利影响无关(P>0.05)。结论虽然外科腋窝分期对于T1期保乳治疗的患者仍然至关重要,然而对于老年、小肿瘤、Grade I级或预后良好组织型的患者,外科腋窝分期可能不是必要操作。

Ononin inhibits triple-negative breast cancer lung metastasis by targeting the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

The spreading of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to other parts of the body,known as metastasis,is the leading cause of cancer recurrence and mortality in patients with triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)is observed in approximately 70%of TNBC patients.EGFR is crucial for promoting tumor metastasis and associated with poor prognosis.Therefore,it is vital to identify effective therapeutic strategies targeting EGFR inhibition.Ononin,an isoflavonoid found in various plants,such as clover and soybeans,has been shown to have anticancer properties in several cancers.In the present study,we aimed to investigate the effects of ononin on TNBC lung metastasis and the associated molecular pathways.We used various assays,including cell viability,colony formation,Transwell,wound healing,ELISA,Western blotting,and staining techniques,to achieve this objective.The results demonstrated that ononin effectively suppressed cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis,as evidenced by the cell viability assay,colony formation assay,and expression of apoptosis markers,and reduced the metastatic capabilities of TNBC cells.These effects were achieved through the direct suppression of cell adhesion,invasiveness and motility.Furthermore,in TNBC xenograft lung metastatic models,ononin treatment significantly reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis.Additionally,ononin reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)by downregulating the expression of EMT markers and matrix metalloproteinases,as confirmed by Western blot analysis.Furthermore,ononin treatment reduced EGFR phosphorylation and suppressed the PI3K,Akt,and m TOR signaling pathways,which was further confirmed using EGFR agonists or inhibitors.Importantly,ononin treatment did not exert any toxic effects on liver or kidney function.In conclusion,our findings suggest that ononin is a safe and potentially therapeutic treatment for TNBC metastasis that targets the EGFRmediated PI3K/Akt/m TOR pathway.Further studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and explore its potential clinical applications.

The burgeoning importance of PIWI-interacting RNAs in cancer progression

PIWI-interacting RNAs(pi RNAs)are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that specifically bind to piwi protein family members to exert regulatory functions in germ cells.Recent studies have found that pi RNAs,as tissue-specific molecules,both play oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in cancer progression,including cancer cell proliferation,metastasis,chemoresistance and stemness.Additionally,the atypical manifestation of pi RNAs and PIWI proteins in various malignancies presents a promising strategy for the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and management of tumors.Nonetheless,the precise functions of pi RNAs in cancer progression and their underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully comprehended.This review aims to examine current research on the biogenesis and functions of pi RNA and its burgeoning importance in cancer progression,thereby offering novel perspectives on the potential utilization of pi RNAs and piwi proteins in the management and treatment of advanced cancer.

Is surgical axillary staging necessary in women with T1 breast cancer who are treated with breast-conserving therapy?

Background:In the post-Z0011 trial era,the need to perform surgical axillary staging for early-stage breast cancer patients,who are treated with breast-conserving therapy(BCT),is being questioned.We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)database to evaluate the safety of waiving surgical axillary staging in patients with T1 breast cancer treated with BCT.Methods:A total of 166,615 eligible patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2012 were divided into staging(sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection)and non-staging(no lymph node examined or only needle aspiration biopsy of lymph nodes)groups.Propensity score matching(PSM)was performed to balance disparities between the two groups.Multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess factors related to breast cancer-specific survival(BCSS).Results:Although the tumor size at time of presentation was decreasing over years,the rate of surgical axillary stag-ing increased from 93.3%to 96.9%.The 5-year BCSS rates of the whole cohort(before PSM)and matched cohort(after PSM)were 98.0%and 97.5%.Within the matched cohort,the BCSS was significantly longer in the staging group than in the non-staging group(P<0.001).However,surgical axillary staging did not benefit patients who were 50-79 years old,had tumor size<1 cm,histological grade I disease,or favorable histological types(tubular/mucinous/papillary)in stratified analyses(P>0.05).Race,marital status,hormone receptors,and chemotherapy were not associated with the favorable impact of surgical axillary staging on BCSS(P>0.05).Conclusion:Although surgical axillary staging remains important for T1 breast cancer patients treated with BCT,it might be unnecessary for patients with old age,small tumor,grade I disease,or favorable histological types.

Discovery of potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs based on large-scale screening in vitro and effect evaluation in vivo

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARSCoV-2)is a global crisis.Clinical candidates with high efficacy,ready availability,and that do not develop resistance are in urgent need.Despite that screening to repurpose clinically approved drugs has provided a variety of hits shown to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture,there are few confirmed antiviral candidates in vivo.In this study,94 compounds showing high antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells were identified from 2,580 FDA-approved small-molecule drugs.Among them,24 compounds with low cytotoxicity were selected,and of these,17 compounds also effectively suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection in He La cells transduced with human ACE2.Six compounds disturb multiple processes of the SARSCoV-2 life cycle.Their prophylactic efficacies were determined in vivo using Syrian hamsters challenged with SARS-CoV-2infection.Seven compounds reduced weight loss and promoted weight regain of hamsters infected not only with the original strain but also the D614G variant.Except for cisatracurium,six compounds reduced hamster pulmonary viral load,and IL-6 and TNF-αm RNAwhen assayed at 4 d postinfection.In particular,sertraline,salinomycin,and gilteritinib showed similar protective effects as remdesivir in vivo and did not induce antiviral drug resistance after 10 serial passages of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro,suggesting promising application for COVID-19 treatment.

Improving the peak current density of resonant tunneling diode based on InP substrate

Resonant tunneling diodes（RTD）have the potential for compact and coherent terahertz（THz）sources operating at room temperature,but their low output power severely restricts their application in THz frequency range.In this paper,two methods are adopted to increase the peak current of RTD for enhancing its output power.First,different metal contact systems（including Pt/Ti/Pt/Au and Au Ge/Ni/Au）for RTD contact are introduced,and a higher current of RTD with Pt/Ti/Pt/Au contact demonstrates the superior contact characteristic of Pt/Ti/Pt/Au contact system.Second,the double barrier structure（DBS）of RTD is well designed to further improve the characteristic of RTD,and a high peak current of 154 kA/cm^2 is achieved at room temperature.The improved peak current is very beneficial for increasing the output power of RTD oscillator.