Case report: Simultaneous resections of pulmonary segment and an esophageal leiomyoma during spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS) has rapidly developed in recent years. The application scope is still being continuously explored. We describe a case in which a 40-year-old woman with mixed ground-glass opacity (GGO) and an esophageal leiomyoma successfully underwent simultaneous segmentectomy and leiomyoma resection through spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The perioperative course was uneventful. Postoperative pathology revealed minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and esophageal leiomyoma.

Flame spray pyrolyzed carbon-encapsulated Au/Fe3O4 nanoaggregates enabled efficient photothermal therapy and magnetic hyperthermia of esophageal cancer cells.

Multifunctional magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles with magnetic hyperthermia and photothermal therapy could kill cancer cells efficiently. Herein, carbon-encapsulated Au/Fe3O4 (Au/Fe3O4@C) was fabricated using an enclosed flame spray pyrolysis. The nanostructures, including an Fe3O4 core (51.9-55.2 nm) with a decreasing carbon shell thickness and an Au core (4.68-8.75 nm) coated with 2-4 graphite layers, were tailored by tuning the C2H4 content in the reacting gas mixture. Saturation magnetization (33.7-48.2 emu/g) and optical absorption were determined. The carbon shell facilitated the dispersion of Au/Fe3O4 and restrained their laser-induced and magnetic field-induced coalescence and growth. Au/Fe3O4@C exhibited excellent magnetic resonance imaging capability (91.4 mM-1 s-1) and photothermal performance (65.4°C for 0.8 mg/mL Au/Fe3O4@C at a power density of 1.0 W/cm2 after 300 s near-IR laser irradiation (808 nm)). Moreover, the combined application of photothermal and magnetic-heating properties reduced the required intensity of both laser and magnetic field compared to the intensity of separate situations. Our work provides a unique, intriguing approach to preparing multicomponent core/shell nanoaggregates that are promising candidates for esophageal cancer cell therapy.

Mechanisms for more efficient antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes removal during industrialized treatment of over 200 tons of tylosin and spectinomycin mycelial dregs by integrated meta-omics.

To mitigate the environmental risks posed by the accumulation of antibiotic mycelial dregs (AMDs), this study first attempted over 200 tons of mass production fermentation (MP) using tylosin and spectinomycin mycelial dregs alongside pilot-scale fermentation (PS) for comparison, utilizing the integrated-omics and qPCR approaches. Co-fermentation results showed that both antibiotics were effectively removed in all treatments, with an average removal rate of 92%. Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG)-related metabolic pathways showed that rapid degradation of antibiotics was associated with enzymes that inactivate macrolides and aminoglycosides (e.g., K06979, K07027, K05593). Interestingly, MP fermentations with optimized conditions had more efficient ARGs removal because homogenization permitted faster microbial succession, with more stable removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements. Moreover, Bacillus reached 75% and secreted antioxidant enzymes that might inhibit horizontal gene transfer of ARGs. The findings confirmed the advantages of MP fermentation and provided a scientific basis for other AMDs.

Stabilization of MOF (KAT8) by USP10 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and metastasis through epigenetic activation of ANXA2/Wnt signaling.

Dysregulation of MOF (also known as MYST1, KAT8), a highly conserved H4K16 acetyltransferase, plays important roles in human cancers. However, its expression and function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unknown. Here, we report that MOF is highly expressed in ESCC tumors and predicts a worse prognosis. Depletion of MOF in ESCC significantly impedes tumor growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic expression of MOF but not catalytically inactive mutant (MOF-E350Q) promotes ESCC progression, suggesting that MOF acetyltransferase activity is crucial for its oncogenic activity. Further analysis reveals that USP10, a deubiquitinase highly expressed in ESCC, binds to and deubiquitinates MOF at lysine 410, which protects it from proteosome-dependent protein degradation. MOF stabilization by USP10 promotes H4K16ac enrichment in the ANXA2 promoter to stimulate ANXA2 transcription in a JUN-dependent manner, which subsequently activates Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling to facilitate ESCC progression. Our findings highlight a novel USP10/MOF/ANXA2 axis as a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.

Targeted inhibition of the HNF1A/SHH axis by triptolide overcomes paclitaxel resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Paclitaxel resistance is associated with a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and currently, there is no promising drug for paclitaxel resistance. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemoresistance in human NSCLC-derived cell lines. We constructed paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cell lines (A549/PR and H460/PR) by long-term exposure to paclitaxel. We found that triptolide, a diterpenoid epoxide isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, effectively enhanced the sensitivity of paclitaxel-resistant cells to paclitaxel by reducing ABCB1 expression in vivo and in vitro. Through high-throughput sequencing, we identified the SHH-initiated Hedgehog signaling pathway playing an important role in this process. We demonstrated that triptolide directly bound to HNF1A, one of the transcription factors of SHH, and inhibited HNF1A/SHH expression, ensuing in attenuation of Hedgehog signaling. In NSCLC tumor tissue microarrays and cancer network databases, we found a positive correlation between HNF1A and SHH expression. Our results illuminate a novel molecular mechanism through which triptolide targets and inhibits HNF1A, thereby impeding the activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway and reducing the expression of ABCB1. This study suggests the potential clinical application of triptolide and provides promising prospects in targeting the HNF1A/SHH pathway as a therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with paclitaxel resistance. Schematic diagram showing that triptolide overcomes paclitaxel resistance by mediating inhibition of the HNF1A/SHH/ABCB1 axis.

Disrupting of IGF2BP3-stabilized HK2 mRNA by MYO16-AS1 competitively binding impairs LUAD migration and invasion.

Since invasive cancer is associated with poor clinical outcomes, exploring the molecular mechanism underlying LUAD progression is crucial to improve the prognosis of patients with advanced disease. Herein, we found that MYO16-AS1 is expressed mainly in lung tissue but is notably downregulated in LUAD tissues. Overexpression of MYO16-AS1 inhibited the migration and invasion of LUAD cells. Mechanistic studies indicated that H3K27Ac modification mediated MYO16-AS1 transcription. Furthermore, we found that MYO16-AS1 competitively bound to the IGF2BP3 protein and in turn reduced IGF2BP3 protein binding to HK2 mRNA, decreasing HK2 mRNA stability and inhibiting glucose metabolism reprogramming and LUAD cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. The finding that the MYO16-AS1/IGF2BP3-mediated glucose metabolism reprogramming mechanism regulates HK2 expression provides novel insight into the process of LUAD invasion and suggests that MYO16-AS1 may be a therapeutic target for LUAD.

Circ_16601 facilitates Hippo pathway signaling via the miR-5580-5p/FGB axis to promote my-CAF recruitment in the TME and LUAD progression.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer represents a significant public health issue in China, given its high incidence and mortality rates. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently proposed to participate in the development and progression of tumors. Nevertheless, their particular roles in the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the tumor microenvironment (TME), and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not well understood. METHODS: High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the circRNAs expression profiles in 7 pairs of human LUAD tissues. shRNA was used to knockdown the YAP1 and FGB genes. RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR were performed to classify the regulatory effects of circ_16601 in LUAD cells. The progression effect of circ_16601 on lung cancer was investigated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The circ_16601 is significantly elevated in LUAD tissues compared to adjacent normal lung tissues, and its high expression is positively associated with poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Additionally, circ_16601 overexpression promotes LUAD cell proliferation in vitro and increases xenograft tissue growth in mice in vivo; circ_16601 also could recruit fibroblasts to cancer associate fibroblasts. Mechanistically, circ_16601 can directly bind to miR-5580-5p, preventing its ability to degrade FGB mRNA and enhancing its stability. Subsequently, circ_16601 promotes the activation of the Hippo pathway in a YAP1-dependent manner, leading to LUAD progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings shed valuable insights into the regulatory role of circ_16601 in LUAD progression and highlight its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in LUAD. Overall, this study provides theoretical support to improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients suffering from this devastating disease.

JSI-124 inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in murine malignant mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), mainly caused by asbestos exposure, has a poor prognosis and lacks effective treatment compared with other cancer types. The intracellular transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is overexpressed and hyperactivated in most human cancers. In this study, the role of STAT3 in murine MPM was examined. Inhibition of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 pathway with the selective inhibitor JSI-124 has an antitumor effect in murine MPM. Specifically, we demonstrated that JSI-124 inhibits murine MPM cell growth and induces apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Exposure of RN5 and AB12 cells to JSI-124 resulted in apoptosis via the Bcl-2 family of proteins. JSI-124 triggered autophagosome formation, accumulation, and conversion of LC3I to LC3II. Autophagy inhibitors, Chloroquine (CQ) and Bafilomycin A1 (Baf-A1), inhibited autophagy and sensitized RN5 and AB12 cells to JSI-124-induced apoptosis. Our data indicate that JSI-124 is a promising therapeutic agent for MPM treatment.

Comprehensive analysis of suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 protein in the malignant transformation of NSCLC.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) plays an essential role in a number of physiological phenomena and functions as a tumor suppressor. Understanding the predictive effects of SOCS2 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is urgently needed. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to assess SOCS2 gene expression levels in NSCLC. The clinical significance of SOCS2 was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and the analysis of related clinical factors. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to identify the biological functions of SOCS2. Subsequently proliferation, wound-healing, colony formation and Transwell assays, and carboplatin drug experiments were used for verification. The results revealed that SOCS2 expression was low in the NSCLC tissues of patients in TCGA and GEO database analyses. Downregulated SOCS2 was associated with poor prognosis, as determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.52-0.73; P<0.001). GSEA showed that SOCS2 was involved in intracellular reactions, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cell experiments indicated that knockdown of SOCS2 caused the malignant progression of NSCLC cell lines. Furthermore, the drug experiment showed that silencing of SOCS2 promoted the resistance of NSCLC cells to carboplatin. In conclusion, low expression of SOCS2 was associated with poor clinical prognosis by effecting EMT and causing drug resistance in NSCLC cell lines. Furthermore, SOCS2 could act as a predictive indicator for NSCLC.

Circular RNA circ-FIRRE interacts with HNRNPC to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by stabilizing GLI2 mRNA.

Increasing evidence has shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and promote cancer progression. However, the function and mechanism of the circRNA/RBP complex in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still largely unknown. Herein, we first characterized a novel oncogenic circRNA, circ-FIRRE, by RNA sequencing (Ribo-free) profiling of ESCC samples. Furthermore, we observed marked circ-FIRRE overexpression in ESCC patients with high TNM stage and poor overall survival. Mechanistic studies indicated that circ-FIRRE, as a platform, interacts with the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) protein to stabilize GLI2 mRNA by directly binding to its 3'-UTR in the cytoplasm, thereby resulting in elevated GLI2 protein expression and subsequent transcription of its target genes MYC, CCNE1, and CCNE2, ultimately contributing to ESCC progression. Moreover, HNRNPC overexpression in circ-FIRRE knockdown cells notably abolished circ-FIRRE knockdown-mediated Hedgehog pathway inhibition and ESCC progression impairment in vitro and in vivo. Clinical specimen results showed that circ-FIRRE and HNRNPC expression was positively correlated with GLI2 expression, which reveals the clear significance of the circ-FIRRE/HNRNPC-GLI2 axis in ESCC. In summary, our results indicate that circ-FIRRE could serve as a valuable biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ESCC and highlight a novel mechanism of the circ-FIRRE/HNRNPC complex in ESCC progression regulation.

Relaxin-Loaded Inhaled Porous Microspheres Inhibit Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Improve Pulmonary Function Post-Bleomycin Challenges.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) causes worsening pulmonary function, and no effective treatment for the disease etiology is available now. Recombinant Human Relaxin-2 (RLX), a peptide agent with anti-remodeling and anti-fibrotic effects, is a promising biotherapeutic candidate for musculoskeletal fibrosis. However, due to its short circulating half-life, optimal efficacy requires continuous infusion or repeated injections. Here, we developed the porous microspheres loading RLX (RLX@PMs) and evaluated their therapeutic potential on IPF by aerosol inhalation. RLX@PMs have a large geometric diameter as RLX reservoirs for a long-term drug release, but smaller aerodynamic diameter due to their porous structures, which were beneficial for higher deposition in the deeper lungs. The results showed a prolonged release over 24 days, and the released drug maintained its peptide structure and activity. RLX@PMs protected mice from excessive collagen deposition, architectural distortion, and decreased compliance after a single inhalation administration in the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. Moreover, RLX@PMs showed better safety than frequent gavage administration of pirfenidone. We also found RLX-ameliorated human myofibroblast-induced collagen gel contraction and suppressed macrophage polarization to the M2 type, which may be the reason for reversing fibrosis. Hence, RLX@PMs represent a novel strategy for the treatment of IPF and suggest clinical translational potential.

CircABCA13 acts as a miR-4429 sponge to facilitate esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development by stabilizing SRXN1.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a pivotal role in the tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers. However, the role and mechanisms of circABCA13 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are largely unknown. Here, we reported that circABCA13, a novel circular RNA generated by back-splicing of the intron of the ABCA13 gene, is highly expressed in ESCC tumor tissues and cell lines. Upregulation of circABCA13 correlated with TNM stage and a poor prognosis in ESCC patients. While knockdown of circABCA13 in ESCC cells significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth, overexpression of circABCA13 facilitated tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, circABCA13 directly binds to miR-4429 and sequesters miR-4429 from its endogenous target, SRXN1 mRNA, which subsequently upregulates SRXN1 and promotes ESCC progression. Consistently, overexpression of miR-4429 or knockdown of SRXN1 abolished malignant behavior promotion of ESCC results from circABCA13 overexpression in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our study uncovered the oncogenic role of circABCA13 and its mechanism in ESCC, suggesting that circABCA13 could be a potential therapeutic target and a predictive biomarker for ESCC patients.

Incidence and prognostic nomogram for resected non-small cell neuroendocrine tumor: A population-based respective study in China and the SEER database.

Background: Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell neuroendocrine tumor (NSCLC-NET), have obvious heterogeneity. The comparison between SCLC and NSCLC-NET, and prognostic nomogram of resected NSCLC-NET have not been performed. Methods: We retrieved data from SEER database. The incidence and prognostic factors were compared between SCLC and NSCLC-NET. By Cox regression, we constructed prognostic nomogram of resected NSCLC-NET. The nomogram was evaluated by ROC, calibration plot and decision curve analysis (DCA) and compared with 8th TNM staging system. A Chinese cohort was used for external validation. Results: The age-adjusted incidence of SCLC declined after 1991 but the incidence of NSCLC-NET continuously rose. Patients with typical carcinoid had the best prognosis in both overall survival and lung cancer specific survival, followed by atypical carcinoid, large cell neuroendocrine tumor and SCLC after operation. Patients receiving sleeve resection in NSCLC-NET had longer survival but segmental resection was more recommended in SCLC. High-smoking index was associated with worse overall survival in both SCLC and NSCLC-NET. Histological subtype, age, surgery type, N, M stage and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors and used to construct prognostic nomogram of resected NSCLC-NET. The nomogram performed well with good discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness, which was validated by a Chinese cohort (1, 3, 5-year AUC: SEER cohort 0.873, 0.901, 0.875; Chinese cohort 0.867, 0.892, 0.874). Compared to the 8th staging system, the nomogram had higher C-index (0.87 vs 0.728, P < 0.001), clinical usefulness, increasing AUC value over time and improved 68%. Conclusion: The prognostic nomogram of resected NSCLC-NET performed better than the 8th TNM staging system. It may have certain value in risk stratification and survival prediction of patients with resected NSCLC-NET and help clinicians to take measures for high-risk patients in advance.

Experience of a modified chest tube suture-fixation technique in uniportal thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the feasibility and advantages of a modified chest tube suture-fixation technique in uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for pulmonary resection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 116 patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (U-VATS) for lung diseases in Zhengzhou People's Hospital between October 2019 and October 2021. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the applied suture-fixation methods, i.e., 72 patients in the active group and 44 patients in the control group. The two groups were subsequently compared in the terms of gender, age, operation method, indwelling time of chest tube, postoperative pain score, chest tube removal time, wound healing grade, length of hospital stay, incision healing grade, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, operation method, indwelling time of chest tube, postoperative pain score, and length of hospital stay (P = 0.167, 0.185, 0.085, 0.051, 0.927, and 0.362, respectively). However, the chest tube removal time, incision healing grade, and incision scar satisfaction in the active group were significantly better compared with those of the control group (P = < 0.001, 0.033, and < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: In summary, the new suture-fixation approach can minimize the number of stitches, and time necessary for chest tube removal process, and avoid the pain experienced when removing the drainage tube. This method is more feasible, has better incision conditions, and provides a convenient tube removal, making it more suitable to patients.

Exosomal miR-10527-5p Inhibits Migration, Invasion, Lymphangiogenesis and Lymphatic Metastasis by Affecting Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling via Rab10 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Cancer cell-derived exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical role in orchestrating intercellular communication between tumor cells and tumor microenvironmental factors, including lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). Nevertheless, the functions and underlying mechanisms of exosomal miRNAs in lymphatic metastasis and lymphangiogenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear. Methods: Small RNA sequencing, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) analysis and qRT‒PCR were performed to identify the candidate exosomal miRNAs involved in ESCC metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic potential of exosomal miR-10527-5p in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) status. An in vitro coculture system was used to investigate the effects of exosomal miR-10527-5p on ESCC cells and human LECs (HLECs), followed by a popliteal LNM assay in vivo. The relationship between miR-10527-5p and Rab10 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter, fluorescence in situ hybridization and qRT‒PCR assays. Then, a series of rescue assays were performed to further investigate whether Rab10 is involved in exosomal miR-10527-5p mediated ESCC metastasis. Results: MiR-10527-5p was found to be notably reduced in both the plasma exosomes and tumor tissues of ESCC patients with LNM, and plasma exosomal miR-10527-5p had a high sensitivity and specificity for discrimination of LNM status. Moreover, exosome-shuttled miR-10527-5p suppressed the migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ESCC cells as well as the migration and tube formation of HLECs via Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo. Further investigation revealed that Rab10 was a direct target of miR-10527-5p, and re-expression of Rab10 neutralized the inhibitory effects of exosomal miR-10527-5p. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that exosomal miR-10527-5p had a strong capability to predict preoperative LNM status and anti-lymphangiogenic effect. Exosomal miR-10527-5p inhibited lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of ESCC in a vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C)-independent manner, showing potential as a therapeutic target for ESCC patients.

Identification of a transcription factor­cyclin family genes network in lung adenocarcinoma through bioinformatics analysis and validation through RT­qPCR.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the predominant pathological subtype of lung cancer, which is the most prevalent and lethal malignancy worldwide. Cyclins have been reported to regulate the physiology of various types of tumors by controlling cell cycle progression. However, the key roles and regulatory networks associated with the majority of the cyclin family members in LUAD remain unclear. In total, 556 differentially expressed genes were screened from the GSE33532, GSE40791 and GSE19188 mRNA microarray datasets by R software. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction network containing 499 nodes and 4,311 edges, in addition to a significant module containing 76 nodes and 2,631 edges, were extracted through the MCODE plug-in of Cytoscape. A total of four cyclin family genes [cyclin (CCNA2, CCNB1, CCNB2 and CCNE2] were then found in this module. Further co-expression analysis and associated gene prediction revealed forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), the common transcription factor of CCNB2, CCNB1 and CCNA2. In addition, using GEPIA database, it was found that the high expression of these four genes were simultaneously associated with poorer prognosis in patients with LUAD. Experimentally, it was proved that these four hub genes were highly expressed in LUAD cell lines (Beas-2B and H1299) and LUAD tissues through qPCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemical studies. The diagnostic value of these 4 hub genes in LUAD was analyzed by logistic regression, CCNA2 was deleted, following which a nomogram diagnostic model was constructed accordingly. The area under the curve values of CCNB1, CCNB2 and FOXM1 diagnostic models were calculated to be 0.92, 0.91 and 0.96 in the training set (Combined dataset of GSE33532, GSE40791 and GSE19188) and two validation sets (GSE10072 and GSE75037), respectively. To conclude, data from the present study suggested that the FOXM1/cyclin (CCNA2, CCNB1 and/or CCNB2) axis may serve a regulatory role in the development and prognosis of LUAD. Specifically, CCNB1, CCNB2 and FOXM1 have potential as diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets for LUAD treatment.

Whole genome analyses reveal novel genes associated with chicken adaptation to tropical and frigid environments.

INTRODUCTION: Investigating the genetic footprints of historical temperature selection can get insights to the local adaptation and feasible influences of climate change on long-term population dynamics. OBJECT: Chicken is a significative species to study genetic adaptation on account of its similar domestication track related to human activity with the most diversified varieties. Yet, few studies have demonstrated the genetic signatures of its adaptation to naturally tropical and frigid environments. METHOD: Here, we generated whole genome resequencing of 119 domesticated chickens in China including the following breeds which are in order of breeding environmental temperature from more tropical to more frigid: Wenchang chicken (WCC), green-shell chicken (GSC), Tibetan chicken (TBC), and Lindian chicken (LDC). RESULTS: Our results showed WCC branched off earlier than LDC with an evident genetic admixture between WCC and LDC, suggesting their closer genetic relationship. Further comparative genomic analyses solute carrier family 33 member 1 (SLC33A1) and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) genes exhibited stronger signatures for positive selection in the genome of the more tropical WCC. Furthermore, genotype data from about 3,000 African local ecotypes confirmed that allele frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these 2 genes appeared strongly associated with tropical environment adaptation. In addition, the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S4 (NDUFS4) gene exhibited a strong signature for positive selection in the LDC genome, and SNPs with marked allele frequency differences indicated a significant relationship with frigid environment adaptation. CONCLUSION: Our findings partially clarify how selection footprints from environmental temperature stress can lead to advantageous genomic adaptions to tropical and frigid environments in poultry and provide a valuable resource for selective breeding of chickens.

Is VATS approach suitable in re-operations for postoperative hemothorax after pulmonary resection? Data analysis in a big volume thoracic center.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the safety and of feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) in re-operations for post-operative hemothorax. METHODS: The clinical data of patients underwent re-operations due to post-operative hemothorax after pulmonary resection in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from 2006 to 2018 were retrospectively analysed. The incidence of re-operations were analyzed. The mortality and morbidity were compared between thoracotomy and thoracoscopic procedure for re-exploration. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included. The annual incidence rate ranged from 0.21 to 0.54%; the perioperative mortality was 2.6%; there were 114 cases of re-operations for hemothorax after 2012, including 62 cases in thoracoscopy group and 52 cases in open group. The durations of chest-tube drainage (7.2 ± 3.9 days vs 10.9 ± 12.0 days, P = 0.001) and length of stay in hospital (13.7 ± 6.7 days vs 18.9 ± 10.6 days, P = 0.002) in the thoracoscopic group were shorter than those in the open group. The thoracoscopic group had fewer post-operative complications as well (P = 0.023). Meanwhile, post-operative complications in the delayed group were significantly higher than those in the non-delayed group, with a longer length of hospital stay and higher hospitalization costs. CONCLUSION: Complete VATS is safe and feasible for re-operation due to post-operative hemothorax and can be an alternative to thoracotomy. Delayed re-operations are associated with more post-operative complications and higher costs.

USP36 facilitates esophageal squamous carcinoma progression via stabilizing YAP.

Esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) is the major subtype of esophageal cancer in China, accounting for 90% of cases. Recent studies revealed that abnormalities in the Hippo/YAP axis are pervasive in ESCC and are recognized as the important driver of ESCC progression. Since the activity of Hippo signaling is controlled by phosphorylation cascade, it is a mystery why the major effector YAP is still over-activated when the cascade is inhibited. Several studies suggested that in addition to phosphorylation, other protein modifications such as ubiquitination also play important roles in manipulating Hippo/YAP signaling activity. Since YAP protein stability is controlled via an appropriate balance between E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases, we performed deubiquitinase siRNA screening and identified USP36 as a deubiquitinase significantly related to Hippo/YAP signaling activity and ESCC progression. USP36 expression was elevated in ESCC samples and correlated with poor differentiation. USP36 expression was correlated with YAP protein levels in ESCC samples. Molecular studies demonstrated that USP36 associated with the YAP protein and enhanced YAP protein stability by blocking the K48-linked polyubiquitination of YAP. In conclusion, our study revealed a novel deubiquitinase in regulating Hippo signaling in ESCC, which could be an encouraging drug target for Hippo-driven ESCC.