[Mediator Complex Subunit 8:Expression in Gastric Cancer, Prognostic Significance,and Impact on Cell Cycle].

Objective To investigate the expression and prognostic significance of mediator complex subunit 8 (MED8) in gastric cancer and its impact on the cell cycle.Methods The expression of MED8 in gastric cancer and adjacent tissues and its correlation with patients' prognosis were analyzed using public databases.A validation cohort of 104 patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from June 2012 to July 2017 was included.The receiver operating characteristic curve was established to evaluate the predictive value of MED8 for postoperative 5-year survival.Bioinformatics tools were used to predict the biological roles of MED8 in gastric cancer.The effect of the MED8 level on the G1/S phase transition of gastric cancer cells (MGC-803) was analyzed via lentivirus transduction and flow cytometry.Western blotting was carried out to assess the impact of MED8 expression on the protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 4(Cdk4) and G1/S-specific cyclin-D1(CyclinD1) in MGC-803 cells.Results The high expression of MED8 in the gastric cancer tissue was associated with poor prognosis (P<0.001) and had prognostic significance (area under curve=0.733,P<0.001).Gene enrichment analysis suggested that MED8 may participate in the cell cycle process.Flow cytometry results revealed that the upregulation of MED8 expression promoted the transition of MGC-803 cells from the G1 phase to the S phase (P<0.001),while the downregulation of MED8 had the opposite effect (P<0.001).Western blotting showed increases in the protein levels of Cdk4 and CyclinD1 in MGC-803 cells with upregulated MED8 expression (all P<0.001),and decreases in the cells with downregulated MED8 expression (all P<0.001).Conclusion MED8 is highly expressed in gastric cancer and may affect its progression and prognosis by regulating the G1/S phase transition of gastric cancer cells.

Comparison of laparoscopic selective colectomy based on barium-strip examination and subtotal colectomy for adult slow-transit constipation.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of adult slow-transit constipation (ASTC) can be effective for patients with intractable symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate whether barium-strip examination and selective colectomy improved post-operative outcomes in ASTC patients in comparison with subtotal colectomy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 53 cases with refractory ASTC was conducted between June 2008 and June 2014. Patients were evaluated by the barium-strip technique, colonoscopy, defecography and anorectal manometry. Patients in the standard group underwent laparoscopic subtotal colectomy and patients in the laparoscopic selective colectomy (LSC) group underwent LSC at the precise location identified by barium strip. Spontaneous bowel movements, the Wexner Constipation Scale and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) were assessed post-operatively at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up was 37 months (range, 26-60 months). The mean post-operative hospital stay was 12 days and similar between groups (P = 0.071). The length of colon resection, operative time and intra-operative blood loss were reduced in the LSC group (all P < 0.05). No major complications occurred. A similar number of patients (24 in the standard group and 25 in the LSC group) exhibited hypoganglionosis or aganglionosis in the colon-wall muscle layer (P = 0.986). Although there were no significant differences in post-operative spontaneous bowel movements and the Wexner Constipation Scale between the two groups, the mean GIQLI of the LSC group was significantly higher at 3, 6 and 24 months post-operatively (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LSC based on barium-strip examination is an appropriate modality for treating ASTC.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives based on benzisoselenazolone.

A series of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives based on benzisoselenazolone has been prepared and tested for antiproliferative activity in vitro against the cells of human cancer cell lines: SSMC-7721 (human liver cancer cell), MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell) and A549 (human lung cancer cell). All the compounds obtained exhibited antiproliferative activity and showed selective cytotoxicity against different cancer cells. Compounds 7d and 7i showed significant antiproliferative activities against MCF-7 cells, with IC50 values of 1.07 and 1.76 µM respectively. Compound 7d were found to be the most potent compound against SSMC-7721 cells, with IC50 values 4.46 µM.

catena-Poly[[[diaqua-copper(II)]-{µ-4,4'-[1,4-phenyl-enebis(methyl-eneimino)]dibenzoato}] monohydrate].

The asymmetric unit of the title polymeric compound, {[Cu(C(22)H(18)N(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(2)]·H(2)O}(n), contains a Cu ion situated on an inversion center, half of a centrosymmetric 4,4'-[1,4-phenyl-enebis(methyl-eneimino)]dibenzoate ligand, a coordin-ated water mol-ecule in a general position and an uncoordin-ated water mol-ecule situated on a twofold rotation axis. The distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry of the Cu(II) ion is formed by six O atoms. The -NH- groups of the ligand are involved in intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, while the water mol-ecules participate in the formation of a three-dimensional supra-molecular framework via inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Laparoscopic Heller-Dor operation for patients with achalasia.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Heller cardiomyotomy and Dor fundoplication is the surgical procedure of choice for esophageal achalasia. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure in our initial series of 25 patients with achalasia. METHODS: Between October 2003 and January 2006, a total of 25 patients with achalasia underwent laparoscopic Heller-Dor operation. Among them, 9 were male and 16 were female with an average age of (41.5 +/- 5.1) years (21-66). All the patients received upper gastrointestinal series (barium swallow), esophagogastroscopy, esophageal manometry to exclude esophageal carcinoma and to confirm the diagnosis, and 21 patients also had 24-hour ambulatory pH studies. All the patients were operated by laparoscopic modified Heller's myotomy with Dor fundoplication. In addition, 2 of them had combined laparoscopic cholecystectomy + excision of hepatic hemangioma and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, respectively. RESULTS: The average operating time was (110.6 +/- 12.9) minutes (range, 60-180), operative blood loss averaged (18.6 +/- 7.1) ml (5-50), the median time to oral feeding was (1.6 +/- 0.4) days (1-4) and the median hospital stay was (12.6 +/- 1.2) days (10-20). There was no conversion to open surgery. Intraoperative mucosal perforation was encountered in six patients and was repaired in all of them by laparoscopic suture. All the patients had an uneventful recovery without postoperative complication. After a median follow-up of (10.6 +/- 7.2) months (1-27), 24 patients were asymptomatic and 1 had mild postoperative dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller-Dor operation had the advantages of reduced compromise of the cardiopulmonary function, with less disruption of the supporting structures (phrenoesophageal membrane) of the antireflux mechanism, requiring simpler general anesthesia and providing excellent exposure permitting an easy fundoplication, less pain and reduced morbidity, shorter hospitalization and faster convalescence.