SUMMARY A 71-year-old woman with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was referred to our hospital. A computed tomography scan revealed extensive recurrence in the neck, invading sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, sternal end of the clavicle, strap muscle and skin; and lateral compartment and subclavian lymph nodes were also involved. Multiple pulmonary micrometastases also noticed. The tumor was considered unresectable; however, the patient was unwilling to accept highly invasive surgery. Therefore, we initiated neoadjuvant therapy with anlotinib, 12mg p.o. daily with a 2-week on/1-week off regimen. The tumor shrunk to resectable state after 4 cycles of treatment, and after 3 weeks of withdrawal, successful surgical resection without gross tumor residual was performed. Pathology confirmed as classic PTC harboring coexistent TERT promoter and BRAFV600E mutations by NGS. After anlotinib therapy, apoptosis induction was observed, and proliferation increased, which was due to three weeks of anlotinib withdraw. Structual recurrence was recorded at 6 months after operation due to no further treatment was taken. Our finding suggests that anlotinib could represent as a good treatment option for patients with locally advanced (with or without distant metastasis) PTC; Anlotinib treatment resulted in sufficient reduction of the tumor mass to enable total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine treatment, providing long-term control of the disease.

RESUMO A perturbação da microbiota intestinal comensal está relacionada à dermatose inflamatória crônica. Analisamos a diversidade da microbiota intestinal para caracterizar a variação biológica da psoríase (Ps). Diferenças significativas do perfil microbiológico intestinal foram reveladas no modelo murino com psoríase pelo sequenciamento da região variável 16S rRNA V3-V4. As comparações de grupo incluíram o creme imiquimod (grupo IMQ, n=8), o creme imiquimod e antibióticos (ATB) (grupo PC+IMQ, n=8) e o controle saudável (grupo CTRL, n=8). A microbiota intestinal existia nos grupos Ps, incluindo o grupo IMQ e o grupo PC+IMQ englobava menos diversidade do que os controles, que foram atribuídos à diminuição da presença de vários taxa. Os dois grupos de Ps caracterizavam-se por uma redução significativa nos firicutes. Neste estudo, a microbiota da psoríase foi definida por um aumento da presença de bacteroides. Após o tratamento com ATB, encontramos um aumento substancial de Lactobacillales mas uma diminuição significativa de Clostridiales e Coriobacteriales. Uma menor abundância relativa de bactérias intestinais múltiplas foi observada nos grupos de Ps. Embora parte dos gêneros tenha sido concomitantemente reduzida tanto em condições IMQ como PC+IMQ, descobrimos que a especialidade das amostras do grupo PC+IMQ era que continham menor abundância de taxas benéficas. As características dos perfis de microbiota intestinal em ratos de Ps eram comparáveis aos perfis em pacientes com Ps, que estavam relacionados à alteração de proteínas inflamatórias específicas em grupos de doenças, mas eram significativamente diferentes do grupo controle. Assim, este estudo enfatiza o papel da microbiota intestinal na patogênese do Ps e fornece novos conhecimentos para investigar a associação entre micróbios intestinais e inflamação imunológica.

ABSTRACT Disturbance of commensal intestinal microbiota is related to chronic inflammatory dermatosis. We analyzed the diversity of the gut microbiota to characterize the biological variation of psoriasis (Ps). Significant differences of gut microbiome profiles were revealed in murine model with psoriasis by sequencing 16S rRNA V3-V4 variable region. Group comparisons included the imiquimod cream (IMQ group, n=8), the imiquimod cream and antibiotics (ATB) (PC+IMQ group, n=8) and the healthy control (CTRL group, n=8). The gut microbiota existed in Ps groups including IMQ group and PC+IMQ group encompassed less diversity than controls, which were attributed to decreased presence of several taxa. The two Ps groups were characterized by significant reduction in firmicutes. In this study, microbiota of psoriasis was defined by an increase presence of Bacteroides. After treated with ATB, we found substantial increase of Lactobacillales but significant decrease of Clostridiales and Coriobacteriales. Relative lower abundance of multiple intestinal bacteria was observed in Ps groups. Although part of genera were concomitantly reduced in both IMQ and PC+IMQ conditions, we discovered the specialty of PC+IMQ group samples was that contained lower abundance of beneficial taxa. Characteristics of gut microbiota profiles in Ps mice were comparable to profiles in patients with Ps, which were related to alteration of specific inflammatory proteins in disease groups but were significantly different from control group. Thus, this study emphasizes the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of Ps and provides new insight for investigating association between intestinal microbes and immune inflammation.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertilization capability of White Bengal Tiger frozen-thawed completely immotile spermatozoa after interspecific intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with bovine oocytes. The fertilization status of presumptive zygotes was assessed 18 h after ICSI by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. The fertilization rate was 34.8% (8/23), as confirmed by the extrusion of two polar bodies, or male and female pronuclei formation. For unfertilized oocytes (65.2%, 15/23), one activated oocyte had an activated spermatozoon but most were unactivated oocytes with unactivated spermatozoa (1/15, 6.7% vs 10/15, 66.7%, respectively, p < 0.05). These results showed that White Bengal Tiger frozen-thawed completely immotile spermatozoa retained the capacity to fertilize bovine oocytes after interspecific ICSI. This is the first report of in vitro produced zygotes using tiger immotile sperm with bovine oocytes by interspecific ICSI technique, which provides an efficient and feasible method for preservation and utilization of endangered feline animals.

Green tea is one of the main teas in China, which is unfermented and retains more natural substances of fresh tea leaves. This is the preliminary study of application of'fingerprints' based on differences in component composition of green tea. Five green teas from different areas in eastern China are analyzed, which are processed by microwave-assisted solvent (ethanol) extraction method to obtain tea polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, pigments (thearubigins, theaflavins, theabrownins). The results show that the component composition of five green teas are varied from each other; based on these contents varieties, we have constructed a 'fingerprint' and applied linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to assist in the identification of these five green teas. This method does not require large, expensive instruments (such as high performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, etc.), and is easy to use, which provides a new avenue for the identification of tea.

Abstract Objective: To modify the chronic atrial fibrillation of atrial tachycardia pacing in beagles with a homemade pacemaker placed outside the body and to evaluate connective tissue growth factor and fibrosis of atrial tissue in our modified atrial tachycardia pacing beagle model. Methods: Twelve adult beagles of either sex were randomly divided into an atrial tachycardia pacing group and a control group (n=6 in each group). We performed the temporary pacemaker implantation at the right atrial appendage and put the pacemaker into the pocket of dog clothing in the atrial tachycardia pacing group. After eight weeks of atrial tachycardia pacing, the electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Masson’s staining of the right atrial appendages were performed along with the immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis of connective tissue growth factor, collagen I, and collagen III. Results: In the atrial tachycardia pacing group, atrial fibrillation was induced in five beagles (83.3%); the left atrium enlarged significantly; more canines had mitral regurgitation; and the Masson’s staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot results demonstrated more obvious fibrosis of the left atrium. Conclusion: The modified beagle model of atrial fibrillation using a right atrium pacemaker outside the body was effective, increased connective tissue growth factor and collagen I messenger ribonucleic acid overexpression, and induced atrial fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to establish whether the use of an extramedullary or intramedullary tibial cutting guide leads to superior mechanical leg axis and implant positioning. A meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials including 350 knees was performed. For the mechanical axis, frontal tibial component angle and tibial slope, there were no significant differences in the mean values or the number of outliers (±3°) between the extramedullary and intramedullary groups. A reduced tourniquet time was associated with the intramedullary guide. No significant difference in the complication rate was noted between the two groups. Neither extramedullary nor intramedullary tibial alignment was more accurate in facilitating the tibial cut. Use of an intramedullary guide results in a shorter tourniquet time and exhibits a similar complication rate as the extramedullary guide.