Abstract Total arch replacement and stent trunk were performed for two patients. One of these underwent a total bilateral carotid artery replacement in anatomical position while the other underwent partial carotid artery dissection. The first patient demonstrated no neurological complication after surgery and a postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed bilateral common carotid artery patency. However, the second patient had neurological dysfunction after surgery, while a postoperative CTA showed occlusion of the left common carotid artery. Anatomical replacement for a common carotid artery dissection with thrombus has the potential to significantly improve cerebral perfusion and reduce postoperative neurological complications.

Abstract: The last fifteen years have witnessed a burgeoning interest in multilingual learning, particularly the simultaneous learning of more than one foreign language, but related research in China is limited. This paper conducted a Q-methodology investigation into a group of Chinese university students who chose to learn Spanish as their L3 in parallel with English as their L2. The results showed that Chinese students had two types of foreign-language learning motivation, namely, ‘English only’ and ‘multilingual’ motivation. Referring to the ‘L2 Motivational Self System’ proposed by Dörnyei, we argue that the ‘English only’ type was heavily influenced by their ‘ought-to L2 selves’, which repressed their motivation to learn Spanish, while ‘multilingual’ students are looking for a way towards plurilingual and multicultural competency, although most of them are yet to have clearly-defined goals. We also found that Chinese learners’ choice of L3 learning is closely related to the social status of that language in this region.

Resumen: En la actualidad, los estudios sobre multilingüismo han captado considerablemente la atención en el campo de la lingüística, pero todavía no existen suficientes investigaciones al respecto en China. En este trabajo, mediante un experimento basado en la metodología Q, estudiaremos la disposición motivacional de un grupo de universitarios chinos que aprenden inglés y español de forma simultánea. De los resultados obtenidos, se desprende que los estudiantes chinos se han dividido en dos tipos según su actitud frente al estudio de lenguas extranjeras, que son ‘solo inglés’ y ‘multilingüe’. Teniendo en cuenta ‘el sistema motivacional del yo en L2’ (L2MSS), propuesto por Dörnyei, se observa que los alumnos de ‘solo inglés’ están muy influenciados por ‘el yo obligatorio de L2’, el cual reprime su motivación para aprender español, mientras que los alumnos de ‘multilingüe’ buscan un camino multicultural con varias lenguas, aunque sin ideas claras ni destino concreto. Además, descubrimos que las razones que llevan a los aprendientes chinos a conocer una lengua extranjera se relacionan estrechamente con la posición social de dicha lengua en esta región.

Abstract Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as the critical modulators of the tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Methods: The levels of miR-663 in ovarian cancer cell lines and clinical tissues were detected using qRT-PCR assays. The Transwell invasion and wound healing assay were conducted to assess the roles of miR-663 in the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cell in vitro. Rescue assays were carried out to confirm the contribution of tumor suppressor candidate 2 (TUSC2) in the aggressiveness of cancer cell which was regulated by miR-663. Results: The levels of miR-663 were up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues in comparison with the corresponding normal tissues. Up-regulation of miR-663 increased the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell. Additional, over-expression of miR-663 increased the tumor growth of SKOV3 in xenograft model. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay identified that miR-663 decreased the level of TUSC2 via binding to the 3'-UTR of TUSC2 gene. Finally, the expression of TUSC2 was inversely associated with the level of miR–663 in ovarian carcinoma tissue and over-expression of TUSC2 inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of SKOV3 that was promoted by miR-663. Conclusion: Altogether, these results indicate that miR-663 acts as a potential tumor-promoting miRNA through targeting TUSC2 in ovarian cancer.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the impact of Ramipril (RAM) on the expressions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and renal mesangial matrix (RMM) in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: The Sprague Dawley rats were divided into normal control (NC) group (n = 12), DN group (n = 11), and DN+RAM group (n = 12). The ratio of renal weight to body weight (RBT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, 24-h urine protein (TPU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), renal pathological changes, the levels of IGF-1, fibronectin (FN), type IV collagen (Col-IV), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 were compared among the groups. Results: Compared with NC group, the RBT, FBG, HbA1c, TPU, BUN, Cr, and RMM in DN group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), the IGF-1, FN, and Col-IV were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05), while MMP was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Compared with DN group, the indexes except for the FBG and HbA1c in DN+RAM group were significantly improved (P < 0.05), among which IGF-1 exhibited significant positive correlation with TPU(r=0.937), FN(r=0.896) and Col-IV(r=0.871), while significant negative correlation with MMP-2 (r=-0.826) (P<0.05). Conclusion: RAM may protect the kidneys by suppressing IGF-1 and mitigating the accumulation of RMM.