Emerging studies have reported that coatomer protein complex subunit β2 (COPB2) is overexpressed in several types of malignant tumor; however, to the best of our knowledge, no studies regarding COPB2 in gastric cancer have been published thus far. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the significance and function of COPB2 in gastric cancer. COPB2 expression in gastric cancer cell lines was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. In addition, lentivirus-short hairpin RNA (shRNA) COPB2 (Lv-shCOPB2) was generated and used to infect BGC-823 cells to analyze the effects of COPB2 on the cancerous phenotype. The effects of shRNA-mediated COPB2 knockdown on cell proliferation were detected using MTT, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and colony formation assays. In addition, the effects of COPB2 knockdown on apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Nude mice and fluorescence imaging were used to characterize the regulation of tumor growth in vivo, and qPCR and immunohistochemistry were subsequently conducted to analyze COPB2 expression in xenograft tumor tissues. Furthermore, a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling pathway antibody array was used to explore the relevant molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of COPB2 knockdown. The results revealed that COPB2 mRNA was abundantly overexpressed in gastric cancer cell lines, whereas knockdown of COPB2 significantly inhibited cell growth and colony formation ability, and led to increased cell apoptosis in vitro. The tumorigenicity assay revealed that knockdown of COPB2 reduced tumor growth in nude mice, and fluorescence imaging indicated that the total radiant efficiency of mice in the Lv-shCOPB2-infected group was markedly reduced compared with the mice in the Lv-shRNA control-infected group in vivo. The antibody array assay revealed that the levels of phosphorylation in 23 target RTKs were significantly reduced: In conclusion, COPB2 was highly expressed in gastric cancer cell lines, and knockdown suppressed colony formation and promoted cell apoptosis via inhibiting the RTK signaling and its downstream signaling cascade molecules. Therefore, COPB2 may present a valuable target for gene silencing strategy in gastric cancer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for infantile hydrocephalus.MethodsRetrospectively reviewed the 17 infantile hydrocephalus cases who were treated with ETV between July 2009 and June 2013. The study includes 17 patients (4 Han and 13 Hui) between the ages of 51 and 337 days. Five cases with encephalitis history and 2 cases with cerebral hemorrhage, with the remaining 10 cases congenital hydrocephalus. ETVs were performed for all patients with 1 case failing because the severe ventricle inflammatory adhesion, excessive exudation, and vague basilar artery.ResultsAmong the 16 successful cases 7 cases improved remarkably : heads and ventricles reduced and cerebral cortexes thickening morphologically. The ventricles of the remaining cases were unchanged.ConclusionThe ethnic minority account for the majority of the patients in this study. ETV is effective for infantile obstructive hydrocephalus.

Background 99mTc-Rituximab is a new specific radiopharmaceutical that binds to the CD20 receptor which is highly expressed on the surface of B cells. We conducted a study in which 99mTc-Rituximab was compared with filtered 99mTc-sulfur colloid (fTcSC) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in patients with breast cancer. Method The study is divided into three parts. 1. Initially, 25 patients were selected for an internal controlled trial to received both 99mTc-Rituximab and fTcSC, the interval time is separated by ≥2 days. 2. Then, 91 patients were selected for a randomized controlled trial (41 and 50 patients in the 99mTc-Rituximab and fTcSC groups, respectively). All patients were administered either agent at the 6- and 12-o’ clock positions by subareolar injection technique. SLN mapping was then performed 2 h after injection. 3. Serial dynamic images were further acquired for 2 h in 31 patients (22 and 9 patients from 99mTc-Rituximab and fTcSC cohorts, respectively). Results The identification rate of lymphoscintigraphy and SLNB in all and axilla regions for 99mTc-Rituximab and 99mTc-SC were 98.5% vs 98.7, 100% vs 98.4%, respectively. The mean number of SLNs identified by 99mTc-Rituximab and fTcSC was respectively 2.72 and 3.28, with a significant difference of P = 0.013 (paired sample t-test). The difference exists in the internal mammary and clavicular area, not in the axillary. The mean number of axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for 99mTc-Rituximab and fTcSC was 2.95 vs 3.14, respectively, and no significant difference existed. 99mTc-Rituximab also exhibited a significantly faster injection site clearance rate when compared with fTcSC (0.193 ± 0.057 h− 1 vs 0.021 ± 0.007 h− 1, respectively). Conclusion No significant difference was observed in identification rate and number of axillary SLN imaging and SLNB, between the two tracers. Compared to fTcSC, 99mTc-Rituximab based imaging demonstrated a fewer number of secondary lymph nodes and had faster injection site clearance rate. Trial registration www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1900024990 (retrospectively registered August 6, 2019).

We report a severe COVID-19 complicated with MIS-C in a girl treated by the author in China, and discuss the current research status and progress in the diagnosis and therapy of MIS-C in children. The patient was a 4-year-old child previously healthy who was referred to the hospital with a complaint of fever, finally, Multisystem inflammatory syndrome was diagnosed with COVID-19.

SummaryMicrotubule-associated serine/threonine kinase (MASTL) functions to regulate chromosome condensation and mitotic progression. Therefore, aberrant MASTL expression is commonly implicated in various human cancers. This study analyzed MASTL expression in gastric cancer vs. adjacent normal tissue for elucidating the association with clinicopathological data from patients. This work was then extended to investigate the effects of MASTL knockdown on tumor cells in vitro. The level of MASTL expression in gastric cancer tissue was assessed from the UALCAN, GEPIA, and Oncomine online databases. Lentivirus carrying MASTL or negative control shRNA was infected into gastric cancer cells. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, cell viability, cell counting, flow cytometric apoptosis and cell cycle, and colony formation assays were performed. MASTL was upregulated in gastric cancer tissue compared to the adjacent normal tissue, and the MASTL expression was associated with advanced tumor stage, Helicobacter pylori infection and histological subtypes. On the other hand, knockdown of MASTL expression significantly reduced tumor cell viability and proliferation, and arrested cell cycle at G2/M stage but promoted tumor cells to undergo apoptosis. At protein level, knockdown of MASTL expression enhanced levels of cleaved PARP1, cleaved caspase-3, Bax and p-ERK1/2 expression, but downregulated expression levels of BCL-2 and p-NF-κB-p65 protein in AGS and MGC-803 cells. MASTL overexpression in gastric cancer tissue may be associated with gastric cancer development and progression, whereas knockdown of MASTL expression reduces tumor cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. Further study will evaluate MASTL as a potential target of gastric cancer therapeutic strategy.