Background. Modification of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and RNA m6A regulatory factors is required in cancer advancement. The contribution of m6A and its alteration in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. Results. ALKBH5 was lowly expressed in ESCC tissues, which the total m6A level was increased in ESCC tissue than the presentation in normal healthy tissue. The pcDNA3.1-ALKBH5 recombinant plasmid was transfected into KYSE-150 and Eca-109 cells. The overexpression of ALKBH5 is responsible for a significant reduction of the total m6A levels in Eca-109 and KYSE150 cells, inhibiting the proliferation capability, migration, and cell invasion. Conclusions. ALKBH5 as a demethylase was lowly expressed in cancer progression of ESCC and acts as a crucial component in ESCC progression.

Background:The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of parameters related to right heart function combined with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in acute radiation-induced right heart injury.Methods: Seventy patients who received chest radiotherapy (RT) in the RT department of our hospital between September 2015 and March 2019 were included in the study. Results: Of the included 70 patients, 19, 32, 4, and 15 had thoracic esophageal cancer, central lung cancer, thymoma, and left breast cancer, respectively. The Tei index, tricuspid annular displacement, right ventricular ejection fraction, and NT-proBNP of the 70 patients were measured 1 week before RT, at weeks 2 and 4 during RT, and 4 weeks after RT. Differences in the Tei index, the tricuspid annular displacement, and NT-proBNP were significant (P<0.01, P<0.05, and P<0.05, respectively). The Tei index significantly increased in the second week of RT. Tricuspid annular displacement decreased significantly 4 weeks after RT.NT-proBNP reached its peak value in the fourth week of RT. However, there was no significant difference in right ventricular ejection fraction (P>0.05). Conclusions:The Tei index of the right ventricle can be used as a sensitive indicator for the early detection of right heart injury after RT for thoracic tumors. Additionally, tricuspid annular displacement can be used as an index for the early detection of right ventricular damage after RT for thoracic tumors. However, right ventricular ejection fraction showed no significant change in the early stage of right heart damage after RT.Finally, it is important to consider NT-proBNP for the detection of acute radiation-induced heart injury. In acute radiation-induced right heart injury, the combined application of right ventricular Tei index, tricuspid annular displacement, and NT-proBNP is clinically relevant.

Objective The effect of fetal oval foramen restriction and premature contraction of the arterial catheter for the right heart function of fetuses and infants was studied by evaluating the right and left ventricular (RV/LV) ratios, the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) value, and the Tei index of right heart function parameters. Methods This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University (K20190116). We collected 257 fetuses between March 2020 and December 2021. Among these, 98 fetuses that did not have any heart abnormalities were assigned to group A, 91 fetuses with restriction of the left and right atrial channels were assigned to group B, and 68 fetuses with premature contraction of the arterial catheter were assigned to group C. The ventricular transverse diameter, the right heart TAPSE value and the Tei index of fetuses in late pregnancy and 90 days after birth were measured in the three groups, and the diagnostic value of each index for the right heart function injury was evaluated. P < 0.05 indicates significant. Results The P-value of the TAPSE value and Tei index of infants in BC and AC groups and postnatal infants were less than 0.05, which was significant. In the BC group, the RV/LV ratio of fetuses was compared when P > 0.05, which was not significant; however, P < 0.05 after birth was considered significant. For fetuses and postnatal infants in the BC group, the RV/LV ratio was negatively associated with the TAPSE value. However, it was positively associated with the Tei index; Diagnostic test results. To predict impaired right heart function after birth, TAPSE had low diagnostic value, RV/LV and Tei index had high diagnostic value. Conclusions Oval foramen restriction and premature contraction of the arterial catheter may affect the right heart function after birth and be related to the degree of the right heart enlargement. Although TAPSE prediction of the fetal and postnatal right heart function is limited, the RV/LV ratio and the Tei index can be used to predict impaired right heart function after birth.

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