Purpose: To establish a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line from lung metastatic lesions of human HCC in nude mice so as to provide a suitable model for the study of lung-metastasis-related molecular mechanisms. Methods: HCC clone cells MHCC97-H were inoculated into BALB/c nude mice, and the pulmonary metastatic lesions were harvested and re-implanted into nude mice for the second round of in vivo selection. The same procedure was repeated twice. A new cell line from the third round of lung metastases was established. Results: A human HCC cell line with unique metastatic characteristics was established by in vivo selection. This cell line, designated as HCCLM3, was polygonal epithelial cell with hypotriploid karyotype and population doubling time of 34.9 h. The cells were positive for alpha fetoprotein (AFP), albumin, cytokeratin 8 (CK8), and negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by immunocytochemistry. Fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed HBV DNA integration in the cellular genome. When 5·10 6 cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice, tumorigenicity was 100%, with a latency period of 11±1 days. Five weeks after s.c. injection, the pulmonary metastatic rate was 100%, the median number of lung metastases being 121 per mouse. After orthotopic implantation of tumor tissue into nude mouse liver for 35 days, widespread loco-regional and distant metastases occurred, with 100% abdominal wall metastases, 80% intra-abdominal cavity metastases, 100% intrahe-patic metastases, 70% diaphragm metastases, and 100% pulmonary metastases. The median number of lung metastatic lesions was 268 per mouse. Gene expression profile of HCCLM3 was compared by cDNA microarray with MHCC97-L, a clonal cell strain from the same parental cell line but with low metastatic potential; 25 differentially expressed genes were identified, 18 of which showed decreased expression and seven increased expression in HCCLM3, including the decreased expression of cell cycle control gene Rb2, mismatch repair gene hMSH2, and signal transduction gene protein kinase C b2, and increased expression of signal transduction gene MAP kinase, kinase 6. Conclusions: A new HCC cell line characterized by high pulmonary metastases via s.c. and orthotopic inoculation was established, which provides a new model for the study of liver cancer metastasis. Its gene expression profile could help in the understanding of the mechanism of metastasis and provide potential targets for anti-metastasis intervention.

Background. In treating highly infectious coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses face a high risk of developing somatic symptom disorder (SSD).The symptom clusters in one population may show overlaps and involvements, a phenomenon that should be deliberately resolved to improve the management efficiency.Objectives. The present study aims to investigate the symptoms and causes of SSD of ICU nurses treating COVID-19 pneumonia. The research results are expected to provide evidence for the establishment of a better management strategy.Methods. This study enrolled a total of 140 ICU nurses who were selected by Jiangsu Province Hospital to work in Wuhan (the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic in China) on February 3, 2020. A questionnaire, Somatic symptom disorders for ICU nurses in Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, was designed based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to cluster the symptoms and logistic regression analysis to find the risk factors of the symptoms.Results. Five major symptoms were chest discomfort and palpitation (31.4%), dyspnea (30.7%), nausea (21.4%), headache (19.3%), and dizziness (17.9%). In exploratory factor analysis, the symptoms were classified into three clusters: Cluster A of breathing and sleep disturbances (dizziness, sleepiness, and dyspnea); Cluster B of gastrointestinal complaints and pain (nausea and headache), and Cluster C of general symptoms (xerostomia, fatigue, as well as chest discomfort and palpitation). In Cluster A, urine/feces splash, sex, and sputum splash were independent predictive factors. In Cluster B, fall of protective glasses and urine/feces splash were independent predictive factors. In Cluster C, urine/feces splash and urine/feces clearance were independent predictive factors.Conclusion. The ICU nurses in Wuhan showed varying and overlapping SSDs. These SSDs could be classified into three symptom clusters. Based on the characteristics of their SSDs, specific interventions could be implemented to safeguard the health of ICU nurses.

Obese but not overweight patients appear to have worse OS than normal-weight patients with CRC. The associations of obesity and overweight with OS in CRC patients majorly depend upon the timing of BMI assessment.

Bone defects remains a challenge for surgeons. Bone graft scaffold can fill the defect and enhance the bone regeneration. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is an allogeneic bone graft substitute, which can only be used as a filling material rather than a structural bone graft. Coating of the scaffolds with nanoscale DBM may enhance the osteoinductivity or osteoconductivity. Herein the lyophilization method is presented to coat the nano‐DBM on surface of the porous polycaprolactone (PCL)/β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) scaffolds fabricated by 3D printing technology. The morphology, elastic modulus, in vitro cell biocompatibility, and in vivo performance are investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows DBM particle clusters with size of 200–500 nm are observed on scaffolds fibers after coating. MC3T3‐E1 cells on nano‐DBM coated PCL/β‐TCP scaffold show better activity than on PCL/β‐TCP scaffold. In vivo tests show better infiltration of new bone tissue in nano‐DBM coated PCL/β‐TCP scaffold than PCL/β‐TCP scaffold via the interface. These results show the presence of nano‐DBM coating on PCL/β‐TCP scaffold could enhance the attachment, proliferation, and viability of cells and benefit for the new bone formation surrounding and deep inside the scaffolds. Nano‐DBM could potentially be used as a new kind of biomaterial for bone defect treatment.