Safety of nighttime elective hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a retrospective study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether nighttime elective surgery influenced the short-term outcomes and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Methods: The 1,339 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were divided into the daytime surgery group (8 a.m.-6 p.m., n = 1,105) and the nighttime surgery group (after 6 p.m., n = 234) based on the start time of surgery. The 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to control confounding factors. The short-term outcomes of HCC patients in the 2 groups were compared before and after PSM. Factors associated with major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade, ≥III) and textbook oncologic outcomes (TOO) were separately identified by multivariable logistic regression based on variables screened via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: TOO was achieved after surgery in 897 HCC patients. HCC patients in the nighttime surgery group had a higher body mass index (P = 0.010). After 1:2 PSM, the baseline characteristics of patients between the 2 groups were similar. Short-term outcomes in HCC patients were comparable both before and after PSM (all Ps > 0.05), as were TOO in the 2 groups before (P = 0.673) and after PSM (P = 0.333). In our LASSO-logistic regression, nighttime surgery was not an independent factor associated with major complications or TOO. Both groups also had similar OS (P = 0.950) and RFS (P = 0.740) after PSM. Conclusion: Our study revealed the safety of nighttime elective hepatectomy for HCC patients.

Application of the IDEAL framework in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery: a review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate every stage of surgical innovation and generate high-quality research evidence, the IDEAL (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study) framework was developed. This study aimed to explore the application of the IDEAL framework in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery and identify factors limiting its dissemination. METHODS: We conducted a citation search of 8 core IDEAL framework articles in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from 2009 to 2022. Two independent reviewers screened and selected articles related to hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1621 articles were identified through citation search. Following screening, 132 articles were finally retained, including 75 original studies (57%) and 57 secondary studies (43%). Of the original studies, only 10 articles (13%) accurately applied the IDEAL framework in methodology, distributed as follows: 1 in pre-IDEAL stage (0), 2 in Idea stage (1), 7 in Development stage (2a), 1 in Exploration stage (2b), and no articles in Assessment and Long-term study stages (3, 4). In the secondary studies, 36 articles (63%) mentioned and discussed the IDEAL framework, and all supported its application. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the IDEAL framework in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery is increasingly widespread, as evidenced by its substantial citation in numerous articles. However, the utilization of the IDEAL framework remains predominantly confined to the early stages of innovation in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, coupled with instances of misapplication stemming from insufficient comprehension of the framework. Further efforts are necessary to extend the impact of the IDEAL framework and provide surgeons with comprehensive guidance for its judicious implementation.

PIVKA-II combined with tumor burden score to predict long-term outcomes of AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver resection.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish a simple prognostic scoring model based on tumor burden score (TBS) and PIVKA-II to predict long-term outcomes of α-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: 511 patients were divided into the training cohort (n = 305) and the validation cohort (n = 206) at a ratio of 6:4. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were established to identify cutoff values of TBS and PIVKA-II. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze survival outcomes. The multivariable Cox regression was used to identify variables independently associated with survival outcomes. The predictive performance of the TBS-PIVKA II score (TPS) model was compared with Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC TNM) stage. RESULTS: The present study established the TPS model using a simple scoring system (0, 1 for low/high TBS [cutoff value: 4.1]; 0, 1 for low/high PIVKA-II [cutoff value: 239 mAU/mL]). The TPS scoring model was divided into three levels according to the summation of TBS score and PIVKA-II score: TPS 0, TPS 1, and TPS 2. The TPS scoring model was able to stratify OS (training: p < 0.001, validation: p < 0.001) and early recurrence (training: p < 0.001; validation: p = 0.001) in the training cohort and the validation cohort. The TPS score was independently associated with OS (TPS 1 vs. 0, HR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.01-5.17; TPS 2 vs. 0, HR: 4.21, 95% CI: 2.01-8.84) and early recurrence (TPS 1 vs. 0, HR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.71-7.16; TPS 2 vs. 0, HR: 3.79, 95% CI: 1.86-7.75) in the training cohort. The TPS scoring model outperformed BCLC stage and AJCC TNM stage in predicting OS and early recurrence in the training cohort and the validation cohort. But the TPS scoring model was unable to stratify the late recurrence in the training cohort (p = 0.872) and the validation cohort (p = 0.458). CONCLUSIONS: The TPS model outperformed the BCLC stage and AJCC TNM stage in predicting OS and early recurrence of AFP-negative HCC patients after liver resection, which might better assist surgeons in screening AFP-negative HCC patients who may benefit from liver resection.

Nomogram to predict liver surgery-specific complications for hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients at risk for surgical complications enables surgeons to make better treatment decisions and optimize resource utilization. We propose to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of moderate-to-severe liver surgery-specific complications after hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled HCC patients who underwent radical hepatectomy at four medical centers from January 2014 to January 2019 in southwestern China, randomly (7:3) divided into training and validation cohorts. We used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression to build a nomogram model. RESULTS: The nomogram model contained 6 variables: diabetes mellitus (yes vs. no, OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.16-4.64, P = 0.02), major hepatectomy (yes vs. no, OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.64-4.27, P < 0.001), platelets (PLT, ≥100 × 103/µl vs. <100 × 103/µl, OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33-0.87, P = 0.01), prothrombin time (PT, >13 s vs. ≤13 s, OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.04-3.05, P = 0.04), albumin-indocyanine green evaluation grade (ALICE grade, grade B vs. grade A, OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.17-3.61, P = 0.01), and prognostic nutrient index (PNI, >48 vs. ≤48, OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.92, P = 0.02). The concordance index (C-index) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.751 (95% CI, 0.703-0.799) and 0.743 (95% CI, 0.653-0.833) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the nomogram had good clinical value. CONCLUSION: We provide good preoperative predictors for the risk of moderate-to-high FABIB score complications in patients with HBV-related HCC posthepatectomy.

Insurance status impacts survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver resection.

BACKGROUND: This study intends to examine the effect of public insurance status on survival outcomes of HCC patients after liver resection in China. METHODS: We divided 2911 HCC patients after liver resection included in our study into the Urban Employed-based Medical Insurance group (UEBMI group, n = 1462) and the non-Urban Employed-based Medical Insurance group (non-UEBMI group, n = 1449). A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to control confounding factors. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models based on variables screened by Lasso regression. Competing risk analysis was used to analyze cancer-specific survival (CSS). RESULTS: UEBMI group had more male patients (p = 0.031), patients in the UEBMI group were older (p < 0.001) and had lower Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (CCI score, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, patients in the UEBMI group had better liver function (albumin-bilirubin grade I [ALBI I], p < 0.001) and lower tumor burden (α-fetoprotein [AFP], p = 0.009; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage [BCLC], p = 0.026; Milan criteria, p < 0.001; tumor size, p < 0.001; microvascular invasion [MVI], p = 0.030; portal vein tumor thrombosis [PVTT], p = 0.002). More patients in the UEBMI group received laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.024) and adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, p < 0.001). After PSM, patients in the two matched groups had similar characteristics. Patients with recurrent HCC in the UEBMI were more likely to receive curative therapy (p < 0.001) and less likely to receive supportive care (p < 0.001). HCC patients after liver resection in the non-UEBMI group had a worse OS before (p < 0.0001) and after PSM (p = 0.002). [Correction added on August 16, 2023 after first online publication. The p value has been updated in the preceding sentence.] In our Lasso-Cox risk regression model, public health insurance status was an independent factor linked with OS (non-UEBMI vs. UEBMI, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.46; p < 0.001). In the competing risk analysis, patients in the UEBMI group had a lower cumulative incidence of CSS before (p < 0.001) and after PSM (p = 0.001), and public insurance status of HCC patients after liver resection remained independently associated with CSS (non-UEBMI vs. UEBMI; HR:1.36; 95% CI: 1.18-1.58; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Underinsured HCC patients after liver resection had worse survival outcomes. Less access to care for underinsured patients may explain the difference in survival, but the corresponding conclusions need to be further explored.

Surface Modification of ZnO Nanocrystals with Conjugated Polyelectrolytes Carrying Different Counterions for Inverted Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

In this work, bromide ions (Br-) on the conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) were converted to tetrafluoroborate (BF4-) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6-) ions through anion exchange. The three CPEs (PFN-Br, PFN-BF4, and PFN-PF6) were utilized solely for surface modification of zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO NCs). The ionic groups on CPEs can form permanent dipoles to facilitate charge injection from ZnO NCs to cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) NC emitters, therefore promoting luminescent properties of inverted perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). The experimental results reveal that ZnO NC films were smoothened by CPEs that allowed flat deposition of the perovskite active layers; moreover, the improved contact between ZnO and perovskite layers was beneficial for reducing leakage current, as verified in the dark current measurement of devices. In addition, the incorporation of CPEs helped to passivate the defects of ZnO NC films and prolong the carrier lifetime of CsPbBr3 NCs. PeLEDs based on different CPEs were then constructed and evaluated. The device based on PFN-Br showed the highest brightness and current efficiency, and the one based on PFN-BF4 exhibited better current efficiency over PFN-Br under the low current density below 160 mA/cm2. This is the first report using fluorene-based CPEs with Br-, BF4-, or PF6- groups to modify the properties of ZnO and CsPbBr3 NCs for the construction of inverted PeLEDs so far. Our experiments explored new kinds of CPEs on the surface modification of ZnO NCs and device performance of PeLEDs.

CircKDM1B promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through regulating miR-1322/PRC1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA) is considered an important molecular marker for the early diagnosis of tumors and a potential therapeutic target. Herein, we investigated the role and regulatory mechanism of circKDM1B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The expression of circKDM1B, miR-1322 and Protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 (PRC1) mRNA were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining assays were performed to assess cell proliferation activity. Cell migration and invasion were detected by wound-healing scratch and transwell assay. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell apoptosis. The protein levels of PCNA, MMP9, C-caspase3 and PRC1 were examined using western blot. The binding of circKDM1B and miR-1322 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull down assay. RESULTS: CircKDM1B was overexpressed in HCC tissues and cells, and its overexpression was related to tumor stage and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Functionally, knockdown of circKDM1B suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells. Mechanistically, circKDM1B functioned as ceRNA of miR-1322 to upregulate PRC1 in HCC cells. Overexpression of miR-1322 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion and facilitated apoptosis of HCC cells, which was partly reversed by PRC1 overexpression. CircKDM1B knockdown impeded HCC tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: CircKDM1B played a critical role in HCC progression by regulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis. CircKDM1B/miR-1322/PRC1 axis might be a novel therapeutic target of HCC patients.

Albumin-Globulin Score Combined with Skeletal Muscle Index as a Novel Prognostic Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia was recently identified as a poor prognostic factor in patients with malignant tumors. The present study investigated the effect of the preoperative albumin-globulin score (AGS), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and combination of AGS and SMI (CAS) on short- and long-term survival outcomes following deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and aimed to identify prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 221 consecutive patients who underwent DDLT for HCC were enrolled in this retrospective study between January 2015 and December 2019. The skeletal muscle cross-sectional area was measured by CT (computed tomography). Clinical cutoffs of albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), and sarcopenia were defined by receiver operating curve (ROC). The effects of the AGS, SMI, and CAS grade on the preoperative characteristics and long-term outcomes of the included patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who had low AGS and high SMI were associated with better overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and fewer postoperative complications (grade ≥ 3, Clavien-Dindo classification). Stratified by CAS grade, 46 (20.8%) patients in grade 1 were associated with the best postoperative prognosis, whereas 79 (35.7%) patients in grade 3 were linked to the worst OS and RFS. The CAS grade showed promising accuracy in predicting the OS and RFS of HCC patients [areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.710 and 0.700, respectively]. Male recipient, Child-Pugh C, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score > 20, and elevated CAS grade were identified as independent risk factors for OS and RFS of HCC patients after DDLT. CONCLUSION: CAS grade, a novel prognostic index combining preoperative AGS and SMI, was closely related to postoperative short-term and long-term outcomes for HCC patients who underwent DDLT. Graft allocation and clinical decision making may be referred to CAS grade evaluation.

Structural and functional characterization of novel F7 mutations identified in Chinese factor VII-deficient patients.

Hereditary factor VII (FVII) deficiency is a rare recessive bleeding disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1/500 000. We had investigated 50 unrelated Chinese patients with FVII deficiency and identified, in total, 25 mutations, including 18 missense mutations and 5 splicing mutations, on the F7 gene. The nucleotide transition c.1224T>G (p.His408Gln) in exon 9 constitutes a hotspot of mutation, with 19 patients harbouring this genetic variance. Few patients were homozygous or compound heterozygous for deleterious mutations, such as non-sense mutations, large insertion or deletions, indicating that complete deficiency of FVII may not be compatible with life. The eight novel mutations identified in the study, including one small deletion (p.Glu49GlyfsTer101), three type I missense mutations, p.Cys238Phe, p.Gly420Asp, p.Ala252Val and four type II missense mutations, p.Val336Met, p.Ser342Gly, p.Gly432Ser and p.Ile213Asn, were further analysed by in vitro expression and functional studies. The laboratory phenotype and structural analysis confirmed the functional consequence of p.Ile213Asn mutation involving cleavage and activation site. The molecular dynamic simulations and binding energy calculations along with functional probing of p.Gly432Ser mutation revealed the critical role of residue Gly432 in the binding between activated factor VII (factor VIIa) and tissue factor.

Prognostic nomograms for HBV-related BCLC 0-a stage hepatocellular carcinoma incorporating aspartate aminotransferase to albumin ratio.

BACKGROUND: Curative hepatectomy is currently the first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the prognosis is still not optimistic. The prediction model for prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related BCLC 0-A stage HCC has not been well established. Therefore, we aimed to develop new nomograms to predict recurrence and survival in these patients. METHODS: A total of 982 patients with HBV-related BCLC 0-A stage HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy at West China Hospital from February 2007 to February 2016 were retrospectively collected and randomly allocated to a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 4:1. Prognostic nomograms using data from the training set were developed using a Cox regression model and validated on the validation set. RESULTS: We constructed nomograms based on independent factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) (tumor size, satellite, microvascular invasion, capsular invasion, differentiation and aspartate aminotransferase to albumin ratio (ASAR)) and overall survival (OS) (gender, tumor size, satellite, microvascular invasion, differentiation, lymphocyte count, and ASAR). Compared with conventional HCC staging systems and other nomograms reported by previous literature, our ASAR integrated nomograms predicted RFS and OS with the highest C-indexes (0.682 (95%CI: 0.646-0.709), 0.729 (95%CI: 0.691-0.766), respectively) and had well-fitted calibration curves in the training set. Concurrently, the nomograms also obtained consistent results in the validation set. DCA revealed that our nomograms provided the largest clinical net benefits. CONCLUSION: We first constructed ASAR integrated nomograms to predict the prognosis of HBV-related BCLC 0-A stage HCC patients after curative hepatectomy with good performance.

Preparation of Nickel Oxide Nanoflakes for Carrier Extraction and Transport in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Hole transport layers (HTLs) with high conductivity, charge extraction ability, and carrier transport capability are highly important for fabricating perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high power conversion efficiency and device stability. Low interfacial recombination between the HTL and perovskite absorber is also crucial to the device performance of PSCs. In this work, we developed a three-stage method to prepare NiOx nanoflakes as the HTL in the inverted PSCs. Due to the addition of the nanoflake layer, the deposited perovskite films with larger grain sizes and fewer boundaries were obtained, implying higher photogenerated current and fill factors in our PSCs. Meanwhile, the downshifted valence band of the NiOx HTL improved hole extraction from the perovskite absorber and open-circuit voltages of PSCs. The optimized device based on the NiOx nanoflakes showed the highest efficiency of 14.21% and a small hysteresis, which outperformed the NiOx thin film as the HTL. Furthermore, the device maintained 83% of its initial efficiency after 60 days of storage. Our results suggest that NiOx nanoflakes provide great potential for constructing PSCs with high efficiency and long-term stability.

Efficient and stable perovskite solar cells using manganese-doped nickel oxide as the hole transport layer.

Organic/inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have represented a promising field of renewable energy in recent years due to the compelling advantages of high efficiency, facile fabrication process and low cost. The development of inorganic p-type metal oxide materials plays an important role in the performance and stability of PSCs for commercial purposes. Herein a facile and effective way to improve hole extraction and conductivity of NiO x films by manganese (Mn) doping is demonstrated in this study. A Mn-doped NiO x layer was prepared by the sol-gel process and served as the hole transport layer (HTL) in inverted PSCs. The results suggest that Mn-doped NiO x is helpful for the growth of perovskite layers with larger grains and higher crystallinity compared with the pristine NiO x . Furthermore, the perovskite films deposited on Mn-doped NiO x exhibit lower recombination and shorter carrier lifetime. The device based on 0.5 mol% Mn-doped NiO x as the HTL displayed the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.35% and a high fill factor (FF) of 81%, which were significantly higher than those of the one using the pristine NiO x HTL (PCE = 14.71%, FF = 73%). Moreover, the device retained 70% of its initial efficiency after 35 days' storage under a continuous halogen lamp matrix exposure with an illumination intensity of 1000 W m-2. Our results widen the development of PSCs for future production.

The impact of tumor burden at the initial hepatectomy on the recurrence-to-death survival after repeat surgical resection/radiofrequency ablation: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported the surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could achieve comparable recurrence-to-death survival (RTDS). However, the impact of primary tumor burden on RTDS of patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following SR or RFA has not been clarified. METHODS: From January 2009 to March 2015, 171 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy and second curative treatments in West China Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: At initial hepatectomy, 96 patients (56.1%) were diagnosed with HCC within the Milan criteria (MC), and 75 patients (43.9%) were HCC beyond the MC. The clinicopathological features and re-treatment methods of recurrent HCC were similar between patients with primary HCC within or beyond the MC. Patients with primary HCC within the MC had longer recurrence time (31.4 ± 24.2 months vs. 20.2 ± 16 months, P < 0.001). The 1- and 3- year RTDS within and beyond the MC group were 88.8%, 57.6% and 79.0%, 46.3%, respectively (P = 0.093). In multivariate analysis, the recurrence time, tumor size and AFP > 400 ng/mL at the time of recurrence were associated with RTDS. CONCLUSIONS: The primary tumor burden had no impact on RTDS, but had an impact on recurrence time. The recurrence time had an impact on RTDS and might be a good index to reflect the biology of recurrent HCC.

Comparison of nucleoside and nucleotide analogs in the recurrence of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Antiviral therapy should reduce the recurrence of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-related HCC) after surgical resection. However, there is little research on whether various antiviral drugs have different prognostic effects in patients with HBV-related HCC after curative liver resection. The present study compared the effects of nucleotide analog (NtA) and nucleoside analog (NsA) antiviral therapies after surgical resection on the prognosis of HBV-related HCC. METHODS: A total of 1303 patients with HBV-related HCC who received curative hepatectomy at five institutes between April 2014 and April 2019 were retrospectively enrolled and analyzed. Propensity matching analysis was used to compare the outcomes of HCC patients given NsA versus NtA therapy. Subgroup analysis of patients treated with entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) was also performed. RESULTS: Among 1303 patients, 759 (58.2%) patients developed recurrence, and 460 (35.3%) patients died. Multivariable analyses revealed that NtA therapy significantly decreased the risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.80; p < 0.001) and HCC-related death (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.36-0.76; p = 0.001) compared to that with NsA therapy. Subgroup analysis showed that TDF treatment was associated with significantly lower rates of HCC recurrence (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.49-0.83; p = 0.001) and death (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.20-0.50; p < 0.001) than ETV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Nucleotide analog treatment, but not NsA treatment, significantly reduced the risk of HCC recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC and improved overall survival after curative hepatic resection.

Design of a dual-signal sensing platform for d-penicillamine based on UiO-66-NH2 MOFs and APBA@Alizarin Red.

Herein, we designed a diversified sensing platform for d-penicillamine based on amino-functionalized Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66-NH2 MOFs) and 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA)@Alizarin Red (ARS). The boronic acid group of 3-aminophenylboronic acid could react with Alizarin Red to form an APBA@ARS complex with a yellow fluorescence emission at 580 nm and ultraviolet absorption at 435 nm. APBA@ARS can greatly quench the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs at 450 nm via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). When copper ions were present in the reaction system of APBA and Alizarin Red, the copper ions could complex with Alizarin Red to prevent the generation of APBA@ARS, and the absorption of Cu@ARS at 530 nm occurred. Thus, the absorbance of APBA@ARS at 435 nm declined, restoring the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs. Nevertheless, when d-penicillamine and copper ions coexist in the APBA and Alizarin Red reaction system, the copper ions would complex with the sulfhydryl group of d-penicillamine and no longer hinder the generation of APBA@ARS, and the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs is quenched again. Meanwhile, the absorbance of APBA@ARS at 435 nm enhanced and the absorbance at 530 nm decreased. Thus, a fluorescence and colorimetric dual-signal sensing platform was constructed for d-penicillamine detection, which could detect d-penicillamine in the 1-20 µM and 2-50 µM ranges with the limit of detection (LOD) values of 0.46 µM and 1.38 µM, respectively. Furthermore, this sensing platform could also realize the intelligent RGB detection via mobile phones due to the obvious color change of the reaction system.

Complete embolisation of the proper hepatic artery for delayed haemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case report.

Postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) is a rare and life-threatening complication that can occur after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Recently, radiological intervention has become a first-line approach for the diagnosis and treatment of late PPH in haemodynamically stable patients. Surgical intervention should be performed in haemodynamically unstable patients. We report the case of a 54-year-old man who underwent PD for ampullary carcinoma. On postoperative day (POD) 20, he developed a late PPH in the context of pancreatic fistula that was accompanied by hypotension and tachycardia. Therefore, emergency relaparotomy was performed, but the bleeding site was not detected due to severe adhesions in the surgical field. Thus, urgent angiography was performed immediately, and active bleeding was detected from the distal part of the proper hepatic artery. Coil embolisation of the proper hepatic artery trunk was successfully performed. No intrahepatic abscess or liver failure was subsequently observed, and the patient left our hospital on POD 27. This case shows that radiological intervention is a first choice for the diagnosis and treatment of haemodynamically stable late PPH and that it also might still be a first choice and also be safer and more effective than surgical intervention even with unstable haemodynamics.

MicroRNA-520e targets AEG-1 to suppress the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells through Wnt/GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signalling.

MicroRNA-520e (miR-520e) is increasingly being recognized as a cancer-related miRNA in multiple cancer types; however, little is known about its role in colorectal cancer. In this study, we determined the specific role of miR-520e in colorectal cancer. Expression of miR-520e was lower in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Overexpression of miR-520e significantly decreased the proliferation, colony formation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells, while inhibition of miR-520e exhibited the opposite effect. Moreover, miR-520e was found to target the 3'-untranslated region of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) and inhibit AEG-1 expression in colorectal cancer cells. An inverse correlation between miR-520e and AEG-1 expression was confirmed in colorectal cancer tissues. Notably, miR-520e suppressed the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß and decreased the expression of ß-catenin, leading to inactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling in colorectal cells. A rescue assay confirmed that miR-520e regulates cell proliferation, invasion and Wnt/ß-catenin signalling through targeting AEG-1. Taken together, these results indicate that miR-520e plays a critical role in regulating colorectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting Wnt/ß-catenin signalling via AEG-1. Our study highlights the importance of the miR-520e/AEG-1/Wnt/ß-catenin signalling axis in colorectal cancer, thus targeting miR-520e may represent an effective therapeutic strategy.

Inkjet-Printed High-Performance Flexible Micro-Supercapacitors with Porous Nanofiber-Like Electrode Structures.

Flexible planar micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) with unique loose and porous nanofiber-like electrode structures are fabricated by combining electrochemical deposition with inkjet printing. Benefiting from the resulting porous nanofiber-like structures, the areal capacitance of the inkjet-printed flexible planar MSCs is obviously enhanced to 46.6 mF cm-2 , which is among the highest values ever reported for MSCs. The complicated fabrication process is successfully averted as compared with previously reported best-performing planar MSCs. Besides excellent electrochemical performance, the resultant MSCs also show superior mechanical flexibility. The as-fabricated MSCs can be highly bent to 180° 1000 times with the capacitance retention still up to 86.8%. Intriguingly, because of the remarkable patterning capability of inkjet printing, various modular MSCs in serial and in parallel can be directly and facilely inkjet-printed without using external metal interconnects and tedious procedures. As a consequence, the electrochemical performance can be largely enhanced to better meet the demands of practical applications. Additionally, flexible serial MSCs with exquisite and aesthetic patterns are also inkjet-printed, showing great potential in fashionable wearable electronics. The results suggest a feasible strategy for the facile and cost-effective fabrication of high-performance flexible MSCs via inkjet printing.

Crocin inhibits RANKL­induced osteoclastogenesis by regulating JNK and NF­κB signaling pathways.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor­κB ligand (RANKL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-ligand family, is a crucial factor involved in osteoclast differentiation. Crocin, a pharmacologically active component of Crocus sativus L., has been reported to attenuate ovariectomy­induced osteoporosis in rats. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of crocin on osteoclast formation remains to be determined. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of crocin on RANKL­induced osteoclastogenesis and its underlying molecular mechanism. Results demonstrated that crocin decreased osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow­derived macrophages (BMMs). In addition, the expression levels of osteoclast marker proteins were downregulated by crocin. Mechanistically, crocin inhibited RANKL­induced activation of nuclear factor­κB (NF­κB) by suppressing inhibitor of κBα degradation and preventing NF­κB p65 subunit nuclear translocation, and by activating c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK) in BMMs. In summary, the results of the present study suggested that crocin downregulates osteoclast differentiation via inhibition of JNK and NF­κB signaling pathways. Thus, crocin may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoclast­associated diseases, including osteoporosis.