Prognostic Factors for Survival in Node-Negative Gastric Cancer Patients Who Underwent Curative Resection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Lymph node involvement is the strongest prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer; patients with node-negative gastric cancer present with better survival. However, some patients develop recurrent gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to review the clinicopathological characteristics and factors for prognosis in patients with node-negative gastric cancer who underwent curative resection. METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2015, the clinicopathological characteristics of 302 patients with node-negative gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates for patients with node-negative gastric cancer were 80.0%, 69.0%, and 63.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, histologic type, and depth of invasion had significant effects on survival (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size (hazard ratio: 1.83%, 95.0% confidence interval: 1.13-2.96, p = 0.014), histologic type (hazard ratio: 1.57%, 95.0% confidence interval: 1.01-2.44, p = 0.042), and depth of invasion (hazard ratio: 1.38%, 95.0% confidence interval: 1.14-1.67, p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Tumor size, histologic type, and depth of invasion are important prognostic factors in patients with node-negative gastric cancer. These parameters should be considered to stratify patients for therapy and follow-up strategies.

Extreme obesity is associated with attempted suicides: results from a family study.

This study was conducted to explore the association between attempted suicides and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) in a family sample of 2547 individuals. As a comparison, a national NESARC (the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions) sample of 41 589 individuals was included to validate the observed association. Compared to average weight, extreme obesity showed significantly increased odds for attempted suicides both in family sample (odds ratio (OR) = 3.37 and 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59-7.13 for BMI = 40- < 50 kg/m2; OR = 3.85 and 95% CI = 1.71-8.66 for BMI > or = 50 kg/m2) and in NESARC sample (OR = 2.11 and 95% CI = 1.59-2.81 for BMI = 40- < 50 kg/m2; OR = 2.56 and 95% CI = 1.34-4.92 for BMI> or = 50 kg/m2) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. Compared to general population, the risk for attempted suicide was 87 and 122% higher for those with BMI=40- < 50 and > or = 50 kg/m2, respectively. The pattern of results in the family and population studies indicates that extreme obesity is strongly associated with attempted suicide.

Effect of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in mice.

The effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GL-PS) on renal complication in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice have been investigated in the present study. C57BL/6J mice were made diabetic by injection of streptozotocin and GL-PS (125 and 250 mg kg-1) was administered for 8 weeks. Body weight was monitored every week. Serum glucose, creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride (TG) and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured after 8 weeks of treatment. Glomerular size and mesangial matrix index were assayed by morphometric analysis. Renal expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were determined by immunochemistry. Renal malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also evaluated. GL-PS was able to reduce the serum Cr and BUN levels and UAE compared with diabetic model mice in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing serum glucose and triglyceride levels in diabetic mice could also be lowered by GL-PS. Moreover, GL-PS had the capacity to improve the renal morphometric changes and oxidative stress state of diabetic mice. In summary, GL-PS can improve the metabolic abnormalities of diabetic mice and prevent or delay the progression of diabetic renal complications.