N6-methyladenosine modified circPAK2 promotes lymph node metastasis via targeting IGF2BPs/VEGFA signaling in gastric cancer.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of cancer occurrence and progression, as well as promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, the potential mechanisms of circRNAs implicated in lymph node (LN) metastasis of gastric cancer remain unclear. Herein, we identify a novel N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modified circRNA, circPAK2, which is significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic LN tissues. Functionally, circPAK2 enhances the migration, invasion, lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis of gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circPAK2 is exported by YTH domain-containing protein 1 (YTHDC1) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in an m6A methylation-dependent manner. Moreover, increased cytoplasmic circPAK2 interacts with Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 mRNA-Binding Proteins (IGF2BPs) and forms a circPAK2/IGF2BPs/VEGFA complex to stabilize VEGFA mRNA, which contributes to gastric cancer vasculature formation and aggressiveness. Clinically, high circPAK2 expression is positively associated with LN metastasis and poor prognosis in gastric cancer. This study highlights m6A-modified circPAK2 as a key regulator of LN metastasis of gastric cancer, thus supporting circPAK2 as a promising therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

Establishment of an ovarian cancer exhausted CD8+T cells-related genes model by integrated analysis of scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq.

Ovarian cancer (OC) was the fifth leading cause of cancer death and the deadliest gynecological cancer in women. This was largely attributed to its late diagnosis, high therapeutic resistance, and a dearth of effective treatments. Clinical and preclinical studies have revealed that tumor-infiltrating CD8+T cells often lost their effector function, the dysfunctional state of CD8+T cells was known as exhaustion. Our objective was to identify genes associated with exhausted CD8+T cells (CD8TEXGs) and their prognostic significance in OC. We downloaded the RNA-seq and clinical data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. CD8TEXGs were initially identified from single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) datasets, then univariate Cox regression, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression were utilized to calculate risk score and to develop the CD8TEXGs risk signature. Kaplan-Meier analysis, univariate Cox regression, multivariate Cox regression, time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC), nomogram, and calibration were conducted to verify and evaluate the risk signature. Gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) in the risk groups were used to figure out the closely correlated pathways with the risk group. The role of risk score has been further explored in the homologous recombination repair deficiency (HRD), BRAC1/2 gene mutations and tumor mutation burden (TMB). A risk signature with 4 CD8TEXGs in OC was finally built in the TCGA database and further validated in large GEO cohorts. The signature also demonstrated broad applicability across various types of cancer in the pan-cancer analysis. The high-risk score was significantly associated with a worse prognosis and the risk score was proven to be an independent prognostic biomarker. The 1-, 3-, and 5-years ROC values, nomogram, calibration, and comparison with the previously published models confirmed the excellent prediction power of this model. The low-risk group patients tended to exhibit a higher HRD score, BRCA1/2 gene mutation ratio and TMB. The low-risk group patients were more sensitive to Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Our findings of the prognostic value of CD8TEXGs in prognosis and drug response provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms and clinical management of OC.

Effect of carbon nanoparticle suspension injection versus indocyanine green tracer in guiding lymph node dissection during radical gastrectomy (FUTURE-01): a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Carbon nanoparticle suspension injection (CNSI) and indocyanine green (ICG) have both been applied intraoperatively to facilitate lymphatic mapping and postoperatively to sort lymph nodes (LNs) in gastric cancer patients. However, no study has compared the two tracers in gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2022 to March 2023. Patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer (cT1-4a N0/+ M0) were randomized to the CNSI or ICG group. RESULTS: This study enrolled 96 patients. Ninety patients were in the modified intention-to-treat population, including 46 patients (32 males and 14 females; mean [SD] age, 57.4 [9.4] years) in the CNSI group and 44 patients (31 males and 13 females; mean [SD] age, 60.8 [8.8] years) in the ICG group. The mean (SD) number of retrieved LNs was 69.8 (21.9) and 53.6 (17.2) in the CNSI and ICG groups, respectively (P<0.001). The mean (SD) number of retrieved micro-LNs was 19.9 (13.3) and 11.6 (9.9) in the CNSI and ICG groups, respectively (P=0.001). The mean (SD) number of metastatic LNs was 8.1 (11.9) and 5.2 (9.2) in the CNSI and ICG groups, respectively (P=0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with ICG, CNSI can increase the number of LNs detected, especially micro-LNs. Both tracers have high diagnostic value for detecting metastatic LNs. CNSI-guided lymphography may be a superior method for improving the accuracy of LN dissection.

Kidney Injury in a Murine Hemorrhagic Shock/Resuscitation Model Is Alleviated by sulforaphane's Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Action.

Hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation (HS/R) can lead to acute kidney injury, mainly manifested as oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in the renal tubular epithelial cells, as well as abnormal autophagy and apoptosis. Sulforaphane (SFN), an agonist of the nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, is involved in multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, autophagy, and apoptosis regulation. This study investigated the effect of SFN on acute kidney injury after HS/R in mice. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in mice by controlling the arterial blood pressure at a range of 35-45 mmHg for 90 min within arterial blood withdrawal. Fluid resuscitation was carried out by reintroducing withdrawn blood and 0.9% NaCl. We found that SFN suppressed the elevation of urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels in the blood induced by HS/R. SFN mitigated pathological alterations including swollen renal tubules and renal casts in kidney tissue of HS/R mice. Inflammation levels and oxidative stress were significantly downregulated in mouse kidney tissue after SFN administration. In addition, the kidney tissue of HS/R mice showed high levels of autophagosomes as observed by electron microscopy. However, SFN can further enhance the formation of autophagosomes in the HS/R + SFN group. SFN also increased autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 expression and suppressed P62 expression, while increasing the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II and LC3-I (LC3-II/LC3-I). SFN also effectively decreased cleaved caspase-3 level and enhanced the ratio of anti-apoptotic protein B cell lymphoma 2 and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bcl2/Bax). Collectively, SFN effectively inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress, enhanced autophagy, thereby reducing HS/R-induced kidney injury and apoptosis levels in mouse kidneys.

Clinical predictive value of the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte index for prognosis of critically ill patients with sepsis in intensive care unit: a retrospective single-center observational study.

Background: Sepsis is a complex syndrome characterized by physiological, pathological, and biochemical abnormalities caused by infection. Its development is influenced by factors such as inflammation, nutrition, and immune status. Therefore, we combined C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and lymphocyte, which could reflect above status, to be the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, and investigated its association with clinical prognosis of critically ill patients with sepsis. Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled critically ill patients with sepsis who had an initial CRP, albumin, and lymphocyte data on the first day of ICU admission. All data were obtained from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University. The patients were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4) based on their CALLY index. The outcomes included 30-/60-day mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) occurrence. The association between the CALLY index and these clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 1,123 patients (63.0% male) were included in the study. The 30-day and 60-day mortality rates were found to be 28.1 and 33.4%, respectively, while the incidence of AKI was 45.6%. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant association between higher CALLY index and lower risk of 30-day and 60-day mortality (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that the CALLY index was independently associated with 30-day mortality [HR (95%CI): 0.965 (0.935-0.997); p = 0.030] and 60-day mortality [HR (95%CI): 0.969 (0.941-0.997); p = 0.032]. Additionally, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the CALLY index served as an independent risk predictor for AKI occurrence [OR (95%CI): 0.982 (0.962-0.998); p = 0.033]. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated a significant association between the CALLY index and both 30-day and 60-day mortality, as well as the occurrence of AKI, in critically ill patients with sepsis. These findings suggested that the CALLY index may be a valuable tool in identifying sepsis patients who were at high risk for unfavorable outcomes.

Recurrent metastatic patterns and prognosis after radical surgery in patients with alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer (AFPGC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of gastric cancer associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the recurrent metastatic patterns and prognostic factors in AFPGC patients undergoing radical surgical resection. Data from 241 AFPGC patients diagnosed between January 2017 and January 2020 who underwent surgical resection were analyzed across multiple centers. Recurrence patterns, metastatic sites, and survival outcomes were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for recurrent metastasis, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). There is an annual increase in the proportion of AFPGC cases, rising from 3.45% in 2017 to 7.88% in 2023. Higher serum AFP level was associated with increased likelihood of lymph node metastasis (P=0.006), deeper invasion depth (P=0.000) and greater tumor diameter (P=0.036). Independent predictors of recurrent metastasis included T4 infiltration, lymph node metastasis, tumor diameter >5 cm, poorly differentiated-undifferentiated pathology, preoperative AFP>1000 ng/mL, and postoperative increasing trend in AFP levels. The 5-year OS and DFS rates were 36.5% and 34.2%, respectively, with poorer survival linked to higher preoperative AFP levels and postoperative increasing trend in AFP level. Independent risk factors for poor OS and DFS included T4 infiltration, lymph node metastasis, poorly differentiated-undifferentiated pathology, preoperative AFP>1000 ng/mL, and postoperative increasing trend in AFP. Serum AFP level can serve as a potential predictive and prognostic biomarker. Identifying independent risk factors informs risk stratification and personalized treatment for AFPGC patients.

Development and validation of nomogram models for predicting overall survival and cancer-specific survival in gastric cancer patients with liver metastases: a cohort study based on the SEER database.

OBJECTIVE: To establish nomogram models for predicting the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) patients. METHODS: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for 5,451 GCLM patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed. The cohort was divided into a training set (3,815 cases) and an internal validation set (1,636 cases). External validation included 193 patients from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and 171 patients from the People's Hospital of Shijiazhuang City, spanning 2016-2018. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified eight independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS in GCLM patients, including age, histological type, grade, tumor size, surgery, chemotherapy, bone metastasis, and lung metastasis. Two nomogram models were developed based on these factors and evaluated using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Internal validation showed that the nomogram models outperformed the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system in predicting 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year OS and CSS in GCLM patients (1-year OS: 0.801 vs. 0.593, P < 0.001; 1-year CSS: 0.807 vs. 0.598, P < 0.001; 2-year OS: 0.803 vs. 0.630, P < 0.001; 2-year CSS: 0.802 vs. 0.633, P < 0.001; 3-year OS: 0.824 vs. 0.691, P < 0.001; 3-year CSS: 0.839 vs. 0.692, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study developed and validated nomogram models using SEER database data to predict OS and CSS in GCLM patients. These models offer improved prognostic accuracy over traditional staging systems, aiding in clinical decision-making.

Comparison of the predictive performance of three lymph node staging systems for late-onset gastric cancer patients after surgery.

Introduction: Lymph node (LN) status is a vital prognostic factor for patients. However, there has been limited focus on predicting the prognosis of patients with late-onset gastric cancer (LOGC). This study aimed to investigate the predictive potential of the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), lymph node ratio (LNR), and pN stage in assessing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with LOGC. Methods: The LOGC data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. This study evaluated and compared the predictive performance of three LN staging systems. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were carried out to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Three machine learning methods, namely, LASSO, XGBoost, and RF analyses, were subsequently used to identify the optimal LN staging system. A nomogram was built to predict the prognosis of patients with LOGC. The efficacy of the model was demonstrated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis. Results: A total of 4,743 patients with >16 removed lymph nodes were ultimately included in this investigation. Three LN staging systems demonstrated significant performance in predicting survival outcomes (P < 0.001). The LNR exhibited the most important prognostic ability, as evidenced by the use of three machine learning methods. Utilizing independent factors derived from multivariate Cox regression analysis, a nomogram for OS was constructed. Discussion: The calibration, C-index, and AUC revealed their excellent predictive performance. The LNR demonstrated a more powerful performance than other LN staging methods in LOGC patients after surgery. Our novel nomogram exhibited superior clinical feasibility and may assist in patient clinical decision-making.

Comparison of SOX and CAPOX in patients with advanced gastric cancer after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Optimal adjuvant chemotherapy after laparoscopic surgery in gastric cancer (GC) patients is still undefined. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) in patients with GC after laparoscopic gastrectomy. METHODS: A non-inferiority randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in China. Patients with advanced GC who underwent laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy were randomly assigned to receive SOX and CAPOX regimens. RESULTS: In total, 191 patients were screened between May 2018 and June 2019, and 140 (73.3%) were included in the modified intent-to-treat analysis (mITT), of whom 69 and 71 were assigned to the SOX and CAPOX groups, respectively. The SOX group had similar 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival to the CAPOX group. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly better OS in the SOX group for male patients ([HR] = 0.395; 95% [CI], 0.153-1.019; p = 0.045), age >60 (HR = 0.219; 95% [CI], 0.064-0.753; p = 0.016), tumors in the gastric antrum (HR = 0.273; 95% [CI], 0.076-0.981; p = 0.047), and moderately differentiated tumors (HR = 0.338; 95% [CI], 0.110-1.041; p = 0.041). There were no significant differences observed in terms of adverse events and recurrence patterns between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant SOX was non-inferior to CAPOX treatments for patients with GC who underwent curative laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy. For male patients, aged >60 years, tumors in the gastric antrum, and moderately differentiated tumors, adjuvant SOX may achieve an improvement compared with CAPOX.

Transcriptomics-based liquid biopsy panel for early non-invasive identification of peritoneal recurrence and micrometastasis in locally advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a novel six-gene expression biomarker panel to enhance the early detection and risk stratification of peritoneal recurrence and micrometastasis in locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). METHODS: We used genome-wide transcriptome profiling and rigorous bioinformatics to identify a six-gene expression biomarker panel. This panel was validated across multiple clinical cohorts using both tissue and liquid biopsy samples to predict peritoneal recurrence and micrometastasis in patients with LAGC. RESULTS: Through genome-wide expression profiling, we identified six mRNAs and developed a risk prediction model using 196 samples from a surgical specimen training cohort. This model, incorporating a 6-mRNA panel with clinical features, demonstrated high predictive accuracy for peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer patients, with an AUC of 0.966 (95% CI: 0.944-0.988). Transitioning from invasive surgical or endoscopic biopsy to noninvasive liquid biopsy, the model retained its predictive efficacy (AUC = 0.963; 95% CI: 0.926-1.000). Additionally, the 6-mRNA panel effectively differentiated patients with or without peritoneal metastasis in 95 peripheral blood specimens (AUC = 0.970; 95% CI: 0.936-1.000) and identified peritoneal micrometastases with a high efficiency (AUC = 0.941; 95% CI: 0.874-1.000). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a novel gene expression biomarker panel that significantly enhances early detection of peritoneal recurrence and micrometastasis in patients with LAGC. The RSA model's predictive capability offers a promising tool for tailored treatment strategies, underscoring the importance of integrating molecular biomarkers with clinical parameters in precision oncology.

Exposure to O3 and NO2 on the interfacial chemistry of the pulmonary surfactant and the mechanism of lung oxidative damage.

Exposure to ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are related to pulmonary dysfunctions and various lung diseases, but the underlying biochemical mechanisms remain uncertain. Herein, the effect of inhalable oxidizing gas pollutants on the pulmonary surfactant (PS, extracted from porcine lungs), a mixture of active lipids and proteins that plays an important role in maintaining normal respiratory mechanics, is investigated in terms of the interfacial chemistry using in-vitro experiments; and the oxidative stress induced by oxidizing gases in the simulated lung fluid (SLF) supplemented with the PS is explored. The results showed that O3 and NO2 individually increased the surface tension of the PS and reduced its foaming ability; this was accompanied by the surface pressure-area isotherms of the PS monolayers shifting toward lower molecular areas, with O3 exhibiting more severe effects than NO2. Moreover, both O3 and NO2 produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in lipid peroxidation and protein damage to the PS. The formation of superoxide radicals (O2•-) was correlated with the decomposition of O3 and the reactions of O3 and NO2 with antioxidants in the SLF. These radicals, in the presence of antioxidants, led to the formation of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Additionally, the direct oxidation of unsaturated lipids by O3 and NO2 further caused an increase in the ROS content. This change in the ROS chemistry and increased •OH production tentatively explain how inhalable oxidizing gases lead to oxidative stress and adverse health effects. In summary, our results indicated that inhaled O3 and NO2 exposure can significantly alter the interfacial properties of the PS, oxidize its active ingredients, and induce ROS formation in the SLF. The results of this study provide a basis for the elucidation of the potential hazards of inhaled oxidizing gas pollutants in the human respiratory system.

MLKL promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through inhibition of AMPK-mediated autophagy.

The pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) is an essential component of the activation of the necroptotic pathway. Emerging evidence suggests that MLKL plays a key role in liver disease. However, how MLKL contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Herein, we report that MLKL is upregulated in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced murine HCC model and is associated with human hepatocellular carcinomas. Hepatocyte-specific MLKL knockout suppresses the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. Conversely, MLKL overexpression aggravates the initiation and progression of DEN-induced HCC. Mechanistic study reveals that deletion of MLKL significantly increases the activation of autophagy, thereby protecting against hepatocarcinogenesis. MLKL directly interacts with AMPKα1 and inhibits its activity independent of its necroptotic function. Mechanistically, MLKL serves as a bridging molecule between AMPKα1 and protein phosphatase 1B (PPM1B), thus enhancing the dephosphorylation of AMPKα1. Consistently, MLKL expression correlates negatively with AMPKα1 phosphorylation in HCC patients. Taken together, our findings highlight MLKL as a novel AMPK gatekeeper that plays key roles in inhibiting autophagy and driving hepatocarcinogenesis, suggesting that the MLKL-AMPKα1 axis is a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00930 targeting miR-6792-3p/ZBTB16 regulates the proliferation and EMT of pancreatic cancer.

Emerging evidence suggests the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the function of LINC00930 in PC has not been elaborated. In this study, we found that LINC00930 was significantly down-regulated in PC cell lines and tissues, and associated with tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, TNM stage and poor prognosis. According to the bioinformatics database, the downregulation of LINC00930 was a common event in PC associated with prognosis and EMT. Overexpression of LINC00930 inhibited the aggressive cancer phenotypes including proliferation, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PC in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-6792-3p could directly bind to LINC00930. Additionally, the Zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16 (ZBTB16) was significantly declined in PC, which was predicted to be the downstream gene of miR-6792-3p. MiR-6792-3p mimic rescued the decreased proliferation, metastasis and EMT caused by ZBTB16 in PC cells. The LINC00930/miR-6792-3p/ZBTB16 axis was associated with the malignant progression and process of PC. The relative expression of LINC00930 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-6792-3p and was closely linked with ZBTB16 levels in PC. LINC00930 might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PC.

Clinical calculator based on CT and clinicopathologic characteristics predicts short-term prognosis following resection of microsatellite-stabilized diffuse gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: Although microsatellite stability/Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (MSS/EMT) subtypes have been reported in multiple cancer prognosis studies, strong confounding factors between MSS/EMT (usually with Lauren's diffuse phenotype) and diffuse gastric cancer (GC) may obscure the independent prognostic value of diffuse GC. Additionally, recent studies suggest a strong correlation between mural stratification based on CT and diffuse GC. This study aims to investigate potential prognostic factors of MSS diffuse GC using mural stratification and to develop a risk assessment model. METHODS: This retrospective study included 131 patients with MSS diffuse GC who underwent radical surgery. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify model predictors and construct a nomogram for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) risks. The model's performance was evaluated using ROC, accuracy, and C-index. Internal validation of the model was conducted using the bootstrap resampling method. RESULTS: Among 131 cases, 60 cases (45.8%) exhibited grade 2 mural stratification, which correlated with a poorer tumor prognosis and a more invasive phenotype. Furthermore, a nomogram for predicting OS and RFS prognosis was established based on multivariate results (age, extranodal invasion, mural stratification, and/or P53). The nomogram demonstrated excellent performance, with an AUC of 0.859 (95% CI 0.794-0.924) for OS and 0.859 (95% CI 0.789-0.929) for RFS. Internal validation using 1000 bootstrap samples yielded AUC values of 0.845 and 0.846 for OS and RFS, respectively. CONCLUSION: Grade 2 mural stratification based on CT imaging revealed a more aggressive invasive phenotype, characterized by increased LN metastasis, higher rates of peritoneal metastasis, and a poorer short-term prognosis. Furthermore, the CT phenotype-based nomogram demonstrates favorable discrimination and calibration, enabling convenient individual short-term prognostic evaluation following resection of MSS diffuse GC.

Nomogram models for predicting overall and cancer-specific survival in early-onset gastric cancer patients: a population-based cohort study.

To develop nomogram models for predicting the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of early-onset gastric cancer (EOGC) patients. A total of 1077 EOGC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included, and an additional 512 EOGC patients were recruited from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, serving as an external test set. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors. Based on these factors, two nomogram models were established, and web-based calculators were developed. These models were validated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Multivariate analysis identified gender, histological type, stage, N stage, tumor size, surgery, primary site, and lung metastasis as independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS in EOGC patients. Calibration curves and DCA curves demonstrated that the two constructed nomogram models exhibited good performance. These nomogram models demonstrated superior performance compared to the 7th edition of the AJCC tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification (internal validation set: 1-year OS: 0.831 vs 0.793, P = 0.072; 1-year CSS: 0.842 vs 0.816, P = 0.190; 3-year OS: 0.892 vs 0.857, P = 0.039; 3-year CSS: 0.887 vs 0.848, P = 0.018; 5-year OS: 0.906 vs 0.880, P = 0.133; 5-year CSS: 0.900 vs 0.876, P = 0.109). In conclusion, this study developed two nomogram models: one for predicting OS and the other for CSS of EOGC patients, offering valuable assistance to clinicians.

Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of mitoxantrone hydrochloride injection for tracing in patients with gastric cancer: a single-blind, single-center, phase I clinical trial.

Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride Injection for Tracing (MHI), a modified new drug marketed in China, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration for lymph node tracing in thyroid cancer and sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer. This single-center, single-blind, dose-escalation phase I clinical trial aimed to investigate the safety of MHI on lymph node tracing in gastric cancer. In this study, four dose groups (1.0 mL, 1.5 mL, 2.0 mL, and 3.0 mL) with 3 gastric cancer patients in each group were set. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of different doses were investigated. Results showed that none of the patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity or developed serious adverse events or adverse drug reactions. Pharmacokinetic analyses revealed minimal absorption of the tracer, resulting in low and transient blood drug concentrations across all participants. The mean time to peak concentration was (0.561 ± 0.3728) h (with mean peak concentration (Cmax) of 10.300 ng/mL), (0.500 ± 0.0167) h (mean Cmax of 13.687 ng/mL), (0.494 ± 0.0096) h (mean Cmax of 30.933 ng/mL), and (0.661 ± 0.2791) h (mean Cmax of 21.067 ng/mL) in the 1.0 mL, 1.5 mL, 2.0 mL, and 3.0 mL dose groups, respectively. The mean lymph node staining rates were 21.0%, 24.7%, 32.5%, and 44.5%, and the mean metastatic lymph node staining rates were 20.6%, 36.1%, 42.4%, and 21.0% in each group. This study confirmed that MHI was safe, well-tolerated, and had low systemic effects when used for lymphatic tracing of gastric cancer, and the tracing effect was better in the 3 mL dose group. This trail was registered on the website of Centre for Drug Evaluation State Drug and Food Administration (http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html) with the name of clinical study of lymphatic tracer in lymph node tracing of gastric cancer, the code was CTR20201906.

Comparative analysis of two digestive tract reconstruction methods in total laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gastric cancer has significantly increased in recent years. Surgical resection is the main treatment, but the method of digestive tract reconstruction after gastric cancer surgery remains controversial. In the current study, we sought to explore a reasonable method of digestive tract reconstruction and improve the quality of life and nutritional status of patients after surgery. To this end, we statistically analyzed the clinical results of patients with gastric cancer who underwent jejunal interposition double-tract reconstruction (DTR) and esophageal jejunum Roux-en-Y reconstruction (RY). AIM: To explore the application effect of DTR in total laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy (TLTG) and evaluate its safety and efficacy. METHODS: We collected the relevant data of 77 patients who underwent TLTG at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from October 2021 to January 2023. Among them, 35 cases were treated with DTR, and the remaining 42 cases were treated with traditional RY. After 1:1 propensity score matching, the cases were grouped into 31 cases per group, with evenly distributed data. The clinical characteristics and short- and long-term clinical outcomes of the two groups were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The two groups showed no significant differences in basic data, intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph node dissections, first defecation time after operation, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications, and laboratory examination results on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after operation. The operation time of the DTR group was longer than that of the RY group [(307.58 ± 65.14) min vs (272.45 ± 62.09) min, P = 0.016], but the first intake of liquid food in the DTR group was shorter than that in the RY group [(4.45 ± 1.18) d vs (6.0 ± 5.18) d, P = 0.028]. The incidence of reflux heartburn (Visick grade) and postoperative gallbladder disease in the DTR group was lower than that in the RY group (P = 0.033 and P = 0.038). Although there was no significant difference in body weight, hemoglobin, prealbumin, and albumin between the two groups at 1,3 and 6 months after surgery, the diet of patients in the DTR group was better than that in the RY group (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: The clinical effect of DTR in TLTG is better than that of RY, indicating that it is a more valuable digestive tract reconstruction method in laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery.

Real-world effectiveness of a new powered stapling system with gripping surface technology on the intraoperative clinical and economic outcomes of gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgical staplers have been widely used to facilitate surgeries, and this study aimed to examine the real-world effectiveness of a new powered stapling system with Gripping Surface Technology (GST) on intraoperative outcomes of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHOD: The data were extracted from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University's (FHHMU) medical records system. Participants (N = 121 patients) were classified into the GST (n = 59) or non-GST group (n = 62), based on the use of the GST system. The intraoperative outcomes such as bleeding were assessed by reviewing video records. T-tests, Chi-square tests, and Mann-Whitney-U tests were used to compare the baseline characteristics between groups. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted for adjusting outcomes to study the effect of variables. RESULTS: Compared with the non-GST group, the GST group had significantly lower risks for intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative anastomosis intervention rate, intraoperative suture, and intraoperative pression (aORs: 0.0853 (p < 0.0001), 0.076 (p = 0.0003), 0.167 (p = 0.0012), and 0.221 (p = 0.0107), respectively). The GST group also consumed one fewer cartridge than the non-GST group (GST:5 vs non-GST: 6, p = 0.0241). CONCLUSION: The use of the GST system was associated with better intraoperative outcomes and lower cartridge consumption in Chinese real-world settings.

Improving the Rechargeable Li-CO2 Battery Performances by Tailoring Oxygen Defects on Li-Ni-Co-Mn Multi-Metal Oxide Catalysts Recycled from Spent Ternary Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Rechargeable Li-CO2 batteries are considered as a promising carbon-neutral energy storage technology owing to their ultra-high energy density and efficient CO2 capture capability. However, the sluggish CO2 reduction/evolution kinetics impedes their practical application, which leads to huge overpotentials and poor cyclability. Multi-element transit metal oxides (TMOs) are demonstrated as effective cathodic catalysts for Li-CO2 batteries. But there are no reports on the integration of defect engineering on multi-element TMOs. Herein, the oxygen vacancy-bearing Li-Ni-Co-Mn multi-oxide (Re-NCM-H3) catalyst with the α-NaFeO2-type structure is first fabricated by annealing the NiCoMn precursor that derived from spent ternary LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode, in H2 at 300 °C. As demonstrated by experimental results and theory calculations, the introduction of moderate oxygen vacancy has optimized electronic state near the Fermi level (Ef), eventually improving CO2 adsorption and charge transfer. Therefore, the Li-CO2 batteries with Re-NCM-H3 catalyst deliver a high capacity (11808.9 mAh g-1), a lower overpotential (1.54 V), as well as excellent stability over 216 cycles at 100 mA g-1 and 165 cycles at 400 mA g-1. This study not only opens up a sustainable application of spent ternary cathode, but also validates the potential of multi-element TMO catalysts with oxygen defects for high-efficiency Li-CO2 batteries.

Triazoles in Medicinal Chemistry: Physicochemical Properties, Bioisosterism, and Application.

Triazole demonstrates distinctive physicochemical properties, characterized by weak basicity, various dipole moments, and significant dual hydrogen bond acceptor and donor capabilities. These features are poised to play a pivotal role in drug-target interactions. The inherent polarity of triazole contributes to its lower logP, suggesting the potential improvement in water solubility. The metabolic stability of triazole adds additional value to drug discovery. Moreover, the metal-binding capacity of the nitrogen atom lone pair electrons of triazole has broad applications in the development of metal chelators and antifungal agents. This Perspective aims to underscore the unique physicochemical attributes of triazole and its application. A comparative analysis involving triazole isomers and other heterocycles provides guiding insights for the subsequent design of triazoles, with the hope of offering valuable considerations for designing other heterocycles in medicinal chemistry.