High expression of SDC1 in stromal cells is associated with good prognosis in colorectal cancer.

We have previously reported that patients with high Syndecan 1 (SDC1) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells have a favorable prognosis, and we also found that stromal cells showed upregulation of SDC1, but the clinical significance is unclear. The expression of SDC1 in the stroma cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray comprising representative cores from 513 CRC patients. The correlation between the expression of SDC1 in the stroma cells and the clinicopathological features of patients was analyzed. The data showed that the expression of SDC1 in the stroma cells was correlated with the degree of differentiation ( P = 0.012) and tumor location (up or down) ( P = 0.005). Also, CRCs patients with high expression of SDC1 in the stromal cells have a good prognosis ( P = 0.0369). Accumulating evidence indicates that SDC1, whether in tumor cells or stromal cells, plays a tumor-suppressor role in CRCs.

miR-378d suppresses malignant phenotype of ESCC cells through AKT signaling.

BACKGROUND: Post-resistance progress in paclitaxel (PTX) treatment remains a major challenge in tumor treatment. A high dose of PTX was used for cell lines to analyze the changes in molecular expression. The miR-378d was sharply reduced in surviving cells, but the role of miR-378d in Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remained unclear. METHODS: We analyzed the relationship between miR-378d expression and the clinicopathological features of ESCC. We constructed miR-378d silent expression cell lines to study phenotypes and molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: The miR-378d expression was associated with good prognosis in patients with ESCC. miR-378d inhibition promoted chemo-resistance, monoclonal formation, EMT, migration, invasion, stemness, and metastasis of ESCC cells. miR-378d can target downregulated AKT1. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, miR-378d expression is a good prognostic factor of patients with ESCC and regulates the malignant phenotype of tumor cells through AKT.

Finger pulp reconstruction with free flaps from the upper extremity.

Although never exceeding a few square centimeters, finger pulp defects are reconstructive challenges due to their special requirements and lack of neighboring tissue reserve. Local flaps are the common choice in the management of this injury. However, the development of microsurgery and clinical practice have greatly boosted the application of different free flaps for finger pulp reconstruction with excellent results, especially when local flaps are unsuitable or impossible for the coverage of large pulp defects. These flaps are all located in the same operation field and can be performed under one tourniquet; therefore, they are more convenient with better patients' compliance in clinical setting. Nonetheless, there is still no consensus about which type of these flaps should be preferred among various finger pulp reconstructive options. In this article, we attempt to review articles describing finger pulp reconstruction using free flaps from the upper extremity from the literature. We summarize the clinical applications of these free flaps and detail their advantages and drawbacks, respectively. The algorithm of flap selection for finger pulp reconstruction based on our experience and literature review is also discussed.

A comparative study of finger pulp reconstruction using arterialised venous sensate flap and insensate flap from forearm.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of finger pulp reconstruction using arterialised venous flaps from forearm and compare the outcomes of arterialised venous sensate flap and insensate flap. METHODS: Twenty-seven arterialised venous flaps were reviewed retrospectively in the reconstruction of finger pulp defects in 23 patients, including 15 sensate flaps (sensate group) and 12 insensate flaps (insensate group). Nine flaps in this series were harvested from the dorsal aspect of the forearm and the other 18 were harvested from the volar aspect. Standardised assessment of outcomes in terms of objective sensory recovery, pinch power of the reconstructed digits, cold intolerance and time of returning to work was completed. RESULTS: All flaps survived completely. Twenty-six flaps were available for follow-up of more than 9 months (mean, 15.4 months). Almost all the flaps in the sensate group obtained normal sensation, while most cases of the insensate group only achieved protective sensation. Cold intolerance was present in most cases of the insensate group in comparison with the sensate group with only one case suffering from slight cold intolerance. There was no significant difference of pinch power between the two groups. All the patients were contented with the aesthetic outcomes of the surgery. CONCLUSION: The arterialised venous sensate flap from forearm is a practical alternative for finger pulp reconstruction with satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes. The forearm region can be an acceptable donor site for arterialised venous sensate flap in the reconstruction of larger finger pulp defect.