Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Vaccinium carlesii Dunn.

Vaccinium L. is an important fruit tree with nutritional, medicinal, and ornamental values. However, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Vaccinium L. remains largely unexplored. Vaccinium carlesii Dunn is an endemic wild resource in China, which is crucial for blueberry breeding. The V. carlesii mt genomes were sequenced using Illumina and Nanopore, which total length was 636,904 bp with 37 protein coding genes, 20 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. We found four pairs of long repeat fragments homologous recombination mediated the generation of substructures in the V. carlesii mt genome. We predicted 383 RNA editing sites, all converting cytosine (C) to uracil (U). According to the phylogenetic analysis, V. carlesii and V. macrocarpon of the Ericaceae exhibited the closest genetic relationship. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the evolution of higher plants, species classification and identification, and will also be useful for further utilization of Vaccinium germplasm resources.

Mechanisms of intermittent theta-burst stimulation attenuating nerve injury after ischemic reperfusion in rats through endoplasmic reticulum stress and ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) exerts neuroprotective effects early in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Intermittent theta-brust stimulation (iTBS), a more time-efficient modality of rTMS, improves the efficiency without at least decreasing the efficacy of the therapy. iTBS elevates cortical excitability, and in recent years it has become increasingly common to apply iTBS to patients in the early post-IS period. However, little is known about the neuroprotective mechanisms of iTBS. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and ferroptosis have been shown to be involved in the development of I/R injury. We aimed to investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms by which iTBS attenuates neurological injury after I/R in rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated group, MCAO/R group, and MCAO/R + iTBS group, and were stimulated with iTBS 36 h after undergoing middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or sham-operated. The expression of ERS, ferroptosis, and apoptosis-related markers was subsequently detected by western blot assays. We also investigated the mechanism by which iTBS attenuates nerve injury after ischemic reperfusion in rats by using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) and the balance beam test to measure nerve function. RESULTS: iTBS performed early in I/R injury attenuated the levels of ERS, ferroptosis, and apoptosis, and improved neurological function, including mNSS and balance beam experiments. It is suggested that this mode of stimulation reduces the cost per treatment by several times without compromising the efficacy of the treatment and could be a practical and less costly intervention.

Molecular mechanisms of EGCG-CSH/n-HA/CMC in promoting osteogenic differentiation and macrophage polarization.

2. This research investigates the impact of the EGCG-CSH/n-HA/CMC composite material on bone defect repair, emphasizing its influence on macrophage polarization and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Comprehensive evaluations of the composite's physical and chemical characteristics were performed. BMSC response to the material was tested in vitro for proliferation, migration, and osteogenic potential. An SD rat model was employed for in vivo assessments of bone repair efficacy. Both transcriptional and proteomic analyses were utilized to delineate the mechanisms influencing macrophage behavior and stem cell differentiation. The material maintained excellent structural integrity and significantly promoted BMSC functions critical to bone healing. In vivo results confirmed accelerated bone repair, and molecular analysis highlighted the role of macrophage M2 polarization, particularly through changes in the SIRPA gene and protein expression. EGCG-CSH/n-HA/CMC plays a significant role in enhancing bone repair, with implications for macrophage and BMSC function. Our findings suggest that targeting SIRPA may offer new therapeutic opportunities for bone regeneration.

Proteomics profiling for the global and acetylated proteins of papillary thyroid cancers.

BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy cancer among the malignancies of thyroid. Despite of wide usages of proteomics in PTC, the profile of acetylated proteins in PTC remains unsettled, which is helpful for understanding the carcinogenesis mechanism and identifying useful biomarkers for PTC. METHODS: The surgically removed specimens of cancer tissues (Ca-T) and adjacent normal tissues (Ca-N) from 10 female patients pathological diagnosed as PTC (TNM stage III) were enrolled in the study. After preparing the pooled extracts of the whole proteins and the acetylated proteins from 10 cases, TMT labeling and LC/MS/MS methods were applied to the assays of global proteomics and acetylated proteomics separately. Bioinformatics analysis, including KEGG, gene ontology (GO) and hierarchical clustering were performed. Some differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and differentially expressed acetylated proteins (DEAPs) were validated by individual Western blots. RESULTS: Controlled with the normal tissues adjacent to the lesions, 147 out of 1923 identified proteins in tumor tissues were considered as DEPs in global proteomics, including 78 up-regulated and 69 down-regulated ones, while 57 out of 311 identified acetylated proteins in tumor tissues were DEAPs in acetylated proteomics, including 32 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated, respectively. The top 3 up- and down-regulated DEPs were fibronectin 1, KRT1B protein and chitinase-3-like protein 1, as well as keratin, type I cytoskeletal 16, A-gamma globin Osilo variant and Huntingtin interacting protein-1. The top 3 up- and down-regulated DEAPs were ribosomal protein L18a-like protein, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 2 and eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit ERF3A, as well as trefoil factor 3, thyroglobulin and histone H2B. Functional GO annotation and KEGG pathway analysis based on the DEPs and DEAPs showed completely different changing pictures. Contrary to the top 10 up- and -down regulated DEPs, most of which were addressed in PTC and other types of carcinomas, changes of the majority DEAPs were not mentioned in the literatures. CONCLUSIONS: Taken the profiling of the global and acetylated proteomics together will provide more broad view of protein alterations on the carcinogenesis and new direction for selecting biomarker for diagnosis of PTC.

Pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) inhibition combined with immunotherapy therapy for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report and literature review.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a highly malignant tumor with invasive nature. Most patients present with locally advanced and/or distant metastatic diseases that are difficult to treat. We report a case of a previously inoperable patient with v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) mutated ATC. After a trial of neoadjuvant Dabrafenib/Trametinib with immunotherapy, the tumor became operable, and surgical pathology indicated a pathologic complete response (pCR). We also reviewed cases from the literature that utilized neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy in ATCs. These cases emphasize that BRAF-and immune-directed therapy is a feasible option in patients with inoperable ATC and may lead to improved outcomes.

Predictive Value of Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined With Radiofrequency Ablation.

PURPOSE: To determine the predictive value of preoperative inflammatory markers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 161 patients with HCC who underwent TACE combined with RFA were enrolled in this retrospective study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to decide the cutoff value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI). The relationship between preoperative NLR, LMR, PLR, PNI, and survival outcomes was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: The cutoff value of NLR for the best discrimination of HCC prognosis was 2.95. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) of the low NLR (≤2.95) group was longer than that of the high NLR (>2.95) group (29 months vs. 20 months, p = 0.013). The median overall survival (OS) of the low NLR group was longer than that of the high NLR group (60 months vs. 38 months, p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that the tumor size (≤3 cm vs. >3cm), tumor number (single vs. multiple), and NLR (≤2.95 vs. >2.95) were independent predictors of the PFS and OS. LMR, PLR, and PNI did not have any prognostic significance. CONCLUSION: NLR was confirmed as an independent predictive biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis after TACE combined with RFA.

Dosimetric analysis of radiation-induced brainstem necrosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with IMRT.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced brainstem necrosis (RIBN) is a late life-threatening complication that can appear after treatment in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the relationship between RIBN and radiation dose is not still well-defined. METHODS: During January 2013 and December 2017, a total of 1063 patients with NPC were treated at Sichuan cancer hospital with IMRT. A total of 479 patients were eligible for dosimetric analysis. Dosimetric parameters of the RIBN, Dmax(the maximum dose), D0.1c (maximum average dose delivered to a 0.1-cc volume), D1cc, D2cc, D3cc, D5cc, D10cc and Dmean (mean does) were evaluated and recorded. ROC curve was used to analyze the area under curve (AUC) and cutoff points. Logistic regression for screening dose-volume parameter and logistic dose response model were used to predict the incidence of brainstem necrosis. RESULTS: Among the 479 patients with NPC, 6 patients were diagnosed with RIBN, the incidence of RIBN was 1.25% (6/479), and the median time to RIBN after treatment was 28.5 months (range 18-48 months). The dose of the brainstem in patients with RIBN were higher than that in patients without necrosis. ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of Dmax was the largest (0.987). Moreover, logistic stepwise regression indicated that Dmax was the most important dose factor. The RIBN incidence at 5% over 5 years (TD5/5) and 50% incidence over 5 years (TD50/5) was 69.59 Gy and76.45 Gy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Brainstem necrosis is associated with high dose irritation. Dmax is the most significant predictive dosimetric factor for RIBN. Dmax of brainstem should be considered as the dose limitation parameter. We suggest that the limitation dose for brainstem was Dmax < 69.59 Gy.

Optimal time point of response assessment for predicting survival is associated with tumor burden in hepatocellular carcinoma receiving repeated transarterial chemoembolization.

OBJECTIVES: Objective response rate (ORR) under mRECIST criteria after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a well-perceived surrogate endpoint of overall survival (OS). However, its optimal time point remains controversial and may be influenced by tumor burden. We aim to investigate the surrogacy of initial/best ORR in relation to tumor burden. METHODS: A total of 1549 eligible treatment-naïve patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Child-Pugh score ≤ 7, and performance status score ≤ 1 undergoing TACE between January 2010 and May 2016 from 17 academic hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Based on "six-and-twelve" criteria, tumor burden was graded as low, intermediate, and high if the sum of the maximum tumor diameter and tumor number was ≤ 6, > 6 but ≤ 12, and > 12, respectively. RESULTS: Both initial and best ORRs interacted with tumor burden. Initial and best ORRs could equivalently predict and correlate with OS in low (adjusted HR, 2.55 and 2.95, respectively, both p < 0.001; R = 0.84, p = 0.035, and R = 0.97, p = 0.002, respectively) and intermediate strata (adjusted HR, 1.81 and 2.22, respectively, both p < 0.001; R = 0.74, p = 0.023, and R = 0.9, p = 0.002, respectively). For high strata, only best ORR exhibited qualified surrogacy (adjusted HR, 2.61, p < 0.001; R = 0.70, p = 0.035), whereas initial ORR was not significant (adjusted HR, 1.08, p = 0.357; R = 0.22, p = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: ORR as surrogacy of OS is associated with tumor burden. For patients with low/intermediate tumor burden, initial ORR should be preferred in its early availability upon similar sensitivity, whereas for patients with high tumor burden, best ORR has optimal sensitivity. Timing of OR assessment should be tailored according to tumor burden. KEY POINTS: • This is the first study utilizing individual patient data to comprehensively analyze the surrogacy of ORR with a long follow-up period. • Optimal timing of ORR assessment for predicting survival should be tailored according to tumor burden. • For patients with low and intermediate tumor burden, initial ORR is optimal for its timeliness upon similar sensitivity with best ORR. For patients with high tumor burden, best ORR has optimal sensitivity.

Video mediastinoscopy-assisted superior mediastinal dissection in the treatment of thyroid carcinoma with mediastinal lymphadenopathy: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymph node metastases (MLNM) are not rare in thyroid cancer, but their treatment has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to explore the preliminary application of video mediastinoscopy-assisted superior mediastinal dissection in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid carcinoma with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical pathologic data and short-term outcomes of thyroid cancer patients with suspicious MLNM treated with video mediastinoscopy-assisted mediastinal dissection at our institution from 2017 to 2020. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included: 14 with medullary thyroid carcinoma and five with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Superior mediastinal nodes were positive in nine (64.3%) patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma and in four (80.0%) patients with papillary carcinoma. No fatal bleeding occurred. There were three cases of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy postoperatively, one of which was bilateral. Four patients had temporary hypocalcemia requiring supplementation, one had a chyle fistula, and one developed wound infection after the procedure. Postoperative serum molecular markers decreased in all patients. One patient died of cancer while the other 18 patients remained disease-free, with a median follow-up of 33 months. CONCLUSION: Video mediastinoscopy-assisted superior mediastinal dissection can be performed relatively safely in patients with suspicious MLNM. This diagnostic and therapeutic approach may help control locoregional recurrences.

Usefulness of preoperative coronary computed tomography angiography in high risk non-cardiovascular surgery old patients with unknown or suspected coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Cumulative evidence has shown that the non-invasive modality of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has evolved as an alternative to invasive coronary angiography, which can be used to quantify plaque burden and stenosis and identify vulnerable plaque, assisting in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. With the increasing elderly population, many patients scheduled for non-cardiovascular surgery may have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of preoperative CCTA to rule out or detect significant CAD in this cohort of patients and the impact of CCTA results to clinical decision-making. METHODS: 841 older patients (age 69.5 ± 5.8 years, 74.6% males) with high risk non-cardiovascular surgery including 771 patients with unknown CAD and 70 patients with suspected CAD who underwent preoperative CCTA were retrospectively enrolled. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of significant CAD and the event of cancelling scheduled surgery in patients with significant CAD. RESULTS: 677 (80.5%) patients had non-significant CAD and 164 (19.5%) patients had significant CAD. Single-, 2-, and 3- vessel disease was found in 103 (12.2%), 45 (5.4%) and 16 (1.9%) patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that positive ECG analysis and Agatston score were independently associated with significant CAD, and the optimal cutoff of Agatston score was 195.9. The event of cancelling scheduled surgery was increased consistently according to the severity of stenosis and number of obstructive major coronary artery. Multivariate analysis showed that the degree of stenosis was the only independent predictor for cancelling scheduled surgery. In addition, medication using at perioperative period increased consistently according to the severity of stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: In older patients referred for high risk non-cardiovascular surgery, preoperative CCTA was useful to rule out or detect significant CAD and subsequently influence patient disposal. However, it might be unnecessary for patients with negative ECG and low Agatston score. Trial registration Retrospectively registered.

The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC): A report of 2,781 cases in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (TBSRTC) at Peking University Cancer Hospital, the incidence of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasms with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), and the impact of reclassification on cytopathological outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases between April 2014 and March 2019. The FNA results were classified according to TBSRTC. Post-surgery histological findings were followed up. RESULTS: A total of 2,781 thyroid FNAs were performed. The incidences of the 6 diagnostic categories (DCs I-VI) were 14.8%, 17.1%, 15.8%, 2.3%, 11.6% and 38.5%, respectively. A total of 1,122 patients (40.3%) had corresponding histological results. NIFTP accounted for 0.4% of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases, and there was no significant difference in the risk of malignancy (ROM) for each TBSRTC DC between "NIFTP=carcinoma (Ca)" and "NIFTP≠Ca". When "NIFTP=Ca", the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of TBSRTC were 98.0%, 84.0%, 99.4%, 58.3%, and 97.5%, respectively. When "NIFTP≠Ca", the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of the TBSRTC were 98.1%, 81.5%, 99.3%, 61.1%, and 97.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TBSRTC is effective in the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules in Peking University Cancer Hospital. The impact of the reclassification of NIFTP on cytopathological outcomes is limited because of its low incidence, and the revised ROMs are not suitable for Asian patients.

Tumor Size at Magnetic Resonance Imaging Association With Lymph Node Metastasis and Lymphovascular Space Invasion in Resectable Cervical Cancer: A Multicenter Evaluation of Surgical Specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether gross tumor volume (GTV) and the maximum diameter of resectable cervical cancer at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 315 consecutive patients with cervical cancer were retrospectively identified. Gross tumor volume and the maximum diameter of tumor were evaluated on MRI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether tumor size could predict LNM and LVSI. Cutoffs of GTV, maximum diameter, and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification of tumor were first investigated in 255 patients (group A) and then validated in an independent cohort of 60 patients (group B) using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis for predicting the presence of LNM and LVSI. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that GTV and the maximum diameter of tumor could predict LNM and LVSI (all P < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses indicated GTV as an independent risk factor of LNM and LVSI (all P < 0.0001). In group A, GTV, the maximum diameter, and the FIGO stage could identify LNM (AUC, 0.813, 0.741, and 0.69, respectively) and LVSI (AUC, 0.806, 0.751, and 0.684, respectively). In group B, GTV, the maximum diameter, and the FIGO stage could help identify LNM (AUC, 0.902, 0.825, and 0.759, respectively) and LVSI (AUC, 0.771, 0.748, and 0.700, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Gross tumor volume and the maximum diameter of resectable cervical cancer at MRI demonstrated capability in predicting LNM and LVSI, which were more accurate than FIGO stage.

[Quality Control and Biological Assessment of Automated Synthesized 3'-deoxy-3'-¹8F-fluorothymidine using CFN-MPS-200 Module].

OBJECTIVES: To synthesize 3'-deoxy-3'-¹8F-fluorotyhymidine)(¹8F-FLT) using CFN-MPS-200 automatic synthesis module, and evaluate its distribution in Wistar rats. METHODS: We used 3-N-Boc-5!d-O-dimethoxytrityl-3!d-O-nosyl-thymidine (Boc-FLT)-percursor as raw material to synthesize ¹8F-FLT without residual solvents. Its radiochemical purity was confirmed with radio-HPLC and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Normal Wistar rats were injected with 18 F-FLT and underwent PET scanning. RESULTS: The entire preparation procedure took about 60 min, which resulted in a radio chemical yield of (24±5)% (after attenuation correction, n =20) and radiochemical purity of over 99%, with 1.11×108 Bq/mL specific activity. The ¹8F-FLT solution was colorless and had a pH value between 7.0-8.0. ¹8F-FLT was mainly concentrated in the kidney, bladder, liver, bone marrow and Liver of normal Wistar rats. CONCLUSION: Automated synthesis of ¹8F-FLT using CFN-MPS-200 is a stable method, with high yield, safety without solvent, and acceptable quality.

Diagnostic Accuracy of MRI for Assessment of T Category and Circumferential Resection Margin Involvement in Patients With Rectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of rectal cancer is directly related to the stage of the tumor at diagnosis. Accurate preoperative staging is essential for selecting patients to receive optimal treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI in tumor staging and circumferential resection margin involvement in rectal cancer. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science database. STUDY SELECTION: Original articles from 2000 to 2016 on the diagnostic performance of MRI in the staging of rectal cancer and/or assessment of mesorectal fascia status were eligible. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pooled diagnostic statistics including sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were calculated for invasion of muscularis propria, perirectal tissue, and adjacent organs and for circumferential resection margin involvement through bivariate random-effects modeling. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were fitted, and areas under summary receiver operating characteristic curves were counted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI for each outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies were eligible for this meta-analysis. Preoperative MRI revealed the highest sensitivity of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96-0.98) and specificity of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96-0.98) for muscularis propria invasion and adjacent organ invasion. Areas under summary receiver operating characteristic curves indicated good diagnostic accuracy for each outcome, with the highest of 0.9515 for the assessment of adjacent organ invasion. Significant heterogeneity existed among studies. There was no notable publication bias for each outcome. LIMITATIONS: This meta-analysis revealed relatively high diagnostic accuracy for preoperative MRI, although significant heterogeneity existed. Therefore, exploration should be focused on standardized interpretation criteria and optimal MRI protocols for future studies. CONCLUSIONS: MRI showed relatively high diagnostic accuracy for preoperative T staging and circumferential resection margin assessment and should be reliable for clinical decision making.

Biomechanical comparison of bionic, screw and Endobutton fixation in the treatment of tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries.

BACKGROUND: The two prevalent fixation methods in the treatment of syndesmosis injuries, the rigid screw fixation and flexible Endobutton fixation, are not without issues; thus, we have designed a novel bionic fixation method which combines the features of both rigid and flexible fixations. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of the bionic fixation to the screw and Endobutton fixations. METHODS: Six normal fresh-frozen legs from amputation surgery were used. After initial tests of intact syndesmosis, screw, bionic and Endobutton fixations were performed sequentially for each specimen. Axial loading as well as rotation torque were applied, in five different ankle positions: neutral position, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, varus, and valgus. The displacement of the syndesmosis and the tibial strain were analysed using a biomechanical testing system. RESULTS: Whether receiving axial loading or rotation torque, in most situations (neutral position, dorsiflexion, varus, plantar flexion with low loading, valgus with high loading, internal and external rotation), the bionic group and Endobutton group had comparable displacements, and there was no significant difference among the intact, bionic, and Endobutton groups; whereas the displacements of the screw group were smaller than any of the other three groups. Results of the tibial strain were similar with that of the displacement. CONCLUSIONS: The bionic fixation at least equals the performance of Endobutton fixation; it also allows more physiologic movement of the syndesmosis when compared to the screw fixation and may serve as a viable option for the fixation of the tibiofibular syndesmosis.

[Multidetector CT and magnetic resonance imaging features of solitary fibrous tumors in the pelvis and the relevant pathologic basis changes].

In order to investigate the features of multidetector CT (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as the corresponding pathogic basis of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the pelvis, we collected the clinical data of 13 patients with pathologically confirmed SFT in pelvis, and retrospectively reviewed the MDCT and MRI appearances. Of these enrolled patients, 6 received MDCT scans, 5 underwent MRI scans, and 2 underwent both MDCT and MRI examinations. Shown on the MDCT and MRI, the maximum diameters of the masses ranged from 4.0 to 25.2 cm (averaged 11.8 cm). Six masses were lobulated, and seven were round or oval. In addition, all masses were well-defined and displaced the adjacent structures to some degrees. On the computed tomography, all masses were of isodensity on unenhanced scans in general, among which five masses were demonstrated with hypodense areas. On the MRI T1-weighted image, all lesions were isointense, of which patchy hypointense areas were detected in 3 cases and radial hypointense areas were in 3 cases, and the other one was presented with homogenous intensity. On T2-weighted images, most of the lesions were mixed hyperintense, of which 3 cases were of heterogenous hyperintesity, radial hypointense areas were detected in 3 patients, and the other one was homogenously intense. On enhanced computed tomography and MRI, large supplying vessels were found in 4 cases; 12 cases showed moderate to conspicuous enhancement, and the other one was presented with mild homogenous enhancement. Of the patients with moderate to conspicuous enhancement, patchy areas of non-enhancement were detected in 7 cases, radial areas of progressive enhancement were detected in 3 cases, and the remained 2 cases showed homogenous enhancement. On pathology, the radial area presented as progressive enhancement was fibrosis. During the follow-ups after surgery, 2 patients had local recurrence and 1 had metastasis to liver. In conclusion, the SFT in the pelvis are commonly presented as a large solid, well-defined and hypervascular mass with necrosis or cystic changes at some extents together with the displacement of adjacent structures. The radial area with hypointensity on T2-weighted image and with progressive enhancement on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is an important feature of SFT, which can be helpful for the diagnosis of this mass.

A let-7 KRAS rs712 polymorphism increases colorectal cancer risk.

Growing evidence has indicated that polymorphism present in the miRNA binding site of target gene can alter the ability of miRNAs to bind its target gene and modulate the development and progression of cancer. We aimed to investigate the association between let-7 KRAS rs712 polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The let-7 KRAS rs712 was analyzed in a case-control study, including 339 CRC patients and 313 age- and sex-matched controls; the relationship between the polymorphism and the clinicopathological features of CRC was also examined. Individuals carrying the let-7 KRAS rs712 TT genotype and T allele had an increased risk of developing CRC (TT vs. GG, adjusted OR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.00-4.77; T vs. G, adjusted OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15-1.96). Stratified analyses revealed that CRC patients with the let-7 KRAS rs712 TT genotype were more likely to have clinical stage III or IV disease (OR = 3.29, 95% CI, 1.32-8.20) and distant metastasis (OR = 4.70, 95% CI, 1.81-12.25). These findings provide evidence that the let-7 KRAS rs712 polymorphism may play crucial roles in the etiology of CRC.

Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Donafenib with or without Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors as the First-Line Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus donafenib with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) (T+D+I) versus TACE plus donafenib (T+D) as the first-line treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: This retrospective study included patients with unresectable HCC who received T+D+I or T+D between June 2021 and February 2023. The tumor response was analyzed according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in the two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Cox's proportional-hazards regression model was used to analyze factors affecting PFS and OS. Results: This study included 69 patients: 41 patients in the T+D group and 28 patients in the T+D+I group. After PSM, 26 patients in each group were analyzed. Patients in the T+D+I group had a higher DCR (96.2% vs 73.1%, P = 0.021), longer median PFS (13.1 vs 7.2 months, P = 0.017), and longer median OS (23.1 vs 14.7 months, P = 0.021) than those in the T+D group. The ORR in the two groups was similar (53.8% vs 50.0%, P = 0.781). Multivariate analyses revealed that T+D+I treatment and total bilirubin levels of <20 µmol/L were independent prognostic factors for long PFS. T+D+I treatment, Child-Pugh class A, and single-lobe tumor distribution were independent prognostic factors for long OS. The incidence of TRAEs in the two groups was similar (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In comparison with TACE plus donafenib, TACE plus donafenib with ICIs could significantly improve DCR, PFS, and OS as a potential first-line treatment for unresectable HCC with an acceptable safety profile.

The Causes Behind the Survival Paradox in Non-Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients and its Impact on the Treatment Regimen: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The survival paradox (ie, the prognosis of the population at earlier tumor stages is worse than that of the population at later stages) has been observed in colorectal cancer based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor-Nodes-Metastases staging system. We aimed to clarify the reason for the survival paradox and its impact on patient treatment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study analyzing eligible patients with colorectal cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between 2010 and 2019. Adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching allowed confirmation of the effect of staging on the survival paradox. RESULTS: Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, the subgroups with survival paradox might be IIB/C versus IIIA, IIA versus IIIA, and T4N0 (IIB/C) versus T3N1 (IIIB). After propensity score matching, stage IIB/C still had a worse prognosis than stage IIIA (5-year overall survival: 69.3% vs 78.5%, P < .001). Interestingly, the proportion of stage IIIA people receiving chemotherapy was higher than that of stage IIB/C (P < .001), and logistic regression models showed that staging was the reason for deciding whether a patient receives chemotherapy or not. These phenomena between stage IIB/C and IIIA were verified in the local database. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the survival paradox was mainly due to underestimation of stage T4 weights or overestimation of stage N1 weights, and the low proportion of chemotherapy in patients with T4N0M0 colorectal cancer (proven to be more malignant than stage IIIA) might be related to the assignment to earlier stages, resulting in a lack of attention and poor compliance to chemotherapy in these patients.

Release of PAHs from sediments to seawater under wave: Indoor microcosms and level IV fugacity models.

Estuaries and coasts are located at the land-sea interface, where sediment liquefaction due to strong wave action results in significant material exchange at the sediment-seawater system. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as organic pollutants, are distributed across various media. Herein, the impact of wave was studied on the release of PAHs through indoor microcosmic experiments combined with a level IV fugacity model. Comparison revealed that the release amount and rate of PAHs during static consolidation stage were minimal, whereas wave action substantially enhanced the release. Particularly the sediments in a liquefied state, the PAHs release in Stage III was 1.55-1.86 times that in Stage II, reaching 84.73 µg/L. The loss of soil strength and strong hydrodynamic effects resulted in a substantial release of PAHs into seawater along with suspended solids. Due to volatility of 2-ring PAHs and difficult desorption of 6-ring PAHs, 3-5-ring PAHs are the main contributors to releases into seawater. The model results also indicated that the three PAHs had different fates in the sediment-seawater system, with sediment serving as an important "reservoir" for benzo[a]pyrene entering seawater, while functioning as both a "sink" and a "source" for pyrene.