Preliminary study on the active substances and cellular pathways of lactic acid bacteria for colorectal cancer treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor and is one of the three most common cancers worldwide. Traditional surgical treatment, supplemented by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has obvious side effects on patients. Immunotherapy may lead to some unpredictable complications. Low introduction rate and high cost are some of the problems of gene therapy, so finding a safe, reliable and least toxic treatment method became the main research direction for this study. Lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites are widely used in functional foods or as adjuvant therapies for various diseases because they are safe to eat and have no adverse reactions. Research has shown that lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites play an auxiliary therapeutic role in colorectal cancer mainly by improving the intestinal flora composition, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. It is now widely believed that the substances that probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria exert anti-cancer effects are mainly secondary metabolites such as butyric acid. Lb. plantarum AY01 isolated from fermented food has good anti-cancer ability, and its main anti-cancer substance is 2'-deoxyinosine. Through flow cytometry detection, it was found that Lb. plantarum AY01 can block cell proliferation in the S phase. In addition, Lb. plantarum AY01 culture reduces the sensitivity of mice to colitis-associated CRC induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) and exhibits the occurrence and promotion of tumors. According to transcriptome analysis, Lb. plantarum AY01 may induce apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by activating the p38 MAPK pathway. This experiment provided possibilities for the treatment of CRC.

An Evidence-Based Medical Review on Promoting Gastrointestinal Function Recovery After Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

Objective: The objective of this study was to search for, evaluate, and summarize data related to a faster postoperative recovery in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) based on literature from China as well as internationally. This will serve as an evidence-based foundation for the clinical implementation of enhanced postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients with CRC. Methods: Based on the hierarchical "6S" evidence model, we conducted a systematic search of computerized decision-support systems, guideline websites, as well as domestic and international databases for evidence, guidelines, expert consensus statements, clinical decision-making, best practices, evidence summaries, and systematic reviews of interventions focusing on accelerating gastrointestinal function rehabilitation after CRC surgery. The time limit for the search was from the date of creation of the database to January 2023. Two researchers evaluated the quality of the literature that was included, and we extracted data and summarized the evidence from those publications that fulfilled the quality criteria. Results: The review included a total of 21 publications, comprising 6 guidelines, 6 systematic reviews, 3 expert consensus statements, 4 randomized controlled trials, and 2 evidence summaries. We summarized 51 best evidence findings across five areas: organizational management, preoperative risk assessment, education, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative management. Conclusion: There is a wide variety and wealth of information available on interventions to promote enhanced postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients with CRC. The use of evidence is discussed, keeping in mind the practical situation in China.

Comprehensive genomic profiling reveals prognostic signatures and insights into the molecular landscape of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy with diverse molecular characteristics. The NGS-based approach enhances our comprehension of genomic landscape of CRC and may guide future advancements in precision oncology for CRC patients. Method: In this research, we conducted an analysis using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) on samples collected from 111 individuals who had been diagnosed with CRC. We identified somatic and germline mutations and structural variants across the tumor genomes through comprehensive genomic profiling. Furthermore, we investigated the landscape of driver mutations and their potential clinical implications. Results: Our findings underscore the intricate heterogeneity of genetic alterations within CRC. Notably, BRAF, ARID2, KMT2C, and GNAQ were associated with CRC prognosis. Patients harboring BRAF, ARID2, or KMT2C mutations exhibited shorter progression-free survival (PFS), whereas those with BRAF, ARID2, or GNAQ mutations experienced worse overall survival (OS). We unveiled 80 co-occurring and three mutually exclusive significant gene pairs, enriched primarily in pathways such as TP53, HIPPO, RTK/RAS, NOTCH, WNT, TGF-Beta, MYC, and PI3K. Notably, co-mutations of BRAF/ALK, BRAF/NOTCH2, BRAF/CREBBP, and BRAF/FAT1 correlated with worse PFS. Furthermore, germline AR mutations were identified in 37 (33.33%) CRC patients, and carriers of these variants displayed diminished PFS and OS. Decreased AR protein expression was observed in cases with AR germline mutations. A four-gene mutation signature was established, incorporating the aforementioned prognostic genes, which emerged as an independent prognostic determinant in CRC via univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Noteworthy BRAF and ARID2 protein expression decreases detected in patients with their respective mutations. Conclusion: The integration of our analyses furnishes crucial insights into CRC's molecular characteristics, drug responsiveness, and the construction of a four-gene mutation signature for predicting CRC prognosis.

Molecular pathology and clinical treatment of independent HPV primary serous carcinoma of the uterine cervix (USCC): A case report.

On October 23, 2020, a 69-year-old Chinese female patient was admitted to Yuncheng Hospital due to a history of postmenopausal bleeding and lower abdominal pain for 5 months. The HPV test and pathology results indicated the presence of independent HPV in primary serous carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The genetic testing identified variants of uncertain significance (PAX8 p.Tyr 410 Ter and TP53 p.Asn 247 Ile), microsatellite instability stable (MSI-S), tumor mutational burden (TMB) 7.33Muts/Mb, and an elevated tumor neoantigen burden. Before undergoing radical hysterectomy treatment, the patient exhibited a positive response to three cycles of intravenous docetaxel (100 mg/3 h) and carboplatin (450 mg/1 h). Following the surgery, she received an additional three cycles of docetaxel (100 mg/3 h) and carboplatin (500 mg/1 h), accompanied by 25 cycles of radiation therapy (DT 46Gy/2Gy/23f). Concurrently, cisplatin (450 mg/1 h) was administered. As of now, the patient has achieved 20 months of disease-free survival.

Risk Factors and Prediction Methods for Endometriosis Combined with Ureteral Stricture Based on Logistic-Regression Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the risk factors of patients with endometriosis (EMS) and ureteral stricture and to establish a prediction model based on logistic-regression analysis. METHODS: The clinical data of 228 EMS patients in Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao from May 2019 to May 2022 were selected for a retrospective study. According to the results of ureteroscopic biopsy, they were divided into concurrent (n = 32) and nonconcurrent (n = 196) groups. Univariate analysis was performed on the general data and situations of clinical treatment in both groups. Single factor with statistically significant differences was included in unconditional logistic-regression analysis with multiple factors to explore the risk factors of such patients and establish a prediction model. RESULTS: Overt differences were found in previous history of ureter operation (odds ratio (OR) = 3.711, p = 0.006), course of EMS (OR = 3.987, p = 0.007), presence or absence of haematuria (OR = 3.586, p = 0.009) and lateral abdominal pain (OR = 4.451, p = 0.002), and invasion depth of lesion (OR = 7.271, p < 0.001) between the two groups (p < 0.05), without distinct difference in age, menstrual duration, BMI values, history of dysmenorrhea, previous history of drug therapy, smoking history, and drinking history (p > 0.05). Logistic-regression analysis showed that previous history of ureter operation (a1), course of EMS (b2), occurrence of haematuria (c3) and lateral abdominal pain (d4), and invasion depth of lesion ≥5 mm (e5) were risk factors for EMS combined with ureteral stricture (p < 0.05), taking logit (p) = -4.990 + 1.311a1 + 1.383b2 + 1.277c3 + 1.493d4 + 1.984e5 as regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis based on this model showed that the area under the curve (AUC), standard error, and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 0.813, 0.062, and 0.692-0.934, respectively. One hundred EMS patients were re-included, whose values for predictive sensitivity, specificity, and kappa coefficient were 71.40%, 91.10% and 0.615. CONCLUSIONS: Previous history of ureter operation, course of EMS, occurrence of haematuria and lateral abdominal pain, and invasion depth of lesion ≥5 mm were risk factors for EMS combined with ureteral stricture. Therefore, the use of this model has a certain clinical value.

PDLIM2 can inactivate the TGF-ß/Smad pathway to inhibit the malignant behavior of ovarian cancer cells.

PDZ-LIM domain-containing Protein 2 (PDLIM2) has been reported to be downregulated in ovarian cancer. However, its exact function and mechanism in regulating ovarian cancer progression have not been elucidated. This work researched the exert effect and mechanism of PDLIM2 on ovarian cancer progression. Briefly, PDLIM2 expression in clinical tissues of ovarian cancer patients and cells was investigated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The function of PDLIM2 on the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells was explored via cell counting kit-8, colony formation and Transwell assays. To verify whether PDLIM2 regulates ovarian cancer progression via regulating the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)/Smad pathway, exogenous TGF-ß (10 ng/mL) treatment was performed on the PDLIM2-overexpressed ovarian cancer cells. PDLIM2 effect on the in vivo growth of ovarian cancer cells was researched by establishing a xenograft tumor model. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to protein expression in cells and tissues. As a result, PDLIM2 was low-expressed in ovarian cancer tissues/cells. PDLIM2 upregulation attenuated the proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ovarian cancer cells, and inactivated the TGF-ß/Smad pathway. The opposite results were found in the PDLIM2-silenced ovarian cancer cells. Exogenous TGF-ß treatment abrogated the inhibition of PDLIM2 on the malignant behavior of ovarian cancer cells. PDLIM2 upregulation attenuated the in vivo growth and EMT of ovarian cancer cells. Thus, PDLIM2 attenuates the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of ovarian cancer cells via inactivating the TGF-ß/Smad pathway. PDLIM2 may be a usefully target for ovarian cancer treatment.

Prognostic Value of Inflammatory and Nutritional Markers for Patients With Early-Stage Poorly-to Moderately-Differentiated Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (OPNI) have been reported as prognostic markers for various cancers. We evaluated the prognostic value of the NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and OPNI for poorly-to moderately-differentiated cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 109 patients with early-stage poorly-to moderately-differentiated CSCC who underwent radical surgery at our institution in 2014-2017. The optimal cutoff points for the NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and OPNI were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. Overall survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. We performed a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard regression model to determine the independent prognostic indicators for early-stage poorly-to moderately-differentiated CSCC. RESULTS: The appropriate cutoff points were: NLR, 1.72; PLR, 111.96; MLR, .24; SII, 566.23; SIRI, 1.38; and OPNI, 52.68. The OS of the patients with a high OPNI (P = .04), low SII (P = .03), or low SIRI (P = .01) was significantly better. The uni- and multivariate analyses identified only the OPNI as an independent prognostic marker for early-stage poorly-to moderately-differentiated CSCC (P = .04 and P = .02). CONCLUSION: The OPNI is an independent prognostic marker for early-stage poorly-to moderately-differentiated CSCC; the NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, and SIRI are not.

Clinical Analysis of the Discovery of Malignant Gynecological Tumors in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Background: Clinically, malignant gynecological tumors found by chance during the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) are rare, and they are usually missed, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. The initial treatment of these tumors cannot be standardized, and, as a single surgical intervention may not be able to treat both the tumor and prolapse, secondary surgery is usually needed, affecting the quality of life of patients. Case presentation: The present study retrospectively analyzed the data of three patients who were diagnosed with malignant gynecological tumors during the diagnosis and treatment of POP. These patients were among 215 patients with POP treated in Yuncheng Central Hospital of Shanxi Province between January 2011 and May 2020. The case characteristics, surgical interventions, postoperative treatments, and follow-ups were summarized, and the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment were analyzed in the context of relevant literature. Conclusion: As long as clinicians operate in strict accordance with the standards of diagnosis and treatment, obtain a complete medical history, undertake a physical examination, and remain diligent in auxiliary examinations, following existing clinical methods and diagnosis and treatment processes, patients with POP complicated with malignant gynecological tumors can be clearly diagnosed before and during surgery. In this way, initial treatment can be standardized, and surgical methods can be selected that address both the tumor and prolapse, thereby avoiding secondary surgery and improving the patient's quality of life.

Prognosis prediction of stage IV colorectal cancer patients by mRNA transcriptional profile.

BACKGROUND: Stage IV colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis represent a special group of CRC patients with poor prognosis. The prognostic factors have not been investigated for stage IV CRC patients undergoing primary cancer resection but not candidates for metastasis resection. METHODS: Ninety-nine stage IV CRC patients who underwent primary cancer resection without metastasis resection were retrospectively recruited. Both whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA-seq were performed with frozen primary cancer tissues, using para-cancerous normal tissues as the control. Valid data were obtained from 78 patients for WES and 84 patients for RNA-seq. Univariate, multivariate Cox analyses were performed and Nomogram model was established to predict patient prognosis. RESULTS: The correlation between patient prognosis and clinicopathological factors, mutational status, or mRNA level changes was examined. Univariate (p = 0.0007) and subsequent multivariate analyses on clinicopathological factors showed that location (left or right) was the only independent risk factor for patient prognosis (HR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.56-8.40, p = 0.003), while T, N, M staging, gender, race, location (rectum or colon), and pathological types were not stratifying factors. The mutational status of APC, TP53, KRAS, TTN, SYNE1, SMAD4, PIK3CA, RYR2, and BRAF did not show significant stratification in patient prognosis. RNA-seq showed that genes related to membrane function, ion channels, transporters, or receptors were among those with significant mRNA level alterations. Univariate analysis identified 97 genes with significantly altered mRNA levels, while NEUROD1, FGF18, SFTA2, PLAC1, SAA2, DSCAML1, and OTOP3 were significant in multivariate analysis. A risk model was established to stratify the prognosis of stage IV CRC patients. A Nomogram model was established with these genes to predict individual patient prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: A panel of eight genes with significant mRNA level alterations was capable of predicting the prognosis and risk of the specific patient group. Future prospective study is needed to validate the model.

Selective Interactions of Mouse Melanocortin Receptor Accessory Proteins with Somatostatin Receptors.

Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) known to regulate exocrine secretion, neurotransmission, and inhibit endogenous cell proliferation. SSTR subtypes (SSTR1-SSTR5) exhibit homo- or heterodimerization with unique signaling characteristics. Melanocortin receptor accessory protein 1 (MRAP1) functions as an allosteric modulator of melanocortin receptors and some other GPCRs. In this study, we investigated the differential interaction of MRAP1 and SSTRs and examined the pharmacological modulation of MRAP1 on mouse SSTR2/SSTR3 and SSTR2/SSTR5 heterodimerization in vitro. Our results show that the mouse SSTR2 forms heterodimers with SSTR3 and SSTR5 and that MRAP1 selectively interacts with SSTR3 and SSTR5 but not SSTR2. The interactive binding sites of SSTR2/SSTR3 or SSTR2/SSTR5 with MRAP1 locate on SSTR3 and SSTR5 but not SSTR2. The binding sites of MRAP1 to SSTR3 are extensive, while the ones of SSTR5 are restricted on transmembrane region six and seven. The heterodimerization of mouse SSTR2, SSTR3, and SSTR5 can be modulated by binding protein in addition to an agonist. Upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases phosphorylation, p27Kip1, and increased cell growth inhibition with the co-expression of SSTR2/SSTR3 or SSTR2/SSTR5 with MRAP1 suggest a regulatory effect of MRAP1 on anti-proliferative response of two SSTR heterodimers. Taken together, these results provide a new insight of MRAP1 on the maintenance and regulation of mouse SSTR dimers which might be helpful to better understand the molecular mechanism involving SSTRs in tumor biology or other human disorders.

The value of ultrasonography combined with carbohydrate antigen 125 and 19-9 detection in the diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumors and prediction of recurrence.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of ultrasonography combined with tumor markers in the diagnosis and prediction of recurrence of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) and analyze the value of the combination of two different auxiliary examinations in the diagnosis and prediction of recurrence of BOTs. Methods: Here, 221 patients with BOTs confirmed by postoperative pathology were enrolled. Their clinical data, including the ultrasonography features, tumor markers, and clinicopathological data, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The statistical data of the 221 cases with BOTs were as follows: 94 (42.5%) with left-sided lesions, 102 (46.2%) with right-sided lesions, and 25 (11.3%) with bilateral lesions. Moreover, 93 cases (42.1%) had a borderline serous tumor, 110 (49.8%) had a borderline mucinous tumor, 12 (5.4%) had a borderline serous mucinous tumor, 2 (0.9%) had a borderline endometrioid tumor, 1 (0.5%) had a borderline Brenner tumor, and 2 (0.9%) had a clear cell BOT. There were 104 cases (47.1%) with a tumor diameter of ≤10 cm and 117 cases (52.9%) with a tumor diameter of >10 cm as suggested by ultrasonography. There were 89 cases (40.3%) with septation, 44 (19.9%) with papilla, and 97 (43.9%) with blood flow as demonstrated by ultrasonography. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) was elevated in 132 cases (59.7%), and CA 19-9 was elevated in 52 cases (23.5%). Conclusion: In general, BOTs are difficult to diagnose preoperatively and have a certain recurrence rate. Ultrasonography combined with CA 125 and CA 19-9 is significant for the preoperative diagnosis and selection of surgical modality for BOTs and could be used as a guideline to achieve good preoperative preparation and avoid secondary surgery.

Real-life analysis of neoadjuvant-therapy-associated benefits for pathological complete response and survival in early breast cancer patients - role of trastuzumab in HER2+ BC and platinum in TNBC.

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy, which aims to achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) for better overall survival (OS) has several advantages for patients with early breast cancer (eBC) and subtypes of HER2-positive (HER2+) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, there has been no large-scale real-world investigation on the clinical outcomes associated with trastuzumab-based and platinum-based neoadjuvant treatments for patients with HER2+ and TNBC, respectively. Material and methods: Taiwan Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance Research Database were utilized in this study. Patients diagnosed with clinically lymph-node-positive (LN+) HER2+ or TNBC were identified for analysis. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of achieving pCR and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) of overall survival associated with treatment agents, respectively. Results: A total of 1,178 HER2+ eBC and 354 early TNBC patients were identified, respectively. Neoadjuvant trastuzumab significantly increased the pCR rates by 3.87-fold among HER2+ patients. Trastuzumab-associated survival benefit was found in HER2+ patients who achieved pCR (aHR [95% CI]: 0.30 [0.11-0.84]) but not in those without pCR (1.13 [0.77-1.67]). Among the TNBC patients, platinum was associated with a 1.6-fold increased pCR rate; however, it did not improve OS regardless of pCR status. Conclusions: Trastuzumab improved pCR and OS for patients with HER2+ subtype. Using platinum agents for TNBC patients increased pCR rates but was not linked to better survival. Optimal neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapy for patients with HER2+ eBC and the introduction of novel therapy for patients with TNBC should be considered.

Effect of Cinepazide Maleate on Serum Inflammatory Factors of ICU Patients with Severe Cerebral Hemorrhage after Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of cinepazide maleate on serum inflammatory factors of intensive care unit (ICU) patients with severe cerebral hemorrhage after surgery. METHODS: 116 ICU patients with severe cerebral hemorrhage treated in Taian Maternal and Child Health Hospital from June 2018 to June 2020 were selected as the research objects and randomly divided into the control group and experimental group, with 58 patients in each group. The control group was given routine treatment, while the experimental group was additionally given an intravenous drip of cinepazide maleate to compare the clinical efficacy and serum inflammatory factors between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Fugl-Meyer scores in both groups were better than those before treatment, and the scores in the experimental group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The oxidative stress indexes such as total antioxidant capacity (T-Aoc), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, while malondialdehyde (MDA) in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the cerebrovascular function in the experimental group was significantly improved (P < 0.05), with statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Cinepazide maleate can effectively reduce the serum inflammatory factor levels of ICU patients with severe cerebral hemorrhage after surgery, alleviate the oxidative stress response in the body, and improve the cerebrovascular function and cerebral nerve function, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

The enhancement of Tetrandrine to gemcitabine-resistant PANC-1 cytochemical sensitivity involves the promotion of PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated apoptosis and AMPK-regulated autophagy.

BACKGROUND: In the process of tumor development, the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine (GEM) is mainly due to the suppression and dysregulation of apoptosis signals to a large extent. Therefore, it is very necessary to develop pro-apoptotic drugs for combined treatment of pancreatic cancer to increase the activity of GEM and improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: GEM-resistant PANC-1 cells were treated with increasing doses of GEM. The effects of GEM and TET on apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. We also evaluated the expression of survivin by real-time PCR, and the expression levels of proteins involved in apoptosis, autophagy, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling were detected by western blotting. The results showed that TET downregulated expression of survivin by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to promote pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis, thereby enhancing pancreatic cancer cell sensitivity to GEM. Moreover, TET enhanced cytotoxic and autophagy-dependent cell death by upregulating the AMPK-autophagy axis, and this effect was reversed by inhibition of AMPK. CONCLUSIONS: TET promotes apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and promotes autophagy via up-regulating the AMPK signaling pathway to play an anti-tumor effect in GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer cells, which represents a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer.

Effect of multidisciplinary team care on survival of oesophageal cancer patients: a retrospective nationwide cohort study.

Oesophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. This nationwide study analyses the survival results of oesophageal cancer under multidisciplinary team (MDT) care. We enrolled oesophageal cancer patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 with follow-up for at least 1 year. This study performed propensity score matching with a ratio of 1:1 between MDT participants and non-MDT participants. We performed conditional Cox proportional hazards model to research relative risk of survival and associated factors of survival. The adjusted survival curves were plotted. 8184 newly diagnosed oesophageal cancer patients were included. The favourable survival factors include participant status of MDT, gender, monthly salary, urbanization level, other catastrophic illness, stage of cancer, treatment methods, and service volume of physicians (P < 0.05). MDT participants showed lower risk of death (HR = 0.73; 95% CI 0.67-0.79). Further stratification analysis revealed that the incorporation of an MDT reduced the death risk of patients with stages 2, 3, and 4 cancer, with the greatest reduction observed in patients with stage 3 cancer (HR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.67-0.79). The risk of death was lower for oesophageal cancer patients who enrolled in MDT care.

Recurrence characteristics and clinicopathological results of borderline ovarian tumors.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics, and the recurrence and prognostic factors of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). METHODS: The data of 286 patients admitted to hospital and followed up for more than ten months were analyzed retrospectively to study the clinicopathological characteristics and related factors of recurrence. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 42.06 ± 14.97 years, and the duration of the follow-up ranged from 10-109 months. During the follow-up period, 40 patients had a recurrence. Of these patients, 36 were ≤ 40 years, and patients with premenopausal recurrence accounted for 20.5% (36/176). In patients undergoing conservative treatment or radical operations, the recurrence rates were 21.3% and 1.8%, respectively, and they were 13.4% (36/268) in patients at Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I, and 22.2% (4/18) in patients at an advanced stage. Postoperative pathology revealed that 40 patients had micropapillary tumors, among whom ten patients (25%) had a recurrence, and 19 patients had complications with interstitial infiltration. Of these 19 patients, six had a recurrence (31.5%). Another 22 patients had complications with calcified sand bodies; among these, eight patients (36.4%) had a recurrence. All the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were four cancer-related deaths during the follow-up period. Late FIGO stage, conservative operation, and a high level of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) were independent risk factors for the recurrence of BOTs. CONCLUSION: BOTs usually occur in women under 40 years, have an occult onset, and half of the patients have no obvious clinical manifestations. Serum CA125 level can be used as a tumor marker to detect BOTs and the risk of its recurrence. Operation mode and FIGO stage are important independent factors for the recurrence of BOTs.

Effect of diabetes mellitus on risk of latent TB infection in a high TB incidence area: a community-based study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between diabetes and latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) in high TB incidence areas. DESIGN: Community-based comparison study. SETTING: Outpatient diabetes clinics at 4 hospitals and 13 health centres in urban and rural townships. A community-based screening programme was used to recruit non-diabetic participants. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2948 patients with diabetes aged older than 40 years were recruited, and 453 non-diabetic participants from the community were enrolled. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) and the tuberculin skin test were used to detect LTBI. The IGRA result was used as a surrogate of LTBI in logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Diabetes was significantly associated with LTBI (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.59; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.28) and age correlated positively with LTBI. Many subjects with diabetes also had additional risk factors (current smokers (aOR=1.28; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.71), comorbid chronic kidney disease (aOR=1.26; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.55) and history of TB (aOR=2.08; 95% CI 1.19 to 3.63)). The presence of BCG scar was protective (aOR=0.66; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.85). Duration of diabetes and poor glycaemic control were unrelated to the risk of LTBI. CONCLUSION: There was a moderately increased risk of LTBI in patients with diabetes from this high TB incidence area. This finding suggests LTBI screening for the diabetics be combined with other risk factors and comorbidities of TB to better identify high-risk groups and improve the efficacy of targeted screening for LTBI.

Epigallocatechin gallate ameliorates airway inflammation by regulating Treg/Th17 imbalance in an asthmatic mouse model.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol that is found in green tea that has been shown to ameliorate airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-sensitized asthmatic mouse model. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of EGCG by regulating the regulatory T cell (Treg)/Th 17 cells balance in this model. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin by intraperitoneal injection. EGCG was administered to asthmatic mice intraperitoneally 1 h before each OVA challenge. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was measured, and lung inflammatory infiltrations were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Serum OVA-specific IgE levels, Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum, and splenocyte culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to assess the effects of EGCG on the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the splenocytes and real-time PCR method was used to measure the expression of Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) mRNA and retinoid-related orphan receptor gammat (RORγt) mRNA in the lung tissue. The results showed that administration of EGCG significantly decreased AHR and OVA specific IgE in the serum, increased IL-10 levels in the BALF, serum, and splenocyte culture supernatant, and the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the splenocytes in asthmatic mice. Administration of EGCG also ameliorated airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltrations in asthmatic mice. These results suggested that EGCG likely ameliorated OVA-induced airway inflammation by increasing the production of IL-10, the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells and expression of Foxp3 mRNA in the lung tissue, and it could be an effective agent for treating asthma.

Intestinal bacteria detected in cancer and adjacent tissue from patients with colorectal cancer.

Intestinal bacteria are symbiotic microbiota within the human gut and are implicated in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The current study investigated the changes in bacterial composition prior to and following surgery, as well as the differences in the bacterial community structure between cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue. The diversity of the bacterial community and the composition of the bacteria were assessed. In addition, phylogenetic analysis and principle component analysis (PCA) were performed. The results revealed that cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue exhibited similar bacterial compositions. However, a significant difference was identified in the composition of intestinal bacteria in stool samples collected from patients following surgery compared with stool samples collected prior to surgery. Each patient had their own unique intestinal bacterial community, likely due to a number of factors, including diet, genetic factors and health status. In addition, phylogenetic trees revealed that the most abundant operational taxonomic unit, 0001, was associated with Escherichia coli in all samples. Finally, PCA suggested that the bacterial community structure in all patient stools was similar following surgery. The current study provides information regarding the diversity of the intestinal bacterial community of patients with CRC and provides a basis for postoperative intestinal assessments.

Surface tension-assisted additive manufacturing.

The proliferation of computer-aided design and additive manufacturing enables on-demand fabrication of complex, three-dimensional structures. However, combining the versatility of cell-laden hydrogels within the 3D printing process remains a challenge. Herein, we describe a facile and versatile method that integrates polymer networks (including hydrogels) with 3D-printed mechanical supports to fabricate multicomponent (bio)materials. The approach exploits surface tension to coat fenestrated surfaces with suspended liquid films that can be transformed into solid films. The operating parameters for the process are determined using a physical model, and complex geometric structures are successfully fabricated. We engineer, by tailoring the window geometry, scaffolds with anisotropic mechanical properties that compress longitudinally (~30% strain) without damaging the hydrogel coating. Finally, the process is amenable to high cell density encapsulation and co-culture. Viability (>95%) was maintained 28 days after encapsulation. This general approach can generate biocompatible, macroscale devices with structural integrity and anisotropic mechanical properties.