A novel endoscopic nasopharyngectomy by low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation in localized recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy (ENPG) with en bloc resection has been well accepted in resectable localized recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC), but it is a difficult technique to master for most otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgeons. Ablation surgery is a new and simplified method to remove tumors. We designed a novel method using low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation (LPRA) and evaluated the survival benefit. METHODS: A total of 56 localized rNPC patients were explained in detail and retrospectively analyzed. The surgery method was ablated from the resection margin to the center of the tumor. The postmetastatic overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS) rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. RESULTS: All surgeries were successfully performed without any severe postoperative complications or deaths. The median operation time of ablation and harvested NSFF respectively were 29 min (range, 15-100 min) and 101 min (range, 30-180 min). The average number of hospital days postoperation was 3 days (range, 2-5 days). All cases (100.0%) had radical ablation with negative resection margins. The nasopharyngeal defects were completely re-epithelialized in 54 (96.4%) patients. As of the data cutoff (September 3, 2023), the median follow-up time was 44.3 months (range, 17.1-52.7 months, 95% CI: 40.4-48.2). The 3-year OS, LRFS, PFS and DMFS of the entire cohort were 92.9% (95% CI: 0.862-0.996), 89.3% (95% CI: 0.813-0.973), 87.5% (95% CI: 0.789-0.961), and 92.9% (95% CI: 0.862-0.996), respectively. Cycles of radiotherapy were independent risk factors for OS (p = 0.003; HR, 32.041; 95% CI: 3.365-305.064), LRFS (p = 0.002; HR, 10.762; 95% CI: 2.440-47.459), PFS (p = 0.004; HR, 7.457; 95% CI: 1.925-28.877), and DMFS (p = 0.002; HR, 34.776; 95% CI: 3.806-317.799). CONCLUSION: Radical endoscopic nasopharyngectomy by using low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation is a novel, safe and simplified method to master and disseminate for treating resectable rNPC. However, further data and longer follow-up time are needed to prove its efficacy.

Postoperative hypoparathyroidism after thyroid operation and exploration of permanent hypoparathyroidism evaluation.

Background: To investigate the risk factors for hypoparathyroidism, discuss the prevention of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, and explore permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism evaluation (PPHE). Methods: A total of 2,903 patients with thyroid nodules were treated between October 2012 and August 2015. Serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were measured at 1 day, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. The incidence and management of hypoparathyroidism were analyzed. The PPHE was established based on the risk factors and clinical practice. Results: A total of 637 (21.94%) patients developed hypoparathyroidism, and 92.15% of them had malignant nodules. The incidence rates of transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism were 11.47% and 10.47%, respectively. The iPTH level was lower in patients with malignant nodules who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) and central-compartment neck dissection (CND). These factors were independently associated with the recovery rate of parathyroid function. The formula for PPHE is as follows: {iPTH} + {sCa} + {surgical procedure} + {reoperation} + {pathologic type}. A scoring system was developed, and we scored low, middle, and high risk of permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism as 4-6, 7-9, and 10-13, respectively. The differences in the recovery rates of parathyroid function in several risk groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Simultaneous TT and CND is a risk factor for hypoparathyroidism. The reoperation is not associated with hypoparathyroidism. Identification of parathyroid glands in situ and preservation of their vascular pedicles are key factors in managing hypoparathyroidism. PPHE can forecast the risk of permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism well.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of second primary squamous cell carcinoma in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

To compare the clinicopathologic characteristics of second primary squamous cell carcinoma (SPSCC) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with that after radiotherapy (RT). From 49,021 patients with NPC who treated by definitive RT, we were able to identify 15 male patients with SPSCC after IMRT, and 23 male patients with SPSCC after RT. We examined the difference between groups. In IMRT group, 50.33% developed SPSCC within 3 years, whereas 56.52% developed SPSCC after more than 10 years in RT group. Receiving IMRT was related positively to an increased risk of SPSCC (HR = 4.25; P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between receiving IMRT and the survival of SPSCC (P = 0.051). Receiving IMRT was related positively to an increased risk of SPSCC, and the latency was much shorter. A follow-up protocol, especially in the first three years, should be designed for NPC patients with IMRT.

[Retracted] MicroRNA­24 upregulation inhibits proliferation, metastasis and induces apoptosis in bladder cancer cells by targeting CARMA3.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the cell­cycle assay data shown in Fig. 2D, and certain of the flow cytometric data shown in Fig. 2E, on p. 1354 had already been submitted in different form in papers written by different authors at different research institutes. Moreover, a pair of data panels shown for the Transwell assay experiments in Fig. 4A were overlapping, such that data purportedly showing the results of differently performed experiments were likely to have been derived from the same original source.  Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been submitted for publication prior to its submission to International Journal of Oncology, and due to an overall lack of confidence in the data, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. After having been in contact with the authors, they accepted the decision to retract the paper. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Oncology 47: 1351­1360, 2015; DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2015.3117].

Construction of a competing endogenous RNA network in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by pan-cancer analysis.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and new cases are anticipated to reach 1.08 million in 2030. Our study aimed to identify the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) involved in HNSC tumorigenesis. Methods: First, a pan-cancer correlation analysis was conducted on the expression and survival conditions of sideroflexin (SFXN3) based on data downloaded from the Xena database. Second, the upstream regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) of SFXN3 were predicted using the Encyclopedia of RNA Interactomes (ENCORI) database. Expression and survival analyses were subsequently used to construct lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network that correlated with HNSC. Third, the proportion of various types of immune cells in HNSC was calculated using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Finally, a correlation analysis was performed on SFXN3, including immune cell infiltration (ICI), clinical stage, and immune checkpoints. Results: The pan-cancer analysis suggested that SFXN3 was up-regulated in HNSC, and it correlated with poor prognosis. The ceRNA regulatory network MIR193BHG-miR-29c-3p-SFXN3 was identified as one of the potential biological regulatory pathways of HNSC. The upstream lncRNA MIR193BHG was associated with a poor prognosis in HNSC, and its target gene SFXN3 was correlated with tumor ICI, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoints. Conclusions: By performing ceRNA analysis, our study demonstrated that MIR193HG-miR-29c-3p-SFXN3 is significantly involved in HNSC, and this action axis markedly affect the therapeutic effect and prognosis.

Efficacy of local therapy to metastatic foci in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: large-cohort strictly-matched retrospective study.

Background: Studies of local therapy (LT) to metastatic foci from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are inconsistent and controversial. Here, we aimed to explore the survival benefit of LT directed at metastatic foci from NPC. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in NPC patients with liver, lung, and/or bone metastases. The postmetastatic overall survival (OS) rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox hazard model. Subgroup analyses evaluating the effect of LT were performed for prespecified covariates. Propensity score matching was applied to homogenize the compared arms. Results: Overall, 2041 of 2962 patients were eligible for analysis. At a median follow-up of 43.4 months, the 5-year OS improved by an absolute difference of 14.6%, from 46.2% in the LT group versus 31.6% in the non-LT group, which led to a hazard ratio of 0.634 for death (p < 0.001). Matched-pair analyses confirmed that LT was associated with improved OS (p = 0.003), and the survival benefits of LT remained consistent in the subcohorts of liver and lung metastasis (p = 0.009 and p = 0.007, respectively) but not of bone metastasis (BoM; p = 0.614). Radiotherapy was predominantly used for BoM and biological effective dose (BED) >60 Gy was found to yield more survival benefit than that of BED ⩽ 60 Gy. Conclusions: The addition of LT directed at metastasis has demonstrated an improvement to OS compared with non-LT group in the present matched-pair study, especially for patients with liver and/or lung metastases.

Lymph or Chyle Leak After Neck Dissection in Patients With Thyroid Carcinoma: Results of a Study on 1724 Patients.

BACKGROUND: To discuss the prevention and treatment of lymph or chyle leak following neck dissection in patients with thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 1724 patients with thyroid carcinoma received neck dissection in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between November 2009 and October 2014. The incidence and management of leak were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 92 (5.34%) patients developed leak, 28 (1.62%) developed lymph leak, 59 (3.42%) developed chyle leak, and 5 (.29%) developed chylothorax. Medical management to stop postoperative lymph or chyle leak included pressure dressing, reoperation, fasting, or low-fat diet therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph or chyle leak may occur in thyroid carcinoma patients who underwent neck dissection. Clinicians should alert to leak when there were IV + VI region lymph node metastasis and should become aware of chylothorax after pressure dressing. A careful identification and ligation of lymphatic duct may be an effective way to avoid lymph or chyle leak.

Impairment mechanism of nasal mucosa after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The nasal mucosa, which performs the crucial functions of filtering, humidifying and temperature regulation, is one of the most vulnerable areas of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after radiotherapy (RT). Following RT, NPC patients experience a series of pathological changes in the nasal mucosa, ultimately leading to physiological dysfunction of the nasal epithelium. This article systematically reviews the clinical and pathological manifestations of RT-related nasal damage in NPC patients and summarizes the potential mechanism of damage to the human nasal epithelium by RT. Finally, we outline the current mechanistic models of nasal epithelial alterations after RT in NPC patients and provide additional information to extend the in-depth study on the impairment mechanisms of the nasal mucosa resulting from RT. We also describe the relationship between structural and functional alterations in the nasal mucosa after RT to help mitigate and treat this damage and provide insights informing future clinical and fundamental investigations.

Transcervical endoscopic retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) dissection in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with RPLN recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Surgical access for retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) dissection is difficult. We aimed to examine the efficacy of transcervical endoscopic RPLN dissection (TSE-RPLND) for recurrent RPLN in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: From April 2013 to February 2019, a total of 31 patients with NPC diagnosed with RPLN recurrence underwent TSE-RPLND. The clinical characteristics, complications, and survival outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean duration of surgery, quantity of bleeding and postoperative hospitalization stay were 347.9 minutes, 107.7 mL, and 8.7 days, respectively. After a median follow-up of 31.0 months, the 2-year locoregional relapse-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 63.9%, 95.2%, 59.9%, and 83.3%, respectively. The long-term incidences of swallowing problems, permanent nutrient tube, tongue atrophy, and shoulder problems were 6 (19.4%), 3 (9.7%), 3 (9.7%), and 3 (9.7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TSE-RPLND is an effective method to treat RPLN recurrence in NPC, but nerve injury-related complications should not be ignored.

Impact of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on transcription and metabolite compositions in proliferation and functionalization of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells.

To investigate the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the proliferation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hASCs) and uncovered its stimulation mechanism. LIPUS at 30 mW/cm2 was applied for 5 min/day to promote the proliferation of hASCs. Flow cytometry was used to study the cell surface markers, cell cycle, and apoptosis of hASCs. The proliferation of hASCs was detected by cell counting kit-8, cell cycle assay, and RT-PCR. The expression of hASCs cytokines was determined by ELISA. The differences between transcriptional genes and metabolites were analyzed by transcript analysis and metabolomic profiling experiments. The number of cells increased after LIPUS stimulation, but there was no significant difference in cell surface markers. The results of flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and ELISA after LIPUS was administered showed that the G1 and S phases of the cell cycle were prolonged. The expression of cell proliferation related genes (CyclinD1 and c-myc) and the paracrine function related gene (SDF-1α) were up-regulated. The expression of cytokines was increased, while the apoptosis rate was decreased. The results of transcriptome experiments showed that there were significant differences in 27 genes;15 genes were up-regulated, while 12 genes were down-regulated. The results of metabolomics experiments showed significant differences in 30 metabolites; 7 metabolites were up-regulated, and 23 metabolites were down-regulated. LIPUS at 30 mW/cm2 intensity can promote the proliferation of hASCs cells in an undifferentiating state, and the stem-cell property of hASCs was maintained. CyclinD1 gene, c-myc gene, and various genes of transcription and products of metabolism play an essential role in cell proliferation. This study provides an important experimental and theoretical basis for the clinical application of LIPUS in promoting the proliferation of hASCs cells.

Knockdown of SLC35F2 Inhibits the Proliferation and Metastasis of Bladder Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that solute carrier family 35 member F2 (SLC35F2) plays a key role in the biological processes of multiple cancers. However, there have been no reports on the role of SLC35F2 in the occurrence and development of bladder cancer (BC). METHODS: SLC35F2 expression data and clinical and prognostic information from BC patients were obtained from databases. SLC35F2 expression in BC was verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The influence of SLC35F2 knockdown on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion in the 5637 and T24 cell lines was studied, and tumor formation experiments were performed in nude mice. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to predict the pathways and functions of SLC35F2 in BC. RESULTS: SLC35F2 was highly expressed in BC tissues and was associated with invasiveness and T stage in BC patients. SLC35F2 knockdown can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells and can promote apoptosis. SLC35F2 knockdown significantly reduced tumorigenesis in nude mice. GSEA showed that BC, pathways in cancer, apoptosis and the P53 signaling pathway were significantly enriched in SLC35F2 high expression phenotype. CONCLUSION: SLC35F2 can promote malignant progression and is a potential therapeutic target in BC.

Exploration of bladder cancer-associated methylated miRNAs by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to explore the association between two epigenomic components, miRNA and DNA methylation, in bladder cancer (BC). METHODS: Eight paired samples of tumor tissue and matched adjacent normal tissues from BC patients were subjected to methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing and sRNA-Seq for differentially methylated miRNA genes and differential miRNA analysis. The miRNAs regulated by DNA methylation were screened and their functions involved in BC were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) as well as a miRNA-mRNA interaction network. RESULTS: The methylation levels of 212 genes were different between tumors and normal tissues with specific enrichment at transcription initiation and termination sites. Among these genes, 154 were hypermethylated and 58 were hypomethylated. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that differentially methylated miRNA genes were mainly enriched in tumor-associated GO terms and signaling pathways. Pairwise statistical analysis of MeDIP-Seq and sRNA-Seq data showed that there are 154 and 165 candidate methylation-regulated genes in tumors and normal tissues, respectively. Notably, an interaction network indicated that the miRNAs regulated by methylation regulated a broad range of mRNAs associated with cancer development and progression. In particular, the most differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR, such that miR-145-5p was downregulated and miR-182-5p was upregulated in patients with bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: A large number of miRNA genes were modified by methylation in BC. Identification of changes in the expression of these miRNAs provides a great deal of important information for BC diagnosis.

Development of a novel six-long noncoding RNA signature predicting survival of patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Bladder urothelial carcinoma is a malignant tumor with a high incidence in the uropoietic system. Considerable studies have shown that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in the development and progression of bladder urothelial carcinoma. In this study, the lncRNA expression and clinical data of 377 bladder urothelial carcinoma patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and differentially expressed lncRNAs in cancer and normal groups were evaluated. Univariate COX and multivariate COX regression analyses of prognosis were performed on differentially expressed lncRNAs in the training data sets, six prognosis-related lncRNAs (LINC02195, LINC01484, LINC01468, SMC2-AS1, AC011298.1, and PTPRD-AS1) were assessed, and a six-lncRNA signature was constructed. The predictive capability of this six-lncRNA signature was validated in the testing data sets and entire data sets. The prognostic ability of the six-lncRNA signature was independent of other clinical elements after multivariate COX regression and stratified analyses of with other clinical elements. We performed functional enrichment analysis with the six prognosis-related lncRNAs. Results of functional enrichment revealed that these prognosis-related lncRNAs might promote the development and metastasis of bladder urothelial carcinoma. In summary, the six-lncRNA signature that we developed could effectively predict the prognosis of bladder urothelial carcinoma patients. This six-lncRNA signature might be a novel independent prognostic marker of bladder urothelial carcinoma. Moreover, it also provides novel insights into the mechanism of bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Cancer-associated methylated lncRNAs in patients with bladder cancer.

Epigenetic modifications via DNA methylation and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in bladder cancer (BC). However, DNA methylation of lncRNAs involved in BC has not been elucidated. Here, DNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing (MeDIP-seq) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) were carried out using eight paired tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples from patients with BC. Differences in methylation patterns between tumors and controls were compared and the percentage of differentially methylated genes, including lncRNA genes, was calculated. RNA-seq data were subjected to gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes, and genomes (KEGG) analysis. The association between DNA methylation modification and lncRNA expression was determined by pairwise analysis of MeDIP-seq and RNA-seq data. The most enriched motifs in the promoter region, as well as the methylated density in the 3 kb region surrounding super-enhancers of lncRNA genes, were analyzed. A peak of 5mC methylation in the region 2 kb upstream of the transcription start site (TSS), with the lowest point in the TSS region, was observed. In total, 436 and 239 genes were identified to be hyper and hypomethylated, respectively, in BC tissue around the TSS region. RNA-seq revealed differentially expressed lncRNAs between tumor and normal tissues, many of which were cancer-associated lncRNAs based on GO and KEGG pathway analysis. Combined MeDIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis revealed that expression of 26 lncRNAs were candidates of 5mC controlled genes. The possible link between 5mC modification and differential lncRNAs may relate to enrichment of 5mC reads in the region surrounding super-enhancers of lncRNA. Survival analysis indicated that the methylated lncRNA, LINC00574, was associated with shorter overall survival time in patients with BC (HR = 1.7, p-value = 0.035). Taken together, these findings indicate that lncRNAs genes are under control of DNA methylation. Methylated lncRNA genes, which are transcripted to LINC00574, may serve as biomarkers for BC prognosis.

Cyclin B2 Overexpression in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma is Associated with Poor Prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cyclin B2 (CCNB2) has been reported to be highly expressed in a few malignancies. However, the biological function of CCNB2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the effect of CCNB2 in HCC. METHODS: The expression of CCNB2 in HCC and normal liver tissues and connection of its expression with prognosis and clinical parameters were studied. The effect of knocking down CCNB2 on cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were estimated in BEL-7404 cells. RESULTS: Compared to normal liver tissues, the level of CCNB2 was higher in HCC tissues from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). The 5 year overall survival and disease-free survival of HCC patients with high CCNB2 levels were shorter than that of those with low CCNB2 levels. Immunohistochemistry analysis also discovered the expression differences of CCNB2 in HCC and normal liver tissues and showed that CCNB2 expression was significantly associated with tumor number, tumor size, tumor thrombus, and alanine aminotransferase level. CCNB2 expression was higher in HCC cell lines (BEL-7404, Hep3B, BEL-7402, and SMMC-7721) than that in the normal hepatic cell line (HL-7702). Knockdown of CCNB2 inhibited cell proliferation and migration, promoted cell apoptosis, and caused S phase arrest in BEL-7404 cells. Finally, CCNB2 was associated with Polo Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) in the GEPIA database and BEL-7404 cells. CONCLUSIONS: CCNB2 may serve as a prognostic factor and participated in the development and progression and promote cell proliferation and migration through CCNB2/PLK1 pathway in HCC.

[Isolation and culture of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from inbreed line miniature pig of Wuzhishan and their biological characteristics].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for isolation, culture and identification of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) from the inbreed line miniature pig of Wuzhishan (ILMW).
 Methods: A total of 100 g adipose tissues were obtained from subcutaneous tissues of neck in six-month old healthy ILMW (3 samples, male). ASCs from ILMW (ILMW-ASCs) were isolated from adipose tissues through 0.1% collagenase digestion. The cells at the 3rd, 5th, 8th, 13th passages were collected. Cell morphology, size, phenotype, cell cycle, and apoptosis were monitored. Cell differentiation was induced and cell proliferation curve was drawn.
 Results: The ILMW-ASCs, fibroblast-like or whirlpool-like, began the adherence at 36 h and entered a logarithmic phase in the 5th day. Eighty percent of them were fused in the 7th day. The average diameter and volume of ILMW-ASCs were (17.00±0.54) µm and (2.58±0.24)×10-9 L, respectively. The expressions of CD29, CD44 and CD90 were positive, and there was no significant difference between the different passages (all P>0.05). The expressions of CD45, CD8a and HLA-DR were increased with the increase in passages after the 3th passage (all P<0.05). The adipogenic induction of ILMW-ASCs was observed by positive oil red O staining, and the osteogenic induction of ILMW-ASCs was determined by positive alizarin red staining. Apoptosis and senescence occurred in the 13 passage of ILMW-ASCs, and the proportion of S phase of cell cycle was lower than that in lower passages (all P<0.05). 
 Conclusion: ILMW-ASCs are one of the best choice for porcine ASCs, which might provide a source of candidate stem cells for therapy of large animal disease models and tissue or organ repairment.

Bioinformatics analysis to identify the key genes affecting the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer, which has poor outcome. The present study aimed to investigate the key genes implicated in the progression and prognosis of HCC. The RNA-sequencing data of HCC was extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Using the R package (DESeq), the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed. Based on the Cluepedia plug-in in Cytoscape software, enrichment analysis for the protein-coding genes amongst the DEGs was conducted. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built by Cytoscape software. Using survival package, the genes that could distinguish the survival differences of the HCC samples were explored. Moreover, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments were used to detect the expression of key genes. There were 2193 DEGs in HCC samples. For the protein-coding genes amongst the DEGs, multiple functional terms and pathways were enriched. In the PPI network, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit (FOS), serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), and lysophosphatidic acid receptor 3 (LPAR3) were hub nodes. CDK1 interacting with PLK1 and FOS, and LPAR3 interacting with FOS and SAA1 were found in the PPI network. Amongst the 40 network modules, 4 modules were with scores not less than 10. Survival analysis showed that anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) and RLN3 could differentiate the high- and low-risk groups, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR. CDK1, PLK1, FOS, SAA1, and LPAR3 might be key genes affecting the progression of HCC. Besides, AGR2 and RLN3 might be implicated in the prognosis of HCC.

High expression of FAM13A was associated with increasing the liver cirrhosis risk.

AIM: Liver cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease, and it may be caused by multiple influences of both genetic and environmental factors. Family with sequence similarity 13 member A (FAM13A) has been previously associated with lung function in several lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis. The aim of this study was to explore whether FAM13A polymorphisms confer susceptibility to liver cirrhosis. METHODS: FAM13A expression was evaluated in liver cirrhosis tissues by immunohistochemistry staining. The relationship between FAM13A gene polymorphism and liver cirrhosis was determined by association analysis. The genotypes were assessed in the Agena MassARRAY platform. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-squared test/Fisher's exact test, genetic model analysis, and haplotype analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the expression of FAM13A is obvious higher in the liver cirrhosis tissue cells than in the normal liver tissue cells. Moreover, association analysis results indicated that the minor allele "A" of rs3017895 was positively associated with high risk of liver cirrhosis in the allele model by the chi-squared test (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.03-1.68, p = 0.028). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the risk of liver cirrhosis was significantly higher in subjects with the G/A-G/G genotype of rs3017895 than those with A/A genotype under the dominant model and log additive model, and the T/A-A/A genotype of rs1059122 was positively associated with higher liver cirrhosis than T/T genotype based on dominant model respectively. In addition, haplotype analysis showed that the G-A haplotype of rs3017895-rs1059122 of the FAM13A gene significantly increased the risk of liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the high expression of FAM13A may be associated with an increased risk of liver cirrhosis.

A curative-intent endoscopic surgery for postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) is a severe complication after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which can severely affect the quality of life and threaten the patient's life. Only 13.4%-28.6% of patients can be cured by traditional repeated endoscopic debridement. Here, we introduced an innovative curative-intent endoscopic surgery for PRNN patients and evaluated its clinical efficacy. METHODS: Clinical data of 72 PRNN patients who underwent radical endoscopic necrectomy, followed by reconstruction using a posterior pedicle nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum flap were analyzed to determine the efficacy of this surgery. The endpoints were complete re-epithelialization of the nasopharyngeal defect, relief of headache, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: All surgeries were successfully performed without any severe postoperative complications or death. The median value of numeric rating scales of pain decreased from 8 before surgery to 0 after surgery (P < 0.001). Fifty-one patients (70.8%) achieved complete re-epithelialization of the nasopharyngeal defect. The number of cycles of radiotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 7.254; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.035-50.821; P = 0.046), postoperative pathological result (OR, 34.087; 95% CI 3.168-366.746; P = 0.004), and survival status of flap (OR, 261.179; 95% CI 17.176-3971.599; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of re-epithelialization of the nasopharyngeal defects. Postoperative pathological result (hazard ratio [HR], 5.018; 95% CI 1.970-12.782; P = 0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for OS. The 2-year OS rate of the entire cohort was 77.9%. CONCLUSION: Curative-intent endoscopic necrectomy followed by construction using the posterior pedicle nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum flap is a novel, safe, and effective treatment of PRNN in patients with NPC.