Clinical and MRI risk factors predicting post-irradiation carotid blowout syndrome in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and imaging features of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) complicated by acute carotid blowout syndrome (CBS), analyze the risk factors for CBS, and improve diagnostic vigilance for early intervention. METHODS: This retrospective review was conducted between January 2003 and May 2023. Altogether, 49 patients with post-irradiation NPC with CBS and 49 patients without CBS as control group were enrolled. The condition of the patients when CBS occurred was reviewed. Patient characteristics of the CBS and control groups were compared, and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for CBS. RESULTS: All patients in the CBS group were conscious, and 41 patients had a Karnofsky performance assessment scale score of ≥ 70. After interventional therapy, 43 patients survived (the mean survival time of patients after CBS was 3.2 ± 2.1 years). Compared with the control group, the CBS group had a higher incidence of sphenoid sinusitis (81% vs. 52.4%), osteonecrosis (82.9% vs. 51.2%), artery exposure (29.3% vs. 4.9%), and internal carotid artery injury (61% vs. 29.3%). Osteonecrosis and artery exposure were selected as important risk factor for CBS, with p-values of 0.016 and 0.031, respectively. CONCLUSION: CBS is an important factor that affects the survival of patients with NPC. If internal carotid artery injury, artery exposure, sphenoid sinusitis, and osteonecrosis are present, especially the latter two signs, the possibility of CBS should be considered.

Adulteration Detection and Quantification in Olive Oil Using Excitation-Emission Matrix Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics.

This research investigates the use of excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEMF) in conjunction with chemometric models to rapidly identify and quantify adulteration in olive oil, a critical concern where sample availability is limited. Adulteration is simulated by blending soybean, peanut, and linseed oils into olive oil, creating diverse adulterated samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the EEMF spectral data as an initial exploratory measure to cluster and differentiate adulterated samples. Spatial clustering enabled vivid visualization of the variations and trends in the spectra. The novel application of parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) for data decomposition in this paper focuses on unraveling correlations between the decomposed components and the actual adulterated components, which offers a novel perspective for accurately quantifying adulteration levels. Additionally, a comparative analysis was conducted between the PCA and PARAFAC methodologies. Our study not only unveils a new avenue for the quantitative analysis of adulterants in olive oil through spectral detection but also highlights the potential for applying these insights in practical, real-world scenarios, thereby enhancing detection capabilities for various edible oil samples. This promises to improve the detection of adulteration across a range of edible oil samples, offering significant contributions to food safety and quality assurance.

tRNA-derived small RNA dataset in multiple organs of intrauterine growth-restricted pig.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) impairs neonatal weight and causes multiple organ dysplasia. IUGR not only threatens human health but is also a significant constraint to the development of animal husbandry. However, the molecular mechanism underlying IUGR remains to be further elucidated. tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNAs) is a regulative non-coding RNA, which has recently been reported to correlate with the onset and progression of several diseases. In this study, we investigated the tsRNAs expression profiles of IUGR pigs. A tsRNAs dataset for multiple organs in normal and IUGR pigs was generated, including muscle, liver, spleen and intestine. We further analyzed the characteristics of tsRNAs in different organs of pigs, and KEGG pathway analysis was performed to investigate possible pathways involved. This dataset will provide valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism of IUGR formation.

Cost-effective core@shell structured zero-valent iron nanoparticles @ magnetic (nZVI@Fe3O4) for Cr(vi) removal from aqueous solutions: preparation by disproportionation of Fe(ii).

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and its composites are known for their excellent ability to remove Cr(vi), but their preparation can be expensive due to the reduction processes. This study presents a cost-effective method to prepare core@shell structured nZVI@Fe3O4 nanocomposites using a novel Fe(ii) disproportionation reaction. The nZVI@Fe3O4 was thoroughly characterized using various techniques, including FESEM, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, XRD, FTIR, and VSM. Batch experiments were performed to evaluate the removal efficiency of nZVI@Fe3O4 in eliminating Cr(vi) ions from aqueous solutions, while classical models were employed to investigate the influencing factors associated with the removal process. The results showed that a 0.7 mg per ml NaOH solution reacted with Fe(ii) at 150 °C for 0.5 h could be used to prepare nZVI@Fe3O4 composites efficiently and inexpensively. nZVI@Fe3O4 was able to remove more than 99% of Cr(vi) from both simulated Cr(vi) solutions and real electroplating wastewater, and the recovery and preparation could be easily performed using external magnets to separate it from the solution. At pH 6.0, the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for Cr(vi) reached 58.67 mg g-1. The reaction mechanism was discussed from the perspective of electron transfer. Overall, the results suggest that nZVI@Fe3O4, an efficient adsorbent prepared using an environmentally friendly and inexpensive Fe(ii) disproportionation reaction, is a promising option for the treatment of Cr(vi) from industrial wastewater and other contaminated water sources.

Arterial spin labeling for moyamoya angiopathy: A preoperative and postoperative evaluation method.

Objectives: Studies have shown that arterial spin labeling (ASL) effectively replaces traditional MRI perfusion imaging for detecting cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA). However, there are few reports on the relationship between neovascularization and cerebral perfusion in patients with MMA. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of neovascularization on cerebral perfusion with MMA after bypass surgery. Methods: We selected patients with MMA in the Department of Neurosurgery between September 2019 and August 2021 and enrolled them based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. ASL imaging was used to monitor the baseline CBF level before surgery and determine the changes in cerebral vessels at postoperative 1 week and 6 months, respectively. The Alberta stroke grade, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and digital subtraction angiography images were used to evaluate the effect of postoperative CBF status and prognosis. Ninety hemispheres from 51 patients were included in this study. There were no significant differences in the baseline data of the enrolled patients. At 1 week and 6 months post-surgery, the CBF state in the operation area was significantly changed compared with that at baseline (P < 0.05). The preoperative Alberta score (t = 2.714, P = 0.013) and preoperative mRS score (t = 6.678, P < 0.001) correlated with postoperative neovascularization. Conclusion: ASL is an effective method for detecting CBF and plays an important role in the long-term follow-up of patients with MMA. Combined cerebral revascularization significantly improves CBF in the operation area both in the short and long terms. Patients with lower preoperative Alberta scores and higher mRS scores were more likely to benefit from combined cerebral revascularization surgery. However, regardless of the type of patient, CBF reconstruction can effectively improve prognosis.

Rat and mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can spontaneously express troponin T.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate whether the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) of rat and mice can spontaneously express troponin T (cTnT) in vitro. METHODS: The BMSCs of rats and mice were cultured in vitro. The expression of cTnT in the BMSCs of rats and mice was detected by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. The detection of cTnT and α-sarcomeric actin coexpression on the surface of BMSCs was determined using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: In rats and mice, cTnT expression was detected in a portion of BMSCs. The positive rates of cTnT in rats and mice were approximately 10-52 % and 27-60 %, respectively. According to the results of the Western blot analysis, the gray values of cTnT in rats and mice were 0.64 ± 0.02 and 1.08 ± 0.03, respectively. Additionally, the surface of BMSCs can express cTnT and α-sarcomeric actin, which is a marker for striated muscle. CONCLUSION: The BMSCs of rats and mice can spontaneously express cTnT and automatically differentiate striated muscles in vitro.

Adenosine deaminase from the cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of adenosine deaminase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and the potential influence of patients' age groups and cutoffs of measured adenosine deaminase. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated with a random-effect model. RESULTS: Overall, 43 studies with 1653 patients with TBM and 3417 controls without were included. Pooled results showed that adenosine deaminase in CSF is associated with satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for TBM, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.90), specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.91), positive likelihood ratio of 7.70 (95% CI: 6.16-9.63), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.12-0.20). The pooled receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.96), suggesting good performance. Subgroup analyses showed good diagnostic efficacies of adenosine deaminase in CSF for both adults (AUC 0.95) and children (AUC 0.96) with TBM. AUCs indicating the diagnostic accuracies of adenosine deaminase in CSF for TBM were 0.93 for studies with cutoffs <10 U/L and and 0.94 for a cutoff =10 U/L, but only 0.90 for studies with cutoffs >10 U/L. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring adenosine deaminase of CSF shows satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for TBM in children and adults, particularly if using a cutoff ≤10 U/L.

Statins associate with lower risk of biliary tract cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs), encompassing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), gallbladder (GBC), and ampulla of Vater cancers (AVC), are common hepatobiliary cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma with a high mortality rate. As there is no effective chemopreventive agent to prevent BTCs, this study aimed to explore the role of statins on the risk of BTCs. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception until 24 April 2020 were searched according to the Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. The adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) of BTCs and individual cancer were pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Eight observational studies (3 cohort and 5 case-control studies) were included with 10,485,231 patients. The median age was 68.0 years (IQR: 67.0-71.5) and 48.3% were male. Statins were associated with a lower risk of all BTCs (aRR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.51-0.87). The pooled aRR for CCA was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.38-0.94) and GBC was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.68-0.90). There was only one study on AVC with aRR of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.66-1.41). The pooled aRR for lipophilic and hydrophilic statins was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.88) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.61-0.80), respectively. The effects were attenuated in studies that adjusted for aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aRR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.72-0.89) and metformin (aRR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.72-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Statins, both lipophilic and hydrophobic, were associated with a lower risk of BTCs, particularly CCA and GBC.

Metabolic reprogramming of glutamine involved in tumorigenesis, multidrug resistance and tumor immunity.

Glutamine, as the most abundant amino acid in the body, participates in the biological synthesis of nucleotides and other non-essential amino acids in the process of cell metabolism. Recent studies showed that glutamine metabolic reprogramming is an important signal during cancer development and progression. This metabolic signature in cancer cells can promote the development of cancer by activating multiple signaling pathways and oncogenes. It can also be involved in tumor immune regulation and promote the development of drug resistance to tumors. In this review, we mainly summarize the role of glutamine metabolic reprogramming in tumors, including the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. We further discussed the promising tumor treatment strategy by targeting glutamine metabolism alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics.

COVID-19 vaccination of patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease

Abstract Objective This study aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) in China. Methods Participants who were diagnosed with a chronic IMID were eligible for inclusion in this study. Age- and sex-matched healthy vaccinated individuals were set as the control group. All participants received two doses of the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine or three doses of the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. Adverse events, IMID activity after vaccination, and the rate of COVID-19 in the two groups were compared. Results There were 158 patients in the IMID group, with an average age of 40 ± 14 years old, and 98 female subjects. In the IMID group, 123 patients received the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine, and 35 patients received the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. There were 153 individuals in the control group, including 122 who received the CoronaVac vaccine and 31 who received the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. The frequency of vaccine-related adverse events in the IMID group was less than that in the control group, all of which were mild local effects, and no serious events occurred. Of note, no disease flares occurred in the IMID group. No participants in either group subsequently got COVID-19, so the incidence rate was 0% in both groups. Conclusion COVID-19 vaccination was found to be safe for IMID subjects, any adverse events were mild, and vaccination did not increase the risk of disease activity. Meanwhile, vaccination could effectively reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in IMID patients. In the future, studies with a larger sample size and a longer duration are needed.

Anti-OJ antibody-positive anti-synthetase syndrome with repeated arthritis, fever, and recurrent liver cancer: a case report.

Background: Anti-isoleucyl-transfer RNA synthetase (anti-OJ) autoantibody-positive anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) is a rare systemic autoimmune disease that manifests as an inflammatory myopathy and interstitial lung disease. We present a case of an anti-OJ antibody-positive ASS, with recurrent joint pain and fever, significantly elevated inflammatory markers, occult myositis but no interstitial pneumonia. This clinical presentation of an anti-OJ antibody-positive ASS has not been reported before. Case Description: A 75-year-old male, was admitted to our hospital complaining of recurrent joint pain for more than 1 year, recurrent fever for 6 months, and recurrence of joint pain and fever for 1 week. The patient had a history of chronic viral hepatitis B, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surgery 11 years ago, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. In the past year, the patient visited Departments of orthopedics, Infectious Medicine and rheumatology for many times, and has undergone positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), bone marrow puncture and other examinations, but the cause was still unknown. On admission, physical examination showed that the temperature was 39.6 ℃, and there was tenderness in multiple joints and muscles, such as the left ankle, the right shoulder, the left wrist, biceps brachii and quadriceps femoris, and so on. The laboratory results showed white blood cell (WBC) count of 30,500/µL (neutrophils: 90.1%), C-reactive protein (CRP): 140.79 mg/dL, Creatine Kinase and creatine kinase-MB were normal. Because of the muscle tenderness, myositis antibody tests were performed and the anti-OJ autoantibody was positive. Asking the medical history in detail, the patient had myasthenia, which was covered up due to prominent joint pain and fever. The patient had no interstitial pneumonia and mechanic's hand. Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed 1 year after the diagnosis of ASS, and the clinical symptoms were relieved after surgical resection. Conclusions: We report this rare case of anti-OJ antibody-positive ASS with atypical manifestations to raise awareness of the disease for clinicians. For patients with recurrent unexplained arthritis with fever, we should consider ASS, and myositis antibody tests should be performed if necessary. Patients with a history of tumours should be monitored for tumour recurrence.

GP5 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Recent evidences have shown that glycoprotein V (GP5) protein, which is initially considered as an important adhesion molecule unique to the megakaryocyte line, was also specifically expressed in malignant human breast epithelial cells. However, its expression level and function are not clear. This study aimed to reveal the abnormal expression of GP5 in breast cancer (BC), research the associations between the GP5 abnormal expression and BC progression, and explore the molecular mechanism of GP5 in BC. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot (WB), and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used to determine the expression patterns of GP5 in BC tissues and cells. The expression profiles of GP5 in the Cancer Genome Atlas databases were analyzed by UALCAN. The GP5 knockdown and over-expression BC cell lines were constructed and confirmed by RT-PCR and WB. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG database were performed to screen cellular processes and signal pathways. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway was verified by RT-qPCR, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was confirmed by WB. The results indicated GP5 was highly expressed in BC tissues and might play an important role as a cancer-promoting gene in BC. The high expression of GP5 was significantly associated with higher nuclear grade, higher TNM stage, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negativity. GP5 may promote the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of BC cells by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to up-regulate the EMT. This study provides a new idea that GP5 was expected to become a potential molecular target for early BC clinic diagnosis and treatment.

Inhibition of the CEBPß-NFκB interaction by nanocarrier-packaged Carnosic acid ameliorates glia-mediated neuroinflammation and improves cognitive function in an Alzheimer's disease model.

Neuroinflammation occurs early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The initial stage of AD is related to glial dysfunction, which contributes to impairment of Aß clearance and disruption of synaptic connection. CEBPß, a member of the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (CEBP) family, modulates the expression of inflammation-associated genes, and its expression is elevated in brains undergoing degeneration and injured brains. However, the mechanism underlying CEBPß-mediated chronic inflammation in AD is unclear. In this study, we observed that increases in the levels of nuclear CEBPß facilitated the interaction of CEBPß with the NFκB p65 subunit, increasing the transcription of proinflammatory cytokines in the APP/PS1 mouse brain. Oral administration of nanocarrier-packaged carnosic acid (CA) reduced the aberrant activation of microglia and astrocytes and diminished mature IL-1ß, TNFα and IL-6 production in the APP/PS1 mouse brain. CA administration reduced ß-amyloid (Aß) deposition and ameliorated cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. We observed that CA blocked the interaction of CEBPß with NFκB p65, and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that CA reduced the transcription of the NFκB target genes TNFα and IL-6. We confirmed that CA alleviated inflammatory mediator-induced neuronal degeneration and reduced Aß secretion by inhibiting the CEBPß-NFκB signalling pathway in vitro. Sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBEßCD) was used as the encapsulation agent for the CA-loaded nanocarrier to overcome the poor water solubility and enhance the brain bioavailability of CA. The CA nanoparticles (NPs) had no obvious toxicity. We demonstrated a feasible SBEßCD-based nanodelivery system targeting the brain. Our data provide experimental evidence that CA-loaded NPs are potential therapeutic agents for AD treatment.

A novel nonsense mutation of TGFBR1 in a fetus with untypical Loeys-Dietz syndrome 1.

OBJECTIVE: We present a rare untypical Loeys-Dietz syndrome 1 case in prenatal setting and report a novel mutation in the TGFBR1 gene. CASE REPORT: A pregnant woman came for medical attention due to the fetal ultrasound anomaly. The fetus was found to have short long bones. Trio-based WES was applied to the family. A novel de novo nonsense mutation c.1237C > T was detected in the TGFBR1 gene. A diagnosis of Loeys-Dietz syndrome 1 (LDS1) was plausible, but the fetus did not demonstrate the characteristic phenotype of the syndrome. CONCLUSION: In prenatal setting, fetal phenotypes are difficult to be fully observed, putting stress on the utility of molecular techniques. LDS1 in fetuses could present untypical features such as skeletal dysplasia.

Knockdown of lncRNA HAGLR promotes Treg cell differentiation through increasing the RUNX3 level in dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a systemic autoimmune disease. It's known that the number of regulatory T (Treg) cells was decreased in DM. Besides, Treg cells were increased after treatment in DM patients. Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) is specifically expressed in Treg cells and Runt-related transcription factor (RUNX3) could regulate Foxp3 transcription. And our previous experiment showed that Homeobox D gene cluster antisense growth-associated long noncoding RNA (HAGLR) was up-regulated in DM patients. Here, we aimed to explore whether HAGLR regulated the differentiation of Treg cells through RUNX3-mediated transcription of Foxp3, thus affecting the progression of DM. The levels of HAGLR, Foxp3, and RUNX3 were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein levels of Foxp3 and RUNX3 were examined by western blot. The proportions of Treg cells in CD4+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to observe the histopathological changes of the muscle. RNA pull-down assay was performed to detect the interaction between HAGLR and RUNX3. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to examine the effect of HAGLR on the transcriptional regulation of Foxp3 by RUNX3. HAGLR was up-regulated and Foxp3 was down-regulated in DM patients. Besides, RUNX3 protein levels were decreased in DM patients, while its mRNA levels did not change significantly. The proportion of Treg cells was down-regulated in DM patients. In addition, interference with HAGLR could increase the levels of Foxp3, RUNX3 protein level, and the proportion of Treg cells. Besides, there was an interaction between HAGLR and RUNX3. We also found that knockdown of HAGLR and RUNX3 restored the increased Treg cells induced by HAGLR knockdown alone. In vivo experiments indicated that injection with adv-HAGLR increased Treg cell proportion and attenuated DM development. Interference with HAGLR could increase the protein levels of RUNX3, high levels of RUNX3 further promoted the expression of the Foxp3, thus restoring the number of Treg cells and easing the development of DM.

Characteristics of bone metabolism in postmenopausal female patients with different types of idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A single-centre retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The association between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and impaired calcium metabolism has attracted widespread interest. Several studies have suggested that decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level are related to the occurrence and/or recurrence of BPPV; however, the characteristics of bone metabolism in patients with BPPV subtypes have not been fully investigated, and conclusions have been controversial. This study aimed to evaluate BMD and serum levels of 25(OH)D and bone turnover markers to clarify the characteristics of bone metabolism in patients with different types of BPPV. METHOD: We retrospectively analysed the data of new-onset idiopathic postmenopausal female patients with BPPV at our institution from January 2016 to January 2020. The patients' demographic data including age, medication history, concomitant diseases, onset time, clinical form, laboratory indicators, such as serum levels of 25(OH)D, bone formation markers, namely, amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and osteocalcin (OC), bone resorption marker, namely, ß-isomerized carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTX), and BMD were collected and analysed. RESULTS: This study included 201 consecutive postmenopausal female patients with BPPV. Among them, 138 were diagnosed with posterior semicircular canal BPPV, 42 were diagnosed with lateral semicircular canal canalolithiasis, and 21 were diagnosed with lateral semicircular canal cupulolithiasis. There were no significant differences in age distribution, body mass index, clinical history, levels of albumin, globulin, uric acid, creatinine, or blood urea nitrogen, lipid profiles (except high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and routine blood parameters among these groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the mean T-score and BMD values of different sites or in the serum levels of 25(OH)D and bone turnover markers (PINP, OC and ß-CTX) among the subgroups (P > 0.05). The proportion of reduction in BMD (T-score < -1 SD) and decreased serum vitamin D level (< 20 ng/ml) were not significantly different between the subgroups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in bone metabolism in postmenopausal female patients with different types of idiopathic BPPV.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Early-Stage Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Mastering the Learning Curve: A Multicenter Data-Based Matched Study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the only widely accepted curative method for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, little is known about the efficacy of laparoscopic liver resection for ICC, especially in patients with early-stage disease. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term effects of laparoscopy and open surgery for the treatment of ICC. METHODS: Data from 1,084 patients treated at three hospitals from January 2011 to December 2018 were selected and analyzed. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the long-term outcomes (overall survival and recurrence-free survival) and short-term outcomes (perioperative outcomes) of all-stage and early-stage patients. RESULTS: After matching, 244 patients (122 vs. 122) in the all-stage group and 65 patients (27 vs. 38) in the early-stage group were included. The baseline of the two groups was balanced, and no significant differences were found in sex or age. The short-term results of the laparoscopic group were better than those of the open group, including less blood loss [blood loss ≥400 ml 27 (22.1%) vs. 6 (4.92%), p<0.001 for all-stage, 12 (31.6%) vs. 2 (7.41%), p=0.042 for early stage), shorter surgery [200 (141; 249) min vs. 125 (115; 222) min, p=0.025 for early stage] and shorter hospital stay [11.0 (9.00; 16.0) days vs. 9.00 (7.00; 12.0) days, p=0.001 for all stage, 11.0 (8.50; 17.8) days vs. 9.00 (6.50; 11.0) days, p=0.011 for early stage]. Regarding long-term outcomes, no significant differences were found for all-stage patients, while there were significant differences observed for the early-stage group (p=0.013 for OS, p=0.014 for RFS). For the early-stage patients, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of the OLR group were 84.2, 65.8, and 41.1%, respectively, and those of the LLR group were 100, 90.9, and 90.9%, respectively. The RFS rates of the OLR group were 84.2, 66.7, and 41.7%, respectively, and those of the LLR group were and 92.3, 92.3, and 92.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with laparoscopy seemed to have better short-term outcomes, such as less blood loss, shorter operation duration, and shorter hospital stay, than patients undergoing open surgery. Based on the long-term results, laparoscopic treatment for early ICC may have certain advantages.

Anti-cancer properties of specific Chinese herbal medicines for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

AIMS: This essay explores the anti-cancer activity of specific Chinese herbal medicines to clarify how effective Chinese herbal medicine is used for handling hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Literature form publica domain were studied and an analysis of anti-cancer activity of specific Chinese herbal medicines is presented in this review. RESULTS: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most dangerous malignant tumors in the world. The operative diagnosis of liver cancer remains a significant challenge. Although surgery tissue resection is encouraging, a high risk of recurrence and metastasis, illustrating disease-related mortality is desperately required to enhance postoperative preventive and therapeutic clinical procedures. The almost only effective clinical intervention seems to be developing advanced targeted therapies such as sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma patients, but there is little research in this field. Because their preventative/therapeutic properties strengthen Chinese herbal medicinal compounds, they are deemed relevant to the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: Chinese herbal medicine derivates provide multifaceted, orientated and orchestrated therapy, making it an ideal candidate for inhibiting hepatocellular tumor production and metastasis.

Correction to: microRNA-124 inhibits bone metastasis of breast cancer by repressing Interleukin-11.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Elastography for the diagnosis of high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: An accurate diagnosis for high-suspicion nodules based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines would reduce unnecessary invasive examinations. Elastography is a useful tool for discriminating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of elastography for high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines in the Chinese population. METHODS: Thyroid nodules with high-suspicion characteristics based on the 2015 ATA guidelines were subjected to conventional ultrasound (US) and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) examinations at 12 hospitals from 4 geographic regions across China. Cytology/histology of thyroid nodules was used as a reference method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the elasticity score (ES) and strain ratio (SR). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of malignancy. RESULTS: Overall, a total of 1445 thyroid nodules (834 malignant, 611 benign) from 12 centers were included in the final analysis. The areas under the curve of the ES and SR were 0.828 and 0.732, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the ES were 92.4, 60.7, 79.0, 76.3 and 85.5%, respectively, and those of the SR were 81.1, 50.1, 68.9, 65.9 and 67.9%, respectively. The combination of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and ES led to a significant increase in the sensitivity and NPV (97.1 and 91.9%, respectively) compared with the TI-RADS alone. Logistic regression analysis showed that microcalcifications (OR = 5.290), taller than wide (OR = 12.710), irregular margins (OR = 10.117), extrathyroidal extension (ETE; OR = 6.412), the ES (OR = 3.741) and the SR (OR = 1.083) were independent predictors of malignant thyroid nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of the ES were all superior in nodules ≥1 cm than in those < 1 cm (95.0% vs 90.4, 68.8% vs 56.8, 85.9% vs 74.4, 85.2% vs 69.9, and 87.8% vs 84.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elastography combined with the ES is a valuable tool for the assessment of high-suspicion thyroid nodules based on the 2015 ATA guidelines, especially in nodules ≥1 cm.