Weighted gene co-expression network analysis combined with machine learning validation to identify key hub biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide; however, the potentially possible molecular biological mechanism of CRC is still not completely comprehended. This study aimed to confirm candidate key hub genes involved in the growth and development of CRC and their connection with immune infiltration as well as the related pathways. Gene expression data were selected from the GEO dataset. Hub genes for CRC were identified on the basis of differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and LASSO regression. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were applied to reveal possible functions of the differential genes. Single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) was implemented to identify the relationship between immune cells infiltration and hub genes. Two hundred and sixty-two differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Three modules were acquired based on WGCNA, and the blue module presented the highest relevance with CRC. Ten hub genes (AQP8, B3GALT5, CDH3, CEMIP, CPM, FOXQ1, PLAC8, SCNN1B, SPINK5, and SST) were acquired with LASSO analysis as underlying biomarkers for CRC. Compared with normal tissues, CRC tissues presented significantly higher numbers of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, B cells, natural regulatory T (Treg) cells, and monocytes. The functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that hub genes were primarily enriched in metabolic process, inflammatory-related, and immune-related response. Ten hub genes were identified to be involved in the occurrence and development of CRC and may be deemed as novel biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Important but challenging: Chinese in-service EFL teachers' research attitudes in a graduate program.

In recent decades, the practice of involving teachers in research in degree programs is becoming popular. Yet, little is known about the impact of research experiences on teachers' behavior: whether research experiences change their teaching practices and lead to further research efforts in future careers, especially in the unique social, cultural, and educational culture of China. Thus, this study examines Chinese IETs' (in-service EFL teachers') research attitudes in a graduate program with a reasoned action approach. We used an embedded mixed methods research design to investigate a cohort of 197 IETs who completed the Research Attitudes in Vocational Education Questionnaire (RAVE-Q). The quantitative data validates the survey and shows that, in general, the IETs hold positive attitudes toward research. Next, semi-structured interviews investigating IETs and their advisors' perceptions of teacher research were conducted. The qualitative data shows a variety of research experiences among the IETs. Specifically, this study highlighted some interviewed IETs who had the desire to be reflective about their teaching and to apply research in their practices, nevertheless, the educational contexts made such efforts impossible. Thus, this study questioned the previous assumptions that positive research attitudes lead to corresponding research behaviors. This study offers implications for EFL graduate programs seeking to improve IETs' research attitudes both within and outside China.

Sorafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization prolongs survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To explore the efficacy and safety of sorafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: 118 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated in our hospital from June 2014 to June 2016 were collected and randomly divided into the Sorafenib+TACE group (treated with Sorafenib combined with TACE, n=59) and the TACE group (n=59). The clinical efficacy, the changes in levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) before and after treatment, adverse reactions and postoperative survival of patients were observed and recorded. RESULTS: The objective response rate (ORR) and the disease control rate (DCR) were 55.9% (33/59) and 86.4% (51/59) in the Sorafenib+TACE group, and 37.3% (22/59) and 67.8% (40/59) in the TACE group. Both ORR and DCR in the Sorafenib+TACE group were significantly superior to those in the TACE group (p=0.022, p=0.027). Main adverse reactions after treatment included myelosuppression, fever, rash, gastrointestinal reactions, hepatalgia, hypertension and hand-foot syndrome, mostly of grade I-II, which were all improved after dose reduction and symptomatic treatment. The incidence rates of rash, diarrhea, hypertension and hand-foot syndrome in the Sorafenib+TACE group were obviously higher than those in the TACE group (p<0.001, p=0.002, p=0.002, p<0.001). The levels of serum VEGF, bFGF and AFP declined significantly in both groups after treatment compared with those before treatment (p=0.013, p<0.001, p<0.001), while they were evidently lower in the Sorafenib+TACE group than in the TACE group after treatment (p<0.001, p=0.016, p<0.001). Follow-up results showed that the overall survival in the Sorafenib+TACE group was significantly longer than in the TACE group (p=0.030). CONCLUSION: Compared with TACE alone, Sorafenib combined with TACE can significantly improve ORR and DCR, obviously reduce the levels of serum VEGF, bFGF and AFP, and prolong the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, while the adverse reactions are tolerable, so it is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

Umbilical Hernia Repair in Cirrhotic Patients With Ascites: A Systemic Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical hernia is a common abdominal complication in cirrhotic patients. The incidence of umbilical hernias can be up to 20% in the presence of ascites. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal management of umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients. The purpose of this study is to review the management of umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients with ascites. METHODS: A search of the available literature in English since 1980 was performed using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and a search of relevant journals and reference lists. The search terms included "umbilical hernia," "ascites," "cirrhosis," and any derivatives of these terms, and the literature search identified all the relevant publications. RESULTS: Thirty-three relevant articles published in the language of English were identified. Fourteen studies involved the management of refractory ascites in cirrhotic patients. Twenty-four studies included cirrhotic patients receiving elective or emergency surgery. Because of much lower morbidity and mortality in elective surgery than in emergency surgery, many authors advocated early elective repair of uncomplicated umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients. Of these, 2 studies described laparoscopic umbilical hernioplasty, with a significant lower morbidity and hernia recurrence than open repair. Fifteen studies described the use of prosthetic mesh umbilical hernia repair in cirrhotic patients, which was associated with minimal wound-related morbidity and markedly lower recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that early elective repair of uncomplicated umbilical hernias is recommended in cirrhotic patients with tolerable hepatic functional reserve or when the expected time for liver transplantation is >3 months. Umbilical hernias are supposed to be corrected in the process of liver transplantation, provided that patients could have a better prospect to be transplanted within 3 months. Control of ascites is a crucial part to successful outcomes of umbilical hernia repair. Large volume paracentesis, concomitant peritoneovenous shunting with herniorrhaphy and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting can be applied to control refractory ascites. Emergency repair of umbilical hernias is indicated in cirrhotic patients with ascites when complications develop.

Detection of bovine central nervous system tissue as bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk material by real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR in raw and cooked beef products.

There is increasing evidence of the association of the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (nvCJD) in humans with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. Many countries established legislation of banning central nervous system (CNS) tissues, which are regarded as BSE-specified risk materials (SRM), in human food supply because of the potential transmission of BSE to humans. A real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay using the bovine glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA template for the detection of CNS tissues in raw and cooked beef products was developed in this study. The results showed that (1) this method can detect CNS tissues from bovine and ovine origins, but not from porcine and avian ones; (2) GFAP mRNA can only be detected from brain and spinal cords rather than other tissues; (3) the GFAP mRNA was detectable in CNS tissues even after dilution to 0.001%; and (4) the assay was unaffected by heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 30 min or storage at room temperature for 4 days, and at 4 degrees C for at least 15 days.

Surgical repair of abdominal wall defect with biomimetic nano/microfibrous hybrid scaffold.

It is universal to repair abdominal wall defects with prosthetic materials in abdominal surgery worldwide, which are associated with high complications and organ damage. At present, the composite nanofibers composed of natural and synthetic polymers as the new type of nano structure scaffold have attracted considerable attention in the field of tissue engineering. In this study we examined the feasibility of using electrospun silk fibroin (SF)/poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) hybrid scaffolds for repairing of abdominal wall defects. Both in vivo and in vitro characterization were evaluated to access efficacy of the nanofiber for tissue regeneration. Our results showed that the electrospun SF/PHBV nanofiber scaffolds could stimulate the expression of TGF-ß1 and Collagen I in fibroblasts in vitro and then promote granulation and connective tissue depositions, but not result in a strong foreign body reaction in vivo. Moreover, we conjectured the potential molecular biological mechanism of SF/PHBV hybrid scaffolds in the process of tissue regeneration. Thus, the SF/PHBV hybrid nanofiber scaffolds have high efficiency and biocompatibility to repair abdominal wall defects.

Scrapie infectivity is quickly cleared in tissues of orally-infected farmed fish.

BACKGROUND: Scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) belongs to the group of animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). BSE epidemic in the UK and elsewhere in Europe has been linked to the use of bovine meat and bone meals (MBM) in the feeding of cattle. There is concern that pigs, poultry and fish bred for human consumption and fed with infected MBM would eventually develop BSE or carry residual infectivity without disease. Although there has been no evidence of infection in these species, experimental data on the susceptibility to the BSE agent of farm animals other than sheep and cow are limited only to pigs and domestic chicken. In the framework of a EU-granted project we have challenged two species of fish largely used in human food consumption, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), with a mouse-adapted TSE strain (scrapie 139A), to assess the risk related to oral consumption of TSE contaminated food. In trout, we also checked the "in vitro" ability of the pathological isoform of the mouse prion protein (PrPSc) to cross the intestinal epithelium when added to the mucosal side of everted intestine. RESULTS: Fish challenged with a large amount of scrapie mouse brain homogenate by either oral or parenteral routes, showed the ability to clear the majority of infectivity load. None of the fish tissues taken at different time points after oral or parenteral inoculation was able to provoke scrapie disease after intracerebral inoculation in recipient mice. However, a few recipient mice were positive for PrPSc and spongiform lesions in the brain. We also showed a specific binding of PrPSc to the mucosal side of fish intestine in the absence of an active uptake of the prion protein through the intestinal wall. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that scrapie 139A, and possibly BSE, is quickly removed from fish tissues despite evidence of a prion like protein in fish and of a specific binding of PrPSc to the mucosal side of fish intestine.