Misdiagnosis of primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the pleura: case report and literature review.

Background: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an indolent B cell lymphoma. Its occurrence in the pleura is rare, with atypical clinical manifestations. MALT of the pleura is easily misdiagnosed. This is the first case report of pleural MALT lymphoma in China. Case Description: We report the case of a 54-year-old Chinese man with no notable medical history who complained of cough, sputum, and shortness of breath for 3 months. He had a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test. An initial misdiagnosis of pleural tuberculosis was corrected, after 3 thoracoscopic biopsies and tests, to primary pleural MALT lymphoma. He received treatments of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vindesine and prednisolone) and traditional Chinese medicine. The patient was followed for 3 years until June 2022, with no obvious respiratory symptoms. Pleural MALT lymphoma is extremely rare, with only a few cases reported. This article describes our case, and includes an overview of 15 previously reported cases to summarize the characteristics, treatments, and prognosis of primary pleural MALT lymphoma. Conclusions: Pleural MALT lymphoma is rare, and a correct diagnosis depends on tissue biopsy, immunohistochemical staining, and detection of gene rearrangement. Thoracoscopy is important to diagnose this disease. Multiple thoracoscopic biopsies may be necessary.

The effect of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng Decoction and its components on gastric cancer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng Decoction (JPYZXZ) is an empirical compound prescription based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. JPYZXZ, which is "Qi-invigorating, spleen-strengthening and stasis-removing," can improve the quality of life of gastric cancer patients and prolong their survival; however, the exact mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of this compound is still not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to clearly define the effect of JPYZXZ and its components, Jianpi Yangzheng Decoction (JPYZ) and Xiao Zheng San Jie Decoction (XZSJ), on inhibiting the progression of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of JPYZXZ and its components on the motility of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells was measured by MTT, adhesion, transwell assays and wound-healing assays. JPYZXZ, JPYZ and XZSJ were administered to 615 mice with gastric cancer xenografts, and their effect on the inhibition of subcutaneous transplantation was analyzed. THP-1 monocyte cells were used to establish tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) models. The polarized state of the TAMs was detected by Flow Cytometry, ELISA and Immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression of tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and TAM-related genes was determined by Real-time PCR and Western Blot, respectively. RESULTS: We determined that both JPYZXZ and its components inhibited the progress of gastric cancer in vitro, and JPYZXZ was clearly more effective than JPYZ or XZSJ. The in vivo results demonstrated that the JPYZXZ and XZSJ group exhibited a significant decrease in the tumor weight compared to the control group. Further analysis indicated that JPYZXZ was more active than JPYZ or XZSJ in inhibiting the gastric cancer EMT transformation both in vivo and in vitro. However, JPYZ was more effective compared with JPYZXZ for inducing the phenotypic change in macrophages from M2 to M1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that both JPYZXZ and its components prevent the progress of gastric cancer. JPYZXZ inhibits the gastric cancer EMT more effectively than JPYZ and XZSJ, but JPYZ primarily works to regulate the phenotypic change in macrophages from M2 to M1.

Extracts of Qizhu decoction inhibit hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in C57BL/6 mice by suppressing NF-κB signaling.

Hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma are serious human diseases. Here, we examined the in vivo and in vitro inhibitory effect of extracts of Qizhu decoction (a traditional Chinese medicine) on hepatitis caused by diethylnitrosamine or hepatitis B virus and on diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. The results showed that both the aqueous and ethanol extracts (QC and QS, respectively) of Qizhu decoction significantly inhibited hepatic inflammation and liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine or hepatitis B virus by suppressing NF-κB signaling and decreasing the levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß. Both QC and QS inhibited the proliferation and migration of primary cancer hepatocytes by reducing cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and N-cadherin expression and increasing E-cadherin expression. QC and QS also promoted the apoptosis of primary cancer hepatocytes by upregulating caspase-3 and downregulating BCL-2 expression. The knockdown of p65 in NF-κB signaling inhibited the ability of QC and QS to significantly reduce the colony formation ability of liver cancer cells. Additionally, QC and QS might significantly inhibit the DNA replication of hepatitis B virus in vivo and in vitro, and we found that corilagin and polydatin were the active compounds of QC and QS. Taken together, our in vitro findings and our results in C57BL/6 mice showed that extracts of Qizhu decoction might inhibit hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing NF-κB signaling.

[Evaluation of the efficacy and prognostic factors for colorectal liver metastases treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and to determine the prognostic factors of TACE in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). METHODS: The clinical data of 183 patients with unresectable CRLM treated with TACE from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Log-rank method was used for univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors. RESULTS: The median survival time was 22 months, and the 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 93.9%, 81.1%, 39.8%, 18.2%, and 3.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor involved more than one lobe of the liver, and elevated CEA and CA19-9 levels were independent risk factors for the overall survival (P < 0.01). Females, more times of TACE, combination with regional therapy and received phase II resection were related with a good survival (P < 0.01) in CRLM patients after TACE treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is an effective therapy for unresectable colorectal liver metastases. Patients with tumor spread more than one lobe of the liver, high CEA and CA19-9 levels are independent poor prognostic factors. Females, patients received more times of TACE, combined with regional therapy and received phase II resection may have a good survival.