Anlotinib in combination with pembrolizumab for low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of the pancreas: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a rare spindle cell sarcoma especially in the pancreas, with myofibroblastic differentiation. Hitherto, only a few cases have been reported. CASE SUMMARY: Herein, we report a case involving the discovery of a pancreatic mass detected during a routine physical examination. Subsequent imaging and pathological tests of the patient led to the diagnosis of LGMS of the pancreas. Following surgical intervention, the patient experienced recurrence and metastasis. Conventional treatment is not effective for postoperative recurrent pancreatic LGMS with multiple metastases. After communicating with the patients and their families, informed consent was obtained for the treatment of anlotinib combined with pembrolizumab. Evaluation of imaging and clinical symptoms post-treatment revealed a relatively favorable response to the combination of anlotinib and pembrolizumab. CONCLUSION: Based on the comprehensive literature review, our report aimed to provide evidence for a better understanding of the disease characteristics, diagnostic criteria, imaging findings, and identification of LGMS. And explore novel treatment strategies for this disease.

Combined administration on You-Gui Yin and low-dose Raloxifene partially attenuates the bone loss in ovariectomized mice through the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease of fragility fractures due to the loss of mass and deterioration of the microarchitecture of bone. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the osteogenic effects and the underlying mechanisms of the combined administration of You-Gui Yin (YGY) and Raloxifene hydrochloride (RLX) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. METHODS: First, a classic animal model was used to mimic postmenopausal osteoporosis through the removal of the ovary of mice. Second, the OVX mice were administered YGY, RLX, and YGY + RLX for 12 weeks. Next, the bone microtomographic histomorphometry and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by micro-CT, and the biochemical markers of procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and beta-isomerized C-telopeptide (ß-CTX) in serum were assessed. Finally, primary bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated from the tibia and cultured to evaluate cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. RESULTS: The results showed that BMD on the YGY + RLX group was higher than that on the RLX group (p < 0.05) and did not have a significant difference when compared with the sham group. Notably, the YGY + RLX group had a dramatically increased trabecular number (Tb.N) compared with that of the YGY group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the BV/TV (bone volume/total volume) and Tb.N in the YGY + RLX group were higher than that in the RLX group (p < 0.05), and the Tb.Sp (trabecular separation) was lower than that in the RLX group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the serum level of P1NP from the YGY + RLX group dramatically increased when compared with that from the YGY and RLX groups (YGY group: p < 0.05; RLX groups: p < 0.01). Notably, there was no significant difference between the YGY and YGY + RLX groups. In addition, cell proliferation from the co-administration of YGY and RLX was clearly higher than a single use of YGY and RLX (p < 0.01, respectively). The ALP/BCA (alkaline phosphatase/bicinchoninic acid) in the YGY + RLX group was higher than that in the RLX group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Overall, co-administered YGY and RLX could partially attenuate bone loss and were more effective than individually using either one; this outcome might be associated with the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

[Effect of HBXIP on biological function and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway of adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line ACC-M].

PURPOSE: To study the effect of hepatitis B virus X protein binding protein (HBXIP) on proliferation, migration and invasion of adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line ACC-M, and the possible mechanism of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. METHODS: HBXIP plasmid was transfected into ACC-M. The cells were divided into experimental group (transfected with plasmid pEGFP-N1-HBXIP) control group (non-transfected group) and blank control group (vector group, pEGFP-N1). RT-PCR was used to detect the expression HBXIP in ACC-M; MTT assay, transwell chamber experiments and scratches over the proliferation of HBXIP were utilized individually to evaluate the influence of HBXIP on ACC-M expression, migration and invasion; Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of Akt, p-Akt, PI3K, p-PI3K and S100A4 after overexpression of HBXIP. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0 software package. RESULTS: MTT results showed that the number of surviving cells of experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05); Scratch test results showed that the cell mobility of the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01); Transwell chamber experiments showed that the number of cell invasion of the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01); Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of p-Akt, p-PI3K and S100A4 in the experimental group with overexpressed HBXIP was relatively increased. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of HBXIP gene promotes ACC-M proliferation, invasion and migration. Further, ACC-M proliferation, invasion and migration may be promoted by increased Akt, PI3K phosphorylation and S100A4 protein expression.

Renal denervation, adjusted drugs, or combined therapy for resistant hypertension: A meta-regression.

The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy of renal denervation (RD), adjusted drugs, or combined therapy for resistant hypertension (RH) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies.Publications were comprehensively searched. Studies that investigated the effects of RD and/or adjusted drugs in lowering blood pressure (BP) were included. After quality assessment and data extraction, subgroup analyzes were first performed according to blinding method. Meta-regression and inverted funnel plots were also conducted.A total of 13 studies containing 1604 RH patients were included. Compared with control, the meta-analysis showed that RD significantly reduced office-based BP and ambulatory BP in 6 months in the unblinded studies, while no significant difference was found in the blinded studies. Meta-regression demonstrated the significant influence of blinding method on BP reduction, and further analysis revealed a significant BP reduction compared with baseline even in the control arm of blinded studies. RD had similar effects compared with adjusted drugs, and combined therapy seemed to further reduce the level of BP.The efficacy of RD was different between blinded and unblinded studies, and our data revealed a significant BP-lowering effect in the control arm of blinded studies, which was helpful to explain this finding. Furthermore, RD seemed to be equivalent to adjusted drugs, and also we suggested a potential advantage of combined therapy of RD and adjusted drugs compared with monotherapy for RH. However, more studies are warranted to better address the issue.