Low ankle-brachial index is associated with higher cardiovascular mortality in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ankle brachial index (ABI) is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, but it is unclear whether ABI is associated with cardiovascular mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The current study aimed to evaluate the association between ABI with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with NAFLD. METHODS: We performed a cohort study using the data of the1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data of adults. Mortality data were followed up to December 2015. NAFLD was defined by the hepatic steatosis index or the US fatty liver index. ABI was classified into three groups: ABI ≤ 0.9 (low value); 0.9 < ABI ≤ 1.1 (borderline value); ABI greater than 1.1 (normal value). RESULTS: We found that low ABI was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with NAFLD (HR: 2.42, 95% CI 1.10-5.33 for low value ABI vs normal value ABI, P for trend = 0.04), and the relationship was linearly and negatively correlated in the range of ABI < 1.4. However, low ABI was not associated with all-cause mortality in patients with NAFLD. Stratified by cardiovascular disease, ABI remains inversely correlated with cardiovascular mortality in NAFLD patients without cardiovascular disease. Stratified by diabetes, ABI is inversely correlated with cardiovascular mortality in NAFLD patients regardless of diabetes status. CONCLUSIONS: Low ABI is independently associated with higher cardiovascular mortality in NAFLD cases. This correlation remains significant even in the absence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of sensory genes from the antenna and abdomen of Quadrastichus mendeli Kim.

Quadrastichus mendeli Kim is one of the most important parasitoids of Leptocybe invasa Fisher et La Salle, which is an invasive gall-making pest in eucalyptus plantations in the world. Gall-inducing insects live within plant tissues and induce tumor-like growths that provide the insects with food, shelter, and protection from natural enemies. Empirical evidences showed that sensory genes play a key role in the host location of parasitoids. So far, what kind of sensory genes regulate parasitoids to locate gall-inducing insects has not been uncovered. In this study, sensory genes in the antenna and abdomen of Q. mendeli were studied using high-throughput sequencing. In total, 181,543 contigs was obtained from the antenna and abdomen transcriptome of Q. mendeli. The major sensory genes (chemosensory proteins, CSPs; gustatory receptors, GRs; ionotropic receptors, IRs; odorant binding proteins, OBPs; odorant receptors, ORs; and sensory neuron membrane proteins, SNMPs) were identified, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with these genes from Q. mendeli and other model insect species. The gene co-expression network constructed by WGCNA method is robust and reliable. There were 10,314 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and among them, 99 genes were DEGs. A comprehensive sequence resource with desirable quality was built by comparative transcriptome of the antenna and abdomen of Q. mendeli, enriching the genomic platform of Q. mendeli.

Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Scale Collagen Peptides-1 (SCPs1) Inhibit Melanogenesis through Downregulation of the cAMP-CREB Signaling Pathway.

The mechanism of silver carp scale collagen peptides (SCPs1) on melanogenesis and its mechanism of action were examined in mouse melanoma cells (B16). The cell viability and effects of SCPs1 on intracellular tyrosinase (TYR) activity and melanin, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content were examined. The regulatory mechanism of SCPs1 on the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway was analyzed. The cell viability of the SCPs1 group was >80% (0.01-1 mg/mL) and the inhibitory rate of SCPs1 on B16 cell melanin increased in a dose-dependent manner. The highest inhibitory rate of SCPs1 on melanin content reaching 80.24%. SCPs1 significantly increased the GSH content and decreased the tyrosinase activity, as well as the content of ROS and cAMP. Western blot analysis showed that SCPs1 significantly inhibited melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) expression and CREB phosphorylation in the cAMP-CREB signaling pathway, leading to downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and the expression of TYR, TYR-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2. SCPs1 also inhibited the expression of MC1R, MITF, TYR, TRP-1 and TRP-2 at the transcriptional level. Taken together, SCPs1 inhibited melanin synthesis through the downregulation of the cAMP-CREB signaling pathway. Fish-derived collagen peptides could potentially be applied in skin whitening products.

Isolation, Identification, and Biological Activity Analysis of Swim Bladder Polypeptides from Acipenser schrencki.

Swim bladder polypeptides (SBPs) of Acipenser schrencki were analyzed for their antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties. The results showed the optimal enzymatic conditions were alkaline protease with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20, an incubation time of 4 h, a temperature of 55 °C, and an enzyme dosage of 5000 U/g. Three different molecular weight fractions (F1, F2, and F3) were obtained via ultrafiltration. F3 (912.44-2135.82 Da) showed 77.90%, 72.15%, and 66.25% removal of O2•-, DPPH•, and •OH, respectively, at 10 mg/mL, which was significantly higher than the F1 and F2 fractions (p < 0.05). F3 contained proline (6.17%), hydroxyproline (5.28%), and hydrophobic amino acids (51.39%). The UV spectrum of F3 showed maximum absorption at 224 nm. Peptide sequence analysis showed that F3 contained antioxidant peptides (MFGF, GPPGPRGPPGL, and GPGPSGERGPPGPM) and exhibited inhibitory activities on angiotensin-converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase III/IV (FRF, FPFL and LPGLF). F3 was considered a good raw material for obtaining bioactive peptides.

Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Scales Collagen Peptides (SCPs): Preparation, Whitening Activity Screening and Characterization.

This study involves the preparation of scale collagen peptides (SCPs) with whitening activity from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and their characterization and peptide sequence identification. In this article, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe structure changes of sliver carp scales; enzymatic hydrolysis was optimized through protease screening and response surface optimization. The ultrafiltration was used to separate SCPs and the whitening activity was comprehensively evaluated using radical scavenging rate and tyrosinase-inhibiting activity, among others. An optimal component was characterized and identified using various modern spectral analysis techniques. The results showed that the surface of silver carp scales after decalcification was smooth and clear. The pepsin had the highest peptide yield and tyrosinase-inhibiting activity (90.01% and 82.25%, respectively). The optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were an enzyme dosage of 16.1%, a solid-liquid ratio of 1:15.6 and a time of 4.9 h. The proportions of hydrophobic and basic amino acids in the peptide composition were 32.15% and 13.12%, respectively. Compared with SCPs2, SCPs1 (6096.68-9513.70 Da) showed better ·OH scavenging ability, tyrosinase-inhibiting activity and moisture absorption. SCPs1 was a macromolecular fragment of type I collagen with a triple helix structure, containing three peptide sequences with the potential for tyrosinase activity inhibition (AGPPGADGQTGQRGE, SGPAGIAGPAGPRGPAGPNGPPGKD and KRGSTGEQGSTGPLGMRGPRGAA). These results show that SCPs1 is a collagen peptide product with whitening potential.

Post-synthesis of Sn-beta zeolite by aerosol method.

Sn-beta zeolite is a Lewis acid catalyst which can activate the C-O and C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bonds of many organic compounds. In this paper, a simple aerosol method has been firstly applied to the post-synthesis of Sn-beta zeolite. The aqueous solution containing SnCl2 and dealuminated beta zeolite was rapidly dried using an aerosol generator to obtain the Sn-beta zeolites with different Sn contents. The physicochemical properties of the Sn-beta zeolites were further characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, FT-IR and Py-FT-IR techniques. The catalysts exhibited good catalytic performances in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction of cyclohexanone.

3D laparoscopic-assisted vs open gastrectomy for carcinoma in the remnant stomach: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic technique has gradually been applied to the treatment of carcinoma in the remnant stomach (CRS), but its clinical efficacy remains controversial. AIM: To compare the short-term and long-term results of 3D laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (3DLAG) with open gastrectomy (OG) for CRS. METHODS: The clinical data of patients diagnosed with CRS and admitted to the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2016 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected. A total of 84 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. All their clinical data were collected and a database was established. All patients were treated with 3DLAG or OG by experienced surgeons and were divided into two groups based on the different surgical methods mentioned above. By using outpatient and telephone follow-up, we were able to determine postoperative survival and tumor status. The postoperative short-term efficacy and 1-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among 84 patients with CRS, 48 were treated with OG and 36 with 3DLAG. All patients successfully completed surgery. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, body mass index, ASA score, initial disease state (benign or malignant), primary surgical anastomosis method, interval time of carcinogenesis, and tumorigenesis site. Patients in the 3DLAG group experienced less intraoperative blood loss (188.33 ± 191.35 mL vs 305.83 ± 303.66 mL; P = 0.045) and smaller incision (10.86 ± 3.18 cm vs 20.06 ± 5.17 cm; P < 0.001) than those in the OG group. 3DLAGC was a more minimally invasive method. 3DLAGC retrieved significantly more lymph nodes than OG (14.0 ± 7.17 vs 10.73 ± 6.82; P = 0.036), whereas the number of positive lymph nodes did not differ between the two groups (1.56 ± 2.84 vs 2.35 ± 5.28; P = 0.413). The complication rate (8.3% vs 20.8%; P = 0.207) and intensive care unit admission rate (5.6% vs 14.5%; P = 0.372) were equivalent between the two groups. In terms of postoperative recovery, the 3DLAGC group had a lower visual analog score, shorter indwelling time of gastric and drainage tubes, shorter time of early off-bed motivation, shorter time of postoperative initial flatus and initial soft diet intake, shorter postoperative hospital stay and total hospital stay, and there were significant differences, showing better short-term efficacy. The 1-year and 3-year OS rates of OG group were 83.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 72.4%-95.6%] and 73.3% (95%CI: 60.0%-89.5%) respectively. The 1-year and 3-year OS rates of the 3DLAG group were 87.3% (95%CI: 76.4%-99.8%) and 75.6% (95%CI: 59.0%-97.0%), respectively. However, the 1-year and 3-year OS rates were similar between the two groups, which suggested that long-term survival results were comparable between the two groups (P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: Compared with OG, 3DLAG for CRS achieved better short-term efficacy and equivalent oncological results without increasing clinical complications. 3DLAG for CRS can be promoted safely and effectively in selected patients.

Does the addition of Braun anastomosis to Billroth II reconstruction on laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy benefit patients?

BACKGROUND: Operation is the primary therapeutic option for patients with distal gastrectomy. Braun anastomosis is usually performed after Billroth II reconstruction, which is wildly applied on distal gastrectomy because it is believed to benefit patients. However, studies are needed to confirm that. AIM: To identify whether the addition of Braun anastomosis to Billroth II reconstruction on laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy benefits patients. METHODS: A total of 143 patients with gastric cancer underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy at Centre 1 of PLA general hospital between January 2015 and December 2019. Clinical data of the patients were collected, and 93 of the 143 patients were followed up. These 93 patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (Billroth II reconstruction, 33 patients); and Group 2 (Billroth II reconstruction combined with Braun anastomosis, 60 patients). Postoperative complication follow-up data and relevant clinical data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2 in postoperative complications (6.1% vs 6.7%, P = 0.679), anal exhaust time or blood loss. The follow-up prevalence of reflux gastritis indicated no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 (68.2% vs 51.7%, P = 0.109). The follow-up European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 scores revealed no evident difference between Group 1 and Group 2 as well. Group 1 had a shorter operating time than Group 2 on average (234.6 min vs 262.0 min, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Combined with Billroth II reconstruction, Braun anastomosis has been applied due to its ability to reduce the prevalence of reflux gastritis. Whereas in this study, the prevalence of reflux gastritis showed no significant difference, leading to a conclusion that under the circumstance of Braun anastomosis costing more time and more money, simple Billroth II reconstruction should be widely applied.

Laparoscopic-assisted vs open transhiatal gastrectomy for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The studies of laparoscopic-assisted transhiatal gastrectomy (LTG) in patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) are scarce. AIM: To compare the surgical efficiency of LTG with the open transhiatal gastrectomy (OTG) for patients with Siewert type II AEG. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a total of 578 patients with Siewert type II AEG who have undergone LTG or OTG at the First Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. The short-term and long-term outcomes were compared between the LTG (n = 382) and OTG (n = 196) groups. RESULTS: Compared with the OTG group, the LTG group had a longer operative time but less blood loss, shorter length of abdominal incision and an increased number of harvested lymph nodes (P < 0.05). Patients in the LTG group were able to eat liquid food, ambulate, expel flatus and discharge sooner than the OTG group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in postoperative complications and R0 resection. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival performed better in the LTG group compared with that in the OTG group (88.2% vs 79.2%, P = 0.011; 79.7% vs 73.0%, P = 0.002, respectively). In the stratified analysis, both overall survival and disease-free survival were better in the LTG group than those in the OTG group for stage II/III patients (P < 0.05) but not for stage I patients. CONCLUSION: For patients with Siewert type II AEG, LTG is associated with better short-term outcomes and similar oncology safety. In addition, patients with advanced stage AEG may benefit more from LTG in the long-term outcomes.

Associations of Urinary Phytoestrogen Concentrations with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Adults.

Phytoestrogens can alleviate some pathological processes related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there are limited and contradictory studies on the relationships between phytoestrogens (especially single phytoestrogen) and NAFLD. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between urinary phytoestrogen concentrations and NAFLD in American adults. This cross-sectional study used the data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2010, and 2294 adults were finally enrolled in this study. The concentrations of phytoestrogens were measured in urine samples, and urinary phytoestrogens were divided into tertiles according to the concentration distributions. The diagnosis of NAFLD was determined by the United States fatty liver index. The main analysis used a multivariate logistic regression model. The fully adjusted models included gender, age, race, education, marriage, poverty, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and other five phytoestrogens. In the fully adjusted model, the urinary enterolactone (ENL) concentration was negatively correlated with NAFLD (OR of Tertile 3 : 0.48, 95% CI 0.25-0.94). When stratified by age and gender, the urinary ENL concentration was negatively correlated with NAFLD in males aged 40-59 years (OR of Tertile 3 : 0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.82), while the urinary equol concentration was positively correlated with NAFLD in such population (OR of Tertile 3 : 4.27, 95% CI 1.02-17.85). In addition, a negative correlation between enterodiol (END) concentration and NAFLD was observed in males aged 60 years or over (OR of Tertile 2 : 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.69). Collectively, in middle-aged males, urinary ENL may be associated with a lower risk of NAFLD, while urinary equol may be related to a higher risk. In addition, urinary END has a possible relationship with a reduced risk of NAFLD in elder males. Definitely, clinical randomized controlled trials are needed to further verify the conclusions.

Biochanin A Regulates Cholesterol Metabolism Further Delays the Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PURPOSE: To discover the possible target of biochanin A (BCA) in the lipid metabolism pathway and further explore its mechanism to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: We adopted a high-fat and high-glucose diet for 12 weeks to build the NAFLD rat model, which was then treated with different proportions of BCA for 4 weeks. General condition, body weight, Lee index, and liver index were then evaluated. Furthermore, blood lipid level and insulin resistance (IR) were detected. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O staining were used to observe the pathological changes in the liver. Finally, Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of CYP7A1, HMGCR, LDLR, PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and SREBP-1c in the liver. RESULTS: The vital signs of rats in each group were stable. The treatment with BCA effectively reduced Lee index and liver index (F = 104.781, P < 0.05); however, the weight was not effected in each group. Additionally, BCA effectively reduced the related lipid metabolism indexes of NAFLD, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood glucose, insulin, IR (F =12.463 (TC), 6.909 [TG], and 15.3 effected 75 [LDL], P < 0.05), and increased HDL (F = 11.580, P < 0.05). We observed that BCA could significantly improve steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver slices. Furthermore, BCA significantly increased the CYP7A1, LDLR, and PPAR-α protein expression in the liver and downregulated the HMGCR, SREBP-1c, and PPAR-γ protein expression. CONCLUSION: BCA could delay the liver damage of NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet, regulate the blood lipid level, and improve the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in rats.

Adjacent segment degeneration and spinal cord compression in rigid angular kyphosis of spinal tuberculosis and its intraoperative management strategy.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of a posterior surgical strategy for rigid angular kyphosis in the healed late stage of thoracolumbar tuberculosis, especially emphasizing the management of adjacent segment degeneration.Design: This is a retrospective study.Setting: This study was performed at Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, ChinaParticipants: A total of 11 patients with rigid angular kyphosis in the healed late stage of thoracolumbar tuberculosis were included.Interventions: Each patient underwent posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) for the correction of kyphosis, and mPSO was used for decompression of the stenotic adjacent segments.Outcome measures: Postoperatively, clinical and radiological evaluation was assessed.Results: Eight patients underwent PVCR, and 4 patients underwent both the PVCR and mPSO procedures. The average operation time was 6.5 hours (4.5-7.5 hours). The kyphotic angle improved from 97.5 ± 21.3° preoperatively to 45.4 ± 17.2° postoperatively. According to the ASIA grading system, 8 patients recovered to grade E, 2 to grade D, and 1 patient to grade A.Conclusion: PVCR is an effective procedure for the correction of rigid angular kyphosis in patients with spinal tuberculosis. Adjacent segment degeneration is an important risk factor for causing neurologic deficits, and posterior surgical management for angular kyphosis of thoracolumbar tuberculosis and spinal decompression using mPSO are recommended.

Physicochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Silver Carp Scale Peptide and Its Nanofiltration Fractions.

To explore the physicochemical properties and biological functions of silver carp scale peptide (SCSP), its molecular-weight fractions SCSP-I, II, and III obtained by nanofiltration were assessed for their solubility, emulsibility, free radical scavenging ability, effect on the proliferation of mouse B16 cells. The results showed that the solubility of each fraction of SCSP was higher than 90%, SCSP-II and III were higher than 95%. The antioxidant powers on ⦁OH, O 2 - ⦁ and Fe3+ were ranked as SCSP-III > SCSP-II > SCSP-I > SCSP. All fractions of SCSP had no toxic or side effects in mouse B16 melanoma cells experiments in vitro. At a concentration of 0.01 mg/mL, the tyrosinase activity of B16 cells in the SCSP-II fraction was significantly lower than that of the α-arbutin (P < 0.05), at 65.37%. The molecular weight distribution of SCSP was 399-1404 Dalton and 13 peptide sequences were detected. Among them, SCSP-II contained many hydrophobic amino acids, and SCSP-III stood out for combining arginine with hydrophobic amino acids. This may be the reason why the low molecular-weight SCSPs show the strong antioxidant activity and strong tyrosinase inhibition. The work provides a data base for the development of SCSP and increases the possibility of its application.

Rapid hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchical ZSM-5/beta composite zeolites.

An innovative hydrothermal method has been successfully applied to the synthesis of hierarchical ZSM-5/beta composite zeolites with different mass ratios. Firstly, the ZSM-5 zeolites were coated with amorphous silica and aluminum species by a spray drying process. Then, the precursor powder was hydrothermally crystallized for only 1-2 days with the addition of tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide (TEAOH). The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, N2 physical adsorption-desorption, 27Al MAS NMR, ICP, pyridine-IR and NH3-TPD techniques. The characterization results imply that the ZSM-5/beta composite zeolites exhibit hierarchical-pores, higher external surface areas and larger mesopore volumes as compared to those of the pure ZSM-5 and beta zeolite. Moreover, the pore structure and acid sites of the ZSM-5/beta composite can be adjusted by changing the mass ratio of ZSM-5/beta. Finally, the ZSM-5/beta composite catalysts exhibit good catalytic performances in the cracking of 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene (1,3,5-TIPB).

Effects of early oral feeding after radical total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a heavy burden in China. Nutritional support for GC patients is closely related to postoperative rehabilitation. However, the role of early oral feeding after laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy in GC patients is unclear and high-quality research evidence is scarce. AIM: To prospectively explore the safety, feasibility and short-term clinical outcomes of early oral feeding after laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy for GC patients. METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study conducted between January 2018 and December 2019 based in a high-volume tertiary hospital in China. A total of 206 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy for GC were enrolled. Of which, 105 patients were given early oral feeding (EOF group) after surgery, and the other 101 patients were given the traditional feeding strategy (control group) after surgery. Perioperative clinical data were recorded and analyzed. The primary endpoints were gastrointestinal function recovery time and postoperative complications, and the secondary endpoints were postoperative nutritional status, length of hospital stay and expenses, etc. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, patients in the EOF group had a significantly shorter postoperative first exhaust time (2.48 ± 1.17 d vs 3.37 ± 1.42 d, P = 0.001) and first defecation time (3.83 ± 2.41 d vs 5.32 ± 2.70 d, P = 0. 004). In addition, the EOF group had a significant shorter postoperative hospitalization duration (5.85 ± 1.53 d vs 7.71 ± 1.56 d, P < 0.001) and lower postoperative hospitalization expenses (16.60 ± 5.10 K¥ vs 21.00 ± 7.50 K¥, P = 0.014). On the 5th day after surgery, serum prealbumin level (214.52 ± 22.47 mg/L vs 204.17 ± 20.62 mg/L, P = 0.018), serum gastrin level (246.30 ± 57.10 ng/L vs 223.60 ± 55.70 ng/L, P = 0.001) and serum motilin level (424.60 ± 68.30 ng/L vs 409.30 ± 61.70 ng/L, P = 0.002) were higher in the EOF group. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of total postoperative complications between the two groups (P = 0.507). CONCLUSION: Early oral feeding after laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, improve postoperative nutritional status, reduce length of hospital stay and expenses while not increasing the incidence of related complications, which indicates its safety, feasibility and potential benefits for gastric cancer patients.

Role of prophylactic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the second most common malignant tumor in China, ranking third among all malignant tumor mortality rates. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to increase significantly the effectiveness of intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic drugs, prolong the action time of these drugs on intraperitoneal tumor cells, and enhance their diffusion in tumor tissues. HIPEC may be one of the best choices for the eradication of residual cancer cells in the abdominal cavity. AIM: The aim of this study was to study the role of preventive HIPEC after radical gastrectomy. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed with patients with cT4N0-3M0 gastric cancer to compare the effects of postoperative prophylactic HIPEC plus intravenous chemotherapy with those of routine adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients' medical records were analyzed, and differences in the peritoneal recurrence rate, disease-free survival time, and total survival time between groups were examined. RESULTS: The first site of tumor recurrence was the peritoneum in 11 cases in the conventional adjuvant chemotherapy group and in 2 cases in the HIPEC group (P = 0.020). The 1-year and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 91.9% and 60.4%, respectively, in the conventional adjuvant chemotherapy group and 92.1% and 63.0%, respectively, in the HIPEC group. The 1-year and 3-year overall survival rates were 95.2% and 66.3%, respectively, in the conventional adjuvant chemotherapy group and 96.1% and 68.6%, respectively, in the HIPEC group. No significant difference in postoperative or chemotherapy complications was observed between groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with cT4N0-3M0 gastric cancer, prophylactic HIPEC after radical tumor surgery is beneficial to reduce peritoneal tumor recurrence and prolong survival.

Cobalt-60 and electron beam irradiation-induced lipid oxidation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

BACKGROUND: Irradiation can cause lipid oxidation of fish. This study aimed to examine the effect of radiation (method, dose and dose rate) on the acid value (AV), peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content and fatty acid profile of fresh and freeze-dried largemouth bass flesh. RESULTS: AV, PV and TBARS presented a dose-dependent increase in fish meat for both cobalt-60 (60 Co) and electron beam (EB) irradiation. With a 6 kGy dose of radiation, all measured indices in the 60 Co group were significantly higher than those in the EB group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). With a 3 kGy dose of radiation, AV, PV and TBARS in the 200 Gy min-1 dose rate group were significantly lower than those in the 2 and 80 Gy min-1 groups (P < 0.05). After 60 Co irradiation, AV, PV and TBARS in most fresh samples were significantly higher than those in freeze-dried samples (P < 0.01). And 60 Co irradiation decreased the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content in fresh samples and increased the UFA content in freeze-dried samples. Our study indicated that 60 Co irradiation, particularly at a low dose rate, accelerated lipid oxidation in fish meat. A large amount of muscle moisture enhances the amount of UFA loss in fish meat during 60 Co irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: A low dose (3 kGy) of EB irradiation, a high dose rate (200 Gy min-1 ) of 60 Co irradiation or freeze-drying treatment can alleviate the lipid oxidation of largemouth bass meat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Robust Gene Expression Prognostic Signature for Overall Survival in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

The objective of this research was to develop a robust gene expression-based prognostic signature and scoring system for predicting overall survival (OS) of patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Transcriptomic data of HGSOC patients were obtained from six independent studies in the NCBI GEO database. Genes significantly deregulated and associated with OS in HGSOCs were selected using GEO2R and Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank testing, respectively. Enrichment analysis for biological processes and pathways was performed using Gene Ontology analysis. A resampling/cross-validation method with Cox regression analysis was used to identify a novel gene expression-based signature associated with OS, and a prognostic scoring system was developed and further validated in nine independent HGSOC datasets. We first identified 488 significantly deregulated genes in HGSOC patients, of which 232 were found to be significantly associated with their OS. These genes were significantly enriched for cell cycle division, epithelial cell differentiation, p53 signaling pathway, vasculature development, and other processes. A novel 11-gene prognostic signature was identified and a prognostic scoring system was developed, which robustly predicted OS in HGSOC patients in 100 sampling test sets. The scoring system was further validated successfully in nine additional HGSOC public datasets. In conclusion, our integrative bioinformatics study combining transcriptomic and clinical data established an 11-gene prognostic signature for robust and reproducible prediction of OS in HGSOC patients. This signature could be of clinical value for guiding therapeutic selection and individualized treatment.

Wetting Behavior and Tribological Properties of Polymer Brushes on Laser-Textured Surface.

Polymer brush layers can act as effective lubricants owing to their low friction and good controllability. However, their application to the field of tribology is limited by their poor wear resistance. This study proposes a strategy combining grafting and surface texturing to extend the service life of polymer brushes. Surface microstructure and chemical composition were measured through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Water contact angles were measured to evaluate the surface wettability of the grafted silicon-based surface texture. Results showed the distinct synergistic effect between polymer brushes and laser surface texturing (LST). The prepared polymer brushes on textured surface can be a powerful mechanism for friction reduction properties, which benefit from their strong hydration effect on the lubrication liquid and promote the formation of a local lubricating film. Moreover, the wear life of polymer brushes can be immensely extended, as micro-dimples on the textured surface can effectively protect the polymer brushes. This study presents a method to enhance the load-bearing capacity and wear resistance of the grafted surface of polymer brushes.