Nodule-in-nodule architecture of hepatocellular carcinomas: enhancement patterns in the hepatobiliary phase and pathological features.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the enhancement patterns in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) and pathological features of nodule-in-nodule-type hepatocellular carcinoma (NIN-HCC) patients. METHODS: In this single-institution retrospective study, 27 consecutive cirrhosis patients with 29 histologically confirmed NIN-HCCs who underwent preoperative examination via Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were enrolled from January 2016 to September 2023. Two blinded radiologists assessed the imaging features of both the inner and outer nodules in NIN-HCCs to reach a consensus on the Liver Imaging Reporting & Data System (LI-RADS) categories of the lesions. Based on the different enhancement patterns of the inner and outer nodules in the HBP, NIN-HCCs were classified into different groups and further divided into different types. Imaging features and LI-RADS categories were subsequently compared among the groups. Pathological findings for NIN-HCCs were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among 29 NIN-HCCs, all inner nodules showed hypervascularity, with a maximum diameter of 13.2 ± 5.5 mm; 51.7% (15/29) showed "wash-in with washout" enhancement; and 48.3% (14/29) showed "wash-in without washout" enhancement. All outer nodules showed hypovascularity, with a maximum diameter of 25.6 ± 7.3 mm, and 51.9% (14/29) showed a washout appearance on PVP. Among all the lesions, the maximum diameter was 27.5 ± 6.8 mm; 12 (41.4%) lesions were LR-4, and 17 (58.6%) lesions were LR-5. NIN-HCCs were classified into hypointense (62.1%, 18/29) and isointense (37.9%, 11/29) groups based on the signal intensity of the outer nodules in the HBP. In the hypointense group, 2 (6.9%) of the inner nodules were hypointense (type A), 11 (37.9%) were isointense (type B), and 5 (17.2%) were hyperintense (type C) compared to the background hypointense outer nodules. In the isointense group, 9 (31.0%) of the inner nodules were hypointense (type D), 2 (6.9%) were isointense (type E), and no (0%) was hyperintense (type F) compared to the background isointense outer nodules. There were no significant differences in the diameter, dynamic enhancement patterns of the inner or outer nodules, or LI-RADS scores of the lesions between the hypointense group and the isointense group (all P > 0.05). Histologically, the inner nodules of NIN-HCCs were mainly composed of moderately differentiated HCC (75.9% 22/29), whereas the outer nodules consisted of either well-differentiated HCC or high-grade dysplastic nodules (HGDNs). CONCLUSIONS: NIN-HCCs exhibit specific MRI findings closely associated with their pathological features. The spectrum of HBP enhancement patterns provides valuable insights into the underlying cell biological mechanisms of these lesions. NIN-HCC subtypes may be used as a morphologic marker in the early stage of multistep hepatocarcinogenesis.

4.4 kW Nd:YAG slab amplifier with a high repetition frequency and high beam quality.

Using the self-developed fused indium wetting technology and planar waveguide, the uniform heat dissipation of the slab crystal and uniform pumping of the pump light were achieved, respectively. Based on the master oscillator power amplification (MOPA) scheme, the power was then amplified when the seed light source passed through the Nd:YAG slab crystal three times. Additionally, the image transfer system that we added to the amplified optical path achieved high beam quality. Finally, we obtained a rectangular pulsed laser with an output average power of 4461 W, a repetition frequency of 20 kHz, a pulse width of 62 ns, an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 26.8%, and a beam quality of ß x=7.0 and ß y=7.7.

UCHL3 induces radiation resistance and acquisition of mesenchymal phenotypes by deubiquitinating POLD4 in glioma stem cells.

BACKGROUND: The high degree of intratumoral genomic heterogeneity is a major obstacle for glioblastoma (GBM) tumors, one of the most lethal human malignancies, and is thought to influence conventional therapeutic outcomes negatively. The proneural-to-mesenchymal transition (PMT) of glioma stem cells (GSCs) confers resistance to radiation therapy in glioblastoma patients. POLD4 is associated with cancer progression, while the mechanisms underlying PMT and tumor radiation resistance have remained elusive. METHOD: Expression and prognosis of the POLD family were analyzed in TCGA, the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and GEO datasets. Tumorsphere formation and in vitro limiting dilution assay were performed to investigate the effect of UCHL3-POLD4 on GSC self-renewal. Apoptosis, TUNEL, cell cycle phase distribution, modification of the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet), γ-H2AX immunofluorescence, and colony formation assays were conducted to evaluate the influence of UCHL3-POLD4 on GSC in ionizing radiation. Coimmunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays were performed to identify POLD4 protein interactors. In vivo, intracranial xenograft mouse models were used to investigate the molecular effect of UCHL3, POLD4 or TCID on GCS. RESULT: We determined that POLD4 was considerably upregulated in MES-GSCs and was associated with a meagre prognosis. Ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3), a DUB enzyme in the UCH protease family, is a bona fide deubiquitinase of POLD4 in GSCs. UCHL3 interacted with, depolyubiquitinated, and stabilized POLD4. Both in vitro and in vivo assays indicated that targeted depletion of the UCHL3-POLD4 axis reduced GSC self-renewal and tumorigenic capacity and resistance to IR treatment by impairing homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Additionally, we proved that the UCHL3 inhibitor TCID induced POLD4 degradation and can significantly enhance the therapeutic effect of IR in a gsc-derived in situ xenograft model. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal a new signaling axis for GSC PMT regulation and highlight UCHL3-POLD4 as a potential therapeutic target in GBM. TCID, targeted for reducing the deubiquitinase activity of UCHL3, exhibited significant synergy against MES GSCs in combination with radiation.

A highly specific and ultrasensitive approach to detect Prymnesium parvum based on RPA-CRISPR-LbaCas12a-LFD system.

BACKGROUND: Harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by the rapid proliferation or aggregation of microorganisms, are catastrophic for the environment. The Prymnesium parvum is a haptophyte algal species that is found worldwide and is responsible for extensive blooms and death of larval amphibians and bivalves, causing serious negative impacts on the ecological environment. For the prevention and management of environmental pollution, it is crucial to explore and develop early detection strategies for HABs on-site using simple methods. The major challenge related to early detection is the accurate and sensitive detection of algae present in low abundance. RESULTS: Herein, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) was combined with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and Cas12a protein (CRISPR-LbaCas12a) systems, and the lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was used for the first time for early detection of P. parvum. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of P. parvum was selected as the target sequence, and the concentration of single-strand DNA reporters, buffer liquid system, reaction time, and amount of gold particles were optimized. The RPA-CRISPR-LbaCas12a-LFD approach demonstrated highly specificity during experimental testing, with no cross-reaction against different microalgae used as controls. In addition, the lowest detection limit was 10,000 times better than the lowest detection limit of the standalone RPA approach. The feasibility and robustness of this approach were further verified by using the different environmental samples. It also observed that P. parvum are widely distributed in Chinese Sea, but the cell density of P. parvum is relatively low (<0.1 cells/mL). SIGNIFICANCE: The developed approach has an excellent specificity and offers 10,000 times better sensitivity than the standalone RPA approach. These advantages make this approach suitable for early warning detection and prevention of HAB events in environmental water. Also, the outcomes of this study could promote a shift from traditional laboratory-based detection to on-site monitoring, facilitating early warning against HABs.

Carbon dioxide and weak magnetic field enhance iron-carbon micro-electrolysis combined autotrophic denitrification.

Combining iron-carbon micro-electrolysis and autotrophic denitrification is promising for nitrate removal from wastewater. In this study, four continuous reactors were constructed using CO2 and weak magnetic field (WMF) to address challenges like iron passivation and pH stability. In the reactors with CO2 + WMF (10 and 35 mT), the increase in total nitrogen removal efficiency was significantly higher (96.2 ± 1.6 % and 94.1 ± 2.7 %, respectively) than that of the control (51.6 ± 2.7 %), and Fe3O4 converted to low-density FeO(OH) and FeCO3, preventing passivation film formation. The WMF application decreased the N2O emissions flux by 8.7 % and 20.5 %, respectively. With CO2 + WMF, the relative enzyme activity and abundance of denitrifying bacteria, especially unclassified_Rhodocyclaceae and Denitratisoma, increased. Thus, this study demonstrates that CO2 and WMF optimize the nitrate removal process, significantly enhancing removal efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving process stability.

Theoretical Study of Catalytic Performance of Pristine M2C and Oxygen-Functionalized M2CO2 MXenes as Cathodes for Li-N2 Batteries.

Li-N2 batteries are a promising platform for electrochemical energy storage, but their performance is limited by the low activity of the cathode catalysts. In this work, density functional theory was used to study the catalytic activity of the pristine M2C and oxygen-functionalized M2CO2 MXenes (M = Sc, Ti, and V) as cathodes for Li-N2 batteries. The calculated results suggest that the pristine M2C MXenes (M = Sc, Ti, and V) show high electrical conductivity due to the Fermi level crossing the metal 3d states. The stable adsorption of N2 occurs on M2C MXenes via a side-on model and strengthens gradually with decreasing metal atomic number. Furthermore, the kinetics of N2 dissociation can be significantly accelerated by the coadsorption of Li on M2C MXenes. However, adsorption and dissociation of N2 on the M2CO2 surfaces are too difficult to occur due to strong electrostatic repulsion. The Li-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction during discharge proceeds favorably via (N + N)* → (LiN + N)* → (LiN + LiN)* → (Li2N + LiN)* → (Li2N + Li2N)* → (Li3N + Li2N)* → (Li3N + Li3N)* to form two isolated Li3N* on M2C MXenes. The calculated charge-discharge overpotentials decrease in the order of Sc2C < Ti2C < V2C. Notably, the Sc2C MXene has great potential as a cathode catalyst for Li-N2 batteries because of its high electrical conductivity, strong N2 adsorption, favorable Li-mediated N2 dissociation, and ultralow discharging, charging, and total overpotentials (0.07, 0.06, and 0.13 V). This study offers a theoretical foundation for future research on Li-N2 batteries.

ABO and Rhesus blood groups and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood groups and various health outcomes. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the robustness of these associations is still lacking. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and several regional databases from their inception until Feb 16, 2024, with the aim of identifying systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies exploring associations between ABO and Rh blood groups and diverse health outcomes. For each association, we calculated the summary effect sizes, corresponding 95% confidence intervals, 95% prediction interval, heterogeneity, small-study effect, and evaluation of excess significance bias. The evidence was evaluated on a grading scale that ranged from convincing (Class I) to weak (Class IV). We assessed the certainty of evidence according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria (GRADE). We also evaluated the methodological quality of included studies using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). AMSTAR contains 11 items, which were scored as high (8-11), moderate (4-7), and low (0-3) quality. We have gotten the registration for protocol on the PROSPERO database (CRD42023409547). RESULTS: The current umbrella review included 51 systematic reviews with meta-analysis articles with 270 associations. We re-calculated each association and found only one convincing evidence (Class I) for an association between blood group B and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk compared with the non-B blood group. It had a summary odds ratio of 1.28 (95% confidence interval: 1.17, 1.40), was supported by 6870 cases with small heterogeneity (I2 = 13%) and 95% prediction intervals excluding the null value, and without hints of small-study effects (P for Egger's test > 0.10, but the largest study effect was not more conservative than the summary effect size) or excess of significance (P < 0.10, but the value of observed less than expected). And the article was demonstrated with high methodological quality using AMSTAR (score = 9). According to AMSTAR, 18, 32, and 11 studies were categorized as high, moderate, and low quality, respectively. Nine statistically significant associations reached moderate quality based on GRADE. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a potential relationship between ABO and Rh blood groups and adverse health outcomes. Particularly the association between blood group B and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk.

Does invasive submerged macrophyte diversity affect dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes in sediments with varying microplastics?

Nitrogen removal is essential for restoring eutrophic lakes. Microorganisms and aquatic plants in lakes are both crucial for removing excess nitrogen. However, microplastic (MP) pollution and the invasion of exotic aquatic plants have become increasingly serious in lake ecosystems due to human activity and plant-dominant traits. This field mesocosm study explored how the diversity of invasive submerged macrophytes affects denitrification (DNF), anammox (ANA), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in lake sediments with varying MPs. Results showed that invasive macrophytes suppressed DNF rates, but DNRA and ANA were less sensitive than DNF to the diversity of invasive species. Sediment MPs increased the biomass of invasive species more than native species, but did not affect microbial processes. The effects of MPs on nitrate dissimilatory reduction were process-specific. MPs increased DNF rates and the competitive advantage of DNF over DNRA by changing the sediment environment. The decoupling of DNF and ANA was also observed, with increased DNF rates and decreased ANA rates. The study findings suggested new insights into how the invasion of exotic submerged macrophytes affects the sediment nitrogen cycle complex environments.

Waist subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis of rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a rare pathological type of rectal cancer with unique pathological features and a poor prognosis. It is difficult to diagnose and treat early because of the lack of specific manifestations in some aspects of the disease. The common metastatic organs of rectal cancer are the liver and lung; however, rectal carcinoma with metastasis to subcutaneous soft tissue is a rare finding. CASE SUMMARY: In this report, the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment process, and postoperative pathological features of a patient with left waist subcutaneous soft tissue masses were retrospectively analyzed. The patient underwent surgical treatment after admission and recovered well after surgery. The final pathological diagnosis was rectal MAC with left waist subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis of rectal MAC is rare, and it can suggest that the tumor is disseminated, and it can appear even earlier than the primary malignant tumor, which is occult and leads to a missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis clinically. When a subcutaneous soft tissue mass of unknown origin appears in a patient with rectal cancer, a malignant tumor should be considered.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and human health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence on the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and human health outcomes has grown exponentially, specific health outcomes and their potential associations with PFASs have not been conclusively evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search through the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to February 29, 2024, to identify systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies examining the associations between the PFASs and multiple health outcomes. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool, and credibility of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria. The protocol of this umbrella review (UR) had been registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42023480817). RESULTS: The UR identified 157 meta-analyses from 29 articles. Using the AMSTAR measurement tool, all articles were categorized as of moderate-to-high quality. Based on the GRADE assessment, significant associations between specific types of PFASs and low birth weight, tetanus vaccine response, and triglyceride levels showed high certainty of evidence. Moreover, moderate certainty of evidence with statistical significance was observed between PFASs and health outcomes including lower BMI z-score in infancy, poor sperm progressive motility, and decreased risk of preterm birth as well as preeclampsia. Fifty-two (33%) associations (e.g., PFASs and gestational hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc) presented low certainty evidence. Additionally, eighty-five (55%) associations (e.g., PFASs with infertility, lipid metabolism, etc) presented very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: High certainty of evidence supported that certain PFASs were associated with the incidence of low birth weight, low efficiency of the tetanus vaccine, and low triglyceride levels.

Red light mitigates Cd toxicity in Egeria densa by restricting Cd accumulation and modulating antioxidant defense system.

Controlling light qualities have been acknowledged as an effective method to enhance the efficiency of phytoremediation, as light has a significant impact on plant growth. This study examined the effects of light qualities on cadmium (Cd) tolerance in aquatic plant Egeria densa using a combination of biochemical and transcriptomic approaches. The study revealed that E. densa exhibits higher resistance to Cd toxicity under red light (R) compared to blue light (B), as evidenced by a significant decrease in photosynthetic inhibition and damage to organelle ultrastructure. After Cd exposure, there was a significantly reduced Cd accumulation and enhanced levels of both glutathione reductase (GR) activity and glutathione (GSH), along with an increase in jasmonic acid (JA) in R-grown E. densa compared to B. Transcriptional analysis revealed that R caused an up-regulation of Cd transporter genes such as ABCG (G-type ATP-binding cassette transporter), ABCC (C-type ATP-binding cassette transporter), and CAX2 (Cation/H+ exchanger 2), while down-regulated the expression of HIPP26 (Heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant protein 26), resulting in reduced Cd uptake and enhanced Cd exportation and sequestration into vacuoles. Moreover, the expression of genes involved in phytochromes and JA synthesis was up-regulated in Cd treated E. densa under R. In summary, the results suggest that R could limit Cd accumulation and improve antioxidant defense to mitigate Cd toxicity in E. densa, which might be attributed to the enhanced JA and phytochromes. This study provides a foundation for using light control methods with aquatic macrophytes to remediate heavy metal contamination in aquatic systems.

Using rice straw-augmented ecological floating beds to enhance nitrogen removal in carbon-limited wastewater.

Agricultural biomass used as solid carbon substrates in ecological floating beds (EFBs) has been proven to be applicable in nitrogen removal for carbon-limited wastewater treatment. However, the subtle interactions among plants, rhizosphere microorganisms, and supplementary carbon sources have not been thoroughly studied. This study combined rice straw mats with different aquatic macrophytes in EFBs to investigate denitrification efficiency in carbon-limited eutrophic waters. Results showed that rice straw significantly enhanced the nitrogen removal efficiency of EFBs, while enriching nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria (such as Rhizobium, Rubrivivax, and Rhodobacter, etc.). Additionally, during the denitrification process in EFBs, rice straw can release humic acid-like fraction as electron donors to support the metabolic activities of microorganisms, while aquatic macrophytes provide a more diverse range of dissolved organic matters, facilitating a sustainable denitrification process. These findings help to understand the synergistic effect of denitrification processes within wetland ecosystems using agricultural biomass.

Monosymmetric Fe-N4 sites enabling durable proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode by chemical vapor modification.

The limited durability of metal-nitrogen-carbon electrocatalysts severely restricts their applicability for the oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In this study, we employ the chemical vapor modification method to alter the configuration of active sites from FeN4 to the stable monosymmetric FeN2+N'2, along with enhancing the degree of graphitization in the carbon substrate. This improvement effectively addresses the challenges associated with Fe active center leaching caused by N-group protonation and free radicals attack due to the 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction. The electrocatalyst with neoteric active site exhibited excellent durability. During accelerated aging test, the electrocatalyst exhibited negligible decline in its half-wave potential even after undergoing 200,000 potential cycles. Furthermore, when subjected to operational conditions representative of fuel cell systems, the electrocatalyst displayed remarkable durability, sustaining stable performance for a duration exceeding 248 h. The significant improvement in durability provides highly valuable insights for the practical application of metal-nitrogen-carbon electrocatalysts.

MTCH2 stimulates cellular proliferation and cycles via PI3K/Akt pathway in breast cancer.

The MTCH2 protein is located on the mitochondrial outer membrane and regulates mitochondria-related cell death. This study set out to investigate the role of MTCH2 in the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of breast cancer (BC). MTCH2 expression levels in BC were analyzed using bioinformatics prior to verification by cell lines in vitro. Experiments of over-expression and siRNA-mediated knockdown of MTCH2 were conducted to assess its biological functions, including its effects on cellular proliferation and cycle progression. Xenografts were utilised for in vivo study and signaling pathway alterations were examined to identify the mechanisms driven by MTCH2 in BC proliferation and cell-cycle regulation. MTCH2 was up-regulated in BC and correlated with patients' overall survival. Over-expression of MTCH2 promoted cellular proliferation and cycle progression, while silencing MTCH2 had the opposite effect. Xenograft experiments were utilised to confirm the in vitro cellular findings and it was identified that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was activated by MTCH2 over-expression and suppressed by its silencing. Moreover, the activation of IGF-1R rescued cellular growth and cycle arrest induced by MTCH2-silencing. Overall, this study reveals that expression of MTCH2 in BC is upregulated and potentiates cellular proliferation and cycle progression via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Comparison of the efficacy between the dual therapy of tegoprazan and the quadruple therapy of tegoprazan: A randomized, controlled, multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Tegoprazan (TPZ), a potassium-competitive acid blocker, exerts a strong acid-suppression effect and a rapid onset of action. However, research on TPZ-amoxicillin (TA) dual treatment is limited. Here, we compared the safety and efficacy of TPZ-amoxicillin dual treatment and TPZ, bismuth potassium citrate, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (TBAC) quadruple therapy in patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection over a 14-day treatment period. METHODS: A total of 236 patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori were enrolled in this multi-center, prospective, open-label, and randomized controlled study. Patients randomly received either TA dual or TBAC quadruple therapy. The incidence of adverse reactions and treatment compliance were recorded and then analyzed. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that H. pylori-eradication rates were 83.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78.2%-91.3%) and 81.4% (95% CI 74.2%-88.5%) for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.606). The per-protocol analysis revealed that the H. pylori-eradication rates were 88.3% and 84.8% for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively (P = 0.447). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the TA group than in the TBAC group (4.2% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.004). Moreover, the TA group demonstrated substantially higher treatment compliance than the TBAC group (94.1% vs. 89.0%, P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: The TA dual therapy successfully eradicated H. pylori with a high eradication rate and a low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, this treatment is recommended as an alternative course for patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection.

A cubic DNA nanocage probe for in situ analysis of miRNA-10b in tumor-derived extracellular vesicles.

A cubic DNA nanocage probe is able to enter EVs derived from MDA-MB-231 cells and react with miRNA-10b. The probe-loaded EVs were employed to monitor the process of entry of miRNA-10b into MCF-10A cells, allowing visualization of EV-mediated intercellular communication of miRNA-10b between the cancer cells.

Safety and Efficacy Analysis of Radical Surgery for 403 Patients with Colon Cancer over 80 Years Old.

Aim: To investigate the safety and efficacy of radical surgery in colon cancer patients over 80 years old. Methods: Data from colon cancer patients aged ≥80 years who underwent radical surgery at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and affiliated Heji Hospital of Changzhi Medical College from January 2011 to December 2022 were retrospectively analysed. Data on clinical characteristics, pathological features, perioperative data, and long-term prognosis were collected. Severe complications were classified as grade III-V. Logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for severe postoperative complications, and a Cox regression model was used to determine prognostic variables. Results: A total of 403 eligible patients were included in the study. A total of 118 (29.3%) patients developed postoperative complications, of which 51 (12.7%) experienced grade 3-5 severe complications. Two (0.5%) patients died of pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction during the perioperative period. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative albumin levels <35 g/L and right colon cancer were independent risk factors for grade 3-5 postoperative complications. In terms of prognosis, multivariate analysis revealed that overall survival was significantly affected by TNM stage III and grade 3-4 postoperative complications. In addition, TNM stage III and perineural invasion were the independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Conclusion: Radical surgery can be performed safely in elderly colon cancer patients aged over 80 years, with an acceptable morbidity and mortality. Patients with preoperative albumin levels <35 g/L or tumors in the right colon should be alerted to the development of severe postoperative complications. In addition, the occurrence of severe complications can significantly affect the prognosis of elderly colon cancer patients.

Value of ultra-high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging for the evaluation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

To explore the feasibility of ultra-high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (ubDWI) in assessment of renal IRI. Thirty-five rabbits were randomized into a control group (n = 7) and a renal IRI group (n = 28). The rabbits in the renal IRI group underwent left renal artery clamping for 60 min. Rabbits underwent axial ubDWI before and at 1, 12, 24, and 48 h after IRI. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCst) were calculated from ubDWI with two b-values (b = 0, 1000 s/mm2). Triexponential fits were applied to calculate the pure diffusion coefficients (D), perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D⁎), and ultra-high ADC (ADCuh). The interobserver reproducibility were evaluated. The repeated measurement analysis of variance and Spearman correlation analysis was used for statistical analysis. The ADCst, D, and ADCuh values showed good reproducibility. The ADCst, D, and D⁎ values of renal Cortex (CO) and outer medulla (OM) significantly decreased after IRI (all P < 0.05). The ADCuh values significantly increased from pre-IRI to 1 h after IRI (P < 0.05) and significantly declined at 24 h and 48 h after IRI (all P < 0.05). ADCuh was strongly positively correlated with AQP-1 in the renal CO and OM (ρ = 0.643, P < 0.001; ρ = 0.662, P < 0.001, respectively). ubDWI can be used to non-invasively evaluate early renal IRI, ADCuh may be adopted to reflect AQP-1 expression.

Clinical manifestation, lifestyle, and treatment patterns of chronic erosive gastritis: A multicenter real-world study in China.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic erosive gastritis (CEG) is common, its clinical characteristics have not been fully elucidated. The lack of consensus regarding its treatment has resulted in varied treatment regimens. AIM: To explore the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and short-term outcomes in CEG patients in China. METHODS: We recruited patients with chronic non-atrophic or mild-to-moderate atrophic gastritis with erosion based on endoscopy and pathology. Patients and treating physicians completed a questionnaire regarding history, endoscopic findings, and treatment plans as well as a follow-up questionnaire to investigate changes in symptoms after 4 wk of treatment. RESULTS: Three thousand five hundred sixty-three patients from 42 centers across 24 cities in China were included. Epigastric pain (68.0%), abdominal distension (62.6%), and postprandial fullness (47.5%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Gastritis was classified as chronic non-atrophic in 69.9% of patients. Among those with erosive lesions, 72.1% of patients had lesions in the antrum, 51.0% had multiple lesions, and 67.3% had superficial flat lesions. In patients with epigastric pain, the combination of a mucosal protective agent (MPA) and proton pump inhibitor was more effective. For those with postprandial fullness, acid regurgitation, early satiety, or nausea, a MPA appeared more promising. CONCLUSION: CEG is a multifactorial disease which is common in Asian patients and has non-specific symptoms. Gastroscopy may play a major role in its detection and diagnosis. Treatment should be individualized based on symptom profile.

Multi-omics profiling reveal responses of three major Dendrobium species from different growth years to medicinal components.

Dendrobium is a perennial herb found in Asia that is known for its medicinal and ornamental properties. Studies have shown that the stem is the primary medicinal component of Dendrobium spp. To investigate the effect of the species and age of Dendrobium (in years) on the content of its medicinal components, we collected the stems of 1-to-4-year-old D. officinale, D. moniliforme, and D. huoshanense, sequenced the transcriptome, metabolome, and microbiome, and analyzed the data in a comprehensive multi-omics study. We identified 10,426 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 644 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) from 12 comparative groups and mapped the flavonoid pathway based on DEGs and DAMs. Transcriptomic and metabolomic data indicated a general trend of the accumulation of flavonoids exhibiting pharmacological effects in the three Dendrobium species. In addition, joint metabolome and microbiome analyses showed that actinobacteria was closely associated with flavonoid synthesis with increasing age. Our findings provide novel insights into the interactions of flavonoids of Dendrobium with the transcriptome and microbiome.