Immune-related long noncoding RNA zinc finger protein 710-AS1-201 promotes the metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal system. ZNF710 is a transcription factor (TF), and zinc finger protein 710 (ZNF710)-AS1-201 is an immune-related long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that is upregulated in GC cells. AIM: To assess the correlation between ZNF710-AS1-201 and immune microenvironment features and to investigate the roles of ZNF710-AS1-201 in the invasion and metastasis processes of GC cells. METHODS: We obtained data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Wujin Hospital. We assessed cell growth, migration, invasion, and programmed cell death using cell counting kit-8, EdU, scratch, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to identify the potential downstream targets of ZNF710-AS1-201. RESULTS: In GC tissues with low ZNF710-AS1-201 expression, immunoassays detected significant infiltration of various antitumor immune cells, such as memory CD8 T cells and activated CD4 T cells. In the low-expression group, the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, gemcitabine, and trametinib were lower, whereas the IC50s of dasatinib and vorinostat were higher. The malignant degree of GC was higher and the stage was later in the high-expression group. Additionally, patients with high expression of ZNF710-AS1-201 had lower overall survival and disease-free survival rates. In vitro, the overexpression of ZNF710-AS1-201 greatly enhanced growth, metastasis, and infiltration while suppressing cell death in HGC-27 cells. In contrast, the reduced expression of ZNF710-AS1-201 greatly hindered cell growth, enhanced apoptosis, and suppressed the metastasis and invasion of MKN-45 cells. The expression changes in ZNF710 were significant, but the corresponding changes in isocitrate dehydrogenase-2, Semaphorin 4B, ARHGAP10, RGMB, hsa-miR-93-5p, and ZNF710-AS1-202 were not consistent or statistically significant after overexpression or knockdown of ZNF710-AS1-201, as determined by qRT-PCR. CONCLUSION: Immune-related lncRNA ZNF710-AS1-201 facilitates the metastasis and invasion of GC cells. It appears that ZNF710-AS1-201 and ZNF710 have potential as effective targets for therapeutic intervention in GC. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to determine the specific targets of the ZNF710 TF.

Prognostic value of pretreatment albumin to bilirubin ratio in patients with hepatocellular cancer: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic function is closely associated with prognosis in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC). In this study, a meta-analysis of the published studies was performed to assess the prognostic value of ALBI grade in HCC patients. METHODS: Databases, including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were retrieved up to August 2018. The primary outcome was OS and secondary outcome was DFS, the prognostic impact of which was assessed by using hazard ratio (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The enrolled studies were analyzed by using STATA version 12.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 22,911 patients with HCC in 32 studies were included. Our results demonstrated that high pretreatment ALBI is associated with poor OS (HR = 1.719, 95%CI: 1.666-1.771, P = .000, univariate results; HR = 1.602, 95%CI: 1.470-1.735, P = .000, multivariate results) and poor DFS (HR = 1.411, 95%CI: 1.262-1.561, P = .000, univariate results; HR = 1.264, 95%CI: 1.042-1.485, P = .000, multivariate results). Meanwhile, when the analysis was stratified into subgroups, such as treatment methods, sample size, geographic area, and ALBI grade, the significant correlation in ALBI and poor long-term survival was not altered. CONCLUSION: High pretreatment ALBI is closely associated with poor prognosis in HCC, and High ALBI should be treated as an ideal predictor during hepatocellular therapy.

Comparison of the short-term outcomes between delta-shaped anastomosis and conventional Billroth I anastomosis after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The conventional Billroth I anastomosis (cBIA) after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is performed through circular staple extracorporeally. Now, delta-shaped anastomosis (DA), which is performed using a linear stapler intracorporeally, becomes popular. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety between the 2 techniques. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library Central. Participants of any age and sex, who underwent DA, or cBIA after LDG, were considered following inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 11 articles, published between 2010 and 2017, fulfilled the selection criteria. The total sample size of these studies was 2729 cases, including DA group 1008 cases and cBIA group 1721 cases. Compared to cBIA group, patients in DA group had less blood loss (mean deviation [MD] = -0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.15 to -0.31, P < .001), fewer administration of analgesics (MD = -0.82, 95% CI = -1.58 to -0.05, P = .04), lower NRS score on POD 1 (MD = -0.84, 95% CI = -1.34 to -0.33, P = .001), lower NRS score on POD 3 (MD = -0.38, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.26, P < .001). Furthermore, compared to cBIA group, obese patients in DA group had fewer total number of complications (MD = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.95, P = .04), shorter postoperative hospital stays (MD = -0.73, 95% CI = -1.18 to -0.28, P = .001), earlier first flatus (MD = -0.30, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.10, P = .004), fewer administration of analgesics (MD = -1.08, 95% CI = -1.61 to -0.55, P < .001), lower NRS score on POD 1 (MD = -0.68, 95% CI = -0.99 to -0.37, P < .001) and lower NRS score on POD 3 (MD = -0.63, 95% CI = -0.86 to -0.40, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with cBIA, DA is a safe and feasible procedure, with similar surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. In terms of postoperative recovery, DA is less invasive with quicker resume than cBIA, especially for the obese patients.

[Enoxaparin for the prevention of post surgical pulmonary embolism].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the administration of enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), in the prevention of post surgical deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: 1928 patients hospitalized for general surgery were randomly divided into: (1) test group (n = 960) to receive enoxaparin (40 mg, s.c., 12 hours before and after surgery, then once daily for 7 consecutive days); (2) control group (n = 968) without intervention. The incidence of DVT,PE and bleeding were recorded for statistical analysis during hospitalization and a 2 months follow-up after discharge. RESULTS: (1) No significant difference was found between the two groups in age, sex, average body mass index, type of surgery, and DVT / PE risk factors (obesity, varicose veins, and history of: venous thrombosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, and hormone therapy). The percentage of non-malignant / malignant tumor surgery were 36.5% / 63.5% (average operation time 2.3 hours) in control group and 35.6% / 64.4% (2.2 hours) in test group (both P > 0.05). (2) During the hospitalization period, 59 cases (incidence=6.1%) of DVT and 14 cases (incidence=1.4%) of PE (among them 6 were fetal, 42.8% of all PE cases) were found in the control group, while 28 cases of DVT (2.9%) and 3 cases (0.3%) of PE (1 fetal, 33.3% of all PE cases) were found in test group. The incidence of DVT, PE (total), and PE (fetal) were significant lower in test group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). During the follow up, 14 more cases of DVT (1.4%) and 1 more case (0.1%) of PE (a fetal) were found in the control group, and 2 more DVT cases (0.2%) in test group, with the DVT incidence in test group significantly lower (P < 0.01). (3) During the enoxaparin administration, 30 cases (3.1%) minor bleeding and 8 cases (0.8%) major bleeding were found in the control group, while 33 cases (3.4%) minor bleeding events and 9 cases (0.9%) major bleeding events were found in the test group. THE RESULTS: in the two groups were not significantly different in either type of bleeding events (both P > 0.05). Also no significant difference was found in the bleeding events after the ending of enoxaparin administration and during the follow up. CONCLUSION: Enoxaparin may reduce the incidence of DVT and PE in patients undergoing general surgery without increased risk of bleeding.

[Expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog in lower rectal cancer on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in low rectal cancer on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine plus radiotherapy. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with low rectal cancer on therapy with capecitabine (1650 mg×m(-2)×d(-1) in 2 divided doses) for two course and concurrent radiotherapy (50 Gy, 2 Gy/day, 5 days a week). Then the investigators analyzed the relationship between the preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and prognosis and measured the expression of PTEN during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: 92.4% (61/66) of patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy as planned. 87.9% (58/66) tumor stages were down-staged, tumor size decreased while the distance from anal edge increased. And curative resection with sphincter-sparing was carried out in all patients. The rate of sphincter preservation was 90.9% (60/66). Among which, 85.5% patients showed an excellent function of sphincter. The 2-year survival rate was 87.9% (58/66). The survival period was an average of 35.3 months (range: 25-60). The PTEN mRNA and protein expression in cancer tissues on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were significantly higher than those before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (P=0.0079, 0.0269). CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in lower rectal cancer patients has shown its efficacy in down-staging cancer, enhancing resectability, offering sphincter preservation, up-regulating PTEN expression, promoting the apoptosis of cancer cell and achieving a better survival rate. Thus preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is an effective adjuvant measure.