Modified FOLFOXIRI With or Without Cetuximab as Conversion Therapy in Patients with RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Unresectable Liver Metastases Colorectal Cancer: The FOCULM Multicenter Phase II Trial.

PURPOSE: This trial evaluated the addition of cetuximab to a modified FOLFOXIRI (mFOLFOXIRI: 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid, oxaliplatin, irinotecan) as conversion therapy in a two-group, nonrandomized, multicenter, phase II trial in patients with initially technically unresectable colorectal liver-limited metastases (CLM) and BRAF/RAS wild-type. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled to receive cetuximab (500 mg/m2 ) plus mFOLFOXIRI (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 , irinotecan 165 mg/m2 , folinic acid 400 mg/m2 , 5-fluorouracil 2,800 mg/m2 46-hour infusion, every 2 weeks) (the cetuximab group) or the same regimen of mFOLFOXIRI alone (the control group), in a 2:1 ratio allocation. The primary endpoint was the rate of no evidence of disease (NED) achieved. Secondary endpoints included resection rate, objective response rate (ORR), survival, and safety. RESULTS: Between February 2014 and July 2019, 117 patients were registered for screening at six centers in China, and 101 of these were enrolled (67 cetuximab group, 34 control group). The rate of NED achieved was 70.1% in the cetuximab group and 41.2% in the control group (difference 29.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.1%-48.8%; p = .005). Patients in the cetuximab group had improved ORR (95.5% vs. 76.5%; difference 19.1%; 95% CI, 17.4%-36.4%; p = .010) compared with those in control group. Progression-free survival and overall survival showed the trend to favor the cetuximab group. The incidence of grade 3 and 4 adverse events was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Addition of cetuximab to mFOLFOXIRI improved the rate of NED achieved. This combination could be an option of conversion regimen for molecularly selected patients with initially technically unresectable CLM. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This trial evaluated the addition of cetuximab to a modified FOLFOXIRI as conversion therapy in a phase II trial in patients with initially technically unresectable colorectal liver-limited metastases and BRAF/RAS wild-type. The rate of no evidence of disease achieved was 70.1% in the cetuximab plus modified FOLFOXIRI group and 41.2% in the modified FOLFOXIRI group. Objective response rates, overall survival, and progression-free survival were improved in the cetuximab group when compared with the modified FOLFOXIRI group. Addition of cetuximab to modified FOLFOXIRI increased the rate of no evidence of disease achieved, and this combination could be an option of conversion regimen for molecularly selected patients with initially technically unresectable colorectal liver-limited metastasis.

Risk factors for the critical illness in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies reported that 5 ~ 32% COVID-19 patients were critically ill, a situation that poses great challenge for the management of the patients and ICU resources. We aim to identify independent risk factors to serve as prediction markers for critical illness of SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Fifty-two critical and 200 non-critical SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positive patients hospitalized in 15 hospitals outside Wuhan from January 19 to March 6, 2020 were enrolled in this study. Multivariable logistic regression and LASSO logistic regression were performed to identify independent risk factors for critical illness. RESULTS: Age older than 60 years, dyspnea, respiratory rate > 24 breaths per min, leukocytosis > 9.5 × 109/L, neutrophilia > 6.3 × 109/L, lymphopenia < 1.1 × 109/L, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 3.53, fibrinogen > 4 g/L, d-dimer > 0.55 µg/mL, blood urea nitrogen > 7.1 mM, elevated aspartate transaminase, elevated alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin > 21 µM, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥ 2 were identified as risk factors for critical illness. LASSO logistic regression identified the best combination of risk factors as SOFA score, age, dyspnea, and leukocytosis. The Area Under the Receiver-Operator Curve values for the risk factors in predicting critical illness were 0.921 for SOFA score, 0.776 for age, 0.764 for dyspnea, 0.658 for leukocytosis, and 0.960 for the combination of the four risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings advocate the use of risk factors SOFA score ≥ 2, age > 60, dyspnea and leukocytosis > 9.5 × 109/L on admission, alone or in combination, to determine the optimal management of the patients and health care resources.

CCL18-dependent translocation of AMAP1 is critical for epithelial to mesenchymal transition in breast cancer.

AMAP1 was a GTPase-activating protein that regulates cytoskeletal structures in focal adhesions, circular dorsal ruffles, and promote cell differentiation in tumor cells. But the activation and function of AMAP1 in breast cancer remain largely unexplored. Here we show that AMAP1 was phosphorylated and translocated to plasma membrane and formed a stable complex with Pyk2 in response to CCL18. Moreover, CCL18-dependent AMAP1 translocation interfered the AMAP1-IKK-ß interaction, resulting in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation. Depletion of AMAP1 expression by RNAi efficiently reversed the CCL18-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells and as well as CCL18-induced adhesion, migration and invasion. Strikingly, AMAP1 overexpression was found in breast cancers that had undergone metastasis and was strongly predictive of poor prognosis in breast cancers. Given that AMAP1 mediated CCL18-induce activation of NF-κB and promoted breast cancer metastasis, AMAP1 may represent a therapeutic target for the eradication of breast cancer metastasis.

Vps4A functions as a tumor suppressor by regulating the secretion and uptake of exosomal microRNAs in human hepatoma cells.

UNLABELLED: The deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in human hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we highlight exosomes as mediators involved in modulating miRNA profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. First, we examined the different miRNA expression profiles in HCC cells and HCC cell-derived exosomes. Next, coculture experiments indicated that HCC cell-derived exosomes promoted the cell growth, migration, and invasion of HCC cells and had the ability to shuttle miRNAs to recipient cells. Further, our data showed that Vps4A, a key regulator of exosome biogenesis, was frequently down-regulated in HCC tissues. The reduction of Vps4A in HCC tissues was associated with tumor progression and metastasis. In vitro studies revealed that Vps4A repressed the growth, colony formation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. We further investigated the role and involvement of Vps4A in suppressing the bioactivity of exosomes and characterized its ability to weaken the cell response to exosomes. By small RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that Vps4A facilitated the secretion of oncogenic miRNAs in exosomes as well as accumulation and uptake of tumor suppressor miRNAs in cells. A subset of Vps4A-associated miRNAs was identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway was the most likely candidate pathway for modulation by these miRNAs. Indeed, we proved that the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt pathway was inactivated by Vps4A overexpression. CONCLUSION: Exosome-mediated miRNA transfer is an important mechanism of self-modulation of the miRNA expression profiles in HCC cells, and Vps4A may function as a tumor suppressor, which utilizes exosomes as mediators to regulate the secretion and uptake of miRNAs in hepatoma cells; these observations provide new insights into the development of HCC.

CCL18/PITPNM3 enhances migration, invasion, and EMT through the NF-κB signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. Here, we demonstrated a novel mechanism through which CCL18 enhances cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC. (1) Using immunohistochemistry, we analyzed the expression of PITPNM3, a molecule that correlated with CCL18 signaling, in 149 HCC tissue specimens. The results showed that PITPNM3 expression is highly associated with tumor metastasis and differentiation; (2) in vitro experiments showed that CCL18 enhances cell migration, invasion, and EMT in PITPNM3((+)) HCC cells but not in PITPNM3((-)) cells. Silencing of PITPNM3 by short interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the induction of cell migration, invasion, and EMT by CCL18; (3) Cell migration, invasion, and EMT induced by CCL18 accompanied with the phosphorylation of IKK and IKBα as well as p65 nuclear translocation in PITPNM3((+)) HCC cells, but not in the cells that PITPNM3 is silenced with siRNA, implying that the activation of NF-κB signaling is involved in the action of CCL18/PITPNM3. These results suggest that CCL18 enhances HCC cell migration, invasion, and EMT through the expression of PITPNM3 and the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Monocyte/macrophage-elicited natural killer cell dysfunction in hepatocellular carcinoma is mediated by CD48/2B4 interactions.

UNLABELLED: Defects in natural killer (NK) cell functions are necessary for tumor immune escape, but their underlying regulatory mechanisms in human cancers remain largely unknown. Here we show, in detailed studies of NK cells in 294 untreated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), that accumulation of functional NK cells in HCC tissues could predict improved survival of patients. However, in patients with advanced-stage HCC, NK cells were significantly decreased in number with impaired tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production. High infiltration of peritumoral stroma monocytes/macrophages was positively correlated with impaired functional activities of NK cells in intratumoral areas. Further kinetic experiments revealed that soon after exposure to tumor-derived monocytes, NK cells underwent a rapid, transient activation, but then they became exhausted, and eventually died. The monocytes from HCC tissues, but not from nontumoral liver, strongly express CD48 proteins; and such monocyte-induced NK cell dysfunction was markedly attenuated by blocking CD48 receptor 2B4 on NK cells, but not by blockade of NKG2D and NKp30. CONCLUSION: These data reveal that human NK cells are regulated by a fine-tuned collaborative action between different types of immune cells, which may reflect a novel immune-escape mechanism by which tumors dynamically regulate their functions at distinct tumor microenvironments.

Laparoscopic Duodenum-Preserving Pancreatic Head Resection via Inferior Infracolic Approach: A Surgical Approach for Benign Lesions.

Minimally invasive pancreatic resections are gaining popularity despite being technically demanding. However, in contrast to laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD), laparoscopic duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (LDPPHR) has not yet obtained wide acceptance. This could be attributed to the technical challenges involved in preserving the blood supply of the duodenum and bile duct. This study describes and demonstrates all the steps of LDPPHR. A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with a 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm pancreatic head cystic mass, which was detected unexpectedly. The surgery was performed using the 3D laparoscopy via an inferior infracolic approach. The operation lasted approximately 310 min with 100 mL of blood loss. Postoperatively, the patient experienced no complications and was discharged 5 days later. Pathology revealed intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. LDPPHR via an inferior infracolic approach is feasible and safe when performed by experienced surgeons in selected patients with thin mesenteric fat layers. The described technique for LDPPHR via inferior infracolic approach should be well standardized and performed at high-volume centers with experienced surgeons in both open and laparoscopic pancreatology.

LncRNA HOXB-AS3 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of gallbladder cancer cells by activating the MEK/ERK pathway.

Background: LncRNA HOXB-AS3 are associated with tumor progression in several types of carcinomas, yet, its possibly biological role in gallbladder carcinoma(GBC) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biological function of HOXB-AS3 in GBC. Methods: To know the potential function of HOXB-AS3 in gallbladder carcinoma, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detected the expression of HOXB-AS3 in gallbladder carcinoma cells. The colony formation assay and cell counting kit-8 assay was performed to measured cell viability. Flow cytometry was to analyse cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Cell invasion and migration were determined by the transwell invasion assay and wound-healing assay. A nude mice xenograft tumor model was performed to investigate the biological function of HOXB-AS3 in vivo. Results: The results indicated that HOXB-AS3 was significantly elevated in gallbladder carcinoma tissues and cell lines. We used siHOXB-AS3 to knockdown the expression levels of HOXB-AS3. And knockdown HOXB-AS3 expression depressed gallbladder cancer cell viability and induced cell apoptosis. In addition, the gallbladder carcinoma cell cycle was obviously arrested at the G1 phase. Cell invasion and migration were markedly suppressed following knockdown HOXB-AS3 expression. Furthermore, the features of siHOXB-AS3 in gallbladder cancer cells could be reversed by the ERK1/2 phosphorylation agonist Ro 67-7476. Finally, we confirmed that HOXB-AS3 promoted the growth of transplanted tumors in vivo. Conclusion: HOXB-AS3 promoted gallbladder carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion and migration by activating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. HOXB-AS3 contributed to gallbladder cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis, making it a viable therapeutic target for gallbladder cancer treatment.

Application of Mid-Pancreatectomy with End-to-End Anastomosis in Pancreatic Benign Tumors.

Mid-pancreatectomy combined with end-to-end anastomosis is a surgical procedure used to treat benign pancreatic tumors. It involves removing the tumor from the middle section of the pancreas and connecting the proximal and distal ends through an anastomosis. The traditional surgical approach for resecting the middle segment of the pancreas involves closing the proximal pancreas and creating a Roux-en-Y anastomosis with the jejunum. However, this approach carries a double risk of pancreatic stump fistula and pancreatico enteric anastomotic leak postoperatively. In this paper, a new procedure is described where stent tubes were placed into the proximal and distal sides of the pancreatic ducts after ensuring sufficient freedom from the proximal distal pancreas. The pancreatic parenchyma was then sutured continuously under direct vision to achieve pancreatic end-to-end anastomosis. This procedure helps preserve pancreatic function, reducing the risk of postoperative pancreatic insufficiency. However, due to the complexity and risks involved, thorough evaluation and preparation are necessary before surgery. We carefully assess the patient's history, serology, and imaging results to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the procedure. During surgery, we consider the use of a suitable pancreatic duct stent to ensure the flow of pancreatic juice into the intestine through physiological pathways. Our goal is to remove the tumor while preserving as much normal pancreatic tissue as possible for the anastomosis. After the operation, it is crucial to monitor the patient's pancreatic function, paying close attention to blood glucose levels, drainage fluid volume, and amylase value of the pancreatic anastomosis. During the postoperative follow-up visit, the patient's pancreatic function was assessed, and there was no significant change in quality of life compared to before the surgery. This indicates that mid-pancreatectomy combined with end-to-end anastomosis is a safe and effective procedure for treating pancreatic benign neoplasms.

CSN6-SPOP-HMGCS1 Axis Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via YAP1 Activation.

Cholesterol metabolism has important roles in maintaining membrane integrity and countering the development of diseases such as obesity and cancers. Cancer cells sustain cholesterol biogenesis for their proliferation and microenvironment reprograming even when sterols are abundant. However, efficacy of targeting cholesterol metabolism for cancer treatment is always compromised. Here it is shown that CSN6 is elevated in HCC and is a positive regulator of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 (HMGCS1) of mevalonate (MVA) pathway to promote tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, CSN6 antagonizes speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) ubiquitin ligase to stabilize HMGCS1, which in turn activates YAP1 to promote tumor growth. In orthotopic liver cancer models, targeting CSN6 and HMGCS1 hinders tumor growth in both normal and high fat diet. Significantly, HMGCS1 depletion improves YAP inhibitor efficacy in patient derived xenograft models. The results identify a CSN6-HMGCS1-YAP1 axis mediating tumor outgrowth in HCC and propose a therapeutic strategy of targeting non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases- associated HCC.

Anticancer drugs cause release of exosomes with heat shock proteins from human hepatocellular carcinoma cells that elicit effective natural killer cell antitumor responses in vitro.

Failure of immune surveillance related to inadequate host antitumor immune responses has been suggested as a possible cause of the high incidence of recurrence and poor overall survival outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma. The stress-induced heat shock proteins (HSPs) are known to act as endogenous "danger signals" that can improve tumor immunogenicity and induce natural killer (NK) cell responses. Exosome is a novel secretory pathway for HSPs. In our experiments, the immune regulatory effect of the HSP-bearing exosomes secreted by human hepatocellular carcinoma cells under stress conditions on NK cells was studied. ELISA results showed that the production of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 was up-regulated in both cell lines in a stress-specific manner. After exposure to hepatocellular carcinoma cell-resistant or sensitive anticancer drugs (hereafter referred to as "resistant" or "sensitive" anticancer drug), the membrane microvesicles were actively released by hepatocellular carcinoma cells, differing in their ability to present HSPs on the cell surface, which were characterized as exosomes. Acting as a decoy, the HSP-bearing exosomes efficiently stimulated NK cell cytotoxicity and granzyme B production, up-regulated the expression of inhibitory receptor CD94, and down-regulated the expression of activating receptors CD69, NKG2D, and NKp44. Notably, resistant anticancer drugs enhanced exosome release and generated more exosome-carried HSPs, which augmented the activation of the cytotoxic response. In summary, our findings demonstrated that exosomes derived from resistant anticancer drug-treated HepG2 cells conferred superior immunogenicity in inducing HSP-specific NK cell responses, which provided a clue for finding an efficient vaccine for hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy.

MRI manifestations of adult choledochal cysts associated with biliary malignancy: a report of ten cases.

BACKGROUND: To retrospectively review the MRI imaging features of adult choledochal cysts associated with biliary malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten out of 72 cases of adult choledochal cysts were found to be associated with biliary malignancy between January 1, 2003 and April 1, 2011 in our hospital database. The following MRI findings of these ten patients were retrospectively reviewed: the type of choledochal cysts, the presence of anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD), manifestations of biliary malignancy, and concomitant findings. RESULTS: Among the ten patients, there were five type I and five type IVA choledochal cysts. AUPBD was noted in four cases. The biliary malignancy was diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma in seven cases (70.0%) and as gallbladder cancer in three cases. Cholangiocarcinoma manifested with irregularly thickened cyst wall (n = 2), mass with irregularly thickened cyst wall (n = 4), or multiple papillary nodules without thickened cyst wall (n = 1). Most of them showed mark enhancement (n = 4) after contrast administration. Gallbladder cancer appeared as mass with irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall with inhomogeneous enhancement. Concomitant findings included liver invasion or metastases in five cases, lymph node metastases in two cases, cholangitis and/or hepatic abscess in two cases, biliary stones in three cases. The type of choledochal cysts and the extent of malignant tumor invasion revealed by MRI were consistent with the surgical findings. CONCLUSION: Most malignancies associated with choledochal cysts are cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. MRI is a reliable method for the detection of choledochal cysts with biliary malignant changes. MR features such as irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall or cyst wall, mass or papillary nodules are suggestive of biliary malignant changes.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase combined in predicting liver metastasis and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level are inflammatory markers related to tumor growth and metabolism. This study investigated the value of preoperative NLR, LDH and the combination of NLR and LDH (NLR-LDH) for predicting colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) and tumor prognosis in the early stages of colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and methods: Three hundred patients undergoing CRC resection were included. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the correlation between CRLM time and inflammatory markers, and Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate overall survival (OS). Forest plots were prepared based on the multivariate Cox analysis model and evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The NLR cut-off value was 2.071 according to the ROC curve. The multivariate analysis showed that the elevated LDH level and a high NLR-LDH level were independent predictors of synchronous CRLM and OS (p < 0.05). The combination of a high NLR and elevated LDH and NLR-LDH levels suggested a poor prognosis and a significantly shorter median survival time than a low NLR and low levels of LDH and NLR-LDH. The ROC curve analysis results illustrated that the predictive value of the NLR-LDH score for synchronous CRLM [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.623, p < 0.001] and OS (AUC = 0.614, p = 0.001) was superior to that of the NLR or LDH score used alone. Conclusion: LDH and NLR-LDH are reliable, easy-to-use, independent biomarkers for predicting synchronous or metachronous CRLM and OS in CRC patients. The NLR is an important monitoring index for CRLM. Preoperative NLR, LDH and NLR-LDH may help to guide the use of therapeutic strategies and cancer surveillance.

Functional distinction of rat liver natural killer cells from spleen natural killer cells under normal and acidic conditions in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The microenvironment within solid tumors has often been shown to exhibit an acidic extracellular pH. Although the morphologic and functional differences in natural killer (NK) cells of the liver and spleen have been reported previously under physiological conditions, the difference under acidic conditions is still unclear. This study was to investigate the differences in the morphological and functional characteristics between rat liver and spleen NK cells under normal and acidic conditions in vitro. METHODS: Liver and spleen NK cells were isolated and purified from Sprague-Dawley rats by density gradient centrifugation and the Dynabeads(®) FlowComp(TM) Flexi system, and stimulated for 4 days with or without IL-2 or treated with low pH or control for different times. Morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cell death and proliferation assays were performed by flow cytometry, IFN-gamma production was tested by ELISA, and cytotoxic activity was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. RESULTS: Liver NK cells had significantly higher levels of cytotoxic activity than spleen NK cells under normal and acidic conditions, and the maximum difference was observed at pH 5.6. Further analysis revealed that the cytotoxic activity of NK cells was correlated with morphology, cell death, proliferative activity and IFN-gamma production. By TEM, liver NK cells contained a greater number of electron-dense granules per cell at pH 5.6. Moreover, a modest elevation of cell death and reduction of proliferation of liver NK cells occurred within a range of 5.6-7.2. Interestingly, an acidic extracellular pH only marginally, and not significantly, suppressed IFN-gamma production by liver NK cells. CONCLUSION: The sharp morphological and functional differences shown by the two types of NK cells in vitro indicate that liver NK cells are unexpectedly resistant to pH shock.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the liver following renal transplantation.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), previously named inflammatory pseudotumor, is a benign lesion, the exact etiology of which remains obscure; immunosuppression and infections have been speculated to be responsible for the development of pseudotumor. IMT associated with transplantation is rarely reported; we report the first case of IMT of the liver in a renal transplantation patient, who presented with symptoms of abdominal pain. The findings of computed tomography suggested hepatocellular carcinoma or liver abscess, and surgical resection was performed. The lesion was pathologically diagnosed as IMT.

Mitofusin-2 Restrains Hepatic Stellate Cells' Proliferation via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway and Inhibits Liver Fibrosis in Rats.

The mitochondrial GTPase mitofusin-2 (MFN2) gene can suppress the cell cycle and regulate cell proliferation in a number of cell types. However, its function in hepatic fibrosis remains largely unexplored. We attempted to understand the mechanism of MFN2 in hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and the development of hepatic fibrosis. Rat HSC-T6 HSC were cultured and transfected by adenovirus- (Ad-) Mfn2 or its negative control (NC) vector (Ad-green fluorescent protein (GFP)); a rat liver cirrhosis model was established via subcutaneous injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into four groups: CCl4, Mfn2, GFP, and NC. Ad-Mfn2 or Ad-GFP was transfected into the circulation via intravenous injection at day 1, 14, 28, 42, or 56 after the first injection of CCl4 in the Mfn2/GFP groups. Biomarkers related to HSC proliferation and the development of hepatic fibrosis were detected using western blotting, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry. In vitro, Mfn2 interfered specifically with platelet-derived growth factor- (PDGF-) induced signaling pathway (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase- (PI3K-) AKT), inhibiting HSC-T6 cell activation and proliferation. During the process of hepatic fibrosis in vivo, extracellular collagen deposition and the expression of fibrosis-related proteins increased progressively, while Mfn2 expression decreased gradually. Upregulating Mfn2 expression at the early stage of fibrosis impeded the process, triggered the downregulation of type I collagen, and antagonized the formation of factors associated with liver fibrosis. Mfn2 suppresses HSC proliferation and activation and exhibits antifibrotic potential in early-stage hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, it may represent a significant therapeutic target for eradicating hepatic fibrosis.

Dynamic Nomogram for Predicting Lateral Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a dynamic nomogram based on preoperative clinical data for prediction of lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) of papillary thyroid carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University. METHODS: The data of 477 patients from 2 centers formed the training group and validation group and were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative clinical factors influencing LLNM were identified by univariable and multivariable analysis and were to construct a predictive dynamic nomogram for LLNM. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and calibration curves were used to evaluate the predictive power of the nomogram. RESULTS: The following were identified as independent risk factors for LLNM: male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 4.6, P = .04), tumor size ≥10.5 mm (OR = 7.9, P = .008), thyroid nodules (OR = 6.1, P = .013), irregular tumor shape (OR = 24.6, P = .001), rich lymph node vascularity (OR = 9.7, P = .004), and lymph node location. The dynamic nomogram constructed with these factors is available at https://zxh1119.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/. The nomogram showed good performance, with an area under the curve of 0.956 (95% CI, 0.925-0.986), a sensitivity of 0.87, and a specificity of 0.91, if high-risk patients were defined as those with a predicted probability ≥0.3 or total score ≥200. The nomogram performed well in the external validation cohort (area under the curve, 0.915; 95% CI, 0.862-0.967). CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic nomogram for preoperative prediction of LLNM in papillary thyroid carcinoma can help surgeons identify high-risk patients and develop individualized treatment plans.

Survival benefit of primary tumor resection for gastric cancer with liver metastasis: A propensity score-matched, population-based study.

Objectives: Gastric cancer with liver metastasis (GCLM) is highly aggressive and has a poor prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the survival benefit of primary tumor resection (PTR) for gastric cancer with liver metastasis. Methods: Data on patients with GCLM was extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to minimize the heterogeneity between the PTR and no-PTR groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the impact of primary tumor resection (PTR) on overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). Results: A total of 3,001 patients with GCLM were included, with 328 patients treated with primary tumor resection (PTR), whereas the other 2,673 patients were not. Patients with PTR had a significantly higher OS and CSS rate than those without PTR in unmatched and PSM cohorts. In an unmatched cohort, the median OS was 12.0 months (95% CI, 10 months to 14 months) for those who underwent PTR and 4 months (95% CI, 4 months to 5 months) for those without PTR; the median CSS for those who underwent PTR was 12.0 months (95% CI, 10 months to14 months) and 4 months (95% CI, 4 months to 5 months) for those without PTR, respectively. After PMS, the median OS was 12.0 months (95% CI, 10 months to 17 months) for those who underwent PTR and 7 months (95% CI, 5 months to 10 months) for those without PTR, respectively; the median CSS for those who underwent PTR was 12.0 months (95% CI, 11 months to 17 months) and 7 months (95% CI, 5 months to 8 months) for those without PTR, respectively. In addition, multivariate Cox analysis in the PSM cohort showed that PTR, age, degree of tumor differentiation, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS in GCLM. Specifically, PTR was a significant protective factor for OS (HR: 0.427; 95% CI, 0.325 to 0.561, P <0.001) and CSS (HR: 0.419; 95% CI, 0.313 to 0.561, P <0.001). Conclusion: Primary tumor resection improves the survival of gastric cancer patients with liver metastasis.

MiR-195-5p suppresses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gallbladder cancer cells by targeting FOSL1 and regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Background: MicroRNA-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) regulatory networks are essential factors that regulate tumor development and metastasis in various cancers including gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Here, we identified the miR-195-5p/Fos-like antigen-1 (FOSL1) axis in GBC by bioinformatics analysis and aimed to investigate its role and regulatory mechanism in the development and progression of GBC. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to construct a miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, and dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-195-5p targets FOSL1 in GBC. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, transwell, flow cytometry assays, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used to detect the biological effects of the miR-195-5p/FOSL1 regulatory axis and the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle of GBC cells. A nude mouse tumorigenesis model was constructed to verify the role of miR-195-5p in vivo. Results: Bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR confirmed that the miR-195-5p/FOSL1 regulatory axis was closely related to GBC cells. Overexpression of miR-195-5p inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GBC cells, and the cells were blocked in the G0/G1 phase. Dual luciferase reporter gene assays and western blot analysis showed that FOSL1 is targeted by miR-195-5p. The recovery experiment showed that miR-195-5p can inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and increase of cells in the G0/G1 phase, and the overexpression of FOSL1 could restore this effect by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Finally, we confirmed that miR-195-5p inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors in vivo. Conclusions: The overexpression of miR-195-5p inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of GBC cells by directly targeting FOSL1 and regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Microbial spectrum and drug resistance of pathogens cultured from gallbladder bile specimens of patients with cholelithiasis: A single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infection is an important cause of cholelithiasis or gallstones and interferes with its treatment. There is no consensus on bile microbial culture profiles in previous studies, and identified microbial spectrum and drug resistance is helpful for targeted preventive and therapeutic drugs in the perioperative period. AIM: To analyze the bile microbial spectrum of patients with cholelithiasis and the drug susceptibility patterns in order to establish an empirical antibiotic treatment for cholelithiasis-associated infection. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis between May 2013 and December 2018. RESULTS: This study included 185 patients, of whom 163 (88.1%) were diagnosed with gallstones and 22 (11.9%) were diagnosed with gallstones and common bile duct stones (CBDSs). Bile culture in 38 cases (20.5%) was positive. The presence of CBDSs (OR = 5.4, 95%CI: 1.3-21.9, P = 0.03) and longer operation time (> 80 min) (OR = 4.3, 95%CI: 1.4-13.1, P = 0.01) were identified as independent risk factors for positive bile culture. Gram-negative bacteria were detected in 28 positive bile specimens, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (19/28) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5/28) were the most frequently identified species. Gram-positive bacteria were present in 10 specimens. The resistance rate to cephalosporin in E. coli was above 42% and varied across generations. All the isolated E. coli strains were sensitive to carbapenems, with the exception of one imipenem-resistant strain. K. pneumoniae showed a similar resistance spectrum to E. coli. Enterococcus spp. was largely sensitive to glycopeptides and penicillin, except for a few strains of E. faecium. CONCLUSION: The presence of common bile duct stones and longer operation time were identified as independent risk factors for positive bile culture in patients with cholelithiasis. The most commonly detected bacterium was E. coli. The combination of ß-lactam antibiotics and ß-lactamase inhibitors prescribed perioperatively appears to be effective against bile pathogens and is recommended. Additionally, regular monitoring of emerging resistance patterns is required in the future.