Obesity is a metabolic disorder due to over-accumulation of adipose tissue and ultimately becomes a“disease”.Brown adipose tissue(BAT)thermogenesis and white adipose tissue(WAT)browning emerge as a potential strateg...Obesity is a metabolic disorder due to over-accumulation of adipose tissue and ultimately becomes a“disease”.Brown adipose tissue(BAT)thermogenesis and white adipose tissue(WAT)browning emerge as a potential strategy of anti-obesity by dissipating energy as heat.However,drugs based on adipose tissue thermogenesis have not been successfully approved yet.In current study,we found that black tea extract(BTE)obtained by patentauthorized manufacturing process prevented body weight gain as novel thermogenic activator with reduction of adiposity,improvement of adipose distribution,and glucose metabolism improvement in diet-induced obesity mice.Mechanismly,anti-obesity effect of BTE depends on promoting BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning with upregulation of uncoupling protein 1(UCP1),especially visceral adipose tissue(VAT)with browning resistance.Specifically,utilizing in silico approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking,we identified carbonic anhydrase 2(CA2)in nitrogen metabolism as anti-obesity target of BTE and further elucidated that protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathway linked CA2 and UCP1.Meanwhile gut microbiota regulation may prompt the CA2-dependent thermogenesis activation.Our findings demonstrated anti-obesity effect of BTE as thermogenic activator through CA2-mediated BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning via CA2-AKT-UCP1 signaling pathway,which could be developed as promising anti-obesity agent with good safety and efficacy.展开更多
BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is rapidly increasing,currently affecting approximately 25%of the global population.Liver fibrosis represents a crucial stage in ...BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is rapidly increasing,currently affecting approximately 25%of the global population.Liver fibrosis represents a crucial stage in the development of MAFLD,with advanced liver fibrosis elevating the risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Simple serum markers are less effective in diagnosing liver fibrosis compared to more complex markers.However,imaging techniques like transient elastography face limitations in clinical application due to equipment and technical constraints.Consequently,it is imperative to identify a straightforward yet effective method for assessing MAFLD-associated liver fibrosis.AIM To investigate the predictive value of angiopoietin-like protein 8(ANGPTL8)in MAFLD and its progression.METHODS We analyzed 160 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasonography in the Endocrinology Department,Xiaogan Central Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology,during September 2021-July 2022.Using abdominal ultrasonography and MAFLD diagnostic criteria,among the 160 patients,80 patients(50%)were diagnosed with MAFLD.The MAFLD group was divided into the liver fibrosis group(n=23)and non-liver fibrosis group(n=57)by using a cut-off fibrosis-4 index≥1.45.Logistical regression was used to analyze the risk of MAFLD and the risk factors for its progression.Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of serum ANGPTL8 in MAFLD and its progression.RESULTS Compared with non-MAFLD patients,MAFLD patients had higher serum ANGPTL8 and triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index(both P<0.05).Serum ANGPTL8(r=0.576,P<0.001)and TyG index(r=0.473,P<0.001)were positively correlated with MAFLD.Serum ANGPTL8 was a risk factor for MAFLD[odds ratio(OR):1.123,95%confidence interval(CI):1.066-1.184,P<0.001).Serum ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL8+TyG index predicted MAFLD[area under the curve(AUC):0.832 and 0.886,respectively;both P<0.05].Compared with MAFLD patients without fibrosis,those with fibrosis had higher serum ANGPTL8 and TyG index(both P<0.05),and both parameters were positively correlated with MAFLD-associated fibrosis.Elevated serum ANGPTL8(OR:1.093,95%CI:1.044-1.144,P<0.001)and TyG index(OR:2.383,95%CI:1.199-4.736,P<0.013)were risk factors for MAFLD-associated fibrosis.Serum ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL8+TyG index predicted MAFLD-associated fibrosis(AUC:0.812 and 0.835,respectively;both P<0.05).CONCLUSION The serum levels of ANGPTL8 are elevated and positively correlated with MAFLD.They can serve as predictors for the risk of MAFLD and liver fibrosis,with the ANGPTL8+TyG index potentially exhibiting even higher predictive value.展开更多
BACKGROUND The lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio(LWR)is a blood marker of the systemic inflammatory response.The prognostic value of LWR in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure(...BACKGROUND The lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio(LWR)is a blood marker of the systemic inflammatory response.The prognostic value of LWR in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF)remains unclear.AIM To explore whether LWR could stratify the risk of poor outcomes in HBV-ACLF patients.METHODS This study was conducted by recruiting 330 patients with HBV-ACLF at the Department of Gastroenterology in a large tertiary hospital.Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor groups according to their 28-d prognosis.The independent risk factors for 28-d mortality were calculated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.Patients were divided into low-and high-LWR groups according to the cutoff values.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed according to the level of LWR.RESULTS During the 28-d follow-up time,135 patients died,and the mortality rate was 40.90%.The LWR level in non-surviving patients was significantly decreased compared to that in surviving patients.A lower LWR level was an independent risk factor for poor 28-d outcomes(hazard ratio=0.052,95%confidence interval:0.005-0.535).The LWR level was significantly negatively correlated with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh,model for end-stage liver disease,and Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF II scores.In addition,the 28-d mortality was higher for patients with LWR<0.11 than for those with LWR≥0.11.CONCLUSION LWR may serve as a simple and useful tool for stratifying the risk of poor 28-d outcomes in HBVACLF patients.展开更多
"Jinhua Xiangyuan"(JHXY)is a unique type of Chinese tea made from roasted oolong tea and subsequently fermented by Eurotium cristatum.In this study,we investigated the potential benefits of JHXY on obese rat..."Jinhua Xiangyuan"(JHXY)is a unique type of Chinese tea made from roasted oolong tea and subsequently fermented by Eurotium cristatum.In this study,we investigated the potential benefits of JHXY on obese rats induced by a high-sucrose high-fat diet.JHXY infusion was administered orally at 1.6 g/kg·bw(HI),0.8 g/kg·bw(MI),and 0.4 g/kg·bw(LI)per day for 10 weeks.Weight gain was significantly suppressed without affecting appetite.In the MI and HI groups,JHXY led to a significant reduction in triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),accompanied by an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels.A significant reduction in white adipose tissue(WAT)index and an increase in brown adipose tissue(BAT)index were observed.In MI group,the morphology of hepatocytes was restored.The abundance of Bifidobacterium was elevated,whereas the abundance of Desulfovibrio was significantly reduced.Correlation analysis revealed that the ratio of Ruminococcus to Bifidobacterium was positively correlated with HDL-C;the abundance of the Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was negatively correlated with TC and LDL-C,while positively correlated with HDL-C;the abundance of Lactobacillus was positively correlated with BAT/WAT ratio.In the MI group,the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway was predicted to be significantly weakened(p<0.05);in the HI group,the sulfur relay system pathway was attenuated,whereas the bacterial toxins pathway was augmented(p<0.05).Our research showed that JHXY has the potential to enhance metabolic health and maintain intestinal homeostasis.Optimal dosage should be a focal point in future research.展开更多
AIM: To study the endoscopic, pathological and immunoo histochemical features of esophageal mesenchymal tumors. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed as esophageal rnysenchymal tumors by electronic endoscopy and e...AIM: To study the endoscopic, pathological and immunoo histochemical features of esophageal mesenchymal tumors. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed as esophageal rnysenchymal tumors by electronic endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were observed under light microscopes, and all tissues were stained by the immunohistochemical method. The expression of CD117, CD34, SMA and desmin were measured by staining intensity of cells and positive cell ratios. RESULTS: Endoscopically, esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and leiomyomas (LMs) had similar appearances, showing submucosal protuberant lesions. They all showed low echo images originated from the muscularis propria or muscularis mucosa on EUS. Endoscopy and EUS could not exactly differentiate esophageal GISTs from LMs. Microscopically, there were two kinds of cells: spindle cell type and epitheloid cell type in esophageal GISTs. Leiomyomas and leiomyosarcornas were only of spindle cell type. One malignancy was found in five cases of esophageal GISTs, and one malignancy in 24 cases of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Using Fisher's exact method, the differences of malignant lesion proportion were not significant between esophageal LMs and GISTs, 1/5 vs 1/24 (P 〉 0.05). All cases of esophageal GISTs were positive for CD117, and 3 cases were also positive for CD34. The 24 cases of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were all negative for CD117 and CD34. The differences of positive rates of CD117 and CD34 were significant between esophageal GISTs and LMs, 5/5 vs 0/24, 3/5 vs 0/24 (P 〈 0.005). All leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were positive for SMA, and desmin. Among 5 cases of esophageal GISTs, 2 cases were SMA positive, and 1 case was desmin positive. The differences in positive rates and expression intensity of SMA and desmin were significant between esophageal LMs and GISTs, 24/24 vs 2/5, 24/24 vs 115 (P 〈 0.005). CONCLUSION: The most common esophageal mesenchymal tumors are leiomyomas, and esophageal GISTs are less common. Most of esophageal LMs and GISTs are benign. Endoscopy and EUS are the effective methods to diagnose esophageal mesenchymal tumors and they can provide useful information for the treatment of these tumors. However, they cannot exactly differentiate esophageal GISTs from LMs. Pathological, especially immunohistochemical features are useful to differentiate GISTs from leiomyomas.展开更多
AIM To explore the natural history of covert hepatic encephalopathy(CHE) in absence of medication intervention.METHODS Consecutive outpatient cirrhotic patients in a Chinese tertiary care hospital were enrolled and ev...AIM To explore the natural history of covert hepatic encephalopathy(CHE) in absence of medication intervention.METHODS Consecutive outpatient cirrhotic patients in a Chinese tertiary care hospital were enrolled and evaluated for CHE diagnosis. They were followed up for a mean of 11.2 ± 1.3 mo. Time to the first cirrhosis-related complications requiring hospitalization, including overt HE(OHE), resolution of CHE and death/transplantation, were compared between CHE and no-CHE patients. Predictors for complication(s) and death/transplantation were also analyzed.RESULTS A total of 366 patients(age: 47.2 ± 8.6 years, male: 73.0%) were enrolled. CHE was identified in 131 patients(35.8%). CHE patients had higher rates of death and incidence of complications requiring hospitalization, including OHE, compared to unimpaired patients. Moreover, 17.6% of CHE patients developed OHE, 42.0% suffered persistent CHE, and 19.8% of CHE spontaneously resolved. In CHE patients, serum albumin < 30 g/L(HR = 5.22, P = 0.03) was the sole predictor for developing OHE, and blood creatinine > 133 μmol/L(HR = 4.75, P = 0.036) predicted mortality. Child-Pugh B/C(HR = 0.084, P < 0.001) and OHE history(HR = 0.15, P = 0.014) were predictors of spontaneous resolution of CHE.CONCLUSION CHE exacerbates, persists or resolves without medication intervention in clinically stable cirrhosis. Triage of patients based on these predictors will allow for more cost-effect management of CHE.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the clinical features of Crohn's disease(CD) and intestinal tuberculosis(ITB) with a scoring system that we have developed.METHODS: A total of 25 CD and 40 ITB patients were prospectively enrol...AIM: To investigate the clinical features of Crohn's disease(CD) and intestinal tuberculosis(ITB) with a scoring system that we have developed.METHODS: A total of 25 CD and 40 ITB patients were prospectively enrolled from August 2011 to July 2012.Their characteristics and clinical features were recorded. Laboratory, endoscopic, histologic and radiographic features were determined. The features with a high specificity were selected to establish a scoring system. The features supporting CD scored +1, and those supporting ITB scored-1; each patient received a final total score. A receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was used to determine the best cut-off value for distinguishing CD from ITB.RESULTS: Based on a high specificity of differentiating between CD and ITB, 12 features, including longitudinal ulcers, nodular hyperplasia, cobblestone-like mucosa, intestinal diseases, intestinal fistula, the target sign, the comb sign, night sweats, the purified protein derivative test, the interferon-γ release assay(T-SPOT.TB), ring ulcers and ulcer scars, were selected for the scoring system. The results showed that the average total score of the CD group was 3.12 ± 1.740, the average total score of the ITB group was-2.58 ± 0.984, the best cutoff value for the ROC curve was-0.5, and the diagnostic area under the curve was 0.997, which was statistically significant(P < 0.001). The patients whose total scores were higher than-0.5 were diagnosed with CD; otherwise, patients were diagnosed with ITB. Overall, the diagnostic accuracy rate and misdiagnosis rate of this scoring system were 97% and 3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Some clinical features are valuable for CD and ITB diagnosis. The described scoring system is key to differentiating between CD and ITB.展开更多
AIM:To explore the expressions of GST-π and telomerase activity in esophageal carcinoma and premalignant lesions and to investigate the value of endoscopic methylene blue (MB) and Lugol's iodine double staining. ...AIM:To explore the expressions of GST-π and telomerase activity in esophageal carcinoma and premalignant lesions and to investigate the value of endoscopic methylene blue (MB) and Lugol's iodine double staining. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with esophagopathy were sprayed endoscopically with MB and Lugol's iodine in proper order and the areas stained blue and brown, and the area between the blue and brown stains were obtained. Depending on the pattern of mucosal staining, biopsy specimen was obtained. GST-π and telomerase activity in specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and PCR-based silver staining telomeric repeat amplification protocol, respectively. RESULTS: After MB and Lugol's iodine staining, the area between both the colors was obtained in 64 of the 72 patients and the areas were stained blue and brown in all of the 72 patients. Association test of two simultaneous ordinal categorical data showed a correlation between the esophageal mucosal staining and the esophageal histology (P〈0.005). The expression of GST-π and telomerase activity in esophageal carcinoma and premalignant lesions increased. The expression of GST-π and telomerase activity in dysplasia and carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal epithelium (P〈0.005). The expression in hyperplasia was slightly higher than that in normal epithelium. With the lesions progressing from low- to moderate- to high-grade dysplasia, the positive rate increased (P〈0.025). Expression of GST-π was correlated with that of telomerase activity in dysplasia and carcinoma (φ= 0.4831, P〈0.005;φ= 0.3031, P〈0.025, respectively); but there was no correlation between them in normal epithelium and hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: The expression of GST-π and telomerase may be an early event in the carcinogenesis of esophagus. They may play an induced and synergistic role with each other in the carcinogenesis of esophagus. Endoscopic MB and Lugol's iodine double staining and detection of GST-π and telomerase activity may contribute to the early diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the relationship between contrast sensitivity(CS) and corneal shape following overnight orthokeratology(OK). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective clinical study of 80 lens-wearing myopia patients, al...AIM: To evaluate the relationship between contrast sensitivity(CS) and corneal shape following overnight orthokeratology(OK). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective clinical study of 80 lens-wearing myopia patients, all of whom had undergone OK and had been evaluated by Orbscan II topography. We measured the surface irregularity index(SIRI) of corneal topography at 3 and 5 mm, the size of the flattened central corneal curvature of OK lens(zone A), the size of the cornea altered by OK lens(zone B), the size of the pupillary area at the corneal level(zone C), the area of crossover between zones A and C(zone AC), the area of crossover between zones B and C(BC), the ratio of BC to B(BC/B), and the ratio of AC to C(AC/C). CS was evaluated using the CSV-1000 with spatial frequencies of 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles/degree(CPD). RESULTS: Multiple correlation analyses indicated significant negative correlations between CS, zone C, BC/B, and 3-mm SIRI(all P<0.01). There were no significant differences between CS, zone B, AC/A, or 5-mm SIRI(P=0.60, 0.94 and 0.11, respectively). Zone C was negatively correlated with 3, 6, 12, and 18 CPD. 5-mm SIRI were negatively correlated with 6, 12, and 18 CPD. BC/C was negatively correlated with 6 and 18 CPD. AC/C was positively correlated with 3 CPD. CONCLUSION: Zone C, 3-mm SIRI and BC/B affect the CS following overnight OK.展开更多
Existing models of bulk modulus for aerated hydraulic fluids primarily focus on the effects of pressure and air fraction,whereas the effect of temperature on bulk modulus is disregarded.Based on the lumped parameter m...Existing models of bulk modulus for aerated hydraulic fluids primarily focus on the effects of pressure and air fraction,whereas the effect of temperature on bulk modulus is disregarded.Based on the lumped parameter method and the full cavitation model,combined with the improved Henry’s law and the air polytropic course equation,a theoretical model of dynamic bulk modulus for an aerated hydraulic fluid is derived.The effects of system pressure,air fraction,and temperature on bulk modulus are investigated using the controlled variable method.The results show that the dynamic bulk modulus of the aerated hydraulic fluid is inconsistent during the compression process.At the same pressure point,the dynamic bulk modulus during expansion is higher than that during compression.Under the same initial air faction and pressure changing period,a higher temperature results in a lower dynamic bulk modulus.When the pressure is lower,the dynamic bulk modulus of each temperature point is more similar to each other.By comparing the theoretical results with the actual dynamic bulk modulus of the Shell Tellus S ISO32 standard air-containing oil,the goodness-of-fit between the theoretical model and experimental value at three temperatures is 0.9726,0.9732,and 0.9675,which validates the theoretical model.In this study,a calculation model of dynamic bulk modulus that considers temperature factors is proposed.It predicts the dynamic bulk modulus of aerated hydraulic fluids at different temperatures and provides a theoretical basis for improving the analytical model of bulk modulus.展开更多
BACKGROUND The dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is evident in Crohn's disease(CD) compared with healthy controls(HC), although the alterations from active CD to remission after treatment are unclear.AIM To characte...BACKGROUND The dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is evident in Crohn's disease(CD) compared with healthy controls(HC), although the alterations from active CD to remission after treatment are unclear.AIM To characterize the mucosa-associated gut microbiota in patients with CD before and after the induction therapy.METHODS The basic information was collected from the subjects and the CD activity index(CDAI) was calculated in patients. A 16S rRNA sequencing approach was applied to determine the structures of microbial communities in mucosal samples including the terminal ileal, ascending colon, descending colon and rectum. The composition and function of mucosa-associated gut microbiota were compared between samples from the same cohort of patients before and after treatment.Differential taxa were identified to calculate the microbial dysbiosis index(MDI)and the correlation between MDI and CDAI was analyzed using Pearson correlation test. Predictive functional profiling of microbial communities was obtained with PICRUSt.RESULTS There were no significant differences in microbial richness among the four anatomical sites in individuals. Compared to active disease, the alpha diversity of CD in remission was increased towards the level of HC compared to the active stage. The principal coordinate analysis revealed that samples of active CD were clearly separated from those in remission, which clustered close to HC. Sixty-five genera were identified as differentially abundant between active and quiescent CD, with a loss of Fusobacterium and a gain of potential beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Roseburia, Ruminococcus and Lachnospira after the induction of remission. The combination of these taxa into a MDI showed a positive correlation with clinical disease severity and a negative correlation with species richness. The increased capacity for the inferred pathways including Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis proteins in patients before treatment negatively correlated with the abundance of Roseburia,Ruminococcus and Lachnospira.CONCLUSION The dysbiosis of mucosa-associated microbiota was associated with the disease phenotype and may become a potential diagnostic tool for the recurrence of disease.展开更多
Objective:Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)play a critical role in cancer metastasis,but their prevalence and significance remain unclear.This study attempted to track the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)status of C...Objective:Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)play a critical role in cancer metastasis,but their prevalence and significance remain unclear.This study attempted to track the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)status of CTCs in breast cancer patients and investigate their clinical relevance.Methods:In this study,the established negFACS-IF:E/M platform was applied to isolate rare CTCs and characterize their EMT status in breast cancer.A total of 89 breast cancer patients were recruited,including stage 0–III(n=60)and late stage(n=29)cases.Results:Using the negFACS-IF:E/M platform,it was found that in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)+patients,mesenchymal CTCs usually exhibited a high percentage of HER2+cells.Stage IV breast cancer patients had considerably more CTCs than stage 0–III patients.Among stage 0–III breast cancers,the HER2 subtype included a significantly higher percentage of mesenchymal and biphenotypic(epithelial and mesenchymal)CTCs than the luminal A or B subtypes.Among stage IV patients,CTCs were predominantly epithelial in cases with local recurrence and were more mesenchymal in cases with distant metastasis.By applying a support vector machine(SVM)algorithm,the EMT status of CTCs could distinguish between breast cancer cases with metastasis/local recurrence and those without recurrence.Conclusions:The negFACS-IF:E/M platform provides a flexible and generally acceptable method for the highly sensitive and specific detection of CTCs and their EMT traits in breast cancer.This study demonstrated that the EMT status of CTCs had high clinical relevance in breast cancer,especially in predicting the distant metastasis or local recurrence of breast cancer.展开更多
BACKGROUND Duodenal varices are a lesser-known complication with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We report a circuitous route from missed diagnosis of duodenal varices to correction. An extremely rare case of duode...BACKGROUND Duodenal varices are a lesser-known complication with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We report a circuitous route from missed diagnosis of duodenal varices to correction. An extremely rare case of duodenal variceal bleeding secondary to idiopathic portal hypertension(IPH) is expounded in this study, which was controlled by transjugular intra-hepatic porto-systemic shunt(TIPS) plus embolization. CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old woman with anemia for two years was frequently admitted to the local hospital. Upon examination, anemia was attributed to gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which resulted from duodenal variceal bleeding detected by repeated esophagogastroduodenoscopy. At the end of a complete workup, IPH leadingto duodenal varices was diagnosed. Portal venography revealed that the remarked duodenal varices originated from the proximal superior mesenteric vein. TIPS plus embolization with coils and Histoacryl was performed to obliterate the rupture of duodenal varices. The anemia resolved, and the duodenal varices completely vanished by 2 mo after the initial operation. CONCLUSION TIPS plus embolization may be more appropriate to treat the bleeding of large duodenal varices.展开更多
BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)is a common and severe complication in patients with cirrhosis,and is associated with poor prognosis.Therefore,identifying cirrhotic patients with AKI who are at high risk of mortali...BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)is a common and severe complication in patients with cirrhosis,and is associated with poor prognosis.Therefore,identifying cirrhotic patients with AKI who are at high risk of mortality is very important and may be helpful for providing timely medical interventions to improve the prognosis of these patients.However,studies focused on investigating the risk factors for the mortality of cirrhotic patients with AKI were scarce.AIM To identify risk factors for mortality and establish a nomogram for predicting the prognosis of these patients.METHODS Two hundred fifty consecutive patients with cirrhosis and AKI were recruited and randomly divided into training cohort(n=173)and validation cohort(n=77).In the training cohort,potential risk factors for death were identified by performing a Cox regression analysis,and a nomogram was established.The predictive performance of the nomogram was internally and externally validated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC),constructing a calibration curve and performing decision curve analysis.RESULTS The serum sodium level,international normalized ratio,peak serum creatinine level>1.5 mg/dL,the presence of hepatic encephalopathy and diabetes were potential risk factors for mortality of cirrhotic patients with AKI in the training dataset.A prognostic nomogram incorporating these variables was established for predicting the overall survival of these patients.Compared with Child-Turcotte-Pugh,the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)and the MELD-Na scores,the nomogram in predicting 90-and 180-d mortality exhibited better discriminatory power with AUROCs of 0.792 and 0.801 for the training dataset and 0.817 and 0.862 for the validation dataset,respectively.With a nomogram score of 98,patients were divided into low-and high-risk groups,and high-risk patients had a higher mortality rate.CONCLUSION A prognostic nomogram displayed good performance for predicting the overall survival of cirrhotic patients with AKI,and will assist clinicians in evaluating the prognosis of these patients.展开更多
Normal cells mainly rely on oxidative phosphorylation as an effective energy source in the presence of oxygen.In contrast,most cancer cells use less efficient glycolysis to produce ATP and essential biomolecules.Cance...Normal cells mainly rely on oxidative phosphorylation as an effective energy source in the presence of oxygen.In contrast,most cancer cells use less efficient glycolysis to produce ATP and essential biomolecules.Cancer cells gain the characteristics of metabolic adaptation by reprogramming their metabolic mechanisms to meet the needs of rapid tumor growth.A subset of cancer cells with stem characteristics and the ability to regenerate exist throughout the tumor and are therefore called cancer stem cells(CSCs).New evidence indicates that CSCs have different metabolic phenotypes compared with differentiated cancer cells.CSCs can dynamically transform their metabolic state to favor glycolysis or oxidative metabolism.The mechanism of the metabolic plasticity of CSCs has not been fully elucidated,and existing evidence indicates that the metabolic phenotype of cancer cells is closely related to the tumor microenvironment.Targeting CSC metabolism may provide new and effective methods for the treatment of tumors.In this review,we summarize the metabolic characteristics of cancer cells and CSCs and the mechanisms of the metabolic interplay between the tumor microenvironment and CSCs,and discuss the clinical implications of targeting CSC metabolism.展开更多
AIM: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumors (SMTs, including leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma) and to review our preliminary experiences on endo...AIM: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumors (SMTs, including leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma) and to review our preliminary experiences on endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal SMTs. METHODS: A total of 69 patients with gastrointestinal SMT underwent routine endoscopy in our department. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was also performed in 9 cases of gastrointestinal SMT. The sessile submucosal gastrointestinal SMTs with the base smaller than 2 cm in diameter were resected by "pushing" technique or "grasping and pushing" technique while the pedunculated SMTs were resected by polypectomy. For those SMTs originating from muscularis propria or with the base size ≥ 2 cm, ordinary biopsy technique was performed in tumors with ulcers while the "Digging" technique was performed in those without ulcers. RESULTS: 54 cases of leiomyoma and 15 cases of leiomyosarcoma were identified. In them, 19 cases of submucosal leiomyoma were resected by "pushing" technique and 10 cases were removed by "grasping and pushing" technique. Three cases pedunculated submucosal leiomyoma were resected by polypectomy. No severe complications developed during or after the procedure. No recurrence was observed. The diagnostic accuracy of ordinary and the "Digging" biopsy technique was 90.0% and 94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic resection is a safe and effective treatment for leiomyomas with the base size ≤2 cm. The "digging" biopsy technique would be a good option for histologic diagnosis of SMTs.展开更多
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC 82070877)CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS)(2022-I2M-JB-010,2021-I2M-1-005)The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(2017YFE0112900).
文摘Obesity is a metabolic disorder due to over-accumulation of adipose tissue and ultimately becomes a“disease”.Brown adipose tissue(BAT)thermogenesis and white adipose tissue(WAT)browning emerge as a potential strategy of anti-obesity by dissipating energy as heat.However,drugs based on adipose tissue thermogenesis have not been successfully approved yet.In current study,we found that black tea extract(BTE)obtained by patentauthorized manufacturing process prevented body weight gain as novel thermogenic activator with reduction of adiposity,improvement of adipose distribution,and glucose metabolism improvement in diet-induced obesity mice.Mechanismly,anti-obesity effect of BTE depends on promoting BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning with upregulation of uncoupling protein 1(UCP1),especially visceral adipose tissue(VAT)with browning resistance.Specifically,utilizing in silico approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking,we identified carbonic anhydrase 2(CA2)in nitrogen metabolism as anti-obesity target of BTE and further elucidated that protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathway linked CA2 and UCP1.Meanwhile gut microbiota regulation may prompt the CA2-dependent thermogenesis activation.Our findings demonstrated anti-obesity effect of BTE as thermogenic activator through CA2-mediated BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning via CA2-AKT-UCP1 signaling pathway,which could be developed as promising anti-obesity agent with good safety and efficacy.
基金Supported by Youth Talents Project of Joint Fund of Hubei Health Commission,No.WJ2019H170and Xiaogan Natural Science Project,No.XGKJ2020010033。
文摘BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is rapidly increasing,currently affecting approximately 25%of the global population.Liver fibrosis represents a crucial stage in the development of MAFLD,with advanced liver fibrosis elevating the risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Simple serum markers are less effective in diagnosing liver fibrosis compared to more complex markers.However,imaging techniques like transient elastography face limitations in clinical application due to equipment and technical constraints.Consequently,it is imperative to identify a straightforward yet effective method for assessing MAFLD-associated liver fibrosis.AIM To investigate the predictive value of angiopoietin-like protein 8(ANGPTL8)in MAFLD and its progression.METHODS We analyzed 160 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasonography in the Endocrinology Department,Xiaogan Central Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology,during September 2021-July 2022.Using abdominal ultrasonography and MAFLD diagnostic criteria,among the 160 patients,80 patients(50%)were diagnosed with MAFLD.The MAFLD group was divided into the liver fibrosis group(n=23)and non-liver fibrosis group(n=57)by using a cut-off fibrosis-4 index≥1.45.Logistical regression was used to analyze the risk of MAFLD and the risk factors for its progression.Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of serum ANGPTL8 in MAFLD and its progression.RESULTS Compared with non-MAFLD patients,MAFLD patients had higher serum ANGPTL8 and triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index(both P<0.05).Serum ANGPTL8(r=0.576,P<0.001)and TyG index(r=0.473,P<0.001)were positively correlated with MAFLD.Serum ANGPTL8 was a risk factor for MAFLD[odds ratio(OR):1.123,95%confidence interval(CI):1.066-1.184,P<0.001).Serum ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL8+TyG index predicted MAFLD[area under the curve(AUC):0.832 and 0.886,respectively;both P<0.05].Compared with MAFLD patients without fibrosis,those with fibrosis had higher serum ANGPTL8 and TyG index(both P<0.05),and both parameters were positively correlated with MAFLD-associated fibrosis.Elevated serum ANGPTL8(OR:1.093,95%CI:1.044-1.144,P<0.001)and TyG index(OR:2.383,95%CI:1.199-4.736,P<0.013)were risk factors for MAFLD-associated fibrosis.Serum ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL8+TyG index predicted MAFLD-associated fibrosis(AUC:0.812 and 0.835,respectively;both P<0.05).CONCLUSION The serum levels of ANGPTL8 are elevated and positively correlated with MAFLD.They can serve as predictors for the risk of MAFLD and liver fibrosis,with the ANGPTL8+TyG index potentially exhibiting even higher predictive value.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81960120 and 81660110the Postgraduate Innovation Special Foundation of Jiangxi Province,No.YC2022-B052“Gan-Po Talent 555”Project of Jiangxi Province,No.GCZ(2012)-1.
文摘BACKGROUND The lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio(LWR)is a blood marker of the systemic inflammatory response.The prognostic value of LWR in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF)remains unclear.AIM To explore whether LWR could stratify the risk of poor outcomes in HBV-ACLF patients.METHODS This study was conducted by recruiting 330 patients with HBV-ACLF at the Department of Gastroenterology in a large tertiary hospital.Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor groups according to their 28-d prognosis.The independent risk factors for 28-d mortality were calculated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.Patients were divided into low-and high-LWR groups according to the cutoff values.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed according to the level of LWR.RESULTS During the 28-d follow-up time,135 patients died,and the mortality rate was 40.90%.The LWR level in non-surviving patients was significantly decreased compared to that in surviving patients.A lower LWR level was an independent risk factor for poor 28-d outcomes(hazard ratio=0.052,95%confidence interval:0.005-0.535).The LWR level was significantly negatively correlated with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh,model for end-stage liver disease,and Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF II scores.In addition,the 28-d mortality was higher for patients with LWR<0.11 than for those with LWR≥0.11.CONCLUSION LWR may serve as a simple and useful tool for stratifying the risk of poor 28-d outcomes in HBVACLF patients.
基金funded by Applied Basic Research Project of COFCO(2017-C1-T06)Yunnan Province Science and Technology Project(202102AE090038).
文摘"Jinhua Xiangyuan"(JHXY)is a unique type of Chinese tea made from roasted oolong tea and subsequently fermented by Eurotium cristatum.In this study,we investigated the potential benefits of JHXY on obese rats induced by a high-sucrose high-fat diet.JHXY infusion was administered orally at 1.6 g/kg·bw(HI),0.8 g/kg·bw(MI),and 0.4 g/kg·bw(LI)per day for 10 weeks.Weight gain was significantly suppressed without affecting appetite.In the MI and HI groups,JHXY led to a significant reduction in triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),accompanied by an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels.A significant reduction in white adipose tissue(WAT)index and an increase in brown adipose tissue(BAT)index were observed.In MI group,the morphology of hepatocytes was restored.The abundance of Bifidobacterium was elevated,whereas the abundance of Desulfovibrio was significantly reduced.Correlation analysis revealed that the ratio of Ruminococcus to Bifidobacterium was positively correlated with HDL-C;the abundance of the Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was negatively correlated with TC and LDL-C,while positively correlated with HDL-C;the abundance of Lactobacillus was positively correlated with BAT/WAT ratio.In the MI group,the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway was predicted to be significantly weakened(p<0.05);in the HI group,the sulfur relay system pathway was attenuated,whereas the bacterial toxins pathway was augmented(p<0.05).Our research showed that JHXY has the potential to enhance metabolic health and maintain intestinal homeostasis.Optimal dosage should be a focal point in future research.
基金Supported by the Scientific and Technological Foundation of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology
文摘AIM: To study the endoscopic, pathological and immunoo histochemical features of esophageal mesenchymal tumors. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed as esophageal rnysenchymal tumors by electronic endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were observed under light microscopes, and all tissues were stained by the immunohistochemical method. The expression of CD117, CD34, SMA and desmin were measured by staining intensity of cells and positive cell ratios. RESULTS: Endoscopically, esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and leiomyomas (LMs) had similar appearances, showing submucosal protuberant lesions. They all showed low echo images originated from the muscularis propria or muscularis mucosa on EUS. Endoscopy and EUS could not exactly differentiate esophageal GISTs from LMs. Microscopically, there were two kinds of cells: spindle cell type and epitheloid cell type in esophageal GISTs. Leiomyomas and leiomyosarcornas were only of spindle cell type. One malignancy was found in five cases of esophageal GISTs, and one malignancy in 24 cases of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Using Fisher's exact method, the differences of malignant lesion proportion were not significant between esophageal LMs and GISTs, 1/5 vs 1/24 (P 〉 0.05). All cases of esophageal GISTs were positive for CD117, and 3 cases were also positive for CD34. The 24 cases of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were all negative for CD117 and CD34. The differences of positive rates of CD117 and CD34 were significant between esophageal GISTs and LMs, 5/5 vs 0/24, 3/5 vs 0/24 (P 〈 0.005). All leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were positive for SMA, and desmin. Among 5 cases of esophageal GISTs, 2 cases were SMA positive, and 1 case was desmin positive. The differences in positive rates and expression intensity of SMA and desmin were significant between esophageal LMs and GISTs, 24/24 vs 2/5, 24/24 vs 115 (P 〈 0.005). CONCLUSION: The most common esophageal mesenchymal tumors are leiomyomas, and esophageal GISTs are less common. Most of esophageal LMs and GISTs are benign. Endoscopy and EUS are the effective methods to diagnose esophageal mesenchymal tumors and they can provide useful information for the treatment of these tumors. However, they cannot exactly differentiate esophageal GISTs from LMs. Pathological, especially immunohistochemical features are useful to differentiate GISTs from leiomyomas.
基金Supported by Science and Technology Planning Project of Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province,No.20171022National Natural Science Fund of China,No.81460122+2 种基金Project in the Science and Technology Pillar Program of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology,No.20161BBG70166Jiangxi Provincial Outstanding Young Talent Program,No.20171BCB23085Natural Science Fund of Jiangxi Province For Young Scholars,No.20171BAB215008
文摘AIM To explore the natural history of covert hepatic encephalopathy(CHE) in absence of medication intervention.METHODS Consecutive outpatient cirrhotic patients in a Chinese tertiary care hospital were enrolled and evaluated for CHE diagnosis. They were followed up for a mean of 11.2 ± 1.3 mo. Time to the first cirrhosis-related complications requiring hospitalization, including overt HE(OHE), resolution of CHE and death/transplantation, were compared between CHE and no-CHE patients. Predictors for complication(s) and death/transplantation were also analyzed.RESULTS A total of 366 patients(age: 47.2 ± 8.6 years, male: 73.0%) were enrolled. CHE was identified in 131 patients(35.8%). CHE patients had higher rates of death and incidence of complications requiring hospitalization, including OHE, compared to unimpaired patients. Moreover, 17.6% of CHE patients developed OHE, 42.0% suffered persistent CHE, and 19.8% of CHE spontaneously resolved. In CHE patients, serum albumin < 30 g/L(HR = 5.22, P = 0.03) was the sole predictor for developing OHE, and blood creatinine > 133 μmol/L(HR = 4.75, P = 0.036) predicted mortality. Child-Pugh B/C(HR = 0.084, P < 0.001) and OHE history(HR = 0.15, P = 0.014) were predictors of spontaneous resolution of CHE.CONCLUSION CHE exacerbates, persists or resolves without medication intervention in clinically stable cirrhosis. Triage of patients based on these predictors will allow for more cost-effect management of CHE.
文摘AIM: To investigate the clinical features of Crohn's disease(CD) and intestinal tuberculosis(ITB) with a scoring system that we have developed.METHODS: A total of 25 CD and 40 ITB patients were prospectively enrolled from August 2011 to July 2012.Their characteristics and clinical features were recorded. Laboratory, endoscopic, histologic and radiographic features were determined. The features with a high specificity were selected to establish a scoring system. The features supporting CD scored +1, and those supporting ITB scored-1; each patient received a final total score. A receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was used to determine the best cut-off value for distinguishing CD from ITB.RESULTS: Based on a high specificity of differentiating between CD and ITB, 12 features, including longitudinal ulcers, nodular hyperplasia, cobblestone-like mucosa, intestinal diseases, intestinal fistula, the target sign, the comb sign, night sweats, the purified protein derivative test, the interferon-γ release assay(T-SPOT.TB), ring ulcers and ulcer scars, were selected for the scoring system. The results showed that the average total score of the CD group was 3.12 ± 1.740, the average total score of the ITB group was-2.58 ± 0.984, the best cutoff value for the ROC curve was-0.5, and the diagnostic area under the curve was 0.997, which was statistically significant(P < 0.001). The patients whose total scores were higher than-0.5 were diagnosed with CD; otherwise, patients were diagnosed with ITB. Overall, the diagnostic accuracy rate and misdiagnosis rate of this scoring system were 97% and 3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Some clinical features are valuable for CD and ITB diagnosis. The described scoring system is key to differentiating between CD and ITB.
基金Supported by the Scientific and Technological Foundation of the Education Department of Jiangxi Province
文摘AIM:To explore the expressions of GST-π and telomerase activity in esophageal carcinoma and premalignant lesions and to investigate the value of endoscopic methylene blue (MB) and Lugol's iodine double staining. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with esophagopathy were sprayed endoscopically with MB and Lugol's iodine in proper order and the areas stained blue and brown, and the area between the blue and brown stains were obtained. Depending on the pattern of mucosal staining, biopsy specimen was obtained. GST-π and telomerase activity in specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and PCR-based silver staining telomeric repeat amplification protocol, respectively. RESULTS: After MB and Lugol's iodine staining, the area between both the colors was obtained in 64 of the 72 patients and the areas were stained blue and brown in all of the 72 patients. Association test of two simultaneous ordinal categorical data showed a correlation between the esophageal mucosal staining and the esophageal histology (P〈0.005). The expression of GST-π and telomerase activity in esophageal carcinoma and premalignant lesions increased. The expression of GST-π and telomerase activity in dysplasia and carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal epithelium (P〈0.005). The expression in hyperplasia was slightly higher than that in normal epithelium. With the lesions progressing from low- to moderate- to high-grade dysplasia, the positive rate increased (P〈0.025). Expression of GST-π was correlated with that of telomerase activity in dysplasia and carcinoma (φ= 0.4831, P〈0.005;φ= 0.3031, P〈0.025, respectively); but there was no correlation between them in normal epithelium and hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: The expression of GST-π and telomerase may be an early event in the carcinogenesis of esophagus. They may play an induced and synergistic role with each other in the carcinogenesis of esophagus. Endoscopic MB and Lugol's iodine double staining and detection of GST-π and telomerase activity may contribute to the early diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the relationship between contrast sensitivity(CS) and corneal shape following overnight orthokeratology(OK). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective clinical study of 80 lens-wearing myopia patients, all of whom had undergone OK and had been evaluated by Orbscan II topography. We measured the surface irregularity index(SIRI) of corneal topography at 3 and 5 mm, the size of the flattened central corneal curvature of OK lens(zone A), the size of the cornea altered by OK lens(zone B), the size of the pupillary area at the corneal level(zone C), the area of crossover between zones A and C(zone AC), the area of crossover between zones B and C(BC), the ratio of BC to B(BC/B), and the ratio of AC to C(AC/C). CS was evaluated using the CSV-1000 with spatial frequencies of 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles/degree(CPD). RESULTS: Multiple correlation analyses indicated significant negative correlations between CS, zone C, BC/B, and 3-mm SIRI(all P<0.01). There were no significant differences between CS, zone B, AC/A, or 5-mm SIRI(P=0.60, 0.94 and 0.11, respectively). Zone C was negatively correlated with 3, 6, 12, and 18 CPD. 5-mm SIRI were negatively correlated with 6, 12, and 18 CPD. BC/C was negatively correlated with 6 and 18 CPD. AC/C was positively correlated with 3 CPD. CONCLUSION: Zone C, 3-mm SIRI and BC/B affect the CS following overnight OK.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52175066,51805468)Hebei Provincial National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.E2020203090)+1 种基金Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department of China(Grant No.ZD2022052)Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Fire Emergency Rescue Equipment of China(Grant No.2020XFZB07).
文摘Existing models of bulk modulus for aerated hydraulic fluids primarily focus on the effects of pressure and air fraction,whereas the effect of temperature on bulk modulus is disregarded.Based on the lumped parameter method and the full cavitation model,combined with the improved Henry’s law and the air polytropic course equation,a theoretical model of dynamic bulk modulus for an aerated hydraulic fluid is derived.The effects of system pressure,air fraction,and temperature on bulk modulus are investigated using the controlled variable method.The results show that the dynamic bulk modulus of the aerated hydraulic fluid is inconsistent during the compression process.At the same pressure point,the dynamic bulk modulus during expansion is higher than that during compression.Under the same initial air faction and pressure changing period,a higher temperature results in a lower dynamic bulk modulus.When the pressure is lower,the dynamic bulk modulus of each temperature point is more similar to each other.By comparing the theoretical results with the actual dynamic bulk modulus of the Shell Tellus S ISO32 standard air-containing oil,the goodness-of-fit between the theoretical model and experimental value at three temperatures is 0.9726,0.9732,and 0.9675,which validates the theoretical model.In this study,a calculation model of dynamic bulk modulus that considers temperature factors is proposed.It predicts the dynamic bulk modulus of aerated hydraulic fluids at different temperatures and provides a theoretical basis for improving the analytical model of bulk modulus.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81660101 and No.81860106the Special Scientific Research Fund of Public Welfare Profession of National Health and Family Planning Commission,No.201502026the Graduate Innovation Fund of Nanchang University,No.CX2017251
文摘BACKGROUND The dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is evident in Crohn's disease(CD) compared with healthy controls(HC), although the alterations from active CD to remission after treatment are unclear.AIM To characterize the mucosa-associated gut microbiota in patients with CD before and after the induction therapy.METHODS The basic information was collected from the subjects and the CD activity index(CDAI) was calculated in patients. A 16S rRNA sequencing approach was applied to determine the structures of microbial communities in mucosal samples including the terminal ileal, ascending colon, descending colon and rectum. The composition and function of mucosa-associated gut microbiota were compared between samples from the same cohort of patients before and after treatment.Differential taxa were identified to calculate the microbial dysbiosis index(MDI)and the correlation between MDI and CDAI was analyzed using Pearson correlation test. Predictive functional profiling of microbial communities was obtained with PICRUSt.RESULTS There were no significant differences in microbial richness among the four anatomical sites in individuals. Compared to active disease, the alpha diversity of CD in remission was increased towards the level of HC compared to the active stage. The principal coordinate analysis revealed that samples of active CD were clearly separated from those in remission, which clustered close to HC. Sixty-five genera were identified as differentially abundant between active and quiescent CD, with a loss of Fusobacterium and a gain of potential beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Roseburia, Ruminococcus and Lachnospira after the induction of remission. The combination of these taxa into a MDI showed a positive correlation with clinical disease severity and a negative correlation with species richness. The increased capacity for the inferred pathways including Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis proteins in patients before treatment negatively correlated with the abundance of Roseburia,Ruminococcus and Lachnospira.CONCLUSION The dysbiosis of mucosa-associated microbiota was associated with the disease phenotype and may become a potential diagnostic tool for the recurrence of disease.
基金mostly supported through the funding provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81702866)the Key Program of the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Grant No.LZ16H160002)+2 种基金the Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of HighLevel Innovative Health Talentsthe Foundation of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province(Grant No.Y201636451)partially supported through funding provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81472666)。
文摘Objective:Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)play a critical role in cancer metastasis,but their prevalence and significance remain unclear.This study attempted to track the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)status of CTCs in breast cancer patients and investigate their clinical relevance.Methods:In this study,the established negFACS-IF:E/M platform was applied to isolate rare CTCs and characterize their EMT status in breast cancer.A total of 89 breast cancer patients were recruited,including stage 0–III(n=60)and late stage(n=29)cases.Results:Using the negFACS-IF:E/M platform,it was found that in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)+patients,mesenchymal CTCs usually exhibited a high percentage of HER2+cells.Stage IV breast cancer patients had considerably more CTCs than stage 0–III patients.Among stage 0–III breast cancers,the HER2 subtype included a significantly higher percentage of mesenchymal and biphenotypic(epithelial and mesenchymal)CTCs than the luminal A or B subtypes.Among stage IV patients,CTCs were predominantly epithelial in cases with local recurrence and were more mesenchymal in cases with distant metastasis.By applying a support vector machine(SVM)algorithm,the EMT status of CTCs could distinguish between breast cancer cases with metastasis/local recurrence and those without recurrence.Conclusions:The negFACS-IF:E/M platform provides a flexible and generally acceptable method for the highly sensitive and specific detection of CTCs and their EMT traits in breast cancer.This study demonstrated that the EMT status of CTCs had high clinical relevance in breast cancer,especially in predicting the distant metastasis or local recurrence of breast cancer.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.81503437
文摘BACKGROUND Duodenal varices are a lesser-known complication with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We report a circuitous route from missed diagnosis of duodenal varices to correction. An extremely rare case of duodenal variceal bleeding secondary to idiopathic portal hypertension(IPH) is expounded in this study, which was controlled by transjugular intra-hepatic porto-systemic shunt(TIPS) plus embolization. CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old woman with anemia for two years was frequently admitted to the local hospital. Upon examination, anemia was attributed to gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which resulted from duodenal variceal bleeding detected by repeated esophagogastroduodenoscopy. At the end of a complete workup, IPH leadingto duodenal varices was diagnosed. Portal venography revealed that the remarked duodenal varices originated from the proximal superior mesenteric vein. TIPS plus embolization with coils and Histoacryl was performed to obliterate the rupture of duodenal varices. The anemia resolved, and the duodenal varices completely vanished by 2 mo after the initial operation. CONCLUSION TIPS plus embolization may be more appropriate to treat the bleeding of large duodenal varices.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81960120 and No.82160115.
文摘BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)is a common and severe complication in patients with cirrhosis,and is associated with poor prognosis.Therefore,identifying cirrhotic patients with AKI who are at high risk of mortality is very important and may be helpful for providing timely medical interventions to improve the prognosis of these patients.However,studies focused on investigating the risk factors for the mortality of cirrhotic patients with AKI were scarce.AIM To identify risk factors for mortality and establish a nomogram for predicting the prognosis of these patients.METHODS Two hundred fifty consecutive patients with cirrhosis and AKI were recruited and randomly divided into training cohort(n=173)and validation cohort(n=77).In the training cohort,potential risk factors for death were identified by performing a Cox regression analysis,and a nomogram was established.The predictive performance of the nomogram was internally and externally validated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC),constructing a calibration curve and performing decision curve analysis.RESULTS The serum sodium level,international normalized ratio,peak serum creatinine level>1.5 mg/dL,the presence of hepatic encephalopathy and diabetes were potential risk factors for mortality of cirrhotic patients with AKI in the training dataset.A prognostic nomogram incorporating these variables was established for predicting the overall survival of these patients.Compared with Child-Turcotte-Pugh,the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)and the MELD-Na scores,the nomogram in predicting 90-and 180-d mortality exhibited better discriminatory power with AUROCs of 0.792 and 0.801 for the training dataset and 0.817 and 0.862 for the validation dataset,respectively.With a nomogram score of 98,patients were divided into low-and high-risk groups,and high-risk patients had a higher mortality rate.CONCLUSION A prognostic nomogram displayed good performance for predicting the overall survival of cirrhotic patients with AKI,and will assist clinicians in evaluating the prognosis of these patients.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81502564 and No.81972598the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province,No.LY19H160004.
文摘Normal cells mainly rely on oxidative phosphorylation as an effective energy source in the presence of oxygen.In contrast,most cancer cells use less efficient glycolysis to produce ATP and essential biomolecules.Cancer cells gain the characteristics of metabolic adaptation by reprogramming their metabolic mechanisms to meet the needs of rapid tumor growth.A subset of cancer cells with stem characteristics and the ability to regenerate exist throughout the tumor and are therefore called cancer stem cells(CSCs).New evidence indicates that CSCs have different metabolic phenotypes compared with differentiated cancer cells.CSCs can dynamically transform their metabolic state to favor glycolysis or oxidative metabolism.The mechanism of the metabolic plasticity of CSCs has not been fully elucidated,and existing evidence indicates that the metabolic phenotype of cancer cells is closely related to the tumor microenvironment.Targeting CSC metabolism may provide new and effective methods for the treatment of tumors.In this review,we summarize the metabolic characteristics of cancer cells and CSCs and the mechanisms of the metabolic interplay between the tumor microenvironment and CSCs,and discuss the clinical implications of targeting CSC metabolism.
文摘AIM: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumors (SMTs, including leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma) and to review our preliminary experiences on endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal SMTs. METHODS: A total of 69 patients with gastrointestinal SMT underwent routine endoscopy in our department. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was also performed in 9 cases of gastrointestinal SMT. The sessile submucosal gastrointestinal SMTs with the base smaller than 2 cm in diameter were resected by "pushing" technique or "grasping and pushing" technique while the pedunculated SMTs were resected by polypectomy. For those SMTs originating from muscularis propria or with the base size ≥ 2 cm, ordinary biopsy technique was performed in tumors with ulcers while the "Digging" technique was performed in those without ulcers. RESULTS: 54 cases of leiomyoma and 15 cases of leiomyosarcoma were identified. In them, 19 cases of submucosal leiomyoma were resected by "pushing" technique and 10 cases were removed by "grasping and pushing" technique. Three cases pedunculated submucosal leiomyoma were resected by polypectomy. No severe complications developed during or after the procedure. No recurrence was observed. The diagnostic accuracy of ordinary and the "Digging" biopsy technique was 90.0% and 94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic resection is a safe and effective treatment for leiomyomas with the base size ≤2 cm. The "digging" biopsy technique would be a good option for histologic diagnosis of SMTs.