Systematic use of point of care ultrasound in neurosurgical intensive care unit: a practical approach.

Background: Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a cost-effective, non-invasive procedure with high diagnostic reliability and therapeutic utilities. For various reasons, it is not being used routinely in neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU). We have introduced a systematic use of POCUS in critically ill patients in our neurosurgical ICU.

A novel 12-marker panel of cancer-associated fibroblasts involved in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aim: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important factors in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But the characterization of these cells remains incomplete. This study aims to identify a panel of markers for CAFs that are associated with HCC progression.

The Expression of FAP in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells is Induced by Hypoxia and Correlates with Poor Clinical Outcomes.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine protease that has been reported in fibroblasts and some carcinoma cells, which correlates with poor patient outcomes. FAP can be induced under hypoxia which is also vital in the malignant behaviors of cancer cells. However, the role of FAP and its correlation with hypoxia has not been investigated in HCC cancer cells.