Cardiovascular safety of 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine in colorectal cancer patients: real-world evidence.

Background: Fluoropyrimidines, including 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine, are the most common chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal carcinoma. Although previous studies have suggested varying degrees of cardiotoxicity with these drugs, there is a notable lack of large-scale investigations with appropriate control groups. This study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular outcome among colorectal carcinoma patients treated with fluoropyrimidines.

Tissue Cadherin 17 (CDH17): An Important Prognostic Determinant of Colorectal Cancer Using Digital Image Analysis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a commonly diagnosed malignancy with significant mortality rates worldwide. The identification of robust prognostic biomarkers for prediction of survival outcomes and recurrence can aid disease management and improve patients' quality of living.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of cadherin 17 (CDH17) tissue expression in CRC patients by utilizing a standardized automated immunohistochemistry (IHC) platform integrated with a digitalized scoring system.

Identification and evaluation of a serum microRNA panel to diagnose colorectal cancer patients.

Screening plays a crucial role in the early detection of colorectal cancer, greatly reducing mortality rates. The objective of this study was to identify a non-invasive diagnostic method utilizing serum microRNA expression for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer patients. The study consisted of three stages.

A Four-Gene Panel in Rectal Swab Samples as a Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer Screening.

Background: The dysregulation of gene expression is one of the key molecular features of colorectal cancer (CRC) development. This study aimed to investigate whether such dysregulation is reflected in rectal swab specimens of CRC patients and to evaluate its potential as a non-invasive approach for screening.

Methods: We compared the expression level of 14 CRC-associated genes in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue of CRC patients and examined the correlation of their levels in tissue with paired rectal swab specimens.

Serum microRNA Levels as a Biomarker for Diagnosing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Colorectal Polyp Patients.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. It is reported that NAFLD is associated with colorectal polyps. Since identifying NAFLD in its early stages could prevent possible disease progression to cirrhosis and decrease the risk of HCC by early intervention, patients with colorectal polyp may thus be considered a target group for screening NAFLD.

High Levels of Tumor miR-187-3p-A Potential Tumor-Suppressor microRNA-Are Correlated with Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer.

Background: The microRNA miR-187-3p plays antitumor roles in a variety of cancers. We and others have previously identified miR-187-3p as a potential tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer (CRC), but there are also reports revealing that high miR-187-3p levels are associated with poor prognosis among CRC patients. This study further investigated the clinicopathological significance of miR-187-3p in CRC.

Coronaviruses exploit a host cysteine-aspartic protease for replication.

Highly pathogenic coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (refs. ) (SARS-CoV-2), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-1 (ref. ), vary in their transmissibility and pathogenicity.

High Expression of a Cancer Stemness-Related Gene, Chromobox 8 (CBX8), in Normal Tissue Adjacent to the Tumor (NAT) Is Associated with Poor Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that the molecular profile of normal tissue adjacent to the tumor (NAT) is prognostic for recurrence in patients with different cancers. This study investigated the clinical significance of CBX8 gene expression, a cancer stemness-related gene, in tumor and NAT tissue of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods: The gene level of CBX8 in paired CRC and NAT specimens from 95 patients was determined by quantitative PCR.

CD26 Induces Colorectal Cancer Angiogenesis and Metastasis through CAV1/MMP1 Signaling.

CD26 has been reported as a marker for colorectal cancer stem cells endowed with tumor-initiating properties and capable of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. In this study, we investigated the functional effect of CD26 on CRC angiogenesis and metastasis, and the potential underlying mechanism. The functional effects of CD26 overexpression or repression were determined by a wound healing experiment, and cell migration and invasion assays in vitro and in mouse models.

Investigation of miRNA dysregulation and association with immune cell profile during malignant transformation of colorectal cells.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening cancer among the world. Accumulated somatic mutations during malignant transformation process endow cancer cells with increased growth, invasiveness and immunogenicity. These highly immunogenic cancer cells develop multiple strategies to evade immune attack.

A Pilot Study Investigating the Expression Levels of Pluripotency-Associated Genes in Rectal Swab Samples for Colorectal Polyp and Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis.

Change in gene expression is inevitable in cancer development. With more studies demonstrating the contributions of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, this study is aimed at investigating whether rectal swab specimen serves as a tool for detection of dysregulation of CSC or stem cell (SC) markers and at evaluating its potential as a new promising screening method for high-risk patients. Expression levels of 15 pluripotency-associated genes were assessed by quantitative PCR in 53 rectal swab specimens referred for endoscopic screening.

Repurposing DPP-4 Inhibitors for Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective and Single Center Study.

Background: There have been studies reporting the crucial roles of Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4) in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and progression, whereas DPP4-inhibitors are safe Food and Drug Association (FDA)-approved drugs for treating diabetes. This study aims to investigate the association between DPP4-inhibitor treatment and the prognosis of CRC patients.

Methods: Clinical data of CRC patients with diabetes and the prescription of DPP4-inhibitors who had undergone curative surgery in our hospital between January 2006 and December 2015 were retrieved.

Host and viral determinants for efficient SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human lung.

Understanding the factors that contribute to efficient SARS-CoV-2 infection of human cells may provide insights on SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility and pathogenesis, and reveal targets of intervention. Here, we analyze host and viral determinants essential for efficient SARS-CoV-2 infection in both human lung epithelial cells and ex vivo human lung tissues. We identify heparan sulfate as an important attachment factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 Induces a More Robust Innate Immune Response and Replicates Less Efficiently Than SARS-CoV in the Human Intestines: An Ex Vivo Study With Implications on Pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Background And Aims: Besides prominent respiratory involvement, gastrointestinal manifestations are commonly reported in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We compared infection of ex vivo human intestinal tissues by SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV with respect to their replication kinetics and immune activation profile.

Methods: Human intestinal tissues were obtained from patients while undergoing surgical operations at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for colorectal and appendiceal peritoneal metastases - The Hong Kong experience and literature review.

Introduction: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is increasingly used to treat peritoneal metastases from appendiceal or colorectal origin. We evaluate our institution's experience and survival outcomes with this procedure, and its efficacy in symptom relief.

Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective observational study on patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) from appendiceal neoplasm or colorectal cancer who underwent CRS/HIPEC in Queen Mary Hospital.

Intraoperative use of fluorescence with indocyanine green reduces anastomotic leak rates in rectal cancer surgery: an individual participant data analysis.

Background: Fluorescence imaging by means of Indocyanine green (ICG) has been applied to intraoperatively determine the perfusion of the anastomosis. The purpose of this Individual Participant Database meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness in decreasing the incidence of anastomotic leak (AL) after rectal cancer surgery.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrial.

Small RNA Profiling of piRNAs in Colorectal Cancer Identifies Consistent Overexpression of That Correlates Clinically with an Aggressive Disease Phenotype.

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) represent a novel class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that have been shown to have a deregulated expression in several cancers, although their clinical significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. With an aim of delineating the piRNA distribution in CRC, we conducted a systematic discovery and validation of piRNAs within two clinical cohorts. In the discovery phase, we profiled tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 18 CRC patients by deep sequencing and identified a global piRNA downregulation in CRC.

Melanosis coli: Harmless pigmentation? A case-control retrospective study of 657 cases.

Backgrounds And Aims: The association of melanosis coli with the development of colorectal polyps remains uncertain.

Methods: From a total of 18263 patients who had received colonoscopy in our hospital, 219 with melanosis coli cases and 438 controls matched by age and sex (at 1:2 ratio) were included in this study. The association of incidence, number, location, and pathology of colorectal neoplasm with grades and distribution of melanosis coli were analyzed.

Sphincter-Preserving Surgery for Low Rectal Cancers: Incidence and Risk Factors for Permanent Stoma.

Background: Advances in surgical techniques and paradigm changes in rectal cancer treatment have led to a drastic decline in the abdominoperineal resection rate, and sphincter-preserving operation is possible in distal rectal cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term incidence of permanent stoma after sphincter-preserving surgery for low rectal cancer and its corresponding risk factors.

Method: From 2000 to 2014, patients who underwent sphincter-preserving low anterior resection for low rectal cancer (within 5 cm from the anal verge) were included.

Identification of microRNA 885-5p as a novel regulator of tumor metastasis by targeting CPEB2 in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and liver is the most frequent site of distant metastasis with poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate microRNAs leading to liver metastasis. We applied microarray analysis and quantitative PCR to identify and validate dysregulated miRNAs in liver metastases when compared to primary CRCs.

Identification of serum miR-139-3p as a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Aberrant levels of circulating microRNAs are potential biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to study miR-139-3p and miR-622 in serum as a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer diagnosis. We applied quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine the levels of miR-139-3p and miR-622 in 42 pairs of tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues, and in serum samples of 117 patients and 90 control subjects.

Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision With Single-Incision Laparoscopy for Rectal Cancer.

Background And Objectives: There has been great enthusiasm for the technique of transanal total mesorectal excision. Coupled with this procedure, we performed single-incision laparoscopic surgery for left colon mobilization. This is a description of our initial experience with the combined approach.

Morbidities after closure of ileostomy: analysis of risk factors.

Purpose: Low anterior resection is commonly performed for carcinoma of the distal rectum. Diverting ileostomy has been used to decrease the septic consequence of anastomotic leakage and to reduce the re-operation rate. Nevertheless, subsequent closure of ileostomy can be associated with considerable morbidities.

Post-operative plasma osteopontin predicts distant metastasis in human colorectal cancer.

Background: The overall prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is unsatisfactory due to cancer metastasis after operation. This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of plasma osteopontin (OPN) levels as minimally invasive, predictive, and surrogate biomarkers for prognosis of CRC patients.

Methods: This randomized study design consists of pre-operative and post-operative plasma samples from a total of 79 patients.