Effects of postoperative use of proton pump inhibitors on gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic variceal treatment during hospitalization.

Background: Endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT) is recommended as the mainstay choice for the management of high-risk gastroesophageal varices and acute variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for various gastric acid-related diseases. However, the effects of PPIs on the development of post-EVT complications, especially gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), remain controversial.

Successful treatment of acute symptomatic extensive portal venous system thrombosis by 7-day systemic thrombolysis.

Acute portal venous system thrombosis (PVST) can cause acute mesenteric ischemia and even intestinal infarction, which are potentially fatal, and requires recanalization in a timely fashion. Herein, we report a 56-year-old man with acute non-cirrhotic symptomatic extensive PVST who achieved portal vein recanalization after systemic thrombolysis combined with anticoagulation. Initially, anticoagulation with enoxaparin sodium for 4 d was ineffective, and then systemic thrombolysis for 7 d was added.

gene and autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid axis in gastrointestinal cancers.

The gene inhibits the metastasis of most tumors and is remarkably correlated with tumor invasion and prognosis. Cell metabolism dysregulation is an important cause of tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis. As one of the important characteristics of tumors, cell metabolism dysregulation is attracting increasing research attention.

Esophageal collateral veins in predicting esophageal variceal recurrence and rebleeding after endoscopic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic treatment is recommended for the management of esophageal varices. However, variceal recurrence or rebleeding is common after endoscopic variceal eradication. Our study aimed to systematically evaluate the prevalence of esophageal collateral veins (ECVs) and the association of ECVs with recurrence of esophageal varices or rebleeding from esophageal varices after endoscopic treatment.

Portal hypertension in a patient with biliary hamartomas: A case report.

Background: Biliary hamartomas (BH) are a rare benign disease caused by malformation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. BH are occasionally diagnosed, but often lack obvious clinical symptoms. They are usually diagnosed by biopsy and imaging tests in clinical practice.

KAI1 reverses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human pancreatic cancer cells.

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in pancreatic cancer (PC). In the present study, we investigated the effects of KAI1 gene overexpression on the EMT of human PC cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 and PACN-1.

Methods: Plasmids overexpressing KAI1 and pCMV were transfected into MIA PaCa-2 and PACN-1 cells, respectively.

Delphinidin protects β2m-/Thy1+ bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells against TGF-β1-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt pathway in vitro.

β2m-/Thy1+ bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells (BDHSCs) have a potential to be applied for cellular treatment in liver cirrhosis. However, the resultant tissue regeneration is restricted by transplanted cells' death. The accumulation of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in liver fibrosis local microenvironment may play an essential role in the rapid cell death of implanted β2m-/Thy1+ BDHSCs.

A Small Jejunal Angioleiomyoma Detected by Double-Balloon Enteroscopy: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Angioleiomyoma in the small intestine is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Only 7 cases of angioleiomyoma in the small intestine were reported in the English literature, with 4 of them causing gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of angioleiomyomas in the small intestine before surgery is difficult.

IMP3 as a prognostic biomarker in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is an incurable cancer with poor prognosis, and several biomarkers have been suggested for screening of MPeM. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic significances of IMP3 and Fli-1 in MPeM. Diagnostic biopsies of 44 MPeM patients were centrally collected and were immunohistochemically analyzed for expression of IMP3, Fli-1, and Ki-67.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of hyoscine butylbromide versus anisodamine for acute gastric or intestinal spasm-like pain: A randomized, double-blinded, multicenter Phase III trial.

Objective: Acute gastric or intestinal spasm-like pain is common in clinical setting. Hyoscine butylbromide (HBB), an anti-cholinergic agent, relieves pain in stomach and bowel cramps by inhibiting smooth muscle contractility. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of parenteral HBB and anisodamine for treating acute gastric or intestinal pain.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with double balloon enteroscope in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy: A meta-analysis.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with double balloon enteroscope (DBE-ERCP) in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy in a meta-analysis.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library covering the period from January 2001 to December 2015. Data were selected and abstracted from eligible studies and were pooled using a random-effects model.

Clinical Outcomes of Specific Immunotherapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Specific immunotherapies, including vaccines with autologous tumor cells and tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies, are important treatments for PC patients. To evaluate the clinical outcomes of PC-specific immunotherapy, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relevant published clinical trials. The effects of specific immunotherapy were compared with those of nonspecific immunotherapy and the meta-analysis was executed with results regarding the overall survival (OS), immune responses data, and serum cancer markers data.

Dendritic cells engineered to secrete anti-DcR3 antibody augment cytotoxic T lymphocyte response against pancreatic cancer .

Aim: To investigate the enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses against pancreatic cancer (PC) induced by dendritic cells (DCs) engineered to secrete anti-DcR3 monoclonal antibody (mAb).

Methods: DCs, T lymphocytes and primary PC cells were obtained from PC patients. DCs were transfected with a designed humanized anti-DcR3 monoclonal antibody heavy and light chain mRNA and/or total tumor RNA (DC-tumor-anti-DcR3 RNA or DC-total tumor RNA) by using electroporation technology.

Esophageal Stent for Refractory Variceal Bleeding: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background. Preliminary studies suggest that covered self-expandable metal stents may be helpful in controlling esophageal variceal bleeding. Aims.

Hepatic Resection after Initial Transarterial Chemoembolization Versus Transarterial Chemoembolization Alone for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-analysis of Observational Studies.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the selection of treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after initial transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). This meta-analysis aimed to explore the survival benefit of hepatic resection after initial TACE for the treatment of HCC.

Materials And Methods: We searched three major databases to identify all relevant papers comparing the outcomes of hepatic resection after initial TACE versus TACE alone for the treatment of HCC.

Hepatic Re-resection Versus Transarterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Initial Resection: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare the post-recurrence survival with hepatic re-resection versus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after initial resection.

Materials And Methods: All relevant papers were searched via PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model.

MET inhibitors for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A review.

The current standard treatment option for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sorafenib, but its clinical benefit is modest. In spite of many attempts, few drugs can provide any significant improvement of survival as the first- or second-line therapy of choice in phase III randomized controlled trials. Recently, the subgroup analysis of a phase II randomized controlled trial has shown that tivantinib, a selective MET inhibitor, can significantly improve the overall survival in patients with MET-positive advanced HCC after the failure or intolerance of a prior systemic therapy.

MicroRNA-33a-mediated downregulation of Pim-3 kinase expression renders human pancreatic cancer cells sensitivity to gemcitabine.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, with less than 5% of patients surviving 5 years beyond diagnosis. Systemic therapies, particularly gemcitabine, have a modest clinical benefit, but chemoresistance limits their efficacy. Here, we demonstrate that plasma miR-33a levels positively correlated with miR-33a levels in tumor tissues of patients with PDAC and are a good prognostic indicator of overall survival.

Nonselective beta-blockers in cirrhotic patients with no or small varices: A meta-analysis.

Aim: To explore effects of nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs) in cirrhotic patients with no or small varices.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, and Cochrane library databases were searched for relevant papers. A meta-analysis was performed using ORs with 95%CI as the effect sizes.

Comparison of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses against pancreatic cancer induced by dendritic cells transfected with total tumor RNA and fusion hybrided with tumor cell.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a deadly human malignancy. Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy with whole tumor antigens demonstrates potential efficiency in cancer treatment. Tumor RNA and tumor fusion hybrid cells are sources of whole tumor antigens for preparing DC tumor vaccines.

Pancreatic cancer: diagnosis and treatments.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with exceptionally high mortality. Despite the relatively low incidence rate (10th), it is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in most developed countries. To improve the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and strengthen the standardized comprehensive treatment are still the main focus of pancreatic cancer research.

Prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 protein in pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

We conducted a meta-analysis of relevant cohort studies to investigate the relationships between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The following electronic databases were searched without language restrictions: MEDLINE (1966∼2013), the Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), EMBASE (1980∼2013), CINAHL (1982∼2013), Web of Science (1945∼2013), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982∼2013). Meta-analysis was performed using the STATA statistical software.

KAI1 inhibits lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of pancreatic cancer in vivo.

Background: Several studies have shown that KAI1 inhibits tumor metastasis, but its mechanism is not clear. The present study aimed to determine the role of KAI1 in lymphatic metastasis, specifically in pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The KAI1 gene was transfected into the pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 by using liposomes and selected by G418, and the protein was measured by Western blotting.

Generation of CTL responses against pancreatic cancer in vitro using dendritic cells co-transfected with MUC4 and survivin RNA.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most devastating human malignancies without effective therapies. Tumor vaccine based on RNA-transfected dendritic cells (DCs) has emerged as an alternative therapeutic approach for a variety of human cancers including advanced PC. In the present study we compared the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses against PC cells in vitro, which were induced by DCs co-transfected with two mRNAs of tumor associated-antigens (TAA) MUC4 and survivin, versus DCs transfected with a single mRNA encoding either MUC4 or survivin.