Most Siewert type II esophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas in Chinese patients lack a Barrett esophagus background.

The histological origins and classification of Siewert II esophageal gastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinomas are controversial. While the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) staging system suggests that they be classified as esophageal cancer, some scholars insist that these cancers include a Barrett esophageal (BE) adenocarcinoma form and a gastric adenocarcinoma form. To obtain data relevant to this debate, in this study, a multi-center sample of 25 cases of Siewert II EGJ adenocarcinoma spanning a 6-year period were analyzed.

LC-MS/MS Based Volatile Organic Compound Biomarkers Analysis for Early Detection of Lung Cancer.

(1) Background: lung cancer is the world's deadliest cancer, but early diagnosis helps to improve the cure rate and thus reduce the mortality rate. Annual low-dose computed tomography (LD-CT) screening is an efficient lung cancer-screening program for a high-risk population. However, LD-CT has often been characterized by a higher degree of false-positive results.

Prediction of Severe Esophageal Varices in Patients With Cirrhosis Based on Levitt's CO Breath Test: A Proof of Concept Study.

Goals: This study investigated the feasibility of using erythrocyte (RBC) lifespan determined by Levitt's CO breath test (LCOBT) to predict esophageal varices needing treatment (VNT) in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Esophageal varix bleeding is a common fatal complication of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The gold standard for identifying VNT is esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), an invasive procedure with low patient compliance.

Levitt's CO breath test in the differential diagnosis of chronic isolated hyperbilirubinemia.

A key component of the differential diagnosis of isolated hyperbilirubinemia (HB) is distinguishing between hemolytic and non-hemolytic types. Routine hemolysis screening markers have unsatisfactory sensitivity and specificity. Erythrocyte (RBC) lifespan shortening, the gold standard marker of hemolysis, is seldomly measured due to the cumbersome and protracted nature of standard methods.

Hemodiafiltration improves red blood cell lifespan in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Introduction: Uremic toxin-induced shortening of red blood cell (RBC) lifespan is an important mechanism of anemia in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Conventional hemodialysis does not improve RBC lifespan; the efficacy of hemodiafiltration (HDF) for alleviating RBC lifespan has not yet been evaluated in patients with ESRD.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with ESRD in maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled.

A Validation Study of a Locally Adapted Brussels Infant and Toddler Stool Scale of the Chinese Version.

The Brussels Infant and Toddler Stool Scale was developed to improve the reliability of constipation diagnosis in non-toilet-trained children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of simplified Chinese versions of the Brussels Infant and Toddler Stool Scale when used by parents, community doctors, pediatricians, and nurses. Photographs of the Scale were categorized into four categories (hard stools, formed stools, loose stools, and watery stools) and subjects assigned each photograph to a category.

Abnormally Short Erythrocyte LifeSpan in Three Patients with Primary Myelofibrosis Despite Successful Control of Splenomegaly.

Splenectomy is an elective operation for refractory anemia in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). We found that 3/3 patients with PMF in our department continued to have very shortened erythrocyte (RBC) lifespans (35 days, 66 days, and 37 days, respectively) after treatment-alleviated splenomegaly. These outcomes suggest that intravascular hemolysis predominantly independent of hypersplenism may underlie, at least to some extent, peripheral hemolysis in patients with PMF.

Gilbert's syndrome coexisting with hereditary spherocytosis might not be rare: Six case reports.

Background: Both Gilbert's syndrome (GS) and hereditary spherocytosis (HS) are common genetic disorders. However, comorbidity of GS with HS has always been considered a rare phenomenon, and it can impede accurate diagnoses in the presence of isolated unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Case Summary: In a study on Levitt's carbon monoxide (CO) breath test for the differential diagnosis of isolated hyperbilirubinemia, we found six GS patients with HS in 6 mo.

Carbon monoxide breath test assessment of mild hemolysis in Gilbert's syndrome.

Background: Mild hemolysis is difficult to determinate by traditional methods, and its role in Gilbert's syndrome (GS) is unclear. The main aims were to inspect the erythrocyte (RBC) survival in GS by using Levitt's carbon monoxide (CO) breath test and to assess its contribution to unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Methods: Fifty subjects with GS and 1 with type-II Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CN2) received RBC lifespan measurement with Levitt's CO breath test.

Optimizing the performance of magnet-controlled capsule endoscopy based on radiological and gastroscopic modeling.

Routine use of magnet-controlled capsule endoscopy of the stomach has been limited by the inadequate views of specific stomach regions. In the present study, radiology and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) were used to determine optimal subject body positioning and suitable external control magnet placement for capsule endoscopy. Healthy adult volunteers were subjected to upper gastrointestinal X-ray radiography (n=5), spiral computed tomography with volume reconstruction (n=4) or UGIE (n=1).

Human gastric magnet-controlled capsule endoscopy conducted in a standing position: the phase 1 study.

Background: Current magnet-controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) for the stomach is not yet satisfactory with respect to navigation control, especially in the gastric fundus and cardia. A newly developed MCE system conducted in a standing rather than supine position may improve capsule maneuverability within the stomach. The aim of this phase 1 study was to assess the feasibility and safety of this system for examining the human stomach in healthy volunteers.

Red Blood Cell Lifespan Shortening in Patients with Early-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Although reduced red blood cell (RBC) lifespan has been reported to be a contributory factor to anemia in patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), there are limited data regarding RBC lifespan in early-stage CKD. Serum erythropoietin (EPO) is considered a primary causative factor of renal anemia. The aims of this study were to compare the RBC lifespan, serum EPO levels, and other renal anemia indicators across CKD-stage groups of patients and to analyze the impacts of etiological factors on renal anemia.

Effect of Hemodialysis on the Red Blood Cell Life Span in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease.

The aim of this study was to use a CO breath test to investigate hemodialysis effects on red blood cell lifespan in patients with chronic kidney disease. A cohort of 17 non-smoking men with end-stage kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis via a polysulfone dialysis membrane (as opposed to a traditional cellulose acetate membrane) were subjected to a repeated Levitt's CO breath test to compare red blood cell lifespan before vs. after dialysis.

Gastric Residual Volume after Split-Dose Bowel Preparation versus Conventional Single-Dose Regimen before Anesthetic Colonoscopy.

The aim of this study was to compare gastric residual volume (GRV) in patients given a split-dose versus a conventional single-dose of polyethylene glycol (PEG) preparation before undergoing anesthetic colonoscopy. In a prospective observational study, we assessed GRV in outpatients undergoing same-day anesthetic gastroscopy and colonoscopy between October 8 and December 30 of 2016. Outpatients were assigned to the split-dose (1 L PEG in the prior evening and 1 L PEG 2-4 h before endoscopy) or single-dose (ingestion of 2 L PEG ≥ 6 h before endoscopy) regimen randomly.

Rapid CO breath test screening of drugs for protective effects on ribavirin-induced hemolysis in a rabbit model: a pilot study.

Hemolytic anemia is a major side effect of ribavirin antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Ribavirin dose reduction may compromise the antiviral response and erythropoietin can take several weeks to alleviate anemia. The purpose of the present study was to screen potentially protective drugs against ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia in a rabbit model, using our modified CO breath test for measuring erythrocyte (RBC) lifespan, the gold standard diagnostic index of hemolysis.

A Modified Carbon Monoxide Breath Test for Measuring Erythrocyte Lifespan in Small Animals.

This study was to develop a CO breath test for RBC lifespan estimation of small animals. The ribavirin induced hemolysis rabbit models were placed individually in a closed rebreath cage and air samples were collected for measurement of CO concentration. RBC lifespan was calculated from accumulated CO, blood volume, and hemoglobin concentration data.

Pilot validation of the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale in China.

Background And Aim: The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) is a novel bowel cleanliness rating scale that has undergone validation at Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. Thus far, there is no standard recognized bowel preparation scale in China. The aim of the present study was to analyze the reliability and validity of the BBPS for the assessment of bowel preparation quality (BPQ) in China.

A Retrospective Analysis to Validate the Alarm Signs Used in the CEDAP-Plus Study.

Background and Study Aim. This study aimed to validate the alarm signs used in the 2007 German CEDAP-Plus study for indicating capsule endoscopy in patients who have idiopathic chronic abdominal pain. Patients and Methods.

[The imprinting status of genetic imprinted gene PEG10 in human hepatocellular carcinomas].

Objective: To study the imprinting status of genetic imprinted gene PEG10 (perternally expressed gene 10) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and liver cancer cell lines.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 20 HCC tissues and its adjacent tissues, 15 normal liver tissues, 5 liver cancer cell lines (PLC/PRF/5, smmc-7721, HepG2, Hep3B, SK-HEP-1) and 2 normal human liver cell lines (changliver, HL7702). The DNA fragments containing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) site of PEG10 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the genotype of samples was detected by DNA sequencing.

Artesunate induces oncosis-like cell death in vitro and has antitumor activity against pancreatic cancer xenografts in vivo.

Pancreatic cancer is highly resistant to the currently available chemotherapeutic agents. Less than 5% of patients diagnosed with this disease could survive beyond 5 years. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of novel, efficacious drugs that can treat pancreatic cancer.

Oxidation of 4-methylcatechol: implications for the oxidation of catecholamines.

At alkaline pH, 4-methylcatechol oxidizes more rapidly than the related catecholamines: dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. This oxidation is not inhibited by superoxide dismutase or catalase, indicating that O2 itself is the oxidant, but the reduction potential of O2/O2-* is too low for it to oxidize 4-methylcatechol directly. Instead, O2 oxidizes the 4-methylcatechol semiquinone, which is formed by comproportionation of 4-methylcatechol and its o-quinone.