Transradial versus Transfemoral Access for Patients with Liver Cancer Undergoing Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy: Patient Experience and Procedural Complications.

Purpose: To determine whether transradial access (TRA) is a more favorable and safe method for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) than transfemoral access (TFA).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective and prospective cohorts of patients with liver cancer were included. Sixty-seven patients in the retrospective cohort were divided into 2 groups: (a) TRA-HAIC (n = 24) and (b) TFA-HAIC (n = 43).

Preoperative MRI Classification May Not Predict Symptom Relief after Uterine Artery Embolization in Patients with Adenomyosis.

Objective: To investigate the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) classification and symptom relief after uterine artery embolization (UAE) in patients with adenomyosis.

Methods: Totally, 73 patients with symptomatic adenomyosis who underwent UAE were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative MRI classification was defined as: type I, high signal on both T2-weighted images (T2WI) and T1-weighted images (T1WI); type III, high signal only on T2WI, and type II, high signal on neither T1WI nor T2WI.

Prognostic value of splenic volume in hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: Liver function is a key determinant for the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, establishing robust prognostic indicators for liver insufficiencies and patient survival remains an unmet demand. This retrospective study evaluated the prognostic value of splenic volume (SV) in HCC patients undergoing TACE.

Protein corona-guided tumor targeting therapy via the surface modulation of low molecular weight PEG.

The discovery of protein corona (PC) formed on the surface of nanomaterials has promoted research on PC regulation to guide the biological behavior of nanomaterials in vivo. Different from changing the size, shape, and surface charge of nanoparticles, we propose to control the nature of PC by adjusting the molecular weight of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (LMW PEG, not more than 1000 Da) on the surface of the particles. After excluding the influence of physicochemical factors of PEGylated gold nanoparticles (GNPs), different proteins on the surface of PEGylated GNPs were separated and identified after incubation with human plasma.

Optomechanical transistor: controlling the optical bistability in a photonic molecule.

We theoretically investigate the optical bistability in a composite photonic molecule cavity optomechanical system consisting of two whispering gallery mode microcavities, where one of the optical cavities is optomechanical with a high quality factor, and the other optical cavity is an auxiliary cavity with high cavity dissipation. By controlling the coupling strength between the two cavities determined by their distance, the decay rate ratio of the two cavities, and the pump power , the optical bistability can be controlled. Further, the transmission spectrum of the signal field can be efficiently attenuated or amplified, depending on the power of a second "gating" (pump) field , and other parameters.

Controllable Optical Bistability and Four-Wave Mixing in a Photonic-Molecule Optomechanics.

We theoretically investigate the nonlinear optical phenomena including optical bistability and four-wave mixing (FWM) process in a composite photonic-molecule cavity optomechanical system. The photonic-molecule cavity consisted of two whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavities, where one WGM cavity is an optomechanical cavity with high-cavity dissipation κ and the other WGM cavity is an auxiliary ordinary optical cavity with high-quality factor (Q). Controlling the parameters of the system, such as the coupling strength J between the two cavities, the decay rate ratio δ of the two cavities, and the pump power P, the optical bistability can be controlled.

Is Emergency Transcatheter Hepatic Arterial Embolization Suitable for Spontaneously Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Child-Pugh C Cirrhosis?

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of emergent transcatheter arterial embolization for spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with Child-Pugh class C (CPC) liver cirrhosis presenting hemorrhagic shock.

Materials And Methods: A study of all 94 patients was retrospectively conducted from January 2006 to January 2016. Sixty patients underwent conservative treatment (control group) and 34 underwent embolization.

The earlier, the better: the effects of different administration timepoints of sorafenib in suppressing the carcinogenesis of VEGF in rats.

Purpose: To investigate the optimal starting time point of sorafenib therapy in suppressing the tumor-promoting effects of VEGF up-regulation, which is frequently found after local therapy in clinical practice.

Methods: VEGF was intravenously injected to imitate the evaluated expression after local tumor therapy, such as TACE. A total of 40 SD rats bearing hepatic tumors were randomly divided into four groups and sorafenib was administered at different timepoints: (A) control group: VEGF injection only; (B) initiating sorafenib 72 h prior to VEGF injection; (C) initiating sorafenib simultaneously with VEGF injection; (D) initiating sorafenib 72 h post-VEGF injection.

CT characteristics in pulmonary adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation.

Comprehensively investigate the association of CT morphology and clinical findings of adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutation status. Retrospectively included 282 patients who was pathologically proved as lung adenocarcinoma with known EGFR mutation status (mutations: 138 patients, female: 86, median age: 66 years; wildtype: 144 patients, female: 67, median age: 62 years) and their pre-treatment CT scans were analyzed. CT findings and clinical information were collected.

Performance of Doxorubicin-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles: Regulation of Drug Location.

Drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles (GNPs), which are generally constructed with many molecules of thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG)-drug decorated on their surfaces via a thiol-Au covalent bond, are promising and efficient nanoprodrugs. However, because of the exposure of the hydrophobic drug molecules on the surface of the conjugate, in vivo stability, opsonization, and subsequent inefficient therapy become the main issues of this system. To solve these problems without complicating the structures of gold conjugates, herein we propose a method to change the relative position of PEG and the drug.

Initial Experience: Alleviation of Pain with Percutaneous CT-Guided Cryoablation for Recurrent Retroperitoneal Soft-Tissue Sarcoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the pain-alleviating effect of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous cryoablation for recurrent retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas (RPSs).

Materials And Methods: Data from 19 men and 20 women (median age, 50.3 y) with recurrent malignant RPS who underwent percutaneous cryoablation were reviewed retrospectively.

Establishing a tree shrew model of systemic lupus erythematosus and cell transplantation treatment.

Background: The establishment of a tree shrew model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) provides a new method to evaluate the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Methods: Eighty tree shrews were randomly divided into four groups receiving either an intraperitoneal injection of pristane, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or pristane and LPS, or no injection. Three weeks after injection, the SLE model tree shrews were divided into the model group and the treatment group.

Adjunctive targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the work-up of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 3 and 4 lesions.

Introduction: The assessment and management of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 3 and 4 lesions (BI-RADS 3 and 4 lesions respectively) present numerous challenges for breast radiologists and physicians due to the ambiguity in the classification guidelines. Different imaging modalities have been investigated for their ability to provide additional aid in classification and management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) as an adjunctive modality to mammography plus conventional ultrasound (MG + US) in the decision of whether further diagnostic work-up is needed for BI-RADS 3 and 4 lesions.

Mir-765 promotes cell proliferation by downregulating INPP4B expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

microRNAs (miRNAs) dysregulation is widely involved in cancer progression and contributed to sustained cell proliferation by directly targeting multiple targets. Therefore, better understanding the underlying mechanism of miRNA in carcinogenesis may improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for malignancy. In our study, we found that mir-765 is upregulated in both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and tissues, compared to human normal liver cell line and adjacent non-cancerous tissues, respectively.

Development of a tree shrew metabolic syndrome model and use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treatment.

The aim of this study was to establish a tree shrew metabolic syndrome model and demonstrate the utility of MSCs in treating metabolic syndrome. We used tree shrew umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (TS-UC-MSC) transplantation for the treatment of metabolic syndrome to demonstrate the clinical application of these stem cells and to provide a theoretical basis and reference methods for this treatment. Tree shrew metabolic syndrome model showed significant insulin resistance, high blood sugar, lipid metabolism disorders, and hypertension, consistent with the diagnostic criteria.

Quantitative Evaluation of Diffusion and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR in Tumor Parenchyma and Peritumoral Area for Distinction of Brain Tumors.

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of parameters from diffusion and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR which based on tumor parenchyma (TP) and peritumoral (PT) area in classification of brain tumors.

Methods: 45 patients (male: 23, female: 22; mean age: 46 y) were prospectively recruited and they underwent conventional, DCE-MR and DWI examination. With each tumor, 10-15 regions of interest (ROIs) were manually placed on TP and PT area.

Pirfenidone inhibits proliferation, arrests the cell cycle, and downregulates heat shock protein-47 and collagen type I in rat hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Pirfenidone (esbiret) is an established anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory drug used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In the present study, the dose-dependent effects of pirfenidone on the cell cycle, proliferation and expression of heat shock protein (HSP)-47 and collagen type I in a cultured rat hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6) were investigated. Following pirfenidone treatment, cell proliferation was determined using the cell counting kit-8 assay and the cell cycle was measured using flow cytometry.

[The analysis of the efficacy and safety of combined transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: 79 patients with large HCC(larger than 10 cm in diameter)were enrolled from July 2008 to June 2012 for this retrospective study. 24 patients undertaken TACE combined with sorafenib as T + S group.

miR-451 inhibits cell proliferation in human hepatocellular carcinoma through direct suppression of IKK-β.

It has been demonstrated that nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), which is overactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), plays important roles in the development of HCC. Recently, a group of dysregulated micro RNAs were reported to be involved in HCC progression. Further understanding of micro RNA-mediated regulation of NF-κB pathway may provide novel therapeutic targets for HCC.

Overexpression of osteopontin, αvβ3 and Pim-1 associated with prognostically important clinicopathologic variables in non-small cell lung cancer.

In this study, we examined the expression of osteopontin (OPN), αvβ3 and Pim-1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and investigated the potential clinical implications of their expression patterns in NSCLC. Immunohistochemical assays were used to examine the protein expression of OPN, αvβ3 and Pim-1 in 208 NSCLC samples and their adjacent normal lung tissue specimens. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between OPN, αvβ3 and Pim-1 expression patterns, and their association with the clinical-pathological parameters of NSCLC patients.