Case report: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced paraneoplastic neurological syndrome in two patients: a case series.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy have improved overall survival in patients with small-cell lung cancer, but have also led to an increase in adverse effects. The incidence of ICI-induced paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) is relatively low when the primary lung lesion is well controlled. However, it is associated with high mortality and disability rates.

[Main characteristics and practical discussions of national drug standards for 196 kinds of Chinese medicine formula granules].

As China is implementing the policy of "Announcement on Ending the Pilot Work of Chinese medicine formula gra-nules", the standard of Chinese medicine formula granules has gradually become the focus of industry development. Up to now, 196 national drug standards for Chinese medicine formula granules have been published by China, which guaranteed the production quality of Chinese medicine formula granules. However, there are still several challenges such as the rational application of national drug standards and the enrichment and improvement of varieties.

[Clinical Characteristics of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients with RUNX1 Gene Mutation].

Objective: To investigate the incidence of Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene and its associated gene mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and analyze its clinical characteristics and prognosis.

Methods: The genomic DNA-PCR method was used to detect the exon of RUNX1 gene, and the gene mutations were analyzed by genetic sequencing. NPM1, DNMT3A, FLT3-ITD, IDH1/2, K/N-RAS, CEPBA, TET2, and WT1 co-mutations were also detected.

Exploring prognostic indicators in the pathological images of hepatocellular carcinoma based on deep learning.

Objective: Tumour pathology contains rich information, including tissue structure and cell morphology, that reflects disease progression and patient survival. However, phenotypic information is subtle and complex, making the discovery of prognostic indicators from pathological images challenging.

Design: An interpretable, weakly supervised deep learning framework incorporating prior knowledge was proposed to analyse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore new prognostic phenotypes on pathological whole-slide images (WSIs) from the Zhongshan cohort of 1125 HCC patients (2451 WSIs) and TCGA cohort of 320 HCC patients (320 WSIs).

Heterogeneous immunogenomic features and distinct escape mechanisms in multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The presence of multifocal tumors, developed either from intrahepatic metastasis (IM) or multicentric occurrence (MO), is a distinct feature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immunogenomic characterization of multifocal HCC is important for understanding immune escape in different lesions and developing immunotherapy.

Methods: We combined whole-exome/transcriptome sequencing, multiplex immunostaining, immunopeptidomes, T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of 47 tumors from 15 patients with HCC and multifocal lesions.

Activated and Exhausted MAIT Cells Foster Disease Progression and Indicate Poor Outcome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Innate immunity is an indispensable arm of tumor immune surveillance, and the liver is an organ with a predominance of innate immunity, where mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are enriched. However, little is known about the phenotype, functions, and immunomodulatory role of MAIT cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The distribution, phenotype, and function of MAIT cells in patients with HCC were evaluated by both flow cytometry (FCM) and bioassays.

Clinical significance of PD-1/PD-Ls gene amplification and overexpression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The remarkable clinical activity of PD-1 antibody in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) highlights the importance of PD-1/PD-L1-mediated immune escape as therapeutic target in HCC. However, the frequency and prognostic significance of PD-Ls genetic alterations in HCC remain unknown. Fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to determine PD-Ls genetic alterations, and qPCR data coupled with immunofluorescence were used to measure the mRNA and protein levels of PD-Ls.

CCL15 Recruits Suppressive Monocytes to Facilitate Immune Escape and Disease Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Chemokines play a key role in orchestrating the recruitment and positioning of myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment. However, the tropism regulation and functions of these cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not completely understood. Herein, by scrutinizing the expression of all chemokines in HCC cell lines and tissues, we found that CCL15 was the most abundantly expressed chemokine in human HCC.

Spatial and temporal clonal evolution of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background & Aims: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second-most lethal primary liver cancer. Little is known about intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) and its impact on ICC progression. We aimed to investigate the ITH of ICC in the hope of helping to develop new therapeutic strategies.

FOXP3 Is a HCC suppressor gene and Acts through regulating the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Background: FOXP3 has been discovered to be expressed in tumor cells and participate in the regulation of tumor behavior. Herein, we investigated the clinical relevance and biological significance of FOXP3 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Expression profile of FOXP3 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence on HCC cell lines, and immunostaing of a tissue microarray containing of 240 primary HCC samples.

Telomere length variation in tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts: potential biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The role of telomere dysfunction and aberrant telomerase activities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been overlooked for many years. This study aimed to delineate the variation and prognostic value of telomere length in HCC. Telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and qPCR were used to evaluate telomere length in HCC cell lines, tumor tissues, and isolated non-tumor cells within the tumor.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP4A1 promotes proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma via the PI3K/AKT pathway.

The protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP4A1 is a key molecule that activates tyrosine phosphorylation, which is important for cancer progression and metastasis. However, the clinical implications and biological function of PTP4A1 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains unknown. Here, we showed that PTP4A1 was frequently overexpressed in ICC versus adjacent non-tumor tissues.

[Effect of Cynomorium songaricum polysaccharide on telomere of lung cancer A549 cells].

To study the effect of Cynomorium songaricum polysaccharide (CSRP) on A549 cells telomere of human non-small cell lung cancer, the mice were intragastric administrated with CSRP (0.08 g•kg⁻¹) once daily for 4 days. Then their serum was taken for preparing CSRP drug serum.

Increasing Dialysis Sodium Removal on Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a mild increase in dialysis sodium removal on cardiovascular system in hypertensive hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: Sixty four HD patients with pre-HD plasma sodium level higher than 138mmol/l, were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The dialysate sodium was reduced from 138mmol/l to 136mmol/l in the intervention group, while remained at 138mmol/l in the control group.

Efficacy of losartan for improving insulin resistance and vascular remodeling in hemodialysis patients.

Insulin resistance and vascular remodeling are prevalent and predict cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. Angiotensin II (Ang II) may be involved in both pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Ang II receptor blocker losartan on insulin resistance, arterial stiffness, and carotid artery structure in hemodialysis patients.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor S acts as a metastatic suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma by control of epithermal growth factor receptor-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third-most lethal cancer worldwide. Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of HCC recurrence and metastasis is the key to improve patients' prognosis. In this study, we report that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor S (PTPRS) is significantly down-regulated in nearly 80% of HCCs, and its expression negatively correlates with aggressive pathological features, such as larger tumor size and advanced stage.

Free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotective potentials of D138, one Cu(II)/Zn(II) Schiff-base complex derived from N,N'-bis(2-hydroxynaphthylmethylidene)-1,3-propanediamine.

There is increasing evidence that free radicals play an important role in neuronal damages induced by diabetes mellitus or cerebral ischemia insults. Antioxidants with free radical scavenging activities have been shown to be beneficial and neuroprotective for these pathological conditions. Here, we report free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotective potential of D138, one copper(II)/zinc(II) Schiff-base complex derived from N,N'-2(2-hydroxynaphthylmethylidene)-1,3-propanediamine.

Impact of dry weight determined by calf bioimpedance ratio on carotid stiffness and left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients.

Our previous study has shown that modification of bioimpedance technique by the measurement of bioimpedance ratio in the calf (calf-BR) was a simple and practical method in assessing fluid status in hemodialysis patients. However, the consequences of periodical dry weight (DW) adjustment under the guidance of calf-BR on target organ damage have not been investigated. One hundred fifteen hemodialysis patients were enrolled in this pilot trial.

Rapid cytotoxicity of antimicrobial peptide tempoprin-1CEa in breast cancer cells through membrane destruction and intracellular calcium mechanism.

Temporin-1CEa is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the skin secretions of the Chinese brown frog (Rana chensinensis). We have previously reported the rapid and broad-spectrum anticancer activity of temporin-1CEa in vitro. However, the detailed mechanisms for temporin-1CEa-induced cancer cell death are still weakly understood.

Effects of increasing diffusive sodium removal on blood pressure control in hemodialysis patients with optimal dry weight.

Background: Sodium, apart from volume, may have an independent effect on blood pressure (BP) regulation.

Methods: Sixteen hypertensive hemodialysis patients were enrolled, who have achieved their dry weight assessed by bioimpedance methods, with pre-dialysis plasma sodium levels slightly higher than the facility dialysate sodium concentration 138 mmol/l. After a 1-month period of dialysis with standard dialysate sodium concentration of 138 mmol/l, the patients were followed up for a 4-month period with dialysate sodium set at 136 mmol/l.

Low-dose Cd induces hepatic gene hypermethylation, along with the persistent reduction of cell death and increase of cell proliferation in rats and mice.

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is classified as a human carcinogen probably associated with epigenetic changes. DNA methylation is one of epigenetic mechanisms by which cells control gene expression. Therefore, the present study genome-widely screened the methylation-altered genes in the liver of rats previously exposed to low-dose Cd.

Application of labeled radioimmunoimaging tracing in detecting pulmonary embolism in rabbits after bone cement perfusion and relevant treatment effects.

Background: During the process of bone cement joint replacement, some patients show a series of complications, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure or dyspnea. The cause of the complication is considered to be due to emboli caused by the femur prosthesis insertion. The purpose of the present study was to detect the pulmonary embolism in rabbits after bone cement perfusion by radioimmunoimaging, and to explore its protective measures.

Calf bioimpedance ratio improves dry weight assessment and blood pressure control in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Chronic fluid overload due to overestimation of dry weight (DW) is the major factor in the development of hypertension in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether bioimpedance ratio in the calf (Calf-BR = impedance at 200 kHz/impedance at 5 kHz) could be a useful hydration marker for estimation of DW and facilitate better control of blood pressure (BP) in HD patients.

Methods: Target range of Calf-BR was derived from 157 healthy Chinese subjects.

Association of serum pentosidine with arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients.

Pentosidine is an advanced glycation end product (AGE). The present study was undertaken to investigate the association of serum pentosidine with carotid distensibility as a measure of arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. One hundred and three patients on maintenance hemodialysis were recruited.

[The effects of the autologous venous external stents on intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts in rabbits].

Objective: To assess the effect of the autologous venous external stents on intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts in rabbits.

Methods: Thirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 5 months and weighing 2.8 to 3.