Cyanine-Based Polymer Dots with Long-Wavelength Excitation and Near-Infrared Fluorescence beyond 900 nm for Biological Imaging.

Bioimaging in the near-infrared window is of great importance to study the dynamic processes with deep penetration, high spatiotemporal resolution, and minimal tissue absorption, scattering, and autofluorescence. In spite of the huge progress on the synthesis of small organic fluorophores and inorganic nanomaterials with emissions beyond 900 nm, it remains a tough challenge to synthesize semiconducting polymers with fluorescence over this region. Here, we synthesized a series of heptamethine cyanine-based polymers with both absorption and emission in the near-infrared region.

Anti-apoptotic effects of osteopontin through the up-regulation of Mcl-1 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoprotein expressed by neoplastic cells involved in the malignant potential and aggressive phenotypes of human malignancies, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Our previous study showed that OPN can promote tumor cell proliferation in GISTs. In this series, we further aim to investigate the effect of OPN on apoptosis in GISTs.

A gene expression signature of epithelial tubulogenesis and a role for ASPM in pancreatic tumor progression.

Background & Aims: Many patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develop recurrent or metastatic diseases after surgery, so it is important to identify those most likely to benefit from aggressive therapy. Disruption of tissue microarchitecture is an early step in pancreatic tumorigenesis and a parameter used in pathology grading of glandular tumors. We investigated whether changes in gene expression during pancreatic epithelial morphogenesis were associated with outcomes of patients with PDAC after surgery.

Hepatitis B virus X protein upregulates mTOR signaling through IKKβ to increase cell proliferation and VEGF production in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major cause of cancer-related death in Southeast Asia, is frequently associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV X protein (HBx), encoded by a viral non-structural gene, is a multifunctional regulator in HBV-associated tumor development. We investigated novel signaling pathways underlying HBx-induced liver tumorigenesis and found that the signaling pathway involving IκB kinase β (IKKβ), tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) downstream effector S6 kinase (S6K1), was upregulated when HBx was overexpressed in hepatoma cells.

Successfully seal pancreatic end after thermal distal pancreatectomy using needle arrays in alternating electromagnetic fields.

Background: Pancreatic fistula is still the major postoperative morbidity after distal pancreatectomy (DP). An inductive heat technology via needle arrays in a system of alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) was designed to seal off the pancreatic end.

Methods: Twenty Lanyu pigs were divided into 2 groups for DP: the conventional group had hand-sewn closure of the pancreatic end (n = 10), and the AMF group received thermal DP by AMF (n = 10).

Methylation of the CpG sites only on the sense strand of the APC gene is specific for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hypermethylation of the promoter of the tumor suppressor gene, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), occurs in various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, reports on the specificity of the methylation of the APC gene for HCC have varied. To gain insight into how these variations occur, bisulfite PCR sequencing was performed to analyze the methylation status of both sense and antisense strands of the APC gene in samples of HCC tissue, matched adjacent non-HCC liver tissue, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and normal liver tissues.

A clustered ground-glass hepatocyte pattern represents a new prognostic marker for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery.

Background: The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy is a serious event. It has been demonstrated that different ground-glass hepatocyte (GGH) patterns harbor specific hepatitis B virus (HBV) pre-S deletion mutants and represent preneoplastic lesions in chronic HBV infection. In the current study, the authors investigated whether a specific GGH pattern in nontumorous liver tissues was associated with the recurrence of HBV-related HCC after surgery.

Zinc deficiency in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary tumors is associated with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Background And Purpose: The present study was done to investigate the prevalence of zinc deficiency after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and its correlation with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Materials And Methods: Patients were included in this study if they had undergone PD for periampullary tumors without recurrence and had received follow-up for more than 6 months between February 2006 and June 2007. Serum levels of zinc, fasting glucose, albumin, and iron were obtained.

Induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a Taiwan cooperative oncology group phase II study.

Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of 3-month triplet induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

Patients And Methods: Chemonaïve patients with measurable, histologically confirmed LAPC were eligible. The ICT consisted of biweekly gemcitabine (800 mg/m2) infusion at a fixed dose rate (10 mg/m2/min), followed by 85 mg/m2 oxaliplatin and 48-h infusion of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (3000/150 mg/m2) for 6 cycles.

Adequate preoperative biliary drainage is determinative to decrease postoperative infectious complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background And Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) by preoperative serum bilirubin level in patients with periampullary lesions receiving pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Patients And Methods: Between Jan. 1995 to May 2005, 240 consecutive cases received pancreaticoduodenectomy at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan and were included retrospectively.

Establishment of an orthotopic transplantable gastric cancer animal model for studying the immunological effects of new cancer therapeutic modules.

Tumor cell growth is influenced by the cellular microenvironment including the presence of immune cells and blood vessels. Currently, no transplantable gastric cancer syngeneic animal models exist; therefore, we set out to establish a mouse gastric carcinoma cell line, which was named mouse gastric carcinoma cell line 3I (MGCC3I), from forestomach carcinoma developed in benzo[a]pyrene-treated ICR mice. MGCC3I cells showed epithelial-like morphology, multinuclear giant cell formation, and retained an intestinal phenotype, which are similar to human gastric cancer carcinoma cells.

Osteopontin expression is an independent adverse prognostic factor in resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumor and its interaction with CD44 promotes tumor proliferation.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional secreted glycophosphoprotein involved in miscellaneous physiologic and pathologic processes and is functionally related to the transmembrane receptor CD44. Although OPN expression has been identified to be associated with poor prognosis in several gastrointestinal malignancies, its expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) has not been thoroughly investigated. This study was designed to evaluate the clinicopathologic significance of OPN expression in patients with resectable GIST.

Follicular Dendritic Cell Tumor in Liver: A Case Report and Collective Review.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are a subset of the immune system and present in the germinal centers of lymphoid follicles in the spleen and lymph nodes. They are functionally as antigen-presenting cells and thus improving the quality of the humoral immune response. Follicular dendritic cell tumor is rare but considered low-grade sarcoma.

Bloodless liver resection using needle arrays under alternating electromagnetic fields.

Background/aim: Hemostasis is a major difficulty associated with hepatectomies. The authors designed a new thermal surgery system to reduce blood loss.

Methods: The newly designed system consists of an alternating magnetic field generator and stainless steel needle arrays with thermosensitive bands.

Effect of pancreaticoduodenectomy on the course of hepatic steatosis.

Background: The progression of hepatic steatosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is controversial. This study was designed to determine whether PD would influence the course of hepatic steatosis.

Methods: Patients admitted for PD and distal pancreatectomy (DP) from January 2004 to January 2008 were enrolled.

Osteopontin-positive infiltrating tumor-associated macrophages in bulky ampullary cancer predict survival.

Purpose: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote cancer cell proliferation and distant metastases. Osteopontin (OPN) is overexpressed in several human cancer cells and in TAMs. Therefore, we set out to determine the role of OPN-expressing macrophages in cancer.

Clinical implication and mitotic effect of CD44 cleavage in relation to osteopontin/CD44 interaction and dysregulated cell cycle protein in gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Background: CD44 and osteopontin (OPN) are functionally related molecules that, alone or in combination, play miscellaneous biological and pathophysiologic roles. CD44 cleavage, one unique feature of CD44, occurs in human cancers, but its function remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathologic significance and mechanism of CD44 cleavage in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with respect to OPN and OPN/CD44 interaction.

Loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin is correlated with poor prognosis of ampullary neoplasms.

Background And Objectives: Distant metastasis resulting from carcinoma cell detachment from the primary tumor involves modification of adhesion molecules. This study was conducted to examine the correlation of E-cadherin/beta-catenin expression with survival and recurrence in ampullary neoplasms.

Methods: Patients with diagnoses of ampullary neoplasms were enrolled in the study.

Heparanase inhibitor PI-88 as adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection: a randomized phase II trial for safety and optimal dosage.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after curative treatment adversely influences clinical outcome. It is important to explore adjuvant therapies. This phase II/stage 1 multi-center, randomized trial investigated the safety, optimal dosage and preliminary efficacy of PI-88, a novel heparanase inhibitor, in the setting of post-operative recurrence of HCC according to a Simon's 2-stage design.

Clinical and imaging characteristics relating to surgical outcomes of perforated appendicitis.

Background/aims: To study the characteristics of clinical findings and CT imaging of perforated appendicitis for predicting the outcome of patients who received immediate appendectomy for perforated appendicitis.

Methodology: Thirty-eight patients with perforated appendicitis who received immediate appendectomy were retrospectively reviewed. During a median follow-up period of 1091 days, 13 patients had to be re-hospitalized owing to occurrence of complications relating to the immediate appendectomy.

Surgical decompression in the patients of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is characterized by cystic dilatation of the main and/or branch pancreatic duct by intraductal growth of mucin-producing columnar epithelia. The malignancy is determined by the degree of epithelial dysplasia. Because most IPMNs are slow growing and the prognosis may be favorable even when the IPMN is malignant, aggressive surgical treatment is suggested after considering operative and postoperative risks.

A phase I study of combination of intravenous gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and 5-FU with daily oral thalidomide (GOFT) in metastatic/locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma patients.

Background/aims: The phase I study was to determine the maximum tolerance dose and dose-limiting toxicity of gemcitabine/oxaliplatin/5-FU/thalidomide (GOFT) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methodology: Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologically proven locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer were enrolled. Gemcitabine was given in a 1-hour infusion followed by oxaliplatin in a 2-hour infusion on day 1, and 5-FU in a 24-hour infusion on day 2, and oral thalidomide 100mg was given daily after intravenous chemotherapy.

Zinc deficiency with acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the standard operation for periampullary lesions. Most reports have focused on the clinical outcome, complications and tumor recurrence after PD. Few studies have focused on the nutritional sequelae that result from the extended resection of the upper gastrointestinal tract and disruption of the normal physiologic process of digestion.

Tumor size is a major determinant of recurrence in patients with resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Surgery remains the mainstay of curative treatment. Recurrence after surgery was frequent and was associated with poor prognosis.

Predictors of recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy in ampullary cancer: comparison between non-, early and late recurrence.

Background/purpose: Ampullary cancer is one of the periampullary cancers with a better prognosis, but relapse still occurs early in some patients. We sought to find predictors of recurrence to facilitate decisions about postoperative therapy.

Methods: Between January 1989 and March 2006, information was gathered on a total of 127 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with regional lymphadenectomy for ampullary cancer at National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Tainan Municipal Hospital.