Elevated pretreatment serum apolipoprotein E level associated with poor prognosis of patients with COVID-19 during the omicron BA.5 and BF.7 wave.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the human disease known as COVID-19. This virus is capable of generating a spectrum of infections ranging from moderate to severe. Serum apolipoprotein E (ApoE) inhibits inflammation by preserving immune regulatory function.

Elevated serum beta-2 microglobulin level predicts short-term poor prognosis of patients with acute omicron variant COVID-19 infection.

Background: The devastating coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-2019) epidemic has been declared a public health emergency, resulting in a worldwide pandemic. The omicron variety is the most common epidemic mutant strain in the globe. Serum beta-2 microglobulin (β2-MG) is associated with endothelial cell injury and has value in monitoring the progression of inflammation in infected individuals.

Small Bowel Refractory Bleeding: A Retrospective Study for Causes and Surgical Management.

Introduction: Small bowel (SB) bleeding is one of the common gastrointestinal problems, particularly in elders. The study aimed to find the causes of refractory bleeding and overcome the challenges and difficulties of surgical treatment for SB refractory bleeding.

Methods: All patients with SB refractory bleeding who underwent surgical treatment were included in this study.

Dual Roles of Lactate in EGFR-TKI-Resistant Lung Cancer by Targeting GPR81 and MCT1.

Lactate is critical in modeling tumor microenvironment causing chemotherapy resistance; however, the role of lactate in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance has not been fully known. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lactate could mediate TKI resistance through GPR81 and MCT1 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we showed that lactate enhanced the cell viability and restrained erlotinib-induced apoptosis in PC9 and HCC827 cells.

The efficacy and safety of low-dose temozolomide maintenance therapy in elderly patients with glioblastoma: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Radiotherapy combined with temozolomide chemotherapy (STUPP regimen) is the standard treatment regimen for newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). It is considered feasible to prolong the treatment cycle of temozolomide (TMZ), however, the efficacy and safety of prolonging the treatment cycle of TMZ are still lacking in elderly patients with glioblastoma. This study observed the efficacy and safety of low dose TMZ maintenance therapy in elderly patients with glioblastoma after receiving standard STUPP regimen.

Prognostic value of lactate transporter SLC16A1 and SLC16A3 as oncoimmunological biomarkers associating tumor metabolism and immune evasion in glioma.

Background: Hypoxic microenvironment is immunosuppressive and protumorigenic, and elevated lactate is an intermediary in the modulation of immune responses. However, as critical lactate transporters, the role of SLC16A1 and SLC16A3 in immune infiltration and evasion of glioma is not fully elucidated.

Methods: Gene expression in low- and high-grade glioma (LGG and GBM) was evaluated with TCGA database.

Lactate Transporter SLC16A3 (MCT4) as an Onco-Immunological Biomarker Associating Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Responses in Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Lactate, a marker of tumor metabolic reprogramming, maintains the acidic microenvironment and also affects the metabolism and function of immune cells. SLC16A3 is responsible for the extracellular transport of lactate, which is a key component of glycolysis. However, the role of SLC16A3 in immune infiltration and immunosuppression of lung cancer is largely unknown.

Comparison of postoperative pancreatic fistula between open and laparoscopic surgery in patients with gastric cancer: A meta-analysis.

Background: Open gastrectomy"OG" compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy"LG" in patients with gastric cancer"GC" has been widely discussed over the past years. However, the lack of comparative analysis in postoperative pancreatic fistula "POPF" hinders its severity as surgical procedures developed rapidly. Therefore, there are still moot on whether one of these surgical options is superior in POPF.

The Application Value of Spiral CT Lung Densitometry Software in the Diagnosis of Radiation-Induced Lung Injury.

In order to study the application value of spiral CT lung density measurement software in the diagnosis of radioactive lung injury, the average CT values of lung apex, hilum, and diaphragm were measured by Pulmo automatic evaluation software of 16-slice spiral CT in 96 patients with different types of radiation lung injury diagnosed by conventional CT and 80 healthy subjects. The radiation lung injury on CT slices was classified, and the lung density was measured. In 96 patients with different types of radiation lung injury, 56 patients had different degrees of increase in average lung density, which was most obvious in the type of air insufficiency and chronic fibrosis.

Comparison of safety between self-expanding metal stents as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery based on pathology: a meta-analysis.

Background: To explore the long-term oncological safety of using self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) as a bridge to surgery for acute obstructive colorectal cancer by comparing the pathological results of emergency surgery (ES) with elective surgery after the placement of SEMS.

Methods: Studies comparing SEMS as a bridge to surgery with emergency surgery for acute obstructive colorectal cancer were retrieved through the databases of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries, and a meta-analysis was conducted based on the pathological results of the two treatments. Risk ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the outcomes under random effects model.

Latest Advances in Intersphincteric Resection for Low Rectal Cancer.

Background: Intersphincteric resection (ISR) has been a preferable alternative to abdominoperineal resection (APR) for anal preservation in patients with low rectal cancer. Laparoscopic ISR and robotic ISR have been widely used with the proposal of 2 cm or even 1 cm rule of distal free margin and the development of minimally invasive technology. The aim of this review was to describe the newest advancements of ISR.

Hsa-circRNA-103809 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development via MicroRNA-1270/PLAG1 Like Zinc Finger 2 Axis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the worldwide. A great number of reports manifested that circular RNA hsa-circRNA-103809 (circRNA-103809) could work in several cancers.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the function and mechanism of circRNA-103809 in HCC.

Low Pneumoperitoneum Pressure Improves Recovery of Transabdominal Preperitoneal Hernioplasty.

Objective: To evaluate the recovery influence of CO₂ pneumoperitoneum pressure for transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty (TAPP).

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: General Department II, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, from August 2016 to October 2018.

miR-532 promotes colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis by targeting NKD1.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of microRNA-532 (miR-532) on invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, and the underlying mechanism. Human CRC cell line (HCT116) and normal colon (FHC) cells were used for this study. The cells were transfected with naked cuticle homolog 1 (NKD1) overexpression plasmid, miR-532 mimics, miR-532 inhibitor or miR-532 non-homologous sequence using lipofectamine 2000.

Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase Attenuates Alcohol-Induced Hepatosteatosis in Mice.

Background And Aims: Bacterially derived factors from the gut play a major role in the activation of inflammatory pathways in the liver and in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. The intestinal brush-border enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) detoxifies a variety of bacterial pro-inflammatory factors and also functions to preserve gut barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oral IAP supplementation could protect against alcohol-induced liver disease.

Effects of hyperlipidaemia on plasma apolipoprotein M levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an independent case-control study.

Background: Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is mainly enriched in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and is slightly present in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. apoM is involved in HDL formation and HDL-mediated reverse cholesterol transport. apoM is also associated with hyperlipidaemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Continuous topical irrigation for severely infected wound healing.

Background: Management of severely infected wounds is a formidable challenge. The pilot prospective cohort study is to investigate the influence of continuous topical irrigation (CTI) on the outcomes of severely infected wounds.

Methods: This pilot study was performed on 17 patients with a single severely infected wound treated with CTI, compared with a control group of 15 patients treated with standard of care from January 2011-January 2013.

Triptolide ameliorates colonic fibrosis in an experimental rat model.

Triptolide is known to exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities; however, its impact on intestinal fibrosis has not been previously examined. Based on our previous studies of the suppressive activity of triptolide on human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts and the therapeutic efficacy of triptolide in Crohn's disease, it was hypothesized that triptolide may have beneficial effects on intestinal fibrosis. In the present study, colonic fibrosis was induced in rats by 6 weekly repeated administration with a low-dose of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and was then treated with triptolide or PBS daily (control) simultaneously.

VAWCM-Instillation Improves Delayed Primary Fascial Closure of Open Septic Abdomen.

Background. Failure to achieve delayed primary fascial closure (DPFC) is one of the main complications of open abdomen (OA), certainly when abdominal sepsis is present. This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate the effect of combined therapy of vacuum-assisted mesh-mediated fascial traction and topical instillation (VAWCM-instillation) on DPFC in the open septic abdomen.

Vitamin D prevents the intestinal fibrosis via induction of vitamin D receptor and inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta1/Smad3 pathway.

Background And Aims: Vitamin D deficiency in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with greater disease activity and lower quality of life. Intestinal fibrosis is a main complication of IBD. However, the effect of vitamin D on intestinal fibrosis remains unclear.

A novel approach to maintain gut mucosal integrity using an oral enzyme supplement.

Objective: To determine the role of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) in enteral starvation-induced gut barrier dysfunction and to study its therapeutic effect as a supplement to prevent gut-derived sepsis.

Background: Critically ill patients are at increased risk for systemic sepsis and, in some cases, multiorgan failure leading to death. Years ago, the gut was identified as a major source for this systemic sepsis syndrome.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase promotes gut bacterial growth by reducing the concentration of luminal nucleotide triphosphates.

The intestinal microbiota plays a pivotal role in maintaining human health and well-being. Previously, we have shown that mice deficient in the brush-border enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) suffer from dysbiosis and that oral IAP supplementation normalizes the gut flora. Here we aimed to decipher the molecular mechanism by which IAP promotes bacterial growth.

[Comparison of two equations for calculating glomerular filtration rate in evaluation of the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in healthy population].

Objective: To compare two equations for calculating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the evaluation of the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the risk factors of CKD in urban healthy population.

Methods: A total of 40377 subjects (24164 males and 16213 females) participated in this study. Body height, weight and blood pressure were measured, and morning urine and venous blood samples were collected for routine urine and blood tests with measurements of blood glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), creatinine and uric acid.

miR-181b as a potential molecular target for anticancer therapy of gastric neoplasms.

Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of miR-181b on gastric cancer.

Methods: The expression level of miR-181b was quantified by qRT-PCR.