Construction of an interpretable model for predicting survival outcomes in patients with middle to advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (≥5 cm) using lasso-cox regression.

Background: In this retrospective study, we aimed to identify key risk factors and establish an interpretable model for HCC with a diameter ≥ 5 cm using Lasso regression for effective risk stratification and clinical decision-making.

Methods: In this study, 843 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm were included. Using Lasso regression to screen multiple characteristic variables, cox proportional hazard regression and random survival forest models (RSF) were established.

The addition of nimotuzumab during concurrent chemoradiotherapy improved survival outcomes in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with optimal response to induction chemotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the impact of response to induction chemotherapy (IC) on survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC) and evaluate the efficacy of adding nimotuzumab to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) based on different responses to IC.

Methods: We retrospectively included patients with stage III-IVA NPC who underwent IC with and without nimotuzumab during CCRT. Statistical analysis included the chi-square test, propensity score matching, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards model.

Lasso-Cox interpretable model of AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: In AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma patients, markers for predicting tumor progression or prognosis are limited. Therefore, our objective is to establish an optimal predicet model for this subset of patients, utilizing interpretable methods to enhance the accuracy of HCC prognosis prediction.

Methods: We recruited a total of 508 AFP-negative HCC patients in this study, modeling with randomly divided training set and validated with validation set.

Xerostomia: An easily ignored symptom induced by induction chemotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: To investigate the prevalence and predictive factors of xerostomia during induction chemotherapy (IC) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled NPC patients who received IC between October 2020 and October 2021. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Xerostomia Inventory (XI) were used to evaluate the condition of xerostomia.

Case report: A report of the complete pathological response of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after conversion therapy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare disease with poor prognosis, and surgery remains the only curative treatment option. However, surgery is inappropriate for the majority of patients with CCA. Conversion therapy may provide opportunities for the surgical treatment of these patients.

PD-1 inhibitors plus anti-angiogenic therapy with or without intensity-modulated radiotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching study.

Background: Whether intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can enhance the efficacy of the programmed death (PD)-1 inhibitors combined with anti-angiogenic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Therefore, we conducted this multicenter retrospective study to investigate the efficacy of the combination of PD-1 inhibitors with anti-angiogenic therapy and IMRT.

Methods: From April 2019 to March 2022, a total of 197 patients with HCC [combination of PD-1 inhibitors with anti-angiogenic therapy and IMRT (triple therapy group), 54; PD-1 inhibitors plus anti-angiogenic therapy (control group), 143] were included in our study.

PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells can be a predictive biomarker to PD-1 inhibitors combined with radiotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: A programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor coupled with radiotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy is a potential therapeutic strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to determine if circulating tumor cells (CTCs) positive for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) could be employed as a predictive biomarker in HCC patients receiving triple therapy.

Methods: In this study, HCC patients received a PD-1 inhibitor in combination with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and antiangiogenic therapy.

Heat-shock protein 90α is a potential prognostic and predictive biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma: a large-scale and multicenter study.

Background: Although the diagnostic value of plasma heat-shock protein 90α (HSP90α) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been previously reported, the causal effect of the plasma HSP90α levels on HCC prognosis remains largely unclear. To this extent, we sought to assess whether the plasma HSP90α acts as a prognostic factor for HCC patients.

Methods: A total of 2150 HCC patients were included in this retrospective study between August 2016 and July 2021.

Causes of Death in Long-Term Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Survivors.

Purpose: To assess the causes of death (COD) and long-term survival after nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) diagnosis.

Methods: Using linked data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, patients with NPC diagnosed from 1990 to 2010 and followed up >5 years were identified. Chi-squared test, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model were used for analyses.

Cardioprotective effect of NRG-4 gene expression on spontaneous hypertension rats and its mechanism through mediating the activation of ErbB signaling pathway.

To explore the myocardial protective effect of Neuregulin-4 (NRG-4) gene expression on spontaneous hypertension (SHR) rats and its mechanism through mediating the activation of the ErbB signaling pathway, this study was conducted. For this purpose, forty 24-week-old male SPF SHR rats were selected as the experimental group, and 10 age and sex-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were selected as the control group. Cardiac tissues were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical staining.

Gamma knife radiosurgery versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a propensity score matching study.

Background: The optimal locoregional treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HCC patients with PVTT.

Methods: This retrospective study included 544 HCC patients with PVTT (GKR, 202; TACE, 342).

Identification of Circular RNA-MicroRNA-Messenger RNA Regulatory Network in Atrial Fibrillation by Integrated Analysis.

Background: Circular RNA (circRNA) is a noncoding RNA that forms a closed-loop structure, and its abnormal expression may cause disease. We aimed to find potential network for circRNA-related competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: The circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles in the heart tissue from AF patients were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and analyzed comprehensively.

Non-Digestible Carbohydrate and the Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia: A Systematic Review.

Non-digestible carbohydrate (NDC) is a fiber that can be fermented into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in gut, represented by resistant starch (RS) and inulin. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant cancer. Pre-clinical studies have reported that NDC can produce SCFAs to protect the gut epithelium, which is associated with prevention of CRC, but this role in clinical trails is controversial.

Resistant starch ameliorated insulin resistant in patients of type 2 diabetes with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Resistant starch (RS) is a starch that can be fermented by the microbial flora within gut lumen. Insulin resistance (IR) is a pathophysiological condition related to diabetes and obesity. RS could reduce blood glucose and ameliorate IR in animals, but its effect in human population is controversial.

Effect of Inulin-Type Carbohydrates on Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a physiological condition related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, which is associated with high blood insulin and glucose. Inulin-type carbohydrate (ITC) is a kind of fermentable fructan that can reduce glucose and ameliorate IR in an animal model, but the effect in clinical trials is controversial.

Objective: The authors conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate the effect of ITC supplementation in ameliorating IR in T2DM and obese patients.

Sodium butyrate alleviates high-glucose-induced renal glomerular endothelial cells damage via inhibiting pyroptosis.

We recently found that Sodium butyrate (NaB) possesses anti-inflammatory effects in diabetic nephropathy (DN) mouse model and in high-glucose induced mouse glomerular mesangial cells. Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death accompanied with the release of pro-inflammatory factors. Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is a novel discovered pivotal executive protein of pyroptosis, which can be cleaved by inflammatory caspases.

Advances on Cell Autophagy and Its Potential Regulatory Factors in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major reason for acute kidney injury and various kidney diseases. Autophagy plays an important role during renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI), but it remains controversial whether autophagy contributes to cell survival or ischemia-reperfusion-induced cell death. In the review, we summarized the function of autophagy in the progression of acute ischemic kidney injury, as well as its related molecular mechanisms.

Effects of metformin treatment on radiotherapy efficacy in patients with cancer and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Metformin is a key pharmaceutical for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Metformin also can enhance tumor radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Some retrospective cohort studies have indicated that metformin can improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with cancer and DM.

Distribution of metastatic disease in the brain in relation to the hippocampus: a retrospective single-center analysis of 6064 metastases in 632 patients.

This study aimed to investigate the patterns of brain metastasis and to explore the risk factors affecting hippocampus metastasis (HM). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical information of patients with metastatic disease in the brain. The associations between clinicopathologic variables with HM and peri-hippocampal metastasis (PHM) were evaluated in univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Left ventricular function during acute high-altitude exposure in a large group of healthy young Chinese men.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to observe left ventricular function during acute high-altitude exposure in a large group of healthy young males.

Methods: A prospective trial was conducted in Szechwan and Tibet from June to August, 2012. By Doppler echocardiography, left ventricular function was examined in 139 healthy young Chinese men at sea level; within 24 hours after arrival in Lhasa, Tibet, at 3700 m; and on day 7 following an ascent to Yangbajing at 4400 m after 7 days of acclimatization at 3700 m.

[The change of left ventricular function upon acute high altitude exposure and its relationship with acute mountain sickness].

Objective: To investigate the changes of the cardiac hemodynamics after acute high altitude exposure in healthy young males and the relationship with acute mountain sickness(AMS).

Methods: Left ventricular function and oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) were measured in 218 healthy young males before and after high altitude exposure within 24 h respectively. According to the lake louise score criteria, the subjects were divided into two groups: acute mountain sickness group (AMS group) and non acute mountain sickness group (non-AMS group).