Ferrostatin-1 improves acute sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy via inhibiting neutrophil infiltration through impaired chemokine axis.

Introduction: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy is a common complication of sepsis and is associated with higher mortality. To date, effective diagnostic and management strategies are still lacking. Recent studies suggest that ferroptosis plays a critical role in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy and ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) improved cardiac dysfunction and survival in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced endotoxemia.

Quaternized Molecular Brush-Grafted Injectable Microgel with Anti-Inflammatory and Drainage Properties for Efficient Therapy of Anal Fistula.

Anal fistula is a common disease with recurrent inflammation and accumulated exudate. Traditional treatments often fail to effectively eliminate inflammation and ensure adequate drainage, leading to prolonged healing time and a high recurrence rate. Herein, a new class of quaternized molecular brush-grafted injectable microgel (denoted as GAA@CNT-g-PVBTMA) is developed through thermal polymerization and mechanical fragmentation to promote the healing process of anal fistula.

Impact of red blood cell transfusion and hemoglobin threshold on 1-year mortality among surgical sepsis survivors: A propensity score matching study.

Background: Despite the fact that red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is commonly applied in surgical intensive care unit (ICU), the effect of RBC transfusion on long-term outcomes remains undetermined. We aimed to explore the association between RBC transfusion and the long-term prognosis of surgical sepsis survivors.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on adult sepsis patients admitted to a tertiary surgical ICU center in China.

Deciphering tertiary lymphoid structure heterogeneity reveals prognostic signature and therapeutic potentials for colorectal cancer: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) exert a crucial role in the tumor microenvironment (TME), impacting tumor development, immune escape, and drug resistance. Nonetheless, the heterogeneity of TLSs in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their impact on prognosis and treatment response remain unclear.

Methods: The authors collected genome, transcriptome, clinicopathological information, and digital pathology images from multiple sources.

Long-term Changes in Low Anterior Resection Syndrome in Survivors of Rectal Cancer: Longitudinal Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postoperative bowel dysfunction, also known as low anterior resection syndrome, is common in rectal cancer survivors and significantly impacts quality of life. Although long-term longitudinal follow-up is lacking, improvement of the syndrome is commonly believed to happen only within the first 2 years.

Objective: This study aimed to depict the longitudinal evolvement of low anterior resection syndrome beyond 3 years and explore factors associated with changes.

Structured postoperative handover protocol improves efficiency and quality of interdisciplinary communication and nursing care in surgical intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured postoperative handover protocol for postoperative transfer to the SICU. This study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in a comprehensive teaching hospital in China. Patients who were transferred to the SICU after surgery were randomly divided into two groups.

Developing an Interpretable Machine Learning Model to Predict in-Hospital Mortality in Sepsis Patients: A Retrospective Temporal Validation Study.

Background: Risk stratification plays an essential role in the decision making for sepsis management, as existing approaches can hardly satisfy the need to assess this heterogeneous population. We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning model to predict in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis.

Methods: Adult patients fulfilling the definition of Sepsis-3 were included at a large tertiary medical center.

Impact of long-course neoadjuvant radiation on postoperative low anterior resection syndrome and stoma status in rectal cancer: long-term functional follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Neoadjuvant radiation has been increasingly associated with postoperative bowel dysfunction, including low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Although permanent stoma often results from severe bowel dysfunction and significantly impacts quality of life, the presence of stoma paradoxically excludes patients from functional follow-up. Hence, stoma status is rarely reported along with LARS, while assessment of both is essential for the comprehensive evaluation of bowel dysfunction in long-term survivors of rectal cancer.

Improvement of low anterior resection syndrome beyond 2 years after total mesorectal excision.

Aim: Bowel dysfunction after sphincter-preserving proctectomy, also known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), has significant impact on survivors of rectal cancer. This study aimed to assess the temporal change of LARS beyond 2 years after proctectomy, which has not been fully studied.

Methods: We longitudinally enrolled consecutive patients who had received total mesorectal excision in a tertiary academic medical center, with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy if indicated.

Comparison of guidelines on rectal cancer: exception proves the rule?

The standard of care for early or locally advanced rectal cancer is promoted by multiple clinical practice guidelines globally, but the considerable differences between the guidelines may cause confusion. We compared the latest updated clinical practice guidelines from five professional societies/authorities: National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Society of Colorectal Surgeons, European Society of Medical Oncology, Chinese National Health Commission, and Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. Key evidence is discussed for a better understanding of some seemingly contradictory recommendations.

Density and distribution of lymphocytes in pretherapeutic rectal cancer and response to neoadjuvant therapy.

Background: Lymphocytic density in rectal cancer has been reported to be associated with therapeutic response, but the role of the lymphocytic distribution pattern remains to be determined. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the distribution and density of lymphocytes in rectal-cancer tissue with tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 134 patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy within a prospectively maintained cohort.

Astragaloside IV alleviates mouse slow transit constipation by modulating gut microbiota profile and promoting butyric acid generation.

Gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are associated with the development of various human diseases. In this study, we examined the role of astragaloside IV in modulating mouse gut microbiota structure and the generation of SCFAs, as well as in slow transit constipation (STC). An STC model was established by treating mice with loperamide, in which the therapeutic effects of astragaloside IV were evaluated.

Modified Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection Procedure for Limited Rectal Prolapse: A Viable Alternative to the Delorme Operation.

. The optimal surgical approach for full-thickness rectal prolapse (FTRP) remains controversial. In China, patients with limited FTRP (<5 cm in length) are usually managed by perineal surgery.

[Comparison of postoperative bowel function between patients undergoing transanal and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision].

Objective: To compare the effects of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (laparoscopic TME) on patients' postoperative long-term bowel function.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was used in this study. We analyzed the clinical data of 134 patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer, who underwent transanal TME or laparoscopic TME in the TaLaR randomized controlled trial at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from April 2016 to November 2017.

Impact of Long-Course Neoadjuvant Radiation on Postoperative Low Anterior Resection Syndrome and Quality of Life in Rectal Cancer: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Neoadjuvant radiation is recommended for locally advanced rectal cancer, with proven benefit in local control but not in disease-free survival. However, the impact of long-course radiation on postoperative bowel function and quality of life (QOL) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the impact of long-course neoadjuvant radiation on bowel function and QOL, and to identify risk factors for severe bowel dysfunction.

Vitamin D status after colorectal cancer diagnosis and patient survival according to immune response to tumour.

Background: High-level plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has been associated with lower colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Considering evidence indicating immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D, we hypothesised that survival benefits from high systemic vitamin D level might be stronger for colorectal carcinoma with lower immune response to tumour.

Methods: Using 869 colon and rectal cancer cases within the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, we assessed the prognostic association of postdiagnosis 25(OH)D score [derived from diet and lifestyle variables to predict plasma 25(OH)D level] in strata of levels of histopathologic lymphocytic reaction.

MicroRNA let-7, T Cells, and Patient Survival in Colorectal Cancer.

Experimental evidence suggests that the let-7 family of noncoding RNAs suppresses adaptive immune responses, contributing to immune evasion by the tumor. We hypothesized that the amount of let-7a and let-7b expression in colorectal carcinoma might be associated with limited T-lymphocyte infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment and worse clinical outcome. Utilizing the molecular pathological epidemiology resources of 795 rectal and colon cancers in two U.

Association Between Somatostatin Receptor Expression and Clinical Outcomes in Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Objective: Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), products of gene superfamily SSTR1-5, are commonly expressed in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Somatostatin analogs (SSAs) bind to SSTRs and are used as therapeutic agents in patients with advanced NETs. We hypothesized that tumor SSTR expression status would be associated with clinical outcomes in NET.

Vitamin D and colorectal cancer: molecular, epidemiological and clinical evidence.

In many cells throughout the body, vitamin D is converted into its active form calcitriol and binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which functions as a transcription factor to regulate various biological processes including cellular differentiation and immune response. Vitamin D-metabolising enzymes (including CYP24A1 and CYP27B1) and VDR play major roles in exerting and regulating the effects of vitamin D. Preclinical and epidemiological studies have provided evidence for anti-cancer effects of vitamin D (particularly against colorectal cancer), although clinical trials have yet to prove its benefit.

Landscape of tumor-infiltrating T cell repertoire of human cancers.

We developed a computational method to infer the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) sequences of tumor-infiltrating T cells in 9,142 RNA-seq samples across 29 cancer types. We identified over 600,000 CDR3 sequences, including 15% that were full length. CDR3 sequence length distribution and amino acid conservation, as well as variable gene usage, for infiltrating T cells in many tumors, except in brain and kidney cancers, resembled those for peripheral blood cells from healthy donors.

MicroRNA MIR21 (miR-21) and PTGS2 Expression in Colorectal Cancer and Patient Survival.

Purpose: Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, cyclooxygenase-2; a target of aspirin) produces inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and contributes to colorectal neoplasia development. PTGS2-driven inflammatory responses can induce tumor expression of microRNA MIR21 (miR-21) that can increase local PGE2 level by downregulating PGE2-metabolizing enzymes. We hypothesized that the prognostic association of tumor MIR21 expression level in colorectal carcinoma might depend on inflammatory tumor microenvironment and be stronger in tumors expressing high-level PTGS2.