Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer as a novel predictor of early recurrence after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently recurs after radical resection, resulting in a poor prognosis. This study assessed the prognostic value of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) for early recurrence (ER) in patients with HCC.

Methods: Patients who underwent radical resection for HCC between 2015 and 2021.

Skeletal Muscle Mass Index Reduction Rate as a Prognostic Indicator for Patients Undergoing Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Cancer.

Background/aim: There have been many studies on skeletal muscle depletion before surgery, and skeletal muscle depletion is a known risk factor for poor prognosis. However, reports on the association between changes in skeletal muscle mass and prognosis after surgery for pancreatic cancer are very few.

Patients And Methods: The data of 137 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer between 2005 and 2022 were reviewed.

A case of difficult-to-diagnose hepatic reactive lymphoid hyperplasia finally diagnosed by using PCR analysis of IgH-gene rearrangements: a case report.

Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) of the liver is extremely rare. Despite advancements in diagnostic imaging technology, it is still difficult to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we present a case of hepatic RLH mimicking HCC that was postoperatively diagnosed using several imaging modalities.

[A case of retrograde intussusception due to transverse colon cancer detected by abdominal ultrasonography].

A 78-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with abdominal pain and melena. Abdominal ultrasonography detected a multiple concentric ring sign and retrograde invagination mass near the hepatic flexure. Colonoscopy revealed a 40-mm diameter type 1 tumor in the transverse colon near the splenic flexure, and the biopsy specimen demonstrated a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma.

Antihypertensive and Vasorelaxant Effects of Citric Acid and Lemon Juice in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: In Vivo and Ex Vivo Studies.

Hypertension is a key risk factor for heart, brain, and kidney disease development. Fruit consumption has been associated with a decrease in blood pressure. Lemon juice, which contains antihypertensive compounds, may exert antihypertensive effects.

Esophageal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma With Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Robot-assisted Surgery: A Case Report.

Background/aim: Malignant esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (ENEC) is rare, and its prognosis is poor. Therefore, a standard strategy for treating ENEC remains controversial, and few reports have described a pathological complete response of ENEC to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery.

Case Report: A 74-year-old woman presented with an esophageal tumor, discovered as a result of dysphagia, that was clinically diagnosed as ENEC (small-cell type).

Evaluation of the Antihypertensive Activity of Eggplant Acetylcholine and γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Daily consumption of eggplant powder containing 2.3 mg acetylcholine (ACh) is known to alleviate hypertension and improve mental status. However, eggplant powder used in clinical trials also contains the antihypertensive compound γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Prognostic Impact of a Novel Albumin-Platelet Index as Selection Criterion for Hepatic Resection in Intermediate Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Hepatic resection for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B (intermediate-stage) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not recommended by BCLC treatment algorithms. We sought to develop a new prognostic model for determining appropriate treatment strategies in patients with intermediate-stage HCC.

Patients And Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC between 2000 and 2018.

A novel combined carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio score can predict early recurrence of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) often recurs early after radical resection, which causes a poor prognosis. This study aimed to establish a scoring model to assess the optimal treatment in patients who underwent surgery for PDAC.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 127 patients who underwent radical resection for PDAC between 2005 and 2021.

Total pancreatectomy preserving the right gastroepiploic artery following proximal gastrectomy.

Total pancreatectomy (TP) after proximal gastrectomy (PG) requires more attention than ordinary TP during surgery in terms of the preservation of blood flow to the remnant stomach that was supplied via only the right gastric and gastroepiploic arteries. The current report presents the details of a case in which the remnant stomach was safely preserved when performing TP. A 74-year-old man who underwent PG for gastric cancer 17 years previously was diagnosed with pancreatic head cancer during follow-up for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreatic body and tail.

Correction: Wang et al. Investigation of the Distribution and Content of Acetylcholine, a Novel Functional Compound in Eggplant. 2021, 81.

The authors wish to make a correction to the published version of their paper [...

Correction: Wang et al. LC-MS/MS Analysis of Choline Compounds in Japanese-Cultivated Vegetables and Fruits. 2020, , 1029.

The authors wish to make a correction to the published version of their paper [...

Prediction of protein mononucleotide binding sites using AlphaFold2 and machine learning.

In this study, we developed a system that predicts the binding sites of proteins for five mononucleotides (AMP, ADP, ATP, GDP, and GTP). The system comprises two machine learning (ML)-based predictors using a convolutional neural network and a gradient boosting machine, two template-based predictors based on sequence and structure alignment, and a predictor that performs ensemble learning of these four predictors. In this study, data augmentation of ligand binding sites with similar ligand structures was performed.

Impact of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index based score to assess posthepatectomy liver failure in patients with hepatocellular carcninoma.

Background: Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a life-threatening complication following hepatic resection. The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) is a non-invasive model for assessing the liver functional reserve in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to establish a scoring model to stratify patients with HCC at risk for PHLF.

Antihypertensive Mechanism of Orally Administered Acetylcholine in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Acetylcholine (ACh) acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. A small dose of eggplant powder rich in ACh (equivalent to 22 g fresh eggplant/d) has been shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) in individuals with higher BP. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of low-dose orally administered ACh in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

A novel combined prognostic nutritional index and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index-based score can predict the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who undergo hepatic resection.

Purpose: Inflammation-, nutrition-, and liver fibrosis-related markers are recognized as prognostic for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. This study, therefore, assessed the preoperative prognostic utility of the combination of these markers in patients with HCC.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC between 2004 and 2017.

Mac-2-Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer as a Novel Predictor of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Eradication.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can recur even after achievement of a sustained virologic response (SVR). Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a newly identified biomarker correlated with liver fibrosis. This study aimed to clarify outcomes for patients with an SVR and to assess the prognostic value of M2BPGi.

Differential Antihypertensive Effects of Oral Doses of Acetylcholine between Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Normotensive Rats.

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a novel antihypertensive food component. Here, we demonstrate the differential effects of oral ACh on high and normal blood pressure in rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were administered ACh orally.

Prognostic Impact of Lymphocyte-C-Reactive Protein Ratio in Patients Who Underwent Surgical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Systemic inflammation-related factors, either independently or in combination, are recognized as prognostic factors for various cancers. The ratio of lymphocyte count to C-reactive protein concentration (lymphocyte-CRP ratio; LCR) is a recently identified prognostic marker for several cancers. Here, we examined the prognostic value of the LCR in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Investigation of the Distribution and Content of Acetylcholine, a Novel Functional Compound in Eggplant.

Eggplants are rich in acetylcholine (ACh), which can improve high blood pressure and negative psychological states. However, information on ACh content in individual parts of eggplant and the changes in ACh content during eggplant development is limited. Therefore, we investigated the ACh content in various parts of eggplant, namely, the leaf, root, bud, calyx, ovary, fruit, exocarp, mesocarp, partition, placenta, core, fruit base, fruit center, and fruit top in 26 eggplant varieties.

Hepatic resection for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma during pregnancy: a case report.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during pregnancy is extremely rare. Treatment strategies for cancers detected during pregnancy have been controversial. We herein report a case of recurrent HCC detected at 20 weeks of pregnancy, which subsequently prompted hepatic resection after abortion.