Laparoscopic open radical resection in management of gallbladder carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Radical resection offers the only hope for the long-term survival of patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) above the T1b stage. However, whether it should be performed under laparoscopy for GBC is still controversial.

Aim: To compare laparoscopic radical resection (LRR) with traditional open radical resection (ORR) in managing GBC.

Case report: Stent-first strategy as a potential approach in the management of malignant right-sided colonic obstruction with cardiovascular risks.

In obstructing left-sided colonic or rectal cancer, endoscopic stent placement with the purpose of decompression and bridge to elective colon resection has been widely utilized and accepted. However, in malignant right-sided colonic obstruction, stent placement prior to colectomy is still highly controversial, due to lower clinical success and high anastomotic leak. We report a case of malignant right-sided colonic obstruction based on the radiological findings of irregular thickening of ascending colon wall and dilation of proximal large bowel on enhanced computed tomography scan.

Formative objective structured clinical examination with immediate feedback improves surgical clerks' self-confidence and clinical competence.

Objective: Clerkship is crucial for fourth-year medical students before entering the clinical environment. However, lack of confidence impairs clerks' performance during the clinical rotation. We assess the impact of formative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with immediate feedback on surgical clerks' self-confidence and clinical competence.

A putative causality of vitamin D in common diseases: A mendelian randomization study.

Backgrounds: Vitamin D is considered as a nutrient protecting individuals against an array of diseases based on observational studies. Such a protective effect, however, has not been demonstrated by randomized controlled trials. This study aims to explore a putative causal role of vitamin D in common diseases through a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework.

Radiomics-clinical nomogram for response to chemotherapy in synchronous liver metastasis of colorectal cancer: Good, but not good enough.

There remains a persistent unmet need to detect the disease nonresponse (nonDR) subgroup before adjuvant therapy in synchronous liver metastasis patients with colorectal cancer. Ma's radiomics-clinical nomogram shows potential for the early detection of nonDR subgroups, but it is not good enough owing to at least three limitaions, which we address in this letter to the editor. First, the study did not explore RAS/BRAF mutations, HER2 amplifications, to complement the current nomogram.

Evolution of Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer from a Bird's-Eye Perspective: A Text-Mining Analysis of Publication Trends and Topics.

Objectives: Ovarian tumors are among the most prominent gynecological malignancies and have a poor prognosis. Immunotherapy has undergone incredible progress in the past two decades. Our study aimed to use a bibliometric approach to identify research trends in ovarian cancer immunotherapy.

Validation of a three-dimensional printed dry lab pancreaticojejunostomy model in surgical assessment: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Until now, there have been few tools to evaluate whether a surgeon was technically ready to perform a safe pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ). In the current study, we aimed to evaluate whether a three-dimensional model could mimic a real surgical situation and distinguish between surgeons of different levels of experiences.

Design: A three-dimensional PJ dry laboratory model was printed.

A Comparison Between the Prognosis of Simultaneous and Salvage Radical Resection in Incidental Gallbladder Cancer.

Purpose: Incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) is defined as gallbladder cancer (GBC) that is accidentally discovered during cholecystectomy to treat benign lesions. We aimed to compare the prognosis of IGBC patients who underwent simultaneous radical resection (SIR) vs salvage radical resection (SAR).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data for IGBC patients admitted to Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from January 2000 to May 2016.

Association of circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and its related genetic variations with hepatocellular carcinoma incidence and survival.

Background: Vitamin D plays a key role of anti-cancer process, however, the association of vitamin D level and its related genetic variants with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk and prognosis is not fully understood.

Methods: We enrolled 100 HCC patients and 8,242 health controls from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. Logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for HCC risk according to serum 25(OH)D concentration.

Androgen receptor affects the response to immune checkpoint therapy by suppressing PD-L1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous malignancy with gender-related differences in onset and course. Androgen receptor (AR), a male hormone receptor, is critical in the initiation and progression of HCC. The role of AR in HCC has been mechanistically characterized and anti-AR therapies have been developed, showing limited efficacy.

Laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: an updated systematic review.

Background: The role of laparoscopic surgery (Lap) and robotic surgery (Rob) for radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is not clear. We summarized the safety and feasibility of Lap and Rob for HC.

Methods: A search of all HC studies in English published on PubMed up to April 2020 was conducted.

Real-World Experience with AGA Guidelines in the Management of Crohn's Disease following Ileocolonic Resection: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Postoperative endoscopic recurrence (PER) is common in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) after surgery. The impact of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guideline adherence on PER in real life remains unclear.

Methods: The postoperative management of CD patients undergoing ileocolonic resection with anastomosis from 2017 to 2018 was conducted based on the AGA guidelines.

Cystic duct cancer: Should it be deemed as a type of gallbladder cancer?

Background: According to the latest American Joint Committee on Cancer and Union for International Cancer Control manuals, cystic duct cancer (CC) is categorized as a type of gallbladder cancer (GC), which has the worst prognosis among all types of biliary cancers. We hypothesized that this categorization could be verified by using taxonomic methods.

Aim: To investigate the categorization of CC based on population-level data.

Population-level utilization of anatomic resection in early hepatocellular carcinoma (≤5 cm): post-operative, middle- and long-term outcomes.

Background: Most of previous researches on anatomic resection (AR) in early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were conducted in high-volume centres with controversial results. This study aims to provide evidence of the utilization of AR in early HCC at population level.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 registries database (2004-2015) of the USA was utilized to identify early HCC cases ≤5 cm.

Is It Time to Consider Laparoscopic Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma? A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The role of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains indefinite, though the utilization of this minimally invasive approach has been increasing for ICC. We herein performed a meta-analysis to investigate this issue.

Methods: Six retrospective studies including 384 patients who had undergone LH and 2147 patients who had undergone open hepatectomy (OH) for ICC were included.

Wnt signaling in liver disease: emerging trends from a bibliometric perspective.

Background: The Wnt signaling pathway, an evolutionarily conserved molecular transduction cascade, has been identified as playing a pivotal role in various physiological and pathological processes of the liver, including homeostasis, regeneration, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to use a bibliometric method to evaluate the emerging trends on Wnt signaling in liver diseases.

Methods: Articles were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.

DUSP1 inhibits cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion and angiogenesis in gallbladder cancer.

DUSP1/MKP1 is a dual-specific phosphatase that regulates MAPK activity and is known to play a key role in tumor biology. Its function in gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains largely unknown, however. By exploring its activities in two GBC cell lines (SGC996 and GBC-SD), DUSP1 was found to inhibit GBC cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Expression of transforming growth factor β1 promotes cholangiocarcinoma development and progression.

Background And Aims: The role of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) initiation and growth requires further definition.

Methods: We employed pharmacological and genetic approaches to inhibit or enhance TGFβ1 signaling, respectively, and determine the cellular mechanisms involved.

Results: It was observed that inhibiting TGFβ1 activity with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or pharmaceutical agents suppressed CCA development and growth, whereas overexpression of TGFβ1 enhanced CCA tumor size and promoted intrahepatic metastasis in a rat model.

Anti-Tumor Effects of Second Generation β-Hydroxylase Inhibitors on Cholangiocarcinoma Development and Progression.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has a poor prognosis due to widespread intrahepatic spread. Aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) is a transmembrane protein and catalyzes the hydroxylation of aspartyl and asparaginyl residues in calcium binding epidermal growth factor (cbEGF)-like domains of various proteins, including Notch receptors and ligands. ASPH is highly overexpressed (>95%) in human CCA tumors.

Liver cirrhosis grading Child-Pugh class B: a Goliath to challenge in laparoscopic liver resection?-prior experience and matched comparisons.

Background: Laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) is highly difficult in the background of liver cirrhosis. In this case series, we aimed to summarize our prior experience of LH in liver cirrhosis grading Child-Pugh class B.

Methods: In the LH database of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Zhejiang, China, patients who were pathologically diagnosed with cirrhosis and graded as Child-Pugh class B or C were reviewed.

A CD52 antibody impairs mouse-transplanted intestinal tight junctions.

Background: Induction immunosuppression strategies using a CD52 monoclonal antibody (mAb) have been introduced for small bowel transplantation, resulting in improved outcomes. However, little information is known about the effects of the antibody on the microstructure of the intestinal barrier, which functions to prevent bacterial translocation. In this study, we used a murine orthotopic small bowel transplantation model to investigate the impact of a CD52 mAb on tight junctions (TJs), which are considered a central part of the intestinal barrier, of the transplanted intestine.

Restoration of Wnt/β-catenin signaling attenuates alcoholic liver disease progression in a rat model.

Background & Aims: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by the development of fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the underlying mechanism(s) associated with progression remains elusive. Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in ALD progression due to pro-apoptotic effects on hepatocytes.

Preoperative prediction of survival in resectable gallbladder cancer by a combined utilization of CA 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen.

Background: Currently, all frequently used staging systems in gallbladder cancer (GBC) are based on postoperative pathological examinations. In patients undergoing curative operation, there is no effective method to predict survival preoperatively. In this study, we explored whether a combined utilization of two tumor biomarkers, namely carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), could give a preoperative prediction of survival in resectable GBC.