Immunogenic cell death-associated biomarkers classification predicts prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a sort of regulated cell death (RCD) sufficient to trigger an adaptive immunological response. According to the current findings, ICD has the capacity to alter the tumor immune microenvironment by generating danger signals or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which may contribute in immunotherapy. It would be beneficial to develop ICD-related biomarkers that classify individuals depending on how well they respond to ICD immunotherapy.

Better performance of PIVKA-II for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease with normal total bilirubin.

Background: Serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) is a promising biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance.

Aim: To identify the contributing factors related to the abnormal elevation of PIVKA-II level and assess their potential influence on the performance of PIVKA-II in detecting HCC.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled in 784 chronic liver disease (CLD) patients and 267 HCC patients in Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University from April 2016 to December 2019.

A Nomogram for Preoperative Estimation of Microvascular Invasion Risk in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Single-Center Analyses With Internal Validation.

Background: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is highly associated with poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer. Predicting MVI before surgery is helpful for surgeons to better make surgical plan. In this study, we aim at establishing a nomogram to preoperatively predict the occurrence of microvascular invasion in liver cancer.

Application of near-infrared fluorescent cholangiography using indocyanine green in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective: Near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography (NIRF-C) can help to identify the bile duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This retrospective study was performed to investigate the effect of NIRF-C in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent NIRF-C-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 34) or conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 36) were enrolled in this study.

Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway in T lymphocytes in patients with active tuberculosis.

Objectives: To investigate PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway changes and the proliferation of FoxP3T cells in patients with active tuberculosis.

Methods: We isolated PBMCs and CD4CD25FoxP3T cells from peripheral blood collected from patients with active tuberculosis and healthy controls. We compared the proportion and MFI of PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway components and PTEN by flow cytometry using specific cell-surface and intracellular markers.

Effective expansion of forkhead box P3⁺ regulatory T cells via early secreted antigenic target 6 and antigen 85 complex B from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The expansion of CD4+ CD25+ forkhead box (FOX)P3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells has been observed in patients with Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis; however, the mechanism of expansion remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of the early secreted antigenic target 6(ESAT‑6) and antigen 85 complex B (Ag85B) from M.