Germacrone exerts anti-cancer effects on gastric cancer through induction of cell cycle arrest and promotion of apoptosis.

Background: Germacrone is one of the natural bioactive compounds found in Rhizoma curcuma essential oils. In this study, the potential anti-cancer effect of germacrone in gastric cancer cell line BGC823 was investigated.

Methods: The cell viability and proliferative activity were assessed, and cell cycle analysis was also performed.

Prognostic value of multiple epithelial mesenchymal transition-associated proteins in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins and their prognostic value in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The expression of six EMT-associated proteins, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail family transcriptional repressor 1 (Snail), Snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (Slug) and S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) was determined by immunohistochemistry in 109 patients with ICC who had received surgery. Survival analysis showed that patients with low E-cadherin expression (P<0.

PIVKA-II level is correlated to development of portal vein tumor thrombus in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the correlation of serum PIVKA-II levels and development of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients with newly diagnosed HCC were included in this study between March 2016 and October 2018. Thirty-five of these patients were detected with PVTT and all subjects were randomly divided to analysis group ( = 73) and validation ( = 50) group.

Treatment outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization versus transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for gastric variceal bleeding.

There have been few studies comparing percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization (PTVE) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for the prevention of recurrent gastric variceal bleeding (GVB).Compare the outcomes of these 2 procedures in patients with GVB.A total of 74 cirrhosis patients with GVB who underwent TIPS and modified PTVE were enrolled.

Propranolol prevents liver cirrhosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation mediated by the PDGFR/Akt pathway.

Propranolol is known to reduce portal pressure by decreasing blood flow to the splanchnic circulation and the liver. However, it is unknown if propranolol improves fibrogenesis and sinusoidal remodeling in the cirrhotic liver. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of propranolol on carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced liver fibrosis in a mouse model and the intrinsic mechanisms underlying those effects.

Downregulation of esophageal cancer-related gene 4 promotes proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene, which is involved in cell apoptosis, migration, infection and inflammation responsiveness; however, its expression level and clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the present study, the authors aim to evaluate the clinical significance and potential role of ECRG4 in HCC. Level of ECRG4 protein expression in HCC and peripheral tissues was investigated in tissue specimens obtained from 56 consecutive HCC patients by immunohistochemistry.

Valproic acid (VPA) promotes the epithelial mesenchymal transition of hepatocarcinoma cells via transcriptional and post-transcriptional up regulation of Snail.

Due to the low cost and favorable safety profile, valproic acid (VPA) has been considered as a potential candidate drug for therapy of various cancers. Our present study revealed that VPA, at the concentration (1mM) which has no effect on cell proliferation, can significantly increase the in vitro migration and invasion of hepatocarcinoma (HCC) HepG2 and Huh7 cells via induction of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). VPA treatment can significantly increase the mRNA and protein expression of Snail, the key transcription factor of EMT.

Carvedilol may attenuate liver cirrhosis by inhibiting angiogenesis through the VEGF-Src-ERK signaling pathway.

Aim: To investigate the effect of carvedilol on angiogenesis and the underlying signaling pathways.

Methods: The effect of carvedilol on angiogenesis was examined using a human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. The effect of carvedilol on cell viability was measured by CCK8 assay.

The expression of S100A4 protein in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: clinicopathologic significance and prognostic value.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC) is a highly malignant adenocarcinoma arising from bile duct epithelial cells of the intrahepatic biliary system with early hematogenous and lymphatic extrahepatic spread. The current treatment methods for ICC are far from ideal. Identifying novel effective prognostic biomarkers which might be related to the development and progression of ICC may help provide new therapeutic strategies.

Efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with adjunctive embolotherapy with cyanoacrylate for esophageal variceal bleeding.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with adjunctive embolotherapy has recently been reported to be effective in the prevention of variceal hemorrhage of cirrhotic patients. However, further investigation of its long-term efficacy is still needed.

Aim: To examine the rebleeding, survival, and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after treatment with TIPS alone and TIPS with adjunctive embolotherapy using cyanoacrylate for esophageal variceal bleeding.

Percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization with cyanoacrylate vs. transjugular intrahepatic portal systematic shunt for esophageal variceal bleeding.

Purpose: To compare the long-term results of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization with cyanoacrylate (PTVE) and the transjugular intrahepatic portal systemic shunt (TIPS) for treating esophageal variceal bleeding.

Methods: Patients with cirrhosis and variceal bleeding who underwent TIPS and PTVE with cyanoacrylate between January 2006 and December 2010 were selected. We performed chart reviews to determine the rebleeding rate, survival and the rate of encephalopathy.

MDCT angiography to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PTVE for esophageal varices.

Aim: To evaluate the role of multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) angiography for assessing the therapeutic effects of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization (PTVE) for esophageal varices (EVs).

Methods: The subjects of this prospective study were 156 patients who underwent PTVE with cyanoacrylate for EVs. Patients were divided into three groups according to the filling range of cyanoacrylate in EVs and their feeding vessels: (1) group A, complete obliteration, with at least 3 cm of the lower EVs and peri-/EVs, as well as the adventitial plexus of the gastric cardia and fundus filled with cyanoacrylate; (2) group B, partial obliteration of varices surrounding the gastric cardia and fundus, with their feeding vessels being obliterated with cyanoacrylate, but without reaching lower EVs; and (3) group C, trunk obliteration, with the main branch of the left gastric vein being filled with cyanoacrylate, but without reaching varices surrounding the gastric cardia or fundus.

Comparison of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization and endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection for gastric variceal rebleeding.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization (PTVE) with 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate (2-OCA) and endoscopic variceal obturation (EVO) with an injection of 2-OCA for prophylaxis of gastric variceal rebleeding.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of liver cirrhosis patients with gastric variceal bleeding who underwent either endoscopic 2-OCA (EVO) or modified PTVE using 2-OCA at Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2006 to December 2008 were reviewed. Patient demographics, rebleeding rate, survival rate, and complications were compared between the two groups (PTVE and EVO).

Upregulation of vasohibin-1 expression with angiogenesis and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative surgery.

Vasohibin-1 has recently been found and is known as an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor, but the role of vasohibin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. This study investigated the expression pattern of vasohibin-1, its correlation with clinicopathological features, and its potential role in tumor angiogenesis and prognosis of HCC. Expression of vasohibin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and intratumoral microvessel density (MVD, labeled by CD34) were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 117 HCC specimens and adjacent nontumor liver tissues (ANLT).

Modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization with 2-octylcyanoacrylate for bleeding gastric varices: long-term follow-up outcomes.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization procedure with 2-octylcyanoacrylate (2-OCA) in the treatment of gastric variceal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: From January 2003 to December 2008, 71 patients with a history of gastric variceal bleeding underwent modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization with 2-OCA in our hospital: 12 patients with acute gastric variceal bleeding underwent emergency obliteration and the remaining 59 patients with recent variceal bleeding underwent modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization as a secondary prophylaxis. The initial hemostasis rate, rebleeding rate, survival rate, and complications were evaluated.