Alpha-fetoprotein combined with initial tumor shape irregularity in predicting the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors: a retrospective multi-center cohort study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are playing a significant role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to explore the prognostic value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and initial tumor shape irregularity in patients treated with ICIs.

Methods: In this retrospective, multi-center study, 296 HCC patients were randomly divided into the training set and the validation set in a 3:2 ratio.

Clinical and economic comparison of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for primary hepatolithiasis: a propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background: It is unclear whether laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) for hepatolithiasis confers better clinical benefit and lower hospital costs than open hepatectomy (OH). This study aim to evaluate the clinical and economic value of LH versus OH.

Methods: Patients undergoing OH or LH for primary hepatolithiasis at Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College between 2015 and 2022 were divided into OH group and LH group.

Comparison of the effects of ampulla-guided realignment and conventional gallbladder triangle anatomy in difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective: To compare the effects of ampulla-guided realignment and conventional gallbladder triangle anatomy in difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC).

Methods: From June 2021 to August 2022, data from 100 patients undergoing DLC at Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: the experimental group (LC with the ampulla-guided realignment) and the control group (conventional LC with triangular gallbladder anatomy), with 50 patients per group.

Effects of nitrogen addition on rhizosphere soil properties in a salinized grassland.

We explored the impacts of nitrogen (N) inputs and the rhizosphere effect on the properties of rhizosphere and bulk soils in a salinized grassland in Northern Shanxi under N addition rates of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 g N·m·a. The results showed that N addition significantly decreased soil pH, but significantly increased Ca, NO-N and inorganic nitrogen contents in rhizosphere and bulk soil. With the increases of N addition rates, the contents of Ca, NO-N, inorganic nitrogen in rhizosphere and bulk soils and total nitrogen in rhizosphere soil increased gradually, whereas the contents of Na, K, Mg, NH-N and amino acid in rhizosphere soil, and total nitrogen in bulk soil first increased and then decreased.

Laparoscopic Single-Incision Triangulated Umbilical Surgery Adrenalectomy for Large (>5 cm) Tumors of the Adrenal Gland: Initial Experience with 16 Cases.

Laparoscopic single-incision triangulated umbilical surgery (SITUS), which enables the extraction of intraabdominal specimens through a single umbilical incision, has yet to be used to perform adrenalectomy. We have modified SITUS to enable extraction of large (>5 cm) adrenal masses with optimal cosmetic outcomes and investigated efficacy and safety. .

The effect of Gö6976 on chronic myeloid leukemia in vitro and in vivo.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant tumor of the blood system. Gö6976, as a type of indolocarbazole and shows strong antitumor effects, but there have been no reports on the effect of Gö6976 on CML. The objectives of this research were: (1) to explore the impact of Gö6976 on CML in vitro and in vivo; and (2) to explore the drug toxicity of Gö6976 to normal cells and animals.

Short-term effects of grazing intensity on soil stoichiometric characteristics of typical grassland in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China.

Grazing is the dominant land use way for natural grasslands. Different grazing intensities could affect soil stoichiometry in grasslands by influencing the selective feeding by livestock, litter input, and microbial community structure. In this study, a grazing experiment was carried out in a grassland of agro-pastoral ecotone in Northern China for three years (2017-2019).

[Predictive analysis of quality markers of Coptidis Rhizoma based on network pharmacology and multivariate statistical analysis].

Coptidis Rhizoma, as a bulk medicinal material, is in great demand in clinical practice. Its quality is uneven in the market due to the mixture of genuine, counterfeit and adulterants. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish a quality control system for Coptidis Rhizoma.

[Effect of GÖ6976 on Proliferation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells and Its Toxicity on Normal Cells and Mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of GÖ6976 on the proliferation of chronic myeloid leukemia cells and its toxic effect on normal cells and mice, so as to provide experimental basis for the effectiveness and safety of its clinical application.

Methods: Different concentrations of GÖ6976 were applied to the K562 cells, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) and normal BaF3 cells, MTT assay was used to detect the effect on cell proliferation. BALB/C mice were used to investigate the toxicity in vivo.

[Research Advance on Classic Wnt Pathway in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia--Review].

Abstract　　Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a hematological malignancy that seriously threatens the lives of patients. It was found that there are abnormal classic Wnt pathway, that is, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in CML cells, moreover, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in the growth and proliferation of CML cells, and closely relates with the self-renewal ability of CML leukemic stem cells. This review summarizes the recent studies on the relationship between Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and CML, and the researches on the targeting inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in CML treatment, thus to provide new ideas for the treatment of CML.

The influences of "gas" viscosity on water entry of hydrophobic spheres.

An extremely thin gas film was found between a sphere and a free surface when the sphere impacted onto a water pool. That might influence the generation and evolution of water entry cavity. However, it is quite difficult to be captured through normal numerical and experimental tests.

Morphological classification and dynamics of a two-dimensional drop sliding on a vertical plate.

A two-dimensional drop sliding down a plate under the action of gravity is numerically studied. A lattice Boltzmann method coupled with the phase field method is utilized, which can well capture the motion of the three-phase contact line. The morphologies of the sliding drop and corresponding force balance during the process are considered.

A novel pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular organic framework gel to achieve an ultrasensitive response by introducing the competition of cationπ and ππ interactions.

Ultrasensitive response properties are an intriguing concern for stimuli-responsive materials. Herein, we report a novel method to achieve an ultrasensitive response by introducing the competition of cationπ and ππ interactions into a pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular organic framework (SOF-AMP). SOF-AMP was constructed with a novel bis-naphthalimide functionalized pillar[5]arene, which was able to form a stable supramolecular gel (SOF-AMP-G) in cyclohexanol.

Competition of cation-π and exo-wall π-π interactions: a novel approach to achieve ultrasensitive response.

A novel approach to achieve ultrasensitive response was successfully developed by rationally introducing the competition between cation-π and exo-wall π-π interactions into a pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular organogel (P5N-OG). Interestingly, the P5N-OG could be used for ion detection and separation, fluorescent display materials as well as ultrasensitive logic gates.

Prognostic significance of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Aberrant expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) has been observed in human malignancies. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be established. The purpose of this study was to detect eIF4E expression and to evaluate its clinical relevance.

Downregulation of Heparanase Expression Results in Suppression of Invasion, Migration, and Adhesion Abilities of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Objective: Heparanase (HPSE) is high-expressed in most malignant tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and promotes cancer cell invasion and migration. The aim of the study is to explore whether HPSE enhances adhesion in metastasis of HCC cells.

Methods: HPSE expressions in human HCC cells were measured with real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

Upregulation of cell surface estrogen receptor alpha is associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity and promotes autophagy maturation.

Recently, accumulating evidence has implicated the dysregulation of autophagy as underlying the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases. The human neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y was exposed to 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)). The mechanism is that the sustained activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway by MPP(+) alters autophagy selectively at the maturation step, significant increasing in autophagy formation and delaying in autophagy degradation in SHSY5Y cells.

Image classification of liver cancer surrounding right hepatic pedicle and its guide to precise liver resection.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of image classification of liver cancer surrounding right hepatic pedicle (RHP) and its guide to precise liver resection.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with single liver cancer surrounding RHP were collected. According to the adjacent relationship between neoplasm and RHP shown in CT or MRI, the liver neoplasms were divided into the 4 types, type A neoplasm infiltrating or surrounding RHP, type B neoplasm locating in the anterior side of RHP, type C neoplasm locating in the dorsal side of RHP and type D neoplasm locating between the two branches.

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in bone tissue regeneration: new insight and perspectives.

The study of bone tissue regeneration in orthopaedic diseases has stimulated great interest among bone tissue engineering specialists and orthopaedic surgeons. Combinations of biomaterials, growth factors and stem cells for repairing bone have been much studied and researched, yet remain a challenge for both scientists and clinicians pursuing regenerative medicine. The purpose of this review was to elucidate the role of sequential release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in producing better outcomes in the field of bone tissue regeneration.

Expressions of heparanase and upstream stimulatory factor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The expression of heparanase (HPSE) was associated with postoperative metastatic recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The six E-box binding sites in the core promoter of the HPSE gene suggested that transcription factors of E-box such as upstream stimulatory factor (USF) might regulate the transcription of the HPSE gene. The aim of our study is to measure the levels of HPSE and USF expression and investigate the relationship between USF expression and clinicopathological parameters in patients with HCC.

Wetting failure of hydrophilic surfaces promoted by surface roughness.

Wetting failure is of vital importance to many physical phenomena, such as industrial coating and drop emission. Here we show when and how the surface roughness promotes the destabilization of a moving contact line on a hydrophilic surface. Beyond the balance of the driving force and viscous resistance where a stable wetting interface is sustained, wetting failure occurs and is modified by the roughness of the surface.

Pattern and risk factors of intravesical recurrence after nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a large Chinese center experience.

Background/purpose: There is currently no consensus about the pattern and risk factors of bladder recurrence after nephroureterectomy, especially in the Chinese population. We evaluated the pattern and risk factors based on data from a large Chinese center.

Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 438 patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), who underwent nephroureterectomy at Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China between 2000 and 2010, was retrospectively analyzed.

Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Radix Angelica sinensis.

The roots of Angelica sinensis (RAS), are a Chinese herbal medicine traditionally used in prescriptions for replenishing blood, treating abnormal menstruation, and other women's diseases. It has also been widely marketed as health food for women's care in Asia, and as a dietary supplement in Europe and America. RAS is well-known for its hematopoietic, antioxidant, and immunoregulatory activities.

Predictive factors for worse pathological outcomes of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: experience from a nationwide high-volume centre in China.

Objectives: To analyse the predictive factors for worse pathological outcome (muscle invasive pT2+, non-organ-confined pT3+ or N+ and histological Grade 3) of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in a Chinese population from a nationwide high-volume centre in China.

Patients And Methods: Predictors were studied by retrospectively reviewing the clinicopathological data of 729 consecutive patients with UTUC treated in our centre from January 2002 to December 2010. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used.