Translating imaging traits of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma into the clinic: From prognostic to therapeutic insights.

Background & Aims: The progress toward clinical translation of imaging biomarkers for mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (MICC) is slower than anticipated. Questions remain on the biologic behaviour underlying imaging traits. We developed and validated imaging-based prognostic systems for resected MICCs with an appraisal of the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) underpinning patient-specific imaging traits.

Hypoxia-associated circPRDM4 promotes immune escape via HIF-1α regulation of PD-L1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hypoxia is a hallmark of cancer, and is closely intertwined with tumor immune evasion. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in tumor response to immune checkpoint blockades. However, hypoxia-associated circRNAs that orchestrate the association between hypoxia and response to immunotherapy remain poorly understood.

Chinese Expert Consensus on Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2021 Edition).

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies in China. Most HCC patients are first diagnosed at an advanced stage, and systemic treatments are the mainstay of treatment.

Summary: In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have made a breakthrough in the systemic treatment of middle-advanced HCC, breaking the single therapeutic pattern of molecular-targeted agents.

CT-based clinico-radiological nomograms for prognosis prediction in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma: a multi-institutional study.

Objectives: To establish prognostic nomograms based on CT imaging features for predicting the prognosis in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) before and after surgery.

Methods: Two models were established for overall survival (OS) prediction in a training set (179 IMCC patients underwent surgery at institution 1 from 2009 to 2019): imaging-based nomogram included imaging features and clinical characteristics acquired before surgery; postoperative nomogram included imaging-based score, equal to the linear predictor of the imaging-based nomogram, and pathological parameters. Both prognostic nomograms were validated in an independent external dataset (103 IMCC patients received surgical treatment at two independent institutions from 2009 to 2019).

c-Myc-driven glycolysis polarizes functional regulatory B cells that trigger pathogenic inflammatory responses.

B cells secreting IL-10 functionally are recognized as functional regulatory B (B) cells; however, direct evidence concerning the phenotype, regulation, and functional and clinical relevance of IL-10-secreting B cells in humans is still lacking. Here, we demonstrate that, although IL-10 itself is anti-inflammatory, IL-10 functional B cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) display aggressive inflammatory features; these features shift their functions away from inducing CD8 T cell tolerance and cause them to induce a pathogenic CD4 T cell response. Functional B cells polarized by environmental factors (e.

Development and validation of a gradient boosting machine to predict prognosis after liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Accurate prognosis assessment is essential for surgically resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) while published prognostic tools are limited by modest performance. We therefore aimed to establish a novel model to predict survival in resected ICC based on readily-available clinical parameters using machine learning technique.

Methods: A gradient boosting machine (GBM) was trained and validated to predict the likelihood of cancer-specific survival (CSS) on data from a Chinese hospital-based database using nested cross-validation, and then tested on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Machine Learning to Improve Prognosis Prediction of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Surgical Resection.

Background: Improved prognostic prediction is needed to stratify patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (EHCC) to refine selection of adjuvant therapy. We aimed to develop a machine learning (ML)-based model to predict survival after liver resection for EHCC based on readily available clinical data.

Methods: We analyzed data of surgically resected EHCC (tumor≤5 cm without evidence of extrahepatic disease or major vascular invasion) patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to train and internally validate a gradient-boosting ML model to predict disease-specific survival (DSS).

[Responses of root exudates to intercropping of Chinese milk vetch with rape.].

Root exudates are important carriers for material exchange and information transfer between plant and soil, and important regulators of crop-soil-microorganism interaction in intercropping systems. We examined the interaction between crops in intercropping system by setting three treatments, monoculture Chinese milk vetch, monoculture rape and Chinese milk vetch intercropped with rape. The responses of root exudates were emphatically analyzed.

Integrating Machine Learning and Tumor Immune Signature to Predict Oncologic Outcomes in Resected Biliary Tract Cancer.

Background: Improved methods are needed to predict outcomes in biliary tract cancers (BTCs). We aimed to build an immune-related signature and establish holistic models using machine learning.

Methods: Samples were from 305 BTC patients treated with curative-intent resection, divided into derivation and validation cohorts in a two-to-one ratio.

Surgical Strategies for the Treatment of Bismuth Type I and II Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Bile Duct Resection with or Without Hepatectomy?

Background: The role of hepatic resection in the treatment of type I and II hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) remains controversial. In the present study, we aimed to identify whether hepatic resection was necessary for type I and II HCCA.

Methods: A total of 23 patients classified as type I and II HCCA undergoing surgical resection were included in this study.

Radiomic Features at Contrast-enhanced CT Predict Recurrence in Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background Early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the ideal candidate for resection in patients with preserved liver function; however, cancer will recur in half of these patients and no reliable prognostic tool has been established. Purpose To investigate the effectiveness of radiomic features in predicting tumor recurrence after resection of early stage HCC. Materials and Methods In total, 295 patients (median age, 58 years; interquartile range, 50-65 years; 221 men) who underwent contrast material-enhanced CT and curative resection for early stage HCC that met the Milan criteria between February 2009 and December 2016 were retrospectively recruited from three independent institutions.

Machine-learning analysis of contrast-enhanced CT radiomics predicts recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A multi-institutional study.

Background: Current guidelines recommend surgical resection as the first-line option for patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); unfortunately, postoperative recurrence rate remains high and there is no reliable prediction tool. We explored the potential of radiomics coupled with machine-learning algorithms to improve the predictive accuracy for HCC recurrence.

Methods: A total of 470 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT and curative resection for solitary HCC were recruited from 3 independent institutions.

A radiomics approach to predict lymph node metastasis and clinical outcome of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to establish and validate a radiomics model for predicting lymph node (LN) metastasis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) and to determine its prognostic value.

Methods: For this retrospective study, a radiomics model was developed in a primary cohort of 103 IHC patients who underwent curative-intent resection and lymphadenectomy. Radiomics features were extracted from arterial phase computed tomography (CT) scans.

Biliary Tract Cancer at CT: A Radiomics-based Model to Predict Lymph Node Metastasis and Survival Outcomes.

Purpose To evaluate a radiomics model for predicting lymph node (LN) metastasis in biliary tract cancers (BTCs) and to determine its prognostic value for disease-specific and recurrence-free survival. Materials and Methods For this retrospective study, a radiomics model was developed on the basis of a primary cohort of 177 patients with BTC who underwent resection and LN dissection between June 2010 and December 2016. Radiomic features were extracted from portal venous CT scans.

Short- and long-term outcomes of middle hepatic vein-oriented hepatectomy for advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes of the middle hepatic vein (MHV)-oriented versus conventional hemihepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC).

Methods: From 2008 to 2017, medical records of patients undergoing hemihepatectomy with caudate lobectomy for advanced PHC were reviewed retrospectively. MHV-oriented hepatectomy was defined as full exposure of the MHV on the dissection plane.

Effects of multimodal fast-track surgery on liver transplantation outcomes.

Background: Fast-track surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery have been applied to many surgical procedures; however, data on fast-track surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery following liver transplantation is limited. This study aimed to conduct a prospective study to determine the effects of fast-track surgery on prognosis after liver transplantation.

Methods: This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized study.

Oleanolic acid attenuates liver ischemia reperfusion injury by HO-1/Sesn2 signaling pathway.

Background: Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is unavoidable in liver transplantation and hepatectomy. The present study aimed to explore the possible mechanism and the effect of oleanolic acid (OA) in hepatic IRI.

Methods: Mice were randomly divided into 6 groups based on different treatment.

Risk Factors for Portal Vein System Thrombosis After Laparoscopic Splenectomy in Cirrhotic Patients with Hypersplenism.

Background: Portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) is a frequent and potentially life-threatening complication after laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism. The mechanisms and risk factors of PVST are poorly understood. This study investigated risk factors for PVST following LS in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism.

Ankaflavin ameliorates steatotic liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

Background: It is well-known that steatotic liver is more susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury during liver transplantation, liver resection and other liver surgeries. The increasing incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) decreases the availability of liver donors. Although steatotic liver is now accepted as a source of liver for transplantation, NAFLD exacerbates the liver injury after liver surgery.

Retinoic acid receptor α promotes autophagy to alleviate liver ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Aim: To study the role of autophagy and the relationship between retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) and autophagy in liver ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury.

Methods: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was administered to mice for two weeks before operation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of related factors.

N-acetylcysteine attenuates reactive-oxygen-species-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress during liver ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Aim: To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and tissue injury during liver ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).

Methods: Mice were injected with NAC (300 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 2 h before ischemia. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting determined ER stress molecules (GRP78, ATF4 and CHOP).