Actual long-term survival in HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus after liver resection: a nationwide study.

Background: Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) offers a chance of cure, although survival is often limited. The actual 3-year survival and its associated prognostic factors have not been reported.

Methods: A nationwide database of HCC patients with PVTT who underwent liver resection with 'curative' intent was analyzed.

Design, synthesis and antitumor activity of a novel PEG-A6-conjugated irinotecan derivative.

A novel PEG-A6-conjugated irinotecan derivative 8 was designed and synthesized as antitumor agent by the PEGylation and A6-peptide modification of irinotecan. In vivo antitumor activity screening assay revealed that 8 exhibited better in vivo antiproliferation activity than irinotecan and its previous PEG-cRGD-conjugated derivative BGC0222 in MIA PaCa-2, NCI-H446, MDA-MB-231, HT-29 and NCI-N87 xenograft models, while the tumor of one in six mice in NCI-H446 assay and the tumors of two in six mice in MIA PaCa-2 assay completely subsided and disappeared within the 21-day period of 8-treatment, indicating that 8 should be a potential antitumor agent.

Upregulated calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated protein-a/b regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis and predicts poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated protein (CABYR) is a group of isoforms produced by alternative splicing and is overexpressed in human malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prognostic value and biological functions of its major protein isoforms, named CABYR-a/b (combined CABYR-a and CABYR-b), in HCC remain to be established.

Methods: CABYR-a/b expression was detected in HCC tissues and cell lines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis.

Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a novel PEG-cRGD-conjugated irinotecan derivative as potential antitumor agent.

A novel PEG-cRGD-conjugated irinotecan derivative BGC0222 was designed and synthesized as antitumor agent. Antitumor activity screening assay indicated that BGC0222 exhibited better in vitro antiproliferation activity than irinotecan and NKTR-102 against HT29, MIA PaCa-2 and MCF-7 tumor cell lines, with IC of 1.83 ± 0.

A near-vision chart for children aged 3-5 years old: new designs and clinical applications.

Aim: To introduce a new near-vision chart for children aged 3-5 years old and its clinical applications.

Methods: The new near-vision chart which combined the Bailey-Lovie layout with a newly devised set of symmetry symbols was designed based on Weber-Fechner law. It consists of 15 rows of symmetry symbols, corresponding to a visual acuity range from 1.

A new specialized visual acuity chart for amblyopic children aged 3-5 years old: development and its clinical applications.

Aim: To introduce a new specialized visual acuity chart for amblyopic children aged 3-5 years old and its clinical applications.

Methods: The new visual acuity chart and notations were designed based on Weber-Fechner law. The optotypes were red against a white background and were specially shaped four basic geometric symbols: circle, square, triangle, and cross.

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: clinical analysis of 11 cases.

Background: Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PHNEC) is extremely rare, and fewer than 300 cases have been reported in the English/Chinese-language literature, therefore it is difficult to make a proper diagnosis and determine a therapeutic approach.

Methods: Eleven PHNEC patients were admitted to our hospital between January 1996 and May 2008. Laboratory examination, digestive endoscopy, B-ultrasonography, CT, MRI, or PET-CT were performed on the patients for preoperative diagnosis.