Mechanisms and treatment of atherosclerosis: focus on macrophages.

Macrophages are the basic mediators and coordinators of various types of chronic inflammation and play a crucial role in the formation and development of atherosclerosis (AS). In the complex microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques, macrophages of different sources are exposed to different signal stimuli and thus polarized into various subpopulations. Various types of macrophages with predominantly M1 and M2 phenotypes also play different regulatory roles in the initiation and progression of AS.

Two different mutational types of familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Two case reports.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and cases of GISTs tend to be of the disseminated type, with a global incidence of 10 to 15 cases/million each year. The rarer familial GISTs, which often represent a population, differ in screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Familial GISTs include primary familial GISTs with predominantly KIT/PDGFRA mutations and wild-type GISTs.

Advances in immunotherapy of M2 macrophages and gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal-derived tumors of the GI tract. They can occur throughout the GI tract, and the survival time of some patients can be improved by first-line targeted therapy with imatinib. However, there are some limitations with imatinib treatment.

Can T-tube drainage be replaced by primary suture technique in laparoscopic common bile duct exploration? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Although laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is considered the best treatment and has the advantages of being minimally invasive for common bile duct (CBD) stones, the choice of T-tube drainage (TTD) or primary duct closure (PDC) after LCBDE is still controversial. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the superiority of PDC versus TTD after LCBDE for choledocholithiasis.

Methods: All potential studies which compare the surgical effects between PDC with TTD were electronically searched for in PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library databases up to November 2019.

Prognostic impact of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio for surgically resected gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was shown to be prognostic value in various malignancies. There are limited data about predictive or prognostic role of NLR during gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) patients. This study evaluated the prognostic significance of preoperative NLR in patients with GIST.

Association of Romo1 gene genetic polymorphisms with risk of gastric cancer in northwestern Chinese population.

Increased expression of reactive oxygen species modulator 1 protein-triggered reactive oxygen species production was reported in the mitochondria of various cancer cell lines. To date there is no report on association between Romo1 gene polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk. To investigate the relationship between Romo1 gene polymorphisms and GC risk, we conducted a case-control study in a population from northwest China (358 GC patients and 412 healthy controls).

Octreotide for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of octreotide in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma participants on the basis of randomized controlled trials.

Methods: We searched the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials in The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Journal Full-text Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database up to June 2008 in any language. Randomized controlled trials of octreotide for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were selected and evaluated by two investigators.