Tocilizumab in combination with corticosteroids: potential for managing cancer cachexia with systemic hyperinflammation.

Background: Cachexia is a leading cause of death among individuals with advanced cancer, yet effective pharmacological treatments are lacking. In this single-center retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab for the treatment of cancer cachexia accompanied by systemic hyperinflammation.

Methods: Data were collected from 20 patients treated with tocilizumab and a control group of 20 patients matched for age, sex, and comorbidities.

Impact of high body mass index on gallbladder and biliary tract cancer burden in China: a comprehensive analysis of trends from 1990 to 2021.

Background: Gallbladder and biliary tract cancer (GBTC) is a significant health burden in China, exacerbated by the rising prevalence of high body mass index (BMI). Understanding the trends and factors contributing to mortality and disability associated with GBTC is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Methods: We utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study to assess the burden of GBTC attributable to high BMI in China from 1990 to 2021.

Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria: Clinical benefits for patients with gastric cancer.

Malnutrition is a prevalent condition among patients with gastric cancer and is associated with poor survival outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in predicting survival among patients with gastric cancer. The multicenter retrospective cohort study (INSCOC study) included 1406 patients enrolled between December 2012 and April 2020, with follow-up data collected until June 2023.

Long-term trends in the burden of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China: A comprehensive analysis from 1990 to 2021 and projections to 2030 based on the global burden of disease study 2021.

Background And Purpose: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a significant public health issue in China, with distinctive epidemiological characteristics and evolving trends. This study aims to analyze long-term trends in NPC burden from 1990 to 2021 and provide projections.

Materials And Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database (1990-2021) was utilized to evaluate NPC metrics, including incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

5-Hydroxymethylcytosines in circulating cell-free DNA as a diagnostic biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5hmC) in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to develop a diagnostic model.

Methods: Genome-wide 5hmC profiles in cfDNA from 174 NPC patients and 146 non-cancer individuals were analyzed using the 5hmC-Seal technique. A cfDNA 5hmC-based diagnostic model to identify NPC patients was developed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression, and performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and confusion matrices.

Identification of prognostic signatures in remnant gastric cancer through an interpretable risk model based on machine learning: a multicenter cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an individual survival prediction model based on multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict survival probability for remnant gastric cancer (RGC).

Methods: Clinicopathologic data of 286 patients with RGC undergoing operation (radical resection and palliative resection) from a multi-institution database were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. These individuals were split into training (80%) and test cohort (20%) by using random allocation.

The application value of LAVA-flex sequences in enhanced MRI scans of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: comparison with T1WI-IDEAL.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) staging scans are critical for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). We aimed to evaluate the application value of LAVA-Flex and T1WI-IDEAL sequences in MRI staging scans.

Methods: Eighty-four newly diagnosed NPC patients underwent both LAVA-Flex and T1WI-IDEAL sequences during MRI examinations.

Prognostic nutritional index and serum lactate dehydrogenase predict the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who received intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Purpose: This research aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of baseline prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for the outcome of individuals diagnosed with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 810 patients with non-metastatic NPC who underwent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with or without chemotherapy. The best cut-offs for PNI and LDH were identified by X-tile software to be 48.

The Influence of Group No.8p Lymph Node Dissection on the Prognosis of Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Background: Controversy over whether No.8p lymph nodes (LNs) involvement is distant or regional metastasis remains, and the possible inclusion of No.8p LNs in D2 lymphadenectomy is unclear.

IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12p70 levels in patients with colorectal cancer and their predictive value in anti-vascular therapy.

We aimed to analyze the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-12 (IL-12p70) in colorectal cancer and evaluate the predictive significance of clinical efficacy of patients with colorectal cancer treated with anti-vascular therapy combined with chemotherapy. A retrospective study of 162 patients with colorectal cancer in Fujian Medical University Hospital was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020. A comparative analysis of the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12p70 between the two groups were studied.

Technological innovation and clinical application of direct percutaneous computed tomography-guided enterostomy vs other enterostomy techniques.

Background: To investigate the technological innovation, safety, operational advantages, and clinical application value of direct percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided enterostomy.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent direct percutaneous CT-guided enterostomy (n = 52), percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy (PEG-J, n = 39), or laparoscopic jejunostomy (n = 68) at Fujian Provincial Hospital between October 2019 and July 2021. The study indices included stoma surgery success rate, operation time, complication rate, and postoperative pain score.

Elevated Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Is a Significant Prognostic Factor for Patients with Gastric Cancer: Results Based on a Large-Scale Retrospective Study.

Objectives: The aim of this work is to study the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-positive gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: A cohort study including 2,318 patients with GC who underwent radical surgery from January 2008 to December 2015 was retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative serum AFP values: 191 patients with AFP-positive GC (AFP > 20 ng/ml, 8.

Intraperitoneal infusion of recombinant human endostatin improves prognosis in gastric cancer ascites.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of intraperitoneal administration of recombinant human endostatin in gastric cancer with malignant ascites. Clinical data of 90 patients (37 in an Endostar combined with cisplatin group and 53 in a cisplatin group) were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was overall survival, and the secondary end points were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and so on.

Re-evaluation of the prognostic significance of retropharyngeal node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective studies were performed in a total of 1197 patients. We evaluated the incidence of the retropharyngeal node (RPN) metastasis and the characteristics of the metastatic RPN including laterality, size, necrosis, and extranodal neoplastic spread.

Development and application of a Chinese Version of the Language Screening Test (CLAST) in post-stroke patients.

Aphasia shows high incidence in stroke patients and seriously impairs language comprehension, verbal communication, and social activities. Therefore, screening aphasic patients during the acute phase of stroke is crucial for language recovery and rehabilitation. The present study developed a Chinese version of the Language Screening Test (CLAST) and validated it in post-stroke patients.

Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity in posterior cingulate cortex of Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Objective: To investigate changes in the functional connectivity (FC) pattern in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia by employing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI).

Methods: Twenty-seven PD patients with different cognitive status and 9 healthy control subjects (control group) were enrolled for RS-fMRI. The RS-fMRI data were analyzed with DPARSF and REST software.