Nomogram for distant metastasis-free survival in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: To develop and validate a nomogram to predict distant metastasis-free survival of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: We collected the total clinical data of 820 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, of whom 482 formed the training cohort from one hospital and 328 made up the validation cohort from another hospital. By analyzing the prognosis of all patients after intensity-modulated radiotherapy by univariate and multivariate Cox regression models, a nomogram related to DMFS was created in the training cohort.

Using immune-related lncRNAs to construct novel biomarkers and investigate the immune landscape of breast cancer.

Background: The role of immune-related long noncoding RNAs (irlncRNAs) in breast cancer (BRCA) is still unclear. Recently, studies have performed analyses based on the expression of irlncRNAs, however, in the present study, we used a novel method that did not require the specific expression levels of lncRNAs of BRCA patients.

Methods: We downloaded transcriptome and clinical data of BRCA patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), obtained immune genes from the Immport database, and extracted immune genes and lncRNAs for correlation analysis.

Safety and efficacy of thalidomide in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia: a randomized clinical trial.

Thalidomide induces γ-globin expression in erythroid progenitor cells, but its efficacy on patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) remains unclear. In this phase 2, multi-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of thalidomide in TDT patients. A hundred patients of 14 years or older were randomly assigned to receive placebo or thalidomide for 12 weeks, followed by an extension phase of at least 36 weeks.

Development of a risk classification system combining TN-categories and circulating EBV DNA for non-metastatic NPC in 10,149 endemic cases.

Background: The objective of this study was to construct a risk classification system integrating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (cfEBV) DNA with T- and N- categories for better prognostication in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Clinical records of 10,149 biopsy-proven, non-metastatic NPC were identified from two cancer centers; this comprised a training ( = 9,259) and two validation cohorts ( = 890; including one randomized controlled phase 3 trial cohort). Adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) method using a two-tiered stratification by cfEBV DNA and TN-categories was applied to generate the risk model.

Effect of different operation time on surgical effect and quality of life in patients with severe hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: To investigate the effect of different operation time on the surgery effect and quality of life of patients with severe hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.

Methods: A total of 98 patients with severe hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were selected in this prospective study. According to the random number table, 98 patients were divided into group A and group B.

A comprehensive risk score for effective risk stratification and screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based markers to screen populations at high risk for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an attractive preventive approach. Here, we develop a comprehensive risk score (CRS) that combines risk effects of EBV and human genetics for NPC risk stratification and validate this CRS within an independent, population-based dataset. Comparing the top decile with the bottom quintile of CRSs, the odds ratio of developing NPC is 21 (95% confidence interval: 12-37) in the validation dataset.

Liquid biopsy posttreatment surveillance in endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a cost-effective strategy to integrate circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus DNA.

Background: The optimal posttreatment surveillance strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. Circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (cfEBV) DNA has been recognized as a promising biomarker to facilitate early detection of NPC recurrence. Therefore, we aim to determine whether integrating circulating cfEBV DNA into NPC follow-up is cost-effective.

Methylation-associated silencing of miR-9-1 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression and glycolysis via HK2.

Characteristically, cancer cells metabolize glucose through aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect. Accumulating evidence suggest that during cancer formation, microRNAs (miRNAs) could regulate such metabolic reprogramming. In the present study, miR-9-1 was identified as significantly hypermethylated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines and clinical tissues.

Apatinib for the treatment of metastatic or locoregionally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after failure of chemotherapy: A multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase 2 study.

Background: The authors aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with metastatic or locoregionally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: A multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase 2 study was conducted on patients (18-70 years of age) with metastatic or recurrent NPC who had failed chemotherapy. Patients with recurrent disease involving vascular structure invasion were excluded.

Dietary patterns and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a population-based case-control study in southern China.

Background: Dietary factors, such as consumption of preserved foods, fresh vegetables, and fruits, have been linked to the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, little is known about associations between dietary patterns and the risk of NPC in NPC-endemic areas.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether dietary patterns are associated with NPC risk.

Occupational exposures and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a high-risk area: A population-based case-control study.

Background: The potential role of occupational exposures in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear, particularly in high-incidence areas.

Methods: The authors conducted a population-based case-control study, consisting of 2514 incident NPC cases and 2586 randomly selected population controls, in southern China from 2010 to 2014. Occupational history and other covariates were self-reported using a questionnaire.

LMP2-DC Vaccine Elicits Specific EBV-LMP2 Response to Effectively Improve Immunotherapy in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine based on latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) modified dendritic cells (DCs) that boosts specific responses of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to LMP2 before and after intradermal injection in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: DCs were derived from peripheral blood monocytes of patients with NPC. We prepared LMP2-DCs infected by recombinant adenovirus vector expressing LMP2 (rAd-LMP2).

Impact of the weekday of the first intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment on the survival outcomes of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: This study's purpose was to assess whether the weekday on which intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is initiated influences survival outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: A total of 1440 patients with NPC who received IMRT were enrolled in this study between January 2010 and June 2016. The patients were divided into five groups according to the weekday of their first radiotherapy treatment.

A modified rotating isosceles triangle osteotomy using a 3D-printed patient-specific guide for the treatment of cubitus varus in children: a case report and literature review.

After corrective osteotomy of cubitus varus, the lateral condylar prominence is a common problem, which is believed to be due to the unequal relative cuts of the lateral base wedge osteotomy. Therefore, several related solutions have been proposed, such as dome osteotomy and step-cut osteotomies, which solve the above problems to a certain extent. This study aimed to: (I) use a modified corpectomy to correct the deformity, and (II) present a new corpectomy method that uses a 3D-printed specific guide with an isosceles triangle osteotomy.

Adaptive Admixture of HLA Class I Allotypes Enhanced Genetically Determined Strength of Natural Killer Cells in East Asians.

Human natural killer (NK) cells are essential for controlling infection, cancer, and fetal development. NK cell functions are modulated by interactions between polymorphic inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and polymorphic HLA-A, -B, and -C ligands expressed on tissue cells. All HLA-C alleles encode a KIR ligand and contribute to reproduction and immunity.

Tongxinluo promotes axonal plasticity and functional recovery after stroke.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the neural plasticity in contralesional cortex and the effects of tongxinluo (TXL) in cerebral ischemic rats.

Methodology: We used stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive (RHRSP) cerebral ischemia rat models to study the effect of TXL and the underlying mechanisms. We performed foot-fault and beam-walking tests to evaluate the motor function of rats after cortical infarction.

Development and Validation of Web-Based Nomograms to Precisely Predict Survival Outcomes of Non-metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in an Endemic Area.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop web-based nomograms to precisely predict survival outcomes in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in an endemic area.

Materials And Methods: A total of 10,126 patients who underwent radical intensity-modulated radiotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) from 2009 to 2015 were analyzed. We assigned patients into a training cohort (SYSUCC-A, n=6,751) and an internal validation cohort (SYSUCC-B, n=3,375) based on computer-generated random numbers.

Development and validation of a web-based calculator to predict individualized conditional risk of site-specific recurrence in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Analysis of 10,058 endemic cases.

Background: Conditional survival (CS) provides dynamic prognostic estimates by considering the patients existing survival time. Since CS for endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is lacking, we aimed to assess the CS of endemic NPC and establish a web-based calculator to predict individualized, conditional site-specific recurrence risk.

Methods: Using an NPC-specific database with a big-data intelligence platform, 10,058 endemic patients with non-metastatic stage I-IVA NPC receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy between April 2009 and December 2015 were investigated.

Prenatal exposure to koumine results in cognitive deficits and increased anxiety-like behavior in mice offspring.

Koumine (KM) is a major alkaloid monomer in the traditional Chinese medicine herb Gelsemium elegans Benth that has exhibited therapeutic potential in clinical applications. However, the pharmacological toxicological mechanism of this drug has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of KM administration at a therapeutic dose in offspring.

Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Nonmetastatic Head and Neck Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

Background: Head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor that is prone to local recurrence. The NCCN Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancers recommend that all patients with ACC receive postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). However, whether PORT can improve local control and which patients can benefit from PORT are unknown.