Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Ranula ; classification ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Young Adult

Background: Increased sebum secretion is considered the main causative factor in the pathogenesis of acne. There is an unmet pharmacological need for a novel drug that can control sebum production with a favorable adverse effect profile. Objective: To investigate the effect of azidothymidine on lipid synthesis in sebocytes and to identify the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory effect of azidothymidine on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1-induced lipid synthesis in sebocytes. Methods: Immortalized human sebocytes were used for the analysis. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Oil Red O staining were performed to evaluate lipid synthesis in the sebocytes. The differentiation, lipid synthesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitophagy in sebocytes were investigated. Results: TLC and Oil Red O staining revealed that azidothymidine reduced IGF-1 induced lipid synthesis in the immortalized human sebocytes. Azidothymidine also reduced IGF-1-induced expression of transcriptional factors and enzymes involved in sebocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis, respectively. Moreover, we found that IGF-1 upregulated the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α, LC-3B, p62, and Parkin, major regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. In contrast, azidothymidine inhibited IGF-1 induced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in the sebocytes. Conclusion These results suggest that azidothymidine downregulates IGF-1-induced lipogenesis by dysregulating the quality of mitochondria through suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. Our study provides early evidence that azidothymidine may be an effective candidate for a new pharmacological agent for controlling lipogenesis in sebocytes.

Background: Increased sebum secretion is considered the main causative factor in the pathogenesis of acne. There is an unmet pharmacological need for a novel drug that can control sebum production with a favorable adverse effect profile. Objective: To investigate the effect of azidothymidine on lipid synthesis in sebocytes and to identify the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory effect of azidothymidine on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1-induced lipid synthesis in sebocytes. Methods: Immortalized human sebocytes were used for the analysis. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Oil Red O staining were performed to evaluate lipid synthesis in the sebocytes. The differentiation, lipid synthesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitophagy in sebocytes were investigated. Results: TLC and Oil Red O staining revealed that azidothymidine reduced IGF-1 induced lipid synthesis in the immortalized human sebocytes. Azidothymidine also reduced IGF-1-induced expression of transcriptional factors and enzymes involved in sebocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis, respectively. Moreover, we found that IGF-1 upregulated the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α, LC-3B, p62, and Parkin, major regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. In contrast, azidothymidine inhibited IGF-1 induced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in the sebocytes. Conclusion These results suggest that azidothymidine downregulates IGF-1-induced lipogenesis by dysregulating the quality of mitochondria through suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy in immortalized human sebocytes. Our study provides early evidence that azidothymidine may be an effective candidate for a new pharmacological agent for controlling lipogenesis in sebocytes.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major portal vein tumor thrombosis (mPVTT) complications were generally characterized by extremely poor prognoses. The aim of this study was to explore the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT imaging in predicting HCC complicated by mPVTT. Methods: Five hundred one HCC patients received surgery in our hospital during November 2008 to December 2014, among which 32 patients (6.4%) were diagnosed as HCC complicated by mPVTT. Six cases were excluded for reasons of complex medical conditions, including 2 cases of salvage liver transplantation, 2 cases of re-resection, 1 case of mPVTT combined with inferior vina cava tumor thrombosis, and 1 case of residual portal vein tumor thrombosis. Ultimately, 26 cases were enrolled in this study. The maximal tumor standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was identified as a predictive factor and detected. The univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of HCC patients complicated by mPVTT. Results: Our results showed that the median OS was 16 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative OS was 55.6%, 31.7%, and 31.7%, respectively. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that SUVmax ≥ 4.65 was the only independent risk factor for RFS and OS. Conclusion SUVmax was an independent predictor for RFS and OS of patients suffering from both HCC and mPVTT. L ow SUVmax could serve as an effective factor for selecting candidates with low recurrence risks and for helping with improving patient survival after surgical resection.

PURPOSE: Although many staging systems have been proposed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there is no globally accepted system due to the extreme heterogeneity of the disease. We aimed to compare the results of the 7th/8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the modified Union for International Cancer Control (mUICC) staging systems in patients with HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data from 792 patients who underwent hepatic resection at our center. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine disease-free survival and overall survival. To evaluate homogeneity, ‘-2 log likelihood’ was calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. To measure discriminatory ability, the linear trend chi method and the Cochran-Armitage test for trend were used. The ability to accurately predict survival was verified by cross-validation analysis. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier curves for disease-free survival and overall survival showed mUICC to be superior to the 7th/8th AJCC. The homogeneity test indicated that mUICC was the best for both disease-free survival and overall survival. In the discriminatory ability test, the chi-square value of mUICC was the best for disease-free survival, while the 7th AJCC had the best value for overall survival. In the cross-validation analysis, all three staging systems had significant predictive power. CONCLUSION: mUICC seemed to be superior to the 7th/8th AJCC after analyzing the data of our surgical patients, although the geographic heterogeneity of HCC might result in differences between the staging systems. We believe that, while the three staging systems allow for the clear stratification of patients into prognostic groups, mUICC may be more appropriate in HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Joints ; Methods ; Population Characteristics ; Survival Analysis

PURPOSE: Complete removal of the caudate lobe, which is sometimes necessary, is accomplished via isolated caudate lobectomy or hepatectomy that includes the caudate lobe. It is impossible, however, to confirm the right and ventral margins of the caudate lobe by preoperative imaging. This study was undertaken to determine whether we could identify the right and ventral margins of the caudate lobe preoperatively using Synapse 3D visualization software. METHODS: Ninety-four preoperative 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic images (1-mm slices) of the liver from candidate donors were examined. The images of the caudate lobe were subjected to a counter-staining method according to Synapse 3D to delineate their dimensions. We first examined whether the right margin of the caudate lobe exceeded the plane formed by the root of the right hepatic vein (RHV) and the right side of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Second, we determined whether the ventral margin of the caudate lobe exceeded the plane formed by the root of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) and the root of the RHV. RESULTS: For the right margin, 17 cases (18%) exceeded the RHV-IVC plane by a mean of 10.2 mm (range, 2.4–27.2 mm). For the ventral margin, 28 cases (30%) exceeded the MHV-RHV plane by a mean of 17.4 mm (range, 1.2–49.1 mm). CONCLUSION: Evaluating the anatomy of caudate lobe using Synapse 3D preoperatively could be helpful for more precise anatomical resection of the caudate lobe.
Hepatectomy ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver ; Methods ; Synapses ; Tissue Donors ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and fatty liver (FL) often co-exist, but natural history data of this dual condition (CHB-FL) are sparse. Via a systematic review, conventional meta-analysis (MA) and individual patient-level data MA (IPDMA), we compared liver-related outcomes and mortality between CHB-FL and CHB-no FL patients. Methods: We searched 4 databases from inception to December 2021 and pooled study-level estimates using a random- effects model for conventional MA. For IPDMA, we evaluated outcomes after balancing the two study groups with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) on age, sex, cirrhosis, diabetes, ALT, HBeAg, HBV DNA, and antiviral treatment. Results: We screened 2,157 articles and included 19 eligible studies (17,955 patients: 11,908 CHB-no FL; 6,047 CHB-FL) in conventional MA, which found severe heterogeneity (I2=88–95%) and no significant differences in HCC, cirrhosis, mortality, or HBsAg seroclearance incidence (P=0.27–0.93). IPDMA included 13,262 patients: 8,625 CHB-no FL and 4,637 CHB-FL patients who differed in several characteristics. The IPTW cohort included 6,955 CHB-no FL and 3,346 CHB-FL well-matched patients. CHB-FL patients (vs. CHB-no FL) had significantly lower HCC, cirrhosis, mortality and higher HBsAg seroclearance incidence (all p≤0.002), with consistent results in subgroups. CHB-FL diagnosed by liver biopsy had a higher 10-year cumulative HCC incidence than CHB-FL diagnosed with non-invasive methods (63.6% vs. 4.3%, p<0.0001). Conclusions IPDMA data with well-matched CHB patient groups showed that FL (vs. no FL) was associated with significantly lower HCC, cirrhosis, and mortality risk and higher HBsAg seroclearance probability.

To establish the quality control methods for the standard decoction of Ephedrae Herba, and provide the reference for quality evaluation method of all Chinese herbal medicine decoction.Standard decoction of Ephedrae Herba was prepared, and UPLC-UV fingerprint was established to determine the total contents of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Then UPLC-QTOF/MS was used to confirm the major common peaks in the fingerprint to clarify the main chemical constituents in the decoction. In addition, the stability of the process was evaluated by calculating the parameters such as the extraction ratio, transfer rate of the index components and the pH values.In the decoction of Ephedrae Herba, the total average concentration of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine was (2.11±0.70) g•L⁻¹; the similarities of all the fingerprints were more than 0.85; there were 10 major common peaks in the fingerprint, including alkaloids, flavonoids and organic acids; the extraction ratio was (17±3.2)%, and the overall transfer rate of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine was (32.4±8.1)%.The method for evaluating the quality of standard decoction of Ephedrae Herba was established in this article, providing reference for the quality control of products which were stemmed from the water extract of Ephedrae Herba.