For Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), surgical resection is the only effective way to cure this disease. However, it has high postoperative mortality and high recurrence rate. Domestic and foreign scholars have constructed statistics-based evaluation methods to predict patients′ postoperative survival and complications, such as nomogram, scoring system and other prognostic models. Based on these methods, clinicians can better select patients who can benefit from surgery and choose the optimal? treatment for more severe patients. Through the adoption of other treatments or some ways to ameliorate some preoperative condition, to improve the patient′s mortality and survival. This article reviews the prognostic risk factors and prognostic models of pCCA in order to provide a reference for clinicians to predict the prognosis about the surgery.

Objective:To investigate the application of virtual reality (VR) technology on intraoperative pain in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related procedures with local infiltration anesthesia and the satisfaction.Methods:It was a single-center, prospective, concurrent controlled study. Patients were divided into two groups: VR group and control group. In the VR group, patients wore a VR headset to watch soothing audio and video content during surgery, while the control group underwent routine procedures. Intraoperative pain and satisfaction were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and a 5-point satisfaction scale within 30 minutes of surgery. In addition, tolerance of the VR experience in the VR group was assessed using the VR sickness questionnaire.Results:A total of 43 patients were included in the study, including 25 males (58.1%). Chronic glomerulonephritis [17 cases (39.5%)] and diabetic nephropathy [6 cases (14.0%)] were the main primary diseases. There were 23 cases in the control group and 20 cases in the VR group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex ratio, proportion of primary disease, diabetes, hypertension, distribution of operation methods, preoperative vital signs and operation time (all P>0.05). VAS pain score was significantly lower in the VR group than that in the control group (5.90±2.38 vs. 7.43±1.67, t=2.469, P=0.018). The percentage of patients who were satisfied was 89.5% (17/19) in the VR group and 78.3% (18/23) in the control group, but there was no significant difference (chi-square test for continuity correction, χ2=0.308, P=0.579). Three patients in the VR group withdrew from the study due to severe discomfort, while the remaining participants found the VR experience to be tolerable. Common adverse effects included fatigue and blurred vision. Conclusions:The application of VR technology in PD-related procedures has been effective in reducing intraoperative pain when combined with local infiltration anesthesia. Furthermore, the utilization of VR technology in PD-related procedures is associated with a safe and tolerable outcome, despite the observation of some adverse effects.

Objective:To observe the inhibiting effects of manual acupuncture(MA)on bladder cell apoptosis in rats with diabetic neurogenic bladder(DNB)based on the protein and mRNA expression of B-cell lymphoma-leukemia(Bcl)-2,Bcl-2-associated X(Bax)protein,caspase-3,and the protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),transforming growth factor(TGF)-β in the bladder tissue. Methods:A DNB rat model was established via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ).The rats were randomly divided into a control group,a model group,and an MA group,with 10 rats in each group.For the MA group,MA was applied after modeling.The body mass,fasting blood glucose(FBG),bladder wet weight,and bladder histomorphology were observed.Protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2,Bax,and caspase-3 and the protein expression of α-SMA and TGF-β in the bladder tissue were determined.The apoptotic index of bladder cells was also evaluated. Results:After STZ injection,compared with the control group,the model group and the MA group both showed higher FBG from week 3 and lower body mass from week 9(P<0.05),and had a larger bladder wet weight(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the MA group showed a smaller bladder wet weight(P<0.05).The histopathological evaluation indicated that MA improved muscle fiber alignment and detrusor cell compensatory hypertrophy in the bladder tissue.In addition,compared with the control group,the apoptotic index increased significantly in the model group and the MA group(P<0.05);the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 and the protein expression level of TGF-β in the bladder tissue in the model group and the MA group increased significantly(P<0.05),while the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and the protein expression level of α-SMA in the bladder tissue decreased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the apoptotic index of the MA group decreased significantly(P<0.05);the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 and the protein expression level of TGF-β in the bladder tissue decreased significantly(P<0.05),while the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and the protein expression level of α-SMA in the bladder tissue increased significantly(P<0.05). Conclusion:MA can protect the bladder by inhibiting the excessive apoptosis of bladder cells,which may be related to the down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 proteins and mRNAs and TGF-β protein expression,and the up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA and α-SMA protein expression.

Objective:To observe the effects of Zhulian stimulant type Ⅰ acupuncture on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB and tissue homogenate cyclic adenosine phosphate (cAMP) in rats with diabetic bladder (DCP); To explore the mechanism of Zhulian stimulant type Ⅰacupuncture on DCP.Methods:Totally 50 SD rats were divided into control group, model group, Western medicine group, ordinary acupuncture group, Zhulian stimulant type Ⅰ acupuncture treatment group (acupuncture treatment group) according to random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. DCP rat model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), except for the control group. The Western medicine group was given mecobalamine for gavage; acupoints of "Zhongji", "Sanyinjiao", "Liechou" and "Taichong" were selected. The ordinary acupuncture group was treated with ordinary acupuncture technique, and the acupuncture treatment group was treated with Zhulian stimulant type Ⅰ acupuncture, 1 time/d, 30 minutes/time. Samples were taken after 4 weeks of treatment. The maximum bladder volume, residual urine volume and wet weight of the bladder were detected. The morphology of rat bladder was observed by HE staining. The expression level of BDNF was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of cAMP was detected by Western blot. The level of TrkB was determined by ELISA. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of BDNF and cAMP.Results:Compared with model group, maximum bladder volume, residual urine volume and wet weight of bladder in Western medicine group, ordinary acupuncture group and acupuncture treatment group decreased ( P<0.01), and those in Western medicine group and acupuncture treatment group were lower than those in ordinary acupuncture group ( P<0.01). The expressions of BDNF mRNA and protein, cAMP mRNA and protein in Western medicine group, ordinary acupuncture group and acupuncture treatment group increased ( P<0.05), and the level of TrkB increased, and the Western medicine group and acupuncture treatment group were higher than that in ordinary acupuncture group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Zhuliping stimulant type Ⅰ acupuncture has a protective effect on the bladder function of diabetic rats. The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of BDNF and mRNA, TrkB, cAMP and mRNA expressions.

Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

Gallbladder cancer is a common malignant tumor of the biliary tract, characterized by a stealthy onset, high invasiveness, and poor prognosis. The 5-year survival rate of gallbladder cancer patients is only 5%-20%. Currently, radical surgery remains the only potentially curative method for gallbladder cancer. Historically, gallbladder cancer was once considered a contraindication for laparoscopic surgery. In recent years, with the improvement of preoperative diagnosis level of gallbladder cancer, progress in surgical techniques and laparoscopic equipment, an increasing number of clinicians have explored and recognized the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of gallbladder cancer. This review summarizes the latest advances in laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder cancer.

Humans ; East Asian People ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Severity of Illness Index

MAGED4B belongs to the melanoma-associated antigen family; originally found in melanoma, it is expressed in various types of cancer, and is especially enriched in glioblastoma. However, the functional role and molecular mechanisms of MAGED4B in glioma are still unclear. In this study, we found that the MAGED4B level was higher in glioma tissue than that in non-cancer tissue, and the level was positively correlated with glioma grade, tumor diameter, Ki-67 level, and patient age. The patients with higher levels had a worse prognosis than those with lower MAGED4B levels. In glioma cells, MAGED4B overexpression promoted proliferation, invasion, and migration, as well as decreasing apoptosis and the chemosensitivity to cisplatin and temozolomide. On the contrary, MAGED4B knockdown in glioma cells inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration, as well as increasing apoptosis and the chemosensitivity to cisplatin and temozolomide. MAGED4B knockdown also inhibited the growth of gliomas implanted into the rat brain. The interaction between MAGED4B and tripartite motif-containing 27 (TRIM27) in glioma cells was detected by co-immunoprecipitation assay, which showed that MAGED4B was co-localized with TRIM27. In addition, MAGED4B overexpression down-regulated the TRIM27 protein level, and this was blocked by carbobenzoxyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine (MG132), an inhibitor of the proteasome. On the contrary, MAGED4B knockdown up-regulated the TRIM27 level. Furthermore, MAGED4B overexpression increased TRIM27 ubiquitination in the presence of MG132. Accordingly, MAGED4B down-regulated the protein levels of genes downstream of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) involved in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced apoptotic pathway. These findings indicate that MAGED4B promotes glioma growth via a TRIM27/USP7/receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIP1)-dependent TNF-α-induced apoptotic pathway, which suggests that MAGED4B is a potential target for glioma diagnosis and treatment.
Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7 ; Cisplatin ; Temozolomide ; Transcription Factors ; Glioma ; Cell Proliferation ; Melanoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics*

Regulated cell death (RCD), including apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, is regulated by a series of evolutionarily conserved pathways, and is required for development and tissue homeostasis. Based on previous genetic and biochemical explorations of cell death subroutines, the characteristics of each are generally considered distinctive. However, recent in-depth studies noted the presence of crosstalk between the different forms of RCD; hence, the concept of PANoptosis appeared. Cancer, a complex genetic disease, is characterized by stepwise deregulation of cell apoptosis and proliferation, with significant morbidity and mortality globally. At present, studies on the different RCD pathways, as well as the intricate relationships between different cell death subroutines, mainly focus on infectious diseases, and their roles in cancer remain unclear. As cancers are characterized by dysregulated cell death and inflammatory responses, most current treatment strategies aim to selectively induce cell death via different RCD pathways in cancer cells. In this review, we describe five types of RCD pathways in detail with respect to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. The potential value of some of these key effector molecules in tumor diagnosis and therapeutic response has also been raised. We then review and highlight recent progress in cancer treatment based on PANoptosis and ferroptosis induced by small-molecule compounds, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and nanoparticles. Together, these findings may provide meaningful evidence to fill in the gaps between cancer pathogenesis and RCD pathways to develop better cancer therapeutic strategies.

Objective:To analyze the clinically acceptable and reproducible bladder and rectum volumes of prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy under bladder and bowel preparation, aiming to provide quantitative indicators for bowel and bladder preparation before and after radiotherapy.Methods:Clinical data of 275 prostate cancer patients with strict bladder and bowel preparation and completion of whole course radical radiotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from April 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were scanned with cone beam CT (CBCT) before each treatment and the setup error was recorded. Sixty-six patients were selected by simple random sampling and the bladder and rectum on daily CBCT was outlined using MIM software. The relationship between the ratio of daily bladder or rectum volume to the planned bladder or rectum volume (relative value of volume) and setup error was analyzed. Quantitative data were expressed as mean±SD. Normally distributed data were analyzed by paired t-test while non-normally distributed data were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test.Results:The bladder and rectum volume on planning CT were (370.87±110.04) ml and (59.94±25.07) ml of 275 patients. The bladder and rectum volumes on planning CT were (357.51±107.38) ml and (65.28±35.37) ml respectively of the 66 selected patients with 1611 sets of CBCT images. And the bladder and rectum volumes on daily CBCT were (258.96±120.23) ml and (59.95 ± 30.40) ml. The bladder volume of patients was decreased by 3.59 ml per day on average during the treatment and 0.37 ml for the rectum volume. According to the bladder volume on planning CT, all patients were divided into three groups: <250 ml, 250-450 ml and >450 ml groups. The relative value of volume in the 250-450 ml group during the course of radiotherapy was the smallest. And the setup error in the superior and inferior (SI) direction was (0.28±0.24) cm and (0.19±0.17) cm in the left and right (LR) direction, significantly lower than those in the other two groups (both P≤0.027). According to the rectum volume on planning CT, all patients were divided into four groups: <50 ml, 50-<80 ml, 80-120 ml and >120 ml groups. The <50 ml group had the smallest relative value of volume during radiotherapy, and the setup error in the SI direction was (0.26±0.22) cm and (0.24±0.22) cm in the anterior and posterior (AP) direction, significantly smaller than those in the other groups (both P≤0.003). The setup errors in the SI, LR, AP directions of the enrolled 66 patients were (0.30±0.25) cm, (0.20±0.18) cm and (0.28±0.27) cm, respectively. Among them, the relative value of bladder volume in the AP direction was (0.73±0.37) in the setup error <0.3 cm group, which was statistically different from those in the setup error 0.3-0.5 cm and >0.5 cm groups (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Under the bladder and bowel preparation before planning CT, the appropriate bladder and rectum volumes are in the range of 250-450 ml and <50 ml, which yields higher reproducibility and smaller setup error.