Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Objective: To explore the clinical application value of neural network technology,and to screen the clinical early warning indicators of severe hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) by constructing a back propagation neural network(BPNN) model. Methods: The clinical data of children with HFMD admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January2019 to January 2023 were collected.The data were divided into 70% training samples and 30 % test samples using SPSS Modeler 18.0.The BPNN model and Logistic model were constructed to compare and evaluate the prediction accuracy and screening effect of the model. Results: The clinical data of 589 children were collected and analyzed,including 324 cases in the mild group and 265 cases in the severe group.The prediction accuracy of the test set(n=178) of BP neural network model and Logistic regression model was 82.02% and 84.83%,respectively.The area under the ROC curve(95% CI) was 0.791(0.749-0.834) and 0.625(0.577-0.674),respectively.Among the predictive variables output by the BPNN model,the top five factors that had the greatest impact on the grouping were highest body temperature,duration of fever,glutamyl transpeptidase,aspartate aminotransferase,and globulin.There were 3 of the top 10 overlaps in the importance of the predictive variables output by the two models,which were the highest body temperature,duration of fever and limb shaking. Conclusion The BPNN model and Logistic regression model perform well in screening and verifying the risk factors of severe hand-foot-mouth disease,but the comprehensive prediction performance of BP neural network model is better.The top five influencing factors of severe HFMD screened by the BPNN model are the highest body temperature,duration of fever,glutamyl transpeptidase,aspartate aminotransferase and globulin.

Objective: To observe the effects of exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and to analyze the contents of exosomes and explore the mechanisms affecting pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: Exosomes extracted from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were added to pancreatic cancer cells BxPC3, Panc-1 and mouse models of pancreatic cancer, respectively. The proliferative activity and invasion abilities of BxPC3 and Panc-1 cells were measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. The expressions of miRNAs in exosomes were detected by high-throughput sequencing. GO and KEGG were used to analyze the related functions and the main metabolic pathways of target genes with high expressions of miRNAs. Results: The results of CCK-8 cell proliferation assay showed that the absorbance of BxPC3 and Panc-1 cells in the hucMSCs-exo group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(4.68±0.09) vs. (3.68±0.01), P<0.05; (5.20±0.20) vs. (3.45±0.17), P<0.05]. Transwell test results showed that the number of invasion cells of BxPC3 and Panc-1 in hucMSCs-exo group was significantly higher than that in the control group (129.40±6.02) vs. (89.40±4.39), P<0.05; (134.40±7.02) vs. (97.00±6.08), P<0.05. In vivo experimental results showed that the tumor volume and weight in the exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs-exo) group were significantly greater than that in the control group [(884.57±59.70) mm(3) vs. (695.09±57.81) mm(3), P<0.05; (0.94±0.21) g vs. (0.60±0.13) g, P<0.05]. High-throughput sequencing results showed that miR-148a-3p, miR-100-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-21-5p and miR-92a-3p were highly expressed. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the target genes of these miRNAs were mainly involved in the regulation of glucosaldehylation, and the main metabolic pathways were ascorbic acid and aldehyde acid metabolism, which were closely related to the development of pancreatic cancer. Conclusion: Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can promote the growth of pancreatic cancer cells and the mechanism is related to miRNAs that are highly expressed in exosomes.
Mice ; Animals ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Exosomes/genetics* ; Sincalide/metabolism* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Umbilical Cord

Moringa oleifera leaves are known for their "Virechana"(purgative) effect in Ayurvedic medicine in India. This study compared the purgative effects and mechanisms of M. oleifera leaves with the reference Rhei Radix et Rhizoma to establish a foundation for the further application of M. oleifera leaves in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods, this study identified the material basis, common targets, and signaling pathways through which Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and M. oleifera leaves exerted their purgative pharmacological effects. A low-fiber diet-induced constipation mouse model was established to measure fecal parameters and small intestinal propulsion rate, and histological changes in the colon were observed using HE staining. Relative expression levels of relevant genes and target proteins were assessed using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The results showed that mapping the targets of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and M. oleifera leaves onto the biological process network of constipation revealed close proximity, indicating that they may exert their therapeutic effects on constipation through similar biological processes. Molecular docking results indicated that compounds such as sennoside C and isoquercitrin could target serine/threonine protein kinases(AKT1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3(MAPK3), thereby affecting MAPK and calcium signaling pathways to promote defecation. Animal experiments demonstrated that both M. oleifera leaves and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma increased the number of fecal pellets and water content in constipated mice, improved small intestine motility, colon mucosal thickness, and muscle layer thickness, upregulated the gene expression levels of AKT1 and MAPK3 in the colon, and downregulated the expression of AQP3 protein. These findings suggest that M. oleifera leaves and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma share similarities in their therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms for treating constipation. Using Rhei Radix et Rhizoma as a reference can provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the "Virechana"(purgative) effect of M. oleifera leaves in TCM.
Mice ; Animals ; Cathartics ; Moringa oleifera ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Constipation

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Objective:To compare the efficacies of arthroscopic modified Brostr?m procedure combined with or without peroneal tendon debridement in the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) concomitant with fibular tendinitis.Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 31 patients with CLAI concomitant with fibular tendinitis, who were treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University between March 2019 and December 2021. The patients included 17 males and 14 females, aged 16-57 years [(32.8±9.6)years]. The anterior drawer test and talar tilt test were positive in all patients preoperatively. Diagnosis was confirmed by physical examination and MRI, and calcaneofibular ligament rupture was excluded. Eleven patients received arthroscopic modified Brostr?m procedure combined with peroneal tendon debridement (modified Brostr?m procedure+tendon debridement group), and 20 underwent pure arthroscopic modified Brostr?m procedure (modified Brostr?m procedure group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay were documented. The visual analogue score (VAS) in peroneal tendon area was assessed before operation and at postoperative 2, 6 and 12 weeks. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS) were assessed before operation and at postoperative 6 and 12 weeks. The anterior drawer test was performed at the last follow-up. The foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) score was assessed before operation and at the last follow-up. Postoperative wound healing and complications were also observed.Results:All the patients were followed up for 4-19 months [(11.3±3.5)months]. The operation time was (66.0±4.2)minutes in the modified Brostr?m procedure+tendon debridement group, which was significantly longer than (61.5±3.4)minutes in the modified Brostr?m procedure group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss or length of hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the preoperation, the value of VAS was significantly lowered, and the values of AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, FAOS and FAAM score were significantly increased at different postoperative timepoints (all P<0.01). No significant differences in the values of VAS, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, FAOS or FAAM score were seen between the two groups before operation (all P>0.05). The value of VAS was 3.0(3.0, 4.0) points in the modified Brostr?m procedure+tendon debridement group, being markedly different from 4.0(4.0, 4.0)points in the modified Brostr?m procedure group at 2 weeks postoperatively ( P<0.05). The value of VAS was 2.0(1.0, 3.0)points in the modified Brostr?m procedure+tendon debridement group, being markedly different from 3.0(2.3, 3.0)points in the modified Brostr?m procedure group at 6 weeks postoperatively ( P<0.05). At 12 weeks postoperatively, there was no significant difference in the value of VAS between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the values of AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and FAOS between the two groups at 6 or 12 weeks postoperatively (all P>0.05). The anterior drawer test was negative in all patients at the last follow-up. No significant difference was seen in the value of FAAM score between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). All incisions were healed well in the first stage after operation, without the occurrence of joint infection, impaired joint motion, nerve injury or deep vein thrombosis. Conclusions:Arthroscopic modified Brostr?m procedure combined with or without peroneal tendon debridement can both improve the foot function in CLAI patients concomitant with fibular tendinitis. However, the combined treatment allows for early pain relief, without increasing the risk of complications, and can therefore contribute to a faster postoperative recovery.

Objective:To explore the relationship between microsatellite instability (MSI) and Ki-67 expression level and the clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer, and investigate their impact for prognosis, so as to provide reference for prognostic judgment of colorectal cancer.Methods:The data of 183 patients who underwent radical colorectal cancer surgery and were diagnosed pathologically in the Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analysed, including 101 males (55.2%)and 82 females(44.8%), ranged from 20 to 86 years and the mean age was(60.27±13.13)years. According to the results of mismatch repair protein immunohistochemical staining, the patients were divided into MSI-H group ( n=32) and MSI-L/MSS group ( n=151). According to the results of Ki-67 antigen immunohistochemical staining, the patients were divided into low Ki-67 expression group (<82.5%, n=136) and high Ki-67 expression group (≥82.5%, n=47) , among which 62 cases (78.5%) with low Ki-67 expression and 17 cases (21.5%) with high Ki-67 expression were in patients with Ⅲ+ Ⅳ stage colorectal cancer. The data of clinicopathological features, disease-free survival, and overall survival were collected and analyzed. The cotegorical variables were presented as n(%), and the comparisons between groups were performed using Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. The multivariate Logistic regression model was used to estimate the correlation between microsatellite instability and Ki-67 expression level and clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and COX proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the correlation between microsatellite instability and Ki-67 expression level and disease-free survival and overall survival. Results:Single factor analysis showed that the differences in gender ( χ2=4.37, P=0.037), tumor site ( χ2=26.40, P<0.001), tumor maximum diameter ( χ2=11.12, P=0.001) and nerve invasion ( χ2=5.53, P=0.019) between MSI-H group and MSI-L/MSS group were statistically significant. Multivariate Logistic regression model analysis showed that only gender ( OR=3.013, 95% CI: 1.183-7.672, P=0.021), tumor location ( OR=0.167, 95% CI: 0.067-0.419, P<0.001) and nerve invasion ( OR=0.202, 95% CI: 0.042-0.968, P=0.045) were independently correlative factors for MSI status. In Ⅲ+ Ⅳ stage colorectal cancers, the difference in tumor site between low Ki-67 expression group and high Ki-67 expression group was statistically significant( χ2=3.91, P=0.048). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that high Ki-67 expression ( HR=0.301, 95% CI: 0.118-0.768, P=0.012; HR=0.275, 95% CI: 0.083-0.912, P=0.035) and MSI-H ( HR=0.072, 95% CI: 0.010-0.525, P=0.009; HR=0.122, 95% CI: 0.017-0.900, P=0.039) were independently protective factors for disease-free survival and overall survival. Conclusions:MSI-H colorectal cancer is common in males, right-sided colonic cancers and non-neuroinvasive patients. In stage Ⅲ+ Ⅳ colorectal cancer, the expression level of Ki-67 in right-sided colonic cancer was lower than in left-sided colorectal cancer. Patients with MSI-H and high Ki-67 expressive colorectal cancer had longer disease-free survival, longer overall survival and better prognosis.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm-accelerated phase/blast phase (MPN-AP/BP) . Methods: A total of 67 patients with MPN-AP/BP were enrolled from February 2014 to December 2021 at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Their clinical features and prognostic factors were analyzed retrospectively. Results: ① Sixty-seven patients with MPN-AP/BP with a median age of 60 (range, 33-75) years, including 31 males (46.3% ) and 36 females (53.7% ) , were analyzed. Forty-eight patients progressed from primary myelofibrosis (PMF) , and 19 progressed from other myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) , which included polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and MPN unclassifiable. Patients who progressed from PMF had higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels than those who progressed from other MPNs (925.95 vs. 576.2 U/L, P=0.011) , and there were higher proportions of patients who progressed from PMF with splenomegaly (81.4% vs. 57.9% , P=0.05) , a myelofibrosis grade of ≥2 (93.6% vs. 63.2% , P=0.004) , and a shorter duration from diagnosis to the transformation to AP/BP (28.7 vs. 81 months, P=0.001) . ② JAK2V617F, CALR, and MPLW515 were detected in 41 (61.2% ) , 13 (19.4% ) , and 3 (4.5% ) patients, respectively, whereas 10 (14.9% ) patients did not have any driver mutations (triple-negative) . Other than driver mutations, the most frequently mutated genes were ASXL1 (42.2% , n=27) , SRSF2 (25% , n=16) , SETBP1 (22.6% , n=15) , TET2 (20.3% , n=13) , RUNX1 (20.3% , n=13) , and TP53 (17.2% , n=11) . The ASXL1 mutation was more enriched (51.1% vs. 21.1% , P=0.03) , and the median variant allele fraction (VAF) of the SRSF2 mutation (median VAF, 48.8% vs. 39.6% ; P=0.008) was higher in patients who progressed from PMF than those who progressed from other MPNs. ③ In the multivariate analysis, the complex karyotype (hazard ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-6.05; P=0.036) was independently associated with worse overall survival (OS) . Patients who received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) (median OS, 21.3 vs. 3 months; P=0.05) or acute myeloid leukemia-like (AML-like) therapy (median OS, 13 vs. 3 months; P=0.011) had significantly better OS than those who received supportive therapy. Conclusion: The proportions of patients with PMF-AP/BP with splenomegaly, myelofibrosis grade ≥2, a higher LDH level, and a shorter duration from diagnosis to the transformation to AP/BP were higher than those of patients with other Philadelphia-negative MPN-AP/BP. The complex karyotype was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Compared with supportive therapy, AML-like therapy and allo-HSCT could prolong the OS of patients with MPN-AP/BP.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Blast Crisis/drug therapy* ; Primary Myelofibrosis/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Splenomegaly ; Retrospective Studies ; Myeloproliferative Disorders/genetics* ; Mutation ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Janus Kinase 2/genetics*