Incidence of lymph node recurrence after primary surgery for non-metastatic colon cancer: A systematic review

BackgroundThe extent of lymphadenectomy in colon cancer (CC) is a matter of debate. One argument of extensive surgery is that it may prevent lymph node recurrence (LNR). However, the incidence of LNR after surgery for CC is unknown. Here, we performed a systematic review of the incidence of LNR after either standard (D2) surgery or extensive resection (complete mesocolic excision, CME, D3).MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched for studies reporting on patients with primary stage I-III CC who developed locoregional or distant LNR. Methodological quality was scored using the QualSyst tool. The difference in overall and lymph node (LN) recurrence rate between CME/D3 and standard/D2 resection was statistically evaluated using non-parametric tests. Registered with PROPERO as CRD42020203288.ResultsFrom an initial 12.744 records, 24 studies were included, representing 13.521 CC patients. A majority of patients had right CC (64%), stage III disease (51%), and received adjuvant chemotherapy (57%). The mean number of examined nodes ranged from 14 to 30. The median overall recurrence rate was 14% in the CME/D3 group, and 19% in the standard/D2 group (P = 0.638). The median proportion of patients with any LNR was 1.7% in the CME/D3 group, and 1.2% in the standard/D2 group (P = 0.677). The median incidence of locoregional, potentially preventable LNR was 0% in the CME/D3 group and 0.4% in the standard/D2 group (P = 0.274).ConclusionsThe incidence of locoregional, potentially preventable LNR after surgery for CC is low (<1%), and is not affected by the extent of lymphadenectomy.     

Evaluation of Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (SLYMPHA) for the prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection using bioimpedance spectroscopy

BackgroundLymphedema is a serious complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with an incidence rate of 20%. Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (SLYMPHA) is a safe and relatively simple method, which decreases incidence of lymphedema dramatically. Our initial study showed an 88% decrease in clinical lymphedema rate. In the initial study, we used arm circumference measurement for the diagnosis of lymphedema and median follow up was 15 months. The aim of this study was to confirm these results after a long-term follow up period and by using bioimpedance spectroscopy (L-Dex) technology in detecting lymphedema.Study designAll patients, undergoing ALND with or without SLYMPHA between January 2014 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients with no postoperative L-Dex measurements were excluded. A L-Dex score outside the normal range (±10 L-Dex unit) or ≥10 L-Dex unit increase above patient's baseline was considered as lymphedema. The incidence of lymphedema was compared between patients with and without SLYMPHA.Results194 patients were included in the study. 57% of cohort underwent SLYMPHA. Mean follow-up time was 47 ± 37 months. Patients, who underwent SLYMPHA, had a significantly lower rate of lymphedema (16% vs 32%; p = 0.01; OR 0.4 [0.2–0.8]).ConclusionSLYMPHA is a safe and relatively simple method, which continued its efficacy after a long-term follow up period. It should be considered as an adjunct procedure to ALND for all patients during initial surgery.     

基于肿瘤浸润深度及大小的TTS 评分系统对可切除胃癌患者预后判断的价值

目的:探讨基于肿瘤浸润深度及大小的TTS评分系统对可切除胃癌患者预后判断的价值。方法:选择行根治性切除的234例胃癌患者为研究对象。根据肿瘤浸润深度（T分期）和肿瘤大小构建TTS评分系统，分为TTS 0级、1级、2级，代表肿瘤侵袭性逐渐升高。通过Cox多因素模型分析TTS评分系统作为预后判断工具的可行性。结果:T1-T4期患者肿瘤的平均大小分别为(3.3±2.7)cm、(4.1±3.1)cm、(6.6±3.1)cm、(9.4±4.9)cm。单因素分析显示，肿瘤浸润深度与肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、TNM分期、淋巴浸润和血管浸润显著相关(P＜0.01)。ROC曲线显示，45 mm为肿瘤大小的最佳界值，可有效区分患者是否存在淋巴结转移，曲线下面积(area under curve,AUC)为0.762。综合肿瘤大小的临界值和肿瘤浸润深度，构建TTS评分系统,TTS 0级、TTS 1级和TTS 2级的患者5年生存率分别为95.6%、83.3%和70.2%，两两比较后发现，不同TTS状态患者的生存率之间均存在显著差异(P＜0.01)。Cox多因素分析发现，TTS评分是影响患者预后的独立性危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论:本研究根据肿瘤浸润深度和大小构建了TTS评分系统，并证明了TTS评分与胃癌患者的预后密切相关。     

miR-377-5p 通过下调HIF-1α 及其相关VEGF 信号通路抑制肝细胞癌HepG2 细胞的增殖和侵袭

目的：探讨miR-377-5p 与缺氧诱导因子-1α（hypoxia inducible factor-1，HIF-1α）的靶向关系以及通过控血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF）信号通路对肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC）细胞增殖、侵袭和EMT的调控作用。方法：qPCR检测35 例人HCC组织及癌旁组织标本中miR-377-5p 的表达水平。将HepG2 细胞分为对照组、mimic NC组、miR-377-5p mimic 组，qPCR 检测转染效率；EdU染色、Transwell 和Western blotting（WB）检测miR-377-5p 过表达对HepG2 细胞增殖、侵袭及其增殖相关蛋白Ki-67、增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen，PCNA）及上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymaltransition，EMT）标志蛋白E-cadherin、N-cadherin 表达的影响；qPCR、WB检测miR-377-5p 过表达对HepG2 细胞中，缺氧诱导因子-1α（hypoxia inducible factor-1α，HIF-1α）表达的影响。荧光素酶报告基因实验验证miR-377-5p 与HIF-1α 基因的靶向关系。结果：HCC 组织中miR-377-5p 表达水平较癌旁组织降低（P<0.01）。与对照组相比，miR-377-5p mimic 组HepG2细胞中miR-377-5p 水平明显升高，细胞的增殖、侵袭能力降低（均P<0.01），EMT、N-cadherin 表达水平降低（均P<0.01）而E-cadherin 表达水平显著升高（P<0.01）；miR-377-5p mimic 组中HIF-1α mRNA 和蛋白表达水平均降低（P<0.01 或P<0.05）。miR-377-5p 靶向抑制HIF-1α 基因表达，并抑制VEGF通路的激活（均P<0.05）。结论：miR-377-5p 通过靶向抑制HIF-1α 基因表达和下调VEGF信号通路从而抑制HepG2 细胞的增殖、侵袭和EMT。     

丹参干燥前后游离型和结合型酚酸的比较研究

丹参干燥前后,新鲜和干燥丹参中酚酸成分含量有显著性差异,即在干燥过程中随脱水增加,丹参酚酸含量显著增加。为探究丹参干燥前后游离型和结合型酚酸含量的差异及转化,该实验对丹参酚酸水解方法、水解产物、水解规律等进行研究,采用UPLC测定丹参结合型酚酸4种主要水解产物丹参素、咖啡酸二聚体(SMND-309)、咖啡酸、甘西鼠尾草酸甲(原紫草酸)以及丹参中3种主要游离酚酸成分(迷迭香酸、紫草酸和丹酚酸B)的含量。结果显示,丹参酚酸的碱水解效果显著优于酸水解,优选的碱水解条件为用含有1%抗坏血酸的2 mol·L-1氢氧化钠溶液于70℃水解4 h;游离酚酸和结合酚酸的水解产物相同;新鲜丹参中游离酚酸含量较低,结合酚酸含量较高,而干燥丹参却相反。提示丹参生长过程中已积累储存了大量的结合型酚酸,主要以酯键与细胞壁多糖结合形成了不溶性酚酸,常规方法不易检出,在干燥脱水过程中,结合型酚酸或在相关酶的作用下转化生成大量的游离酚酸。     

Classification of individuals and the potential to detect sexual contact using the microbiome of the pubic region

In the absence of traditional DNA evidence, detection of sexual contact during intercourse is an important need for forensic analysis that might be addressed by studies of the pubic microbiome. Since 16S sequencing of various other body parts has shown that the microbiome may be individualizing, we reasoned that transfer of the assailant’s microbiome to a victim might be detectable. Microbiome profiles were generated from pubic hairs and swabs taken from the pubic mound region of 12 couples and 19 singles, and evaluated for similarity over an average of four collection times with varying degrees of self-reported sexual activity. A model constructed using a Random Forest classifier was able to predict samples belonging to the same individual collected up to 6 months apart, demonstrating the stability of the pubic mound microbiome over this time frame. Couples were found to be significantly more similar to one another than to unrelated members of the opposite sex, in proportion to shared sexual activity. Further analyses using the Deblur method to assign operational taxonomic units (OTUs) establish that at least 10% of the victim’s pubic microbiome must be derived from the attacker in order to detect transfer, but that single transfer events will not generally be discovered. Nevertheless, Bayesian SourceTracker software is shown to have potential to establish that sexual contact occurred when the assailant is known, or to exonerate suspects as contributors to a mixed microbiome. Our results establish limited potential of the pubic hair/pubic area microbiome as a tool for forensic associations.     

Protective activities of ellagic acid and urolithins against kidney toxicity of environmental pollutants: A review

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two possible mechanisms related to nephrotoxicity caused by environmental pollutants. Ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant phytochemical, may have great relevance in mitigating pollutant-induced nephrotoxicity and preventing the progression of kidney disease. This review discusses the latest findings on the protective effects of ellagic acid, its metabolic derivatives, the urolithins, against kidney toxicity caused by heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and organic air pollutants. We describe the chelating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antiautophagic, and antiapoptotic properties of ellagic acid to attenuate nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, we present the molecular targets and signaling pathways that are regulated by these antioxidants, and suggest some others that should be explored. Nevertheless, the number of reports is still limited to establish the efficacy of ellagic acid against kidney damage induced by environmental pollutants. Therefore, additional preclinical studies on this topic are required, as well as the development of well-designed clinical trials.