Antioxidative and in vitro hepatoprotective activity of Bupleurum kaoi leaf infusion

The roots of Bupleurus spp. have been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for curing liver diseases. Although bioactive saikosaponins have been detected in the leaves as well as in the roots, the aerial parts of the plants are discarded as waste. In the present study, a leaf infusion of B. kaoi Liu, Chao et Chuang, an indigenous Bupleurus species in Taiwan, was prepared and the antioxidant properties and in vitro hepatoprotective activity were demonstrated. The results show that the leaf infusion exerted DPPH free radical scavenging activity, inhibitory capacity on superoxide anion formation and superoxide anion scavenging activity. The hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on the rat liver cells were also decreased by the leaf infusion.     

Role of pilocarpine use following laser peripheral iridotomy in eyes with refractory acute angle closure glaucoma: A case report and literature review

Rationale:Angle closure glaucoma (ACG) is one of the most emergent types of glaucoma in clinical practice. Laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) could minimize pupillary block and prevent ACG from an acute attack. However, recurrent increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) may still occur despite successful LPI. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of postLPI pilocarpine use and larger LPI size as well as to share some experiences of cataract surgery in patients with ACG.Patient concerns:A 63-year-old female was referred to our hospital for headache, and poor control of IOP in the right eye for 3 hours.Diagnoses:The patient was diagnosed ACG in the right eye. Recurrence of ACG in the right eye and new-onset and recurrent ACG in the left eye were noted during follow-up, despite successful LPI. The diagnosis was confirmed through slit lamp and gonioscope examination.Interventions:The LPI size was enlarged and pilocarpine use was maintained at 2% (1 drop 4 times a day) in both the eyes. Finally, cataract surgery was performed in both the eyes.Outcomes:No recurrence of ACG was noted during postLPI pilocarpine use in both the eyes. The postoperative IOP was stable for >6 months after cataract surgery without any surgical intervention or antiglaucoma medication use. No discomfort or major complication was observed.Conclusion:This report highlights the importance of postLPI pilocarpine use and larger LPI size in patients with refractory ACG.     

Characteristics and immune checkpoint inhibitor effects on non-smoking non-small cell lung cancer with KRAS mutation: A single center cohort (STROBE-compliant)

Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) mutation (KRASm) is associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We have aimed to survey NSCLC patients harboring KRASm in Taiwan, where never-smoking lung adenocarcinoma predominates, and analyze the immune checkpoint inhibitor effect on NSCLC harboring KRASm.NSCLC patients with KRASm were enrolled and tested on programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression using available tissue. We analyzed their clinical features, PD-L1 status, responses to ICIs, and overall survival (OS).We studied 93 patients with a median age 66.0 years, 23.7% of whom were women, and 22.6% were never-smokers. The results showed that G12C (36.6%) was the most common KRASm. In 47 patients with available tissue for PD-L1 testing, PD-L1 expression was positive in 66.0% of patients, while PD-L1 ≥50% was higher in ever-smokers (P = .038). Among 23 patients receiving ICI treatment, those with PD-L1 ≥50% experience a 45.5% response rate to ICI. There were benefits from ICI treatment on OS compared with no ICI treatment (median OS 35.6 vs 9.8 months, P = .002) for all of our patients, and for patients with PD-L1 ≥50% (median OS not-reached vs 8.4 months, P = .008). There were no differences in survival across different KRAS subtypes (P = .666).Never-smokers composed more than one-fifth of KRASm in NSCLC in Taiwan. A high PD-L1 expression was related to smoking history and responded well to ICI. ICI treatment improved the OS in NSCLC patients with KRASm, particularly those with PD-L1 ≥50%.     

Correction: Discovery of 8-prenylnaringenin from hop (Humulus lupulus L.) as a potent monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor for treatments of neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease

Correction for ‘Discovery of 8-prenylnaringenin from hop (Humulus lupulus L.) as a potent monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor for treatments of neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease’ by Min-Che Tung et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 31062–31072, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA05311F.

The authors regret that the name of one of the authors (Hsing-Mien Hsu) was shown incorrectly in the original article. The corrected author list is as shown above.The authors also regret an incorrect version of Fig. 7 was included in the original article. The correct version of Fig. 7 is presented below.Open in a separate windowFig. 7The dose-dependent inhibitions of the identified inhibitors against hMAGL.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Success of targeted transperineal biopsy in patients on surveillance for grade group 1 prostate cancer

IntroductionWe aimed to determine the minimum cross-sectional ellipsoid area on magnetic resonance (MR) of intraprostatic nodules that best predicts for subsequent targeted biopsies revealing ≥ grade group (GG) 2 disease.MethodsForty-six patients previously diagnosed with GG 1 prostate adenocarcinoma who received cognitively fused, MR-guided, transperineal targeted biopsies in addition to six random biopsies were included in this analysis. A Youden cutpoint analysis was used to determine the ellipsoid area in the axial plane best predicting for ≥GG 2 disease within the targeted biopsy cores and logistic regression used to assess the result.ResultsMedian time from MR imaging to targeted biopsy was 2.4 (1.4–5.5) months. Forty of 46 (87%) patients had one nodule and 6/46 (13%) had two separate nodules on MR that received targeted biopsy. Of the 52 nodules, five (10%), 33 (63%), and 14 (27%) were Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Thirteen (25%), six (12%), and 33 (64%) were in the anterior, medial, and posterior regions of the prostate, respectively. Median area was 0.72 (0.49–1.29) cm² (average diameter 9.5 mm). Fifteen of 46 (33%) patients had ≥1 random biopsy and 20/52 (38%) nodules had ≥1 targeted biopsy revealing ≥GG 2 disease. The optimal area cutpoint was ≥0.7 cm², with an area under the curve of 0.671 (0.510–0.832). On logistic regression, area ≥0.7 cm² was solely predictive of targeted biopsy revealing ≥GG 2 disease (odds ratio 6.5, 1.3–32.4, p=0.022).ConclusionsNodule area ≥0.7 cm² may predict for transperineal-based targeted biopsies being positive for ≥GG 2 disease when 1–2 cores are taken.     

Synchronous primary gastric cancer and renal cell carcinoma: A case report and literatures review

A 73-year-old woman was admitted and treated because of epigastric fullness, palpitation, and tarry stool for 2 days. Gastric cancer was found via panendoscopy. A preoperative abdominal computed tomographic scan revealed a hypervascular mass in the left kidney; renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was the initial impression. A concomitant surgery for subtotal gastrectomy and radical left nephrectomy was performed. The pathological examination confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma (T2a) and RCC (T2b). Convalescence was uneventful and she was discharged in stable condition. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence at a 20-month follow-up examination. Elderly people with early gastric cancers have a relative higher probability of developing a synchronous tumor than younger people. The incidence of synchronous gastric cancer and RCC is quite low, and concomitant surgery is rare. Surgeons need to be aware of the possibility of a synchronous second primary cancer when the initial gastric cancer is diagnosed. A concomitant surgery for gastrectomy and radical nephrectomy can be safely performed in selected patients, which can achieve feasible oncological control.     

Comparison of elderly patients with and without intertrochanteric fractures and the factors affecting fracture severity

BackgroundIntertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients are common and normally caused by low-energy injuries, such as falls. The favored treatment method is closed reduction with internal fixation using plate or nail systems. In general, the severity of an intertrochanteric fracture is one of key factors that affects the success rate of fixation. However, the factors that affect the severity of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients are rarely reported in the literature. In this prospective study, several possible factors were investigated.MethodsThe bone mineral densities (BMD) of 48 elderly patients (≥ 65 years) with intertrochanteric fractures due to low-energy injuries were compared with the BMDs of 48 elderly persons without hip fractures. Both groups were composed of people of similar ages and male-to-female ratios. Furthermore, in the patients with fractures, BMD, body mass index (BMI), body weight, and body height were compared between patients with nonsevere (intact lesser trochanter; 14 patients) and severe (displaced lesser trochanter or reverse obliquity fractures; 34 patients) intertrochanteric fractures.ResultsPatients with intertrochanteric fractures had significantly lower BMDs compared with persons without hip fractures to the lesser trochanter, total hip area, femoral neck, or greater trochanter (p = 0.001, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). There was no statistical difference in terms of BMD, BMI, body weight, or body height between patients with nonsevere and severe fractures.ConclusionElderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures have lower BMDs than persons without hip fractures. However, the severity of intertrochanteric fractures cannot be predicted by local BMD, BMI, body weight, or body height.