Potential anticancer properties of the water extract of Inontus obliquus by induction of apoptosis in melanoma B16-F10 cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom), one of the widely known medicinal mushrooms, has been used to treat various cancers in Russia and most of Baltic countries for many centuries.

Aim of the study

To examine the anti-proliferative effects of Inonotus obliquus extract on melanoma B16-F10 cells. Furthermore, to assess the anti-tumor effect of Inonotus obliquus extract in vivo in Balb/c mice.

Materials and methods

The water extract of Inonotus obliquus was studied for anti-proliferative effects on the growth and morphology of B16-F10 melanoma cells and for anti-tumor effect using in vivo in Balb/c mice.

Results

Inonotus obliquus extract not only inhibited the growth of B16-F10 cells by causing cell cycle arrest at G₀/G₁ phase and apoptosis, but also induced cell differentiation. These effects were associated with the down-regulation of pRb, p53 and p27 expression levels, and further showed that Inonotus obliquus extract resulted in a G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest with reduction of cyclin E/D1 and Cdk 2/4 expression levels. Furthermore, the anti-tumor effect of Inonotus obliquus extract was assessed in vivo in Balb/c mice. Intraperitoneal administration of Inonotus obliquus extract significantly inhibited the growth of tumor mass in B16-F10 cells implanted mice, resulting in a 3-fold (relative to the positive control, ^*p < 0.05) inhibit at dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days.

Conclusion

This study showed that the water extract of Inonotus obliquus mushroom exhibited a potential anticancer activity against B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo through the inhibition of proliferation and induction of differentiation and apoptosis of cancer cells.     

Comparison of allergen responses based on the TRUE Test and IQ Chamber system in Korean patients

Background

A comparison between responses to allergens based on the TRUE Test® (TT) and IQ® Chamber (IQC) in Europeans has been previously reported, however, no such study has been performed in Asians.

Objectives

To compare allergen responses using the TT and IQC (using the Korean standard series) in order to gather more information regarding the positive response rates for each allergen and the clinical value of IQC.

Materials & methods

Suspected contact dermatitis patients were enrolled and tested with 18 allergens using the TT and IQC.

Results

The test was performed in 214 patients. Simultaneous positive results for both tests were recorded in 242 cases (positive concordance rate: 66.7%). IQC yielded more positive results. Allergens with a high positive concordance rate were nickel sulphate (82.1%), thimerosal (78.6%), and p-phenylenediamine (73.3%). IQC mostly showed similar or higher positive rates than TT, with high concordance.

Conclusions

We recommend the IQC method as a screening test in patients with suspected contact dermatitis. To compensate for possible false positive results, careful history taking and a different patch test should be performed when appropriate.

     

Detection of cancer in augmented breasts by positron emission tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic efficiency of positron emission tomography with 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose in detecting breast cancer in augmented breasts. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Korea. SUBJECT: 9 cases or 8 patients with breasts augmented with paraffin or silicone. INTERVENTION: FDG-PET, mammography, and ultrasonography RESULTS: The mammogram detected the breast cancer in only 1 of 3 patients, and ultrasonography gave a false positive result in 1 patient with an augmented breast. In contrast, PET predicted all the cancers and 5/6 benign lesions. 2/3 breast cancers had axillary FDG uptake interpreted as showing metastatic involvement, and in 1 case with cancer with no axillary lymph node involvement there was no FDG uptake in the axilla, which correlated with the pathological finding. CONCLUSIONS: Although the high cost of PET makes its use as a screening test for all patients with augmented breasts unrealistic, it would be the best diagnostic choice if other methods failed.     

Endoscopic thyroidectomy via bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA): review of 512 cases in a single institute

Background

Various techniques for endoscopic thyroidectomy have been introduced in the past decade, and the cosmetic superiority of these techniques has been universally acknowledged. We developed the endoscopic thyroidectomy via bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) and have performed more than 500 operations. The aims of this study are to analyze the surgical outcomes and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of BABA endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Patients and methods

Between February 2004 and March 2008, 512 patients with thyroid diseases underwent BABA endoscopic thyroidectomy. The criteria analyzed were clinicopathologic characteristics, types of operation, operation time, tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage on the basis of the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), results after radioactive ablation therapy, and recurrence of disease in these patients.

Results

Of 512 patients, 397 had a malignant tumor and 115 had benign thyroid disease. Eight patients were diagnosed with Graves’ disease, and nine patients underwent completion thyroidectomy. Three cases were subjected to open thyroidectomy due to uncontrolled bleeding. Mean operation time was 151.2?±?38.1?min for total and near-total thyroidectomy, and 141.7?±?50.1?min for subtotal thyroidectomy and lobectomy. Regarding postoperative complications, transient hypocalcemia occurred in 31.1% of patients and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 4.2% of patients. Transient hoarseness occurred in 20.3% of patients, and permanent vocal cord palsy occurred in 1.7%. Mean hospital stay after operation was 3.34?±?0.8?days (range 3–7?days), and mean follow-up period was 57.1?±?17.6?months (range 38.5–71.7?months). There were eight cases of recurrent thyroid carcinoma, and no mortality has occurred up to the present time.

Conclusions

Endoscopic thyroidectomy via bilateral axillo-breast approach is a safe and effective method that gives good surgical completeness, a low rate of postoperative complications and recurrence, and an excellent cosmetic result. Therefore, this method is a good choice for patients with surgical thyroid diseases.     

The Learning Curve for Robotic Thyroidectomy: A Multicenter Study

Purpose

The learning curve for robotic thyroidectomy with central compartment node dissection (CCND) has not been established. We examined the effect of experience of robotic thyroidectomy on a range of perioperative parameters in order to determine the learning curve. The learner surgeon outcomes were compared with those of an experienced surgeon.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, controlled, multicenter study involving four endocrine surgeons at three academic centers. Patients underwent robotic total or subtotal thyroidectomy with CCND between September 2008 and October 2009. One surgeon was experienced in the technique (experienced surgeon, ES), while the other three surgeons had endoscopic thyroid surgery experience but no experience performing the robotic procedure (nonrobotic thyroid surgery experienced surgeon, NS). Outcome measures were demographic data, operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, pathologic results, and postoperative complications.

Results

A total of 644 total or subtotal robotic thyroidectomies with CCND were performed: 377 (58.7%) by NSs and 267 (41.5%) by the ES. Mean operative time was longer and the complication rate was higher for the NS patient group compared with the ES patient group (P < 0.001 for each). The operative times and complications rates for the NS group were similar to those of the ES group once the NSs had performed 50 cases for total thyroidectomies or 40 cases for subtotal thyroidectomies.

Conclusion

The learning curve duration for robotic thyroidectomy with CCND using gasless transaxillary approach for experienced endoscopic thyroidectomy surgeons was 50 cases for total thyroidectomy and 40 cases for subtotal thyroidectomy.     

Lobectomy and Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Do Involved Lymph Nodes Mandate Completion Thyroidectomy?

Background

The present study was designed to investigate the necessity of completion thyroidectomy for patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) that was later pathologically diagnosed as central lymph node (CLN) metastasis.

Methods

Between 1986 and 2001, we assessed 551 patients who underwent thyroidectomy with prophylactic ipsilateral central compartment neck dissection, and 409 patients were followed-up completely. Thyroid lobectomy were performed in 281 and 128 patients, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to CLN metastasis. Clinicopathological profiles and follow-up details were investigated by retrospective chart review.

Results

The CLN-positive and -negative groups were comprised of 43 (15.2 %) and 238 patients (84.8 %), respectively. The mean ages of the two groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The mean tumor size of the CLN-positive group (6.8 mm) was significantly larger than that of the CLN-negative group (5.6 mm; p < 0.05). Microscopic capsular invasion was significantly higher in the CLN-positive group (51.2 vs. 23.9 %; p < 0.05). Overall, 21 patients (7.4 %, 21/281) experienced recurrence. Among these, 2 (4.7 %, 2/43) and 19 (8.0 %, 19/238) were in the CLN-positive and -negative groups, respectively. There was no significant correlation between CLN metastasis and tumor recurrence.

Conclusions

Postoperative recurrence was lower in the CLN-positive group, and there was no significant correlation between CLN metastasis and tumor recurrence. Our results suggest that it is not necessary to perform completion thyroidectomy for PTMC patients who have undergone thyroid lobectomy and who have been pathologically diagnosed with CLN metastasis.     

Booster BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccination Increases Neutralizing Antibody Titers Against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Both Young and Elderly Adults

Concerns about the effectiveness of current vaccines against the rapidly spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) variant are increasing. This study aimed to assess neutralizing antibody activity against the wild-type (BetaCoV/Korea/KCDC03/2020), delta, and omicron variants after full primary and booster vaccinations with BNT162b2. A plaque reduction neutralization test was employed to determine 50% neutralizing dilution (ND₅₀) titers in serum samples. ND₅₀ titers against the omicron variant (median [interquartile range], 5.3 [< 5.0–12.7]) after full primary vaccination were lower than those against the wild-type (144.8 [44.7–294.0]) and delta (24.3 [14.3–81.1]) variants. Furthermore, 19/30 participants (63.3%) displayed lower ND₅₀ titers than the detection threshold (< 10.0) against omicron after full primary vaccination. However, the booster vaccine significantly increased ND₅₀ titers against BetaCoV/Korea/KCDC03/2020, delta, and omicron, although titers against omicron remained lower than those against the other variants (P < 0.001). Our study suggests that booster vaccination with BNT162b2 significantly increases humoral immunity against the omicron variant.     

Risk Prediction Model Based on Magnetic Resonance Elastography-Assessed Liver Stiffness for Predicting Posthepatectomy Liver Failure in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background/AimsPosthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a major complication that increases mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance elastography-assessed liver stiffness (MRE-LS) for the prediction of PHLF and to develop an MRE-LS-based risk prediction model.MethodsA total of 160 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent surgical resection with available preoperative MRE-LS data were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from medical records. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for PHLF and develop a risk prediction model.ResultsPHLF was present in 24 patients (15%). In the multivariate logistic analysis, high MRE-LS (kPa; odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.98, p=0.006), low serum albumin (≤3.8 g/dL; OR 15.89, 95% CI 2.41 to 104.82, p=0.004), major hepatic resection (OR 4.16, 95% CI 1.40 to 12.38, p=0.014), higher albumin-bilirubin score (>–0.55; OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.15 to 12.04, p=0.028), and higher serum α-fetoprotein (>100 ng/mL; OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.20 to 10.40, p=0.022) were identified as independent risk factors for PHLF. A risk prediction model for PHLF was established using the multivariate logistic regression equation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the risk prediction model was 0.877 for predicting PHLF and 0.923 for predicting grade B and C PHLF. In leave-one-out cross-validation, the risk model showed good performance, with AUCs of 0.807 for all-grade PHLF and 0. 871 for grade B and C PHLF.ConclusionsOur novel MRE-LS-based risk model had excellent performance in predicting PHLF, especially grade B and C PHLF.