Delineating the glioblastoma stemness by genes involved in cytoskeletal rearrangements and metabolic alterations

Literature data on glioblastoma ongoingly underline the link between metabolism and cancer stemness, the latter is one responsible for potentiating the resistance to treatment, inter alia due to increased invasiveness. In recent years, glioblastoma stemness research has bashfully introduced a key aspect of cytoskeletal rearrangements, whereas the impact of the cytoskeleton on invasiveness is well known. Although non-stem glioblastoma cells are less invasive than glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), these cells also acquire stemness with greater ease if characterized as invasive cells and not tumor core cells. This suggests that glioblastoma stemness should be further investigated for any phenomena related to the cytoskeleton and metabolism, as they may provide new invasion-related insights. Previously, we proved that interplay between metabolism and cytoskeleton existed in glioblastoma. Despite searching for cytoskeleton-related processes in which the investigated genes might have been involved, not only did we stumble across the relation to metabolism but also reported genes that were found to be implicated in stemness. Thus, dedicated research on these genes in GSCs seems justifiable and might reveal novel directions and/or biomarkers that could be utilized in the future. Herein, we review the previously identified cytoskeleton/metabolism-related genes through the prism of glioblastoma stemness.

Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome

The two main branches of the radial nerve (RN) are the deep branch (DBRN) and the superficial branch (SBRN). The RN splits into two main branches at the elbow. The DBRN runs between the deep and shallow layers of the supinator. The DBRN can be easily compressed at the arcade of Frohse (AF) due to its anatomical features. This work focuses on a 42-year-old male patient who had injured his left forearm 1 month prior. Multiple muscles of the forearm (extensor digitorum, extensor digiti minimi, and extensor carpi ulnaris) were sutured in another hospital. After that, he had dorsiflexion limitations in his left ring and little fingers. The patient was reluctant to undergo another operation because he had undergone suture surgeries for multiple muscles 1 month prior. Ultrasound revealed that the deep branch of the radial nerve (DBRN) had edema and was thickened. The exit point of the DBRN had deeply adhered to the surrounding tissue. To relieve this, ultrasound-guided needle release plus a corticosteroid injection were performed on the DBRN. Nearly 3 months later, the dorsal extension in the patient's ring and little fingers was significantly improved (ring finger: -10°, little finger: -15°). Then, the same treatment was done for the second time. Nearly 1 month after that, the dorsal extension of the ring and the little finger was normal when the joints of the fingers were fully straightened. Ultrasound could evaluate the condition of the DBRN and its relationship with the surrounding tissues. Ultrasound-guided needle release combined with corticosteroid injection is an effective and safe treatment for DBRN adhesion.

Modified inferior oblique anterior transposition for dissociated vertical deviation combined with superior oblique palsy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Inferior oblique anterior transposition (IOAT) has emerged as an effective surgery in the management of dissociated vertical deviation (DVD) combined with superior oblique palsy (SOP). Traditional IOAT usually provides satisfactory primary position alignment and simultaneously restricts the superior floating phenomenon. However, it also increases the risk of the anti-elevation syndrome and narrowing of the palpebral fissure in straight-ahead gaze, especially after the unilateral operation.

CASE SUMMARY

We report the outcomes of the modified unilateral IOAT in two patients with unilateral DVD combined with SOP. The anterior-nasal fibers of the inferior oblique muscle were attached at 9 mm posterior to the corneal limbus along the temporal board of the inferior rectus muscle, the other fibers were attached a further 5 mm temporal to the anterior-nasal fibers. Postoperatively, both hypertropia and floating were improved, and no obvious complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

In these cases, the modified unilateral IOAT was an effective and safe surgical method for treating DVD with SOP.

COVID-19 and liver dysfunction in children: Current views and new hypotheses

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses an extremely serious global impact on public healthcare for individuals of all ages, including children. Increasing evidence has shown that liver abnormalities are commonly found in children with COVID-19, and age-related features in innate and adaptive response have been demonstrated. However, there are few reports and studies on COVID-19 related liver injury in children, and the data are scattered. So that many contradictions have arose. This situation is not only due to the serious ethical issues in studying pediatric patients with COVID-19, but also because of the short duration and wide coverage of the COVID-19 epidemic, the severity and complexity of clinical cases varied, as did the inclusion criteria for case reporting and patient outcomes. Therefore, we totaled the incidences, characteristics and pathomechanism of liver injury in children since the COVID-19 outbreak. The etiology of COVID-19-related liver injury is divided into three categories: (1) The direct mechanism involves severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in the liver or bile duct to exert direct toxicity; (2) the indirect mechanisms include an inflammatory immune response and hypoxia; and (3) COVID-19-related treatments, such as mechanical ventilation and antiviral drugs, may cause liver injury. In summary, this minireview provides fundamental insights into COVID-19 and liver dysfunction in children.

Children with infectious pneumonia caused by Ralstonia insidiosa: A case report

BACKGROUND

Ralstonia is a Gram-negative non-fermentative bacterium widespread in nature, and includes four species, Ralstonia pickettii, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ralstonia mannitolilytica, and Ralstonia insidiosa, which were proposed in 2003. Ralstonia is mainly found in the external water environment, including municipal and medical water purification systems. This bacterium has low toxicity and is a conditional pathogen. It has been reported in recent years that infections due to Ralstonia are increasing. Previous studies have shown that most cases of infection are caused by Ralstonia pickettii, a few by Ralstonia mannitolilytica, and infections caused by Ralstonia insidiosa are rare.

CASE SUMMARY

A 2-year-old Chinese child suffered from intermittent fever and cough for 20 d and was admitted to hospital with bronchial pneumonia. Bronchoscopy and alveolar lavage fluid culture confirmed Ralstonia insidiosa pneumonia. The infection was well controlled after treatment with meropenem and azithromycin.

CONCLUSION

Ralstonia infections are increasing, and we report a rare case of Ralstonia insidiosa infection in a child. Clinicians should be vigilant about Ralstonia infections.

Allograft rejection following immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid organ transplant recipients: A safety analysis from a literature review and a pharmacovigilance system

AIM

This study aimed to systematically characterize transplant rejection after immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) initiation in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs).

METHODS

Data were extracted from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and case reports in the literature. Disproportionality analysis including information component and reported odds ratio (ROR) was performed to access potential risk signals.

RESULTS

A total of 168 patients with transplant rejection after ICIs usage were identified in the FAERS database, and 89 cases were identified in the literature review. ICIs were significantly associated with transplant rejection (ROR₀₂₅ : 2.2). A strong risk signal was found for combination therapy with pembrolizumab and ipilimumab compared to monotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Immune checkpoint inhibitors were significantly associated with transplant rejection in SOTRs.

Efficiency of endovascular management with a combination of Onyx and coils for direct and indirect carotid cavernous fistula treatment: experience of a single center

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment with a combination of Onyx and coils for carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs), and to characterize the factors associated with clinical and angiographic outcomes for direct and indirect CCFs.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 31 patients with CCF treated with an endovascular procedure between December 2017 and March 2022.

RESULTS

Direct and indirect CCFs were found in 14 (45.2%) and 17 (54.8%) cases, respectively. Direct CCFs included eleven traumatic carotid cavernous fistulas. The most common symptom on admission was chemosis, which was seen in 17 (54.8%) patients. Eight (25.7%) cases were treated by the transarterial approach. Fourteen (45.2%) cases were treated using the femoral vein-inferior petrosal sinus approach. Seven (22.6%) were treated by direct puncture of the superior ophthalmic vein. Two (6.5%) were treated by the femoral vein-facial vein approach. Immediate complete occlusion and follow-up rates were 93.5% and 96.7%, respectively. Twenty-nine (96.7%) patients experienced an improvement in their symptoms at clinical follow-up. Chemosis was significantly improved or resolved in 15 patients. Ophthalmoplegia was improved or resolved in 10 patients. Visual impairment was improved in 6 patients. Proptosis was improved or resolved in 5 patients. One case (3.2%) experienced procedure-related complication presented with transient oculomotor nerve palsy. In univariate subgroup analysis, use of balloon, treatment approach, and history of head trauma were significantly different between the direct and indirect CCF groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatment with a combination of Onyx and coils is a safe and effective therapy for CCFs. In this study, the transarterial approach was a favorable option for embolization of direct CCFs. In contrast, the transvenous approach may be the first choice of treatment for indirect CCFs.

Modified ultrasound scalpel haemorrhoidectomy versus conventional haemorrhoidectomy for mixed haemorrhoids: a study protocol for a single-blind randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Haemorrhoids are common and frequently occurring diseases in the clinical setting, and severe haemorrhoids require surgical treatment. There are various surgical methods to treat haemorrhoids, but each has advantages and disadvantages. In recent years, ultrasonic scalpels have been used in haemorrhoid surgery and have achieved good results. Ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy is safer and more effective in the surgical treatment of grade III and IV haemorrhoids, with less intraoperative bleeding, less postoperative pain, and fewer complications than diathermic therapy, electrosurgical haemorrhoidectomy, PROXIMATE® PPH haemorrhoidal circular stapler haemorrhoidopexy (PPH), and traditional haemorrhoidectomy. In previous reports, the majority of ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomies were performed as open procedures, with only the body of the haemorrhoid removed with the ultrasonic scalpel and the wound left open for drainage and natural healing. However, we performed a preliminary experiment with 12 patients who underwent open ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy in the early stage. The results showed that 8 patients had different degrees of postoperative bleeding, and 4 of them required a second haemostatic surgery under anaesthesia. Therefore, we modified the open ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy procedure by removing the mucosa of the internal haemorrhoid and closing the base of the incision with figure-eight penetrating sutures and designed this study protocol to evaluate its clinical efficacy and safety.

METHODS

A randomised single-blind parallel-controlled trial is proposed for this project, and patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be divided into a test group and a control group, with 39 patients in each group. The experimental group will be treated with modified ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy, and the control group will be treated with the Milligan-Morgan operation. The effectiveness of modified ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy for haemorrhoids will be objectively evaluated, including the incision healing time and the time for patients to return to normal activities, postoperative complications, evaluations of anal function 3 months and 6 months after surgery, an evaluation of quality of life 6 months after surgery, and an evaluation of the patient satisfaction rate 6 months after surgery. The safety assessment will consider all adverse and serious adverse events associated with the study treatment.

DISCUSSION

The study was approved by the ethics committee. The first patient was registered on July 1 2021. The purpose of this trial will be to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the modified ultrasonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy procedure for the treatment of mixed haemorrhoids and to provide an evidence base for the clinical promotion and application of the procedure. A limitation of this study is that only the patients will be single-blinded because the researchers and the patients cannot be blinded at the same time, which may produce certain bias in the results. In addition, the sample size of this study will be small, and the test results will only represent the findings from this clinical trial. In later stages, the sample size needs to be further expanded to improve the level of evidence. Despite its limitations, we hope the present study will help provide a more optimised surgical approach in the selection of haemorrhoid surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration ID: ChiCTR2100047229). Registered on June 11, 2021.

Percutaneous transhepatic intraportal biopsy using gastroscope biopsy forceps for diagnosis of a pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm: A case report

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) are a rare group of neoplasms originating from the islets of the Langerhans. Portal vein tumor thrombosis has been reported in 33% of patients with PNENs. While the histopathological diagnosis of PNENs is usually based on percutaneous biopsy or endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), these approaches may be impeded by gastric varices, poor access windows, or anatomically contiguous critical structures. Obtaining a pathological diagnosis using a gastroscope biopsy forceps via percutaneous transhepatic intravascular pathway is an innovative method that has rarely been reported.

CASE SUMMARY

A 72-year-old man was referred to our hospital for abdominal pain and melena. Abdominal contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-enhanced tumor (size: 2.4 cm × 1.2 cm × 1.2 cm) in the pancreatic tail with portal vein invasion. Traditional pathological diagnosis via EUS-FNA was not possible because of diffuse gastric varices. We performed a percutaneous transportal biopsy of the portal vein tumor thrombus using a gastroscope biopsy forceps. Histopathologic examination revealed a pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (G2) with somatostatin receptors 2 (+), allowing systemic treatment.

CONCLUSION

Intravascular biopsy using gastroscope biopsy forceps appears to be a safe and effective method for obtaining a histopathological diagnosis. Although well-designed clinic trials are required to obtain more definitive evidence, this procedure may help improve the diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis and related diseases.

Bladder preservation in complicated invasive urothelial carcinoma following treatment with cisplatin/gemcitabine plus tislelizumab: A case report

BACKGROUND

Invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC) with squamous and glandular differentiation is a highly malignant and complicated pathological subtype, and the standard care is radical cystectomy (RC). However, urinary diversion after RC significantly reduces patient quality of life, thus bladder-sparing therapy has become a research hotspot in this field. Recently, five immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for systemic therapy of locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer by the Food and Drug Administration, but the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for invasive UC is still unknown, especially for pathological subtypes with squamous and glandular differentiation.

CASE SUMMARY

We report the case of a 60-year-old male who complained of repetitive painless gross hematuria and was diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer with squamous and glandular differentiation, defined as cT3N1M0 according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer, who had a strong desire to preserve the bladder. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in the tumor was positive. Thus, a transurethral resection to maximize removal of the bladder tumor was performed under cystoscopy, and the patient subsequently received a combination of chemotherapy (cisplatin/gemcitabine) and immunotherapy (tislelizumab) treatment. No tumor recurrence in the bladder was observed following pathological and imaging examination after 2 cycles and 4 cycles of treatment, respectively. The patient achieved bladder preservation and has been tumor-free for more than two years.

CONCLUSION

This case shows that the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy might be an effective and safe treatment strategy for PD-L1 expression positive UC with divergent histologic differentiation.

Identification of 1q21.1 microduplication in a family: A case report

BACKGROUND

Copy number variation (CNV) has become widely recognized in recent years due to the extensive use of gene screening in developmental disorders and epilepsy research. 1q21.1 microduplication syndrome is a rare CNV disease that can manifest as multiple congenital developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, congenital malformations, and congenital heart defects with genetic heterogeneity.

CASE SUMMARY

We reported a pediatric patient with 1q21.1 microduplication syndrome, and carried out a literature review to determine the correlation between 1q21.1 microduplication and its phenotypes. We summarized the patient’s medical history and clinical symptoms, and extracted genomic DNA from the patient, her parents, elder brother, and sister. The patient was an 8-mo-old girl who was hospitalized for recurrent convulsions over a 2-mo period. Whole exon sequencing and whole genome low-depth sequencing (CNV-seq) were then performed. Whole exon sequencing detected a 1.58-Mb duplication in the CHR1:145883867-147465312 region, which was located in the 1q21.1 region. Family analysis showed that the pathogenetic duplication fragment, which was also detected in her elder brother’s DNA originated from the mother.

CONCLUSION

Whole exon sequencing combined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction can provide an accurate molecular diagnosis in children with 1q21.1 microduplication syndrome, which is of great significance for genetic counseling and early intervention.

Unexpected breast cancer mimicking benign lesions on ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision biopsy: A retrospective cross-sectional study over a 20-year period

Objectives

This study investigated the occurrence rate of unexpected breast cancer (UEBC) mimicking benign lesions [Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 or 4a] using ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision biopsy (US-VAEB), and explored the factors responsible for late diagnosis of T2 stage UEBC.

Materials and methods

We collected clinicopathologic data and preoperative US imaging features within 3 months before US-VAEB of patients who were diagnosed with UEBC from January 2002 to September 2022. The UEBC were divided into T1 and T2 stageUEBC. The US imaging features as well as clinical and pathological information of T1 and T2 stage UEBC were compared to explore the factors responsible for late diagnosis of T2 stage UEBC.

Results

Breast cancer was diagnosed in 91 of 19 306 patients who underwent US-VAEB. We excluded eight patients with breast cancer assigned to BI-RADS 4b category by preoperative US, and two for whom US imaging records were unavailable. Finally, we enrolled 81 patients. The occurrence rate of UEBC after US-VAEB was 0.42%(81/19296). Of the 81 cases of UEBC, 22 were at T2 stage. The ratio of T2 stage UEBC was 27.2%. The differences in risk factor of breast cancer and routine breast US screening between T1 and T2 stage UEBC were significant[96.6% (57/59) vs 81.8% (18/22), 44.1% (26/59) vs 13.6% (3/22), respectively, P<0.05).

Conclusion

UEBC was rarely detected by US-VAEB. Most cases of T2 stage UEBC were diagnosed late because of the absence of routine US screening and risk factors for breast cancer. Stricter clinical management regulations for breast lesions and performing regular US screening may be helpful to reduce T2 stage UEBC.

Different MRI-based methods for the diagnosis of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Accurate preoperative diagnosis of neurovascular compression (NVC) is crucial in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) or hemifacial spasm (HFS). At present, there are many magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based methods for diagnosing NVC in clinical practice. This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different MRI-based imaging methods for NVC in patients with TN and HFS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Related studies based on a search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were retrieved. A two-way analysis of variance model was constructed for the Bayesian NMA to compare the performance of different diagnostic imaging methods.

RESULTS

Our search identified 595 articles, of which 26 studies (including 2085 patients) related to 4 diagnostic imaging methods (3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA), high resolution T2-weighted imaging (HR T2WI), 3D TOF MRA combined with HR T2WI, and 3D multimodal image fusion (MIF) based on 3D TOF MRA combined with HR T2WI) were included in this NMA. The results showed that 3D MIF based on 3D TOF MRA combined with HR T2WI had the highest related sensitivity, the highest superiority index and the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve among all the methods.

CONCLUSIONS

3D MIF based on 3D TOF MRA combined with HR T2WI had better diagnostic performance for detecting NVC in patients with TN or HSF than other MRI-based imaging methods. This method can be used as an effective tool for preoperative evaluation of MVD.

Discussion on gemcitabine combined with targeted drugs in the treatment of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor with poor prognosis. The treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the tumor stage and type, and includes local treatment (surgery, radiotherapy and ablation intervention) and systemic therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy). We read with great interest the review “Effective combinations of anti-cancer and targeted drugs for pancreatic cancer treatment” published on World J Gastroenterol and intended to share some of our perspectives in pancreatic cancer treatment. This review presents the therapeutic effects of the combination of gemcitabine and targeted drugs, which gives us a deeper insight into the combination treatments for pancreatic cancer.

Nomogram Based on Preoperative Fibrinogen and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Predicting Recurrence and Prognosis of Patients with Borrmann Type III Advanced Gastric Cancer

Background and Objectives

The prognosis is known to differ significantly among advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with Borrmann type III. This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of these patients more individually.

Methods

We selected 542 AGC patients with Borrmann type III. We used the receiver operating characteristic curve to analyze the cutoff values of inflammation indexes, and used Kaplan-Meier and Log rank tests to analyze recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The independent risk factors for recurrence and prognosis were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression model. The nomogram models were constructed by R studio.

Results

Patients with high preoperative fibrinogen (F) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) levels had worse RFS and OS and higher risk of postoperative locoregional recurrence, hematogenous metastasis and lymph node metastasis. F and SII can combine with different clinicopathological features (all P<0.05) to construct nomograms to predict 5-year recurrence and prognosis, which both were superior to pTNM stage alone.

Conclusion

The nomogram models based on F and SII can evaluate AGC with Borrmann type III postoperative recurrence and prognosis.

Hoffa's fracture in a five-year-old child diagnosed and treated with the assistance of arthroscopy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Hoffa's fracture is a coronal-oriented fracture of the femoral condyle. It is rarely observed in pediatric patients that isolated coronal fracture of the medial femoral condyle accompanies an intact lateral femoral condyle. Only a few cases involving Hoffa's fracture of the medial femoral condyle have been reported in patients with undeveloped skeletons. Such a fracture cannot be observed by routine imaging examinations, thus resulting in possible misdiagnosis and further treatment challenges.

CASE SUMMARY

A 5-year-old boy with Hoffa's fracture of the medial femoral condyle suffered from right knee pain and severe swelling after being hit by a heavy object. The patient was misdiagnosed and initially treated in a local primary healthcare center. No improvement in his right knee’s extension was observed following conservative treatment for 2 wk. The patient was transferred to our hospital, re-diagnosed using arthroscopy, and underwent open reduction and internal fixation. The therapeutic outcome was satisfactory with the screws removed 7 mo after fixation. At the final follow-up of 40 mo, the range of motion in the knee had recovered. There was no varus-valgus instability.

CONCLUSION

Hoffa's fracture is rarely seen in children aged 5 years, let alone in the medial condyle, and can easily be misdiagnosed due to limited physical and imaging examinations. Suspected Hoffa's fracture in preschool children should be confirmed based on arthroscopic findings. Open reduction and internal fixation should be performed to protect the articular surface and prevent long-term complications.

Deep learning based radiomics for gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis and treatment: A minireview

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are the major cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Medical imaging is an important auxiliary means for the diagnosis, assessment and prognostic prediction of GI cancers. Radiomics is an emerging and effective technology to decipher the encoded information within medical images, and traditional machine learning is the most commonly used tool. Recent advances in deep learning technology have further promoted the development of radiomics. In the field of GI cancer, although there are several surveys on radiomics, there is no specific review on the application of deep-learning-based radiomics (DLR). In this review, a search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar with an emphasis on the application of DLR for GI cancers, including esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. Besides, the challenges and recommendations based on the findings of the review are comprehensively analyzed to advance DLR.

Panorama of Breakthrough Infection Caused by SARS-CoV-2: A Review

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2019, many countries have successively developed a variety of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, with the continuous spread of SARS-CoV-2, it has evolved several variants; as a result, prevention and control of the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has become more important. Among these variants, the Omicron variant has higher transmissibility and immune escape ability and is the main variant causing a large number of COVID-19 breakthrough infection, thus, presenting new challenges to pandemic prevention and control. Hence, we review the biological characteristics of the Omicron variant and discuss the current status and possible mechanism of breakthrough infection caused by the Omicron variant in order to provide insights into the prevention and control of the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2.

Immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic agents in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Malignant pleural mesothelioma has limited therapeutic options and a poor outcome. Antiangiogenic agents might increase the efficacy of immunotherapy as second-line treatment of advanced-stage malignancies.

CASE SUMMARY

A patient with stage IIIB pleural mesothelioma received second-line treatment with a combination of pembrolizumab, bevacizumab and chemotherapy following standard chemotherapy under the guidance of second-generation sequencing. He achieved a partial response after four cycles of treatment with progression-free survival of 5 mo. Pembrolizumab was suspended due to grade 2 immunerelated pneumonia, which was resolved by oral glucocorticoids. However, disease progression was observed after immunotherapy rechallenge and anlotinib therapy. The patient had disease progression, multiorgan dysfuntion and died suddenly in October 2019.

CONCLUSION

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitor, anti-angiogenic agents and chemotherapy showed effective response for advanced pleural mesothelioma, but with adverse reactions.

Incontinentia pigmenti with intracranial arachnoid cyst: A case report

BACKGROUND

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is a rare X-linked dominant genetic disorder that can be fatal in male infants. It is a disease that affects many systems of the human body. In addition to characteristic skin changes, patients may also have pathological features of the eyes, teeth, and central nervous system. Therefore, the lesions in these systems may be the first symptoms for which patients seek treatment. To date, no cases of IP complicated by intracranial arachnoid cyst (IAC) have been reported. This paper aims to report a case of IP with IAC in order to share the diagnosis and treatment experience of this rare case with other clinicians.

CASE SUMMARY

An 11-year-old female patient suffered intermittent limb convulsions for five months and was sent to hospital. In the initial stage, the patient was considered to have primary epilepsy. Further investigation of the patient's medical history, physical examination and imaging examination led to the diagnosis of IP combined with intracranial space-occupying lesions, and secondary epilepsy. The patient was treated with craniotomy, and postoperative pathology revealed an IAC. The patient recovered well after craniotomy and had no obvious surgery-related complications. During the follow-up period, the patient did not have recurrent epilepsy symptoms.

CONCLUSION

IP is a multi-system disease that presents with typical skin lesions at birth, but the long-term prognosis of this disease depends on the involvement of systems other than the skin, especially nervous system and ocular lesions.

Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for spleen preservation in laparoscopic splenic artery aneurysm resection: A case report

BACKGROUND

Splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is a rare vascular lesion conventionally treated by resection or interventional therapy. The surgical procedure usually involves splenectomy, and interventional therapy may cause post-embolization syndromes. Preservation of the spleen and its function is rarely reported during the management of SAA.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a patient with an asymptomatic SAA (3.5 cm in diameter), which was en-bloc resected laparoscopically using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging to preserve the spleen and its function.

CONCLUSION

ICG fluorescence imaging for spleen preservation in laparoscopic SAA resection is safe and may be beneficial in avoiding splenectomy and maintaining splenic function.

Atezolizumab‑associated encephalitis in metastatic breast cancer: A case report

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been critical in the treatment of advanced malignancies in recent years. Encephalitis caused by atezolizumab is an uncommon immune-related adverse event. The case of a 65-year-old female diagnosed with encephalitis closely associated with atezolizumab medication for metastatic advanced breast cancer is presented in the current study. Following a fourth atezolizumab dose 10 days previously, the patient fell into a deep coma. Initial brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple patchy T2 hyperintensities in the bilateral cerebellar hemisphere, vermis of the cerebellum, bilateral frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and occipital cortex. Meanwhile, there were aberrant signs on diffusion-weighted imaging. The diagnosis of atezolizumab-induced encephalitis seemed probable after ruling out other possible causes of encephalitis. Subsequently, the condition of the patient worsened and there were indications of cardiac and respiratory arrest. Chest compressions were provided immediately, as well as a balloon mask for assisted ventilation, a medication boost, stimulated breathing and other symptomatic therapy. The patient's vital signs temporarily stabilised after this series of rescue measures. The patient refused further therapy and insisted on being discharged, and died a few days after being discharged from the hospital. In this case, the patient's encephalitis symptoms associated with atezolizumab were not as typical as previously documented. The patient's condition swiftly deteriorated to heartbeat apnea, and steroid pulse therapy was not received in a timely manner, resulting in an unfavourable outcome.

Comparison of involved-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with S-1 vs radiotherapy alone for elderly patients with esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

It is estimated that about 30% of esophageal cancer (EC) patients are over 70 years old. Therefore, there is less evidence on the diagnosis and management of elderly EC patients. It is important to explore how elderly EC patients benefit from radical radiochemotherapy regimens, including the target area of radiotherapy (RT), radiation dose and fraction, and choice of chemotherapy drugs.

AIM

To compare the efficacy of involved-field intensity-modulated RT (IF-IMRT) combined with S-1 vs RT alone in the treatment of elderly EC patients in terms of safety, short-term response, and survival.

METHODS

Thirty-four EC patients aged > 70 years were prospectively enrolled between December 2017 and December 2019. Based on the random number table, they were divided into an IF-IMRT + S-1 group and an IF-IMRT alone group, with 17 patients in each group. All patients were treated with IF-IMRT at a dose of 50.4-56 Gy in 28-30 fractions (1.8-2 Gy/fraction, 5 fractions/wk). Oral S-1 was administered concomitantly in the IF-IMRT + S-1 group for 14 consecutive days, and a second cycle was started 7 d after drug withdrawal. After RT, 4 cycles of S-1 treatment were offered as the consolidation chemotherapy. The safety, short-term response, and survival were observed after the treatment.

RESULTS

As of April 2022, these 34 patients had been followed up for 15.2-32.5 mo, with a median follow-up period of 24.5 mo. Complete efficacy indicators were obtained from all the patients. The objective response rate was 88.2% vs 76.5%, respectively, in the IF-IMRT + S-1 group and the RT alone group, where as the disease control rate was 100% vs 82.4%, respectively. The incidence of adverse events including grade 1-2 fatigue, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, radiation esophagitis, radiation-induced skin injury, and radiation-induced lung injury was not significantly different between these two groups, so was the incidence of the grade 3 radiation esophagitis (0% vs 5.7%). The rate of progressive disease (PD) was 52.9% (n = 9) in the IF-IMRT + S-1 group and 64.7% (n = 11) in the RT alone group. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 23.4 mo vs 16.3 mo, and the 2-year PFS rate was 42% vs 41.2%. The median overall survival (OS) was 27.0 mo vs 23.0 mo, and the 2-year OS rate was 58.8% vs 47.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that age was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.0019); patients aged < 75 years had a significant survival advantage over patients aged ≥ 75 years. The locations of EC also affected the prognosis. In the IF-IMRT + S-1 group, the number of chemotherapy cycles was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.0125), and the risk of PD was significantly lower in EC patients who had received 6 cycles of chemotherapy than those who had received 2-5 cycles of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Compared with IF-IMRT alone, IF-IMRT + S-1 shows the benefits of preventing PD and prolonging survival without increasing adverse reactions. Therefore, this concurrent radiochemotherapy deserves clinical application.

Application of exosome-derived noncoding RNAs in bone regeneration: Opportunities and challenges

With advances in the fields of regenerative medicine, cell-free therapy has received increased attention. Exosomes have a variety of endogenous properties that provide stability for molecular transport across biological barriers to cells, as a form of cell-to-cell communication that regulates function and phenotype. In addition, exosomes are an important component of paracrine signaling in stem-cell-based therapy and can be used as a stand-alone therapy or as a drug delivery system. The remarkable potential of exosomes has paved the pathway for cell-free treatment in bone regeneration. Exosomes are enriched in distinct noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long ncRNAs and circular RNAs. Different ncRNAs have multiple functions. Altered expression of ncRNA in exosomes is associated with the regenerative potential and development of various diseases, such as femoral head osteonecrosis, myocardial infarction, and cancer. Although there is increasing evidence that exosome-derived ncRNAs (exo-ncRNAs) have the potential for bone regeneration, the detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we review the biogenesis of exo-ncRNA and the effects of ncRNAs on angiogenesis and osteoblast- and osteoclast-related pathways in different diseases. However, there are still many unsolved problems and challenges in the clinical application of ncRNA; for instance, production, storage, targeted delivery and therapeutic potency assessment. Advancements in exo-ncRNA methods and design will promote the development of therapeutics, revolutionizing the present landscape.

Metabolic-epigenetic nexus in regulation of stem cell fate

Stem cell fate determination is one of the central questions in stem cell biology, and although its regulation has been studied at genomic and proteomic levels, a variety of biological activities in cells occur at the metabolic level. Metabolomics studies have established the metabolome during stem cell differentiation and have revealed the role of metabolites in stem cell fate determination. While metabolism is considered to play a biological regulatory role as an energy source, recent studies have suggested the nexus between metabolism and epigenetics because several metabolites function as cofactors and substrates in epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modification, DNA methylation, and microRNAs. Additionally, the epigenetic modification is sensitive to the dynamic metabolites and consequently leads to changes in transcription. The nexus between metabolism and epigenetics proposes a novel stem cell-based therapeutic strategy through manipulating metabolites. In the present review, we summarize the possible nexus between metabolic and epigenetic regulation in stem cell fate determination, and discuss the potential preventive and therapeutic strategies via targeting metabolites.