Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: Does Laterality Matter?

BACKGROUND

Sarcomas are malignant tumors of connective tissue that can vary widely in etiology. Parameters such as grade, extent of resection, and tumor integrity have been shown to affect prognosis. Our principal aim was to examine associations between the laterality of retroperitoneal sarcomas and tumor characteristics, treatment, and patient outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients treated at our tertiary referral center with a diagnosis of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma who underwent tumor resection. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test, whereas continuous variables were compared using one-way analysis of variance. Cox regression was used to estimate the risk of death.

RESULTS

Data from 106 patients were analyzed. A greater proportion of bilateral or midline tumors were leiomyosarcomas (P = 0.02), whereas right-sided tumors were more likely to be liposarcoma (P = 0.02). There was no significant relationship between laterality and tumor grade or stage. Two-thirds of patients had at least one contiguous organ resected (n = 68, 65.4%). Patients with nephrectomy during sarcoma resection were more likely to have right-sided disease (P = 0.02). Splenectomy and pancreatectomy were associated with left-sided disease (P < 0.01; P < 0.01), and pancreaticoduodenectomies with bilateral or midline disease (P < 0.001). Adjusting for age, sex, race, grade, stage, histology, and treatment, there was no increased risk of death or recurrence based on laterality.

CONCLUSIONS

Although laterality did not seem to have a measurable relationship with patient outcomes or survival, there was a significant association between laterality, tumor histology, and resection of contiguous organs. These preliminary findings warrant further investigation.

A polymorphic MYC response element in KBTBD11 influences colorectal cancer risk, especially in interaction with an MYC-regulated SNP rs6983267

Background

MYC is a well-established cancer driver gene regulating the expression of numerous genes, indicating that polymorphisms in MYC response elements could affect tumorigenesis through altering MYC regulation. We performed integrative multistage study to evaluate the effects of variants in MYC response elements and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk.

Patients and methods

We systematically integrated ChIP-Seq, DNase-Seq and transcription factor motif data to screen variants with potential ability to affect the MYC binding affinity. Then, we conducted a two-stage case-control study, totally consisting of 4830 CRC cases and 4759 controls in Chinese population to identify risk polymorphisms and interactions. The effects of risk variants were confirmed by functional assays in CRC LoVo, SW480 and HCT15 cells.

Results

We identified a novel polymorphism rs11777210 in KBTBD11 significantly associated with CRC susceptibility (P = 2.43 × 10-12). Notably, we observed a significant interaction between rs11777210 and MYC nearby rs6983267 (P-multi = 0.003, P-add = 0.005), subjects carrying rs6983267 GG and rs11777210 CC genotypes showing higher susceptibility to CRC (2.83-fold) than those carrying rs6983267 TT and rs11777210 TT genotypes. We further demonstrated that rs6983267 T > G increased MYC expression, and MYC bound to and negatively regulated KBTBD11 expression when the rs11777210 C risk allele was present. KBTBD11 was downregulated in tumor tissues, and KBTBD11 knockdown promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis.

Conclusion

The rs11777210 is a potential predictive biomarker of CRC susceptibility, and KBTBD11 functions as a putative tumor suppressor in tumorigenesis. Our study highlighted the high CRC risk of people carrying rs6983267 G and rs11777210 C alleles, and provided possible biological mechanism of the interaction.

Gastrostomy tube for nutrition and bowel obstruction in patients with advanced malignancy: Less is more

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Background: Malnutrition and malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) are common consequences of advanced malignancy. Both lead to a poor prognosis, frequent hospitalizations, and have a negative impact on quality of life. The aim of this study is to explore gastrostomy tube (g-tube) placement practices to better define the role of g-tube role in advanced malignancy. Methods: Patients who underwent g-tube placement at our tertiary cancer care center between 2013 and 2017 were included in this study. Patients’ demographics, diagnosis, procedures, postoperative course, and clinical data were collected. Complications and survival were used as endpoints. Results: Two hundred forty-two cancer patients with an average age at diagnosis of 61 years (range 21-94) underwent g-tube placement for nutrition (76.4%), decompression (MBO) (22.7%), or both (0.8%). Active treatment within 3 months of g-tube insertion was seen in 37.8% of the nutrition group versus 29.1% in the MBO group (p = 0.208). Successful insertion was achieved in 96.8% of patients, but nine patients required more than one method of insertion attempt. In the nutrition group, successful method of insertion was 88.1% in interventional radiology, 8.1% in operating room, and 3.8% in endoscopy suite, compared to 81.8%, 14.5%, and 3.6% for the MBO group, respectively (p = 0.426). Post-placement complications were significantly less common in the MBO group compared to the nutrition group (24.1 vs. 54.3%, p < 0.001). Consultation pattern in the MBO group revealed that 45.5% had a palliative care consult, 56.4% were seen by social work, and 47.3% went to hospice. Survival in the MBO group was significantly shorter than in the nutrition group at 30 days (52.7 vs. 90.3%, p < 0.001), 1-year (54.6 vs. 5.9%, p<0.001), and three years (24.1 vs 1.8%, p = 0.001) after g-tube placement. Conclusions: In our experience, most patients who undergo g-tube insertion are not receiving active treatment and a large proportion of patients who receive a decompressive g-tube have a life expectancy of less than a month. These findings will inform the next step of our study: creating a discussion tool to coordinate better care and interventional decision making for patients with advanced malignancy.

Establishment of a Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Monitoring Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Peripheral Blood

BACKGROUND

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) consists of an antigen recognition moiety from a monoclonal antibody fused to an intracellular signalling domain capable of activating T cells. The specific structure of the CAR molecule has been used in various basic research and clinical settings to detect CAR expression, but it is necessary to develop more specific and simpler monitoring methods to observe real-time changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To develop a quantitative assay for the universal detection of DNA from anti-CD19 CAR-T cells, a TaqMan real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was developed using primers based on FMC63-28Z gene sequences. We identified the numbers of copies of CAR gene on T cells transduced with the CAR gene that were obtained from peripheral blood.

RESULTS

The assay had a minimum detection limit of 10 copies/μL and a strong linear standard curve (y = -3.3682x + 38.594; R² = 0.999) within the range of the input CAR gene (10-10⁷ copies/μL). The reproducibility test showed a coefficient of variation ranging from 0.63%-1.65%. Real-time qPCR is a highly sensitive, specific, reproducible, and universal method that can be used to detect anti-CD19 CAR-T cells in peripheral blood.

Dysfunction of the WT1-MEG3 signaling promotes AML leukemogenesis via p53-dependent and -independent pathways

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, exemplified by the recent finding that lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) inhibits tumor growth in a p53-dependent manner. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common malignant myeloid disorder in adults, and TP53 mutations or loss are frequently detected in patients with therapy-related AML or AML with complex karyotype. Here, we reveal that MEG3 is significantly downregulated in AML and suppresses leukemogenesis not only in a p53-dependent, but also a p53-independent manner. In addition, MEG3 is proven to be transcriptionally activated by Wilms’ tumor 1 (WT1), dysregulation of which by epigenetic silencing or mutations is causally involved in AML. Therefore MEG3 is identified as a novel target of the WT1 molecule. Ten–eleven translocation-2 (TET2) mutations frequently occur in AML and significantly promote leukemogenesis of this disorder. In our study, TET2, acting as a cofactor of WT1, increases MEG3 expression. Taken together, our work demonstrates that TET2 dysregulated WT1-MEG3 axis significantly promotes AML leukemogenesis, paving a new avenue for diagnosis and treatment of AML patients.

Fabrication of HA/PEI-functionalized carbon dots for tumor targeting, intracellular imaging and gene delivery

Carbon quantum dots (CDs) as emerging carbon nano-materials have attracted tremendous attention in biomedical fields due to unique properties.

Effect of ozone on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and related inflammatory cytokines in rats with diabetic retinopathy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ozone on inflammatory cytokines in diabetic retinopathy (DR) rats. Male rats (40) weighing 300-360 g were included in this study. Thirty rats were randomly divided into the model and ozone groups after DR was induced by streptozotocin. Ten rats served as the blank group. After the diabetic models were established for one month, the rats in the ozone group were treated with 50 mg/kg ozone coloclysis for one month (three times a week). After the rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection, blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected, and the supernatant was obtained by centrifugation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory cytokine content in the serum was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The values of VEGF, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6 were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.05). The cytokine levels in the model group were higher than those in the blank group (P < 0.05). The level of each cytokine in the ozone group was higher than that in the blank group. Compared with the model group, the cytokine levels in the ozone group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Ozone had no effect on the blood glucose of diabetic rats. Treatment with ozone coloclysis may effectively reduce the secretion of VEGF and inflammatory cytokines in diabetic retinopathy rats.

Resonant surface plasmon-exciton interaction in hybrid MoSe2@Au nanostructures

In this work we investigate the interaction between plasmonic and excitonic resonances in hybrid MoSe2@Au nanostructures. The latter were fabricated by combining chemical vapor deposition of MoSe2 atomic layers, Au disk processing by nanosphere lithography and a soft lift-off/transfer technique. The samples were characterized by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. Their optical properties were investigated experimentally using optical absorption, Raman scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The work is focused on a resonant situation where the surface plasmon resonance is tuned to the excitonic transition. In that case, the near-field interaction between the surface plasmons and the confined excitons leads to interference between the plasmonic and excitonic resonances that manifests in the optical spectra as a transparency dip. The plasmonic-excitonic interaction regime is determined using quantitative analysis of the optical extinction spectra based on an analytical model supported by numerical simulations. We found that the plasmonic-excitonic resonances do interfere thus leading to a typical Fano lineshape of the optical extinction. The near-field nature of the plasmonic-excitonic interaction is pointed out experimentally from the dependence of the optical absorption on the number of monolayer stacks on the Au nanodisks. The results presented in this work contribute to the development of new concepts in the field of hybrid plasmonics.

Prenatal Iron Deficiency and Auditory Brainstem Responses at 3 and 10 Months: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE

To examine whether prenatal iron deficiency delays auditory brainstem response (ABR) maturation in infancy.

METHODS

One hundred and fifteen full-term healthy Chinese infants with maternal and cord blood haemoglobin and serum ferritin determinations were recruited into this study. Forty-eight infants received ABR testing at 3 months, and 45 infants were tested at 10 months. Comparison of the ABR variables were made between infants with and those without evidence of prenatal iron deficiency (maternal 3rd trimester haemoglobin <110 g/L, cord blood ferritin <75 μg/L); or anaemia at 10 months (haemoglobin <110 g/L).

RESULTS

Latencies for wave V and wave III-V and I-V intervals were prolonged at 3 months in infants of anaemic mothers (effect sizes 1.02-1.19 SD). At 10 months, infants with low cord blood serum ferritin (indicating low iron stores at birth) showed longer wave I latency and possibly wave V latency also, besides demonstrating a smaller wave V amplitude (effect sizes 0.58-0.62 SD). Infants with low ferritin at birth and anemia at 10 months had longer wave III-V latency than other groups.

CONCLUSION

In full-term healthy infants, prenatal iron deficiency appears to have adverse effects on the developing central nervous system and auditory system as assessed by ABRs at 3 and/or 10 months.

Hyaluronic acid functionalized nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots for targeted specific bioimaging

Schematic illustration of the preparation of HA-CQDs (A) and the following bioimaging application (B).

A meta analysis of cetuximab plus oxaliplatin based chemotherapy regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Oxaliplatin based chemotherapy regimen was one of the most used chemotherapy modality for metastatic colorectal cancer. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the clinical activity and toxicities of cetuximab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen for metastatic colorectal Cancer.

METHODS

We searched the clinical studies about the cetuximab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen versus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy alone for metastatic colorectal cancer in the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochran, and CNKI. The data of response and toxicities were extracted and pooled by random or fixed effects model. And publication bias was evaluated by begg's funnel plot and egger's regression test.

RESULTS

Seven papers were included in this study. Adding cetuximab to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regime can significant increase response rate in K-RAS mutation metastatic colorectal patients (odds ratio [OR]: 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.80, Z = 3.38, P = 0.001) and metastatic colorectal patients without knowing the K-RAS status (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.11-1.65, Z = 1.89, P = 0.003). But for patients with mutated K-RAS, the improvement for objective response rate was not statistical significant (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.49-1.01, Z = 3.00, P = 0.058) when adding cetuximab to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regime. The pooled results indicating the rash and diarrhea risk was significantly increased in the combined treatment group (P < 0.05). The toxicity of peripheral neuritis was decreased by adding the cetuximab (P < 0.05). And other toxicities were not statistical different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Significant publication bias was found in toxicities evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Cetuximab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen significant increase the response rate for metastatic colorectal cancer. But the some toxicities such rash and diarrhea risk was also increased.

Effect of different time phases of radionuclide hepatobiliary scintigraphy on the differential diagnosis of congenital biliary atresia

To investigate the value and essentiality of 6- and 24-h delay hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA), we retrospectively analyzed 197 infants (121 boys/76 girls; age range, 3-205 days; average age, 63.9 days) admitted to Jiangxi Children's Hospital for persistent jaundice (> 2 weeks), hepatosplenomegaly, and abnormal liver function. After receiving anti-inflammatory treatment and cholagogic pre-treatment for 7-10 days without a clear diagnosis, the children underwent 99mTc-labeled diethylacetanilide-iminodiacetic acid hepatobiliary scintigraphy. BA and infant hepatitis syndrome were diagnosed in 107 and 90 infants, respectively after laparoscopic cholangiography, surgical pathology, or 6-month clinical follow-up. The diagnostic efficiencies of hepatobiliary scintigraphy for BA were evaluated within 50 min and at 6 and 24 h. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves within 50 min, at 6 and 24 h were 0.696, 0.829 , and 0.779 , suggesting poor diagnostic value within 50 min, but improvement at 6 and 24 h. The compliance rate of 6- and 24-h imaging for BA diagnosis was 89.34% (176/197; paired chi-square test Kappa value, 0.77; P > 0.05), signifying high consistency. The diagnostic efficiency values of 6-/24-h imaging for BA diagnosis were sensitivity (90.65/89.72%), specificity (74.44/78.89%), accuracy (83.25/84.77%), positive and negative predictive values (80.83/83.48% and 87.01/86.59%), with no significant difference (P > 0.05). To provide optimal treatment in early BA, the- 6-h hepatobiliary scintigraphy had practical value, especially when combined with tomographic or dynamic imaging; 24-h delay imaging was deemed unnecessary because it was not significantly superior.

On-chip lithium cells for electrical and structural characterization of single nanowire electrodes

We present a transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-compatible, hybrid nanomachined, on-chip construct for probing the structural and electrical changes in individual nanowire electrodes during lithium insertion. We have assembled arrays of individual β-phase manganese dioxide (β-MnO2) nanowires (NWs), which are employed as a model material system, into functional electrochemical cells through a combination of bottom-up (dielectrophoresis) and top-down (silicon nanomachining) unit processes. The on-chip NWs are electrochemically lithiated inside a helium-filled glovebox and their electrical conductivity is studied as a function of incremental lithium loading during initial lithiation. We observe a dramatic reduction in NW conductivity (on the order of two to three orders in magnitude), which is not reversed when the lithium is extracted from the nanoelectrode. This conductivity change is attributed to an increase in lattice disorder within the material, which is observed from TEM images of the lithiated NWs. Furthermore, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was employed to confirm the reduction in valence state of manganese, which occurs due to the transformation of MnO2 to LixMnO2.

Quantitative analysis of the temperature dependency in Raman active vibrational modes of molybdenum disulfide atomic layers

Raman spectroscopy is utilized to quantify the temperature dependency of the vibrational modes in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) atomic layers. These analyses are essential for understanding the structural properties and phononic behaviors of this two-dimensional (2D) material. We quantitatively analyze the temperature dependent shifts of the Raman peak positions in the temperature range from 300 to 550 K, and find that both planar and out-of-plane characteristic modes are highly sensitive to temperature variations. This temperature dependency is linear and can be fully explained by the first-order temperature coefficient. Using a semi-quantitative model, we evaluate the contributions of the material's thermal expansion and intrinsic temperature effects to this dependency. We reveal that the dominating source of shift in the peak position of planar mode E2g(1) for samples of all thicknesses investigated is the four-phonon process. In addition to the four-phonon process, thermal expansion plays a significant role in the temperature dependency of the out-of-plane mode, A1g. The thickness dependency of the temperature coefficient for MoS2 and a drastic change in behaviors of samples from bi- to single-layered are also demonstrated. We further explore the role of defects in the thermal properties of MoS2 by examining the temperature dependency of Raman modes in CVD-grown samples.

Humidity effects on anisotropic nanofriction behaviors of aligned carbon nanotube carpets

We evaluated the interfacial properties of vertically and transversely aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) carpets using atomic force microscopy (AFM) under ambient (26%-52% relative humidity (RH)), mild (10% RH), and dry conditions (<3.3% RH). The frictional forces on a transversely aligned CNT (TAMWCNT) surface are lower than those on a vertically aligned CNT (VAMWCNT) surface, and they decrease as the relative humidity decreases for both TAMWCNT and VAMWCNT surfaces. Similar trends are found for adhesion forces on both surfaces. Contact mechanics theories are applied and compared in an attempt to better understand these results. The tribological behavior of CNT carpets unveiled in this paper is expected to inspire tunable friction surface engineering strategies.