Comparing miR-16 and miR-1228 as an optimal endogenous control for quantification of circulating microRNAs in colorectal cancer patients.

Objectives: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered to play a novel role in intercellular communication and cancer biology. They are emerging candidates for noninvasive molecular biomarkers of cancer and other diseases. However, current translational researches have been limited by the lack of consensus on the optimal endogenous control of circulating miRNAs quantitation. In this study, we compared two promising miRNAs, miR-1228 and miR-16, as an endogenous control. The effects of normalizers on the relative quantification of circulating miR-31 in plasma samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) were also assessed. Materials and Methods: The cel-miR-39 was a spiked-in RNA used as an external control and added to plasma samples before RNA extraction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology was used to analyze the expression levels of circulating miRNAs in plasma samples of 4 healthy controls and 14 CRC patients. The expression stability of the candidate controls was compared by Ct analysis and NormFinder algorithms. Results: There was no significant difference in expression level of miR-16 and miR-1228 between healthy control group and before or after therapy of CRC patient groups. The expression of miR-1228 has smaller the range Ct values (28.25-25.64)compared with those of miR-16 (24.91-20.34). The stability value of miR-1228 (0.102) is lower than that of miR-16 (0.350). The expression of miR-1228 endogenous reference candidate has lower stability value and smaller the range Ct values compared with those in miR-16. According to the range Ct values and stability value, miR-1228 is better than miR-16 as endogenous control in CRC patients. There are significant differences in circulating miR-31 expression between healthy control and CRC patients when miR-1228 was used to standardize miR-31 expression. Conclusions: miR-1228 is recommended as a better endogenous control in quantification of circulating miRNAs in CRC patients.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus non-structural protein 4 cleaves guanylate-binding protein 1 via its cysteine proteinase activity to antagonize GBP1 antiviral effect.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a highly infectious disease caused by PRRS virus (PRRSV) that causes great economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. PRRSV has been recognized to modulate the host antiviral interferon (IFN) response and downstream interferon-stimulated gene expression to intercept the antiviral effect of host cells. Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) are IFN-inducible GTPases that exert broad antiviral activity against several DNA and RNA viruses, of which GBP1 is considered to play a pivotal role. However, the role of GBP1 in PRRSV replication remains unknown. The present study showed that overexpression of GBP1 notably inhibited PRRSV infection, while the knockdown of endogenous GBP1 promoted PRRSV infection. The K51 and R48 residues of GBP1 were essential for the suppression of PRRSV replication. Furthermore, GBP1 abrogated PRRSV replication by disrupting normal fibrous actin structures, which was indispensable for effective PRRSV replication. By using a co-immunoprecipitation assay, we found that GBP1 interacted with the non-structural protein 4 (nsp4) protein of PRRSV, and this interaction was mapped to the N-terminal globular GTPase domain of GBP1 and amino acids 1-69 of nsp4. PRRSV infection significantly downregulated GBP1 protein expression in Marc-145 cells, and nsp4, a 3C-like serine proteinase, was responsible for GBP1 cleavage, and the cleaved site was located at glutamic acid 338 of GBP1. Additionally, the anti-PRRSV activity of GBP1 was antagonized by nsp4. Taken together, these findings expand our understanding of the sophisticated interaction between PRRSV and host cells, PRRSV pathogenesis and its mechanisms of evading the host immune response.

Surgical Outcomes of LigaSure Hemorrhoidectomy in the Elderly Population: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the association between age and outcomes in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: This is a population-based cohort study. A retrospectively collected database with consecutive patients whose symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids managed by the LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy between Jan. 2015 and May 2017 was reviewed. Among 1238 patients, 1075 were under 65 years old (group 1), and 163 were 65 years old or older (group 2). Both groups were compared regarding baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: All patients tolerated the whole course of the operation in the prone jackknife position without anesthetic-associated complications. There was no significant difference between these two groups regarding sex, hemorrhoids grade, operation time, duration of hospital stays, postoperative pain score, analgesic consumption, total postoperative complications, re-admission rate, reoperation rate and follow-up times. The multivariate logistic regression analysis that may contribute to postoperative complications revealed no significant difference for all complications between both groups. CONCLUSION: The LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy for elderly patients is safe and effective without significant difference in short-term operative outcomes and all complication rates, compared with younger patients.

Preoperative Serum Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Level Correlates with Surgical Difficulty and Outcome in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

Surgical treatment for autoimmune thyroid disease is theoretically risky due to its chronic inflammatory status. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative serum migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels and the difficulty of thyroidectomy in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Forty-four patients (average age: 54 years) were prospectively recruited: 30 with autoimmune thyroiditis and 14 with nodular goiter. Preoperative serum samples were collected to measure MIF levels. The difficulty of thyroidectomy was evaluated using a 20-point thyroidectomy difficulty scale (TDS) scoring system. The potential correlations between MIF levels and clinicopathological features as well as postoperative complications were analyzed. Preoperative serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), TSH receptor antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibodies levels, TDS score, and serum MIF levels were significantly higher in the autoimmune thyroiditis group than those in the goiter group. MIF levels were significantly associated with postoperative transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism. MIF levels were positively correlated with TDS score, operation time, and blood loss in the autoimmune thyroiditis group. Increased preoperative serum MIF levels are associated with higher TDS scores, operation time, blood loss, and postoperative complications. Preoperative serum MIF level may be a useful predictor of difficult thyroidectomy and help surgeons provide better preoperative management.

VEGF-D and A Preoperative Serum Levels Predict Nodal and Distant Metastases in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative tumor aggressiveness biomarkers may help surgeons decide the extent of an operation. However, whether serum angiogenetic factors can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is still unclear. METHODS: Seventy-six DTC patients were prospectively recruited. Preoperative serum samples were collected and measured for Tie-2, Ang-1, Ang-2, VEGF-A, and VEGF-D levels. The potential correlations between their serum levels and clinicopathologic features as well as their prognoses were analyzed. RESULTS: Older age (>45 years old) and higher VEGF-A serum levels were independent predictors of extrathyroidal extension. The VEGF-D serum level was an independent factor for lymph node metastases and VEGF-A was an independent factor for distant metastases. None of these serum angiogenetic factors were significantly different between patients who were disease free and those with recurrences. The presence of lymph node metastases was the only independent factor for recurrence over the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum VEGF-A and VEGF-D levels were significantly elevated in DTC patients with distant and lymph node metastases. These findings, when combined with other clinicopathological factors, may help in surgical decisions.

Modified LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy for the treatment of hemorrhoidal crisis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at reporting a modified LigaSure technique for the treatment of acute hemorrhoidal crisis. METHODS: Consecutive patients with an acute hemorrhoidal crisis received a modified LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy. After removing the hemorrhoidal tissues above the welding line, scissors were used to undermine the anoderm to excise residual thrombosed hemorrhoidal tissue. The wound was approximated with a continuous 4-0 vicryl suture. RESULTS: Forty patients (mean age, 47.5 years; range 22.0-76.0 years) were included. The mean duration of the crisis, length of the operation, and follow-up were 2.0 days (range 1.0-5.0 days), 35.6 min (range 15.0-60.0 min), and 13.2 months (range 6-24 months), respectively. At the final follow-up, all patients were continent and there were no cases with anal stenosis, recurrent bleeding, prolapse, or thrombus. The mean pain score before surgery was 8.3, and was 4.4 and 3.2 on postoperative days 1 and 7, respectively. Complications within 30 days of surgery included two cases of urine retention, two cases bleeding, one wound infection and one case of fecal impaction, which all resolved with conservative treatment. The only late complication was one case of residual skin tags. CONCLUSIONS: The modified LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy offers rapid pain relief, early recovery, and low morbidity for patients with an acute hemorrhoidal crisis.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery using a homemade transumbilical port for synchronous colon and hepatic lesions: a case report.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is an emerging technique and has been utilized in various abdominal surgeries. Herein, we reported a case of synchronous colon and hepatic lesions that underwent right hemicolectomy and wedge resection of the liver by SILS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of synchronous colon and liver resection with SILS using homemade transumbilical port.

Invasive adenocarcinoma arising from a mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous polyp and synchronous transverse colon cancer.

An admixture of hyperplastic and adenomatous components within the same polyp is unusual. Adenocarcinoma arising from a mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous polyp (MHAP) occurs even more rarely. We report the first case of a 59-year-old male who presented with invasive adenocarcinoma originating from a MHAP at a sigmoid colon and synchronous transverse colon cancer.

Results of 666 consecutive patients treated with LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy for symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to report the outcomes of hemorrhoidectomy performed via LigaSure™ with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. METHODS: A total of 666 patients underwent hemorrhoidectomy for symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids (grade III and IV) via LigaSure between June 2006 and June 2008. Patient demographic and operative data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 45.4 ± 11.1 years (x ± SD; range, 22-77), and approximately 72% had grade III hemorrhoids. All procedures were performed without complications. The operative time was 18.7 ± 4.1 minutes (range, 9-43), and hospital stay was 1.5 ± 0.6 days (range, 1-4). There was no immediate postoperative bleeding or other procedure-related complications. Twelve (1.8%) patients required urinary catheterization for a maximum of 1 day, and 21 (3.2%) patients had delayed postoperative bleeding. Most cases of bleeding resolved spontaneously; 3 patients (0.4%) required reoperation. A total of 645 patients (96.6%) responded to a follow-up telephone interview at a mean of 36 months (range, 24-49) after hemorrhoidectomy. After 1 year postoperatively, 2 patients received additional excisions for residual skin tags, 1 was treated for an anal stricture, 1 was treated for an anal fistula, and 3 were treated for anal fissures. Minor incontinence (flatus) was present in 11 (1.7%) patients, and 13 (2.0%) experienced mild bleeding caused by residual hemorrhoids; 1 patient underwent rubber-band ligation, and the others were successfully treated medically. No recurrent prolapse or persistent anal pain occurred during the follow-up period. The overall recurrence rate at 2-years follow-up was 3.1%. CONCLUSION: The long-term recurrence rate after hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure is low and comparable with conventional hemorrhoidectomy.

Synchronous adenocarcinomas of the colon presenting as synchronous colocolic intussusceptions in an adult.

Intussusception is uncommon in adults. To our knowledge, synchronous colocolic intussusceptions have never been reported in the literature. Here we described the case of a 59-year-old female of synchronous colocolic intussusceptions presenting as acute abdomen that was diagnosed by CT preoperatively. Laparotomy with radical right hemicolectomy and sigmoidectomy was undertaken without reduction of the invagination due to a significant risk of associated malignancy. The final diagnosis was synchronous adenocarcinoma of proximal transverse colon and sigmoid colon without lymph nodes or distant metastasis. The patient had an uneventful recovery. The case also emphasizes the importance of thorough exploration during surgery for bowel invagination since synchronous events may occur.

Necrotizing fasciitis due to acute perforated appendicitis: case report.

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. Accurate diagnosis is often hindered due to various presentations that differ from the typical signs of appendicitis, especially the position of the appendix. A delay in treatment increases the likelihood of complications such as perforation, which is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. We herein present the case of a 76-year-old woman presenting with necrotizing fasciitis of the abdominal wall and right flank regions due to a perforated appendix. Such complication is extremely rare but life-threatening. It may be confused with cellulitis, causing a delay in aggressive treatment. This case represents an unusual complication of a common disease. Also, acute appendicitis or intra-abdominal pathologies should be taken into consideration in determining the cause of necrotizing fasciitis presenting over abdominal, flank, or perineal regions.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of rectum presenting with rectal prolapse.

Involvement of the rectum by primary or secondary malignant lymphoma is uncommon in adults. Primary lymphoma of the rectum in children is an extremely rare occurrence. We describe a 12-year-old boy with a localized rectal tumor that presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding, mimicking a juvenile polyp. He underwent transrectal local wide excision of the tumor, and the pathologic condition proved to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large B-cell type. This case illustrates the importance of considering the possibility of a rectal malignancy manifesting as a rectal prolapse even in children and the surgical strategy used.

Massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by a large extraluminal leiomyoma of the colon: report of a case.

The occurrence of leiomyoma of the colon is uncommon. Most of these lesions are clinically silent and are found incidentally during laparotomy or endoscopic procedures for unrelated conditions. Symptomatic leiomyomas of the colon are encountered less frequently, with only sporadic reports in the literatures. We describe a heretofore unreported case of a large extraluminal leiomyoma of the sigmoid colon presenting as massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Because it was extraluminal in position, it was difficult to make an accurate diagnosis endoscopically and the condition was easily misdiagnosed as angiodysplasia of the colon until CT scan results were seen. Although rare and benign in nature, leiomyoma of the colon may cause life-threatening complications that require emergency surgery and should be included in the differential diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Modified Longo's stapled hemorrhoidopexy with additional traction sutures for the treatment of residual prolapsed piles.

PURPOSE: Residual prolapsed piles is a problem after the stapled hemorrhoidopexy, especially in large third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids. We have developed a method using additional traction sutures along with modified Longo's procedure to manage this problem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2005 to October 2005, 30 consecutive patients with symptomatic third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids who underwent the modified Longo's stapled hemorrhoidopexy with additional traction sutures in a single institution were collected. The demographics, postoperative pain score, surgical features, outcomes, and early and late complications were recorded. All patients were followed for a mean duration of 8.8 (range, 4-15) months. RESULTS: Thirty patients (17 males) with a mean age of 45 (range, 27-63) years were identified. The mean postoperative pain score on the morning of the first postoperative day was 2.8 (range, 1-4). The mean duration of operation was 30.7 (range, 25-37) min. The mean duration of hospital stay was 2 (range, 1-3) days. The mean days for patients to resume normal work was 6.7 (range, 4-9) days. No other procedure-related complications occurred in all patients. There was no early complication except for fecal urgency found in one patient during the first postoperative days. Regarding the late complications, no residual prolapsed piles, persistent anal pain, incontinence, anal stenosis, or recurrent symptoms were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experiences indicated that this modified procedures truly contributed to reduce the residual internal hemorrhoids and maintained the benefits of stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Randomized trial and long-term follow-up warrant to determine possible surgical and functional outcome.

Spontaneous rupture of a large exogastric hemangioma complicated by hemoperitoneum and sepsis.

Hemangiomas are benign congenital tumors of mature blood vessels and usually consist of dense masses of capillaries or larger blood vessels. Hemangioma of the stomach presenting with spontaneous rupture and sepsis is rare. We report a 22-year-old male who presented at the emergency room with sudden-onset epigastric pain, intractable nausea, and vomiting. Fever, tachycardia, leukocytosis and peritonitis were found on examination after admission. Computed tomography revealed a single, well-defined homogeneous lesion measuring approximately 6 x 8 x 9 cm in size over the left upper abdomen and hemoperitoneum. Laparotomy was performed because of intra-abdominal hemorrhage, peritonitis, and fever. During the operation, a dark red tumor was found on the greater curvature side of the stomach, accompanied by bleeding and hemoperitoneum. The tumor was removed and a wedge resection of the stomach and partial omentectomy were performed. Histopathologic examination of the excised tumor revealed mixed cavernous-capillary hemangioma with central necrosis. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. The pathogenesis of spontaneous rupture and sepsis in this case may have resulted from pedicle torsion accompanied by ischemia, central necrosis, rupture of hemangioma and subsequent peritonitis and sepsis.

Spontaneous chylous peritonitis mimicking acute appendicitis: a case report and review of literature.

Acute abdominal pain with signs and symptoms of peritonitis due to sudden extravasation of chyle into the peritoneal cavity is a rare condition that is often mistaken for other disease processes. The diagnosis is rarely suspected preoperatively. We report a case of spontaneous chylous peritonitis that presented with typical symptoms of acute appendicitis such as intermittent fever and epigastric pain radiating to the lower right abdominal quadrant before admission.