ABSTRACT
Both the roots and leaves of American ginseng contain ginsenosides and polyphenols. The impact of thermal processing on enhancing the biological activities of the root by altering its component composition has been widely reported. However, the effects of far-infrared irradiation (FIR), an efficient heat treatment method, on the bioactive components of the leaves remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of FIR heat treatment between 160 and 200 °C on the deglycosylation and dehydration rates of the bioactive components in American ginseng leaves. As the temperature was increased, the amounts of common ginsenosides decreased while those of rare ginsenosides increased. After FIR heat treatment of American ginseng leaves at an optimal 190 °C, the highest total polyphenolic content and kaempferol content were detected, the antioxidant activity was significantly enhanced, and the amounts of the rare ginsenosides F4, Rg6, Rh4, Rk3, Rk1, Rg3, and Rg5 were 41, 5, 37, 64, 222, 17, and 266 times higher than those in untreated leaves, respectively. Moreover, the radical scavenging rates for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and the reducing power of the treated leaf extracts were 2.17, 1.86, and 1.77 times higher, respectively. Hence, FIR heat treatment at 190 °C is an efficient method for producing beneficial bioactive components from American ginseng leaves.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Gastric duplication cysts are very rare disease that are mainly diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonographic fine-needle aspiration biopsy. In the past, this disease was usually treated with traditional surgery and rarely with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. However, minimally invasive endoscopic therapy has many advantages, such as no skin wound, organ preservation, postoperative pain reduction, early food intake, fewer postoperative complications, and shorter post-procedure hospitalization. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) combined with lauromacrogol sclerotherapy for pyloric obstruction due to gastric duplication cysts. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA combined with lauromacrogol sclerotherapy provides a new option for the treatment of gastrointestinal duplication cysts.
ABSTRACT
Background: The accurate assessment of residual tumor tissue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer is closely related to the subsequent treatment and prognosis of patients. The objective of this study is to develop a new pathological assessment metric for breast cancer patients through combining residual disease in breast and nodes (RDBN) and the Ki-67 expression status after NAC. We call the new metric residual disease in breast and nodes combined with Ki-67 (RDBN-K) and aim to study its significance for prognosis. Methods: A total of 723 breast cancer patients with TNM staging II to III who received NAC and surgical treatment underwent residual disease evaluation by RDBN-K and RDBN. All patients were followed up for a median of 44 months. We used pairwise stratified analysis to compare the accuracy and clinical significance of the RDBN and RDBN-K. Results: Pairwise stratified analysis revealed that DFS and OS had larger difference between RDBN-K-3 and RDBN-K-4 compared to between RDBN-3 and RDBN-4. Moreover, RDBN-K also showed larger differences in OS between stage 2 and 3 compared to RDBN alone. Conclusions: Incorporating Ki-67 expression status into RDBN improved the accuracy in residual tumor burden assessment after NAC. RDBN-K is a better metric for predicting treatment outcomes and identify patients who warrant follow-up intensive treatment.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bone metastasis is known to occur in some patients with cancer, usually in the spine, pelvis or ribs, and less than 0.01% of patients have metastases in the foot bone, so metatarsal metastasis is quite rare. The initial symptoms of osseous metastases are swelling, pain, or both. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 68-year-old man with solitary metatarsal metastasis 26 months after a diagnosis of renal clear cell carcinoma. The patient suffered intermittent swelling of his right foot and pain for one year due to trauma and was not treated. The doctor attributed the symptoms to trauma, administering massage therapy and a plaster cast to the patient at the local clinic. After reviewing the medical records, we found that this patient had a history of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The patient underwent radiological examination and open biopsy of the first metatarsal bone of the right foot. These findings confirmed that the patient had a metatarsal metastasis from clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The patient subsequently underwent right foot amputation. No local recurrence or distant metastasis was found after a 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of a history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and fully understand the patient's past medical history. When treating patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who have unresolving bony pain or swelling, clinicians should always keep in mind the possibility of bone metastasis of RCC.
