Value of quantitative microsurface structure analysis for evaluating the invasion depth of type 0-II early gastric cancer.

Background and Aim: The microsurface structure reflects the degree of damage to the glands, which is related to the invasion depth of early gastric cancer. To evaluate the diagnostic value of quantitative microsurface structure analysis for estimating the invasion depth of early gastric cancer. Methods: White-light imaging and narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy were used to visualize the lesions of the included patients. The area ratio and depth-predicting score (DPS) of each patient were calculated; meanwhile, each lesion was examined by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Results: Ninety-three patients were included between 2016 and 2019. Microsurface structure is related to the histological differentiation and progression of early gastric cancer. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that when an area ratio of 80.3% was used as a cut-off value for distinguishing mucosal (M) and submucosal (SM) type 0-II gastric cancers, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 82.9%, 80.2%, and 91.6%, respectively. The accuracies for distinguishing M/SM differentiated and undifferentiated early gastric cancers were 87.4% and 84.8%, respectively. The accuracy of EUS for distinguishing M/SM early gastric cancer was 74.9%. DPS can only distinguish M-SM1 (SM infiltration <500 µm)/SM (SM infiltration ≥500 µm) with an accuracy of 83.8%. The accuracy of using area ratio for distinguishing 0-II early gastric cancers was better than those of using DPS and EUS (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of microsurface structure can be performed to assess M/SM type 0-II gastric cancer and is expected to be effective for judging the invasion depth of gastric cancer.

Tumor microenvironment characterization in colorectal cancer to identify prognostic and immunotherapy genes signature.

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis, progression, and therapeutic response in many cancers. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the role of TME in colorectal cancer (CRC) by generating a TMEscore based on gene expression. METHODS: The TME patterns of CRC datasets were investigated, and the TMEscores were calculated. An unsupervised clustering method was used to divide samples into clusters. The associations between TMEscores and clinical features, prognosis, immune score, gene mutations, and immune checkpoint inhibitors were analyzed. A TME signature was constructed using the TMEscore-related genes. The results were validated using external and clinical cohorts. RESULTS: The TME pattern landscape was for CRC was examined using 960 samples, and then the TMEscore pattern of CRC datasets was evaluated. Two TMEscore clusters were identified, and the high TMEscore cluster was associated with early-stage CRC and better prognosis in patients with CRC when compared with the low TMEscore clusters. The high TMEscore cluster indicated elevated tumor cell scores and tumor gene mutation burden, and decreased tumor purity, when compared with the low TMEscore cluster. Patients with high TMEscore were more likely to respond to immune checkpoint therapy than those with low TMEscore. A TME signature was constructed using the TMEscore-related genes superimposing the results of two machine learning methods (LASSO and XGBoost algorithms), and a TMEscore-related four-gene signature was established, which had a high predictive value for discriminating patients from different TMEscore clusters. The prognostic value of the TMEscore was validated in two independent cohorts, and the expression of TME signature genes was verified in four external cohorts and clinical samples. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a comprehensive description of TME characteristics in CRC and demonstrates that the TMEscore is a reliable prognostic biomarker and predictive indicator for patients with CRC undergoing immunotherapy.

Oxaliplatin related lncRNAs prognostic models predict the prognosis of patients given oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in chemotherapy sensitivity. This study aimed to identify lncRNAs related to oxaliplatin sensitivity and predict the prognosis of CRC patients underwent oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Data from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) was used to screen for lncRNAs related to oxaliplatin sensitivity. Four machine learning algorithms (LASSO, Decision tree, Random-forest, and support vector machine) were applied to identify the key lncRNAs. A predictive model for oxaliplatin sensitivity and a prognostic model based on key lncRNAs were established. The published datasets, and cell experiments were used to verify the predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 805 tumor cell lines from GDSC were divided into oxaliplatin sensitive (top 1/3) and resistant (bottom 1/3) groups based on their IC50 values, and 113 lncRNAs, which were differentially expressed between the two groups, were selected and incorporated into four machine learning algorithms, and seven key lncRNAs were identified. The predictive model exhibited good predictions for oxaliplatin sensitivity. The prognostic model exhibited high performance in patients with CRC who underwent oxaliplatin-based chemotherapies. Four lncRNAs, including C20orf197, UCA1, MIR17HG, and MIR22HG, displayed consistent responses to oxaliplatin treatment in the validation analysis. CONCLUSION: Certain lncRNAs were associated with oxaliplatin sensitivity and predicted the response to oxaliplatin treatment. The prognostic models established based on the key lncRNAs could predict the prognosis of patients given oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Snare-assisted flexible endoscope in trans-gastric endoscopic gallbladder-preserving surgery: A pilot animal study.

BACKGROUND: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) gallbladder-preserving surgery by flexible endoscopy is an emerging technology. However, the gallbladder fails to obtain traction and positioning functions during the operation. AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new surgical method, "snare-assisted pure NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery". METHODS: Eight miniature pigs were randomly divided into the experimental group [NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery using the snare device, snare assisted (SA)] and the control group (NOTES gallbladder-preserving surgery without using the snare device, NC), with four cases in each group. The differences between the two groups of animals in operating time, operating workload, complications, adverse events, white blood cells, and liver function were determined. RESULTS: No differences were found in the surgical success rate, gallbladder incision closure, white blood cell count, or liver function between the two groups. The total operating time, gallbladder incision blood loss, gallbladder disorientation time, gallbladder incision closure time, and workload scores on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index were significantly reduced in the SA group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicated that snare-assisted pure NOTES gallbladder-preservation surgery using standard endoscopic instruments reduced the difficulty of operation, shortened operation time, and did not increase complications in pigs. A new method for pure NOTES gallbladder-preservation surgery was provided.

Poly[[tetra-µ(3)-acetato-hexa-µ(2)-acetato-diaqua-µ(2)-oxalato-tetra-lanthanum(III)] dihydrate].

The title compound, {[La(4)(CH(3)CO(2))(10)(C(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(2)]·2H(2)O}(n), exhibits a two-dimensional layered structure with the oxalate and acetate ligands acting as bridges. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent lanthanum(III) ions, half of an oxalate ligand, five acetate ligands, one coordinated water mol-ecule and one uncoordinated water mol-ecule. The coordination numbers of the two La ions are 9 and 10. Adjacent layers of the structure, which extend parallel to (100), are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and are also held together by van der Waals inter-actions between the CH(3) groups of the acetate anions.

Two new transition metal inorganic-organic hybrid borates: [tris(2-aminoethoxy)trihydroxyhexaborato]cobalt(II) and its nickel(II) analogue.

The two isomorphous title compounds, [1,5,9-tris(2-aminoethoxy)-3,7,11-trihydroxy-3,7,11-tribora-1,5,9-triborata-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaoxa-13-oxoniatricyclo[7.3.1.0(5,13)]tridecane]cobalt(II), [Co(C(6)H(21)B(6)N(3)O(13))] or Co{B(6)O(7)(OH)(3)[O(CH(2))(2)NH(2)](3)}, and the Ni(II) analogue, [Ni(C(6)H(21)B(6)N(3)O(13))], each consist of an M(II) cation and an inorganic-organic hybrid {B(6)O(7)(OH)(3)[O(CH(2))(2)NH(2)](3)}(2-) anion. The M(II) cation lies on a crystallographic threefold axis (as does one O atom) and is octahedrally coordinated by three N atoms from the organic component. Three O atoms covalently link the B-O cluster and the organic component. Molecules are connected to one another through N-H···O and O-H···O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular network.

6-Nitro-benzimidazolium dihydrogen phosphate 6-nitro-benzimidazole solvate dihydrate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(7)H(6)N(3)O(2) (+)·H(2)PO(4) (-)·C(7)H(5)N(3)O(2)·2H(2)O, the components are connected through O-H⋯O, N-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, forming a sheet-like structure parallel to (101). Adjacent sheets are further linked together by strong O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonds involving the dihydrogenphosphate groups. π-π stacking inter-actions between neighbouring aromatic constituents [centroid-centroid distance 3.653 (3) Å] help to consolidate the crystal packing.

A novel inorganic-organic hybrid borate, poly{[Na(2)(C(4)H(2)O(4))(H(3)BO(3))(H(2)O)(4)]·H(3)BO(3)}.

The structure of the title compound, catena-poly[[[di-µ-aqua-µ-fumarato-µ-(boric acid)-disodium]-di-µ-aqua] boric acid monosolvate], contains two crystallographically independent Na(+) cations, each being six-coordinated by one fumarate O atom, one boric acid O atom and four water O atoms in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. Adjacent [NaO(2)(OH(2))(4)] units share edges and are linked into chains propagating parallel to [100]. The free boric acid mol-ecules are connected to the chains through strong inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Additional O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the water mol-ecules, the free and coordinated boric acid mol-ecules and the fumarate anion lead to the formation of a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure. With the exception of the two water mol-ecules, all other atoms lie on mirror planes.

A novel metallo-organically templated pentaborate: acetato[N,N'-bis(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine]zinc(II) 4,4',6,6'-tetrahydroxy-2,2'-spirobi[cyclotriboroxane](1-).

The title compound, [Zn(C2H3O2)(C6H18N4)][B5O6(OH)4], contains mixed-ligand [Zn(CH3COO)(teta)]+ complex cations (teta is triethylenetetramine) and pentaborate [B5O6(OH)4]- anions. The [B5O6(OH)4]- anions are connected to one another through hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular network, in which the [Zn(CH3COO)(teta)]+ cations are located.

Bis[(m-phenyl-enedimethyl-ene)-diammonium] tetra-deca-borate.

The title compound 2C(8)H(14)N(2) (2+)·[B(14)O(20)(OH)(6)](4-), contains diprotonated C(8)H(14)N(2) (2+) cations and centrosymmetric tetra-deca-borate anions. The crystal structure is stabilized by O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.