Increased Expression of PCNA-AS1 in Colorectal Cancer and its Clinical Association.

BACKGROUND: The aim is to study the expression of PCNA-AS1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue and paired-adjacent normal tissue and the relationship between its expression level and clinical pathological features. METHODS: Using real-time qPCR, PCNA-AS1 expression levels were detected in 114 cases to establish the relationship between its expression and clinicopathologic features. Moreover, the expressions of PCNA-AS1 were investigated in CRC and normal colonic epithelial cell lines. RESULTS: PCNA-AS1 was upregulated in CRC patients. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The expression level was significantly correlated with the tumor invasion and TNM stage. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.824, 0.632, and 0.860, respectively. Moreover, PCNA-AS1 was up-regulated in CRC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: PCNA-AS1 may function as a potential tumor biomarker for diagnosing CRC.

Novel approach to hydroxy-group-containing porous organic polymers from bisphenol A.

We successfully employed bisphenol A and several different formyl-containing monomers as useful building blocks to construct a series of hydroxy-group-containing porous organic polymers in a sealed tube at high temperature. Fourier transform infrared and solid-state 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy are utilized to characterize the possible structure of the obtained polymers. The highest Brunauer-Emmet-Teller specific surface area of the phenolic-resin porous organic polymers (PPOPs) is estimated to be 920 m2 g-1. The PPOPs exhibit a highest carbon dioxide uptake (up to 15.0 wt % (273 K) and 8.8 wt % (298 K) at 1.0 bar), and possess moderate hydrogen storage capacities ranging from 1.28 to 1.04 wt % (77 K) at 1.0 bar. Moreover, the highest uptake of methane for the PPOPs is measured as 4.3 wt % (273 K) at 1.0 bar.

A prospective comparison of short term results and functional recovery after laparoscopic subtotal colectomy and antiperistaltic cecorectal anastomosis with short colonic reservoir vs. long colonic reservoir.

BACKGROUND: To observe and compare the short term results and functional recovery of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy with antiperistaltic cecorectal anastomosis (LSCACRA) in the treatment of Adult slow transit constipation (STC) with two different reservoir length: short colonic reservoir and long colonic reservoir. METHODS: All STC patients treated with LSCACRA between April 2007 and December 2011 at our institution were followed up. Patients with 2 cm to 3 cm ascending colon preserved above the ileocecal junction were designated as observation group, whereas those preserved by 10 cm to 15 cm were classified as control group. 41 cases in the observation group and 40 cases in the control group were enrolled. Preoperative and outcome parameters of patients were collected, including gender, age, body mass index, operative time , blood loss, first flatus time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, Wexner constipation scale(WCS), Wexner incontinence scale, gastrointestinal quality of life index(GIQLI), abdominal pain intensity scale(APIS), abdominal pain frequency scale(APFS) and abdominal bloating scale(ABS). RESULTS: Laparoscopic surgeries were successfully carried out for all patients, without any case transferred to laparotomy or death related to surgery. The operative time, blood loss, first flatus time, and days of hospital stay of the two groups did not show significant differences. We found no significant differences on complications (Clavien-Dindo grade > I) between the two groups. No patient exhibited anastomotic leak. No fecal incontinence occurred in both groups. On the 3(rd), 6(th) and 12(th) month after operation, the parameters of both groups significantly improved compared with the preoperative conditions (P < 0.05) except the APIS at 3(rd) and 6(th) month in control group. On the 3(rd), 6(th) and 12(th) month after operation, the Functional Recovery outcomes of WCS、GIQLI、APIS、APFS and ABS in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LSCACRA has a significant effect in the treatment of STC in adult. Postoperative outcomes can be optimized by shortening the length of the preserved ascending colon above the ileocecal junction, which promise better life quality of patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-OPC-14005280, 2014-09-29.

Open versus laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical gastrectomy in advanced upper gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We conducted this study to compare open versus laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical gastrectomy in advanced upper gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed 84 advanced gastric cancer patients who had pancreas-and-spleen preserving D2 lymph node dissection between March 2008 and March 2012. A comparative study was made about the short-term and long-term effect between laparoscopy-assisted D2 radical gastrectomy (LAG) on 41 patients and open D2 radical gastrectomy (OG) on 43 patients. RESULTS: The clinical characteristics of patients in the two groups were well matched. Operative findings, postoperative recovery, morbidity, pathological findings in the two groups were also similar. The mean operating time was significantly longer for the LAG group (p=0.001); The Estimated blood loss reduced significantly in the LAG group (p=0.010). The mean number of days when body temperature exceeded 37°C and number of days to get out of bed were significantly shorter in the LAG group (p=0.001 and p=0.014 respectively). There were no postoperative deaths in both groups. The postoperative morbidity rate was 14.63% in the LAG group and 23.26% in the OG group with no significant difference (p=0.314). The overall survival rates were 58.5% and 60.5% in the LAG and OG groups, respectively. The estimated mean survival time is 35.768 months in the LAG group and 38.664 months in the OG group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall survival rate for patients in both groups. CONCLUSION: As for the advanced gastric cancer patient who is suitable for pancreas-and-spleen preserving D2 radical gastrectomy, LAG is a safe and feasible procedure with adequate lymphadenectomy, good curability and survival rate.

Total Syntheses of (-)-Mesembrane and (-)-Mesembrine via Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Substitution and Zirconium-Promoted Cyclization.

4-Arylhexahydroindole derivatives 5 were synthesized from 2-arylcyclohexenyl allylamine derivatives 4, which have a large protecting group on nitrogen, using zirconium-promoted cyclization. Reaction of 4e with Cp(2)ZrBu(2), followed by treatment with MeMgBr and then O(2), gave 2a in 63% yield by a one-pot reaction, since the approach of O(2) to zirconium was prevented by the aryl group. The total syntheses of (+/-)-mesembrane and (+/-)-mesembrine were achieved starting from 2a. To synthesize these natural products in a chiral form, the starting allylamine derivative 24 (80% yield, 86% ee, recrystallized from MeOH, 99% ee with 79% recovery) was prepared from allyl carbonate 22a and N-tosylallylamine 23 using palladium-catalyzed asymmetric amination in the presence of (S)-BINAPO as a chiral ligand. (-)-Mesembrane and (-)-mesembrine were synthesized from this allylamine 24.