CD44, Sonic Hedgehog, and Gli1 Expression Are Prognostic Biomarkers in Gastric Cancer Patients after Radical Resection.

Aim. CD44 and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling are important for gastric cancer (GC). However, the clinical impact, survival, and recurrence outcome of CD44, Shh, and Gli1 expressions in GC patients following radical resection have not been elucidated. Patients and Methods. CD44, Shh, and Gli1 protein levels were quantified by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The association between CD44, Shh, and Gli1 expression and clinicopathological features or prognosis of GC patients was determined. The biomarker risk score was calculated by the IHC staining score of CD44, Shh, and Gli1 protein. Results. The IHC positive staining of CD44, Shh, and Gli1 proteins was correlated with larger tumour size, worse gross type and histological type, and advanced TNM stage, which also predicted shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) after radical resection. Multivariate analysis indicated the Gli1 protein and Gli1, CD44 proteins were predictive biomarkers for OS and DFS, respectively. If biomarker risk score was taken into analysis, it was the independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS. Conclusions. CD44 and Shh signaling are important biomarkers for tumour aggressiveness, survival, and recurrence in GC.

Gastric Mucinous Cancer Histology: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Value.

MC tended toward worse tumor biological behavior and long-term survival outcome compared to WMDC. Moreover, MC also showed worse clinicopathological features and survival outcome in some selected patients. For these reasons, MC should be deemed as a special histological type of gastric cancer with worse clinicopathological features and survival outcome.

Structure-property relationships of symmetrical and asymmetrical azobenzene derivatives as gelators and their self-assemblies.

Two different series of symmetrical and asymmetrical azobenzenes containing terminal cholesteryl/adamantyl derivatives (SAC/SAA and AAC) with varying spacer lengths (alkyl chains) have been developed. The gelation and aggregation of these derivatives were studied relative to structural motifs, spacer lengths, solvent affinity, temperatures and light conditions. Among these derivatives, the cholesteryl derivatives that have short alkyl chains (<3) act as efficient gelators in a variety of solvents. However, the cholesteryl derivatives with longer alkyl chains (11 spacer) and adamantyl derivatives did not possess this ability. Self-assembled fibrous structures were constructed by gelators with short alkyl chains (<3), while flower-like structures were constructed by gelators with moderately longer alkyl chains (3-6) at their respective critical gelation concentrations (CGCs) according to SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) analyses. In some cases, a partial/weak gel was observed in different solvents, which exhibited uniform spherical nanoparticles at CGCs. These nanoparticles were further entangled to form interconnected fibrous structures when the concentration was increased above the CGC (according to the SEM and TEM analyses). Secondary forces (van der Waals/H-bonding) and π-π stacking played important roles in the aggregation of both series in the solvents according to variable temperature (1)H-NMR analysis. The reversibility of sol-gel transitions by light was studied with respect to solvent affinity. This study revealed that reversible transitions were only observed in the non-polar solvents, as supported by the FTIR analysis of the gelators in the various solvents. The thermal and mesomorphic behaviors of the gelators by DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) and POM (Polarized Optical Microscopy) analyses revealed that the chiral nematic (N*) and cholesteric mesophase (Ch*) were exhibited by only the short and longer alkyl chain cholesteryl derivatives, respectively. However, the cholesteryl derivative without a spacer (AAC0) did not exhibit any liquid crystalline phase but acted as an efficient gelator relative to the other gelators in this study.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore whether neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an effective prognostic marker in gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 775 patients with gastric cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 1994 to 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. According to preoperative NLR, the patients were divided into the low NLR group (NLR≤3.79, n=652) and the high NLR group (NLR>3.79, n=123). The 5-year survival rates of two groups of different TNM stage, different surgical intervention were separately analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 5-year survival rates in the low NLR group and high NLR group were 44.0% and 12.2% respectively (P<0.01). In different TNM stages: stage I (97.8% vs 33.3%), stage II (55.4% vs 32.0%), stage IIIA (30.2% vs 11.1%), stage IIIB (15.5% vs 8.3%), stage IV (10.7% vs 2.1%), and in different surgical intervention: D1 curative gastrectomy (93.3% 33.3%), D2 group (51.3% vs 20.4%), D3 group (42.4% vs 10.5%), D4 group (14.3% vs 2.0%), and in palliative operation group (8.3% vs 2.2%). There were significant differences of 5-year survival rate in TNM staging and surgical procedures between the high and low NLR groups (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Preoperative NLR may be a prognostic marker in patients with gastric cancer.</p>

Giant epithelial splenic cyst / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Splenic cysts are unusual in daily surgical practice and less than 1000 cases have been reported. Primary, true or epithelial splenic cysts, are even rarer. Usually, most of the cysts are asymptomatic until of significant size, at which time they are then detected incidentally on ultrasonography or CT scan. We report a case of a 25-year-old woman with giant epithelial splenic cyst with about 3000 ml of clear-yellow fluid was collected from the cyst. The splenectomy specimen measured 205 mm × 192 mm × 137 mm and weighed 4000 g.

Efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy combined with surgical resection in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical effect of surgery following systemic targeted therapy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2007 to December 2009, data of 15 consecutive patients with metastatic GIST treated with imatinib/sunitinib followed by surgery were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Disease responses to TKI treatment was categorized into controlled disease (including partial response and stable disease) (6, 40.0%), limited progression (4, 26.7%), and generalized progression (5, 33.3%), respectively. Surgeries were performed after mean 12 months following TKI therapies. Gross complete resection or optimal debulking with minimal residual disease were managed to performed in 8/10 patients with disease controlled and limited progression, while optimal debulking only achieved in 2/5 patients with generalized progression. Surgical morbidity was 20.0% (3/15). After operation, patients with disease controlled and limited progression had a median progression-free survival of 25.0 months and 2-year overall survival rate of 100%. In contrast, for patients with generalized progression, the median progression- free survival was 3 months (P<0.01), and median overall survival 10.5 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patients with metastatic GIST who have controlled disease or limited progression to TKI therapy can benefit from surgical resection. Surgery should be selective in patients with generalized progression since surgery hardly improves survival in these patients.</p>

Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of mucinous and poorly differentiated gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics between mucinous gastric cancer (MGC) and poorly differentiated gastric cancer(PDGC) and factors associated with prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medical records of 1016 consecutive patients with gastric cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-eight patients with MGC and 508 with PDGC were identified. Clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival data were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared to PDGC patients, patients with MGC were significantly older [(59.2±11.9) years vs. (54.1±13.2) years], had significantly more distant metastasis(36.8% vs. 23.8%), more peritoneal seeding(29.4% vs. 16.9%), and less radical resection(60.3% vs. 76.6%). There were no significant differences in 5-year survival rate between MGC and PDGC patients(29.4% vs. 35.5%). However, for tumors in the middle third of the stomach, the survival rate of MGC patients was lower than that of PDGC. Using a Cox proportional hazard ratio model, lymph node involvement and radical resection were independent prognostic factors for survival of MGC patients, while tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, and radical resection were associated with survival in patients with PDGC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although MGC and PDGC differ in age, frequencies of peritoneal seeding, distant metastasis, and rate of radical resection, overall survival is comparable.</p>