Corrigendum: Case report: dual primary malignancies treated by laparoscopic multiorgan resection with natural orifice specimen extraction surgery.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.916104.].

Molecular mechanism study and tumor heterogeneity of Chinese angelica and Fructus aurantii in the treatment of colorectal cancer through computational and molecular dynamics.

OBJECTIVE: Screening Chinese angelica (CHA) and Fructus aurantii (FRA) for ingredients with therapeutic effects on colorectal cancer (CRC) and discovering novel targets for the prevention or treatment of CRC. METHODS: TCMSP database as a starting point for the initial selection of ingredients and targets, we screened and validated the ingredients and targets of CHA and FRA using tools such as Autodock Vina, R 4.2.0, and GROMACS. To obtain the pharmacokinetic information of the active ingredients, we performed ADMET prediction and consulted a large number of works related to CRC cell lines for the discussion and validation of the results. RESULTS: Molecular dynamics simulation results showed the complexes formed between these components and targets can exist in a very stable tertiary structure under the human environment, and their side effects can be ignored. CONCLUSIONS: Our study successfully explains the effective mechanism of CHA and FRA for improving CRC while predicting the potential targets PPARG, AKT1, RXRA, and PPARA of CHA and FRA for CRC treatment, which provides a new foundation for investigating the novel compounds of TCMs and a new direction for subsequent CRC research.

Case report: dual primary malignancies treated by laparoscopic multiorgan resection with natural orifice specimen extraction surgery.

With microtrauma becoming a consensus, in order to improve surgical treatment capability, the clinical application of laparoscopic multiorgan resection is becoming more and more complicated and diversified. Recently, we successfully presented a case of transvaginal specimen extraction surgery that included laparoscopic anatomical left hemihepatectomy combined with laparoscopic total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy and the pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The patient, a 75-year-old woman, was hospitalized with abnormal vaginal discharge and bleeding. The pathologic diagnosis of uterine curettage was endometrioid adenocarcinoma. After completing examinations such as color Doppler ultrasound, CEUS, MRCP and thoracoabdominal enhanced spiral CT, preoperative diagnosis was considered as endometrial cancer and a space-occupying lesion in the liver (primary or secondary site)?. No lymphatic or distant metastasis had been found. We also excluded Lynch syndrome by digestive endoscopy and gene sequencing. After a multidisciplinary consultation, the patient underwent surgery under general anesthesia on 24 September 2021. The operation was completed uneventfully in 6 hours, then the patient was transferred to the ICU for follow-up monitoring. The patient began to eat and was able to leave bed on the 4th postoperative day. According to immunohistochemistry, the patient's postoperative diagnosis was intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and endometrial cancer. Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic multiorgan resection with natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) has many advantages such as fewer traumas, shorter recovery time, and better postoperative quality of life. However, combined large-scale laparoscopic surgeries of different organs can be challenging for surgeons and anesthesiologists. No similar cases have been searched.

Identification of a novel four-gene diagnostic signature for patients with sepsis by integrating weighted gene co-expression network analysis and support vector machine algorithm.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which the immune response is directed towards the host tissues, causing organ failure. Since sepsis does not present with specific symptoms, its diagnosis is often delayed. The lack of diagnostic accuracy results in a non-specific diagnosis, and to date, a standard diagnostic test to detect sepsis in patients remains lacking. Therefore, it is vital to identify sepsis-related diagnostic genes. This study aimed to conduct an integrated analysis to assess the immune scores of samples from patients diagnosed with sepsis and normal samples, followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify immune infiltration-related genes and potential transcriptome markers in sepsis. Furthermore, gene regulatory networks were established to screen diagnostic markers for sepsis based on the protein-protein interaction networks involving these immune infiltration-related genes. Moreover, we integrated WGCNA with the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm to build a diagnostic model for sepsis. Results showed that the immune score was significantly lower in the samples from patients with sepsis than in normal samples. A total of 328 and 333 genes were positively and negatively correlated with the immune score, respectively. Using the MCODE plugin in Cytoscape, we identified four modules, and through functional annotation, we found that these modules were related to the immune response. Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis showed that the identified genes were associated with functions such as neutrophil degranulation, neutrophil activation in the immune response, neutrophil activation, and neutrophil-mediated immunity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed the enrichment of pathways such as primary immunodeficiency, Th1- and Th2-cell differentiation, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Finally, we identified a four-gene signature, containing the hub genes LCK, CCL5, ITGAM, and MMP9, and established a model that could be used to diagnose patients with sepsis.

Identification of a 5-Gene-Based Scoring System by WGCNA and LASSO to Predict Prognosis for Rectal Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Although accumulating evidence suggested that a molecular signature panel may be more effective for the prognosis prediction than routine clinical characteristics, current studies mainly focused on colorectal or colon cancers. No reports specifically focused on the signature panel for rectal cancers (RC). Our present study was aimed at developing a novel prognostic signature panel for RC. METHODS: Sequencing (or microarray) data and clinicopathological details of patients with RC were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-READ) or the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE123390, GSE56699) database. A weighted gene coexpression network was used to identify RC-related modules. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis was performed to screen the prognostic signature panel. The prognostic performance of the risk score was evaluated by survival curve analyses. Functions of prognostic genes were predicted based on the interaction proteins and the correlation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells. The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) tool was utilized to validate the protein expression levels. RESULTS: A total of 247 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were commonly identified using TCGA and GSE123390 datasets. Brown and yellow modules (including 77 DEGs) were identified to be preserved for RC. Five DEGs (ASB2, GPR15, PRPH, RNASE7, and TCL1A) in these two modules constituted the optimal prognosis signature panel. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group had a poorer prognosis than those in the low-risk group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that this risk score had high predictive accuracy for unfavorable prognosis, with the area under the ROC curve of 0.915 and 0.827 for TCGA and GSE56699 datasets, respectively. This five-mRNA classifier was an independent prognostic factor. Its predictive accuracy was also higher than all clinical factor models. A prognostic nomogram was developed by integrating the risk score and clinical factors, which showed the highest prognostic power. ASB2, PRPH, and GPR15/TCL1A were predicted to function by interacting with CASQ2/PDK4/EPHA67, PTN, and CXCL12, respectively. TCL1A and GPR15 influenced the infiltration levels of B cells and dendritic cells, while the expression of PRPH was positively associated with the abundance of macrophages. HPA analysis supported the downregulation of PRPH, RNASE7, CASQ2, EPHA6, and PDK4 in RC compared with normal controls. CONCLUSION: Our immune-related signature panel may be a promising prognostic indicator for RC.

[Characteristics of sediment phosphorus in the Jiulong River-Reservoir system and its ecological significance].

Sediment phosphorus (P) content and component ratio from 16 sites along the North Jiulong River-reservoir system were analyzed using the Standard Measurement and Test (SMT) procedure. The spatial pattern and characteristics of sediment P and its ecological significance in the Jiulong River-reservoir system were examined in combination with water measurement and watershed information. Total P content in sediments ranged from 387 to 2092 mg x kg(-1) with an average of 1032 mg x kg(-1). Inorganic phosphorus (IP) dominated P in sediment, accounting for 48%-98% of TP, and Fe/Al-bound phosphorus (Fe/Al-P) took 43%-99% of IP. The spatial pattern of sediment showed that TP and Fe/Al-P were higher in upstream and lower in downstream, corresponding to the spatial variation of surface water P and land-based loads from animal waste, human waste and fertilizer loss. Spatial variation of TP in sediment was controlled by Fe/AI-P along the North Jiulong River. The P-rich sediment with a great release potential due to the high ratio of Fe/ Al-P, the typical spatial pattern, and the lower N/P ratio observed in upstream water (where phytoplankton growth tends to be weakly limited by phosphorus), are likely to explain the fact that algal blooms first appear in the upstream and then spread to downstream reservoirs along the North Jiulong River. Present findings concerning sediment P characteristics indicate an important regulating effect and the ecological significance on the process of algal blooms in the Jiulong River.

Direct measurement of dissolved N2 and denitrification along a subtropical river-estuary gradient, China.

The spatial pattern and seasonal variation of denitrification were investigated during 2010-2011 in the Jiulong River Estuary (JRE) in southeast China. Dissolved N2 was directly measured by changes in the N2:Ar ratio. The results showed that excess dissolved N2 ranged from -9.9 to 76.4 µmol L⁻¹. Tidal mixing leads to a seaward decline of dissolved gaseous concentrations and water-air fluxes along the river-estuary gradient. Denitrification at freshwater sites varied between seasons, associated with changes in N input and water temperature. The denitrification process was controlled by the nitrate level at freshwater sites, and the excess dissolved N2 observed at the tidal zone largely originated from upstream water transport. Compared to other estuaries, JRE has a relative low gaseous removal efficiency (E(d)=12% of [DIN]; annual N removal=24% of DIN load), a fact ascribed to strong tidal mixing, coarse-textured sediment with shallow depth before bedrock and high riverine DIN input.

Effect of storm events on riverine nitrogen dynamics in a subtropical watershed, southeastern China.

Rain storms are predicted to increase in the subtropical region due to climate change. However, the effects of storm events on riverine nitrogen (N) dynamics are poorly understood. In this study, the riverine N dynamics and storm effects in a large subtropical river (North Jiulong River, southeastern China) were investigated through continuous sampling of two storm events which occurred in June 2010 and June 2011. The results disclosed a strong linkage between N dynamics and hydrological controls and watershed characteristics. The extreme storm in June 2010 resulted in more fluctuations in N concentrations, loads, and composition, compared with the moderate storm in June 2011. There were contrasting patterns (e.g., the hysteresis effect) between nitrate and ammonium behavior in storm runoff, reflecting their different supply source and transport mechanism. Overall, nitrate supply originated from subsurface runoff and was dominated by within-channel mobilization, while ammonium was mainly from over-land sources and flushed by surface runoff. Extreme storm runoff (2010) caused a four-fold increase in dissolved inorganic N fluxes (DIN), with a greater fraction of ammonium (up to 30% of DIN) compared with the moderate storm and background flow condition (less than 15%). Storm-driven sharp increases of N loads and changes in nutrient stoichiometry (more ammonium) might have been connected with algal blooms in the adjacent estuary and Xiamen Bay. Combined with the background flow measurement of N gradients along the main river and a stream together with anthropogenic N load information, the interactive effect of hydrological and biogeochemical process on riverine N was preliminarily revealed. Current results suggested that storm runoff N was controlled by rainfall, hydrological condition, antecedent soil moisture, spatial variability of land-based N source, and damming. These findings could be used as a reference for future water quality monitoring programs and the development of a pollution mitigation strategy.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition and its long-term dynamics in a southeast China coastal area.

Measurements were conducted during 2004-2005 and 2009-2010 to characterize atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to the Jiulong River Estuary - Xiamen Bay area in southeast China. Isotopic analysis and long-term data (1990-2009) for inorganic N extracted from the national acid deposition dataset were used to determine the dominant source of atmospheric nitrate and N component dynamics. The results showed that the mean dissolved total N concentration in rain water for the three coastal area sites was 2.71 ± 1.58 mg N L(-1) (n = 141) in 2004. The mean dissolved inorganic N at the Xiamen site was 1.62 ± 1.19 mg N L(-1) (n = 46) in 2004-2005 and 1.56 ± 1.39 mg N L(-1) (n = 36) in 2009-2010, although the difference is not significant, nitrate turnover dominates the N component in the latter period. Total deposition flux over Xiamen was 30 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1), of which dry and wet deposition contributed 16% and 84%, respectively. Nitrate in wet deposition with low isotopic value (between -3.05 and -7.48‰) was likely to have mostly originated from combustion NO(x) from vehicle exhausts. The inorganic N in acid deposition exhibited a significant increase (mainly for nitrate) since the mid-1990s, which is consistent with the increased gaseous concentrations of NO(x) and expanding number of automobiles in the coastal city (Xiamen). The time series of nitrate anions and ammonium cations as well as pH values during the period 1990-2009 reflected an increasing trend of N emission with potential implication for N-induced acidification.

[Preliminary results concerning summer-time denitrification in the Jiulong River Estuary].

Denitrification is an important process mitigating nitrogen (N) pollution in aquatic systems. Water samples in 13 sites throughout the Jiulong River Estuary were collected in July, 2010 in a preliminary investigation of the denitrification rate in this area. As end-products of denitrification, dissolved N2 was measured by determining N2 : Ar ratios using MIMS (HPR-40), while the concentration of nitrous oxide (N2O) dissolved in water was determined by Purge and Trap-Gas Chromatography. The results showed significant spatial variance of net increase of dissolved N2 (ranging between - 9.9 and 66.8 micromol x L(-1)) and N2O (ranging between 4.3 and 31.5 nmol x L(-1)) in the Jiulong River Estuary. The net increase of dissolved N2 and N2O declined gradually from river sites to sea sites. Dissolved N2O was supersaturated by 170%-562%. The air-water fluxes of N2 ranged between -2.9 and 53.2 mmol x (m2 x d) (-1), and N2O between 5.2 and 23.9 micromol x (m2 x d)(-1). The N2O yield shared only 0.03% - 1.2% (average 0.25%) of total N air-water flux. The results suggested that water temperature and nutrient (N and P) were the key factors influencing denitrification. The denitrification rate is controlled by nitrate level at fresh-water sites with salinity < 0.5%. However, in salty waters, net increase in N2 and N2O mainly originated from denitrification occurring upstream of the estuary, and was dominated by the salinity gradient due to tidal mixing.