Impact of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes after hepatectomy in older patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis, but its role in older patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia on the prognosis of older patients with ICC undergoing hepatectomy. METHODS: A total of 363 patients with ICC following hepatectomy from 2015 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed at five institutions. Sarcopenia was evaluated using skeletal muscle index by computed tomography images. Patients were divided into four subgroups according to sarcopenia and age. Postoperative outcomes including complication, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated. Risk factors were identified through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: 302 patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 63 years and there were 128 patients (42.4%) aged over 65 years. 192 patients (63.6%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia, while 180 patients (59.6%) experienced myosteatosis. Older patients experienced a higher incidence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis, and worse postoperative outcomes than younger patients. In the subgroup of patients with sarcopenia, older patients experienced a significant shorter OS than younger patients, which was not observed in patients without sarcopenia. According to the multivariate Cox regression analysis, lymphatic metastasis (p < .001), blood transfusion (p = .004), low serum albumin (p = .051), sarcopenia (p = .024), and myosteatosis (p = .004) were identified as independent risk factors of OS in older patients, meanwhile tumour size (p = .013) and lymphatic metastasis (p < .001) were independent risk factors of RFS. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia and myosteatosis have a significant adverse impact on postoperative outcomes in older patients with ICC undergoing hepatectomy.

Higher Blood Lead Level Is Associated With Increased Likelihood of Abdominal Aortic Calcification.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the association between blood lead level (BLL) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in US adults aged ≥40 years. Methods: We obtained data from 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Participants missing the data of BLL and AAC scores were excluded. BLL was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry directly. AAC scores were quantified by Kauppila score system, and severe AAC was defined as AAC score >6. Weighted multivariable regression analysis and subgroup analysis were conducted to explore the independent relationship between BLL with AAC score and severe AAC. Results: A total of 1,530 participants were included with the mean BLL of 1.45 ± 1.31 ng/dl and mean AAC score of 1.40 ± 3.13. The prevalence of severe AAC was 7.98% overall, and participants in higher BLL quartile showed higher prevalence of severe AAC (Quartile 1: 3.55%, Quartile 2: 7.28%, Quartile 3: 9.88%, Quartile 4: 12.58%, P < 0.0001). BLL was positively associated with higher AAC score (ß = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.27, P = 0.021) and increased risk of severe AAC (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00-1.22; P = 0.047). Subgroup analysis and interaction test indicated that the association between BLL and AAC was similar in different population settings. Conclusions: Higher BLL was associated with higher AAC score and increased risk of severe AAC. Lead burden should be considered for people with AAC in clinical settings.

Geogenic enrichment of potentially toxic metals in agricultural soils derived from black shale in northwest Zhejiang, China: Pathways to and risks from associated crops.

Agricultural soils derived from black shale are typically enriched in potentially toxic metals. This is a serious problem, both in terms of the ecological environment and human health. To assess the levels of potentially toxic metals, 90 paired soil-crops samples were collected from the Anji Country, western Zhejiang province, a typical exposed black shale area in China. Concentrations and bioavailability of potentially toxic metals in the soil-crops system were measured, and the associated potential risks were further evaluated. Results showed the enrichment of potentially toxic metals (i.e. Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni) in the soil and crop samples, especially a significant accumulation of Cd. Sequential extraction data indicated that Cd in soils derived from black shale was the second most dominant element in the exchangeable fraction (mean at 33.42%) and possessed high bioavailability, whereas Pb was mostly retained in the residual fraction (mean at 76.34%) and exhibited low mobility. The total concentration as well as mobility and bioavailability of Cd were the highest in the sampled soils. This resulted in a high potential ecological risk in areas with agricultural soils derived from black shale, which could eventually jeopardize the health of local residents through various exposure pathways. Overall, our findings provide a scientific basis for developing suitable management strategies to mitigate the exposure to potentially toxic metals in high risk areas.

Responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to various surface modifications of alumina nanoparticles.

The surface modifications of nanoparticles (NPs), are well-recognized parameters that affect the toxicity, while there has no study on toxicity of Al2O3 NPs with different surface modification. Therefore, for the first time, this study pays attention to evaluating the toxicity and potential mechanism of pristine Al2O3 NPs (p-Al2O3), hydrophilic (w-Al2O3) and lipophilic (o-Al2O3) modifications of Al2O3 NPs both in vitro and in vivo. Applied concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80,100 and 200 µg/mL for 24 h exposure on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), while 100 µg/mL of Al2O3 NPs significantly decreased the survival rate. Using multiple toxicological endpoints, we found that o-Al2O3 NPs (100 µg/mL) could induce more severe toxicity than p-Al2O3 and w-Al2O3 NPs. After uptake by C. elegans, o-Al2O3 NPs increased the intestinal permeability, easily swallow and further destroy the intestinal membrane cells. Besides, cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that o-Al2O3 NPs (100 µg/mL) are more toxic than p-Al2O3 and w-Al2O3. Once inside the cell, o-Al2O3 NPs could attack mitochondria and induce the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which destroy the intracellular redox balance and lead to apoptosis. Furthermore, the transcriptome sequencing and RT-qPCR data also demonstrated that the toxicity of o-Al2O3 NPs is highly related to the damage of cell membrane and the imbalance of intracellular redox. Generally, our study has offered a comprehensive sight to the adverse effects of different surface modifications of Al2O3 NPs on environmental organisms and the possible underlying mechanisms.

[Effects of high temperature and humidity on leaf Bt protein expression of transgenic Bt cotton].

Different origins Bt cotton cultivars, including DP410B (conventional cultivar) and Daiza No. 1 (hybridized cultivar) from US and Sikang No. 1 (conventional cultivar) and Sikang No. 3 (hybridized cultivar) from China, were taken as the test materials to investigate the effects of high temperature (37 degrees C) and different humidity (50%, 70%, and 90%) on the leaf Bt protein expression of Bt cotton. At high temperature, temperature and humidity had no significant effects on the leaf Bt protein expression of the cultivars at peak squaring stage. At peak flowering stage, as compared with the control (25-30 degrees C and 60%-70% humidity), 37 degrees C and 50% humidity decreased the leaf Bt protein content of conventional cultivars significantly by 2.6%-3.0%. At peak bolling stage, compared with the control, 37 degrees C and 50% humidity decreased the leaf Bt protein content of DP410B, Sikang No. 1, and Sikang No. 3 significantly by 3.3%-5.8%. Among the four cultivars, DP410B and Daiza No. 1 had the highest leaf Bt protein content, while Sikang No. 1 had the lowest one.

[Effects of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on liver metastasis of B16 melanoma grafted in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on the tumor and the liver metastasis in experimental mice grafted with B16 melanoma. METHODS: B16 melanoma was transplanted in the spleen of C57BL/6 mice. The effects of different doses of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on the inhibition rate of spleen tumors and the liver metastasis were observed respectively. RESULTS: The high-, medium-, and low-doses of the extracts and the interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) can improve the quality of life of the experimental mice. The weights of spleen tumor were lower in the low- and medium-dose extracts-treated groups and the IFN-alpha-treated group than that in the normal saline (NS)-treated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The liver metastasis was less in the low- and medium-dose extracts-treated groups and the IFN-alpha-treated group than that in the NS-treated group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng can improve the quality of life of the experimental mice and inhibit the growth of tumor and the liver metastasis.