Retrospective cohort study on the correlation analysis among peri-procedural factors, complications, and local tumor progression of lung tumors treated with CT-guided microwave ablation.

Background: Despite adherence to guidelines, recurrence of lesions remains possible in lung tumor microwave ablation (MWA) even when termination is enabled by 5-10 mm ground glass changes. Limited evidence exists regarding the correlation between timely management of perioperative complications (including pneumothorax, pleural effusion, hemorrhage, cavity formation, and infection) and local tumor progression. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship among peri-procedural factors, complications, and local tumor progression in 164 cases of lung tumors treated with computed tomography-guided MWA (CT-MWA), and improve the local prognosis and reduce the complication rate of CT-guided lung tumor ablation. Methods: We reviewed 164 consecutive patients who underwent CT-MWA at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center's Minimally Invasive Therapy Center for lung cancer from September 2019 to May 2020. Correlative analysis was performed between peri-procedural factors, complications and outcomes (local tumor progression rates). Patients who have had prior surgery or previous MWA were excluded. Ablation was the first treatment of choice, and all patients who have had other treatments were excluded. Patients were followed every 3 months with CT. Outcomes of ablation including complications and local tumor progression were evaluated. Peri-procedural factors included demographical factors, tumor features, ablation parameters, management of intra-procedural pneumothorax, and CT features. Complications included pneumothorax, post-procedural refractory infection, and pleural effusion. Results: The study included 98 males and 68 females, with an average age of 56.1 years. Local tumor progression rate was negatively correlated with intra-procedural management of pneumothorax (R=-0.550, P=0.0003) and Hounsfield unit (HU) difference between HU before and after procedure (R=-0.855, P=0.006), and positively correlated with the average HU value of immediate post-procedural CT at the measurement points (R=0.857, P=0.00002). The correlation analysis results also showed a positive correlation between infection after procedure and pneumothorax (R=0.340, P=0.0001). Conclusions: A greater difference between HU before and after the procedure or a decrease in CT values immediately after ablation may predict a higher rate of local complete ablation. Prompt management of intraoperative pneumothorax may lower local tumor progression rates and decrease incidence of post-procedural infection.

Triptolide attenuates LPS-induced activation of RAW 264.7 macrophages by inducing M1-to-M2 repolarization via the mTOR/STAT3 signaling.

CONTEXT: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of gastrointestinal tract, which can develop into colorectal cancer. Triptolide (TP) is a predominant bioactive ingredient of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F., and has been proven to have the therapeutic potential for various human diseases. OBJECTIVE: In our study, we examined the function of TP in the progression of IBD. METHODS: 3-(4,5)dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide assay was used to evaluate the viability of RAW264.7 cells. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to detect the relative gene expression. Western blot was used to detect the relative protein expression. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to examine the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6. RESULT: Our research demonstrated that TP restrained lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-caused activation of RAW264.7 cells, as evidenced by the reduction of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6, and increase of IL-10. TP treatment also restrained M1-type macrophage polarization and facilitated M2-type macrophage polarization of RAW 264.7 cells in the presence of LPS. Moreover, TP mitigated LPS-induced activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in RAW264.7 cells. Further, activation of the mTOR/STAT3 signaling by MHY1485 attenuated the effect of TP in regulation of macrophage polarization in RAW264.7 cells in the presence of LPS. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results indicated that TP attenuated LPS-induced activation of RAW 264.7 macrophages by inducing M1-to-M2 repolarization via repression of the mTOR/STAT3 signaling. Therefore, TP might be an effective agent for IBD treatment.

Protective effects of citrulline supplementation in ulcerative colitis rats.

It has been reported that supplementing certain amino acids has therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). We intend to explore whether citrulline (Cit) supplementation has protective effects on UC. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into normal control group (NC group), UC group and UC+Cit group, with five rats in each group. The UC model was established by TNBS/ethanol method. Rats in UC+Cit group were intragastrically administered with Cit for 7 consecutive days after modeling. All rats were sacrificed after 7 days. Blood samples were collected to detect the number of monocytes. Colon tissues were taken for HE staining. Immunohistochemistry staining for CD68 and p-STAT3 were performed to detect the infiltration of monocytes and the phosphorylation of STAT3 in colon tissues. The concentrations of MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-17A and the protein expression of p-STAT3 in colon tissues were measured by ELISA and western blot methods, respectively. The body weight of UC group rats decreased significantly after 7 days (p<0.05). However, the weight loss of UC+Cit group rats was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The number of peripheral blood monocytes in UC+Cit group was significantly lower than that in UC group (p<0.05), and the infiltration of CD68-positive monocytes in the colon tissue of UC+Cit group was significantly reduced than that in UC group. The concentrations of MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-17A and the expression of p-STAT3 in colon tissues of UC+Cit group rats were significantly lower than those in UC group (both p<0.05). Our study suggests that Cit supplementation may be a potential therapy for UC.

Effect of onion flavonoids on colorectal cancer with hyperlipidemia: an in vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to find the effect of onion's extraction on the colorectal cancer with hyperlipidemia. METHOD: We established a hyperlipidemia-subcutaneously heterotopic colorectal cancer orthotopic transplant model and fed mice a high fat diet and performing transplantation. Animal models were treated with capecitabine and/or simvastatin and low-, middle-, high- dose of onion's extraction and both tumor growth rate and blood lipid levels were monitored. RESULTS: We found that colorectal cancer in onion's extraction groups was significantly inhibited, and the effect of high dose of onion's extraction was equivalent to capecitabine. Onion's extraction effectively decreased levels of apoB and TC. CONCLUSION: Our study established a hyperlipidemia colon tumor model involving subcutaneous colon translocation and orthotopic transplantation, this model was an ideal research model for mutual influence of hyperlipidemia and colorectal cancer. Onion's extraction could inhibit the proliferation of colorectal cancer; the function of the high-dose of onion's extraction was fairly to capecitabine, which provided a new direction in protecting and treating colorectal cancer.

[Experimental study of the impact of hyperlipidemia on the chemotherapy in colorectal cancer model].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of hyperlipidemia on the prognosis and therapeutic response for colorectal cancer and to explore the associated mechanism. METHODS: The hyperlipidemic subcutaneous heterotopic colorectal cancer orthotopic transplant model of nude mice was established by feeding high fat diet and performing transplantation. Seventy mice were divided into 7 groups with 10 mice in each group. Two groups were used as pre-experiment. The remaining 5 groups included 4 high-fat groups (G1 to G4), and 1 normal-diet control group (G5). G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5 received normal saline, capecitabine, simvastatin, capecitabine plus simvastatin and capecitabine respectively for 3 weeks. Changes of tumor volume, tumor weight, tumor growth rate and blood lipid parameters (TC, TG, HDL, LDL, Lpa, apoA and apoB) were observed. RESULTS: In G1 to G4, TC, HDL, apoA, TG, LDL, Lpa, apoB increased, but only TC, HDL, apoA were significantly different as compared with G5 (P=0.020, P=0.001, P=0.001, P=0.911, P=0.249, P=0.681, P=0.053). The tumor in G1 grew fastest, and its growth rate was significantly different as compared with G2, G4, G5 except G3 (P=0.001, P=0.806, P=0.001, P=0.010). The tumor growth rate of G3 was lower than group G1, but higher than G2, G4, G5 with significant difference (P=0.001, P=0.002, P=0.016). The tumor of G5 grew faster than G2 and G4, but without significant differences (P=0.051, P=0.070). The tumor of G4 grew slowest without significant difference as compared to G2 (P=0.438). Compared with pre-administration, at the third week, the TC of G1 was increased [(3.8±0.4) mmol/L], while the other 4 groups decreased [G2 (2.8±1.8) mmol/L, G3 (2.9±0.7) mmol/L, G4 (1.4±0.9) mmol/L, G5 (2.1±0.2) mmol/L]. G4 decreased significantly (P=0.004). At the fifth week, the TC of all the 5 groups decreased, while the lipids of G4 were higher as compared to those at the third week. The TG, Lpa, ApoA were significantly decreased at the third week (all P<0.05), while no significant differences were found in HDL and apoB. CONCLUSIONS: A hyperlipidemia colon tumor model involving subcutaneous colon translocation and orthotopic transplantation of nude mice is successfully established. This model is an ideal research model for hyperlipidemia and colorectal cancer. The effect of capecitabine on tumors in hyperlipidemia groups is better as compared to normal diet group. The proliferation of tumor cells can increase serum total serum cholesterol.