Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly fatal disease worldwide and is often misdiagnosed in its early stages. The exploration of novel non-invasive biomarkers will definitely benefit PC patients. Recently, circulating miRNAs in body fluids are emerging as non-invasive biomarkers for PC diagnosis. In this study, we first conducted comprehensive robust rank aggregation (RRA) analysis based on 21 published miRome profiling studies. We statistically identified and clinically validated a miRNA expression pattern in PC patients. These miRNAs consisted of four up-regulated (hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-31-5p, hsa-miR-210-3p and hsa-miR-155-5p) and three down-regulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-217, hsa-miR-148a-3p and hsa-miR-375). Among them, hsa-miR-21-5p was one of the most highly expressed miRNAs in the serum of PC patients. Our validation test further suggested a relatively high accuracy of serum hsa-miR-21-5p levels in the diagnosis of PC, with a sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.80. Finally, a diagnostic meta-analysis based on 9 studies also revealed favorable sensitivity and specificity of circulating hsa-miR-21-5p for the diagnosis of PC (pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 and 0.74, respectively), which was consistent with our findings. Taken together, as one of the most aberrantly expressed miRNAs in PC, circulating hsa-miR-21-5p might be a promising serum biomarker in patients with PC.
UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE To observe and prove clinical therapeutic effect of Chinese drugs acupoint injection therapy on functional and mild arterial low-level blood supply erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: According to randomized and controlled method, 150 cases of functional and arterial low-level blood supply erectile dysfunction were divided into 3 groups, a Chinese drugs acupoint injection group, a saline acupoint injection and a Huichun Ruyi capsules group, 50 patients in each group. They were treated by acupoint injection of Danshen Injection and Chaihu Injection, acupoint injection of saline into Guanyuan (CV 4), Zuwuli (LR 10) and Huiyin (CV 1), and oral administration of Huichun Ruyi capsules, respectively. The changes of II EF-5 score, symptoms and signs, serum sexual hormones, Coprus Spongiosum PSV before and after the treatment were observed and compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 92.0% in the Chinese drugs acupoint injection group, 84.0% in the saline acupoint injection group, and 66.0% in the Huichun Ruyi capsules group, with significant or very significant differences among the 3 groups (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint injection of Danshen Injection and Chaihu Injection has a definite curative effect on functional and arterial low-level blood supply ED. This therapy can raise II EF-5 score obviously and improve Corus Spongiosum PSV. The total effect of Chinese drugs acupoint injection group is better than that of saline acupoint injection or Huichun Ruyi capsules.
It was found in this study that the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA levels varied between days 2 and 60. The FSHR mRNA rised slightly in the neonatal rat testis and then declined. In the prepuberty the content of FSHR mRNA remained at a Constant level. During the puberty the FSHR mRNA increased to its highest level on days 25 and finally it rised again after days 40.
The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) usually have no specific clinical symptoms at early stages. HCC with BDTT was usually misdiagnosed when the intrahepatic tumor was small, even undetectable. In this study, 5 cases of HCC with BDTT misdiagnosed as choledocholithiasis and cholangitis in the local hospital are described. We analyzed retrospectively and summarized our experiences of these 5 HCC patients with BDTT misdiagnosed in the local hospital during the past 5 years. The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of the patients are discussed. Three patients underwent hepatectomy with thrombectomy and T-tube drainage. One patient underwent hepatectomy with the resection of the common bile duct and hepatojejunostomy, and palliative surgery was performed in 1 patient with portal vein tumor thrombus and intrahepatic metastasis. The patients were followed for 6–22 months; 4 patients died of tumor recurrence and metastasis or hepatic failure, despite 3 of these patients having received transhepatic arterial chemotherapy and embolization or radiofrequency ablation therapy. Early and accurate diagnosis of HCC with BDTT is very important. When patients have a history of abnormal recurrent cholangitis, HCC with BDTT should be highly suspected. Intraductal ultrasonography (US), intraoperative US, and histopathological examination are very valuable for the diagnosis. The prognosis of HCC patients with BDTT is dismal. Identification of this type of patient is clinically important, because surgical treatment may be beneficial.
Objective The aim of this study was to present the therapeutic outcome of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with pancreatoduodenectomy combined with vascular resection and reconstruction in addition to highlighting the mortality/morbidity and main prognostic factors associated with this treatment. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of a total of 566 pancreatic cancer patients who were treated with PD from five teaching hospitals during the period of December 2006–December 2011. This study included 119 (21.0%) patients treated with PD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction. We performed a detailed statistical analysis of various factors, including postoperative complications, operative mortality, survival rate, operative time, pathological type, and lymph node metastasis. Results The median survival time of the 119 cases that received PD combined with vascular resection was 13.3 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 30.3%, 14.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. The postoperative complication incidence was 23.5%, and the mortality rate was 6.7%. For the combined vascular resection group, complications occurred in 28 cases (23.5%). For the group without vascular resection, complications occurred in 37 cases (8.2%). There was significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.001). The degree of tumor differentiation and the occurrence of complications after surgery were independent prognostic factors that determined the patients' long-term survival. Conclusions Compared with PD without vascular resection, PD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction increased the incidence of postoperative complications. However, PD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction could achieve the complete removal of tumors without significantly increasing the mortality rate, and the median survival time was higher than that of patients who underwent palliative treatment. In addition, the two independent factors affecting the postoperative survival time were the degree of tumor differentiation and the presence or absence of postoperative complications.
α -Mangostin, a natural product isolated from the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit, has been shown to inhibit the growth of tumor cells in various types of cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here, we report that α -mangostin suppressed the viability and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pancreatic cancer cells through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Treatment of pancreatic cancer BxPc-3 and Panc-1 cells with α -mangostin resulted in loss of cell viability, accompanied by enhanced cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, and decrease of cyclin-D1. Moreover, Transwell and Matrigel invasion assays showed that α -mangostin significantly reduced the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Consistent with these results, α -mangostin decreased the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, N-cadherin, and vimentin and increased the expression of E-cadherin. Furthermore, we found that α -mangostin suppressed the activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway in pancreatic cancer cells as demonstrated by the reduction of the Akt phosphorylation by α -mangostin. Finally, α -mangostin significantly inhibited the growth of BxPc-3 tumor mouse xenografts. Our results suggest that α -mangostin may be potentially used as a novel adjuvant therapy or complementary alternative medicine for the management of pancreatic cancers.