Combining lymph node ratio to develop prognostic models for postoperative gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm patients

BACKGROUND Lymph node ratio(LNR)was demonstrated to play a crucial role in the prognosis of many tumors.However,research concerning the prognostic value of LNR in postoperative gastric neuroendocrine neoplasm(NEN)patients was limited.AIM To explore the prognostic value of LNR in postoperative gastric NEN patients and to combine LNR to develop prognostic models.METHODS A total of 286 patients from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database were divided into the training set and validation set at a ratio of 8:2.92 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China were designated as a test set.Cox regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between LNR and disease-specific survival(DSS)of gastric NEN patients.Random survival forest(RSF)algorithm and Cox proportional hazards(CoxPH)analysis were applied to develop models to predict DSS respectively,and compared with the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)tumornode-metastasis(TNM)staging.RESULTS Multivariate analyses indicated that LNR was an independent prognostic factor for postoperative gastric NEN patients and a higher LNR was accompanied by a higher risk of death.The RSF model exhibited the best performance in predicting DSS,with the C-index in the test set being 0.769[95%confidence interval(CI):0.691-0.846]outperforming the CoxPH model(0.744,95%CI:0.665-0.822)and the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging(0.723,95%CI:0.613-0.833).The calibration curves and decision curve analysis(DCA)demonstrated the RSF model had good calibration and clinical benefits.Furthermore,the RSF model could perform risk stratification and individual prognosis prediction effectively.CONCLUSION A higher LNR indicated a lower DSS in postoperative gastric NEN patients.The RSF model outperformed the CoxPH model and the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging in the test set,showing potential in clinical practice.

血清细胞骨架蛋白4检测对肝细胞癌的诊断价值

目的探讨检测血清细胞骨架蛋白4(CKAP4)水平对识别肝细胞癌(HCC)患者的临床价值。方法选取2013 年1 月—2017 年12 月苏州大学附属第一医院HCC 患者88 例为HCC 组,同期选取肝硬化患者91 例、慢性乙型肝炎患者87 例、门诊体检部健康体检者81 例作为3 个对照组。血清CKAP4 水平检测采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)。受试者操作特征(ROC)曲线用于评价蛋白对HCC 的识别能力。结果 HCC 患者的血清CKAP4 水平高于肝硬化患者、慢性乙肝患者及健康体检者(P <0.05)。CKAP4 的Cut-off 值为261.1 pg/ml,判断HCC 的ROC 下面积(AUC)为0.843(95% CI :0.799,0.888),敏感性为0.761,特异性为0.737。CKAP4与甲胎蛋白(AFP)比较,差异无统计学意义(P >0.05)。CKAP4 判断早期HCC 的AUC 为0.865(95% CI :0.814,0.915),敏感性为0.784,特异性为0.737,结果优于AFP(P <0.05)。结论 CKAP4 可成为HCC 诊断的血清肿瘤标志物。

Prevalence of fatty liver disease and the economy in China: A systematic review

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the economy and the adult prevalence of fatty liver disease(FLD) in China's Mainland. METHODS: Literature searches on the Pub Med and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were performed to identify eligible studies published before July 2014. Records were limited to crosssectional surveys or baseline surveys of longitudinal studies that reported the adult prevalence of FLD and recruited subjects from the general population or community. The gross domestic product(GDP) per capita was chosen to assess the economic status. Multiple linear regression and Loess regression were chosen to fit the data and calculate the 95%CIs. Fitting and overfitting of the models were considered in choosing the appropriate models. RESULTS: There were 27 population-based surveys from 26 articles included in this study. The pooled mean prevalence of FLD in China was 16.73%(95%CI: 13.92%-19.53%). The prevalence of FLD was correlated with the GDP per capita and survey years in the country(adjusted R2 = 0.8736, P GDP per capita = 0.00426, P years = 0.0000394), as well as in coastal areas(R2 = 0.9196, P GDP per capita = 0.00241, P years = 0.00281). Furthermore, males [19.28%(95%CI: 15.68%-22.88%)] presented a higher prevalence than females [14.1%(95%CI: 11.42%-16.61%), P = 0.0071], especially in coastal areas [21.82(95%CI: 17.94%-25.71%) vs 17.01%(95%CI: 14.30%-19.89%), P = 0.0157]. Finally, the prevalence was predicted to reach 20.21% in 2020, increasing at a rate of 0.594% per year. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a correlation between the economy and the prevalence of FLD in China's Mainland.

Clinical guidelines of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review

AIM To perform a systematic review to grade guidelines and present recommendations for clinical management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS A database search was conducted on Pub Med for guidelines published before May 2016, supplemented by reviewing relevant websites. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation(ARGEE) instrument Ⅱ was a tool designed to appraise the methodological rigor and transparency in which a clinical guideline is developed and it is used internationally. it was used to appraise the quality of guidelines in this study. The inclusion criteria include: clinical NAFLD guidelines for adults, published in English, and released by governmental agencies or key organizations.RESULTS Eleven guidelines were included in this study. Since 2007, guidelines have been released in Asia(3 in China, 1 in South Korea, and 1 in Japan), Europe(1 in italy),America(1 in United States and 1 in Chile) and three international agencies [European associations joint, Asia-Pacific Working Party and World Gastroenterology Organization(WGO)]. Using the ARGEE Ⅱ instrument, we found US 2012 and Europe 2016 had the highest scores, especially in the areas of rigor of development and applicability. Additionally, italy 2010 and Korea 2013 also presented comprehensive content, rigorous procedures and good applicability. And WGO 2014 offered various algorithms for clinical practice. Lastly, a practical algorithm for the clinical management was developed, based on the recommended guidelines.CONCLUSION This is the first systematic review of NAFLD guidelines. it may yield insights for physicians and policy-makers in the development and application of guidelines.

Pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality patterns in 2006-2015 and prediction of the epidemiological trend to 2025 in China

BACKGROUND Due to dietary patterns,the aging population,and other high-risk factors,the occurrence of pancreatic cancer(PC)has been rapidly increasing in China.AIM To present the epidemiological trends of PC in China over the past decade and the estimated trend in 2025 and to compare the international differences in PC morbidity and mortality.METHODS This study used a series of nationally representative data from the National Central Cancer Registry of China(NCCR),the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation databases.Agestandardized data of the PC incidence and mortality from 2006 to 2015 in China were extracted from the NCCR database.Linear regression models were used to estimate the incidence and mortality rates of PC in 2025.RESULTS The age-standardized rates of PC in China increased from 3.65 per 100000 in 2006 to 4.31 per 100000 in 2015 and were estimated to reach up to 5.52 per 100000 in 2025.The mortality went from 3.35 per 100000 in 2006 to 3.78 per 100000 in 2015,estimated to reach up to 4.6 per 100000 in 2025.The number of new cases and deaths was low before 45 years and the peak age of onset was 85-89 years.The incidence and mortality rates in men were higher than those in women regardless of the region in China.In addition,the incidence and mortality rates in China were higher than the average level around the world.Likewise,disabilityadjusted life years attributed to PC in China were 197.22 years per 100000,above the average level around the world.CONCLUSION This study presented an increasing trend of PC in China and differences in morbidity,mortality and disability-adjusted life years between Chinese and global populations.Efforts need to be made to decrease the PC incidence and improve patient outcomes.

Protection of ghrelin postconditioning on hypoxia/ reoxygenation in gastric epithelial cells

AIM: To investigate the protective effect and mechanisms of ghrelin postconditioning against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury in human gastric epithelial cells. METHODS: The model of H/R injury was established in gastric epithelial cell line (GES-1) human gastric epithelial cells. Cells were divided into seven groups: normal control group (N); H/R postconditioning group; DMSO postconditioning group (DM); ghrelin postconditioning group (GH); D-Lys3-GHRP-6 + ghrelin postconditioning group (D + GH); capsazepine + ghrelin postconditioning group (C + GH); and LY294002 + ghrelin postconditioning group (L + GH). 3-(4,5-dimethylthazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect GES-1 cell viability. Hoechst 33258 fluorochrome staining and flow cytometry were conducted to determine apoptosis of GES-1cells. Spectrophotometry was performed to determine release of lactate dehydrogenate (LDH). Protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β was determined by western blotting. Expression of vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1), Akt and GSK-3β was observed by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the H/R group, cell viability of the GH group was significantly increased in a dosedependent manner (55.9% ± 10.0% vs 69.6% ± 9.6%, 71.9% ± 17.4%, and 76.3% ± 13.3%). Compared with the H/R group, the percentage of apoptotic cells in the GH group significantly decreased (12.38% ± 1.51% vs 6.88% ± 0.87%). Compared with the GH group, the percentage of apoptotic cells in the D + GH group, C + GH group and L + GH groups significantly increased (11.70% ± 0.88%, 11.93% ± 0.96%, 10.20% ± 1.05% vs 6.88% ± 0.87%). There were no significant differences in the percentage of apoptotic cells between the H/R and DM groups (12.38% ± 1.51% vs 13.00% ± 1.13%). There was a significant decrease in LDH release following ghrelin postconditioning compared with the H/R group (561.58 ± 64.01 U/L vs 1062.45 ± 105.29 U/L). There was a significant increase in LDH release in the D + GH, C + GH and L + GH groups compared with the GH group (816.89 ± 94.87 U/L, 870.95 ± 64.06 U/L, 838.62 ± 118.45 U/L vs 561.58 ± 64.01 U/L). There were no significant differences in LDH release between the H/R and DM groups (1062.45 ± 105.29 U/L vs 1017.65 ± 68.90 U/L). Compared with the H/R group, expression of Bcl-2 and Akt increased in the GH group, whereas expression of Bax and GSK3β decreased. Compared with the GH group, expression of Bcl-2 decreased and Bax increased in the D + GH, C + GH and L + GH groups, and Akt decreased and GSK-3β increased in the L + GH group. The H/R group also upregulated expression of VR1 and GSK-3β and downregulated Akt. The number of VR1-positive and Akt-positive cells in the GH group significantly increased, whereas the number of GSK-3β-positive cells significantly decreased. These effects of ghrelin were reversed by capsazepine and LY294002.CONCLUSION: Ghrelin postconditioning protected against H/R-induced injury in human gastric epithelial cells, which indicated that this protection might be associated with GHS-R, VR1 and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.