Predictive values of multidetector-row computed tomography combined with serum tumor biomarkers in preoperative lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer

Objective: Multidetector-row computed tomography(MDCT) and serum tumor biomarkers are commonly used to evaluate the preoperative lymph node metastasis and the clinical staging of gastric cancer(GC). This study intends to evaluate the clinical predictive value of MDCT and serum tumor biomarkers in lymph node metastasis of GC.Methods: The clinicopathologic data of 445 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic value of MDCT and serum tumor biomarkers in lymph node metastatic staging of GC before surgery.Results: With the multinomial logistic regression analysis, the independent relative factors of lymph node metastasis of GC were identified as tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, vessel invasion, vascular embolus, and soft tissue invasion. The optimal critical value of the short diameter of lymph nodes detected by MDCT scanning for evaluation of preoperative lymph node metastasis was 6.0 mm, with 75.7% as predictive accuracy of lymph node metastasis compared to the postoperative pathological results of GC patients. In addition, the critical value of the short diameter of lymph nodes combined with serum tumor biomarkers [including carbohydrate antigen(CA)-724 and CA-199] could show an enhancement of predictive sensitivity of lymph node metastasis(up to 89.3%) before surgery.Conclusions: MDCT combined with serum tumor biomarkers should be adopted to improve preoperative sensitivity and accuracy of lymph node metastasis for GC patients.

Emerging role of long non-coding RNA JPX in malignant processes and potential applications in cancers

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)reportedly function as important modulators of gene regulation and malignant processes in the development of human cancers.The lncRNA JPX is a novel molecular switch for X chromosome inactivation and differentially expressed JPX has exhibited certain clinical correlations in several cancers.Notably,JPX participates in cancer growth,metastasis,and chemoresistance,by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA,interacting with proteins,and regulating some specific signaling pathways.Moreover,JPX may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the diagnosis,prognosis,and treatment of cancer.The present article summarizes our current understanding of the structure,expression,and function of JPX in malignant cancer processes and discusses its molecular mechanisms and potential applications in cancer biology and medicine.

Tetradic double-network physical crosslinking hydrogels with synergistic high stretchable, self-healing, adhesive, and strain-sensitive properties

Herein,we demonstrate a tetradic double-network physical cross-linking hydrogel comprising of gelatin,polyacrylic acid,tannic acid,and aluminum chloride as wearable hydrogel sensors.Based on the coordination bonds,hydrogen bonds,and chain entanglements of the two networks,the acquired hydrogel possesses excellent tensile properties,self-healing performance,and adhesiveness to many substrates.Mechanical properties can be tuned with fracture strain ranging from 900 to 2200%and tensile strength ranging from 24 to 216 kPa,respectively.Besides,the hydrogel also exhibits good strain-sensitivity when monitoring the motions of humans,such as bending of fingers,bending of elbows.Hence,we can believe that the GATA hydrogel has numerous applications in soft robots,intelligent wearable devices,and human health supervision.