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Background & Aims: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has two main histological subtypes: large and small duct‐type iCCA, which are characterized by different clinicopathological features. This study was conducted with the purpose of expanding our understanding of their differences in molecular features and immune microenvironment. Methods: We selected 132 patients who underwent radical surgery at our department between 2015 and 2021 for clinical and survival analyses. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed to analyse mutational landscapes. Bulk RNA sequencing and single‐cell RNA sequencing data were used for pathway enrichment and immune infiltration analyses based on differentially expressed genes. The function of PPP1R1B was analysed both in vitro and in vivo and the gene mechanism was further investigated. Results: We found that large duct‐type iCCA had worse overall survival and recurrence‐free survival rates than small duct‐type iCCA. Mutations in ARID1A, DOT1L and ELF3 usually occur in large duct‐type iCCA, whereas mutations in IDH1 and BAP1 occur in small duct‐type iCCA. Among the differentially expressed genes, we found that PPP1R1B was highly expressed in large duct‐type iCCA tumour tissues. Expression of PPP1R1B promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion and indicated a worse prognosis. A combination of USF2 with the promoter of PPP1R1B can enhance gene expression in iCCA, which may further affect the expression of genes such as AHNAK, C4BPA and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Conclusions: Our findings extend our understanding of large and small duct‐type iCCA. In addition, PPP1R1B may serve as a potential marker and therapeutic target for large duct‐type iCCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the internal stress transfer law and the evolution of the fine structure of asphalt mixtures after being subjected to traffic load during the service phase, finite element (FE) models of porous asphalt mixtures (PAMs) and dense asphalt mixtures (DAMs) were developed for virtual uniaxial compression tests. By controlling the two asphalt mixtures to produce different longitudinal deformation, their damage patterns in the service phase are analyzed from a fine perspective. The results show that PAMs are capable of forming internal force chains when resisting external loads, and the displacement generated within the PAM is not uniformly distributed. Moreover, when resisting external loads, the internal stress distribution of DAMs is more uniform, as is the internal displacement distribution. The stress transfer law of the PAM is more conducive to transferring the load from the upper surface to the lower surface of the mixture than that of the DAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solitary fibrous tumor of the liver (SFTL) is an exceptionally rare mesenchymal tumor, with only 117 cases reported in the literature. While most SFTs are benign, some exhibit malignant behavior, including local recurrence and metastasis. This report presents two cases of SFTL with systemic metastases, both involving prior intracranial tumors. The first case, a 52-year-old woman, discovered a liver mass incidentally during a routine physical exam. Subsequent investigations revealed potential bone metastasis, and biopsy confirmed SFT. She received two TACE procedures, anlotinib targeted therapy, and radiotherapy for the iliac bone lesion, resulting in stable disease with reduction in lesion size. The second case, a 46-year-old man, presented with multiple liver, pelvic, and lung lesions following pelvic tumor resection, with pathology confirming SFT. He was treated with long-term anlotinib therapy, CyberKnife for hepatic, lung, and pelvic lesions, and radiofrequency ablation for hepatic lesions. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with no tumor progression on follow-up. SFTL presents with atypical clinical and imaging features, and diagnosis requires pathological and genetic confirmation. Radical resection is preferred for solitary tumors, while comprehensive treatment, including surgery and long-term follow-up, is essential for cases with recurrence or metastasis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wei, Lo, Gao, Zhu, Sun and Li.)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising steadily in incidence, and more effective methods are needed for early detection and image-guided surgery. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a cell surface biomarker that is overexpressed in early-stage cancer but not in cirrhosis. An IRDye800-labeled 12-mer amino acid sequence was identified, and specific binding to GPC3 was validated in vitro and in orthotopically implanted HCC tumors in vivo . Over 4-fold greater binding affinity and 2-fold faster kinetics were measured by comparison with previous GPC3 peptides. Photoacoustic images showed peak tumor uptake at 1.5 h post-injection and clearance within ∼24 h. Laparoscopic and whole-body fluorescence images showed strong intensity from tumor versus adjacent liver with about a 2-fold increase. Immunofluorescence staining of human liver specimens demonstrated specific binding to HCC versus cirrhosis with 79% sensitivity and 79% specificity, and normal liver with 81% sensitivity and 84% specificity. The near-infrared peptide is promising for early HCC detection in clinical trials.