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Abstract Background Cancer invasion results from constant interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Major components of the cancer microenvironment are stromal cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells, collagens, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and newly formed blood vessels. This study was to determine the roles of MMP-9, MMP-2, type IV collagen, infiltrating macrophages and tumor microvessels in gastric cancer (GC) invasion and their clinico-pathological significance. Methods Paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 37 GC patients were studied by Streptavidin-Peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical technique to determine the levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, type IV collagen, macrophages infiltration and microvessel density (MVD). Different invasion patterns were delineated and their correlation with major clinico-pathological information was explored. Results MMP2 expression was higher in malignant gland compared to normal gland, especially nearby the basement membrane (BM). High densities of macrophages at the interface of cancer nests and stroma were found where BM integrity was destroyed. MMP2 expression was significantly increased in cases with recurrence and distant metastasis (P = 0.047 and 0.048, respectively). Infiltrating macrophages were correlated with serosa invasion (P = 0.011) and TNM stage (P = 0.001). MVD was higher in type IV collagen negative group compared to type IV collagen positive group (P = 0.026). MVD was related to infiltrating macrophages density (P = 0.040). Patients with negative MMP9 expression had better overall survival (OS) compared to those with positive MMP9 expression (Median OS 44.0 vs 13.5 mo, P = 0.036). Median OS was significantly longer in type IV collagen positive group than negative group (Median OS 25.5 vs 10.0 mo, P = 0.044). The cumulative OS rate was higher in low macrophages density group than in high macrophages density group (median OS 40.5 vs 13.0 mo, P = 0.056). Median OS was significantly longer in low MVD group than high MVD group (median OS 39.0 vs 8.5 mo, P = 0.001). The difference of disease-free survival (DFS) between low MVD group and high MVD group was not statistically significant (P = 0.260). Four typical patterns of cancer invasion were identified based on histological study of the cancer tissue, including Washing pattern, Ameba-like pattern, Spindle pattern and Linear pattern. Conclusions Proteolytic enzymes MMP9, MMP2 and macrophages in stroma contribute to GC progression by facilitating the angiogenesis. Cancer invasion patterns may help predict GC metastasis.

Summary: Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for plant development and production. The mechanisms regulating phosphate (Pi) uptake are well established, but the function of chloroplast Pi homeostasis is poorly understood in Oryza sativa (rice). PHT2;1 is one of the transporters/translocators mediating Pi import into chloroplasts. In this study, to gain insight into the role of OsPHT2;1‐mediated stroma Pi, we analyzed OsPHT2;1 function in Pi utilization and photoprotection. Our results showed that OsPHT2;1 was induced by Pi starvation and light exposure. Cell‐based assays showed that OsPHT2;1 localized to the chloroplast envelope and functioned as a low‐affinity Pi transporter. The ospht2;1 had reduced Pi accumulation, plant growth and photosynthetic rates. Metabolite profiling revealed that 52.6% of the decreased metabolites in ospht2;1 plants were flavonoids, which was further confirmed by 40% lower content of total flavonoids compared with the wild type. As a consequence, ospht2;1 plants were more sensitive to UV‐B irradiation. Moreover, the content of phenylalanine, the precursor of flavonoids, was also reduced, and was largely associated with the repressed expression of ADT1/MTR1. Furthermore, the ospht2;1 plants showed decreased grain yields at relatively high levels of UV‐B irradiance. In summary, OsPHT2;1 functions as a chloroplast‐localized low‐affinity Pi transporter that mediates UV tolerance and rice yields at different latitudes. Significance Statement: Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant development and production, although the function of chloroplast phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is poorly understood in Oryza sativa (rice). Here, we found that OsPHT2;1 functions as a chloroplast‐localized low‐affinity Pi transporter that mediates UV tolerance and rice yields at different latitudes through modulating flavonoid homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study sought to evaluate the risk factors for the development of colitis-associated neoplasia (CAN) in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods IBD patients who developed CAN between 1999 and 2016 were identified from eight medical centers. In addition to initial pathology evaluation, a CAN diagnosis was confirmed by two expert pathologists. Patients with CAN (n  = 29) were compared with non-CAN controls (n  = 87). Matching was performed for gender and IBD type with a ratio of three controls to one subject. Results Of the 29 patients with CAN, 8 (27.6%) had colorectal cancer (CRC), 20 (69.0%) had a final diagnosis of low-grade dysplasia and 1 (3.4%) had high-grade dysplasia. Multivariate analysis revealed that an older age at the time of IBD diagnosis and a longer IBD duration were independent risk factors for the development of CAN, with odds ratios of 1.09 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–1.14, P  <   0.001] and 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03–1.27, P  =   0.013), respectively. Comparison between IBD patients with CRC and those with dysplasia indicated that the former were older at the time of IBD diagnosis (P  =   0.012) and had longer IBD durations (P  =   0.019). Conclusions Older age at the time of IBD diagnosis and longer IBD duration were found to be associated with the development of CAN in IBD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to find out the adsorption forms and stability of gaseous Hg0 on the surface of lignite semi-coke, virgin semi-coke (NM-SC), hydrochloric acid modified semi-coke (Cl-SC), KMnO4 modified semi-coke (Mn-SC) and KMnO4/heat treatment combined modified semi-coke (Mn-H-SC) at 30 °C and 140 °C were investigated and analyzed by conducting toxicity characteristic leaching tests and sequential chemical extraction experiments. TCLP experiments show that the concentration of mercury in the leaching solution of the adsorption products of Cl-SC at 140 °C and of Mn-SC at 30 °C are both higher than the safe mercury concentration in the TCLP standards, and that modification process can reduce the stability of sorbed mercury in simulated water environment. Sequential chemical extraction experiments show that, when the adsorption temperature is 30 °C, the forms of mercury in four samples are mainly elemental. When the adsorption temperature is 140 °C, the highest content of mercury in NM-SC is elemental, and then the HgO; the mercury in Mn-SC and Mn-H-SC is predominantly present in the HgO form, and the mercury in Cl-SC is predominantly present in the HgCl2 form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that typically arises in sunexposed areas of the skin. Herein, we present three cases of primary MCC of the cheek. Case 1 had multiple nodules and mild swelling on the left cheek and eyelids, the patient did not receive any treatment and died after 10 months. Case 2 presented with nodule on patient's left cheek, which increased gradually. The patient was treated with surgical resection from the tumor edge 0.3 cm and skin flap transplantation, she died after 21 months. Case 3 presented with a nodule without any symptoms on patient's left cheek, she was treated with surgical resection and the left cheek was reconstructed with a free flap of tissue. Outpatient follow-up did not show any recurrence and metastasis. The authors report the clinical, histopathological, therapy, prognosis features of MCC, and reviewed with literature.

Targeted therapy is currently a very popular approach to cancer treatment. Personalized targeted therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is based on the mutation status of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, B-Raf proto-oncogene and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene, with different mutations requiring different treatment. Herein, we present a rare case of adenocarcinoma of the lung harboring EGFR- and ALK-activating mutations simultaneously. The patient is currently on pemetrexed and carboplatin chemotherapy and faring well; follow-up will be continued. It is recommended that the biological behavior of cancers with coexisting genetic mutations and their clinicopathological characteristics are more closely investigated in future studies, in order to determine the sensitivity of such cancers to targeted drugs and select the optimal agent.

Aim: To explore the mechanisms of uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy, which is used to decrease the occurrence of Roux stasis syndrome., Methods: The changes of myoelectric activity, mechanic motility and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) of the Roux limb after cut or uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy were observed., Results: When compared with the cut group, the amplitude (1.15 +/- 0.15 mV vs 0.48 +/- 0.06 mV, P < 0.05) and frequency (14.4 +/- 1.9 cpm vs 9.5 +/- 1.1 cpm, P < 0.01) of slow waves and the incidence (98.2% +/- 10.4% vs 56.6% +/- 6.4%, P < 0.05) and amplitude (0.58 +/- 0.08 mV vs 0.23 +/- 0.06 mV, P < 0.01) of spike potential of the Roux limb in the uncut group were significantly higher. The migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC) phase III duration in the uncut group was significantly prolonged (6.5 +/- 1.1 min vs 4.4 +/- 0.8 min, P < 0.05), while the MMC cycle obviously shortened (42.5 +/- 6.8 vs 55.3 +/- 8.2 min, P < 0.05). Both gastric emptying rate (65.5% +/- 7.9% vs 49.3% +/- 6.8%, P < 0.01) and intestinal impelling ratio (53.4% +/- 7.4% vs 32.2% +/- 5.4%, P < 0.01) in the uncut group were significantly increased. The contractile force index of the isolated jejunal segment in the uncut group was significantly higher (36.8 +/- 5.1 vs 15.3 +/- 2.2, P < 0.01), and the expression of c-kit mRNA was significantly increased in the uncut group (0.82 +/- 0.11 vs 0.35 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy may lessen the effects of operation on myoelectric activity such as slow waves, spike potential, and MMC, decrease the impairment of gastrointestinal motility, and remarkably increase the expression of c-kit mRNA.

Aim: To construct and select antigen epitopes of vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) for nontoxic VacA vaccine against Helicobacter pylori (H pylori ) infection., Methods: Eleven VacA epitopes were predicted according to VacA antigenic bioinformatics. Three candidates of VacA epitope were constructed through different combined epitopes. The candidate was linked with E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin B (LTB) by a linker of 7 amino acids, and cloned into plasmid pQE-60 in which fusion LTB-VacA epitope was efficiently expressed. To test the antigencity of the candidate, 6 BALB/c mice were treated with the fusion LTB-VacA epitope through intraperitoneal injection. To explore the ability of inhibiting the toxicity of VacA,cantiserum against the candidate was used to counteract VacA that induced HeLa cells to produce cell vacuoles in vitro., Results: Serum IgG against the candidate was induced in the BALB/c mice. In vitro, the three antisera against the candidate efficiently counteracted the toxicity of VacA, and decreased the number of cell vacuoles by 14.17%, 20.20% and 30.41% respectively., Conclusion: Two of the three candidates, LZ-VacA1and LZ-VacA2, can be used to further study the mechanism of vacuolating toxicity of VacA, and to construct nontoxic VacA vaccine against H pylori infection.