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The number of elderly patients in gastric cancer surgery is rapidly rising. Almost all data on gastric cancer in people over the age of 80 come from a single institution, and there is no systematic review of a large number of patients. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer surgery who were aged 80 years or older. From January 2010 to November 2021, reports on gastric cancer in the elderly aged 80 and over were gathered. We searched PubMed for "Gastric cancer and elderly and 80 years old" as a keyword, and 253 reports were extracted. The Ichushi-Web database was also searched using the phrase "stomach cancer and 80 years old," and 366 records were found. The random-effect model was used to determine the average 5-year survival rate, and the heterogeneity was evaluated. The proportion of male patients, patients who had surgery after 2010, patients with stage I, total gastrectomy, lymph node dissection, and the presence of complications were used as the explanatory variables in meta-regressions to investigate the cause of prognosis variability. More than 50 surgical cases were reported, 8 from PubMed and 2 from the Ichushi-Web database, with information on surgical procedures, prognosis, and complications, in a total of 1182 patients. Of the ten reports, eight were from Japan and two were from South Korea and Taiwan. The number of patients ranged from 55 to 217, with an average 5-year survival rate of 57%. In terms of the relationship between the time of surgery and prognosis, the overall prognosis for patients who had surgery before 2010 and those who had surgery after 2010 was almost similar. Reports with a high proportion of stage I showed a good prognosis. The rate of total gastrectomy, the proportion of lymph node dissection above D1 + , or surgical complications had no effect on prognosis. Patients with gastric cancer aged 80 years or older who underwent radical surgery had a 5-year survival rate of up to 57%. Postoperative complications appeared to have a minor impact.

Cofilin (CFL1, actin-binding protein) and β-actin (ACTB) are key molecules in the polymerization and depolymerization of actin microfilaments. The levels of these antibodies were analyzed, and the clinicopathological significance in patients with esophageal carcinoma were evaluated.The levels of anti-CFL1 and anti-ACTB antibodies were analyzed in serum samples of patients with esophageal carcinoma and of healthy donors. Eighty-seven cases underwent radical surgery and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was examined.Serum anti-CFL1 antibody (s-CFL1-Ab) levels and anti-ACTB antibody (s-ACTB-Ab) levels were significantly higher in patients with esophageal carcinoma than in healthy donors. Following the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis between healthy donors and esophageal carcinoma, the sensitivity and specificity for serum anti-CFL1 antibody (s-CFL1-Ab) were 53.3% and 68.8%. The sensitivity and specificity for serum anti-ACTB antibody (s-ACTB-Ab) were 54.9% and 67.7%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that s-CFL1-Ab and s-ACTB-Ab levels were not associated with sex, age, tumor depth, lymph node metastasis, or anti-p53-antibody levels. s-ACTB-Ab levels but not s-CFL1-Ab levels significantly correlated with squamous cell carcinoma antigen. Neither s-CFL1-Ab nor s-ACTB-Ab levels alone were obviously related to overall survival. However, patients with low s-CFL1-Ab levels and high s-ACTB-Ab levels exhibited significantly more unfavorable prognoses than those with high s-CFL1-Ab and low s-ACTB-Ab levels.Serum levels of anti-CFL1 and anti-ACTB antibodies were significantly higher in patients with esophageal carcinoma than in healthy donors. A combination of low anti-CFL1 and high anti-ACTB antibodies is a poor prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma.

PURPOSE Hypercalcemia has been reported as a poor prognostic factor in malignant tumors. However, no report has shown the clinical impact of serum calcium levels on patients with esophageal cancer. We evaluated the prognostic impact of preoperative serum calcium levels on patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS We evaluated 240 patients (197 men, 43 women; mean age, 66 years; age range, 34-85 years) with esophageal cancer who underwent radical surgery between September 2008 and December 2017. After assigning the patients to two groups (high calcium group, 8.8 mg/dL or more and low calcium group, 8.7 mg/dL or less), we compared the groups' overall survival and the clinicopathological features. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of preoperative serum calcium levels were evaluated in a univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS The patients with deep tumors showed low serum calcium levels significantly more frequently (P

Background Little is known about the survival outcomes of and predictive factors for survival in hemodialysis patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer. Methods We performed a multicenter retrospective study from 9 institutions to investigate the survival outcomes of 75 hemodialysis patients with gastric cancer. Patient characteristics included demographic data, hemodialysis- and gastric cancer-related variables. Multivariate Cox hazards models were applied to determine independent predictors of poor overall survival and non-gastric cancer related death. Results Stage I disease was predominant (58.7%) in our series. The overall morbidity and the 30-day mortality rates were 25.3% and 1.3%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates of patients with pStages I, II, III, and IV disease were 59.2%, 42.9%, 32.3%, and 0%, respectively. Eleven (14.7%) patients died of gastric cancer, whereas many more (40.0%) died owing to causes other than gastric cancer. Non-gastric cancer-related death was especially prevalent in patients with pStages I (95.2%) and II (75.0%) disease. Multivariable analysis revealed advanced age, long duration of hemodialysis (> 5 years), total gastrectomy, and pStage IV disease to be independently associated with poor overall survival. Notably, advanced age, long duration of hemodialysis, and the presence of cardiovascular disease were all independent predictors of non-gastric cancer-related death. Patients with all 3 factors had very poor survival outcomes (3-year overall survival; 14.3%). Conclusion The survival outcomes of hemodialysis patients with gastric cancer, especially those with early-stage gastric cancer, were clearly poor, largely owing to the increased risk of non-gastric cancer-related death. Preoperative comorbidities and hemodialytic features were useful for predicting long-term outcomes of this vulnerable population.

Jaqueline de Cássia Proença-Assunção,1 Anna Paula Farias-de-França,2 Natalia Tribuiani,1 Jose Carlos Cogo,3 Rita de Cássia Collaço,4 Priscila Randazzo-Moura,5 Sílvio Roberto Consonni,6 Marco Vinicius Chaud,1 Carolina Alves dos Santos,2 Yoko Oshima-Franco1 1Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sorocaba (Uniso), Sorocaba, SP, Brazil; 2Pharmacy Graduate Course, University of Sorocaba (Uniso), Sorocaba, SP, Brazil; 3Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Programs, Technological and Scientific Institute, Brazil University, São Paulo, Brazil; 4Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil; 5Department of Surgery, Pontifícia Universidade Católica De São Paulo (PUCSP), Sorocaba, SP, Brazil; 6Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, BrazilCorrespondence: Yoko Oshima-FrancoUniversity of Sorocaba (UNISO), Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 92.5, Sorocaba, 18023-000, SP, BrazilTel +55 15 2101-7197Fax +55 15-2101-7112Email yoko.franco@prof.uniso.brPurpose: A silver nanoparticle obtained by reducing salts with solid dispersion of curcumin (130 nm, 0.081 mg mL− 1) was used to counteract against the toxic – edematogenic, myotoxic, and neurotoxic – effects of Philodryas olfersii venom.Methods: The edematogenic effect was evaluated by plasma extravasation in rat dorsal skin after injection of 50 μg per site of venom alone or preincubated with 1, 10, and 100 μL of AgNPs; the myotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the creatine kinase released into the organ-bath before the treatment and at the end of each experiment; and neurotoxicity was evaluated in chick biventer cervicis using the conventional myographic technique, face to the exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) and potassium chloride (KCl) added into the bath before the treatment and after each experiment. Preliminarily, a concentration-response curve of AgNPs was carried out to select the concentration to be used for neutralizing assays, which consists of neutralizing the venom-induced neuromuscular paralysis and edema by preincubating AgNPs with venom for 30 min.Results: The P. olfersii venom-induced edema (n=6) and a complete neuromuscular blockade (n=4) that includes the total and unrecovered block of ACh and KCl contractures. AgNPs produced a concentration-dependent decrease the venom-induced edema (n=6) from 223.3% to 134.4% and to 100.5% after 10 and 100 μL AgNPs-preincubation, respectively. The preincubation of venom with AgNPs (1 μL; n=6) was able to maintain 46.5 ± 10.9% of neuromuscular response under indirect stimuli, 39.2 ± 9.7% of extrinsic nicotinic receptors functioning in absence of electrical stimulus and 28.3 ± 8.1% of responsiveness to potassium on the sarcolemmal membrane. The CK release was not affected by any experimental protocol which was like control.Conclusion: AgNPs interact with constituents of P. olfersii venom responsible for the edema-forming activity and neuromuscular blockade, but not on the sarcolemma membrane-acting constituents. The protective effect of the studied AgNPs on avian preparation points out to molecular targets as intrinsic and extrinsic nicotinic receptors.Keywords: chick biventer cervicis, opisthoglyphous snakes, Philodryas olfersii, neuromuscular blockade, silver nanoparticles

Introduction: Rhinella schneideri is a toad widely distributed in South America and its poison is characterized by inducing cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Objective: In this work, we investigated pharmacological strategies to attenuate the peripheral neurotoxicity induced by R. schneideri poison in avian neuromuscular preparation. Methods: The experiments were carried out using isolated chick biventer cervicis preparation subjected to field stimulation for muscle twitches recordings or exposed to acetylcholine and potassium chloride for contracture responses. Results: Poison (10 μg/ml) produced complete neuromuscular blockade in chick biventer cervicis preparation within approximately 70 min incubation (times for 50 and 90 % blockade: 15 ± 3 min and 40 ± 2 min, respectively; P < 0.05, N= 5); contracture responses to exogenous acetylcholine and KCl were unaffected by poison indicating no specificity with postsynaptic receptors or myotoxicity, respectively. Poison (10 μg/ml)-induced neuromuscular blockade was not prevented by heparin (5 and 150 IU/ml) under pre- or post-treatment conditions. Incubation at low temperature (23-25 °C) abolished the neuromuscular blockade; after raising the temperature to 37 °C, the complete neuromuscular blockade was slightly slower than that seen in preparations directly incubated at 37 °C (times for 50 and 90 % blockade: 23 ± 2 min and 60 ± 2.5 min, respectively; P < 0.05, N= 4). Neostigmine (3.3 μM) did not reverse the neuromuscular blockade in BC preparation whereas 3,4-diaminopyridine (91.6 μM) produced a partial and sustained reversal of the twitch responses (29 ± 7.8 % of maximal reversal reached in approximately 40 min incubation; P < 0.05, N= 4). Conclusions: R. schneideri poison induces potent peripheral neurotoxicity in vitro which can be partially reversible by 3,4-diaminopyridine. Resumen Introducción: Rhinella schneideri está ampliamente distribuida en Suramérica y su veneno es caracterizado por inducir cardiotoxicidad y neurotoxicidad. Objetivo: En este trabajo, investigamos estrategias farmacológicas para atenuar la neurotoxicidad periférica inducida por el veneno de R. schneideri en preparaciones neuromusculares de aves. Métodos: Los experimentos fueron realizados usando preparaciones de biventer cervicis de pollos sometidas a estimulación de campo para el registro de las contracciones musculares o expuestas a la acetilcolina y al cloruro de potasio para la respuesta contractural. Resultados: El veneno (10 µg/ml) provocó un bloqueo neuromuscular completo en las preparaciones después de aproximadamente 70 min de incubación (tiempos para 50 y 90 % de bloqueo: 15 ± 3 min y 40 ± 2 min, respectivamente; P < 0.05, N = 5); las contracturas en respuesta a la acetilcolina y el KCl exógenos no fueron afectadas por el veneno, indicando que no hay una interacción especifica con receptores postsinápticos o miotoxicidad respectivamente. El bloqueo neuromuscular causado por el veneno (10 µg/ml) no fue prevenido por la heparina (5 y 150 UI/ml) bajo condiciones pre y post-tratamiento. La incubación a bajas temperaturas (23-25 ºC) abolió el bloqueo neuromuscular; después de aumentar la temperatura a 37 ºC, el bloqueo neuromuscular total fue levemente más lento que el visto en preparaciones directamente incubadas a 37 ºC (tiempos para 50 y 90 % de bloqueo: 23 ± 2 min y 60 ± 2.5 min, respectivamente; P < 0.05, N= 4). Neostigmina (3.3 µM) no revirtió el bloqueo neuromuscular, mientras que 3.4-diaminopiridina (91.6 µM) produjo una reversión parcial y sostenida de las respuestas neuromusculares (29 ± 7.8 % de la reversión máxima alcanzada en aproximadamente 40 min de incubación; P < 0.05, N = 4). Conclusiones: El veneno de R. schneideri indujo neurotoxicidad periférica potente in vitro, el cual puede ser revertido por 3.4-diaminopiridina.

We evaluated the biological effects of implant abutments made from ceria-stabilized zirconia/alumina nanocomposite (Ce-TZP/Al2O3) with surface roughness variations using human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) in the transmucosal region. Two types of titanium (Ti) and Ce-TZP/Al2O3 disks with different surface roughness profiles were prepared (Ra0.9 and Ra0.02). Surface properties were evaluated using SEM, EDX, and wettability analysis. Biological parameters including cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology, collagen deposition, and inflammatory cytokine expression were evaluated for each disk. Surface morphology analysis of Ce-TZP/Al2O3 and Ti elucidated the uniform linear structures of Ra0.9 and the smooth and flat structures of Ra0.02. Cell morphology showed spindle-shaped and large, circular forms, respectively. Cell adhesion and proliferation and collagen deposition were significantly increased on Ce-TZP/Al2O3 Ra0.02 disk compared with the others, with no significant differences in cytokine expression among all the disks. The reduced surface roughness of Ce-TZP/Al2O3 was advantageous for promoting biological effects in the transmucosal region.

A junção neuromuscular (JNM) é formada por sinapses entre um nervo motor e um músculo esquelético. Ensaios farmacológicos realizados na JNM são de extrema importância, pois permitem testar, validar e estudar a farmacodinâmica de diversas substâncias. Uma preparação neuromuscular muito utilizada para este propósito é a preparação ex vivo Nervo Frênico-Diafragma (NFD). O objetivo deste trabalho foi pesquisar sobre o uso da preparação NFD de camundongos/ratos através de técnica miográfica. A metodologia empregada na pesquisa foi realizada utilizando-se “rats or mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation” como descritores, nas bases de dados PubMed, Google Acadêmico, SciElo e Periódicos CAPES. Os critérios de inclusão foram artigos que utilizaram ambos, preparação NFD e técnica miográfica, no período de 1946 a 2019. A JNM representa anatomicamente a sinapse nervo-músculo, simples de ser isolada e fácil de ser estudada. Há diversos protocolos farmacológicos (pré-, pós- e na fenda sinaptica) utilizando-se essas preparações através da técnica miográfica, com resultados assertivos sobre a farmacodinâmica de determinadas substâncias. Feito o levantamento, a base de dados em que se obteve mais publicações foi o Google Acadêmico, com uma média de 29 artigos por ano (70% das publicações), seguida do Periódico CAPES com 11 artigos por ano em média (25,4% das publicações), PubMed com média de dois artigos por ano (4,2% das publicações) e, enfim, SciElo com média de um artigo por ano (0,4% das publicações). Em conclusão, o uso da preparação NFD de ratos/camundongos no período levantado mostra que, mesmo com a preocupação da Comissão de Ética para o Uso de Animais (CEUA), as pesquisas com animais foram recorrentes e de grande importância. Este robusto modelo experimental tem permitido abrir perspectivas para novas perguntas na área da ciência, podendo ser complementado com outros ensaios como bioquímicos, histológicos e imunohistoquímicos

The sensitivity and specificity of a new automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay system, Elecsys

Several recent studies suggest that serum anti-p53 antibodies (s-p53-Abs) may be combined with other markers to detect esophageal and colorectal cancer. In this study, we assessed the sensitivity and specificity of s-p53-Abs detection of a new electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA; Elecsys anti-p53). Elecsys anti-p53 assay was used to analyze the level of s-p53-Abs in blood sera from patients with esophageal or colorectal cancer taken before treatment. Control blood sera from healthy volunteers, patients with benign diseases, and patients with autoimmune diseases served as a reference. In addition, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA21-1) were assessed in patients with esophageal cancer, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 were assessed in patients with colorectal cancer. Samples from 281 patients with esophageal cancer, 232 patients with colorectal cancer, and 532 controls were included in the study. The median value of s-p53-Abs in control samples was

Although the Onodera’s prognosis nutritional index (O-PNI) has been used to predict long-term life expectancy, its use to predict life expectancy within 12 weeks has not been discussed. In this study, we examined the usefulness of the O-PNI to predict short-term life expectancy in patients with end-stage gastric cancer. Blood samples from 425 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer at Toho University Omori Hospital from January 2001 to the end of December 2018 were analyzed. In 184 of 425 patients, a complete set of four blood sampling data were available at 12, 8, 4, and 1 week before death. The cutoff values and c-indices of O-PNI for predicting short-term life expectancy was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The shorter the life expectancy, the lower the O-PNI. For life expectancy of 8, 4, and 1 week, the optimal cutoff values for O-PNI were 40.4 (sensitivity 80.1%, specificity 44.6%); 38.3 (sensitivity 80.2%, specificity 54.1%); and 35.5 (sensitivity 80.4%, specificity 55.3%), respectively. In most patients, the O-PNI was below 40.4, 38.3, and 35.5 at 8, 4, and 1 week, respectively, before death, with 80% sensitivities. The O-PNI may be useful for predicting the short-term life expectancy in patients with end-stage gastric cancer.

To systematically review the effects of surgeon fatigue on postoperative mortality and postoperative complications after elective and non-elective surgeries. A database search was conducted for original articles published in PubMed between 2000 and 2020 with the keywords: “surgeon,” “sleep deprivation,” “sleep deprived,” “fatigued,” “mortality,” “morbidity,” and “outcomes.” We selected articles that disclosed actual numbers of patients who underwent surgery by fatigued or rested surgeons, rates of postoperative mortality, or total postoperative complications. Of the 1427 articles identified, 16 met the selection criteria and were included. Eight of the 16 also included total postoperative complications. Analysis revealed no significant differences in the rates of postoperative mortality after elective and non-elective surgeries or total postoperative complications of elective surgeries or non-elective surgeries performed by fatigued vs. rested surgeons. The relative risks were 1.03 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.86–1.24], 1.08 (95% CI, 0.85–1.38), 0.99 (95% CI, 0.95–1.04), and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.67–1.28), respectively. Surgeon fatigue does not affect the rates of postoperative mortality or total postoperative complications after elective surgeries and may have little to no effect on the rates of postoperative mortality or total postoperative complications after non-elective surgeries.

Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott decreases the heartbeats of cockroaches and it was postulated that the plant could be an anticholinesterase agent and could have effects. It was performed: (a) In vitro: hydroalcoholic extract of N. exaltata was pharmacognostically characterized, the cholinesterase activity determined with 1.0 and 3.0 mg/ml, comparing to positive control and negative control, and the preliminary toxicity was evaluated with 5 mg/plate through Salmonella/microsome assay using TA100 strain; (b) Ex vivo: 2, 5, or 10 mg of extract was assayed on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation using conventional myographic technique; and (c) In vivo: 2.0, 1.0 or 0.5 g of extract was exposed to Allium cepa root cells, using onions bulbs for further measuring and microscopic analysis. The cholinesterase activities (U/L, n=3) of 1.0 and 3.0 mg/mL fern extract were of 2,866.6 ± 200.7 and 3,092.9 ± 214.2, respectively, versus 87.1 ± 58.1 (p

Positive margins are reported in from 4.8 to 9.5% of all gastric cancer surgeries and they have a negative impact on the overall survival. Few cases with positive duodenal margins have been included in previous studies regarding the prognosis. This multi-institutional retrospective study included 115 gastric cancer patients with positive duodenal margins following gastrectomy between January 2002 and December 2017. The association between clinicopathological factors and the overall survival was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. The three-year overall survival was 22% and the median survival was 13 months. A multivariate analysis found that distant metastasis, no postoperative chemotherapy, and non-Type 4 disease were significantly associated with a poor survival. Patients without distant metastasis who received postoperative chemotherapy had a 3-year overall survival of 56% and a median survival of 44 months. The patients who underwent post-operative chemotherapy showed a significantly better OS compared with those who did not undergo post-operative chemotherapy, regardless of the existence of distant metastasis. Postoperative chemotherapy may, therefore, improve the prognosis of surgically treated gastric cancer patients with positive duodenal margins.

OBJECTIVE To examine the efficiency of hemoperfusion in removing South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) venom from rats compared with neutralization by antivenom. DESIGN An exploratory experimental investigation in rats involving the injection of snake venom with or without subsequent hemoperfusion or antivenom administration. SETTING Basic animal research laboratory in a private university. ANIMALS Normal, healthy male Wistar rats (0.29-0.40 kg, 3-6 months old) from a commercial breeder. INTERVENTIONS Four experimental groups of randomly allocated rats (n = 3/group) were studied: Group 1: rats were injected with a single dose of venom (5 mg/kg, IM, in the right thigh) with no other treatment; blood samples were collected minutes before death to determine leukocyte, platelet, and erythrocyte counts; Group 2 (Control): rats underwent hemoperfusion alone for 60 min using a hemoperfusion cartridge designed for protein adsorption (by granulated charcoal) and protein precipitation (by tannic acid); Group 3 (Venom + antivenom): rats were injected with venom (5 mg/kg, IM) and, 10 min later, were treated with antivenom at the venom:antivenom ratio recommended by the manufacturer; Group 4 (Venom + hemoperfusion): Rats were injected with venom (5 mg/kg, IM) and, 10 min later, were hemoperfused for 60 min. In groups 2-4, blood samples were collected for leukocyte, platelet, and erythrocyte counts 24 h after venom. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Rats injected with venom alone (Group 1) developed signs of neurotoxicity and ataxia and died in 9.0 ± 0.43 h but showed no changes in leukocyte or erythrocyte counts. In contrast, there were no deaths in groups 2-4. The lack of deaths in Groups 3 and 4 indicated that antivenom and hemoperfusion, respectively, protected against the lethal effects of the venom. CONCLUSIONS Hemoperfusion with a double-action hemoperfusion cartridge capable of protein adsorption and precipitation protected rats against C. d. terrificus venom.

Background Programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) inhibitor has been approved as one of the standard therapies for various cancers. Some reports have shown that serum PD‐L1 level is associated with advanced tumor stages and poor prognosis; however, corresponding pathological information in esophageal cancer patients is lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the clinicopathological and prognostic impact of serum PD‐L1 levels in surgically treated esophageal cancer. Methods A total of 150 patients who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer were included in the study. Preoperative serum PD‐L1 levels were analyzed using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. A cutoff level of 65.6 pg/mL was used to divide the patients into two groups, and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses between these two groups. Results Although significant associations between serum PD‐L1 levels and clinicopathological variables were observed, serum PD‐L1 level was significantly associated with high neutrophil counts, high CRP levels, low albumin levels, and high squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels. Furthermore, serum PD‐L1 level was associated with poor overall survival independent to TNM factors. Conclusions High preoperative level of serum PD‐L1 is a prognostic factor for poor overall survival in patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer., High preoperative level of serum PD‐L1 is a prognostic factor for poor overall survival in patients with esophageal cancer.

We evaluated the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of preoperative serum creatine kinase (CK) levels in gastric cancer.The subjects of this retrospective study were 942 patients who underwent surgery without preoperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer (643 men and 299 women), excluding Stage IV gastric cancer, between January, 2001 and December, 2020. We set the cutoff values for CK according to gender, as 64 U/L for men and 57 U/L for women, and evaluated the clinicopathological, prognostic, and gender significance of low CK levels by multivariate analysis.Tumor depth was significantly associated with low serum CK levels (p 0.001). The low CK group showed significantly worse overall survival than the high CK group (p = 0.01). The prognostic impact of low CK levels was evident only in men (p = 0.009). In women, low CK levels were not an independent risk factor for poor prognosis (p = 0.33). These prognostic impacts of low CK levels on overall survival and recurrence-free survival were similar.Low preoperative CK levels in men with gastric cancer were predictive of poor survival. These prognostic impacts of low CK levels were not evident in women.

Systemic envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) can cause coagulopathy, rabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and peripheral neuromuscular blockade, the latter resulting in flaccid paralysis. Previous studies have shown that plant products such as tannic acid and theaflavin can protect against the neuromuscular blockade caused by C. d. terrificus venom in vitro. In this work, we used mouse-isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations to examine the ability of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin to protect against C. d. terrificus venom-induced neuromuscular blockade in vitro. In addition, the ability of tannic acid to protect against the systemic effects of severe envenomation was assessed in rats. Preincubation of venom with caffeic acid (0.5 mg/mL), chlorogenic acid (1 mg/mL), or quercetin (0.5 mg/mL) failed to protect against venom (10 μg/mL)-induced neuromuscular blockade. In rats, venom (6 mg kg−1, i.p.) caused death in ~8 h, which was prevented by preincubation of venom with tannic acid or the administration of antivenom 2 h post-venom, whereas tannic acid given 2 h post-venom prolonged survival (~18.5 h) but did not prevent death. Tannic acid (in preincubation protocols or given 2 h post-venom) had a variable effect on blood creatinine and urea and blood/urine protein levels and prevented venom-induced leukocytosis. Tannic acid attenuated the histological lesions associated with renal damage in a manner similar to antivenom. The protective effect of tannic acid appeared to be mediated by interaction with venom proteins, as assessed by SDS-PAGE. These findings suggest that tannic acid could be a potentially useful ancillary treatment for envenomation by C. d. terrificus.

The Wilms tumor 1 gene

Solid cancers have a poor prognosis, and their morbidity and mortality after surgery is high. Even after radical surgery for esophageal cancer, there have been cases of early postoperative death. The present study therefore aimed to explore new tumor markers that can predict the early postoperative prognosis. To identify antibody markers, serological antigens were identified using recombinant cDNA expression cloning (SEREX). The results identified striatin 4 (STRN4) as the antigen recognized by serum IgG antibodies in patients with esophageal cancer. After performing an amplified luminescence proximity homogeneous assay-linked immunosorbent assay (AlphaLISA), it was revealed that when compared with healthy donors, serum anti-STRN4 antibody (STRN4-Ab) levels were significantly higher not only in patients with esophageal cancer but also to lesser extent, in those with gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. Compared with STRN4-Ab-negative patients with esophageal cancer, STRN4-Ab-positive patients had a poorer postoperative prognosis at early stages, suggesting that STRN4-Abs may be useful for predicting poor early-stage prognoses of patients with esophageal cancer. The positive diagnosis rates of esophageal cancer using the STRN4-Ab marker and conventional markers, including squamous cell carcinoma antigen and p53 antibody alone, were 26.4, 35.2 and 19.1% respectively; a result that increased up to 59.1% by combining all three markers. Serum STRN4-Ab may serve as a novel marker of esophageal cancer.

We have developed several new biomarkers in patients with esophageal carcinoma. In this paper, we reviewed the clinical impact of serum autoantibodies, growth factors, blood counts, and other serum tumor markers. Methods Blood samples of patients with esophageal carcinoma were obtained before surgery and were stored at −80°C until the ELISA assay. Target tumor antigens for autoantibodies were SURF1, LOC, HOOK2, AGENCOURT, TROP-2, TRIM21, GLUT-1, Myomegalin, Makorin-1, CUEC-23, ECSA-1, p53, and NY-ESO-1. Growth factor-related molecules were followed; midkine, VEGF, PDECGF, and HGF. The other markers were followed; platelet, CRP, IAP, SCC-Ag, CYFRA21-1, and fibrinogen. Results A total of 24 biomarkers were evaluated for their clinical impact on patients’ survival and tumor stages. High positive rates, more than 40% were found in SURF1, Myomegalin, midkine, and HGF. Although the majority of autoantibodies did not have a prognostic impact, all the growth factors have a prognostic impact on patients’ survival. Lutine blood tests, such as platelet count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, fibrinogen, and CRP, were also useful to predict prognosis. Conclusion We have evaluated the clinical impact of 24 new biomarkers, including 13 autoantibodies, for the patients with esophageal carcinoma. Although the autoantibodies were useful to detect relatively early stage of the disease, the prognostic impact of these biomarkers was limited. All growth factors were useful to predict patients’ survival.

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos sobre o desenvolvimento embrionário e gestacional em ratas prenhas expostas diariamente aos cogumelos Agaricus blazei e Ganoderma lucidum. Metodologia: Após a confirmação de prenhez (1º dia), os animais foram separados aleatoriamente em 5 grupos (n=6, cada): controle salina (Cs), A. blazei (Ab1-8, 1º - 8º dia), A. blazei (Ab9-19, 9º - 19º dia), G. lucidum (Gl1-8,1º - 8º dia) e G. lucidum (Gl1-19, 9º - 19º dia). Os animais receberam diariamente, via gavagem, 1,5 mL de cada cogumelo (100 mg/kg de pó liofilizado dissolvido em solução salina). No 20º dia gestacional, as fêmeas foram eutanizadas para a coleta de sangue (análises bioquímicas e hematológicas); rins e placenta (análises histológicas); cornos uterinos (análises morfométricas e morfológicas dos fetos). Resultados: Efeitos deletérios no perfil reprodutivo e gestacional das ratas e alterações nos parâmetros hematológicos não foram observados, como também hepatotoxicidade ou nefrotoxicidade materna. No entanto, ocorreu uma redução plasmática de colesterol total e triglicérides. O G. lucidum aumentou as células produtoras de glicogênio na placenta no período anterior à implantação. Quanto à prole ocorreu uma diminuição significativa no peso dos fetos de ambos os grupos expostos aos cogumelos. Conclusão: A administração oral dos cogumelos Agaricus blazei e Ganoderma lucidum em ratas prenhas positivamente reduziu o colesterol total e triglicérides, revelando um efeito cardioprotetor. O uso desses cogumelos durante o período gestacional foi seguro, não tendo apresentado efeitos teratogênicos, levando a uma redução de peso da prole, que pode ser útil em ocorrências do diabetes mellitus gestacional.

RalA is a member of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. The Anti-RalA autoantibodies (s-RalA-Abs) act as tumor markers in various types of cancer and are negatively associated with the p53 autoantibodies (s-p53-Abs). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between s-RalA-Abs and s-p53-Abs in various types of cancer. A total of 1833 cancer patients (esophageal cancer, 172; hepatocellular carcinoma, 91; lung cancer, 269; gastric cancer, 317; colon cancer, 262; breast cancer, 364; and prostate cancer, 358) and 73 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The levels of s-RalA-Abs and s-p53-Abs were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the positivity rates and relations between the two autoantibodies were evaluated. The cutoff values for s-RalA abs and s-p53 abs were set as mean + 2 standard deviation and the values higher than the cutoff values were defined as positive. The titers in all cancer types were significantly higher than those in the controls (P

Introduction: Acute paracetamol poisoning is confirmed by the determination of its serum level and allows assessing the risk of hepatotoxicity, which can be monitored by the Rumack-Matthew nomogram for the administration of the N-Acetylcysteine antidote, as well as for the prognosis of intoxication. Objective: Because of its analytical importance, we evaluated the influence of different matrices (ultrapure water, serum, and plasma) on the construction of the paracetamol calibration curve, aiming to reduce the analytical cost and facilitate its implementation in clinical and emergency laboratories. Material and methods: A standard stock solution of paracetamol of 1 mg ml-1 was obtained, from which appropriate dilutions originated the following concentrations 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mg l-1 in the different matrices, in triplicate, reading at complete after 430 nm in spectrophotometer and reproduced after three months. The results were statistically analyzed (p < 0.05). Results and discussion: Good laboratory practices include remaking the calibration curve when stock reagents are remade aiming to readjust the line equation indicated by a measuring instrument. The biological samples indicated as matrices on a calibration curve are usually serum and plasma. However, these biological products, when commercially purchased, are of high cost. Ultrapure water can replace serum and plasma in the paracetamol calibration curve according to the linearity of the curve, which showed the same trend line for the three matrices. Conclusion: The three matrices can be used in the construction of the paracetamol calibration curve, but the use of ultrapure water reduces the analysis costs. RESUMEN Introducción: La intoxicación aguda por paracetamol se confirma mediante la determinación de su nivel sérico y permite evaluar el riesgo de hepatotoxicidad, que puede ser monitorizado mediante el nomograma de Rumack-Matthew para la administración del antídoto N-acetilcisteína, así como para el pronóstico de intoxicación. Objetivos: Por su importancia analítica, se evaluó la influencia de diferentes matrices (agua ultrapura, suero y plasma) en la construcción de la curva de calibración del paracetamol, con el objetivo de reducir el costo analítico y facilitar su implementación en laboratorios clínicos y de emergencia. Material y métodos: Se obtuvo una solución madre del estándar (stock) de paracetamol de 1 mg ml-1, de la cual se originaron diluciones adecuadas para obtener las siguientes concentraciones de 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 y 300 mg l-1 con las diferentes matrices, por triplicado, con lectura a 430 nm en epectrofotômetro, reproduciéndose a los tres meses. Los resultados se analizaron estadísticamente (p < 0,05). Resultados y discusión: Las buenas prácticas de laboratorio incluyen rehacer la curva de calibración cuando se rehacen los reactivos del estándar con el fin de reajustar la ecuación lineal indicada por un instrumento de medición. Las muestras biológicas indicadas como matrices en una curva de calibración suelen ser suero y plasma. Sin embargo, estos productos biológicos cuando se compran comercialmente son de alto costo. El agua ultrapura puede reemplazar el suero y el plasma en la curva de calibración de paracetamol de acuerdo con la linealidad de la curva, que mostró la misma línea de tendencia para las tres matrices. Conclusión: Las tres matrices pueden usarse en la construcción de la curva de calibración de paracetamol, pero el uso de agua ultrapura reduce los costos de análisis. RESUMO Introdução: A intoxicação aguda pelo paracetamol é confirmada pela determinação de seu nível sérico e permite avaliar o risco de hepatotoxicidade, que pode ser monitorado pelo nomograma Rumack-Matthew para a administração do antídoto N-acetilcisteína, bem como para o prognóstico da intoxicação. Objetivos: Diante de sua importância analítica, avaliamos a influência de diferentes matrizes (água ultrapura, soro e plasma) na construção da curva de calibração do paracetamol, visando diminuir o custo analítico e facilitar a sua implantação em laboratórios clínicos e de urgência. Material e métodos: Obtivemos uma solução estoque padrão de paracetamol de 1 mg ml-1, da qual originaram diluições apropriadas para se obter as concentrações de 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 e 300 mg l-1 com as diferentes matrizes, em triplicata, com leituras em espectrofotômetro a 430 nm, sendo reproduzidas após três meses. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente (p < 0,05). Resultados e discussão: Nas boas práticas de laboratório, inclui-se o refazimento da curva de calibração quando os reagentes estoques são refeitos visando ao reajuste da equação de reta indicado por um instrumento de medição. As amostras biológicas indicadas como matrizes em uma curva de calibração são, usualmente, soro e plasma. Porém, esses produtos biológicos quando adquiridos comercialmente são de custo elevado. A água ultrapura pode substituir soro e plasma na curva de calibração do paracetamol em função da linearidade da curva, a qual mostrou a mesma linha de tendência para as três matrizes. Conclusão: As três matrizes podem ser utilizadas na construção da curva de calibração do paracetamol, mas o uso de água ultrapura diminui os custos da análise.

Although serum galectin-1 antibodies (s-GAL-1-Abs) have been evaluated in a small number of patients with cancer, a large series of patients with different cancer types have not been reported. The current study evaluated 1,833 patients with esophageal cancer (n=172), gastric cancer (n=317), colorectal cancer (n=262), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=91), prostate cancer (n=358), breast cancer (n=364), lung cancer (n=269) and 72 healthy individuals. s-GAL-1-Abs levels were analyzed using an originally developed ELISA system. A cut-off optical density value was determined as the mean (0.053) + 3 standard deviations (0.105) of sera from healthy controls. The results revealed that the positive rate of s-GAL-1-Abs in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (16.7%) and lung cancer (13.8%) were significantly higher compared with the other groups: Esophageal cancer (11.6%), colorectal cancer (11.5%), prostate cancer (7.3%), gastric cancer (6.9%), breast cancer (6.9%) and healthy controls (4.2%). Although the positive rates of s-GAL-1-Abs in different cancer types were relatively low, s-GAL-1-Abs may be useful for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and lung cancer.

Studies investigating serum midkine (s-MK) concentrations have employed a polyclonal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system (ELISA), because the targeted polyclonal antibody has low specificity. We used a newly developed monoclonal antibody ELISA to investigate the prognostic and diagnostic capabilities of s-MK in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Serum samples from 102 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed using a newly developed monoclonal antibody ELISA specifically developed to detect s-MK. s-MK cutoff value was set at 421 pg/mL (mean + 2 SD) based on data from healthy controls. Clinicopathological characteristics, including tumor stage and positivity rates for two conventional tumor markers, serum p53 (s-p53-Abs) antibodies and SCC-antigen, were evaluated to assess a possible correlation with s-MK. The prognostic capability of a high s-MK level was evaluated using univariate and multivariate methods. Overall positive rate for s-MK concentrations: 21%. Large tumors (> 50 mm) showed significantly higher concentrations than smaller specimens, but other clinicopathological factors were not associated with s-MK. A combination assay using SCC-antigen together with s-p53-Abs and s-MK clearly increased our capability to detect esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.310), the high s-MK group experienced worse overall survival than our low s-MK group. s-MK and conventional tumor marker combination increased our capability to detect esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Although s-MK might be associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression, it was not an independent risk factor reducing patient survival. This study was registered as UMIN000014530.