American Journal of Translational Research

OBJECTIVES: To analyze PLR-to-PDW ratio as a novel diagnostic index in the discrimination of benign thyroid nodules (BTN) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and to analyze the discriminatory power of a novel index (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio divided by platelet distribution width: PLR-to-PDW ratio) in comparison with previously-examined inflammatory indices including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), PLR, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), systemic inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI)...

OBJECTIVES: Kidney cancer is one of the top ten cancers worldwide, and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common pathohistological type of kidney cancer. This study aimed to decipher the diagnostic and prognostic value of NCOA2 for ccRCC survival based on its expression and methylation. METHODS: We explored the mRNA and protein expression, DNA methylation, prognosis, cell function, and relevant immune infiltration of NCOA2 in ccRCC using data from public databases...

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of folate receptor-positive circulating tumor cells (FR+CTCs) in determining malignancy of ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and assess the added value of FR+CTC in the classic GGN evaluation model (Mayo Model). METHODS: Sixty-five patients with single indeterminate GGN were recruited. Twenty-two participants had benign/pre-malignant diseases, and forty-three had lung cancers, as confirmed by histopathology examination. FR+CTC was enumerated by CytoploRare® Kit...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between miR-767-3p and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: We examined the expression of miR-767-3p in both HCC tissues and HCC cell lines by qRT-PCR and western blot assay. We also investigated the influence of miR-767-3p on HCC by transfecting HCC cells with either miR-767-3p mimics or inhibitors. RESULT: MiR-767-3p expression was increased in HCCs and cell lines. Functional analyses demonstrated that miR-767-3p increased HCC cell proliferation and prevented apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas miR-767-3p inhibition had the opposite effect...

OBJECTIVE: Melanoma neoplasia is a complicated process. Not only melanocytes are involved, stromal cells and immune cells would also regulate cancer development. However, the cell type composition and tumor immune microenvironment of melanoma are poorly understood. METHOD: Here we report a map of the cellular landscape of human melanoma via analyzing published single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset. Transcriptional profiles of 4645 cells obtained from 19 melanoma tissues were dissected...

OBJECTIVES: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of the oral cavity and pharynx is a rare cancer, with poorly understood clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Only a few case reports or small case series have been reported, so the characteristics and survival of patients with this disease remains unclear. The present study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics and determine the factors associated with survival of this uncommon cancer. METHODS: A population-based study was carried out to investigate clinical characteristics and prognosis of LEC of the oral cavity and pharynx using the data from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the enhancement of chemosensitivity of tamoxifen (TAM) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) by celastrol (CEL) through mitochondrial mediated pathway. METHODS: Human TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were divided to the control group (medium treatment), TAM-L group (low concentration TAM treatment, 0.5 μM TAM treatment), TAM-H group (1 μM TAM treatment), CEL-L group (low concentration CEL treatment, 1 μM CEL), CEL-H group (high concentration CEL treatment, 3 μM CEL), CEL-L+TAM group (low concentration CEL and TAM co-treatment) and CEL-H+TAM group (high concentration of CEL co-treated with TAM)...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal footbath plus traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 120 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy treated in Shanghai Jinshan TCM-Integrated Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021. The eligible patients received either routine treatment (control group) or Chinese herbal GuBu Decoction footbath plus oral Yiqi Huoxue Decoction (experimental group), with 60 patients in each group...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognostic value of multiple immune inflammatory indicators for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: The clinical data of 175 patients with DLBCL who were diagnosed and received Immunochemotherapy in The Qinzhou First People's Hospital between January 2015 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed for this study. Patients were classified into a death group (n = 54) and a survival group (n = 121) depending on their prognosis...

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the clinical effect of cold and heat ablation on patients with advanced lung cancer (LC) and its influence on immune function. METHODS: Data of 104 cases of advanced LC treated between July 2015 and April 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 49 patients receiving argon helium cryoablation (AHC) were regarded as group A, and 55 patients receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were regarded as group B...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of human fecal Syndecan-2 (SDC2) gene methylation in colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: There were 30 patients with colorectal cancer receiving treatment in Zhangjiakou First Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 collected as the tumor group. There were 30 healthy people determined by a physical examination in 2019 collected as the normal group. The methylation level of fecal SDC2 gene and the level of serum tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were analyzed...

OBJECTIVES: Metformin, an oral anti-diabetic drug, is known to possess a powerful antitumor effect by modulating the tumor-immune interaction. The precise influence of metformin on natural killer (NK) cells, a crucial innate immunity player, is not completely understood. In our study, analyses of the effect of metformin on the NK cell functional phenotype were performed, and the potential mechanisms underlying it were investigated. METHODS: BALB/C wild type mice were treated with metformin, and the functional phenotype of splenocytes and potential underlying mechanisms were investigated...

The annual incidence of gout is increasing along with lifestyle and dietary changes. Accumulation of urate crystals in joints and tissues when the amount of uric acid exceeds its saturation concentration causes acute inflammation that leads to gout. Reducing the serum uric acid concentration is the key to treating gout. Allopurinol, febuxostat, benzbromarone, and other drugs are effective, but side effects of treatment such as toxicity and recurrence after drug withdrawal cannot be ignored. Recent studies have found that many Chinese medicines are effective and safe, provide durable efficacy, and are associated with low recurrence rates...

AIM: To compare the effectiveness and diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography enteroclysis (CTE), double-balloon endoscopy (DBE), and CTE with DBE (CTE/DBE) for detecting submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the small intestine. METHODS: The clinical data of 42 patients with pathologically confirmed small bowel SMTs seen at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between March 2012 and October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The value of CTE and DBE for detecting small bowel SMTs was then compared...

BACKGROUND: Glucose 6 phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a key regulator of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). However, the exact role of G6PD in gastrointestinal cancers remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation of G6PD with clinical features, pathological stages, diagnosis and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers, as well as uncover possible mechanisms of G6PD on mutations, immunity and signaling pathways. METHODS: G6PD mRNA expression data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of combined treatment of dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cells (DC-CIK) and chemotherapy on colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who have undergone radical resection, and its effect on immune function and quality of life. METHODS: Data of 103 CRC patients after radical resection admitted to Xianyang First People's Hospital and Yanan University Affiliated Hospital from March 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of cognitive and behavioral interventions for caregivers of children undergoing interventional surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) during COVID-19. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 140 children with CHD who were hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology in a children's hospital from March 2020 to March 2022. The children were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, with 70 cases in each group...

OBJECTIVE: Necroptosis, a type of programmed necrotic cell death, has been implicated in cancer biology and therapeutics. Improved risk stratification is required for prostate carcinoma in individuals. In view of the importance of necroptosis, this work proposed a necroptosis-based genetic model for recurrence prediction, and clarified its characteristics. METHODS: A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was conducted based upon transcriptome data of necroptosis genes with clinical information in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) prostate carcinoma samples, which were externally verified in the GSE116918 cohort...

BACKGROUND: Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the stomach (LELC), also known as carcinoma with lymphoid stroma of the stomach, is a rare type of gastric cancer, accounting for approximately 1-4% of all gastric cancers. It is mainly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Here, we report a case of gastric lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma presenting as a submucosal mass that tested negative for EBV. CASE DESCRIPTION: a 70-year-old patient was diagnosed with a gastric mass through routine endoscopy...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the time course of CE-T1WI plaque and the level of CSF inflammatory factors in patients with cerebral infarction or TIA assessed by contrast-enhanced high-resolution MRI. METHODS: From August 2019 to December 2021, 136 patients with ischemic stroke-related neurological symptoms or suspected ischemic stroke in Gong'an County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed, including 69 men and 67 women aged 45-80 years old, with an average age of 65...