MyMedR

Shear strength of cemented sand gravel and rock materials

Zhongwei Liu, Jinsheng Jia, Wei Feng, Fengling Ma, Cuiying Zheng

Sains Malaysiana, 2017;46:2101-2108.

Shear strength is currently a significant parameter in the design of cemented sand gravel and rock (CSGR) dams. Shear strength tests were carried out to compare material without layers noumenon and layer condition. The experimental results showed good linearity in the curves of shear strength and pure grinding tests with correlation coefficients of nearly 97%. The friction coefficient was similar to that of C10 roller-compacted concrete (RCC), but the cohesion value was weaker than that of RCC. The shear strength of the CSGR layers decreased by 40% when retarding mixtures were not added and the layer was paved immediately after 4 h of waiting interval.

An unusual case of diverticulitis protruding into sigmoid colon

Lim JY, Lu CJ, Huang WF

Am J Med Sci, 2024 Jan;367(1):e10-e11.

PMID: 37716599 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2023.09.010

Splenic Pseudotumor-Like Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma

Lim JY, Hong SK, Huang WF

J Gastrointest Surg, 2023 Jul;27(7):1486-1488.

PMID: 36849606 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-023-05630-y

An unusual endoscopic appearance of rectosigmoid endometriosis

Lim JY, Yang WL, Huang WF

Gastrointest Endosc, 2024 Apr;99(4):656-657.

PMID: 37806405 DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2023.10.015

An unusual case of rapid death: Diffuse artery occlusion

Lim JY, Lu CJ, Huang WF

Am J Med Sci, 2024 Apr;367(4):e41-e42.

PMID: 38072071 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2023.12.002

Hepatitis B virus DNA methylation and its potential role in chronic hepatitis B

Low WF, Ngeow YF, Chook JB, Tee KK, Ong SK, Peh SC, et al.

Expert Rev Mol Med, 2022 Nov 16;25:e11.

PMID: 36380484 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2022.38

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection led to 66% liver deaths world-wide in year 2015. Thirty-seven per cent of these deaths were the result of chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although early diagnosis of HCC improves survival, early detection is rare. Methylation of HBV DNA including covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is more often encountered in HCC cases than those in CHB and cirrhosis. Three typical CpG islands within the HBV genome are the common sites for methylation. The HBV cccDNA methylation affects the viral replication and protein expression in the course of infection and may associate with the disease pathogenesis and HCC development. We review the current findings in HBV DNA methylation that provide insights into its role in HCC diagnosis.

Parkin deficiency promotes liver cancer metastasis by TMEFF1 transcription activation via TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway

Su Q, Wang JJ, Ren JY, Wu Q, Chen K, Tu KH, et al.

Acta Pharmacol Sin, 2024 Mar 22.

PMID: 38519646 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01254-3

Parkin (PARK2) deficiency is frequently observed in various cancers and potentially promotes tumor progression. Here, we showed that Parkin expression is downregulated in liver cancer tissues, which correlates with poor patient survival. Parkin deficiency in liver cancer cells promotes migration and metastasis as well as changes in EMT and metastasis markers. A negative correlation exists between TMEFF1 and Parkin expression in liver cancer cells and tumor tissues. Parkin deficiency leads to upregulation of TMEFF1 which promotes migration and metastasis. TMEFF1 transcription is activated by Parkin-induced endogenous TGF-β production and subsequent phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and its binding to TMEFF1 promotor. TGF-β inhibitor and TMEFF1 knockdown can reverse shParkin-induced cell migration and changes of EMT markers. Parkin interacts with and promotes the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of HIF-1α/HIF-1β and p53, which accounts for the suppression of TGF-β production. Our data have revealed that Parkin deficiency in cancer leads to the activation of the TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway, resulting in the expression of TMEFF1 which promotes cell migration, EMT, and metastasis in liver cancer cells.

Processing of polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone-based copolymers into 3D scaffolds, and their cellular responses

Hoque ME, San WY, Wei F, Li S, Huang MH, Vert M, et al.

Tissue Eng Part A, 2009 Oct;15(10):3013-24.

PMID: 19331580 DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2008.0355

Synthetic polymers have attracted much attention in tissue engineering due to their ability to modulate biomechanical properties. This study investigated the feasibility of processing poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) homopolymer, PCL-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diblock, and PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymers into three-dimensional porous scaffolds. Properties of the various polymers were investigated by dynamic thermal analysis. The scaffolds were manufactured using the desktop robot-based rapid prototyping technique. Gross morphology and internal three-dimensional structure of scaffolds were identified by scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography, which showed excellent fusion at the filament junctions, high uniformity, and complete interconnectivity of pore networks. The influences of process parameters on scaffolds' morphological and mechanical characteristics were studied. Data confirmed that the process parameters directly influenced the pore size, porosity, and, consequently, the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The in vitro cell culture study was performed to investigate the influence of polymer nature and scaffold architecture on the adhesion of the cells onto the scaffolds using rabbit smooth muscle cells. Light, scanning electron, and confocal laser microscopy showed cell adhesion, proliferation, and extracellular matrix formation on the surface as well as inside the structure of both scaffold groups. The completely interconnected and highly regular honeycomb-like pore morphology supported bridging of the pores via cell-to-cell contact as well as production of extracellular matrix at later time points. The results indicated that the incorporation of hydrophilic PEG into hydrophobic PCL enhanced the overall hydrophilicity and cell culture performance of PCL-PEG copolymer. However, the scaffold architecture did not significantly influence the cell culture performance in this study.

FDG-PET predicted unfavorable tumor histology in living donor liver transplant recipients; a retrospective cohort study

Ling LL, Hsu CC, Yong CC, Elsarawy AM, Chan YC, Wang CC, et al.

Int J Surg, 2019 Sep;69:124-131.

PMID: 31386913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2019.07.035

BACKGROUND: Tumor histology affects outcome after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study explores the association between F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and tumor histology in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients and their outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred fifty-eight patients with primary liver tumors who underwent FDG-PET before LDLT were enrolled in this retrospective study. Unfavorable tumor histology was defined as primary liver tumor other than a well- or moderately differentiated HCC. Thirteen patients had unfavorable tumor histology, including 2 poorly differentiated HCC, 2 sarcomatoid HCC, 5 combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma, 3 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and 1 hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

RESULTS: FDG-PET positivity was significantly associated with unfavorable tumor histology (P < 0.001). Both FDG-PET positivity and unfavorable tumor histology were significant independent predictors of tumor recurrence and overall survival. In a subgroup analysis of patients with FDG-PET-positive tumors, unfavorable tumor histology was a significant independent predictor of tumor recurrence and overall survival. High FDG uptake (tumor to non-tumor uptake ratio ≥ 2) was a significant predictor of unfavorable tumor histology. Patients with high FDG uptake and/or unfavorable tumors had significantly higher 3-year cumulative recurrence rate (70.8% versus 26.2%, P = 0.004) and worse 3-year overall survival (34.1% versus 70.8%, P = 0.012) compared to those with low FDG uptake favorable tumors.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression of FDG-PET is highly associated with histology of explanted HCC and predicts the recurrence. FDG-PET-positive tumors with high FDG uptake may be considered contraindication for LDLT due to high recurrence rate except when pathology proves favorable histology.

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