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Background and aims: Video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT) is an innovative surgical approach enabling the direct visualization of the fistula tract structure. This study aims to assess the efficacy of VAAFT in comparison with that of traditional surgical methods and explore potential risk factors contributing to fistula recurrence to provide new recommendations for surgical selection. Materials and methods: Information was collected from 100 patients with complex anal fistula (CAF) in our hospital who underwent surgical treatment from January 2021 to January 2023. We compared the baseline information and surgical outcomes of two groups, analyzed the risk factors for fistula recurrence by using logistic regression analysis, and conducted further exploration by using the body mass index. Results: Equal numbers of patients underwent VAAFT and traditional surgeries, and no significant differences in baseline information were observed. Patients who received VAAFT experienced less intraoperative bleeding (15.5 (14.0–20.0) vs. 32.0 (25.0–36.0)), shorter hospital stays (2.0 (2.0–2.5) vs. 3.0 (3.0–3.5)), reduced postoperative pain and wound discharge, but longer operative times (43.3 ± 6.9 vs. 35.0 (31.5–40.0)) compared with patients who underwent traditional surgeries. No significant differences in recurrence rates were found three and six months after operation (the p-values were 0.790 and 0.806, respectively). However, the Wexner scores of the VAAFT group were significantly low in the first follow-up (0 (0–1.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0–2.0)). Postoperative recurrence of fistulas may be associated with obesity (p-value = 0.040), especially in patients undergoing traditional surgeries (p-value = 0.036). Conclusion: VAAFT offers advantages, such as less pain, less trauma, and faster recovery, compared with traditional surgical treatment. Obese patients with CAF are prone to recurrence, and we recommend that they undergo VAAFT treatment rather than traditional surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver metastasis stands as the primary contributor to mortality among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) emerge as pivotal players in the progression and metastasis of cancer, showcasing promise as prognostic biomarkers. Our objective is to formulate a predictive model grounded in genes associated with neutrophil extracellular traps and identify novel therapeutic targets for combating CRLM. We sourced gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Neutrophil extracellular trap-related gene set was obtained from relevant literature and cross-referenced with the GEO datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through screening via the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and random forest modeling, leading to the establishment of a nomogram and subtype analysis. Subsequently, a thorough analysis of the characteristic gene CYP4F3 was undertaken, and our findings were corroborated through immunohistochemical staining. We identified seven DEGs (ATG7, CTSG, CYP4F3, F3, IL1B, PDE4B, and TNF) and established nomograms for the occurrence and prognosis of CRLM. CYP4F3 is highly expressed in CRC and colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), exhibiting a negative correlation with CRLM prognosis. It may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CRLM. A novel prognostic signature related to NETs has been developed, with CYP4F3 identified as a risk factor and potential target for CRLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differences between Bismuth IIIa and IIIb types of hilar cholangiocarcinoma are unclear. Thus, this study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of the Bismuth IIIa and IIIb types of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. A case series analysis was designed to explore the clinical and pathological findings and survival of 144 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent curative hepatectomy between 2007 and 2018. The patients in the IIIa group received portal vein embolization and transfusion more frequently than those in the IIIb group (18.3% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.05 and 36.6% vs. 25.0%, P < 0.05). The incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure and serious surgical complications (≥ grade B) was significantly higher in the IIIa group than in the IIIb group (12.2% vs. 4.5%, P < 0.01 and 32.9% vs. 9.1%, P < 0.01). Tumors of the patients in the IIIa group had more advanced T and N stages than those of the patients in the IIIb group (P < 0.01). The patients in the IIIa group had poorer disease-free and overall survival rates than those in the IIIb group (P = 0.014 and P = 0.048). N stage and lymphovascular invasion were independently correlated with disease-free survival, whereas T and N stages were independently correlated with overall survival in the IIIb group. Meanwhile, T stage, N stage, and lymphovascular invasion were independently correlated with disease-free survival, whereas posthepatectomy liver failure, complication, and T stage were independently correlated with overall survival in the IIIa group. Hepatic and portal vessel metastasis occurred more frequently in the IIIa group than in the IIIb group (7.3% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.05). In our centers, patients with Bismuth IIIb hilar cholangiocarcinoma exhibited better disease-free and overall survival rates with more favorable clinicopathological characteristics than those with IIIa hilar cholangiocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha factor (LITAF) is a transcription factor that activates the transcription of TNF-α and regulates the inflammatory response. LITAF has been found to have potential anti-cancer effects of in several tumors. However, the role of LITAF in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Through a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), LITAF was identified as a differentially downregulated gene in CRC. We hypothesized that LITAF may participate in the modulation of CRC progression. The present study was aimed to investigate the expression profile of LITAF in CRC and its effect on metastatic behavior and stemness as well as the underlying molecular mechanism. The expression profile of LITAF in CRC, and its relationship with the prognosis of CRC were explored using public databases. LITAF expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the effects of overexpression or knockdown of LITAF on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and stemness of CRC cells were investigated in vitro. The regulatory effect of LITAF on forkhead Box O 1 (FOXO1)-sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signaling axis was also explored. In addition, a xenograft mouse model was used to investigate the in-vivo role of LITAF. LITAF was downregulated in tumor tissues and its expression was associated with the prognosis, pathological stage and liver metastasis. In-vitro experiments confirmed that LITAF inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, and induced cell apoptosis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that LITAF inhibited the tumorigenicity and liver metastasis in tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, LITAF promoted FOXO1-mediated SIRT1 inhibition, thus regulating cancer stemness and malignant phenotypes. LITAF was silenced in CRC and it participated in the progression of CRC by inhibiting CRC cell stemness, and malignant phenotypes. Therefore, LITAF may serve as a novel biomarker of CRC prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Gram-staining positive, moderately halophilic, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped and strictly aerobic strain, designated YIM 93565T, was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang province of China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain YIM 93565T grew in the range of pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0), 10-45 °C (optimum 35-40 °C) and at salinities of 2-24% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 7-10%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YIM 93565T clustered with members of the genera Gracilibacillus and form a clade with Gracilibacillus bigeumensis KCTC 13130T (95.6% similarity) and Gracilibacillus halophilus DSM 17856T (94.9%), which was well separated from others. The DNA G + C content of this novel strain was 36.8 mol%. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, C16:0 and anteiso-C17:0 and its polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on the results of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic comparative analyses, the isolate is assigned to a novel species of the genus Gracilibacillus, for which the name Gracilibacillus eburneus sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YIM 93565T (= DSM 23710T = CCTCC AB 2013249T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heme oxygenase-1 has been identified to protect allograft from ischemia/reperfusion and immunologic rejection. Activity of heme oxygenase-1 is regulated by a guanine-thymine dinucleotide length polymorphism in the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphism of donors and recipients on the orthotopic liver graft function after transplantation. Sixty recipients and their accompanying donors of orthotopic liver allografts were included retrospectively in this study. Heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphism was assessed using genomic DNA isolated from cryopreserved splenocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells and analyzed by genetic analyzer. Small allele of the donor heme oxygenase-1 gene polymorphism significantly prolonged the graft survival ( p = 0.017). Recipients of allografts from a class of small-allele carrier had significantly lower serum total bilirubin compared with recipients of a nonclass small-allele donor liver ( p < 0.01). Additionally, in recipients of small-carrier allografts, cold ischemia time (<10 h or ≥10 h) did not affect the total bilirubin significantly. Our study suggested a protective function of donor-derived heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphism on orthotopic liver allograft function after transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-negative, pink-coloured, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, designated YIM 93097, was isolated from the desert soil collected from Xinjiang province of China. Strain YIM 93097 was found to grow at 20-45 °C (optimum 28-37 °C), pH 5.0-7.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1 %, w/v). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies, it belongs to the genus Skermanella. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was identified to be 98.7 % to Skermanella xinjiangensis CCTCC AB 207153 while the DNA-DNA hybridization value was found to be only 48.1 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was determined to be Q-10. The major fatty acids were identified to be C, C ω7 c and summed feature 4 (consisting of C anteiso B/iso I). The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content was found to be 67.2 mol %. The analysis of the genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain YIM 93097 belongs to a novel species of the genus Skermanella, for which the name Skermanella rubra sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 93097 (=DSM 21389=CCTCC AB 2015161). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still uncertain whether total bilirubin per se is a risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and no study has so far examined this important issue. This study was designed to assess the sheer effects of total bilirubin on the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women without potential liver disease. In the present study, postmenopausal female subjects without potential liver disease ( n = 918) who underwent measurement of bone mineral density were enrolled. Correlation and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between total bilirubin and other variables. As a result, subjects with osteoporosis had a significantly lower total bilirubin level ( P = 0.005). A 0.1 mg/dl increase in total bilirubin was associated with reduced odds ratio of the risk by 38 % for osteoporosis [OR 0.62 (95 % CI 0.52–0.88), P = 0.012] after adjustment for several variables. Total bilirubin was independently associated with BMD [coefficient = 0.41, 95 % CI (0.35–0.47), P < 0.001 for lumbar spine and coefficient = 0.44, 95 % CI (0.36–0.48), P < 0.001 for femur neck]. A positive correlation could be observed with significant difference between total bilirubin and z-score ( r = 0.33, P < 0.001 for lumbar spine and r = 0.37, P < 0.001 for femur neck) and total bilirubin was positively correlated with serum calcium ( r = 0.13, P < 0.001) as well. Therefore, this study demonstrates an independent inverse association between total bilirubin and the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women without potential liver disease. Total bilirubin would be useful as a provisional new risk factor of osteoporosis in such a population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum total bilirubin has been suggested to have the potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the vasculature. This study was designed to investigate the association of bilirubin with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular disease. Hypertensive male subjects ( n = 2,361) were classified into groups according to the 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles of baPWV value. Correlation and regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between baPWV and other variables. Hypertensive subjects with baPWV above the 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles had a significantly lower bilirubin level than those with baPWV under them (0.97 ± 0.40 vs. 1.00 ± 0.41 mg/dl, P < 0.001; 0.95 ± 0.39 vs. 0.99 ± 0.41 mg/dl, P = 0.001; 0.92 ± 0.36 vs. 0.99 ± 0.42 mg/dl, P = 0.048, respectively). Bilirubin is inversely related to baPWV ( R = 0.0032, P = 0.003) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (correlation coefficient = −0.13, P < 0.001). A 0.1 mg/dl increase in bilirubin was associated with a 19, 20, and 34 % reduced odds ratio for baPWV above the 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles, respectively [odds ratio (OR) 0.77 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.62-0.95), P = 0.015; OR 0.80 (95 % CI 0.64-0.99), P = 0.044; OR 0.68 (95 % CI 0.45-1.00), P = 0.048, respectively] after adjustment for several variables. This study demonstrates an independent inverse association between bilirubin and baPWV in hypertensive men. Additionally, reduced CRP may be one of mediators on the mechanisms how bilirubin reduces baPWV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]