PFKFB3 regulates glycolysis in tumor cells, might function as an oncogene, and is associated with cancer metastasis. However, its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unknown.

PFKFB3 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in GC tissues and paired paracancerous histological normal tissues (PCHNTs). The associations of PFKFB3 expression with clinical features and HIF-1α, Ki-67, E-cadherin, Snail, and Vimentin expression levels were assessed. A series of in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the effects of PFKFB3 on the growth, migration, and invasion of GC cells.

We found that PFKFB3 expression was significantly higher in GC tissues compared with PCHNTs (P = 0.000). PFKFB3 expression was positively correlated with tumor size (P = 0.000), differentiation (P = 0.025), venous invasion (P = 0.084), nerve invasion (P = 0.014), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.000), local invasion (P = 0.000), invasive depth (P = 0.000), nodal metastasis (P = 0.000), tumor-node-metastasis stage (P = 0.000), and patient survival (P = 0.000). Notably, PFKFB3 upregulation was highly correlated with increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in GC samples. PFKFB3 overexpression positively modulated cell proliferation, migration, and EMT in GC cells in vitro, with concomitant activation of NF-κB signaling. Administration of an NF-κB inhibitor attenuated PFKFB3-induced EMT in GC cells. PFKFB3 overexpression promoted tumor development and EMT in nude mice, which were attenuated by PFK-15, a PFKFB3 inhibitor.

PFKFB3 could potentiate malignancy in GC cells through NF-κB pathway-mediated EMT, suggesting PFKFB3 represents a potential target for GC therapy.

PFKFB3 could potentiate malignancy in GC cells through NF-κB pathway-mediated EMT, suggesting PFKFB3 represents a potential target for GC therapy.

Bias and misconceptions surrounding alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and obesity-related liver disease (OLD) may lead to transplant listing inequities. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients, medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians for bias and misconceptions regarding liver transplantation (LT) for patients with ALD and OLD.

Participants took a survey asking them whether patients with ALD who continue/discontinue drinking alcohol or patients with OLD who do/do not commit to a weight loss program deserve equal LT rights. A Likert scale was used for their responses. Participants also estimated 5-year survival and advanced fibrosis recurrence after LT. The primary outcome of the study was bias measured by expected agreement or disagreement to questions using a Likert scale, significant underestimation of a 5-year survival rate after LT, and significant overestimation of 5-year advanced fibrosis recurrence after LT.

A total of 381 participants were included in the analysis 153 residents/fellows, 31 attending physicians, 98 medical students, and 99 patients. A higher percentage from all 4 participating groups either were neutral or disagreed with equal LT rights for patients with ALD who discontinue drinking compared with patients with OLD who commit to weight loss program. The attending physician group was the only group with a majority estimating >60% 5-year survival after LT in patients with ALD and OLD (P < 0.05). All 4 groups had a majority estimate >20% 5-year advanced fibrosis recurrence in patients with ALD and OLD (P > 0.05).

There seems to be current bias and misconceptions regarding LT for patients with ALD and OLD.

There seems to be current bias and misconceptions regarding LT for patients with ALD and OLD.We report a case of a 72-year-old male with Stanford type A aortic dissection with a fistula between the sinus of Valsalva and the right atrium. Six years before, the patient had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using the left internal thoracic artery and two saphenous vein grafts. This time he was admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea. Computed tomography revealed Stanford type A aortic dissection. Conservative treatment was first adopted, because severe adhesion was expected after CABG and the false lumen of the aorta was partially thrombosed. However, heart failure could not be managed. Repeated transthoracic echocardiography revealed aorto-right atrial shunt. Retrospective reexamination of the echocardiography, the shunt had existed since admission. We performed replacement of the ascending aorta and reimplantation of the saphenous vein grafts. The patient recovered uneventfully.A 67-year-old woman had sudden loss of consciousness and chest and back pain. She was transported by ambulance about two hours later. Computed tomography (CT) showed dissection of the aorta, the brachiocephalic artery and the right common carotid artery (RCCA). RCCA was completely obstructed. Emergency surgery was conducted one hour later. RCCA’s blood flow was reestablished prior to hemi-arch replacement. Postoperative CT revealed diminishment of the false lumen and recovery of the blood flow of RCCA, and she was discharged on foot without any complications.A 58-year-old man with Marfan syndrome visited our clinic for a routine examination. He had undergone a modified Bentall procedure with Carrel patch technique for annuloaortic ectasia 15 years previously. Computed tomography revealed an aneurysm of 43×57 mm in diameter at the right coronary ostium. He underwent resection of the aneurysm and coronary reconstruction using Piehler technique. He was discharged on the 37th postoperative day when his renal function recovered. Although the modified Bentall procedure may improve the surgical outcome, long-term follow-up is important because of various postoperative anastomotic complications in patients with Marfan syndrome.The patient was a 45-year-old man who was transported by ambulance to a nearby clinic owing to sudden chest pain. He was diagnosed with myocardial infarction and giant coronary artery aneurysm by coronary arteriogram and underwent an emergency intervention for the myocardial infarction. Veliparib mw The patient was referred to our hospital. Intraoperative findings showed the mass-like right coronary artery aneurysm at the anterior to the right atrium. The origin of the right coronary artery was ligated in addition to the fenestration and the proximal and distal regions of the coronary artery aneurysm. It has been reported that coronary artery aneurysms are usually asymptomatic and are often discovered by chance during screenings, such as echocardiography, computed tomography, and coronary arteriogram. Here, we report a surgical case of giant right coronary artery aneurysm complicated by acute myocardial infarction.