Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant primary liver cancer with poor prognosis. Most previous studies on anti-HCC effects of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have focused on the mechanism of direct action and few researchers considered that TCM can inhibit tumor progression and improve prognosis of HCC patients through regulating tumor microenvironment (TME). In this study, network pharmacology combined bioinformatics methods were employed to analysis mechanism of Bombyx batryticatus (B. batryticatus, one of the most frequently used traditional Chinese animal medicines, has been used in some Asian countries for centuries as an anticancer agent, anti-inflammatory agent, and antioxidant.) in regulating TME of HCC. The results showed that 24 core targets and 2 compounds were identified from overlapping between differential expression genes related to HCC in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database and targets of B. batryticatus in TCMSP database. For further analyzing the role of TME heterogeneity of HCC on anti-HCC mechanism of B. batryticatus, the correlation of core targets related with overall survival of HCC with TME cells in hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (VIR) and non-hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NVIR) were calculated, respectively. The results showed that AKR1C3, SPP1 were significantly related with macrophages in VIR and other targets including NR1I2, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 were significantly associated with macrophages in NVIR; the target protein AKR1C3 was significantly negative correlated with macrophages M1 in VIR (cor=-0.35, P-value0.05). In conclusion, the molecular mechanism of anti-HCC of B. batryticatus can be related to the tumor microenvironment to some extent. B. batryticatus may exert its anti-cancer effects and improve prognosis of patients by regulating macrophages M1 in VIR and NVIR through acting on different targets.

Background: Primary gliosarcoma is a rare form of malignant central nervous system tumor, with limited understanding regarding its prognostic determinants and effective therapeutic interventions. Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with gliosarcoma at Tangdu Hospital between March 2011 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Patients with a prior history of glioma or those who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy were excluded. Survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Results: A total of 77 patients were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 57 years (range: 13-83). The predominant symptom leading to diagnosis was headache, and the temporal lobe was the most frequently affected site. Univariate analysis revealed that age ≤65 years, complete resection, Ki67 ≤ 25%, postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 70, adherence to the Stupp protocol, and additional active therapy upon relapse were associated with enhanced survival. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified complete resection, age ≤65 years, Stupp protocol treatment, and active therapy following relapse were independent predictors of overall survival. Notably, 1 patient experienced subcutaneous metastasis during treatment. Conclusions: The present study's findings suggest that optimal management of primary gliosarcoma entails maximal safe resection, combined with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, followed by salvage therapy in case of recurrence. However, the risk of metastases should be carefully monitored during the treatment course.

Introduction: Secondary gliosarcomas (SGS) are rare malignancies that are diagnosed subsequent to pre-existing glioma. Clinical features and optimal treatment strategies for SGS have not been conclusively established. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological features and outcomes of SGS. Methods: We assessed the clinicopathological features and outcomes of SGS via retrospective analysis of data for SGS patients at Tangdu Hospital. Data from SGS patients in prior publications were also analyzed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: Eighteen SGS patients who had been treated at Tangdu Hospital between 2013 and 2020 were enrolled in this study. Additional 89 eligible SGS patients were identified from 39 studies. The median age for the patients was 53 years old, and the most common location was the temporal lobe. The most common initial diagnosis was glioblastoma (GBM) (72.0%). Radiology revealed enhanced masses in 94.8% (73/77) of patients. Ten patients (10/107, 9.35%) had extracranial metastases at or after SGS diagnosis. Patients with initial diagnosis of non-GBM and who were younger than 60 years of age were significantly associated with a long duration of disease progression to SGS. After SGS diagnosis, patients with initial non-GBM diagnosis, gross total re and chemoradiotherapy exhibited prolonged survival outcomes. Patients who had been initially diagnosed with GBM and received both chemoradiotherapy and active therapy after disease progression to SGS, had a significantly longer overall survival than patients who did not. Conclusion: Initial diagnosis of GBM was a poor prognostic factor for SGS. Patients who underwent gross total re and chemoradiation had better overall survival outcomes than those who did not. However, during treatment, clinicians should be cognizant of possible extracranial metastases.

Authors' objectives: The objective of this health technology assessment is to address questions regarding: 1) safety, effectiveness and health services utilisation associated with the use of Elecsys immunoassay sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, Triage PlGF-test, DELFIA Xpress PlGF 1-2-3 test, BRAHMS sFlt-1 Kryptor/BRAHMS PlGF-pluss Kryptor PE ratio or other blood-based tests for predicting suspected preeclampsia in 2nd and 3rd trimester; 2) predictive accuracy of these tests; 3) cost-effectiveness and budgetary consequences of implementation; and evaluate the intervention against the priority setting criteria applicable in Norway (benefit, resource use and severity).

Authors' objectives: This health technology assessment evaluates the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of gene expression profiling (GEP) tests for people with early-stage invasive breast cancer. It also evaluates the budget impact of publicly funding GEP tests and the experiences, preferences, and values of people with early-stage invasive breast cancer.

Authors' objectives: Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition that can affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Some people with Crohn’s disease may be at higher risk of following a severe course of disease than others and being able to identify the level of risk a patient has could lead to personalised management. To assess the prognostic test accuracy, clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of two tools for the stratification of people with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease by risk of following a severe course of disease.