Medicine Advances最新文献

Schwannomas, which are benign, are one of the most common intraspinal tumors, accounting for 29% of primary spinal tumors. Schwannomas have several other names, including neurinoma, neurilemmoma, and neuroma. They originate from Schwann cells, which were first described by Theodor Schwann, a German physiologist, biologist, and histologist. Here, we present a patient with a giant, thoracic, dumbbell-shaped schwannoma. This benign tumor protruded into the subcutaneous fascial layer, compressing the pleura and the left side of the thoracic spinal cord. Additionally, some of the spinous processes and laminae of the thoracic vertebrae were missing. Most patients with this type of tumor are asymptomatic; however, up to 11.7% of patients have symptoms that depend on the size and location of the tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging can accurately determine the extent of the tumor and any intraspinal component and is thus helpful in selecting the optimal surgical procedure.

Crosstalk between tumors and the nervous system has emerged as a significant hallmark of human cancer. In the central nervous system, neurons closely interact with tumor cells, promoting the proliferation of glioma and neuroblastoma. Additionally, the peripheral nervous system plays a crucial role in reshaping the tumor microenvironment, modulating angiogenesis, and regulating immune cell function, while also directly promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis. Current research has elucidated some of the specific neural signaling mechanisms involved in this crosstalk, including neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and growth factors. In this review, we aim to summarize these mechanisms and highlight the latest discoveries in various solid tumors, such as glioma, pancreatic, prostate, and gastrointestinal cancers. By understanding the intricate crosstalk between cancer cells and the nervous system, we can develop more effective and targeted treatments for cancer patients.

Wu YL, Lu S, Zhou QH, Zhang L, Cheng Y, Wang J, Wang BH, Hu CP, Lin LZ, Zhong WZ, Song Y, Yang N, Dong XR, Zhao J, Yang HH, Guo H, Yan XL, Liu HX, Ma R, Lin J, Liu SY, Chen C, Wang LF, Zhou CZ, Zhou M, Wu F, Yang XN, Du YY, Yao Y, Shao Y, Hong SD, Cui JW, Quan XP, Chen RR, Wu JY, Zhang JT, Zhou JY, Wang BC, Cheng C, Wang HJ, Liu JJ, Wu L, Huang Y, Kuang YK, Zhang YC, Hu J, Yang JJ, Feng WN, Su WM, Fan Y, Yang F, Chen M, Tang KJ, Tang Y, Shen P, Liu AW, Zhang HB, Liang WH, Zhou Q, Ma ZY, Cai XY, Liu H, Chen LF, Chuai SK, Chuai JZ, Zheng YF, You CX, Zhu XX, Li L, Zhang TM, Tu HY, Lin WR, Zhang XC, Zhou PH, Ke ZF, Liang HY. Expert consensus on treatment for stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Med. Adv. 2023;1:3–13.

We want to clarify that this article was originally published in Chinese in the Journal of Evidence-based Medicine (doi: 10.12019/j.issn.1671-5144.2022.03.001). This is an English translation of the original article and permission was granted by the Journal of Evidence-based Medicine.

The online version of the original article can be found at http://www.jebm.cn/CN/10.12019/j.issn.1671-5144.2022.03.001.

Autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) are chronic inflammatory hepatobiliary diseases in which the autoimmune responses directed against liver tissue result in inflammation and tissue damage. There are several types of ALDs, including autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis, and overlap syndromes. Metabolism and epigenetics are both critical components of the development and progression of ALDs. Immunometabolism addresses how metabolic processes influence immune cell development, fate and behavior, and how immune responses impact metabolism. In the context of immunity, epigenetics involves regulating gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications can ultimately result in changes in the immunophenotype. The interplay between the immune system, metabolism, and epigenetic factors is highly complex. A better understanding of this interplay and the regulatory mechanisms involved is crucial to uncover the disease pathogenesis of ALDs and exploring novel therapeutic options. This article provides a comprehensive review of the dysregulation of immunometabolism and epigenetics, as well as the multilevel regulatory mechanisms, underlying the autoimmunity in ALDs.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major renal disease that affects 13 million people and is associated with almost 1.7 million deaths each year around the world. Previously referred to as acute renal failure, AKI is defined not only by a rapid functional decline of the kidney but also by pathological damages in kidney tissue. This updated definition contributes to modern renal medicine in at least two ways. First, the definition of AKI includes an early, preventable and treatable stage of the disease, which implies an urgent need for sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment. Second, the AKI definition is proposed with clear criteria for diagnosis and severity grading, which are beneficial for clinical studies and the meta-analysis of different datasets.