Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a secreted, iron-binding glycoprotein that is abnormally expressed in some malignant human cancers. However, the roles of LCN2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are unknown. In this study, we suggested the LCN2 and LCN2R were weak detected in the HCC cell lines, LCN2 and LCN2R were found to be down-regulated in tumor tissues in 16 HCC patients. MTT, DAPI, TUNEL, and flow cytometry analyses revealed that LCN2 overexpression dramatically inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis features of cell-cycle arrest in sub-G1 phase, in DNA fragmentation, and in condensation of chromatin in Huh-7 and SK-Hep-1 cells. Western blots were used to detect the activation of caspase, pro-apoptosis, and anti-apoptosis protein expression in overexpress-LCN2 HCC cells. LCN2-induced apoptosis was characterized by cleavage of caspase-9, -8, -3, and PARP protein, and a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Furthermore, LCN2 also enhanced the down-regulated Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expression of Bax. In addition, our experiments with caspase inhibitors LEHD-FMK and IETD-FMK prevent LCN2-induced apoptosis. We also demonstrated that treatment of overexpress-LCN2 HCC cells with the LCN2 neutralized antibody also significantly attenuated LCN2-induced cell apoptosis. These findings indicate that LCN2 overexpression can effectively induce apoptosis of HCC cells and may be used as a potent therapy against human HCC.

ObjectiveThyroid surgery is generally a safe surgery but its complications are still common. We wish to identify preoperative factors that predict postoperative complications.MethodsA nationwide survey was conducted by senior surgeons from 16 medical centers and 5 regional hospitals in Taiwan to thyroid operations performed over 3 years. 3846 cases were retrospectively examined to identify factors influencing complications: indication for surgery, preoperative evaluation, such as ultrasonography, chest X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, isotope scanning, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and thyroid function test, and patient characteristics.ResultsEighty-four percent of patients were female. Seven percent of the patients had immediate postoperative hypocalcemia (mild and severe) and 2.3%, hoarseness (recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, temporary/permanent). Logistic regression analysis identified an association between hypocalcemia and RLN injury with age, hospital category, surgical procedure types (total thyroidectomy, unilateral, bilateral subtotal or total resection). A lower incidence of hypocalcemia was related to preoperative neck ultrasound and FNAC analysis (the odds ratio (OR) = 0.5 and 0.65, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.331–0.768 and 0.459–0.911], P = 0.0014 and 0.0127, respectively), while RLN injury was not associated with any preoperative evaluation. The ORs of hypocalcemia and RLN injury for patients older than 50 years were 0.55 and 2.15, [0.393–0.763 and 1.356–3.4], P < 0.001 and 0.0012, respectively.ConclusionsThe success of thyroid surgery depends on careful preoperative planning, including a preoperative neck ultrasound to determine the proximity of the nodule to the recurrent laryngeal nerve course, and the consideration of the type of anesthesia, adjuvant devices for intra-op monitoring of the RLN, and surgical modalities. Our results suggest that preoperative evaluation implementations are positively associated with strategy of surgery and postoperative hypocalcemia prevention.

These results suggested that the inhibitory effects of ICAC against EGFR-induced EMT and MDA-MB-231 cell invasion were dependent on the EGFR/ phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ)/extracellular regulated protein kinase ½ (ERK½)/slug signaling pathway. Therefore, the obtained results could provide us clues for the next therapeutic strategy in the treatment of TNBC.

Background Vasitis is a rare condition that may be challenging for the clinical practitioner. Sometimes it is misdiagnosed as incarcerated inguinal hernia; thus, patients end up receiving unnecessary surgery. Compared with the traditional approach with only sonography, the more recent introduction of computed tomography in the diagnostic process has provided higher quality imaging and more detailed anatomy. Consequently, some urologists advocate the efficacy of computed tomography in the differential diagnosis of difficult cases. Case presentation We present the case of a 23-year-old male who suffered from right inguinal pain and swelling. His scrotum ultrasound showed multiple tubular structure dilatation within the subinguinal area and no testis torsion. The initial diagnosis was a right inguinal hernia. Computed tomography supported that initial diagnosis, and we presumed the lesion represented a herniation of the omentum with mesenteric vessels. Since there was a suspicion of hernia incarceration, the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy, which did not reveal herniation, but only erythematous reaction and swelling over the right spermatic cord. Following a final diagnosis of vasitis, he received empirical antibiotic treatment and his symptoms entirely resolved. Conclusions Even though computed tomography can provide thorough imaging of the urogenital system, the contrast enhancement within vessels and inflammatory organs can still be misleading in the diagnostic process.