ObjectiveTo evaluate systematically the clinical efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the prevention of postoperative complications in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.Materials and methodsPublished articles were identified by using search terms in online databases – PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library – up to March 2016. Only randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs in CRC were selected and analyzed through a meta-analysis. Subgroup, sensitivity, and inverted funnel-plot analyses were also conducted.ResultsEleven articles with 694 CRC patients were finally included. Compared with control, omega-3 PUFA-enriched enteral or parenteral nutrition during the perioperative period reduced infectious complications (risk ratio [RR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47–0.86; P=0.004), tumor necrosis factor alpha (standard mean difference [SMD] −0.37, 95% CI −0.66 to −0.07; P=0.01), interleukin-6 (SMD −0.36, 95% CI −0.66 to −0.07; P=0.02), and hospital stay (MD −2.09, 95% CI −3.71 to −0.48; P=0.01). No significant difference was found in total complications, surgical site infection, or CD4+:CD8+ cell ratio.ConclusionShort-term omega-3 PUFA administration was associated with reduced postoperative infectious complications, inflammatory cytokines, and hospital stay after CRC surgery. Due to heterogeneity and relatively small sample size, the optimal timing and route of administration deserve further study.

Background Arecoline is a well-known risk factor for oral submucosal fibrosis and cancer. However, the mechanistic correlation between arecoline and hepatocellular cancer remains elusive. Here, we investigated the effect of arecoline on the proliferation and migration of human HepG2 hepatoma cells and its potential oncogenic mechanisms. Methods Bioinformatic technologies were used to identify the deferentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) and hub target genes of arecoline-induced cancers. These DE-miRNAs, hub genes and pathway were proved in arecoline-treated HepG2 cells. Results A total of 86 DE-miRNAs and 460 target genes were identified. These target genes are associated with DNA-templated regulation of transcription and other biological processes. Significant molecular functions were protein binding, calcium ion binding, and enrichment in the nucleus and cytoplasm. These genes are involved in the PI3K-AKT pathway. CDK1, CCND1, RAF1, CDKN1B and BTRC were defined as the top 5 hub target genes, and patients with high expression of CDK1 showed poor prognosis. Compared with control group, 2.5 µM arecoline treatment increased the proliferation and migration ability of the HepG2 cells. Treatment with 2.5 µM arecoline increased the levels of miR-21-3p, miR-21-5p and miR-1267, upregulated the expression of PI3K-AKT pathway factors, CDK1, CCND1 but decreased RAF1 expression. Conclusion A low concentration arecoline can induce the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells, with the potential mechanism of action linked to high levels of exosomal miR-21 and miR-1267, activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway, upregulation of CDK1 and CCND1, and downregulation of RAF1.

The clinical data of 40 patients (males:females, 2.08:1) with peripheral primitive euroectodermal tumors (PNET) from 1997 to 2007 at Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University were reviewed, without any selection according to primary tumor site or disease extension. The age at diagnosis ranged from 2 to 72 years (median, 18 years). Primary sites were chest (n ¼7), pelvis (n ¼ 8), retroperitoneum or abdomen (n ¼ 7), limbs (n ¼ 7), head and neck (n ¼ 6), and vertebral canal (n ¼ 5). At diagnosis, local extension was present in 7 patients, 5 patients had lymph node metastases, and 14 patients had distant metastases. Tumor size was greater than 10cm in 16 patients (40 %). There were 40 patients, 23 received multimodality treatment, 14 received only surgery or chemotherapy, 3 did not have any anticancer therapy. The median survival time was 23 months. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of the 40 patients were 67.7 %, 49.9 % and 41.6 % respectively. Five-year OS was 57.9 % in patients received multimodality treatment, 13.1 % for the rest (P ¼ 0.000), 25.1 % in those with tumor size 10cm, 48.5 % in those with tumor size < 10cm (P¼0.028), 50.8 % in those received complete resection, 41.7% in those underwent incomplete resection, 27.5 % in those received no surgery (P < 0.05), 45.9 % in those with nonmetastasis, and 35.7 % in those with metastasis (P < 0.5). Based on our experience and a review of the literature, we concluded that multimodality treatment was the main treatment of peripheral primitive euroectodermal tumors. Tumor size greater than 10cm, complete resection, and metastasis are prognostic factors for survival.