Brain metastases from ovarian cancer (BMFOC) are rare but associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) in managing patients with BMFOC.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 22 patients with BMFOC who were treated with GKSRS between January 2015 and May 2019. The median age at the start of treatment was 57.7 years (range, 46–72 years). A total of 70 brain metastases were treated, with each patient having between one and nine metastatic tumors. The mean tumor volume was 3.6 cm3 (range, 0.1–22.7 cm3). The mean peripheral dose was 16 Gy (range, 7–20 Gy), and the mean isodose curve was 54.6% (range, 45–80%).

At 12 months post-GKSRS, 68 metastatic tumors were assessed: 32 (47.1%) showed complete response, 20 (29.4%) had partial response, 14 (20.6%) remained stable, and two (2.9%) progressed, leading to a tumor control rate of 97.1%. No acute or chronic toxicity was observed.

GKSRS appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for BMFOC, offering high tumor control rates and prolonged survival in selected patients.

Propolis is a resinous material produced by honeybees. Its chemical composition is highly complex and varies significantly depending on geographic region and season. This intrinsic variability presents challenges to the standardization and quality control of propolis. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, total phenolic content, and antioxidant potential of propolis collected from seventeen geographical regions across Africa.

A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method coupled with a photodiode array detector (PDA) was used for analysis of propolis samples. The flavonoid and phenolic contents of the samples were determined using colorimetric and Folin-Ciocalteu methods. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay.

Five flavonoids (naringenin, pinocembrin, galangin, chrysin, and quercetin), one flavonoid glycoside (rutin), six phenolic acids (caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and gallic acid), and an aromatic ester - caffeic acid phenethyl ester were simultaneously detected and quantified using RP-HPLC with an ACE-5 C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) and PDA detector. The reference standards showed good linearity with regression coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.96 to 0.99. For precision, repeatability, and stability studies, the relative standard deviation for all reference standards was below 2.5%. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay yielded EC50 values ranging from 17.6 ± 0.39 to 0.16 ± 0.001 mg/mL.

RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous quantification of thirteen reference standards will serve as a reliable tool for the standardization and quality evaluation of propolis. The flavonoid and phenolic contents are key contributors to the antioxidant activity of propolis and reflect local plant biodiversity and bee–plant interactions within the ecosystem.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of primary liver cancer and continues to be a major cause of cancer-related mortality, particularly in regions of China with a high hepatitis B virus prevalence. Early-stage diagnosis remains challenging due to its asymptomatic onset and the limited sensitivity of conventional biomarkers, which together contribute to delayed detection, suboptimal therapeutic outcomes, and poor prognosis. These limitations underscore the urgent need for reliable, sensitive, and specific biomarkers to enable timely detection and targeted intervention. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II, an abnormal prothrombin variant generated under vitamin K deficiency or antagonism, has emerged as a promising candidate with diagnostic and therapeutic relevance in HCC. This review critically examines the molecular and biological characteristics of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II, evaluates its clinical utility in HCC diagnosis and management, and delineates the current limitations hindering its broader application. Furthermore, future perspectives are proposed to guide translational research and clinical implementation. Collectively, this review aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical framework to advance precision diagnosis and individualized treatment strategies for HCC.

Epidemiological data on bacterial infections in cirrhosis in China remain limited. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a multicenter study to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections in China.

We retrospectively enrolled 1,438 hospitalized adult patients with cirrhosis and bacterial or fungal infections from 24 hospitals across China between January 2018 and September 2024. Data on demographics, clinical features, microbiology, treatment, and outcomes were collected.

A total of 1,783 infection episodes were recorded, including 1,668 first infections and 115 second infections. Most infections were community-acquired (86.6%). Pneumonia was the most common infection type (26.7%), followed by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (19.5%) and spontaneous bacteremia (14.1%). Among 754 pathogens isolated from 620 patients, Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.1%) was nearly as common as Escherichia coli (21.7%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms accounted for 41.0% of all isolates, with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli being the most prevalent MDR strain (8.9% of patients). Adherence to empirical antibiotic treatment guidelines from the European Association for the Study of the Liver was significantly lower in this cohort compared to the global study (21.5% vs. 61.2%, P < 0.001), accompanied by a lower clinical resolution rate (63.5% vs. 79.8%, P < 0.001).

The clinical and microbiological characteristics of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis in China differ substantially from those reported in other regions. These findings highlight the need for region-specific management and prevention strategies, particularly in light of the changing microbiological landscape, high MDR prevalence, and suboptimal antibiotic practices.

Mechanical valve replacement is a primary treatment for rheumatic heart disease, yet prosthesis-related adverse outcomes remain underreported in India. This study aimed to examine the in-hospital mortality rate among patients who underwent prosthetic heart valve replacement surgeries in the past five years.

A retrospective analysis of 221 rheumatic heart disease patients (2019–2023) who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR), mitral valve replacement (MVR), or double valve replacement (DVR) was conducted. Comorbidities (hypertension, type-2 diabetes mellitus) and valve origin (Indian vs. foreign-made) were also evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS (v25.0), with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Among 221 patients, 262 valves were implanted (54 AVR, 126 MVR, 41 DVR). Overall in-hospital mortality was 7.24% (16/221), with rates of 5.55% (AVR), 7.14% (MVR), and 9.75% (DVR). No sex-based differences were observed (p > 0.05). The five-year actuarial survival rate was 92.8±4.8%, with no intergroup disparities (p > 0.05). Mortality was higher in patients >50 years (13/16 deaths) and in females (10/16 deaths), though these differences were not statistically significant. Hypertension was more prevalent in females and type-2 diabetes mellitus in males, but neither condition showed a significant association with outcomes (p > 0.05). Most fatalities were associated with thromboembolism, acute kidney injury, and congestive heart failure, and valve origin did not significantly impact mortality.

Over the past five years, we observed a 7.24% mortality rate at our tertiary care facility following prosthetic heart valve implantation across all age groups. The data suggest that mortality may be more common among females and older individuals; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with marked phenotypic differences observed among its major histological subtypes, adenocarcinoma (ADC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in both clinical presentation and therapeutic response. In recent years, metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool for studying cancer metabolic reprogramming, providing new insights into the metabolic distinctions among lung cancer subtypes. This review summarizes recent research advances in the metabolomics of ADC, SCC, and SCLC. Studies have revealed that ADC and SCC display distinct metabolic profiles in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and cell membrane synthesis, while SCLC demonstrates a unique metabolic pattern. Through metabolomic technologies, particularly mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography, it is possible to effectively differentiate lung cancer subtypes and identify potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and personalized treatment. This review also explores the clinical potential of metabolomics in lung cancer, emphasizing its critical role in early diagnosis and subtype stratification. These methodological advances establish a robust foundation for precision oncology paradigms in thoracic malignancies.

Given the high burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), risk stratification in patients with cirrhosis is critical but remains inadequate. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate an HCC prediction model by integrating radiomics and deep learning features from liver and spleen computed tomography (CT) images into the established age-male-ALBI-platelet (aMAP) clinical model.

Patients were enrolled between 2018 and 2023 from a Chinese multicenter, prospective, observational cirrhosis cohort, all of whom underwent 3-phase contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans at enrollment. The aMAP clinical score was calculated, and radiomic (PyRadiomics) and deep learning (ResNet-18) features were extracted from liver and spleen regions of interest. Feature selection was performed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator.

Among 2,411 patients (median follow-up: 42.7 months [IQR: 32.9–54.1]), 118 developed HCC (three-year cumulative incidence: 3.59%). Chronic hepatitis B virus infection was the main etiology, accounting for 91.5% of cases. The aMAP-CT model, which incorporates CT signatures, significantly outperformed existing models (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve: 0.809–0.869 in three cohorts). It stratified patients into high-risk (three-year HCC incidence: 26.3%) and low-risk (1.7%) groups. Stepwise application (aMAP → aMAP-CT) further refined stratification (three-year incidences: 1.8% [93.0% of the cohort] vs. 27.2% [7.0%]).

The aMAP-CT model improves HCC risk prediction by integrating CT-based liver and spleen signatures, enabling precise identification of high-risk cirrhosis patients. This approach personalizes surveillance strategies, potentially facilitating earlier detection and improved outcomes.

Parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated cholestasis (PNAC) is frequently diagnosed in premature infants; however, not all PN-exposed infants develop PNAC. We propose that, in premature infants receiving PN and varying amounts of enteral feeds, differences in the gut microbiome and fecal bile acid content are associated with PNAC development. This study aimed to examine the fecal microbiome and bile acid content of premature infants on PN to determine if there is a relationship with the development of PNAC.

Twenty-two preterm infants had serial bilirubin measurements and fecal samples collected during their neonatal intensive care unit admission. Fecal samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bile acid analysis. Binomial regression, adjusting for postmenstrual age with feed amount as a moderator, was used to assess the impact of the fecal microbiome and bile acids on PNAC development.

Cholestatic patients (n = 11) had greater PN and antibiotic exposure (p = 0.020; p = 0.010) and longer neonatal intensive care unit stays (p = 0.0038) than non-cholestatic patients. Microbiome richness was higher in non-cholestatic infants (p < 2E-16), with no difference in β diversity (p = 1.0). Cholestatic infants had a significantly higher abundance of Proteobacteria and Fusobacteriota and a lower abundance of Bacteroidota (p < 2E-16). Akkermansia was abundant in all infants on low feeds; as feed volume increased, Akkermansia abundance significantly increased in non-cholestatic infants (p < 2E-16). Bile acid analysis demonstrated significantly lower deoxycholic acid concentrations in cholestatic infants (p < 2E-16). Metagenomic analysis revealed an increase in Proteobacteria requiring augmented stress responses in non-cholestatic infants.

This is the first study to directly explore the relationship between PNAC susceptibility, the microbiome, and fecal bile acids in preterm infants. The microbiome and bile acid patterns identified here may inform the development of targeted therapeutics for this vulnerable population.

The diagnosis of hepatic precancerous lesions (HPC) and early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significant public health implications and holds the potential to reduce the global burden of HCC. This study aimed to identify molecular features and biomarkers associated with HPC progression and early HCC development.

RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes in mouse HPC tissues and normal liver tissues. Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) expression in HPC tissues and HCC cells was assessed using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects of CCNE1 on HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated using colony formation, wound healing, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry. The mechanism of CCNE1 was explored through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis and further validated through in vitro experiments. The interaction between CCNE1 and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) was investigated by co-culturing HCC cells with macrophages.

RNA sequencing and TCGA database analysis showed that CCNE1 expression was significantly elevated in mouse HPC tissues and human HCC samples and was associated with reduced survival rates. In vitro assays demonstrated that CCNE1 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, CCNE1 induced TAM polarization toward the M2 phenotype by promoting the expression of CCL2 and CCL5 in HCC cells.

CCNE1 promotes HPC progression and HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, CCNE1 enhances the secretion of CCL2 and CCL5 by HCC cells, promoting TAM infiltration and M2 polarization, thereby contributing to tumor progression.