ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of IQ motif-containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, and to analyze the relationship of IQGAP1 and patient's clinical characteristics and prognosis after liver resection. MethodsData of 79 patients who received liver resection between 2007 and 2009 in our hospital were collected. The expression of IQGAP1 was examined by immunohistochemical tests. The clinical characteristics and prognosis were compared. ResultsIQGAP1 was detected in 43 patients (54.4%). Patients with IQGAP1 expression had more poor differentiation and microvascular invasion. The cumulative recurrence-free rate and overall survival rate in 1-, 3-, and 5-year after operation of patients with IQGAP1 expression (cumulative recurrencefree rate:67.4%, 39.5%, and 23.3%; cumulative overall survival rate:97.7%, 71.5%, and 53.3%) were poor than patients without IQGAP1 expression (cumulative recurrence-free rate:100%, 94.4%, and 83.3%; cumulative overall survival rate:1007%, 97.2%, and 88.9%), P < 0.001. ConclusionsHCC patients with IQGAP1 expression had a poor prognosis after liver resection. IQGAP1 may be a prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Surface electromyogram (sEMG) may have low signal to noise ratios. An adaptive wavelet thresholding technique was developed in this study to remove noise contamination from sEMG signals. Compared with conventional wavelet thresholding methods, the adaptive approach can adjust thresholds based on different signal to noise ratios of the processed signal, thus effectively removing noise contamination and reducing distortion of the EMG signal. The advantage of the developed adaptive thresholding method was demonstrated using simulated and experimental sEMG recordings.
ObjectiveTo identify the risk factors of postoperative recurrence and survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria following liver resection. MethodsData of 267 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria who received liver resection between 2007 and 2013 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsAmong the 267 patients, 123 patients suffered from recurrence and 51 patients died. The mean time to recurrence were (16.9±14.5) months (2.7-75.1 months), whereas the mean time to death were (27.5±16.4) months (6.1-75.4 months). The recurrence-free survival rates in 1-, 3-, and 5-year after operation was 76.8%, 56.3%, and 47.6%, respectively; whereas the overall survival rates in 1-, 3-, and 5-year after operation was 96.6%, 82.5%, and 74.5%, respectively. Multivariate analyses suggested the tumor differentiation, microvascular invasion, and multiple tumors were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence; whereas the tumor differentiation, positive preoperative HBV-DNA load, and preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio adversely influenced the postoperative survival. ConclusionsFor patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria after liver resection, the tumor differentiation, microvascular invasion, and multiple tumors contribute to postoperative recurrence; whereas the tumor differentiation, positive preoperative HBV-DNA load, and preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio adversely influence the postoperative survival.