Purpose: The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) has been reported as a useful tool for predicting the prognosis of many diseases; however, there is currently little research on the relationship between GNRI and outcomes in elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study aimed to explore the value of GNRI in evaluating postoperative complication risk and long-term prognosis in elderly CRC patients. Patients and Methods: The medical records of 230 CRC patients aged≥65 years who underwent surgery between January 2012 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into abnormal and normal GNRI groups by modified binary classification. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between GNRI and complication risk. The Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank test was used to construct survival curves. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate, multivariate and subgroup survival analyses to assess the relationship between GNRI and long-term prognosis. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GNRI (p = 0.009, HR 2.280, 95% CI: 1.224–4.247) was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in elderly CRC patients. Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed that the abnormal GNRI group had significantly lower disease-free survival (DFS; p = 0.005) and overall survival (OS; p=0.007) than the normal GNRI group had, especially in TNM I stage. In multivariate survival analysis, GNRI was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (p = 0.003, HR 1.842, 95% CI: 1.229–2.760) and OS (p = 0.003, HR 1.852, 95% CI: 1.231–2.787). Conclusion: GNRI is a simple and effective tool for predicting the risk of postoperative complications and the long-term prognosis of postoperative elderly CRC patients and can provide a scientific basis for early nutrition interventions in elderly CRC patients.

An intriguing area of research has demonstrated the ability of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biological vehicles for microRNAs (miRNAs) transfer. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) produce large amounts of EVs. Rat models of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) were established to explore the expression profile of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), which was then knocked-down to investigate its effects on myocardial remodeling, followed by detection on myocardial infarction size (MIS), myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MSCs-derived EVs carrying miR-150-5p were cultured with neonatal cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/hypoglycemia condition for in vitro exploration and intramyocardially injected into I/R rats for in vivo exploration. I/R-induced rats presented higher TXNIP levels and lower miR-150-5p levels, along with increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis. miR-150-5p in MSCs was transferred through EVs to cardiomyocytes, leading to suppressed myocardial remodeling, as reflected by smaller MIS and CVF and suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis. I/R-treated rats injected with MSCs-derived EVs containing miR-150-5p showed a reduction in myocardial remodeling associated with the downregulation of TXNIP, which may be clinically applicable for treatment of I/R.