Cessation experiences and quitting perspectives of Jordanian cancer patients who smoke

ObjectivesTo describe quitting experiences of cancer patients in a Cancer Center in Jordan; to study patients’ perceptions regarding the process of smoking cessation; and to provide insights about patients in this difficult setting in order to inform oncology practitioners with regards to how improve perceptions and skills related to quitting.MethodsAn Arabic cross-sectional questionnaire was developed to evaluate smoking and quitting behaviors in the context of cancer. The tool used as its framework the Theoretical Domains Framework to capture quitting perceptions of cancer patients who smoke, as well as social, environmental, and system-level factors that influence quitting. Eligible patients who were treated at the Center (both in-patient and out-patient settings) and who were current smokers or who smoked up to the time of cancer diagnosis were eligible. Patients were interviewed between July, 2018 and January 2020 using two versions of the questionnaire: an ‘ex-smokers’ version, and a ‘current smokers’ version.ResultsOnly a third of subjects (104/350) had been smoke-free for at least 30 days. Both smokers and ex-smokers generally felt that quitting was important, but mean importance and confidence scores (out of 10) were significantly lower in current smokers (8.2 versus 9.1, p-value=0.002; 6.4 versus 8.7, p-value=0.000). Roughly 31% of subjects believed smoking harms were exaggerated and that smoking was not an addiction. About 62% of subjects agreed quitting required skills, and 78.5% felt the steps to quit were clear, but across several listed strategies for quitting, use of these was limited (even in ex-smokers). Among current smokers, roughly a third exhibited forms of cessation fatigue.ConclusionJordanian cancer patients who smoke present with limited knowledge about the quitting process. Even when some success is observed, low rates of utilization of specific quitting strategies were observed, highlighting the need for better counseling about quitting.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of coumarin-3-carboxamides as selective carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

A series of novel 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxamides was synthesized by the reaction of 7-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxylic acid with various substituted aromatic amines. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the four physiologically relevant human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms CA I, CA II, CA IX and CA XII. The CA inhibition results show that the newly synthesized 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxamides (4a-n) exhibited selective inhibition of the tumor associated isoforms, CA IX and CA XII over CA I and II isoforms. The inhibition constants ranged from sub micromolar to low micromolar. Amongst all the compounds tested, compound 4m was the most effective inhibitor exhibiting sub micromolar potency against both hCA IX and hCA XII, with a K_i of 0.2 µM. Therefore, it can be anticipated that compound 4m can serve as a lead for development of anticancer therapy by exhibiting a novel mechanism of action. The binding modes of the most potent compounds within hCA IX and XII catalytic clefts were investigated by docking studies.     

Characterization of Prenylated C-terminal Peptides Using a Thiopropyl-based Capture Technique and LC-MS/MS

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Highlights

• •Brain membrane protein extraction.
• •Protein prenylation.
• •Prenyl peptide capture and characterization by LC-MS/MS.
• •HCD and EThcD peptide fragmentation.

     

Microdetermination of caffeine in blood by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

A micromethod for the quantitative analysis of caffeine present in small quantities (100 μl) of whole blood is described. It is based on the gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric analysis of chloroform extracts of biological samples. The method is relatively simple, rapid, specific and sensitive, as little as 20 ng of caffeine can be measured.     

Trace elements under the spotlight: A powerful nutritional tool in cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Research on the relationships between trace elements (TE) and the development of cancer or its prevention is a field that is gaining increasing relevance. This review provides an evaluation of the effects of TE (As, Al, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, F, I, Pb, Li, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Si, Sn, V and Zn) intake and supplementation in cancer risk and prevention, as well as their interactions with oncology treatments. Advancements in the knowledge of TE, their dietary interactions and their main food sources can provide patients with choices that will help them to improve their quality of life and therapy outcomes. This approach could open new opportunities for treatments based on the integration of conventional therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy) and dietary interventions that provide advanced personalized treatments.     

Chemical reactivity and uses of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP), also known as edaravone

1-Phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone is a reagent, known as PMP, used to derivatize monosaccharides for the study of polysaccharides composition and structure, and for the dosage of carbohydrates in complex media. The same molecule is also known as edaravone, a drug approved for the treatment of stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is also a reactive molecule susceptible to form stable adducts with aromatic aldehydes, such as formylpterin and vanillin. In addition, the molecule serves as a scaffold to design of edaravone analogs and drug conjugates, with various pharmacological properties (antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral). We have analyzed the multiple usages of PMP/edaravone to highlight the reactivity of the molecule and its wide range of applications. This phenyl-pyrazolone compound, considered by many as a biochemical reagent and by other as a clinically useful drug, has not yet revealed the full extent of its capacities and benefits.     

Hsa-miR-5195-3p对人宫颈癌细胞SiHa增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响

目的:探讨mi R-5195-3p对人宫颈癌细胞系Si Ha增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响。方法:采用qRT-PCR检测人宫颈癌细胞SiHa和正常上皮细胞HaCaT中mi R-5195-3p的表达水平。将mi R-5195-3p mimic转染至Si Ha细胞中构建外源性过表达细胞株,阴性对照组中则转染NC mimic,并用q RT-PCR验证转染效率;通过MTT和集落形成实验检测细胞增殖能力;划痕愈合实验检测细胞横向迁移能力; Transwell小室实验检测细胞纵向迁移能力和侵袭能力;采用qRT-PCR和Western blot检测E-cadherin、Vimentin与snail m RNA转录水平及蛋白表达水平。结果:宫颈癌细胞Si Ha中的mi R-5195-3p表达水平较HaCaT偏低(P 0. 05)。与阴性对照组相比,转染mi R-5195-3p mimic的SiHa细胞中mi R-5195-3p水平显著增高(P 0. 01);并且其体外增殖(P 0. 001),迁移(P 0. 001)与侵袭能力(P 0. 001)明显减弱;同时E-cadherin表达水平上调而Vimentin、snail表达水平下调。结论:过表达mi R-5195-3p可能通过阻碍EMT通路抑制宫颈癌细胞Si Ha的增殖,迁移与侵袭。     

胰腺癌患者血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平变化及联合诊断的ROC曲线分析

目的:探讨胰腺癌患者血清癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原242(CA242)、糖类抗原199(CA199)水平变化,并分析上述指标对胰腺癌的联合诊断价值,为胰腺癌的临床诊断提供参考。方法:选择2014年2月至2018年2月我院收治的186例胰腺癌患者(胰腺癌组)、89例胰腺炎患者(胰腺炎组)作为研究对象,并取同期来我院检查的268例健康人作为对照组。比较三组受试者的血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平变化,对比分析血清CEA、CA242、CA199的单一以及联合诊断的准确度、特异度以及灵敏度,并绘制ROC曲线以分析上述指标的诊断价值。结果:三组受试者血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。且胰腺炎组和胰腺癌组的血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平明显高于对照组,胰腺癌组患者的血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平明显高于胰腺炎组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。ROC曲线结果显示,CEA诊断价值最大,CA199诊断价值最小。CEA是胰腺癌单项肿瘤标志物中敏感度最高的,为85.48%;特异度最高的为CA242(96.72%);三项肿瘤标志物联合诊断的准确度增加至92.27%,敏感度增加至95.16%,特异度相比略有下降。结论:与单一肿瘤标记物诊断胰腺癌相比,CEA、CA242、CA199联合诊断的敏感度和准确度均明显升高,可以明显改善胰腺癌的漏诊率,提高患者的生存率,具有较好的临床应用价值。     

PD-1、PD-L1的表达与肺癌临床病理特征及预后的相关性分析

目的:分析程序性死亡因子-1(PD-1)、程序性死亡1-配体(PD-L1)的表达与肺癌临床病理特征及预后的相关性。方法:回顾性分析我院2015年3月～2016年6月收治的73例肺癌患者的临床资料,取距离切除肿瘤边缘3cm内的非癌组织作为癌旁组织。比较两组PD-1、PD-L1的表达,分析其和肺癌患者临床病理特征和预后的关系,采用COX比例回归分析肺癌患者预后的影响因素。结果:肺癌组织PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达率均显著高于癌旁组织(P0.05)。不同性别、年龄、病理类型、吸烟情况、EGFR表达、肿瘤大小肺癌患者PD-1、PD-L1的阳性表达率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);低分化程度、临床分期Ⅲ及Ⅳ期、有淋巴结转移肺癌患者PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达率分别高于中分化程度、临床分期Ⅲ期、无淋巴结转移患者,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达及阴性表达组无疾病进展生存期比较均有统计学差异(P0.05)。COX比例风险回归模型显示分化程度、临床分期、淋巴结转移、PD-1、PD-L1的表达是影响肺癌患者预后的危险因素(P0.05)。结论:肺癌组织PD-1、PD-L1呈高表达,可能参与肺癌的发生发展,有助于病情严重程度的评价和预后预测。     

OPRM1(A118G)基因多态性与肺癌癌痛患者镇痛效果的相关性

目的:探讨阿片样物质受体(μ1 opioid receptor,OPRM1)(A118G)基因多态性与肺癌癌痛患者镇痛效果的相关性。方法:选取本院2017年3月至2019年10月收治的360例肺癌患者作为研究对象,判断患者阿片耐受与不良反应发生情况。收集患者血液指标,检测OPRM1(A118G)基因多态性情况并进行相关性分析。结果:在360例患者中,阿片耐受78例(耐受组),耐受率为21.7%;耐受组的性别、年龄、体重指数、肿瘤最大直径等与非耐受组对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05),两组临床分期与淋巴结转移等对比差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。OPRM1(A118G)基因共有AA、AG、GG三种基因型,两组人群的OPRM1(A118G)基因型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律;两组OPRM1(A118G)基因型分布差异具有统计学意义,耐受组的OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型比例显著高于非耐受组(P0.05),等位基因G频率显著高于非耐受组(P0.05);耐受组的呼吸抑制、恶心呕吐、头晕、皮肤瘙痒等不良反应发生率为35.9%,显著高于非耐受组的2.8%(P0.05)。直线相关性分析显示OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型与阿片耐受、淋巴结转移、临床分期都呈现相关性(P0.05);二分类变量Logistic回归分析显示OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型、临床分期、淋巴结转移为影响阿片耐受的主要因素(P0.05)。结论:肺癌癌痛患者在镇痛中存在阿片耐受情况,与患者的OPRM1(A118G)基因多态性与治疗不良反应显著相关,OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型、临床分期、淋巴结转移为影响阿片耐受的主要因素。