ACE/ACE2 Ratio and MMP-9 Activity as Potential Biomarkers in Tuberculous Pleural Effusions

Objective: Pleural effusion is common problem, but the rapid and reliable diagnosis for specific pathogenic effusions are lacking. This study aimed to identify the diagnosis based on clinical variables to differentiate pleural tuberculous exudates from other pleural effusions. We also investigated the role of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of pleural exudates.Experimental design: The major components in RAS and extracellular matrix metabolism, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities, were measured and compared in the patients with transudative (n = 45) and exudative (n = 80) effusions. The exudative effusions were come from the patients with tuberculosis (n = 20), pneumonia (n = 32), and adenocarcinoma (n = 28).Results: Increased ACE and equivalent ACE2 activities, resulting in a significantly increased ACE/ACE2 ratio in exudates, were detected compared to these values in transudates. MMP-9 activity in exudates was significantly higher than that in transudates. The significant correlation between ACE and ACE2 activity that was found in transudates was not found in exudates. Advanced analyses showed significantly increased ACE and MMP-9 activities, and decreased ACE2 activity in tuberculous pleural effusions compared with those in pneumonia and adenocarcinoma effusions. The results indicate that increased ACE and MMP-9 activities found in the exudates were mainly contributed from a higher level of both enzyme activities in the tuberculous pleural effusions.Conclusion: Interplay between ACE and ACE2, essential functions in the RAS, and abnormal regulation of MMP-9 probably play a pivotal role in the development of exudative effusions. Moreover, the ACE/ACE2 ratio combined with MMP-9 activity in pleural fluid may be potential biomarkers for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy.     

肺癌患者胸水游离氨基酸分析

本文对11例肺癌患者胸水13种游离氨基酸作了分析,并与28例正常人血浆游离氨基酸水平作了对照,结果表明:肺癌患者胸水的必需及非必需氨基酸普遍高于正常人血浆游离氨基酸,但其胸水谷氨酰胺水平则明显低于正常人血浆水平。     

Phagocytosis of inert particles in Locusta migratoria and Galleria mellonella: Study of ultrastructure and clearance

Inert particles (iron saccharate or latex beads) injected in the haemocoel of Locusta migratoria, are taken up by pericardial cells (iron saccharate only), reticular cells of the haemopoietic tissue and certain haemocytes: plasmatocytes and coagulocytes; these two haemocyte types are also the main phagocytic blood cells in Galleria mellonella.Necrosis of phagocytic haemocytes, following injection of an overdose of iron saccharate, explains the profound modifications of the haemogram observed during the first 24 hr following injection; the macrophagic evolution of reticular cells slows down the haemopoietic differentiation of these cells and explains the long term disturbances of the blood picture.Clearance of latex beads injected in larvae of Locusta complies to an exponential function of time; we can determine a granulopectic index which will permit comparisons to be made between clearance of inert and of ‘antigenic-like’ particles.     

胸腔积液中肺腺癌细胞EGFR突变状态与DNA含量的相关性

摘要 目的：探究胸腔积液中肺腺癌细胞表皮生长因子受体（epidermalgrowthfactorreceptor,EGFR）突变状态与DNA含量的相关性,以期探究EGFR突变状态是否同肿瘤的恶性程度存在一定关联。方法：选择2015年1月至2020年1月于我院接受EGFR基因检测以及基因定量分析的591例肺腺癌患者为研究对象,按照其是否出现EGFR基因突变将其分为突变组（335例）与非突变组（256例）,两组患者的胸腔积液均使用激光图像细胞仪开展DNA含量以及非整倍体峰检测,并开展组间差异性比较。结果：（1）将591例患者按照年龄、性别及是否吸烟等临床特征进行分组对比显示,性别（P=0.034）与吸烟（P=0.007）同肺腺癌患者胸腔积液细胞出现EGFR突变具有一定关联,而年龄因素与是否出现突变无明显相关性（P>0.05）;（2）突变组患者的最大DNA指数（DI）、大于5C细胞的平均DI以及大于9C细胞的平均DI均明显高于非突变组,组间差异明显（P<0.05）;（3）开展DNA非整倍体细胞峰比较显示突变组在单峰、双峰占比中明显高于非突变组,而无峰占比明显低于非突变组（P<0.05）,多峰占比方面两组差异不大（P>0.05）。结论：经研究显示,同未出现EGFR突变的肺腺癌患者相比较,发生EGFR突变的肺腺癌患者明显DI值更高,非整倍体细胞以及非整倍体峰值也呈现异常升高态,这提示EGFR发生突变的肺腺癌患者恶变洗吧的侵袭性更强。     

MN/CA9: a potential gene marker for detection of malignant cells in effusions

Many cancers cause malignant effusions. The presence of malignant cells in effusions has implications in diagnosis, tumour staging and prognosis. The detection of malignant cells currently presents a challenge for cytopathologists. New adjunctive methods are needed. Although the effusions provide excellent materials for molecular assay, the available molecular markers are extremely limited, which hinders its clinical application. MN/CA9 has proved to be a valuable marker in many cancers such as lung, breast, colon, kidney, etc. The present study was to evaluate MN/CA9 as a new molecular marker for the detection of cancer cells in pleural effusions. Seventy-one pleural effusions including 59 malignant effusions from patients with cancer, and 12 patients with benign diseases as a control, were subjected to RT-PCR for detection of MN/CA9 gene expression. MN/CA9 gene expression was detected in 53/59 (89.8%) pleural effusions from cancer patients (15/16 for breast cancers, 10/11 for lung cancers, 4/4 for ovary cancers, 2/3 for colon–rectal cancers, 5/6 for cancers of unknown site, 7/8 for mesothelioma and 10/11 for other cancers). Furthermore, MN/CA9 was positive in 13/18 (72.2%) of cytologically negative effusions of cancer patients. MN/CA9 was detected in only 1/12 (8.3%) effusions from the control patients (p<0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of MN/CA9 gene expression were, respectively, 89.8% and 91.7%. Our preliminary results suggest that MN/CA9 could be a potential marker for the detection of malignant cells in effusions. A large-scale study is needed to confirm these results.     

Palifermin for the protection and regeneration of epithelial tissues following injury: new findings in basic research and pre‐clinical models

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a paracrine‐acting epithelial mitogen produced by cells of mesenchymal origin, that plays an important role in protecting and repairing epithelial tissues. Pre‐clinical data initially demonstrated that a recombinant truncated KGF (palifermin) could reduce gastrointestinal injury and mortality resulting from a variety of toxic exposures. Furthermore, the use of palifermin in patients with hematological malignancies reduced the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis experienced after intensive chemoradiotherapy. Based upon these findings, as well as the observation that KGF receptors are expressed in many, if not all, epithelial tissues, pre‐clinical studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of palifermin in protecting different epithelial tissues from toxic injury in an attempt to model various clinical situations in which it might prove to be of benefit in limiting tissue damage. In this article, we review these studies to provide the pre‐clinical background for clinical trials that are described in the accompanying article and the rationale for additional clinical applications of palifermin.     

Identification and characterization of proteins isolated from microvesicles derived from human lung cancer pleural effusions

Microvesicles (MVs, also known as exosomes, ectosomes, microparticles) are released by various cancer cells, including lung, colorectal, and prostate carcinoma cells. MVs released from tumor cells and other sources accumulate in the circulation and in pleural effusion. Although recent studies have shown that MVs play multiple roles in tumor progression, the potential pathological roles of MV in pleural effusion, and their protein composition, are still unknown. In this study, we report the first global proteomic analysis of highly purified MVs derived from human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) pleural effusion. Using nano‐LC–MS/MS following 1D SDS‐PAGE separation, we identified a total of 912 MV proteins with high confidence. Three independent experiments on three patients showed that MV proteins from PE were distinct from MV obtained from other malignancies. Bioinformatics analyses of the MS data identified pathologically relevant proteins and potential diagnostic makers for NSCLC, including lung‐enriched surface antigens and proteins related to epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. These findings provide new insight into the diverse functions of MVs in cancer progression and will aid in the development of novel diagnostic tools for NSCLC.     

苦参注射液与恩度联合顺铂对肺癌恶性胸腔积液患者血清炎症因子水平的影响

目的:探讨苦参注射液与恩度分别联合顺铂对肺癌恶性胸腔积液患者血清炎症因子水平影响。方法:收集我院以非小细胞肺癌合并恶性胸腔积液患者68例,按照就诊先后顺序分为实验组和对照组。对照组予恩度联合顺铂化疗,实验组予苦参注射液联合顺铂化疗。于患者治疗前后进行CD8~+、IL-2检测,KPS评分,并进行生活质量评价及胸腔积液疗效评价比较,以及药物不良反应评价。结果:1治疗后实验组CD8~+下降、IL-2均上升(P0.05);2治疗后实验组KPS评分较对照组明显上升(P0.05);3实验组患者生活质量评价明显好于对照组,胸腔积液疗效优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:苦参注射液联合顺铂较恩度联合顺铂对肺癌合并恶性胸腔积液患者CD8~+T淋巴细胞及IL-2水平有更明显调节作用,且安全性更佳,对肺癌合并恶性胸腔积有显著临床疗效,对提高患者生活质量、延长患者生存期有重要意义。     

静脉导管留置及胸腔注射尿激酶治疗结核性胸腔积液影响

探讨中心静脉导管胸腔穿刺留置抽液联合胸腔内注入尿激酶(urokinase,UK)治疗结核性渗出性胸膜炎对胸膜肥厚、粘连的预防作用。方法:将52例收治的结核性渗出性胸膜炎所致大量胸腔积液患者随机分为治疗组(27例)和对照组(25例),对照组给于常规抗结核以及传统单纯胸腔穿刺抽液(每周3次)等治疗;全身结核中毒症状严重者,予口服泼尼松30mg．d-1,每周减量5～10mg,疗程约4～6周。在以上药物治疗同时,治疗组第一次穿刺时使用一次性中心静脉导管代替传统胸穿针穿刺置入并保留于胸腔,抽液后从导管注入尿激酶10～20万U,保留24小时后再次抽液;可以再次或多次使用尿激酶10万u注入胸腔;此后不定时抽液,经B超证实抽尽胸水后拔除导管。结果:治疗组住院时间(12．3±6．6)天,住院费用(2219．5±1171．9)元,治疗后第三个月的胸膜厚度(1．00±0．23)mm,无病例发生胸膜增厚、粘连及包裹性胸腔积液。对照组住院时间(20．4±7．9)天,住院费用(2721．9±1711．7)元,治疗后第三个月胸膜厚度(2．1±0．31)mm,另有3例发生胸膜增厚、粘连,2例形成包裹性胸腔积液。各项指标对比差异有显著性。结论:中心静脉导管胸腔穿刺留置抽液及尿激酶胸腔内保留注射治疗结核性胸腔积液具有简便、安全、创伤少、疗效确切;缩短住院时间,降低住院费用;且能有效预防胸膜肥厚和粘连发生。值得临床推广应用。