Bronchopulmonary infection due to Branhamella catarrhalis.

Over six months Branhamella catarrhalis was isolated in pure culture from the sputum of 81 patients with symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection. Of 38 patients who were infected in the community, over half required admission to hospital. The remaining 43 patients acquired the infection in hospital. Forty one of the 81 isolates produced beta-lactamase, 24 of these being hospital acquired infections. As a result 40% of patients who were treated with ampicillin did not respond. Most patients had chronic lung diseases or lung cancer or were taking corticosteroids. Three patients died and one required assisted ventilation; strains producing beta-lactamase were isolated in each case. Acute bronchitis developed in one previously healthy young non-smoker. It is concluded that B catarrhalis is an important pathogen of the lower respiratory tract which should be reported, and strains producing beta-lactamase should be identified. Otherwise, treatment with inappropriate antibiotics may result in increased morbidity or mortality.     

Mucosal immune responses to infections in infants with acute life threatening events classified as 'near-miss' sudden infant death syndrome

This study examined the hypothesis that dysregulation of mucosal immune responses to respiratory infections is a critical event, which could be causal in respiratory arrest of some previously healthy infants. To examine this hypothesis, a prospective study was undertaken of infants presenting to the emergency department of a major teaching hospital with acute life threatening events (ALTE) of unknown cause and classified as "near-miss" SIDS. Salivary immunoglobulin concentrations were measured on admission and again after 14 days. The salivary immunoglobulins were compared with three control groups: infants with a mild upper respiratory tract infection (URTI); bronchiolitis; and healthy age-matched infants. The salivary IgA and IgM concentrations in the ALTE infants at presentation to hospital indicated a significant mucosal immune response had already occurred, with nearly 60% of the IgA concentrations significantly above the population-based reference ranges. The hyper-immune response was most evident in the ALTE infants with pathology evidence of an infection; 87% of these infants had salivary IgA concentrations on average 10 times higher that the age-related median concentration. The most prevalent pathogen identified in the ALTE infants was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (64%). RSV was also identified in all subjects with bronchiolitis. Risk factors for SIDS were assessed in each group. The data indicated that the ALTE infants diagnosed as 'near-miss' SIDS were a relatively homogeneous group, and most likely these ALTE infants and SIDS represent associated clinical outcomes. The study identified exposure to cigarette smoke and elevated salivary IgA concentrations as predictors of an ALTE. The study findings support the hypothesis of mucosal immune dysregulation in response to a respiratory infection in some infants with an ALTE. They provide a plausible explanation for certain SIDS risk factors. The underlying patho-physiological mechanism of proinflammatory responses to infections during a critical developmental period might be a critical factor in infants who have life-threatening apnoea or succumb to SIDS. The study raises the possibility of using salivary IgA to test infants who present with mild respiratory infections to identify a substantial number of infants at risk of developing an ALTE or SIDS, thus enabling intervention management to prevent such outcomes.     

Expression of Fas antigen in the cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)

Fas antigen is a cell surface receptor protein that mediates apoptosis expressed in various cells. In this study Fas expression was examined in cells of patients with lung diseases in which changes in the lung immunology were documented. We have performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 24 patients with sarcoidosis (8), lung fibrosis (9), primary lung cancer (7), and we compared expression of Fas in BALF cells from all groups and healthy volunteers (6). Fas protein was detected by immunocytochemistry using APAAP technique with an LSAB 2 kit (Dako). Positive reactions for Fas were found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes (according to the intensity). There were some differences in proportion of positive cells and intensity of reaction between patients with interstitial lung diseases, healthy volunteers as well as patients with lung cancer. Higher expression of Fas in alveolar macrophages was observed in patients with sarcoidosis, lower in patients with lung cancer, lung fibrosis and the lowest in healthy persons. The analysis of Fas antigen expression in the BALF cells may be useful in evaluation of the role of apoptosis in lung homeostasis and pathology.     

循环肿瘤细胞在肺癌诊断中的应用及临床意义

为了探讨循环肿瘤细胞(circulating tumor cells,CTCs)在肺癌诊断中的应用及临床意义,本研究收集了我院2014年10月至2017年12月收治并确诊的肺癌患者87例、健康体检者40名以及肺部良性疾病患者50例作为研究对象,采用人循环肿瘤细胞试剂盒测定外周血CTC水平,两组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验,多组间比较采用Kruskal-Wallis检验,利用ROC曲线评价CTC在肺癌诊断上的灵敏度以及特异度。实验发现肺癌患者CTC水平(M=12.67 Unints/3 mL)显著高于肺部良性病患者(M=4.76 Unints/3 mL)和健康者(M=4.48 Unints/3 mL),差异存在统计学意义(p<0.001)。在不同性别、不同年龄段以及不同病理类型之间肺癌患者的CTC水平比较差异无统计学意义(p>0.05)。Ⅲ+Ⅳ期肺癌患者CTC水平显著高于Ⅰ+Ⅱ期患者,差异存在统计学意义(p<0.001)。有远处转移的肺癌患者CTC水平显著高于无远处转移的肺癌患者,差异存在统计学意义(p<0.001)。ROC曲线下面积为0.878(95%CI 0.820~0.936),临界值为6.34 Unints/3 mL,对应的灵敏度为0.77,特异度为0.989。本研究初步认为,CTC检测对肺癌诊断具有较高的灵敏度以及特异度,可能存在重要的临床应用价值。     

DR-70~(TM)和CA50肺癌免疫测定的应用价值

目的 :评价DR 70 TM和CA5 0两种肿瘤标志物在肺癌检测中的价值。方法 :应用DR 70 TMELISA和CA5 0IRMA对77例肺癌患者 ,42例健康者及 48例其它肺癌者进行对照检测。结果 :各组DR 70 TMCA5 0测定值比例显示肺癌组平均值显著其它两组 (P <0 .0 1)。DR 70 TM检测的敏感性和有效性高于CA5 0检测 (83.1%比 6 6 .2 % ,85 .7%比 75 .6 % )。两项联合检测的敏感性 ,有效性分别为 96 .1% ,93.1% ,优于单项DR 70 TM 检测的 83.1% ,85 .7% ,及CA5 0的 6 6 .2 9%、75 .6 %。结论 :DR 70 TM在肺癌检测中有较大应用价值。DR 70 TM 和CA5 0两项联合检测是较理想的肺癌检测组合     

术前呼吸功能训练联合术后快速康复操对胸腔镜肺叶切除术肺癌患者呼吸功能、生活质量和康复效果的影响

摘要 目的：观察术前呼吸功能训练联合术后快速康复操对胸腔镜肺叶切除术肺癌患者呼吸功能、生活质量和康复效果的影响。方法：97例研究病例选取自2019年4月~2021年5月期间我院收治的行胸腔镜肺叶切除术肺癌患者。将97例患者根据信封抽签法分为对照组（48例）和观察组（49例）,对照组患者予以术前呼吸功能训练和手术常规康复训练,观察组患者在对照组基础上联合术后快速康复操。对比两组术前、术后1周的呼吸功能、生活质量和康复效果,对比两组术后并发症发生率。结果：观察组术后1周用力肺活量（FVC）、第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV₁）、动脉血氧分压（PaO₂）高于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组术后1周动脉二氧化碳分压（PaCO₂）低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组术后1周症状领域评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组术后1周功能领域、总体健康状况评分高于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组患者的术后肛门排气时间、保留尿管时间、保留胸管时间、住院时间短于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组的术后并发症发生率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：术前呼吸功能训练联合术后快速康复操应用于胸腔镜肺叶切除术肺癌患者,可促进术后康复,改善其呼吸功能,提高生活质量,减少并发症发生风险。     

血清CEA、NSE、CYFRA21-1 联合支气管活检在周围型肺癌诊断鉴别中的应用

目的:探讨血清肿瘤标志物癌胚抗原(CEA)、神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、细胞角蛋白19片段(CYFRA21-1)联合经纤维支气管镜肺活检(TBLB)在周围型肺癌诊断鉴别中的应用价值。方法:选择2012年9月到2014年9月在我院临床确诊的402例周围型肺癌患者。检测所有患者的血清CEA、NSE和CYFRA21-1的浓度及分析TBLB检测结果,分析不同病理类型和不同病灶直径大小时各项检测指标及联合检测的阳性检出率。结果:所有肺癌患者中,血清CEA、NSE、CYFRA21-1和TBLB的阳性检出率分别为51.74%,35.07%,41.79%和60.70%。四项指标联合检测的阳性检出率为89.05%,明显分别高于四项指标的阳性检出率(均P0.05)。腺癌、鳞癌、小细胞肺癌及其他类型肺癌组四项联合检测的阳性检出率明显高于四项单独检测(均P0.05)。病灶直径为2 cm、2-6 cm和6 cm时,四项联合检测的阳性检出率明显高于四项单独检测(均P0.05)。结论:血清CEA、NSE、CYFRA21-1联合TBLB检测周围型肺癌较单项检测,阳性检出率高,值得在临床上推广应用。     

Thyroglobulin levels in serum and saliva of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Serum thyroglobulin levels in 39 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and in 10 healthy volunteers were studied by radioimmunoassay. Sera from two of these patients were analysed preoperatively. Both of these sera showed thyroglobulin levels higher than that obtained from normal individuals. Serum thyroglobulin levels of 10 normal subjects varied between 1·0 to 20·0 ng/ml, Thirteen patients who were in remission showed serum thyroglobulin levels between 0·1 to 18.5 ng/ml which is within the normal range. Patients with bone metastasis had elevated serum thyroglobulin levels while those with lung metastasis had normal serum thyroglobulin levels. Salivary secretion from normal subjects showed thyroglobulin levels between 0·8 to 7·0 ng/ml., while that from thyroid cancer patients ranged between 0.4 to 27.5 ngjml, It appears that salivary thyroglobulin is atpari passu with serum thyroglobulin levels.     

Nd-YAG Laser in Lung Cancer

We administered 45 Nd-YAG laser treatments in 29 patients (18 men) aged 39 to 82 years who had lung malignancy; 26 patients had primary non-oat cell lung cancer and three had metastatic airway malignancy. In all, 25 of the patients had been previously treated with combination(s) of surgical procedure, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Indications for laser treatment included endobronchial airway obstruction with uncontrolled cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea or unresolved atelectasis-pneumonia. Of 15 patients with partially occluded tracheobronchial airway tumors, immediate palliative relief was achieved in 13 patients and lasted one to six months after a single treatment. In this group there was one postoperative death related to respiratory failure and two patients subsequently died of massive pulmonary hemorrhage. However, of 14 patients with totally obstructed airways, immediate palliative relief was achieved in only five patients and this lasted three weeks to three months after a single treatment. In this group there were two postoperative deaths related to progressive respiratory failure; in one case it was associated with endobronchial combustion of the fiberoptic bronchoscope. All three patients in both groups who died of respiratory failure were in acute respiratory distress and terminally ill before the procedure. These findings suggest that Nd-YAG laser therapy may be most beneficial in patients with partially rather than totally occluded airways due to lung malignancy.     

肺癌患者血清CEA，CA19-9，CA125 及CA153 围手术期动态监测的临床 意义

目的:探讨动态监测肺癌患者围手术期血清CEA、CA19-9、CA125及CA153水平变化的临床意义。方法:随机选取2014年5月至2015年5月收治的肺癌患者58例为研究对象,另选取同期在我院接受体检的健康人群15例为对照组。分别测定肺癌患者手术前及术后1天、1周、1个月、3个月的血清CEA、CA19-9、CA125、CA153水平,并与对照组的上述各血清肿瘤标志物进行比较。结果:肺癌患者术前空腹血清CEA、CA19-9、CA125、CA153水平明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。肺癌患者术后1天、1周、1个月及3个月的血清CEA、CA19-9、CA125、CA153水平明显低于术前,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。肺癌患者术后1个月的平均空腹血清CEA、CA19-9、CA125、CA153水平高于术后3个月平均水平,但差异不具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:对肺癌患者的血清CEA、CA19-9、CA125、CA153水平进行围手术期动态监测有助于评估手术治疗效果。     

Salivary immunoglobulin A levels in rapid and slow plaque formers: a pilot study

The aim of this study was to investigate the salivary immunoglobulin A concentration in rapid and slow plaque formers. After 3 days of oral hygiene abstinence, 49 healthy volunteers were screened using the plaque index (PI) to assess their plaque formation rates. Five subjects with the highest, and five with the lowest mean PI were selected as rapid and slow plaque formers, respectively. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from each of these ten subjects and the levels of salivary IgA assessed using a conventional ELISA technique. Reference curves for salivary IgA were established by testing serial dilutions of human IgA with known concentrations. When the differences between the two groups were compared, almost a twofold increase in the mean salivary IgA concentration in the slow (16 microg/ml +/- 4) compared with the rapid (9 microg/ml +/- 3) plaque formers was recorded (p < 0.05). These findings, reported for the first time, imply that salivary IgA may play a crucial role in regulating the pioneer plaque development on enamel surfaces.     

The activity of selected glycosidases in salivary gland tumors

The monitoring of the patients after salivary gland tumors surgery is an important clinical issue. Still imperfect diagnostic procedures also remain a challenge for searching new sensitive and specific biomarkers of neoplastic processes in salivary glands. The aim of the presented study was an the assessment of the activity of HEX, with its isoforms HEX-A and HEX-B, GLU, GAL, MAN and FUC in salivary gland tumor tissues in comparison to a healthy salivary gland tissues taken during autopsy. A group of 42 patients with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors, aged 25-65 were examined. Fragments of salivary gland tumor tissue, fragments of healthy tissue removed during autopsy, blood serum and saliva were collected from patients with salivary gland tumors and healthy volunteers. In salivary gland tumor tissue the activity of HEX, HEX-A, HEX-B, GAL, FUC was considerably higher than in comparison to healthy salivary gland tissue and ascending trend of activity of GLU, MAN was also noticed. The activity of all lysosomal exoglycosidases in blood serum in patients with salivary gland tumors was considerably higher in comparison to healthy volunteers blood serum. The considerably higher activity of HEX, HEX-A, GLU, GAL, MAN, FUC and descending trend of activity of HEX-B were noticed in saliva of patients with salivary gland tumors in comparison to healthy volunteers. The assessment of HEX in blood serum and saliva of patients with salivary gland tumor can be possibly used in diagnostics and monitoring of salivary glands tumors.     

Diabetic impotence: studies of nocturnal erection during REM sleep.

Nocturnal erections were studied in 30 diabetic patients who complained of impotence and in 11 healthy volunteers. The maximum increase in penile circumference was measured by a penile strain-gauge and recorded on a portable tape-recorder; an external oculogram was recorded simultaneously to identify periods of rapid-eye-movement sleep. The technique gave reproducible results, was acceptable to patients, and was suitable for use in an oridnary hospital ward. Only six diabetics showed a maximum increase in penile circumference of under 15 mm, whereas all but one of the healthy subjects showed maximum increases above this value. Of the six diabetics, five complained of total impotence and had other features of autonomic neuropathy that suggested an organic basis for their impotence. The other patient complained of partial importence, which was probably caused by psychological factors. These findings suggest that the prevalence of organic impotence among diabetics has been overestimated.     

Circulating and local nuclear expression of survivin and fibulin-3 genes in discriminating benign from malignant respiratory diseases: correlation analysis

Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis as well as a promoter of cell proliferation. Fibulin-3 is a matrix glycoprotein that displays potential for tumor suppression or propagation. The present study aimed to validate the expression levels of survivin and fibulin-3 in benign and malignant respiratory diseases. This case–control study included 219 patients categorized into five groups. Group A included 63 patients with lung cancer, group B included 63 patients with various benign lung diseases, group D included 45 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), and group E included 48 patients with various benign pleural diseases. Group C included 60 healthy individuals (control group). Serum survivin and fibulin-3 levels were measured by ELISA, whereas their nuclear expressions in the lung and pleura were assessed via Western blot analysis. The results showed significantly higher survivin serum levels and significantly lower fibulin-3 levels in group A compared with in group B and controls (P<0.001). There were significantly higher serum levels of survivin and fibulin-3 in group D compared with in group E and controls (P<0.001), consistent with observed nuclear survivin and fibulin-3 expression levels. Fibulin-3 was determined to have higher value than survivin in discriminating lung cancer from MPM (P<0.05). Survivin and fibulin-3 could be useful diagnostic markers for lung and pleural cancers, and fibulin-3 expression was particularly useful in differentiating lung cancer from MPM.     

基于18F-FDG PET/CT参数评价不同EGFR基因状态晚期肺腺癌患者放化疗疗效预测价值

为评价18F-FDG PET/CT参数对不同表皮生长因子受体(epithelial growth factor receptor, EGFR)基因状态晚期肺腺癌患者同步放化疗的疗效预测价值,本研究选择2016年1月至2018年2月我院初诊的100例晚期肺腺癌患者,比较不同EGFR基因状态下晚期肺腺癌患者同步放化疗治疗的临床疗效,并对18F-FDG PET/CT显像中原发病灶的各项代谢参数,代谢肿瘤体积(MTV)、最大标准摄取值(SUVmax)、平均标准摄取值(SUVmean)和总肿瘤糖酵解(TLG)值,以预测不同EGFR基因状态晚期肺腺癌患者同步放化疗效果的受试者工作特征曲线(receiveroperatingcharacteristiccurve,ROC曲线),并进行分析。结果显示,SUVmax预测不考虑EGFR基因状态的晚期肺腺癌患者放化疗疗效的截断值为9.50 (AUC=0.715,敏感度=79.7%,特异性=61%,p=0.031),SUVmax预测EGFR野生型的晚期肺腺癌患者放化疗疗效的截断值为9.50 (敏感度=82.4%,特异性=64.3%, p=0.014)。MTV预测EGFR 19号及21号外显子突变的晚期肺腺癌患者放化疗疗效的截断值分别为93.50(敏感度=63.6%,特异性=92.3%, p=0.021),77.00 (敏感度=83.3%,特异性=69.2%, p=0.041)。综上所述,对于EGFR基因状态不明的肺腺癌患者,SUVmax值可较好的预测放化疗效果,尤其是对于EGFR野生型患者;当EGFR19号及21号外显子突变时,MTV值预测结果优于SUVmax值。     

Is there a potential application of a fermented nutraceutical in acute respiratory illnesses? An in-vivo placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical study in different age groups of healthy subjects

The role of oxidants in viral diseases is fairly complex because it includes metabolic regulation both of host metabolism and viral replication. However, a role for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) as mediators of virus-induced lung damage is supported by studies and antioxidants can thus be expected to act at many different levels. The aim of the present pilot study was to test an antioxidant nutraceutical approach on some relevant immunological parameters known to be affected in common seasonal respiratory tract infection. The study population consisted of 90 sedentary healthy patients, previously selected as being GSTM1-positive, divided into three groups: A) 20-40 years; B) 41-65 years; B) over 65 years. Each patients was administered a life style and dietary questionnaire. Subjects were supplemented for 6 weeks with either 9g/day (4.5g twice a day sublingually) of a fermented papaya preparation (Osato Research Institute, Gifu, Japan) or placebo. After a further month period of wash out, subjects were treated again in a crossover manner. Parameters checked were as follows: routine blood tests with WBC formula, saliva flow rate and secretary IgA and lysozyme production and redox gene expression of Phase II enzyme and SOD from upper airways cells (from nasal lavage). Salivary secretion rate showed an age-related decline and was significantly increased by FPP supplementation only in the youngest age-group (p less than 0.05). Subjects treated with FPP showed a significantly higher lever of IgA and lisozyme production., irrespective of age group while their baseline production was significantly lower in the oldest age-group as compared to the youngest one (C vs A, p less than 0.05). FPP treatment brought about a significant upregulation of all phase II enzyme and SOD gene expression tested in nasal lavage cells. In conclusion, FPP supplementation during 1 month resulted in higher salivary IgA and increase in phase II and SOD enzyme expression, i.e the most important antioxidant in the respiratory tract. The biological significance of these effects i.e., whether it will help reducing the whole respiratory oxidative stress in the human airway and, hopefully, the incidence and/or severity of URTI remains to be demonstrated in longer clinical trials.     

Serum Level of CC-Chemokine Ligand 18 Is Increased in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Correlates with Survival Time in Adenocarcinomas

CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) is mainly expressed by alternatively activated macrophages and DCs and plays an important role in lung fibrosis, arthritis and other diseases. Here CCL18 was measured in sera of 31 healthy volunteers and 170 patients with lung cancer and correlated these data with histology, tumor stage and clinical parameters. Mean CCL18 serum level of the patients with non-small-cell lung cancer was 150(857) ng/ml vs. 32(61) ng/ml in the healthy control group. Patient groups differ significantly according their histology (adenocarcinoma 143(528) ng/ml vs squamous cell carcinoma 187(857) ng/ml, p<0.02). In addition, we found a significant difference between patients with lower versus higher T-stage (p<0.003). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses revealed a cutoff point of 83 ng/ml (area under the curve (AUC): 0.968; p<0.0001) to discriminate between healthy controls and non-small-cell lung cancer patients. ROC analyses to discriminate between patients, who died because of cancer related death and those who died for other reasons did not lead to a valid AUC. To stratify the tumor patients, a criterion value plot was performed leading to a point of equal sensitivity and specificity (54%) of 162 ng/ml. Patients with a CCL18 serum level higher than 160 ng/ml had a mean survival time of 623 days. In contrast, those in patients with a baseline level between 83 ng/ml and 160 ng/ml the mean survival time was 984 days (p<0.005). Survival-analysis revealed in adenocarcinoma a mean survival of 1152 days in the group below 83 ng/ml. In the median group the mean survival time was 788 days and in the group with the highest levels the mean survival time was 388 days (p<0.001). In contrast, we found no correlation between the FEV1 and the CCL18 baseline level. In conclusion, in patients suffering from adenocarcinoma increased serum CCL18 levels predict a diminished survival time.     

Serum Cytokeratin 19 Fragment,CK19-2G2, as a Newly Identified Biomarker for Lung Cancer

Background

CK19-2G2, a new fragment of cytokeratin 19, is a potential tumor marker for diagnosing lung cancer. The preoperative level of serum CK19-2G2 has been demonstrated to be associated with tumor metastasis and survival of breast cancer patients. This study investigated the postoperative dynamic changes in serum CK19-2G2 levels and its clinical significance in lung cancer patients.

Materials and Methods

Preoperative serum CK19-2G2 levels were measured in 630 lung cancer patients and were compared with individuals with benign pulmonary diseases (n = 134) and healthy volunteers (n = 263). In 352 cases, the patients underwent surgery. In these patients, in addition to preoperative assays, serum CK19-2G2 was also monitored at 1 week and 1 month after the operation.

Results

The preoperative baseline levels of serum CK19-2G2 was significantly higher in lung cancer patients than patients with benign diseases and healthy controls (P<0.001). The postoperative levels of CK19-2G2 declined significantly within 1 week after tumor resection. Hereafter, a further decrease was observed in the patients who underwent palliative operations, while for the patients in the radical resection group, their CK19-2G2 levels stabilized.

Conclusion

CK19-2G2 may be a candidate marker for diagnosing and monitoring a patient''s response to lung cancer treatment. In addition, CK19-2G2 may be an indicator for micrometastases in lung cancer patients.     

Diagnostic model of saliva peptide finger print analysis of primary Sj?gren's syndrome patients by using weak cation exchange magnetic beads

Saliva diagnostics has become an attractive field utilizing nanotechnology and molecular technologies for pSS (primary Sjögren''s syndrome). However, no specific methods have been established. To refine the diagnostic power of the saliva peptide finger print for the early detection of pSS, we screened the expression spectrum of salivary peptides in pSS patients by using mass spectrometry MALDI-TOF-MS (matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight MS) combined with magnetic bead. The present study was comprised 12 pSS patients and 13 healthy controls and broken down to two different phases. In the initial ‘exploratory phase’, we enrolled seven pSS patients with eight age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Proteomics analysis of the unstimulated salivary samples was conducted to generate proportional peptide mass fingerprints. A diagnostic model was established. The testing cohort of the second ‘validation phase’ was represented by five pSS patients and five age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The diagnostic power of this diagnostic panel was then validated. The results showed seven m/z (mass-to-charge) ratio peaks with significant differences. Five peptides were up-regulated and two down-regulated in the pSS patients compared with matched healthy subjects. In the validation phase, four out of five pSS patients were diagnosed as pSS, and four of the five healthy controls were diagnosed as healthy controls, respectively. Potential biomarkers were also primarily predicted. The novel diagnostic proteomic model with m/z peaks 1068.1 Da, 1196.2 Da, 1738.4 Da, 3375.3 Da, 3429.3 Da, 3449.7 Da and 3490.6 Da is of certain value for early diagnosis of pSS.     

Increased levels of free circulating DNA in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult to diagnose because of numerous interstitial lung diseases with similar symptoms. As serum DNA has proven useful for early lung cancer detection, we aimed to define the relevance of this marker in discriminating IPF from other fibrotic and nonfibrotic/nonmalignant lung diseases. DNA was quantified in 191 subjects: 64 healthy individuals, 58 patients with IPF, 17 patients with nonspecific pulmonary fibrosis (13 idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, 4 chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis), and 52 patients with other diffuse/nonmalignant lung diseases. The median value of free DNA in IPF patients was 61.1 ng/mL (range 7.1-405), which was significantly higher than that of healthy donors (median 6.8, range 2.2-184) (p<0.001) and that of patients with other diffuse/nonmalignant lung diseases (median 28.0, range 4.2-281) (p=0.004). The area under the ROC curve was 0.926 (95% CI 0.879-0.973) when IPF patients were compared with healthy donors, and 0.702 (95% CI 0.609-0.796) when a comparison was made with non-IPF pulmonary diseases. In conclusion, we observed significantly higher levels of free circulating DNA in patients with IPF than in those with other fibrotic or diffuse/nonmalignant lung diseases.