Impact of comorbidity on survival by tumour location: Breast,colorectal and lung cancer (2000–2014)

BackgroundTo assess the impact of comorbidity, measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), on survival in breast, colorectal and lung cancer.MethodsWe identified 3455 breast cancer, 3336 colorectal cancer and 2654 lung cancer patients through the Hospital del Mar cancer registry. The prevalence of comorbidities according to the CCI was calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test were used to compare survival curves for each cancer location. Cox regression was used to calculate survival hazard ratios and 1-, 3- and 5-year mortality rate ratios adjusted by age, sex, CCI, place of first consultation, stage, treatment and period of diagnosis.ResultsThe overall unadjusted 5-year follow-up survival proportion was 82.6% for breast cancer, 55.7% for colorectal cancer, and 16.3% for lung cancer. Overall survival was associated with CCI ≥ 3 in breast cancer (HR: 2.33 95%CI: 1.76–3.08), colorectal cancer (HR: 1.39; 95%CI: 1.13–1.70) and lung cancer (HR: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.06–1.40). In breast cancer, the higher the CCI, the higher the adjusted mortality rate ratio and differences were greater in 5-year than in 1-year follow-up survival.ConclusionsComorbidity is a significant predictor of overall survival in cancer patients; however, it has a stronger impact on survival in breast cancer than in colorectal and lung cancer.     

Hyaluronan and Layilin Mediate Loss of Airway Epithelial Barrier Function Induced by Cigarette Smoke by Decreasing E-cadherin

Cigarette smoke (CigS) exposure is associated with increased bronchial epithelial permeability and impaired barrier function. Primary cultures of normal human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to CigS exhibit decreased E-cadherin expression and reduced transepithelial electrical resistance. These effects were mediated by hyaluronan (HA) because inhibition of its synthesis with 4-methylumbelliferone prevented these effects, and exposure to HA fragments of <70 kDa mimicked these effects. We show that the HA receptor layilin is expressed apically in human airway epithelium and that cells infected with lentivirus expressing layilin siRNAs were protected against increased permeability triggered by both CigS and HA. We identified RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) as the signaling effectors downstream layilin. We conclude that HA fragments generated by CigS bind to layilin and signal through Rho/ROCK to inhibit the E-cadherin gene and protein expression, leading to a loss of epithelial cell-cell contact. These studies suggest that HA functions as a master switch protecting or disrupting the epithelial barrier in its high versus low molecular weight form and that its depolymerization is a first and necessary step triggering the inflammatory response to CigS.     

Hypoxia-induced DNA hypermethylation in human pulmonary fibroblasts is associated with Thy-1 promoter methylation and the development of a pro-fibrotic phenotype

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and lethal disease with no effective treatment options. Understanding the pathological processes at play will direct the application of novel therapeutic avenues. Hypoxia has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis yet the precise mechanism by which it contributes to disease progression remains to be fully elucidated. It has been shown that chronic hypoxia can alter DNA methylation patterns in tumour-derived cell lines. This epigenetic alteration can induce changes in cellular phenotype with promoter methylation being associated with gene silencing. Of particular relevance to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the observation that Thy-1 promoter methylation is associated with a myofibroblast phenotype where loss of Thy-1 occurs alongside increased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. The initial aim of this study was to determine whether hypoxia regulates DNA methylation in normal human lung fibroblasts (CCD19Lu). As it has been reported that hypoxia suppresses Thy-1 expression during lung development we also studied the effect of hypoxia on Thy-1 promoter methylation and gene expression.

Methods

CCD19Lu were grown for up to 8 days in hypoxia and assessed for global changes in DNA methylation using flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was used to quantify expression of Thy-1, α-SMA, collagen I and III. Genomic DNA was bisulphite treated and methylation specific PCR (MSPCR) was used to examine the methylation status of the Thy-1 promoter.

Results

Significant global hypermethylation was detected in hypoxic fibroblasts relative to normoxic controls and was accompanied by increased expression of myofibroblast markers. Thy-1 mRNA expression was suppressed in hypoxic cells, which was restored with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2^′-deoxycytidine. MSPCR revealed that Thy-1 became methylated following fibroblast exposure to 1% O₂.

Conclusion

These data suggest that global and gene-specific changes in DNA methylation may play an important role in fibroblast function in hypoxia.     

Planar cell polarity regulators in asymmetric organogenesis during development and disease

The phenomenon of planar cell polarity is critically required for a myriad of morphogenetic processes in metazoan and is accurately controlled by several conserved modules. Six “core” proteins, including Frizzled, Flamingo (Celsr), Van Gogh (Vangl), Dishevelled, Prickle, and Diego (Ankrd6), are major components of the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway. The Fat/Dchs protocadherins and the Scrib polarity complex also function to instruct cellular polarization. In vertebrates, all these pathways are essential for tissue and organ morphogenesis, such as neural tube closure, left–right symmetry breaking, heart and gut morphogenesis, lung and kidney branching, stereociliary bundle orientation, and proximal–distal limb elongation. Mutations in planar polarity genes are closely linked to various congenital diseases. Striking advances have been made in deciphering their contribution to the establishment of spatially oriented pattern in developing organs and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The challenge remains to clarify the complex interplay of different polarity pathways in organogenesis and the link of cell polarity to cell fate specification. Interdisciplinary approaches are also important to understand the roles of mechanical forces in coupling cellular polarization and differentiation. This review outlines current advances on planar polarity regulators in asymmetric organ formation, with the aim to identify questions that deserve further investigation.     

盐酸艾司洛尔联合右美托咪定对肺癌患者应激反应和Th1/Th2型细胞因子的影响

摘要 目的：探讨盐酸艾司洛尔联合右美托咪定对肺癌患者应激反应和辅助性T细胞1（Th1）/Th2型细胞因子的影响。方法：选取武汉科技大学附属天佑医院2020年6月~2022年3月期间收治的肺癌根治术患者112例。按照随机数字表法将患者分为对照组（n=56,常规麻醉联合盐酸右美托咪定注射液）和研究组（n=56,对照组基础上联合盐酸艾司洛尔注射液）。对比两组苏醒质量、肺功能指标、应激反应指标、Th1/Th2型细胞因子和术后肺部并发症发生率变化情况。结果：研究组的呼吸恢复时间、定向力恢复时间、拔管时间短于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组术后肺部并发症发生率低于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组术毕动态肺顺应性（Cdyn）高于对照组,平台压（Pplat）、气道峰压（Ppeak）低于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组术毕皮质醇（Cor）、去甲肾上腺素（NE）及肾上腺素（E）低于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组术毕肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-2（IL-2）低于对照组（P<0.05）,研究组术毕白细胞介素-10（IL-10）、转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：盐酸艾司洛尔联合右美托咪定用于肺癌根治术中,具有较好的麻醉效果,可有效减轻术中应激反应,调节免疫功能并保护肺功能,还可降低术后肺部并发症发生率。     

NF-κB、IκB、IKK在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及意义

目的检测非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)中NF-κB P65、p-IκBα(IκBα磷酸化)、p-IKKβ(IKKβ磷酸化)的表达情况及其与NSCLC临床特征的关系。方法采用免疫组化Elivision法检测NF-κB P65、p-IκBα、p-KKβ在56例NSCLC中表达情况,以20例癌旁组织作为对照。结果在NSCLC中NF-κB P65、p-IκBα、p-IKKβ的表达阳性率分别为83.9%(47/56)、55.7%(31/56)、69.6%(39/56),癌旁组织三者分别为20%(4/20)、25%(5/20)、30%(6/20),NF-κB P65、p-IκBα、p-IKKβ的表达与吸烟史、TNM分期、淋巴结转移相关,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 NF-κB P65、p-IκBα、p-IKKβ高表达与NSCLC的发生、发展起着重要作用。     

Host genetic background and the innate inflammatory response of lung to influenza virus

Many studies of influenza severity have focused on viral properties that confer virulence, whereas the contributory role of the host genetic background on infection severity remains largely unexplored. In this study, we measure the impact of inoculation with influenza virus in four strains of inbred mice - BALB/cByJ, C57BL/6 J, A/J, and DBA/2 J. To evaluate the extent to which responses are inherent to lung per se, as opposed to effects of the systemic response to lung infection, we also measured cytokines and chemokines in lung slices exposed to the virus in vitro. Finally, we evaluate the in vivo responses of recombinant inbred (RI) and select consomic strains of mice to search for genomic loci that contribute to phenotypic variance in response to influenza infection. We found marked variation among mouse strains after challenge with virus strain A/HKX31(H3N2), consistent with previous reports using more virulent strains. Furthermore, response patterns differ after in vivo versus in vitro exposure of lung to virus, supporting a predominant role of the systemic host inflammatory response in generating the strain differences. These results add to the body of information pointing to host genotype as a crucial factor in mediating the severity of influenza infections.     

A new type of cell in the pulmonary epithelium of the newt Triturus alpestris Laur

Summary Single cells of a new type appear scattered among pneumocytes in the pulmonary epithelium. The surfaces of these cells communicate with the air space and display numerous finger-like microvilli. In comparison to pneumocytes, these cells have a more lucid cytoplasm and their apical parts contain large amounts of electron-lucent vesicles and electron-dense granules, which are probably released into the lumen of the lung. These secretory cells exhibit a yellow formaldehyde-induced fluorescence, which suggests that they belong to the class of APUD cells.     

老年肺癌患者化疗期间抑郁情况调查及相关因素分析

目的:调查老年肺癌患者化疗期间抑郁情况及分析其相关因素。方法:选取2012年1月至2016年12月在我院化疗的老年肺癌患者300例,调查统计患者的基本信息资料,采用Zung氏自评抑郁量表(SDS)评价患者的抑郁情况,统计患者抑郁情况的调查结果,并采用Logistic回归分析影响老年肺癌患者抑郁的相关因素。结果:300例老年肺癌的患者当中,在化疗期间有抑郁者164例,占54.67%。其中59例是轻度抑郁,占35.98%;90例是中度抑郁,占54.88%;15例是重度抑郁,占9.15%。单因素分析显示,老年肺癌患者抑郁发生率与年龄、收入水平、TNM分期及有无癌症转移有关(均P0.05),与性别、文化程度、癌症分型无关(P0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示影响老年肺癌患者抑郁的相关因素有年龄≥70岁、收入水平3000元/月、TNM分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期以及癌症转移(P0.05)。结论:老年肺癌患者在化疗期间较容易出现抑郁症状,临床上应加以重视,年龄≥70岁、收入水平3000元/月、TNM分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期以及癌症转移是影响老年肺癌患者抑郁的相关因素,针对相关因素应尽早采取相应的干预措施,从而有利于改善患者的负性心理情绪。     

H1N1流感病毒血凝素对人肺细胞的损伤作用及机制研究

目的:研究H1N1流感病毒血凝素HA对人胚肺成纤维细胞的损伤作用并初步探讨其机理。方法:合成2009 H1N1的HA基因全长,分别将HA的PCR产物和pEGFP-N1质粒经Hind Ⅲ和EcoRI酶切电泳、纯化、连接并转化大肠杆菌DH5α,构建真核表达质粒pEGFP-N1/HA。质粒转染293细胞,检测其转染效率,并收获细胞总蛋白进行Western blotting检测。将阳性质粒转染MRC-5细胞,CCK-8检测HA的表达对细胞增殖活性,线粒体膜电位检测试剂盒检测其对细胞的早期凋亡的影响,ATP检测试剂盒检测HA的表达对ATP水平的改变。结果:PCR电泳检测获得分子量为1700 bp左右的目的条带,菌落PCR鉴定HA片段成功插入pEGFP-N1载体。荧光显微镜下检测pEGFP-N1/HA转染293细胞有明显荧光,Western blotting结果显示pEGFP-N1/HA转染细胞有单一的目的蛋白表达。HA的表达可明显抑制MRC-5细胞活力,HA的高表达降低MRC-5细胞的线粒体膜电位及ATP水平。结论:H1N1流感病毒HA对人肺细胞的损伤作用可能与影响肺细胞的线粒体功能有关。