Analyzed the molecular interaction network of tumor suppressor gene 14-3-3 sigma in lung cancer cell based on stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture technology / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analysis the molecular interaction network of 14-3-3 sigma in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Established stable over-expressed 14-3-3 sigma protein PG cells, MTT assay was used to assess the growth rate of PG cells. Though stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and Mass spectrometry (MS) technology, to identify difference expressed proteins caused by over expressed 14-3-3 sigma. The protein expressed >2 or <0.5 times was termed as the differential protein. By searching Human protein reference database (HPRD) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), established the molecular interaction network of tumor suppressor gene 14-3-3 sigma.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The growth rate of over-expressed 14-3-3 sigma PG cell was obviously slower down compared to vector PG cells. A database including 147 differential protein was established. And a molecular interaction network of 14-3-3 sigma containing 26 protein was constructed.In this network, the expression of CSNK2A1 (casein kinase II subunit alpha), involved in numerous cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, apoptosis and transcription, was the most significantly increased. A DNA repair protein, MEN1 (Menin) which functions as a transcriptional regulator was the most significantly decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After stable transfected with 14-3-3 sigma gene, growth rate of PG cells was inhibited, the proteins associated with cell cycle, DNA damage repair mechanisms were significantly changed, and constructed the molecular interaction network.</p>

Analysis of first-line chemoresistance and prediction of chemo-response in non-small cell lung cancer by comparative genomic hybridization / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between chromosomal disequilibrium and chemoresistance/chemosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA samples were prepared from the tumor tissues in paraffin-embedded sections derived from 88 patients with advanced NSCLC (18 with chemosensitivity and 16 with chemoresistance). The DNAs were first amplified by a degenerate oligonucleotide prime-polymerase chain reaction protocol and then labeled with fluorescence as probes for CGH analyses. The correlations of the resulting chromosomal imbalances with the chemo-sensitivity and other pathological features of the patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 640 abnormal chromosome regions including 96.12% gains and 3.88% losses were detected in 88 specimens. The results indicated that the most frequently gained chromosome regions were 19p13.1-13.3 (39/88, 44.12%), followed by 9q12-q22 (26/88, 29.41%), 22q12-q13 (26/88, 29.41%), and Xq (29/88, 32.35%). The total number of abnormal regions related with chemo-sensitivity was 188( 182 gains and 6 losses), while the number of the abnormal regions linked to the chemoresistance was 452 (431 gains and 21 losses) (P=0.005). Gains of 14p12-p13 and 19p were significantly correlated with the chemosensitivity of the NSCLC (P=0.006). Gains of 1q12-q22, 10q25-q26, 5p15.1-p15.3, 19q13.2-13.4, 20p11.2-p12, 21q22, and Xp 21-p22.1 were also significantly correlated with the chemoresistance (P]0.005, 0.029, 0.039, 0.029, 0.039, 0.016, and 0.006, respectively). No correlation between the chromosome abnormalities and other clinical features was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The specific gains and losses of chromosome region is correlated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy in NSCLC patients,as confirmed by CGH detection. This finding is useful for further identifying the chemosensitivity-related functional genes, predicting clinical effectiveness, and achieve individualized treatment in the future.</p>

DNA microarrays-based microRNA expression profiles derived from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of squammous cell carcinoma of larynx / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish DNA microarrays-based microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, using archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, and to screen out and identify the differentially expressed miRNAs associated with the biological characteristics of this malignant disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was prepared from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. After quality identification and fluorescent labeling, the RNA samples were hybridized with the Agilent human miRNA microarrays which contains 723 probes for human miRNAs. The data was processed with the softwares GeneSpring GX and R-Project.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks collected, 24 RNA samples were obtained with the quality accorded to the requirement of miRNA microarray analysis, and both the hybridization and consequent data processing were accomplished. A total of 319 miRNAs were identified and among them 96 were detected in all the 24 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of laryngeal carcinoma; and 5 differentially expressed miRNAs (false discovery rate < 0.05) were found to be associated significantly with the lymphatic metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.05), including miR-23a(*), miR-28-5p, miR-15a, miR-16 and miR-425.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Histopathological archives of well-annotated formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens are the valuable resources for miRNA study including to collect RNA samples for miRNA microarray analysis. A panel of differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-23a(*), miR-28-5p, miR-15a, miR-16 and miR-425) derived from the miRNA expression profile may serve as the potential molecular biomarkers for the prediction of metastasis development in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.</p>

Application of protein markers in combination with ThinPrep bronchial brush cytology in classification of lung cancer subtypes / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of application of cellular protein markers stained by immunocytochemistry in combination with ThinPrep bronchial brush cytology in classification of lung cancer subtypes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Remaining bronchial brush cytology samples from 206 lung cancer patients with positive cytological diagnosis and 45 fine needle aspiration samples of resected lung carcinomas were collected. The expressions of CK10/13, CK7, CK18, CD56 and SYN in those samples were detected by immunocytochemistry (ICC) using corresponding antibodies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity and specificity of CK10/13 were 94.7% and 72.0%, respectively, in diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. The sensitivity and specificity of CK7 were 98.6% and 61.5%, and those of CK18 were 98.6% and 37.5%, respectively, in diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. The sensitivity and specificity of CD56 were 86.3% and 82.9%, and those of SYN were 81.6% and 93.5%, respectively, in diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. No significant difference was found in the expressions of CK10/13, CK7 and CK18 protein markers among differently differentiated lung squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas (P > 0.05). The classification rate of cytology in combination with ICC in differential diagnosis for 44 cases of unclassified lung cancer reached 90.0% for squamous cell carcinoma, 96.3% for adenocarcinoma, and 100.0% for small cell lung carcinoma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Application of cellular protein markers in combination with ThinPrep bronchial brush cytology is helpful to improve the differential diagnosis of lung cancer subtypes, and may become a supplementary diagnostic method in subclassification of lung cancer.</p>

Over-expression of osteopontin in non-small cell lung cancers: its clinical significance / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Data obtained from a differentially expressed cDNA library constructed previously in this laboratory demonstrated that the extracellular matrix molecule osteopontin (OPN) is one of most considerably over-expressed genes in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The purpose of the present study was to explore the expression status of OPN in a large scale NSCLC tissue samples, and estimate its significance in progression of the malignant disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RT-PCR was performed with the tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 35 patients with NSCLC, at transcriptional levels of OPN. To determine the expression of OPN protein in the tumor tissues, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was subsequently carried out on paraffin-embedded sections in tissue microarrays containing 662 samples derived from NSCLC cases. The correlation between the expression level of OPN and clinical characteristics was analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparing with the paired normal lung tissue, high level RNA of OPN was detected in 80.0% (28/35) of the NSCLC tumor tissues by RT-PCR, which confirmed the information obtained previously by our differentially expressed cDNA library. The results of IHC analysis showed that positively stained OPN protein was observed in 59.6% (331/555) of the tumor tissues, which was remarkably higher than that (25.2%, 27/107) detected in the normal control tissues (P < 0.001). Among the NSCLCs investigated, over-expressed OPN was more frequently found in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) than in adenocarcinomas. A further analysis on SCCs demonstrated that the rate of over-expressed OPN was significantly different between the primary tumors with and without lymphatic metastases (68.6% vs. 49.7%, P = 0.001), but similar in the primary tumors and their corresponding metastases in lymph nodes (68.6% vs. 75.5%, P = 0.171).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Expression of OPN protein is distinctly increased in NSCLCs, particularly in SCCs. OPN over-expression is considerably correlated with lymph node metastasis, increasing the risk of tumor metastasis (OR = 2.212). The resulting data suggest that OPN facilitates the progression of NSCLCs.</p>

Intra-abdomen extragastrointestinal stromal tumors: a clinicopathologic study on 30 cases / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with intra-abdomen extragastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 47 patients of mesenchymal neoplasms that arose from the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneum, collected from July 1987 to June 2003 in our hospital with complete clinical and pathological data, were investigated retrospectively. EGISTs were diagnosed by reviewing the tumor slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Immunohistochemistry staining were performed on CD117, CD34, smooth muscle actin, Desmin and S-100 proteins. The relations of various clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 47 cases, 30 tumors were confirmed to be EGISTs. Twelve cases arose from the mesentery, six from small omentum, eight from retroperitoneum and four from the abdominal cavity. The size of tumors ranged from 4 to 30 cm (median 12.5 cm) in diameter and the tumor cell components mainly included spindle cells (23 cases), epithelioid cells (4 cases), and mixed cells (3 cases). The follow-up rate was 90% and the median follow up time was 44 months. The patient survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were 79.7%, 59.5% and 45.4% respectively. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size >10 cm, tumor necrosis, mitoses > or =5/50HPF, obvious nuclear atypia, moderate and poor differentiated tumor cells were predictors of poor prognosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EGISTs have specific clinical behaviors. The parameters used for predicting GISTs prognosis are not completely applicable for EGISTs. Tumor necrosis, obvious nuclear atypia and mitoses > or =5/50HPF help to predict aggressive behaviors in EGISTs.</p>

Expression of serum breast drug-resistance protein in predicting chemosensitivity of NSCLC / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate expression of serum breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in non-small cell lung cancer patient (NSCLC) and healthy adult, and its correlation with chemosensitivity as one passible value of BCRP in clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Venous blood specimens of 44 advanced NSCLC patients and 30 healthy adults were collected. Antibody of BCRP was used to detect its expression in the experiment. Part of venous specimens were randomly selected for Western-blot, and all specimens were examined by ELISA at last. Chemotherapy response of these patients was observed in order to analyze the correlation between BCRP expression level and chemosensitivity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Western blot result showed that BCRP expression can be detected both in NSCLC patient and normal adult. The expression level in NSCLC patients detected by ELISA was significantly higher than that in the healthy adults (P = 0.00); which was also significantly higher in chemo-resistant patients than that in the chemosensitive (P = 0.02) and the healthy adults (P = 0.00); however, BCRP expression in chemo-sensitive patients was not significantly different from that in the healthy adults (P = 0.08).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is found to be expressed at high level in the serum of NSCLC patient, the intensity of BCRP expression may be correlated with chemotherapy resistance in NSCLC, and the high level expressing of BCRP may indicate resistance to the platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. Detection of serum BCRP may someday become a useful bio-marker in predicting chemosensitivity of NSCLC.</p>

TPX2 expression and its significance in squamous cell carcinoma of lung / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) and its significance in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Two SCC cell lines and 4 immortalized bronchial epithelial cell lines (as a precancerous model) were examined by Western blot for TPX2 expression. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis for TPX2 was also performed using tumor tissues from 21 patients with SCC of the lung. The expression of TPX2 was studied by immunohistochemistry (using tissue microarray) on paraffin-embedded sections of pulmonary SCC and corresponding precancerous lesions from a group of 319 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TPX2 was variably expressed in all the cell lines studied. Compared with matched controls using normal lung tissue, high level of TPX2 mRNA was detected in 16 of the 21 SCC tumor tissue samples analyzed. Immunohistochemical study showed that TPX2 was mainly present in tumor tissues but not in normal controls. The expression of TPX2 correlated with tumor grade, stage and nodal status. As for precancerous lesions, the level of TPX2 was also increased, in accordance with the degree of dysplasia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expression of TPX2 may play a role in carcinogenesis of bronchial epithelium and tumor progression of pulmonary SCC. It may also represent a potential biomarker for surveillance of SCC of lung.</p>

Correlation between the expression of PCDGF in serum and the chemotherapeutic sensitivity in NSCLC / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of PC cell-derived growth factor (PCDGF) in the serum of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and healthy adults, and it's correlation with chemotherapeutic sensitivity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The venous blood samples of 44 advanced NSCLC patients and 30 healthy adults were collected, and PCDGF mono-antibody was used for detection in the experiment. A part of specimens were randomly selected for Western-blot, and all specimens were eventually examined by ELISA. Chemotherapeutic response of these patients was recorded in order to analyze the correlation between PCDGF expression level and chemotherapeutic sensitivity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Western blot results indicated that there was PCDGF expression both in NSCLC patients and healthy adults, and the expressing intensity of PCDGF in NSCLC patients was higher than that in healthy adults. The result of ELISA showed PCDGF expression in the patients whoever was chemoresistant or chemosensitive was significantly higher than that in healthy adults (P < 0.01), However, in chemoresistant patients, it was significantly higher than that in chemosensitive with a borderline statistical difference (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PC cell-derived growth factor is found to be not only expressed in healthy adult but also in NSCLC patient at a high level in the serum, which may indicate metastasis and active proliferation in NSCLC. The intensity of PCDGF expression may be correlated with chemotherapy response and the high level expressing of PCDGF may indicate resistant to platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen.</p>

Multivariate analysis of prognosis in gastrointestinal stromal tumor / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify prognostic factors in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained histopathological slides of tumors from patients with mesenchymal neoplasms growing in the gastrointestinal tract and abdomen were reviewed. Two histologically representative areas were identified and chosen for tissue microarray. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to demonstrate c-kit protein (CD117), CD34, smooth muscle actin, desmin and S-100 protein. The relations of various clinicopathologic features to outcome were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall disease-specific survival of 194 patients was 93.5% at 1 year, 72.1% at 3 years and 63.2% at 5 years. Univariate analysis indicated that the tumor size, mitotic count, primary location, necrosis, high cellularity, mucosal invasion, mixed cell type, hemorrhage, direct tumor invasion of surrounding tissue, male sex, incompleteness of resection, cytologic atypia were significant predictors of survival. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, mitotic count, necrosis, direct tumor invasion of surrounding tissue and male sex were poor prognostic signs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tumor size and mitotic count are important prognostic factors. However, to evaluate the prognosis of these tumors, a surgical pathologist should incorporate multiple parameters into their histologic evaluation in attempt to reach an appropriate opinion on the aggressiveness of GIST.</p>

Analysis of prognostic factors in gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the small intestine / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the prognostic factors in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the small intestine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tumor slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin from these patients were reviewed. Two histomorphologically representative areas were identified and arrayed on a tissue microarray. Immunohistochemistry staining were performed using antibodies to detect the expression of c-kit protein (CD117), CD34, smooth muscle actin, desmin, S-100, Ki-67, P53 and bcl-2 protein. The relationship between clinicopathologic features and prognosis was analyzed by univariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate of 58 such patients were 98.3%, 69.7%, and 50.9% respectively. The prognosis was related with tumor size and gender by univariate analysis (P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>More attention should be paid to the male patients with small intestine stromal tumors,especially those with tumors size> 5 cm, because those tumors are more likely to metastasize than smaller tumors (< or = 5 cm).</p>

Abnormalities of microsatellite in transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder related with aromatic amine exposure / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the microsatellite abnormalities of the aromatic amine exposure-associated transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and sporadic TCC of urinary bladder, and to evaluate the potential of microsatellite analysis on detection of this diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on our previous investigations, 5 microsatellite markers (D17S695, D9S162, D3S1295, DBH and D3S1234) that had high frequencies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in sporadic TCC, were selected for analysis with the bladder lesions derived from 16 patients with aromatic amine exposure history. The microsatellite analysis with urine sediments from the post-operated patients was also carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was at least one informative marker out of the 5 microsatellite foci showed polymorphism in the DNA derived from 16 patients examined. Within 87.50% (14/16) patients, LOH was detected in the bladder lesions at least with one microsatellite marker. The LOH frequency of D3S1295 was higher in occupational TCC patients than that in sporadic TCC patients. The diagnostic accordance rate of patients showed LOH in at least one microsatellite marker with patients diagnosed by pathology was 81.25% (13/16). In the urine sediments from 8 TCC post-operated patients, LOH was found at least with one microsatellite marker.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There could be a different LOH pattern in aromatic amine exposure-associated TCC, and genes near D3S1295 might play a role in the occupational exposure-associated TCC.</p>

Detailed deletion mapping of loss of heterozygosity on 9p13-23 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by microsatellite analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>This study was designed to investigate the hot spots of microsatellite loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 9p13-23 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to find out the correlation between the incidence of microsatellite LOH and the clinicopathological parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tumor tissues were obtained from paraffin embedded sections with microdissection. Genomic DNA was extracted from tumor tissues and peripheral blood lymphocytes with the phenol-chloroform. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and denaturing gel electrophoresis were carried out in a set of 42 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of larynx and corresponding peripheral blood lymphocytes using 13 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers on 9p13-23. The correlation was analyzed between microsatellite LOH at the high frequency on 9p13-23 and clinicopathological parameters in the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 42 laryngeal cancers, 41 (97.6%) showed LOH in at least one of the microsatellite markers tested on 9p13-23. The most frequently deleted marker was D9S162 in 17 of the 19 (89.5%) informative samples. The marker D9S171, which is located on 9p21, had LOH detected in 12 of the 15 informative cases (80.0%). LOH at the D9S1748 marker (closest to the p16 gene locus) was detected in 18 of the 36 informative cases (50.0%). Allelic deletion mapping revealed two minimal regions of LOH encompassing markers D9S161-D9S171 on 9p21 and IFNA-D9S162 on 9p22-23. Multiple LOH (> or = 4) on 9p21-23 was found more frequently in the patients under 60 years, with supraglottic SCC or cervical lymph node metastasis than those over 60 years, with glottic SCC or without cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01 or 0.01, 0.05, respectively). On the contrary, there was no correlation between T stages or pathologic classification and the frequency of LOH on 9p21-23 in 42 SCC of Larynx.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These findings imply the presence of at least two putative tumor suppressor genes on 9p13-23 in laryngeal SCC. Multiple genetic alterations are probably implicated in supraglottic SCC with cervical lymph node metastasis in younger patients.</p>

Quantification of plasma DNA as a screening tool for lung cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies suggest that circulating DNA may be a potential tumor marker for lung cancer, but most of these studies are conducted between healthy controls and lung cancer patients, with few or no benign lung disease patients included. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of plasma DNA quantification in discriminating lung cancer from the healthy and benign lung disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasma DNA was extracted with a QIAamp DNA Blood Midi kit and quantified by a PicoGreen dsDNA quantitation kit in 44 healthy individuals, 36 benign lung disease patients and 67 lung cancer patients. Discrimination power was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma DNA values were significantly increased in lung cancer patients, especially in those with metastases, and in benign lung disease patients compared with that in the healthy individuals (P < 0.001, respectively). The values in lung cancer patients were significantly increased compared with that in the benign lung disease patients (P < 0.001). The area under the curve was 0.96 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92 - 0.99] for the healthy versus lung cancer, 0.73 (95% CI 0.64 - 0.83) for lung cancer versus benign lung disease, and 0.86 (95% CI 0.80 - 0.91) for lung cancer versus the healthy and benign lung disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma DNA quantification has a strong power to discriminate lung cancer from the healthy and from the healthy and benign lung disease, less power to discriminate lung cancer from benign lung disease. Plasma DNA quantification may be useful as a screening tool for lung cancer.</p>

Hypermethylation of p16 gene in clinical specimens of patients with lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate aberrant methylation of the p16 promoter as a useful biomarker of lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A modified methylation-specific semi-nested PCR was performed to detect p16 hypermethylation in the matched samples of tumor tissue, blood plasma and sputum derived from 51 cases of lung cancer patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hypermethylation of p16 promoter was demonstrated in 84.3% of the tumor tissues, 70.6% of the blood plasma and 76.5% of the sputum specimens, respectively. Only the patients whose tumor tissues had p16 hypermethylation exhibited aberrant methylation in their plasma and/or sputum specimens. Combining with cytological examination, 92.2% of the patients with lung cancer could be detected by p16 hypermethylation assay in both sputum and plasma samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicate that p16 hypermethylation in plasma and sputum identified by semi-nested PCR is a biomarker of lung cancer which can be useful as an auxillary diagnostic parameter.</p>

Detection of hypermethylation of p16 gene in plasma DNA from lung cancer patients / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect hyper methylation of p16 gene in plasma DNA from patients with lung cancer, and to assess its potential as a malignant marker.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using a modified semi-nested methylation-specific PCR (MSP), the status of methylation of the p16 was investigated in plasma DNA from 137 lung cancer patients and 112 matched tumor tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hypermethylation of the p16 was present in 75.2% (103/137) of the plasma samples and 80.4% (90/112) of the tumor tissues. Hypermethylation of the p16 in the plasma was detected in 77.9% squamous-cell carcinoma, 65.1% adenocarcionma, 75.1% adeno-squamous-cell carcinoma, and 91.7% small-cell lung cancer. Only in those patients whose tumor tissues had hypermethylation of p16 gene, similar changes could be detected in their plasma samples. Hypermethylation of the p16 in plasma and the corresponding tumor tissues was not significantly correlated with the clinical stage and pathological type of the tumor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The result indicates that hypermethylation of the p16 may be a useful marker in the auxiliary diagnosis of lung cancer.</p>

Establishment of immortalized cell line BLTR-4 and primary identification of its biological character / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish immortalized cell line from the urothelium of the urinary bladder and identify the characteristics of the cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) plasmid was used to transfect urothelium of infant urinary bladder in vitro with the help of Fugene-6, and this plasmid contained E6 and E7 genes of HPV-16. We also identified the existence of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes and the biological characteristics of the cell line by PCR, immunohistochemistry, and the biology identification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BLTR-4 cell line, produced from the transfection of HPV-16K plasmid, was a cell line from urothelium with the expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes. It had been cultured more than 70 passages, and the characteristics of growth was similar to the immortalized cell line as reported.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BLTR-4 cell line is an immortalized cell line from urothelium of the urinary bladder, which contains HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes. BLTR-4 cell line is a good experimental model to investigate the relationship of the infection of high risk HPV and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in vitro.</p>

Study on the seropositive prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in a village residents living in rural region of central China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence of residents living in a village located in rural region of central China where the paid blood donors used to be popular.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All residents of one village "ZY" were asked to participate in HIV serologic screening test. Those over the age of 16 and participated in HIV serologic test was followed to undergo an indoor interview a week later, to finish a questionnaire, which including information on demography, marital status, smoking and drinking habits, history of blood donation, sexual behavior and history of drug use. Names on those either died from AIDS or having HIV serologic testing before were collected from local hospitals and the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were in total 2364 residents in 527 households in "ZY" village including 1551 residents participated in the HIV serologic screening test, and 926 completed questionnaires. A total of 115 HIV seropositive residents were found in the HIV screening. 5 had been undergone HIV screening tests before, and 24 died of AIDS. The HIV prevalence of the whole population was 9.1% (CI: 7.7% - 10.6%). There were 19.6% households had at least one member living with HIV, out of which 25% had over two HIV seropositive members. No significant difference was found between genders with respect to HIV prevalence. 40 - 50 years old group had the highest HIV prevalence, significantly differed from other age groups. The HIV prevalence among former paid blood donors was 22.4%. The proportions of getting HIV infection through routes of blood transfusion, sex and mother-to-child, were 0.9%, 9.6% and 5.2% respectively among 115 HIV seropositive residents.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Some villages in the rural regions of central China showed high HIV prevalence. Former paid blood donation was responsible for the main transmission route in these villages. However, sexual transmission and mother-to-child transmission were becoming dominant routes in general population which called for effective action be taken to contain the spread of HIV.</p>

An effective method to reduce bias between two compared groups: propensity score / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Through introduction of principal theory and algorithm of propensity score to design SAS macro programs for binary data.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Propensity score method was used to compare the differences of character variables between two groups, and the association of DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) with the mortality of congestive heart failure was evaluated with different methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant differences among the character variables between two groups were effectively balanced with stratification or matching method. The odds ratios of DNR with the in-hospital mortality rate of congestive heart failure were estimated identical with different algorithms and to find that the association of DNR to in-hospital mortality was highly significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Propensity score was a good algorithm that could be used to analyze any kind of observational data for matching the effects among the character variables.</p>