The Role of CEP55 Expression in Tumor Immune Response and Prognosis of Patients with Non-small Cell lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: With the continuous advancement of diagnostic methods, more and more early-stage Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are diagnosed. Although many scholars have devoted substantial efforts to investigate the pathogenesis and prognosis of NSCLC, its molecular mechanism is still not well explained. METHODS: We retrieved three gene datasets GSE10072, GSE19188 and GSE40791 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and screened and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, we performed KEGG and GO functional enrichment analysis, survival analysis, risk analysis and prognosis analysis on the selected hub genes. We constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and used the STRING database and Cytoscape software. RESULTS: The biological process analysis showed that these genes were mainly enriched in cell division and nuclear division. Survival analysis showed that the genes of CEP55 (centrosomal protein 55), NMU (neuromedin U), CAV1 (Caveolin 1), TBX3 (T-box transcription factor 3), FBLN1 (fibulin 1) and SYNM (synemin) may be involved in the development, invasion or metastasis of NSCLC (P<0.05, logFC>1). Prognostic analysis and independent prognostic analysis showed that the expression of these hub gene-related mRNAs was related to the prognostic risk of NSCLC. Risk analysis showed that the selected hub genes were closely related to the overall survival time of patients with NSCLC. CONCLUSION: The DEGs and hub genes screened and identified in this study will help us to understand the molecular mechanisms of NSCLC, and CEP55 expression affects the survival and prognosis of patients with NSCLC, and participates in tumor immune response.

Heavy metal ecological-health risk assessment under wheat-maize rotation system in a high geological background area in eastern China.

A high geological background can increase the ecological and health risks associated with crop production; therefore, it is essential to assess the heavy metals and their impact. In this study, ecological and health risk impacts of heavy metal contamination, in combination with positive matrix factorization was assessed for an area with high geological background with wheat-maize cropping system, to provide a quantitative understanding of the effects of heavy metals, enabling its prevention and control. This study revealed that the comprehensive ecological risk (RIwheat-maize) is 56.21 (low), with industries being the biggest contributors (34.22%). Comprehensive health risk (non-carcinogenic) assessment showed that industrial (40.98-49.30%) and natural (23.96-37.64%) factors were the primary (particularly of Cd and Zn) and secondary (particularly of Cr and Ni) contributors, respectively in eastern China. Comprehensive health risk (HIwheat-maize) for children and adults were 0.74 and 0.42, respectively, indicating that non-carcinogenic risks were at an acceptable level. Soil ingestion was the primary pathway for health risks (62.23-73.00%), especially for children. Based on soil heavy metal sources and crop systems, source-ecological risk assessment and source-health risk assessment were used to provided valuable insights on making strategies to protect human health in high geological background areas.

A hook wire dislodged into the subglottic area as a rare complication following computed tomography-guided hook wire localization: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography-guided hook wire localization (CT-GHWL) was used to localize the small pulmonary nodules before video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Its associated complications included hook wire dislodgement, pulmonary hemorrhage, and pneumothorax. This is the first report of a patient with a hook wire sliding into the subglottic area after CT-GHWL. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old female had productive cough for 8 days. A high-resolution CT scan showed a 12 mm part-solid nodule in the number 8 segment of the left lung. Prior to VATS, she received CT-GHWL to localize the nodule. During VATS, the hook wire unexpectedly slid away. A chest computed tomography was immediately performed and the sagittal reconstructed images showed the needle at the subglottic area. Finally, the needle was extracted by biopsy forceps under bronchoscope evaluation. The patient was eventually recovered and discharged. CONCLUSIONS: Dislodge of the hook wire into the subglottic area is an extremely rare but serious complication following CT-GHWL. Attention should be paid to securing the needle on the lung surface during VATS.

[Spatial Distribution, Source Apportionment, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals in Jianghugongmi Producing Area, Shandong Province].

Taking the Jianghugongmi producing area as the research object, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the soil of the study area were sampled and determined. The correlation of heavy metals was discussed using the multivariate statistical method, the spatial distribution interpolation analysis of heavy metals was carried out using ArcGIS 10.2, the quantitative source analysis of heavy metal pollution was carried out using the enrichment factor (EF) and PMF methods, and the potential ecological risk was evaluated. The results showed that the contents of the soil heavy metals As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were lower than the screening values specified in the standard for soil pollution risk control of agricultural land (GB 15618-2018), and the soil ecological environment risk was low; the maximum values of Cr and Ni exceeded the risk screening values, but the risk was low. The main distribution range of pH in the study area was 6.05-6.69, which was suitable for rice growth. The Mohe River indicated the spatial distribution of pH and heavy metals, which was closely related to the supergene geochemical characteristics of the elements. However, Hg and Cd showed different spatial distribution characteristics under human influence. Hg was distributed in the middle and high value distribution area along the west side of the river, and the spatial distribution of Cd was significantly different from north to south. The quantitative source analysis results based on the EF method and PMF showed that the main sources of heavy metals in the study area were agricultural sources, mixed sources, coal sources, and natural sources. The contribution rates of various sources accounted for 24.2%, 35.4%, 9.5%, and 30.9%, respectively. The medium strong ecological risk points of Hg in the study area were distributed along the west side of the Mohe River, whereas the moderate potential ecological risk points of Cd were concentrated in the cultivated land on both sides of the Mohe River, and the potential ecological risk index (Er) of the other elements was<40. Cd and Hg were the main potential ecological risk elements in the study area, whereas Cd was still the main potential pollution element in the cultivated land soil in the study area.

The Impact of Catalpol on Proliferation, Apoptosis, Migration, and Oxidative Stress of Lung Cancer Cells Based on Nrf2/ARE Signaling.

The effects of catalpol on lung cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and oxidative stress via the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway are investigated in this work. Catalpol-12 g/mL group, catalpol-24 g/mL group, catalpol-48 g/mL group, catalpol - 48 g/mL + vector group, catalpol - 48 g/mL + Nrf2 group, si-NC group, and si-Nrf2 group were used to split lung cancer cells A549 into control groups. Proliferation was detected using the CCK-8 assay; apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry; migration was detected using the transwell chamber; ROS was distinguished using the DCFHDA method; MDA, SOD, and GSH were detected using the microvolume method; and Cleaved Caspase-3, Cleaved Caspase-9, Nrf2, HO-1, MMP-9, and MMP-2 were detected using the Western blot method. Catalpol 12 g/mL and 24 g/mL-48 g/mL treatment decreased the proliferation activity, migration number, and Nrf2, HO-1, MMP-9, and MMP-2 protein levels of lung cancer cells when compared to the control group. SOD and GSH levels of lung cancer cells were decreased, and MDA and ROS levels were increased. Cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 protein expression levels, and apoptosis were boosted (P < 0.05). The proliferation activity, migration number, and protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1, MMP-9, and MMP-2 in the catalpol - 48 g/mL + Nrf2 group were raised compared to the catalpol - 48 g/mL + vector group, whereas there was an apparent drop in the Cleaved Caspase-3, Cleaved Caspase-9, and apoptosis rate. Similarly, SOD and GSH contents increased, whereas MDA and ROS decreased (P < 0.05). The proliferation activity, migration number, and Nrf2, HO-1, MMP-9, and MMP-2 protein levels of lung cancer cells in the si-Nrf2 group were all decreased when compared to the si-NC and control groups. Cleaved Caspase-3 and Cleaved Caspase-9 protein expression, on the other hand, increased as MDA and ROS levels were raised while SOD and GSH levels dropped (P < 0.05). It reveals that catalpol inhibits the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, which causes antiproliferation, migration, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in cancer cells of lungs. The rate of apoptosis was also lowered.