Expression level of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of patients with NSCLC as an early indicator to monitor the effects of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: An early indicator for monitoring the effect of adjuvant treatment after lung cancer surgery is urgently needed. The study was to explore the effects of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in NSCLC patients with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Two drugs (platinum-containing chemotherapeutics + platinum-free chemotherapeutics) first-line chemotherapy regimen were given after surgery. MRNA of EpCAM was detected. Chest computed tomography, head computed tomography and abdominal B-ultrasound were reviewed before the first and third chemotherapy. RESULTS: EpCAM in CTCs from peripheral blood between the recurrent group and the non-recurrent group at 1 day before surgery, first, second and third adjuvant chemotherapy were no significant differences (P>0.05). Only one day before the fourth adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, it showed significant difference between the recurrent group and the non-recurrent group (P=0.008). There was a significant difference between the time of imaging diagnosis of recurrence or metastasis and the time of monitoring the expression level of EpCAM in CTCs from peripheral blood (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: EpCAM in CTCs from peripheral blood during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was related to recurrence or metastasis of NSCLC patients.

Interleukin-8 -251A/T gene polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

Many studies have examined the association between the interleukin-8 -251T/A (rs4073) gene polymorphism and lung cancer risk in various populations, but the results have been inconsistent. In this meta-analysis, PubMed was searched for case-control studies published through 01 December 2013. The data were extracted, and pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. We assessed six published studies on the association between the interleukin-8 -251T/A polymorphism and lung cancer risk. The included studies yielded a total of 3265 lung cancer cases and 3607 controls. For the homozygous A/A and A allele carriers (T/A + A/A), the pooled ORs for all studies combining 3265 cases and 3607 controls were 1.03 (95% CI = 0.92-1.14; P = 0.235 for heterogeneity) and 1.07 (95% CI = 0.96-1.19; P = 0.245 for heterogeneity) when compared with the homozygous wild-type genotype (T/T). When the analysis was stratified by ethnicity, significant risks were found among Asians for both the A allele carriers and the homozygous A/A individuals. However, no significant associations were found in non-Asian populations using any of the genetic models. This meta-analysis suggests that the interleukin-8 -251A allele confer an increased risk for the development of lung cancer among Asians.

Correlation between expression of cell adhesion molecules CD44 v6 and E-cadherin and lymphatic metastasis in non- small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between expressions of cell adhesion molecules CD44 v6 and E-cadherin (E-cad) and lymphatic metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty- seven tissue samples obtained from patients with primary NSCLC were collected in our hospital from Dec., 2007 to Dec., 2012, and the expressions of CD44 v6 and E-cad gene proteins in these samples were detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: In the tissue without lymphatic metastasis, the positive expression rate of CD44 v6 was significantly lower, whereas the normal expression rate of E-cad was notably higher than that with lymphatic metastasis (55.6% vs. 78.4%, 47.2% vs. 21.6%), and both differences had statistical significance (P<0.05). Besides, CD44 v6 and E-cad expressions had a significant correlation in the NSCLC tissue with lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The positive expression of CD44 v6 and abnormal expression of E-cad may play a very important role in promoting lymphatic metastasis of NSCLC, with synergistic effect. Hence, detection of CD44 v6 and E-cad expressions is conductive to judging the lymphatic metastasis in NSCLC.

[Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery bronchial sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) bronchial sleeve lobectomy for NSCLC,and to describe this treatment method and the major Indications. METHOD: Between September 2010 and December 2012, 10 patients in our hospital underwent VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy.The patients were one female and nine males.Included 3 cases on the right upper lobe, 3 cases on the right lower lobe, 1 case on the right middle lobe, 2 cases on the left upper lobe, 1 case on the left lower lobe.2 cases underwent VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy and sleeve resection of the pulmonary artery. RESULTS: 10 cases were finished by Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.They all recovered well.No patient showed bronchopleural fistula, empyema and atelectasis.There was no perioperative death. CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy including bronchial sleeve lobectomy is therefore considered to be a feasible surgical modality for the treatment of patients with NSCLC.

Research on the relationship between serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and non-small cell lung cancer.

AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum of patients with non- small cell lung cancer, for assessing their possible diagnostic and prognostic roles. METHODS: We enrolled 48 patients newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and 40 healthy controls. TNF- α, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured in the serum of all the subjects with specific radioimmunoassay kits, while EGF was analyzed by sandwich enzyme immunoassay techniques. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed between lung cancer patients and the control group regarding the values of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum. Moreover, TNF-α, IL-8 and VEGF levels were higher in patients with advanced stages compared to early stages. In addition, higher serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were found in smokers than in non-smokers, both in patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were all elevated in lung cancer patients, suggesting that inflammatory cytokines could be jointly used as a screening tool. Though TNF-α, IL-8 and VEGF levels were related to advanced disease, long-term survival studies of NSCLC patients should be performed to confirm whether they can act as biomarkers of advanced disease. In addition, smoking would be an important contributor to the processes of inflammation and lung cancer.

[Determination of trace extractable lead in artificial acid sweat from ecological textiles by GFAAS].

Extractable trace level lead in artificial sweat solution from ecological textiles is a key item limited by eco-textile standard. But the content of this extractable Pb is not so easy to determine for the strict limit of eco-textile standard, the complicatedness of extractable solution matrix and the strong background interference of NaCl. In the present paper a method for the determination of trace extractable lead in artificial acid sweat from ecological textiles by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is described. Based on a number of experiments by using different single and mixed matrix modifiers including (NH4)2 H2PO4, NH4 NO3, Pd(NO3)2, Ni(NO3)2 and ascorbic acid, an effective modifier and its quantity were selected and the graphite furnace operating parameters were optimized. Experimental test results revealed that adding 5 mL (1 : 1) mixed solution of 50 g x L(-1) ammonium nitrate and 100 mg x L(-1) palladium regent was an effective way to inhibit volatile lead and reduce background signals. The detection limit could reach a low level of 0.7 microg x L(-1). The relative standard deviation was 3.2%. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the recoveries ranged between 95.5% and 105%.

The experimental study on changes of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 protein in the canine atrial fibrillation model / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the changes in the expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the alterations of nitric oxide (NO) concentration in atrial endocardium in atrial fibrillation (AF) in order to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to thrombosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In canine AF was produced with rapid atrial pacing at 400 bpm for 6 weeks, whereas the controls had no atrial pacing. NO production was measured by NO-specific microelectrode. The expression of endocardial eNOS and PAI-1 protein were determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical Staining. Plasma levels of PAI-1 were analysed by Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Left atrial NO concentration was decreased in AF than that in controls [(23.4 +/- 5.8)nmol/L vs (63.8 +/- 16.1)nmol/L, P < 0.01]. Endocardial eNOS expression was also significantly decreased (855 +/- 217 vs 2320 +/- 694, P < 0.05), whereas the expression of the PAI-1 was increased (3164 +/- 827 vs 1371 +/- 352, P < 0.01). Neither NO concentration, nor PAI-1, eNOS expression were altered in the right atria at the same time. A significant increase for plasma levels of PAI-1 was also detected in AF group. No correlation was found between eNOS and PAI-1 protein expression (r = 0.217, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the canine model AF was associated with a marked decrease in endocardial NOS expression and NO concentration and with an increase in PAI-1 expression in the left atrium, which may contribute to the thrombosis in AF.</p>