Comparing the diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid galactomannan, serum galactomannanan, and serum 1,3-ß-d-glucan in non-neutropenic respiratory disease patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

ABSTRACT: The incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is increasing higher in non-neutropenic patients. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Galactomannan (GM), serum GM, and 1,3-ß-d-glucan (BDG) in non-neutropenic respiratory disease patients with IPA.A total of 333 non-neutropenic patients suspected IPA were recruited from Xiamen University Zhong Shan hospital between January 2016 and February 2019. One, 33, and 92 cases were diagnosed with proven, and possible IPA.BALF and serum GM were both elevated in the possible IPA group and the probable/proven IPA group (p < 0.001). BALF and serum GM showed a fair correlation in the possible IPA group (r = 0.286, p = 0.008), and moderate correlation in the probable/proven IPA group (r = 0.466, p = 0.005). When the cutoff value was 0.5, the sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio of BALF GM were superior to serum GM (78.3% vs 47.8%, 96.7% vs 91.6%). The specificity and positive likelihood ratio of BALF GM were slightly weaker than serum GM (91.8% vs 95.4%, 56.7% vs 85.0%). When the cutoff value was 1.0, the sensitivity and negative predictive value of BALF GM were better than serum GM (73.9% vs 26.1%, 94.5% vs 88.8%), and the specificity of were equivalent (99.2%). The optimal cutoff value of BALF GM was 0.6, wherein the sensitivity reached 78.3% and the specificity reached 95.4%. Given the extremely low sensitivity of serum BDG at different cutoff values (≥10 µg/mL = 5.3%, ≥20 µg/mL = 2.1%), it cannot be used as a preferred biomarker.The diagnostic performance of BALF GM was superior to other biomarkers and the optimal cutoff value was 0.6.

Depletion of Cks1 and Cks2 expression compromises cell proliferation and enhance chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

The present study explored the oncogenic roles of overexpressed Cks1 and Cks2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Gene expression of Cks1 and Cks2 in HepG2 cells was disrupted by siRNA or increased by cDNA transfection. Cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8 analysis and cell counting. Cisplatin-induced apoptosis after transfection was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining. Cell cycle changes after transfection were determined by flow cytometry with PI staining. Protein levels of Akt and GSK-3ß were measured after transfection. The results revealed that HepG2 proliferation was decreased by depletion of endogenous Cks1 or Cks2, and increased by overexpression of Cks1 or Cks2. HepG2 apoptosis increased concordantly with the decline of Cks1 or Cks2 expression. Overexpression of Cks1 or Cks2 prevented cell apoptosis. Protein levels of p­Akt and p­GSK-3ß were downregulated after RNA interference of Cks1 or Cks2. In conclusion, Cks1 and Cks2 promoted proliferation and prevented apoptosis of HepG2 cells. The Akt/GSK-3ß-related PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may be a key signaling pathway that is involved in the regulation of cell growth and cell death.

Plasma levels of microRNA-24, microRNA-320a, and microRNA-423-5p are potential biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs are stable and easy to detect in plasma. The plasma levels of microRNAs are often changed in disease conditions, including cancer. This makes circulating microRNAs a novel class of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Analyses of online microRNA data base revealed that expression level of three microRNAs, microRNA-24 (miR-24), microRNA-320a (miR-320a), and microRNA-423-5p (miR-423-5p) were down-regulated in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, whether the plasma level of these three microRNAs can serve as biomarkers for CRC diagnosis and prognosis is not determined. METHODS: Plasma samples from 223 patients with colorectal related diseases (111 cancer carcinoma, 59 adenoma, 24 colorectal polyps and 29 inflammatory bowel disease) and 130 healthy controls were collected and subjected to reverse transcription-quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses for the three microRNAs. In addition, plasma samples from 43 patients were collected before and after surgical treatment for the same RT-qPCR analyses. RESULTS: The concentrations of plasma miR-24, miR-320a and miR-423-5p were all decreased in patients with CRC and benign lesions (polyps and adenoma) compared with healthy controls, but increased in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The sensitivity of miR-24, miR-320a and miR-423-5p for early stage of CRC were 77.78 %, 90.74 %, and 88.89 %, respectively. Moreover, the plasma concentration of the three microRNAs was increased in patients after the surgery who had clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma levels of miR-24, miR-320a, and miR-423-5p have promising potential to serve as novel biomarkers for CRC detection, especially for early stage of CRC, which are superior to the currently used clinical biomarkers for CRC detection, such as CEA and CA19-9. Further efforts to develop the three microRNAs as biomarkers for early CRC diagnosis and prediction of surgical treatment outcomes are warrant.

Overexpression of DHX32 contributes to the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Our previous work demonstrates that DHX32 is upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to its adjacent normal tissues. However, how overexpressed DHX32 contributes to CRC remains largely unknown. In this study, we reported that DHX32 was overexpressed in human colon cancer cells. Overexpressed DHX32 promoted SW480 cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as decreased the susceptibility to chemotherapy agent 5-Fluorouracil. Furthermore, PCR array analyses revealed that depleting DHX32 in SW480 colon cancer cells suppressed expression of WISP1, MMP7 and VEGFA in the Wnt pathway, and anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 and CA9, however, elevated expression of pro-apoptotic gene ACSL5. The findings suggested that overexpressed DHX32 played an important role in CRC progression and metastasis and that DHX32 has the potential to serve as a biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for CRC.