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BACKGROUND@#The SMARCA4 mutation has been shown to account for at least 10% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present, conventional radiotherapy and targeted therapy are difficult to improve outcomes due to the highly aggressive and refractory nature of SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC (SMARCA4-DNSCLC) and the absence of sensitive site mutations for targeted drug therapy, and chemotherapy combined with or without immunotherapy is the main treatment. Effective SMARCA4-DNSCLC therapeutic options, however, are still debatable. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy and prognosis of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC.@*METHODS@#46 patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC were divided into two groups based on their treatment regimen: the chemotherapy group and the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy group, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Efficacy assessment and survival analysis were performed in both groups, and the influencing factors for prognosis were explored for patients with SMARCA4-DNSCLC.@*RESULTS@#Male smokers are more likely to develop SMARCA4-DNSCLC. There was no significant difference in the objective response rate (76.5% vs 69.0%, P=0.836) between chemotherapy and the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy or the disease control rate (100.0% vs 89.7%, P=0.286). The one-year overall survival rate in the group with PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy was 62.7%, and that of the chemotherapy group was 46.0%. The difference in median progression-free survival (PFS) between the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy group and the chemotherapy group was statistically significant (9.3 mon vs 6.1 mon, P=0.048). The results of Cox regression analysis showed that treatment regimen and smoking history were independent influencing factors of PFS in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC, and family history was an individual influencing factor of overall survival in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Treatment regimen may be a prognostic factor for patients with SMARCA4-DNSCLC, and patients with PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy may have a better prognosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics , Retrospective Studies , Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use , Prognosis , DNA Helicases/genetics , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Transcription Factors/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Thyroid function abnormality (TFA) is one of the common adverse reactions in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy, but the risk factors of TFA and its relationship with efficacy are not completely clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the risk factors of TFA and its relationship with efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC after immunotherapy.@*METHODS@#The general clinical data of 200 patients with advanced NSCLC in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 1, 2019 to June 31, 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. χ² test and multivariate Logistic regression were used to explore the risk factors of TFA. Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn and Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis was used to explore the efficacy factors.@*RESULTS@#A total of 86 (43.0%) patients developed TFA. Logistic regression analysis showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS), pleural effusion and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were factors influencing TFA (P<0.05). Compared with normal thyroid function group, the median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients in the TFA group was significantly longer (19.0 months vs 6.3 months, P<0.001), and the objective response rate (ORR) (65.1% vs 28.9%, P=0.020) and disease control rate (DCR) (100.0% vs 92.1%, P=0.020) of the TFA group were better than those of the normal thyroid function group. Cox regression analysis showed that ECOG PS, LDH, cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) and TFA were factors influencing prognosis (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#ECOG PS, pleural effusion and LDH may be risk factors affecting the occurrence of TFA and TFA may be a predictor of the efficacy of immunotherapy. Patients with advanced NSCLC who have TFA after immunotherapy may obtain better efficacy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Thyroid Gland , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Immunotherapy/adverse effects , Pleural EffusionABSTRACT
Objective:To identify Down syndrome (DS) fetal encephalopathy related genes and signaling pathways via bioinformatics analysis, and to explore their potential mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of DS neuropathology.Methods:Retrospective study.In December 2021, dataset GSE59630 was downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DS and normal fetal brain tissue were identified by R software.Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed on the genes identified.The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed based on search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes online database and Cytoscape software, and key modules and hub DEGs were identified.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used to verify the expression of hub genes related to neurodegeneration in brain tissue of 3 pairs of DS and normal fetuses at the gestational age of 22-33 weeks.Results:A total of 225 DEGs were screened out from DS and normal fetal brain tissue, including 18 up-regulated genes and 207 down-regulated genes.GO functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in neurogenesis, neuronal apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial energy metabolism, etc.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.GSEA suggested that apoptosis and inflammatory responses play a vital part in the occurrence of DS neuropathology.Ten hub genes were identified by the PPI network established, and they were mainly related to histone acetylation and transcriptional regulation.According to the tissue verification result, the variations of RAB8A, TBP and TAF6 expression conformed to the microarray data. Conclusions:The key genes and signaling pathways identified by transcriptome analysis of fetal brain tissue facilitate the comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism of DS neuropathology.This study provides a novel insight into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental abnormalities and mental retardation in DS.
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Objective To analyze and compare the independent and combined diagnostic values of high frequency ultrasonography (HFU) and molybdenum target imaging (MTI) for early breast tumor in a prospective study.Methods 258 patients with breast mass which were suspected as breast tumors by physical examination received HFU,MTI,their combined applications and operative treatments.Comparative studies were made between the surgical pathology and imaging evaluations.Results Totally 258 cases were enrolled in this study.Surgical pathology confirmed 135 cases of early breast cancer and 123 cases of benign breast tumor.For the diagnosis of early breast cancer,combined application was more effective than HFU or MTI alone in sensitivity (P0.05).In the patients of early breast cancer, compared with HFU,MTI found less nodules of calcification(18.3% vs 36.5%,P<0.01),but revealed more axillary lymph metastasis (69.0% vs 33.3%,P<0.01).Conclusion HFU and MTI alone or their combined application are reliable imaging methods for the diagnosis of early breast cancer.For the sensitivity and accuracy of diagnosis, combined applications has more superior advantages.
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The incidence rate of liver cancer tends to increase in recent years, and the molecular and pathogenic mechanisms of liver cancer should be further investigated to guarantee health. As an important model organism, zebrafish have highly conserved genes and grow fast. The early embryo of zebrafish is transparent, which helps with the real-time observation of the development process. Zebrafish are similar to humans in the composition, function, and signaling pathways of hepatocytes, as well as response to injury. In modern biological studies, zebrafish have been wildly used as the model of liver diseases. This article summarizes the research advances in the application of zebrafish as the model of liver cancer, and points out that the techniques for establishing the zebrafish model of liver cancer have become mature. With the constant development of experimental techniques, great achievements will be achieved in the field of liver cancer.
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Objective To explore the effects of signaling pathways inducing activation of DC-SIGN promoter on the activity of HIV-1 5'LTR.Methods The sequences of DC-SIGN promoter and HIV-1 5'LTR were amplified by PCR and then cloned into pGL-3/Basic plasmid to constructluciferase reporter plasmids for DC-SIGN promoter and HIV-1 5'LTR.Differentiated THP-1 cells stimulated by PMA (phorbol myristate acetate) were used as the in vitro model of DCs.The activaties of DC-SIGN promoter and HIV-1 5'LTR induced by IL-4 in differentiated THP-1 cells were studied using luciferase reporter plasmids.The signaling pathways were identified by using specific inhibitors.Results IL-4 induced signaling pathways could increase the activities of HIV-1 5'LTR and DC-SIGN promoter for more than two times in THP-1 cells transfected with luciferase reporter plasmids.However,the activity of HIV-1 5'LTR was weaker than that of DCSIGN promoter.ERK/JAK-STAT/NF-κB signal pathway blockers could inhibit the luciferase activity driven by DC-SIGN promoter,of which ERKI/2 blocker showed the strongest inhibitory effect that almost completely blocked IL-4 induction.NF-κB blocker had a significant inhibitory effect on HIV-1 5'LTR activity at a rate of 52.32％,followed by the ERK blocker at a rate of 43.31％.Conclusion This study suggested that IL-4-induced signaling pathways mediate the activation of DC-SIGN promoter and HIV-1 5'LTR through NFκB and ERK.
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This article discusses the functions of massage in acupuncture treatment and argues that massage acts to diagnose diseases, locate acupoints, activate meridian qi before acupuncture treatment,protect healthy qi, dispel pathogenic factors, promote qi arrival and movement during acupuncture treatment, warm and nourish the body, and further promote qi movement and eliminate pathogenic factors after acupuncture treatment. Therefore, massage complements with acupuncture and becomes an essential method in acupuncture treatment.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of STI571 inducing apoptosis of K562 cells which express P210(BCR/ABL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin-V/PI, DioC6 [3] staining, DCFH-DA staining, DNA-PI staining and DNA ladder. Western blot was used to analyse mitochondrial and cytosolic cyto C, Bcl-X(L), caspase-3, actin protein and the level of tyrosine phosphorylation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After exposure to STI571, K562 cells were induced to apoptosis. Tyrosine phosphorylation level of P210(BCR/ABL) and Bcl-X(L) was decreased. Caspase-3 was activated and there was an cytosolic accumulation of cyto C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>STI571 could rapidly decrease the tyrosine phosphorylation level of P210(BCR/ABL). The signal pathway mediated by the cytosolic translocation of mitochondrial cyto C was one of the mechanisms that STI571 inducing apoptosis. STI571 was an effective gene targeting therapeutic agent.</p>
