miR-424-5p combined with miR-17-5p has high diagnostic efficacy for endometriosis.

PURPOSE: Endometriosis (EMT) is a chronic benign disease with high prevalence. This study investigated the diagnostic value of serum miR-17-5p, miR-424-5p, and their combined expressions for EMT. METHODS: Total 80 EMT patients of reproductive age who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy and were confirmed by pathological examination were included as the study subjects, and another 80 healthy women of reproductive age receiving gynecological examination and ultrasonography with no pelvic abnormalities were selected as the control group. The whole blood samples of enrolled subjects were collected and clinical characteristics were recorded. The miR-17-5p, miR-424-5p, VEGFA, IL-4, and IL-6 levels in the serum were measured. ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of miR-17-5p and miR-424-5p expressions for EMT. Pearson correlation was performed to analyze the correlation of miR-17-5p and miR-424-5p with clinical indexes in EMT patients. RESULTS: miR-17-5p and miR-424-5p were downregulated in EMT patients. For diagnosing EMT, the AUC of miR-17-5p was 0.865 and cutoff value was 0.890 (91.3% sensitivity and 85% specificity), the AUC of miR-424-5p was 0.737, and cutoff value was 0.915 (98.8% sensitivity and 61.2% specificity), and the AUC of miR-424-5p combined with miR-17-5p was 0.938 and cutoff value was 2.205 (93.8% sensitivity and 88.7% specificity), with the diagnostic efficacy higher than miR-424-5p or miR-17-5p alone. miR-17-5p and miR-424-5p expressions were negatively correlated with dysmenorrhea, infertility, pelvic pain, and rASRM stage, but not with age, BMI, menstrual disorder, and nulliparity. VEGFA, IL-4, IL-6, and CA-125 were increased in EMT patients and were inversely associated with miR-17-5p and miR-424-5p. CONCLUSION: miR-424-5p combined with miR-17-5p has high diagnostic efficacy for EMT.

miR-375 Combined with SHOX2 Methylation has Higher Diagnostic Efficacy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a high-risk type of lung cancer. This study aims to improve the diagnostic efficacy of NSCLC through the combined detection of miR-375 and short-stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2) methylation. Patients with NSCLC (n = 121) and benign lung disease (BLD) (n = 121) were included. miR-375 and SHOX2 methylation levels were detected. The correlations between miR-375, SHOX2 methylation, and clinical characteristics of NSCLC were analyzed. The diagnostic efficacy of miR-375, SHOX2 methylation, and their combined detection was analyzed. The risk factors of NSCLC were analyzed. The results showed that levels of miR-375 and SHOX2 methylation in NSCLC patients were higher than those in BLD. High expression of miR-375 and positive SHOX2 methylation indicated worse pathological features of NSCLC patients. miR-375 combined with SHOX2 methylation had higher diagnostic efficacy than the single diagnosis. miR-375, SHOX2 methylation, smoking history, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and CYFRA21-1 levels were risk factors for NSCLC; the risk of NSCLC increased 25.763 times for each unit increase in plasma miR-375 level (OR = 25.763, CI: 1.726-384.529), and the risk of NSCLC increased 4.096 times for each unit increase in SHOX2 methylation (OR = 4.096, CI: 1.195-14.036). miR-375 targeted SHOX2. Overall, miR-375 and SHOX2 methylation and their combined detection were expected to be biomarkers for the diagnosis of NSCLC.

Transformation of adenocarcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma as a source of EGFR-TKI resistance: A case report and literature review.

In general, non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, most patients experience resistance within 1-2 years after treatment. The histological explanation for the acquired resistance is that malignant transformation occurs during cancer treatment. To date, the transformation from adenocarcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma associated with EGFR-TKI use remains poorly reported. We report a case of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations that converted to squamous cell carcinoma due to long-term administration of EGFR-TKIs. This report strengthens histological evolution as a source of acquired drug resistance.

Non-bacterial cystitis secondary to pembrolizumab: A case report and review of the literature.

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors were successfully introduced to various of cancer therapy. Pembrolizumab, an antibody to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), which is was approved for treatment of any adult or pediatric, unresectable or metastatic solid tumor. However, just as chemotherapeutics, immune checkpoint inhibitors have many side effects, which are named as immune-related adverse events. Common immune-related adverse events are dermatological, gastrointestinal, or endocrine side effects. However, there have been few cases that associated adverse cystitis with immune checkpoint inhibitors in recent years. We present a case showed that cystitis can be caused by pembrolizumab, which should be identified with non-bacterial cystitis.

[Effects of simvastatin on pulmonary fibrosis and endothelial - mesenchymal transition in the pulmonary fibrosis tissue of rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of simvastatin (SIM) on pulmonary fibrosis and the expression of VE-cadherin(VE-cad),vimentin(VIM) and alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in the pulmonary fibrosis tissue of rats. Methods: Sixty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(group A), bleomycin group(group B), 5 mg SIM group (group C) and 10 mg SIM group (group D),15 rats in each group. The model of rat pulmonary fibrosis was established by itraperitoneal injection of bleomycin(5 mg/kg). Since the first day of modeling, the rats of group C and D were treated with simvastatin suspension 5 mg/(kg·d) and 10 mg/(kg·d) by intragastric administration everyday, and the rats of group A and B were treated with equal volume of saline 10 ml/(kg·d) everyday. Five rats of each group were sacrificed randomly at the 7th, 14th and 28th day. Masson staining was used to observe the morphological changes of lung tissue in rats. The degree of fibrosis in lung tissues of each group was evaluated by the content of hydroxyproline (HYP) . The microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry,The expressions of protein and mRNA of VE-cad, VIM and α-SMA were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results: ①Compared with group A, the levels of HYP and MVD, the mRNA and protein expression levels of VIM and α-SMA in lung tissues of groups B, C and D were increased significantly at the 7th, 14th and 28th day(all P＜0.05), which reached highest level at the 28th day. However, the mRNA and protein expression levels of VE-CAD were decreased significantly at the corresponding time (P＜0.05), which reached lowest level at 28th day. ②Compared with group B, the levels of HYP and MVD, the mRNA and protein expression levels of VIM and α-SMA in groups C and D were decreased at the 7th, 14th and 28th day (all P＜0.05), which were decreased more obviously in group D at the 28th day. However, the mRNA and protein expression levels of VE-CAD were increased at the corresponding time (all P＜0.05), which were increased more obviously in group D at the 28th day. Conclusion: Simvastatin can reduce the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in rats through inhibiting the process of EnMT, which can enhance the expression of VE-cad and reduce the expression of VIM and α-SMA.