[Correlation analysis of age and microbial characteristics in saliva and feces of high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer].

Objective: To explore the correlation between age and diversity and microbial composition in saliva and feces microbiota in high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: Based on the national project on early diagnosis and early treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancer, 38 participants were enrolled in Linzhou in Henan province in August 2019. The participant information was collected by questionnaire. Saliva and feces specimens were collected from each participant for 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between age and α diversity (Observed ASVs and Shannon index) and relative abundance of microbiota (phyla, genera, and species) in saliva and feces. Results: The median age (age range) of 38 participants was 54 (43-60) years old, and there were 16 males (42.1%). The Observed ASVs of saliva was negatively correlated with age (rs=-0.35, P<0.05), but the observed ASVs of feces was not correlated with age. In saliva, the relative abundance of Treponema (rs=‒0.44, P<0.05), Alloprevotella (rs=‒0.42, P<0.05), and Porphyromonas (rs=‒0.41,P<0.05) were significantly negatively correlated with age. At the species level, the relative abundance of Porphyromonas endodontalis, Alloprevotella tannerae, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella bovoculi, Prevotella sp.oral clone ID019, and Prevotella sp.oral clone ASCG10 in saliva were significantly negatively correlated with age, and the rs values were -0.50, -0.40, -0.38, -0.35, -0.33 and -0.33 (P<0.05), respectively. In feces, the relative abundance of Enterobacteria (rs=-0.35, P<0.05), Escherichia (rs=-0.33, P<0.05), and Bifidobacteria (rs=0.33, P<0.05) were correlated with age. At the species level, the relative abundance of Romboutsia sedimentorum, Citrobacter murliniae, and bacteroides uniformis in feces were correlated with age, and the rs values were -0.42, -0.37 and 0.36 (P<0.05), respectively. Conclusion: Age of the high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer is correlated with the relative abundance of microbiota in saliva and feces.

[Status of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use in areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China: a multi-center cross-sectional survey].

Objective: To describe the status of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use in areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. Methods: This study was based on the National Key Research and Development Program of "National Precision Medicine Cohort of Esophageal Cancer" and "Study on Identification and Prevention of High-risk Populations of Gastrointestinal Malignancies (Esophageal cancer, Gastric cancer and Colorectal cancer)" . From January 2017 to August 2018, 212 villages or communities with a high incidence of esophageal cancer or gastric cancer were selected from 12 regions in 6 provinces. A total of 35 910 residents aged between 40 and 69 years old who met the inclusion criteria and signed the informed consent were investigated and enrolled in this study. The use of NSAIDs, demographic characteristics, health-related habits, height, weight, and blood pressure were collected by the questionnaire and physical examination. The status of main NSAIDs (aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen) use with the difference varying in genders, age groups and regions were analyzed by using χ(2) test and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis method. Results: Of 35 910 subjects, the mean age was (54.6±7.1) years old and males accounted for 43.42% (15 591). The overall prevalence of NSAIDs intake was 4.56% (1 638), but it significantly varied in different provinces (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of NSAIDs intake was 4.87% (1 750) in females, which was significantly higher than that in males 4.24% (1 524) (P<0.001). The prevalence of NSAIDs intake increased with age (P for trend <0.001). As the frequency of NSAIDs intake increased, the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, gastrointestinal ulcers and black stools increased (P for trend <0.05 for all). Conclusion: The use of NSAIDs is prevalent in some areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. The increased use of NSAIDs may lead to more adverse effects related to the gastrointestinal tract.

[Analysis survival of screening and non-screening patients of esophageal cancer in Linzhou city].

Objective: To evaluate effect of screening of esophageal cancer though comparing difference of survival level between screening and non-screening patients in Linzhou city. Methods: The records pathologically diagnosed as serious hyperplasia/carcinoma and esophageal cancer were drawn from database of first round screening in Linzhou city from 2005-2013 and were assigned to the screening group. The records of new esophageal cancer cases which diagnosed within 2 years before, screening from the same village aged from 40 to 69, were drawn from database of cancer registry in Linzhou city and were assigned to the non-screening group. Five or 10 year survival rate with 95%CI of patients with different malignant degree diseases in the screening group and the patients with esophageal cancer in the non-screening group was calculated respectively. The survival curves between the screening and non-screening group were compared by Log rank method. Results: All 26 908 persons were examined in first round screening in Linzhou city from 2005 to 2013. There were 374 persons with serious hyperplasia/carcinoma in situ, 157 persons with esophageal cancer (141 intramucosal carcinomas/submucosal cancers, 16 invasive cancers). The 5 year survival rate of serious hyperplasia/carcinoma, intramucosal carcinoma/submucosal cancer and invasive cancer were 95.0% (95%CI: 91.7%-97.0%) , 72.0% (95%CI: 62.7%-79.3%) and 41.7% (95%CI: 17.4%-64.6%) separately. The 5 year survival rate of esophageal cancer in screening and non-screening group were 68.7% (95%CI:59.9%-75.9%) and 40.8% (95%CI: 36.4%-45.2%). The 10 year survival rate of esophageal cancer in screening and non-screening group were 58.0% (95% CI: 44.6%-69.3%) and 34.3% (95% CI:29.1%-39.5%). The 5 or 10 year survival rate of esophageal cancer in the screening group were higher than that in the non-screening group in whatever sex or age. The survival distribution of the screening group was better than non-screening group (χ(2)=38.88, P<0.001). Conclusion: More precancerous lesions and early esophageal cancer can be detected and patients' survival level was improved through organized esophageal cancer screening, which provided support to evaluate value of organized screening.

[Analysis of psychological status and relevant factors of patients with esophageal and gastric cardia precancerous lesions in Linzhou of Henan].

Objective: To explore the psychological status and related factors in patients with precancerous of esophageal and gastric cardia in Linzhou of Henan. Methods: Clinical psycho-rating scale of Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS, score ≥50 points with symptoms of anxiety) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS, score ≥53 points with the symptoms of depression) were applied to survey life events and psychological status of subjects who aged 40-69 years old and participated in"The Early diagnosis and Early Treatment"program in Linzhou cancer hospital from July 2015 to Jan 2016. Patients with lower intraepithelial neoplasia or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia were selected as precancerous lesions (n=118), and patients with normal grade were selected as healthy controls (n=210). Compare the differences of the scores between the two groups, and the logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of precancerous lesions and psychological status of the study subjects. Results: Precancerous lesions included esophageal (72 cases), gastric cardia (40 cases), esophageal and cardia dual source (6 cases); Precancerous lesions and healthy controls aged (57.17±7.71) and (53.12±7.99) years old, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The anxiety and depression scale showed that the scores of SAS and SDS scores in the precancerous lesions were (37.18±10.01), (40.44±8.37) points, and (34.02±6.63), (38.49±8.73) points in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.002, 0.032). While the social support total score (38.26±5.26), and subjective support score (24.08±3.83) and objective support score (7.50±1.89) in control group were all higher than those of precancerous group (36.80±6.18, 23.01±3.93, 6.93±1.57), and the difference were statistically significant (P=0.024, 0.016, 0.004). In addition, the Logistic analysis showed that subjects with low objective social support, subjective social support and anxiety symptoms were more likely to develop precancerous lesions, and the OR were 0.81, 0.72 and 1.05, respectively (P=0.028, 0.005, 0.009). Conclusion: Social support, anxiety and depression status may be related to the occurrence and development of esophageal and gastric cardia precancerous lesions.

Role of Th1/Th2 cytokines in serum on the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C and the outcome of interferon therapy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of T-helper cell (Th)1/Th2 cytokines in the chronicity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the outcome of interferon (IFN) alpha therapy. A total of 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in the study. The levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines were determined. The differentiation of HCV genotypes was determined by direct sequencing. HCV RNA loads were detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In chronic hepatitis C, the levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß significantly decreased, and IL-5 and IL-18 levels increased compared with normal controls. The IL-6 serum levels were directly proportional to the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, and were inversely proportional to the HCV RNA loading levels. Patients with severe hepatitis C had higher levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-1ß compared to milder cases. Patients with genotype 1 showed higher serum levels of IL-6 than those with genotype 2. The levels of IL-2 and IL-18 showed a decreasing tendency, whereas TGF-ß, IL-6, and IL-1ß showed an increasing tendency over time. There was no difference in any cytokines detected between the response and nonresponse groups before IFN therapy. However, the IFN-y level increased after IFN therapy in the response group. There was no correlation between the Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in the serum before IFN treatment and in the outcome of IFN therapy. Increasing IFN-y levels in the serum induced by IFN treatment is associated with systemic vascular resistance.

MicroRNA-181b expression in prostate cancer tissues and its influence on the biological behavior of the prostate cancer cell line PC-3.

We examined microRNA-181b (miRNA) expression in prostate cancer tissues and its effect on the prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Tissues from 27 cases of prostate cancer and 30 samples of normal human prostate were collected by surgical removal. Total miRNA was extracted, and the relative expression of miR-181b was quantified using RT-PCR. miR-181b ASO was transfected into prostate cancer PC-3 cells. miR-181b expression in transfected and non-transfected cells was measured using RT-PCR. Changes in cell apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. MTT and cell growth curve methods were used to assess the influence of miR-181b expression on cell proliferation. The changes in cell invasive ability in vitro were detected using the Transwell chamber method. miR-181b was up-regulated in the prostate cancer tissues compared with the normal prostate samples. It was down-regulated after miR-181b ASO transfection into the prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Down-regulation of miR-181b in the PC-3 cell induced apoptosis, inhibited proliferation, and depressed invasion of PC-3 cells in vitro. As miR-181b is over-expressed in prostate cancer, its down-regulation could have potential as gene therapy for prostate cancer by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation and depressing invasion by cancer cells.