Associations between immune cell phenotypes and lung cancer subtypes: insights from mendelian randomization analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor, and different types of immune cells may have different effects on the occurrence and development of lung cancer subtypes, including lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the causal relationship between immune phenotype and lung cancer is still unclear. METHODS: This study utilized a comprehensive dataset containing 731 immune phenotypes from the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) to evaluate the potential causal relationship between immune phenotypes and LUSC and LUAD using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method in Mendelian randomization (MR). Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger intercept, Cochran Q test, and others, were conducted for the robustness of the results. The study results were further validated through meta-analysis using data from the Transdisciplinary Research Into Cancer of the Lung (TRICL) data. Additionally, confounding factors were excluded to ensure the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: Among the final selection of 729 immune cell phenotypes, three immune phenotypes exhibited statistically significant effects with LUSC. CD28 expression on resting CD4 regulatory T cells (OR 1.0980, 95% CI: 1.0627-1.1344, p < 0.0001) and CD45RA + CD28- CD8 + T cell %T cell (OR 1.0011, 95% CI: 1.0007; 1.0015, p < 0.0001) were associated with increased susceptibility to LUSC. Conversely, CCR2 expression on monocytes (OR 0.9399, 95% CI: 0.9177-0.9625, p < 0.0001) was correlated with a decreased risk of LUSC. However, no significant causal relationships were established between any immune cell phenotypes and LUAD. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that specific immune cell types are associated with the risk of LUSC but not with LUAD. While these findings are derived solely from European populations, they still provide clues for a deeper understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying lung cancer and may offer new directions for future therapeutic strategies and preventive measures.

Progress of uric acid in cardiovascular disease.

Due to the global prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA), there is growing interest in research on uric acid (UA). HUA is a common condition that has various adverse consequences, including gout and kidney disease. However, recent studies have also implicated UA in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Experimental and clinical research has extensively demonstrated the detrimental effects of elevated serum UA levels on cardiovascular health. Furthermore, serum UA levels have been identified as predictors of CVD outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and catheter ablation. Additionally, the use of UA-lowering therapy holds important implications for the management of CVD. This review aims to consolidate the current evidence on the relationship between serum UA and CVD.

Factors influencing demand for emergency education for college students in Liaoning Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand demand for emergency education among college students and to analyze the influencing factors, to provide the evidence for college to make prevention and controlling measures.@*Methods@#A survey was conducted among college students who were selected by stratified random sampling from 4 colleges in Liaoning Province, and data were analyzed using general descriptive analysis, chi-square test and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.@*Results@#There were 90.7% of college students who had urgent needs for emergency education. Students who were female(93.9%), seniors(94.4%), learning in medical colleges(97.6%), having mothers with higher education levels(92.6%), and living in urban areas(94.4%) had higher educational needs. Multivariate analysis showed that gender (OR=5.00), school category (OR=3.87), emergency attitude (OR=8.02), active learning behavior (OR=3.91), emergency knowledge self-assessment (OR=6.64) were influencing factors(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The emergency knowledge and preparation of college students were insufficient and emergency education was needed. The government and schools should strengthen their attention and input, develop more effective ways to disseminate emergency knowledge among students so as to improve their response ability.

Pheretima aspergillum decoction suppresses inflammation and relieves asthma in a mouse model of bronchial asthma by NF-κB inhibition.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Guang-Pheretima, the live form of the earthworm Pheretima aspergillum, is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used for the treatment of asthma, cough, stroke, epilepsy and other diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, anti-seizure, thrombolytic and diuretic properties. Although Guang-Pheretima is effective in the relief of asthma, its pharmacological activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Hence, we investigated the effects of a Pheretima aspergillum decoction (PAD) against inflammation in a model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in BALB/c mice, as well as the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway involved in this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OVA was used to sensitize and challenge the airway of the mice, and PAD was administrated by gavage. We measured airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in the mice 24h following a final methacholine challenge with whole-body plethysmography. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum and pulmonary tissues were collected 48h after the last challenge. The levels of inflammatory factors and the related mRNAs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The number of differential inflammatory cells in the BALF was counted. Serum total and OVA-specific IgE levels were measured with ELISA. The activation of NF-κB signaling in the lung was detected by western blotting. In addition, the lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or periodic acid Schiff stain for histopathological examination. RESULTS: PAD treatment significantly alleviated AHR in the asthmatic mice, decreased the mRNA and protein levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 and downregulated IgE. In addition, PAD treatment attenuated mucus secretion and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung while inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling. CONCLUSIONS: PAD effectively inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling in the lungs of mice with OVA-induced asthma, and mitigated AHR and Th2 type inflammatory reactions. Therefore, PAD may serve as a drug candidate for asthma treatment.

[Effect of toluene diisocyanate on reactive oxygen species production and permeability of human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the permeability of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. METHODS: TDI-human serum albumin (TDI-HSA) conjugate was prepared using a modified Son's method. MTT assay was used to assess HBE cell viability after exposure to different concentrations of TDI-HSA. The level of intracellular ROS of HBE cells was detected by flow cytometry with an oxidation-sensitive fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) uploading, and the permeability of cell monolayer was assessed by detecting the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). RESULTS: The exposure to 120 µg/ml TDI-HSA did not obviously affect the cell viability. Compared with the control group, the intracellular fluorescent intensity increased significantly in the cells exposed to 20, 60, and 100 µg/ml TDI-HSA (P<0.05). The intracellular ROS production increased significantly after 100 µg/ml TDI-HSA treatment (P<0.05), but the increment in ROS production was significantly suppressed by pretreatment of the cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (P<0.05), which also enhanced the TEER decreased by TDI-HSA treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TDI enhances the permeability of HBE cell monolayer partially through a ROS-mediated pathway, suggesting the importance of oxidative stress in TDI-induced pulmonary diseases.

[Expression of high mobility group box-1 in the lung tissue and BALF of asthmatic mice and the influence of dexamethasone].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) in the lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic mouse models and the influence of dexamethasone (DM). METHODS: Eighteen female Balb/C mice were randomly divided PBS control group, OVA group and OVA/DM group, and asthmatic mouse models were established in the latter two groups. The airway responsiveness of the mice was assessed by whole-body plethysmography, and the cells in the BALF were counted and classified, with the supernatants of the BALF collected for detection of the level of HMGB1 by ELISA. The left lung of the mice was collected for HE staining, and the expression of HMGB1 in the right lung tissue was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Asthmatic mouse models were successfully established. The level of HMGB1 in the BALF was significantly higher in OVA group than in the control group (6.31 ± 4.05 ng/ml vs 2.59 ± 0.73 ng/ml, P = 0.017), but no significant difference was found between OVA/DM group (3.39 ± 0.50 ng/ml) and OVA group (PP = 0.052). The expression of HMGB1 relative to tubulin was significantly higher in OVA group than in the control group (2.08 ± 0.87 vs 0.85 ± 0.30, P = 0.032), but similar between OVA/DM group (1.15 ± 0.48) and OVA group (PP = 0.133). CONCLUSION: The expression of HMGB1 is obviously increased in the lung and BALF of asthmatic mice and DM produces no significant effect on HMGB1 expression, suggesting that HMGB1 may serve as a new therapeutic target for asthma treatment.

Cell polarization and hepatitis C virus receptor-mediated cell entry / 第二军医大学学报

Hepatitis C virus cell entry is mediated by multiple factors, including various receptors and cellular factors that trigger virus uptake by the hepatocyte. Occludin is a newly identified essential co-receptor for HCV entry together with CD81, SR-B1 and CLDN1. CLDN1 and occludin highlight the importance of studying the effects of tight junction and cell polarization on HCV entry. Study on cell polarization and tight junction can help to discover new targets for HCV therapy, and therefore interfere the cell entry and cell-cell spread of HCV. This review summarizes the current knowledge of hepatocyte polarization, tight junction and its major integral proteins CLDN1 and occludin, polarized cell culture system and its relation with HCV entry.

Cryopreservation of cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) spermatozoa in a chemically defined extender / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To establish a method for cynomolgus monkey sperm cryopreservation in a chemically defined extender.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Semen samples were collected by electro-ejaculation from four sexually mature male cynomolgus monkeys. The spermatozoa were frozen in straws by liquid nitrogen vapor using egg-yolk-free Tes-Tris mTTE synthetic extender and glycerol as cryoprotectant. The effects of glycerol concentration (1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 10 % and 15 % [v/v]) and its equilibration time (10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 90 min) on post-thaw spermatozoa were examined by sperm motility and sperm head membrane integrity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The post-thaw motility and head membrane integrity of spermatozoa were significantly higher (P0.05) for 5 % glycerol (42.95 +/- 2.55 and 50.39+/- 2.42, respectively) than those of the other groups (1%: 19.19 +/- 3.22 and 24.84 +/- 3.64; 3%: 34.23 +/- 3.43 and 41.37 +/- 3.42; 10%:15.68 +/- 2.36 and 21.39 +/- 3.14; 15%: 7.47 +/- 1.44 and 12.90 +/- 2.18). The parameters for 30 min equilibration(42.95 +/- 2.55 and 50.39 +/- 2.42) were better (P0.05) than those of the other groups (10 min: 31.33 +/- 3.06 and 38.98 +/- 3.31; 60 min: 32.49 +/- 3.86 and 40.01 +/- 4.18; 90 min: 31.16 +/- 3.66 and 38.30 +/- 3.78). Five percent glycerol and 30 min equilibration yielded the highest post-thaw sperm motility and head membrane integrity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cynomolgus monkey spermatozoa can be successfully cryopreserved in a chemically defined extender, which is related to the concentration and the equilibration time of glycerol.</p>

Cell polarization and hepatitis C virus receptor-mediated cell entry / 第二军医大学学报

Hepatitis C virus cell entry is mediated by multiple factors,including various receptors and cellular factors that trigger virus uptake by the hepatocyte.Occludin is a newly identified essential co-receptor for HCV entry together with CD81,SR-B1 and CLDN1.CLDN1 and occludin highlight the importance of studying the effects of tight junction and cell polarization on HCV entry.Study on cell polarization and tight junction can help to discover new targets for HCV therapy,and therefore interfere the cell entry and cell-cell spread of HCV.This review summarizes the current knowledge of hepatocyte polarization,tight junction and its major integral proteins CLDN1 and occludin,polarized cell culture system and its relation with HCV entry.