BACKGROUNDTobacco-specific 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is the most important carcinogen in cigarette. Models induced by NNK are widely used in investigations about the mechanisms of pulmonary neoplasia and chemoprevention studies. The aim of this study is to explore the pulmonary precancerous lesions induced by NNK and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSFifteen Wistar rats were divided into two trial groups, in which the high-dose group was instilled with iodized oil including 10 mg (50 mg/kg) NNK into the left lower lobar bronchus, and the low-dose group received 5mg ( 25mg/kg) NNK. Another 15 Wistar rats were instilled only with iodized oil as control group. All rats were examined immediately after instillation and followed up periodically by pulmogram. The pulmonary tissues of rats were pathologically examined, and the expression of AE1/AE3, PCNA and p53 was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe pulmograms showed that the iodized oil localized at the bottom of left lobe and disappeared 107 days later. In trial group, 10 of 15 rats (67%) had nodus at the bottom of left lobe. All of rats in trial group (15/15) displayed atypical hyperplasia in alveolar region, showing single or multiple layers of proliferative epithelial cells along intact alveolar septa with irregular and non-discrete margins of lesion, but continuous alveolar spaces were not obliterated by proliferative epithelial cells. Ten of 15 rats in trial group showed severe atypical hyperplasia of glandular epithelium with occasional infiltrating to muscular layer. All of those atypical hyperplasia cells showed positive AE1/AE3 expression. The positive rate of PCNA was 90% (9/10) and 100% (5/5) in low-dose group and high-dose group respectively, which was significantly higher than that in control group (13%, 2/15) (P=0.000, P=0.001). The positive rate of p53 expression was 50% (5/10) and 60% (3/5) in low-dose group and high-dose group respectively, which was significantly higher than that in control group (0) (P=0.005, P=0.009). However, there was no remarkable difference in PCNA and p53 expression between low-dose group and high-dose group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTransbronchial instillation of iodized oil including tobacco-specific NNK can induce pulmonary lesions as atypical hyperplasia of alveolar cell and glandular epithelium in Wistar rats. This model can be used in experimental studies about tobacco-related lung cancer.

Objective: To analyze the genome characteristics of an avian influenza A (H9N2) virus isolated from an 11-month-old infant, and to look for possible sources of infection. Methods: Throat swabs were collected from an infant with influenza-like illness in influenza sentinel surveillance hospitals and isolated for influenza viruses using cells. The isolates were identified for influenza virus types and subtypes by the method of hemagglutination assay, hemagglutination inhibition assay and fluorescence PCR. Whole genome sequencing of the isolated virus was carried out. The genome nucleic acid sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences were analyzed by comparing the phylogenetic trees which were constructed by bioinformatics software. Results: A seasonal un-typed influenza virus was isolated from the infant with influenza like illness. With fluorescent PCR method , it was identified as H9N2 subtype of avian influenza virus and the case was confirmed as a human infected with an avian influenza A(H9N2) virus. Epidemiological studies revealed that the case had no clear history of poultry contact and exposure. Blast analysis shows that eight segments of the viral genome are avian origin, and 97.5%-99.8% homology with that of viruses isolated from the live-poultry markets. The virus belongs to G57 genotype, deduced amino acid sequence analysis shows that the virus has typical low pathogenic avian influenza characteristics. Conclusions Although the case does not have a clear history of contact or exposure to poultry, molecular traceability suggests that possible sources of infection may be still from poultry.