BACKGROUNDTo investigate the expression level and its clinical significance of the multi-drug resistance (MDR) associated protein in lung cancer specimens.

METHODSThe expression levels of Pgp, MRP, GST-π and TopoII of MDR associated protein were detected in 60 lung cancer samples and 30 paracancerous tissues by S-P immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTSThe positive rate of Pgp, MRP, GST-π and Topo II in the lung cancer tissues was 40.0% (24/60), 61.7% (37/60), 45.0% (27/60) and 81.7% (49/60) respectively, which was significantly higher than those in paracancerous tissues (P < 0.01). No significant correlation was observed among the expression of multi-drug resistance-related protein and TNM staging, pathological type, cell differention and lymph node metastasis status (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLung cancer has overexpression of multi-drug resistant-related genes during the oncogenesis. Combined detection of these genes may be useful for guiding the lung cancer chemotherapy.

We have developed a rapid and high throughput lipase-ANS (8-Anilino-l-naphthalenesulfonic acid) assay to evaluate the thermo-stability of lipases based on the ANS fluorescence signal's increasing and shifting when this small fluorescence probes binds to lipase. The testing lipase samples were incubated at a temperature range of 25 degrees C to 65 degrees C for 30 min before mixed with ANS solution (0.20 mg/mL lipase and 0.05 mmol/L ANS in the buffer of 20 mmol/L Tris-HCl, 100 mmol/L NaCl, pH 7.2) in a cuvette or microplate. Fluorescence signals of the samples were measured at EX 378 nm, EM 465 nm with a fluorescence photometer or a plate reader, and Tm was calculated with the software of GraphPad Prism5.0. The Tm values of several mutants of Penicillium expansum lipase (PEL) were measured with this ANS assay and conventional method simultaneously and the results show that Tm values are comparative and consistent between these methods, suggesting that the lipase-ANS assay is a reliable, rapid and high throughput method for lipase thermo-stability measurement.
Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates ; chemistry ; Enzyme Stability ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Lipase ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Objective To verify the accuracy of the modified technique for internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy ( IM-SLNB) in breast cancer .Methods In the validation study , the radiotracer was injected with the modified technique , and fluorescence tracer was injected into the peritumoral breast tissue .The radioac-tive IM-SLN was identified by preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and γprobe.The radioactive IM-SLN received bi-opsy during operation .The status of the fluorescence tracer was identified by the fluorescence imaging system . Results A total of 162 patients were enrolled from Sep .2013 to Dec.2014.IM-SLNB was performed in 110 pa-tients.The radiotracer and the fluorescence tracer were identified in the same IM-SLN in 94 cases, and the con-cordance rate was 85.5%(Case-base, Spearman coefficient correlation 0.823, P<0.001).Conclusion Dif-ferent tracers injected into the different sites of the intra-parenchyma can reach the same IM-SLN, proving the ac-curacy of the modified technique and the hypothesis of IM-SLN lymphatic drainage pattern ( IM-SLN receives not only the lymphatic drainage from the primary tumor area but the entire breast parenchyma ) .

Objective:To investigate the values of CT angiography (CTA) and color Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis and etiological screening of varicocele (VC).Methods:Ninety-seven patients with VC diagnosed by the Department of Urology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine Affiliated Haikou Hospital from May 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively included. The CTA and color Doppler ultrasonographic data of 194 spermatic veins (including 116 varicocele veins) were analyzed. Paired t test was used to compare the mean diameter of spermatic veins at the root of scrotum measured by CTA and color Doppler ultrasound. McNemar test was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of CTA and color Doppler examination for VC, and χ 2 or Fisher exact probability was used to compare the detection rate of CTA and color Doppler examination in screening the etiology of VC. Results:The average diameters of scrotal root of spermatic veins by CTA and color Doppler ultrasonography were (2.9±0.6) and (3.0±0.6) mm for VC cases, with no significant difference found( t=0.885, P=0.381). According to the diagnostic VC standard of color Doppler ultrasound (diameter>2 mm), no significant difference was found between CTA and color Doppler ultrasound in the sensitivity [95.69%(111/116) vs. 100%(116/116)] and specificity [100%(78/78) vs. 100%(78/78)] in the diagnosis of VC. The etiological detection rate of CTA in 97 patients with VC was significantly higher than that of color Doppler ultrasound ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Both CTA and color Doppler ultrasound have high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of VC. CTA has a higher etiological detection rate in etiological screening of VC than color Doppler ultrasound.

Background/Aims: Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancers (EBVaGCs) have unique molecular and clinicopathological characteristics. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is recently recognized as the critical innate immunity against pathogens and tumors. STING is also a master regulator in the cancer-immunity cycle and targeting STING could synergize with existing immune-checkpoint therapies. However, the role of STING in GC, especially in EBVaGC, and its correlation with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) remain largely unclear. Methods: We collected 78 cases of EBVaGCs and 210 cases of EBV-negative GC (EBVnGC) from a total of 1,443 cases of GC analyzed by EBV-encoded small RNA in situ hybridization. We investigated STING and PD-L1 expression and their concomitant prognostic value in EBVaGCs and EBVnGCs using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. The effects of STING and PD-L1 expression on the overall survival of patients with EBVaGC or EBVnGC were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: We found that both STING and PD-L1 exhibited significantly higher expression in the EBVaGCs than that in the EBVnGCs. The expression of STING was positively correlated with that of PD-L1 in EBVaGCs. Simultaneous negative expression of STING and PD-L1, and positive expression of STING were independent prognostic risk factors for EBVaGC and EBVnGC, respectively. Conclusions This is the first prognostic retrospective study of STING and PD-L1 expression and the prognosis among EBVaGC and EBVnGC. The expression and prognostic value of STING and PD-L1 are different in the two types of GCs. STING and PD-L1 are promising prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for EBVaGC and EBVnGC.

BACKGROUND:With the innovation of examination technique,the number of patients with spinal metastases in different stages is increasing year by year.Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an important treatment for spinal metastases;however,there is no report on the biomechanical effect in different stages and different activities after operation. OBJECTIVE:To simulate thoracic T10 bone stress and displacement of the different locations of the tumor metastasis based on the three-dimensional finite element model. METHODS:According to thoracic three-dimensional CT images of a 30-year-old healthy male,Mimics software was used to construct a three-dimensional geometric model of thoracic vertebrae(T9-T11),including ribs,ligaments and intervertebral discs.Three-dimensional models of T9-T11 vertebral bodies and different parts of the posterior thoracic vertebrae invaded by thoracic metastatic tumors were simulated,including the control group with intact vertebral structure,unilateral metastasis involving the vertebral body area(experimental group 1),unilateral metastasis involving the vertebral body and pedicle area(experimental group 2),unilateral metastasis involving the vertebral body,pedicle and transverse process area(experimental group 3),and bilateral metastasis involving the vertebral body,pedicle and transverse process area(experimental group 4).Abaqus software was used to create a three-dimensional finite element model.The von Mises stress distribution and the displacement of the model were analyzed under the loading condition,buckling condition,extension condition,and rotation condition. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the study of the maximum total displacement of loading points in different experimental groups under loading,flexion,extension,and rotation conditions,with the increase of metastatic tumor invasion site and invasion surface,the total displacement of loading points increased,and the overall stiffness decreased,especially the total displacement of loading points in experimental group 4 was the largest.(2)Under flexion condition,the maximum Von Mises stress value increased significantly after vertebral body and pedicle destruction,while the maximum Von Mises stress value was almost unchanged when the thoracocostal joint destruction was added.(3)On the basis of finite element analysis and simulation of bone tumor model,the elements in the bone cement region were set as a single set,and the bone cement region was set as the corresponding material properties to simulate bone cement filling.The results showed that the maximum total displacement under loading,flexion,extension,and rotation conditions was less than that of each experimental group.(4)The maximum stress values of the simulated percutaneous vertebroplasty patients in the loading,flexion,extension and rotation conditions were significantly lower than those of the femoral model.(5)It is concluded that the three-dimensional finite element model based on thoracic T9-T11 conducive to the biomechanics characteristics of thoracic vertebrae tumor metastasis,and on the basis of the thoracic vertebrae tumor metastasis model can accurately simulate load point after percutaneous vertebral body under different conditions of total displacement and the maximum Von Mises stress situation.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) double-phase imaging in differential diagnosis of bone lesions in tumor patients,which was indefinite in 99Tcm-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone imaging,and evaluate the correlation between 99Tcm-MIBI imaging and chemotherapy efficacy.Methods Fifty-two tumor patients (23 males,29 females,mean age 58 years) with bone isolated lesions(≤3) found by 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy was enrolled from June 2014 to November 2015.Since the results of 99Tcm-MDP imaging were indefinite,99Tcm-MIBI double-phase (10 min and 30 min after injection of 99Tcm-MIBI) SPECT/CT imaging was then performed within 1 week.The final diagnosis was made according to results of more than two imaging modalities (CT,MRI,PET/CT) and/or follow-up (≥6 months).The diagnostic efficacy of 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT imaging was calculated.The clinical dataof chemotherapy were also collected.Patients with bone metastasis were grouped as the treatment response.Retention index (RI) of metastatic lesions was calculated and compared between different groups using two-sample t test.The relationship between RI and chemotherapy efficacy was investigated by Spearman correlation analysis.Results A total of 12 benign lesions and 84 malignant lesions were eventually diagnosed.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV) and Youden index of 99Tcm-MIBI imaging were 96.43％(81/84),83.33％(10/12),97.59％(81/83),76.92％(10/13),and 0.80,respectively.The RI was statistically different between complete remission (CR)+partial remission (PR) group and stable disease (SD) + progressive disease (PD) group:-0.142± 0.036 vs-0.384± 0.067 (t =2.367,P＜0.05).The RI of 99Tcm-MIBI in bone metastases was positively correlated with the chemotherapy efficacy (rs =0.78,P＜0.01).Conclusions 99Tcm-MIBI imaging is helpful in differential diagnosis of bone lesions with indefinite diagnosis by 99Tcm-MDP bone imaging in tumor patients.99Tcm-MIBI RI of bone metastasis may predict the therapeutic response of chemotherapy efficacy.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine the impact of routinely performed internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy (IM-SLNB) on the staging and treatment, and to analyze the success rate, complications and learning curve.

METHODSAll patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy between 2012 and 2014 were included in a prospective analysis. Internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy (IM-SLNB) was performed in all patients with IM-SLN visualized on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and/or detected by intraoperative gamma probe detection. The adjuvant treatment plan was adjusted according to the current guidelines.

RESULTSIn a total of 349 patients, 249 patients (71.1%) showed internal mammary drainage. IM-SLNB was performed in 153 patients with internal mammary drainage, with a success rate of IM-SLNB of 97.4% (149/153). Pleural lesion and internal mammary artery bleeding were found in 7.2% and 5.2% patients, respectively. In 8.1% of patients (12/149) the IM-SLN was tumor positive. In the group of patients who underwent IM-SLNB, lymph node staging was changed in 8.1% of patients, and IMLNs radiotherapy was guided by these results, however, systemic treatment was changed in only 0.7% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONSIM-SLNB has a high successful rate and good safety. Identification of internal mammary metastases through IM-SLNB may provide more accurate staging and guide the tailored internal mammary radiotherapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials. gov, NCT01642511.

Breast ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammary Arteries ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Prospective Studies ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; methods

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85%. Immunotherapy has significantly improved the clinical prognosis of patients with NSCLC. However, because of the complexity and heterogeneousness of the tumor microenvironment, only a subset of individuals can benefit from immunotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to explore effective predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy of NSCLC. Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) is an ectopic lymphoid organ that is highly similar to secondary lymphoid organs (SLO), and the presence of TLS has been found to be closely associated with a good prognosis in immunotherapy for a variety of solid tumors, including NSCLC. This article provides a review of the prognostic role of tertiary lymphoid structures in immunotherapy of NSCLC, in order to offer references for screening suitable candidates for immunotherapy of NSCLC and develop personalized and precise treatment plans.
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Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Immunotherapy ; Tumor Microenvironment