Objective:This study aimed to investigate the associations between single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 gene and risk of non-smoking female lung cancer in Chinese population. Methods:Genotyping was performed using the TaqMan method in 287 histologically confirmed non-smoking female lung cancer cases and 281 healthy controls. Results:The geno-type distributions of IGF-1 polymorphisms were significantly different between cases and controls (P<0.001). Analysis of multivariate logistic regression showed that the carriers of the CC genotype exhibited a significantly decreased risk of lung cancer in non-smoking female (adjusted OR=0.28, 95%CI:0.15-0.54). IGF-1 rs1520220 GG genotype may reduce the risk of advanced lung cancer incidence in nonsmoking female (adjusted OR=0.30, 95%CI:0.09-0.96). Log-rank test and Cox regression analyses revealed that variant geno-types of IGF-1 rs2946834 CT/TT had a significantly decreased lung cancer mortality risk compared with the homozygote CC in≥60 age group or patients with a lung tumor>3 cm. Conclusion:The IGF-1 polymorphism was associated with the risk of lung cancer and prognosis among non-smoking female. More rigorous laboratory studies of large sample population and functional studies are warrant-ed to confirm our findings.

3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Swine ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDNowadays, there are published trials in regards to the comparison of caspofungin with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB). However, these studies have a modest sample size and convey inconclusive results. The aim of this study was to review the efficacy and safety of caspofungin for the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), compared with L-AmB.

METHODSElectronic databases (up to July 31, 2013) PubMed and Embase databases, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant trials of caspofungin and L-AmB. Analyses of efficacy and adverse outcomes were performed by relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed by χ(2)-test and the I(2)-statistic.

RESULTSThree trials were included in this meta-analysis with 1249 modified intention-to-treat (MITT) patients. The results showed that caspofungin produced equal efficacy in favorable overall response (RR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.88-1.18; P = 0.81) and mortality rate (RR = 1.53, 95% CI 0.38-6.27, P = 0.55), safer in clinical adverse events (RR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.08-0.54; P = 0.001), laboratory adverse events (RR = 0.69, 95% CI 0. 57-0.84; P = 0.0002), and discontinuation rate (RR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.83, P = 0.02), compared with L-AmB in the treatment of patients with IFIs.

CONCLUSIONBased on the results of this meta-analysis, it would appear that caspofungin was measured to have equal efficacy in clinical outcomes and safer in terms of adverse events.

Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Echinocandins ; therapeutic use ; Febrile Neutropenia ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lipopeptides ; Mycoses ; drug therapy

Objective To analyze the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg)infection and expression of vitamin D pathway-related proteins on the survival and prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ES-CC).Methods Pg infection and the expression of 24 hydroxylase(CYP24A1),1α hydroxylase(CYP27B1)and vitamin D receptor(VDR)in 173 ESCC tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.The correlation between each index and the survival time of patients was analyzed.Results The positive rates of Pg,CYP24A1,CYP27B1 and VDR in ESCC were 43.35％,37.57％,20.23％and 21.97％,respectively.The 5-year survival time of ES-CC patients in the Pg+CYP24A1+CYP27B-VDR-high-risk group was shortened(P＜0.05).Conclusion Pg infection and vitamin D pathway-associated proteins can be used as reliable indicators to predict the survival and prognosis of ESCC patients.

Objective : To explore the relationship between Porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg) and mitophagy in esopha- geal cancer cells，and to explore new therapeutic targets for esophageal cancer． Methods : ① Western blot was used to detect the phosphorylation of unc-51-like authophagy activating kinase1 (ULK1) in mitochondria of the Pg infected cells and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the correlation between the expression of Pg and the phosphorylation status of ULK1 in esophageal cancer tissues. ② Western blot，ICC and ELISA were used to de- tect the transfer of nucleotide blinding domain and leucine rich repeat containing family member X1 (NLRX1) from cytoplasm to mitochondria，mitophagy，and the secretion levels of interleukin ( IL) -6 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) under Pg infection. ③ Pg colonization in esophageal tissues of mice in each group was detected by qPCR and Pg colonization in esophageal squamous epithelial cells of mice by RNAscope. Results : Compared with the un- treated group，the phosphorylation level of mitochondrial ULK1 (P＜0．01) ，NLRX1 expression (P＜0. 001) and mitophagy (P＜0. 001) of esophageal cancer cells increased after Pg infection．Compared with the control group， the combined intervention group could inhibit Pg colonization in esophageal tissue and esophageal squamous epithe- lial cells of mice (P＜0. 001) ． Conclusion Pg promotes the translocation of NLRX1 from cytoplasm to mitochon- dria by up-regulating the phosphorylation level of ULK1 in the mitochondria of esophageal cancer cells，and then induces mitophagy，leading to the reduction secretion of IL-6 and ROS，and ultimately maintaining Pg colonization.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Porphyromonas gingivallis ( Pg) infection of esophageal cancer cells on the polarization of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and functional changes. Methods: The secretion of tumor⁃related cytokines in the supernatant of Pg infected and uninfected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells was detected by ELISA. A co⁃culture model of ESCC cells and macrophages in vitro was established ,and the changes of TAMs surface markers were detected by qPCR , cellular immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Cytokines secreted by TAMs after co⁃culture were detected by ELISA. ESCC cells were cultured using conditioned medium of co⁃cultured TAMs , and the effects of TAMs on the proliferation , migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells were evaluated by CCK⁃8 , Wound⁃healing assay and Transwell assay. Results: The expression quantity of IL⁃6 and IL⁃10 of Pg⁃infected ESCC cells increased (P < 0. 01) . The contents of CD163 and CD206 on the surface of TAMs co⁃cultured with Pg⁃infected ESCC cells increased (P < 0. 001) . The cytokines IL⁃6 and IL⁃10 secreted by TAMs co⁃cultured with Pg⁃infected ESCC cells relatively increased (P < 0. 01) . TAMs co⁃cultured with Pginfected ESCC cells were able to enhance ESCC cells proliferation , migration and invasion (all P < 0. 05) . Conclusion Pg infection of ESCC cells can induce the secretion of cytokines , remodel TAMs to polarize toward the M2type immunosuppressive phenotype , thereby promoting the malignant biological behavior of ESCC cells. This study provides data support for the etiology of esophageal cancer and potential target molecules for clinical immunotherapy targeting TAMs.