The fibrosis can occur in many kinds of organs,and its sustained progress may lead to organ structural damage and functional decline,and even the organ failure,which threatens the human health and the life seriously.Adenosine is an endogenous purine nucleoside that can be generated in various tissues of the body and regulate a multitude of body functions via the combina-tion with four different kinds of G protein-coupled receptors.Re-cent studies have found that adenosine receptors play an impor-tant role in regeneration tissue and fibrosis process.To under-stand the processes may be helpful to the treatment of fibrosis diseases.This review makes a summary on latest research pro-gress of adenosine receptors in fibrosis diseases.

Objective To explore the expression of miR-221/222 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with clinical pathological parameters. Methods The clinical pathological data and formalin fixed-paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues of 55 NSCLC patients and 10 benign lesion patients who underwent surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University from February 2012 to May 2014 were collected and followed. The relationship between miR-221/222 expression detected by real-time PCR and clinical pathological parameters and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. The differential survival between the high expression group and the low expression group of miR-221/222 were compared. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was utilized to examine the prognostic factors of NSCLC. Results The expression level of miR-221/222 was significantly higher in tumor tissues than that in corresponding benign lesion tissues (Fold change=3.52, P=0.000;Fold change=2.01, P=0.000). There was a negative correlation between miR-221/222 expression and pathological grades (r=-0.732, P=0.000;r=-0.451, P=0.001). The relative expression of miR-221 showed a positive correlation with miR-222 (r=0.376, P=0.000). Patients with higher levels of miR-221/222 were closely associated with a shorter PFS (miR-221: 55.43 weeks vs. 81.29 weeks, P=0.028; miR-222: 45.00 weeks vs. 87.04 weeks, P=0.008). Finally, multivariate analysis demonstrated that miR-222 expression was independently associated with poor PFS (RR=2.808, P=0.033). Conclusions miR-221/222 is highly expressed in NSCLC tumor tissues with a positive correlation. A negative correlation is observed between the expression of miR-221/222 and tumor differentiation. The potential high expression of miR-221/222 is considered as tumor biomarkers for the prognosis of NSCLC patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of rescue treatment for recurrent esophageal cancer after radical esophagectomy, and to provide insights into the development of comprehensive treatment for esophageal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 218 patients who were confirmed with recurrent metastatic esophageal cancer after R0 resection and received rescue treatment in our hospital from 2004 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.The survival rate was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model, respectively.Results The median post-recurrence follow-up time was 53 months.The 1-and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates after recurrence were 57.2% and 24.4%, respectively.Among the 163 patients with local recurrence, the 1-and 3-year OS rates were 70% and 42% for patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (n=40), 55% and 24% for those with radiotherapy alone (n=106), and 23% and 8% for those with supportive therapy (n=13)(chemoradiotherapy vs.radiotherapy alone P=0.045, radiotherapy alone vs.supportive therapy P=0.004;none of the patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone survived for one year or more).Univariate analysis showed that N staging, TNM staging, and post-recurrence rescue treatment regimen were independent prognostic factors for esophageal cancer (all P=0.001).On the other hand, multivariate analysis indicated that only rescue treatment regimen was the independent prognostic factor for esophageal cancer (P=0.013).Conclusions Rescue chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone can bring significant survival benefits for patients with recurrent and metastatic, especially locally recurrent, esophageal cancer following radical esophagectomy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of quadrates lumborum block for unilateral inguinal hernia repair in elderly patients. Methods Fifty-eight elderly patients with unilateral inguinal hernia of both sexes, aged 65-80 yr, with body mass index of 18-25 kg∕m2 , of American Society of Anesthesiolo-gists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, scheduled for elective unilateral tension-free repair, were divided into 2 groups ( n=29 each) using a random number table method: iliohypogastric-ilioinguinal nerve block group (group T) and quadrates lumborum block group (group Q). Iliohypogastric-ilioinguinal nerve block with arteria circumflexa ilium profunda as a marker was carried out with 0. 33％ ropivacaine 20 ml under ultra-sound guidance in group T. The anterior approach to quadratus lumborum block was performed with 0. 33％ropivacaine 20 ml under ultrasound guidance in group Q. Operation was started after the height of sensory block was assessed by pin-prick test at 30 min after block. When the blocking effect did not meet the opera-tion requirements, an increment of 1％ lidocaine 2. 5 ml was given every time in the surgical field until op-eration requirements were met. Dexmedetomidine was intravenously infused at a rate of 0. 03-0. 07μg·kg-1 ·min-1 during surgery until the end of surgery to maintain Narcotrend index between 80 and 90. When postoperative visual analogue scale score >3, parecoxib sodium 40 mg was intravenously injected, and if marked pain relief was not found 10 min later, tramadol hydrochloride 50-100 mg was intravenously injected. The upper spread of sensory block and intraoperative requirement for additional local anesthetics were recorded at 30 min after nerve block. The requirement for parecoxib and tramadol was recorded within 48 h after operation. The development of inadvertent intravascular injection of local anesthetics, local anes-thetic intoxication and postoperative nausea and vomiting, nerve block of lower extremity and uroschesis was recorded. Results Skin pain disappeared at the plane of T11-L1 in group T and at the plane of T9-L1 in group Q. Compared with group T, the intraoperative requirement for and consumption of local anesthetics, postoperative requirement for parecoxib and tramadol, and postoperative incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly decreased in group Q ( P<0. 05) . Conclusion Quadrates lumborum block provides bet-ter efficacy for unilateral inguinal hernia repair than iliohypogastric-ilioinguinal nerve block in elderly pa-tients.

PURPOSE: Cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)-expressing CD8+T cells have been known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying the loss of self-tolerance remain unclear. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in the development of homeostasis in the immune system. We, therefore, hypothesized that a reduced ability of Tregs to inhibit autologous CD8+CLA+T cells might be underlying mechanism in AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CD8+CLA+T cells and Tregs were obtained from the peripheral blood of AD patients and control volunteers. The frequencies of CD8+CLA+T cells were evaluated. The proliferative responses of CD8+CLA+T cells were assessed by flow cytometry, and the levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Our results revealed higher frequency and increased expression of perforin and granzyme-B in peripheral CD8+CLA+T cells in AD, and lower inhibitory ability of Tregs on proliferation of CD8+CLA+T cells in AD. Meanwhile, the levels of TGF-beta1 produced by Tregs were significantly lower in AD, and anti-TGF-beta1 abolished such suppression. CONCLUSION: The attenuated inhibitory ability of Tregs on hyper-activated autologous CD8+CLA+T cells, mediated by TGF-beta1, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Adult ; Aged ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/*immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; Dermatitis, Atopic/*immunology/pathology ; Female ; Granzymes/metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Perforin/metabolism ; Skin/*immunology/pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/drug effects/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects/*immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology

[ Abstract] Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of preoperative three-dimensional radiotherapy (3DRT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 103 esophageal carcinoma patients who received preoperative 3DRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy from 2004 to 2014 in Cancer Hospital CAMS.The median radiation dose was 40 Gy, and the TP or PF regimen was adopted for concurrent chemotherapy if needed.The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival ( DFS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival difference and univariate prognostic analyses were performed by the log-rank test.The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The number of patients followed at 3-years was 54.The 3-year OS and DFS rates were 61.1% and 54.9%, respectively, for all patients.There were no significant differences between the 3DRT and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) groups as to OS (P=0.876) and DFS (P=0.521).The rates of complete, partial, and minimal pathologic responses of the primary tumor were 48.0%, 40.2%, and 11.8%, respectively.There were significant differences in OS and DFS between the complete, partial, and minimal pathologic response groups (P=0.037 and 0.003). No significant difference in pathologic response rate was found between the 3DRT and CCRT groups (P=0.953).The lymph node metastasis rate was 26.5%, and this rate for the complete, partial, and minimal pathologic response groups was 14%, 30%, and 67%, respectively, with a significant difference between the three groups (P=0.001).The OS and DFS were significantly higher in patients without lymph node metastasis than in those with lymph node metastasis (P=0.034 and 0.020).The surgery-related mortality was 7.8% in all patients.Compared with the 3DRT group, the CCRT group had significantly higher incidence rates of leukopenia (P=0.002), neutropenia (P=0.023), radiation esophagitis (P=0.008), and radiation esophagitis ( P=0.023).Pathologic response of the primary tumor and weight loss before treatment were independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS (P=0.030,0.024 and P=0.003,0.042). Conclusions Preoperative 3DRT alone or with concurrent chemotherapy can result in a relatively high complete pathologic response rate, hence increasing the survival rate.Further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm whether preoperative CCRT is better than 3DRT in improving survival without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective To explore the incidence and related predictive factors for acute symptomatic esophagitis in patients with locally advanced non?small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) treated with intensity?modulated radiation therapy ( IMRT) . Methods Data were collected retrospectively from 256 patients with inoperable or unresectable stage Ⅲ NSCLC treated in our hospital between January 2007 and December 2011. The radiotherapy target volume included primary lung cancer and lymphatic drainage area involved,with a median dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions (50-70 Gy).Of all the patients,109 patients (42.6%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Grade ≥2 acute esophagitis ( AE ) ( symptomatic esophagitis ) which occurred during radiotherapy and within 3 months after completion of radiotherapy served as the outcome event. National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0( NCI?CTCAE3.0) was used to evaluate the grade of AE. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the predictive factors. Results A total of 174 patients ( 68%) had treatment?related grade ≥2 AE;154 patients ( 60. 2%) had grade 2 AE and 20 patients (7.8%) had grade 3 AE.The median dose when grade≥2 AE occurred was 30 Gy (11?68 Gy).For grade≥2 AE,multivariate analysis showed that esophageal V5?V60,mean dose,and age were independent predictive factors (P=0.021,0,0.010).For grade ≥3 AE,multivariate analysis showed that esophageal V50?V60 ,concurrent chemotherapy,and body mass index ( BMI) were independent predictive factors ( P= 0.010,0.003,0.019 ) . Old age and higher BMI were the protective factors for grade≥2 and ≥3 AE, respectively. Conclusions For patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with IMRT, esophageal V50—V60 and concurrent chemotherapy are predictive factors for grade ≥3 AE,and esophageal V50 has a high predictive value for both grade ≥2 and ≥3 AE.

OBJECTIVETo explore the CT features of ground-glass nodules (GGN) including preinvasive lesions [atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)], minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC).

METHODSNinety-seven GGN lesions confirmed by operation pathology were included in this study. The lesions were divided into three groups: preinvasive lesion group (24 cases), MIA group (39 cases), IAC group (34 cases). The lesion size, 3-dimensional ratio, 2-dimensional ratio in axial images, lesion density, shape, speculation, lobulation, air-containing space and pleural indentation on the preoperative CT images in the three groups were analyzed and compared with pathological results. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 17.0.

RESULTSAll preinvasive lesions presented as pure GGN on CT image, most showed round-like shape, clear and smooth border. MIA presented as pure GGN or mixed GGN on CT image, most showed round-like shape, with a clear and smooth border. IAC most presented as mixed GGN on CT image, often showed irregular shape. Speculation, lobulation, air-containing space and pleural indentation displayed gradually increasing from preinvasive lesions to MIA and IAC. There were statistically significant differences in lesion size, CT density, shape, air-containing space, speculation, pleural indentation and long diameter of solid component between the MIA and IAC groups (P < 0.05 for all). There were statistically significant differences in CT density values and long diameters of solid component of the lesions between the preinvasive lesion group and MIA group (P < 0.05). The AUC of solid component of the preinvasive lesion group and MIA group was 0.705, and that of the MIA and IAC groups was 0.814.

CONCLUSIONComprehensive analysis of the CT image features of GGNs, especially the solid component in the lesions, may help to the preoperative and differential diagnosis of preinvasive lesions, MIA and IAC.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDMagnetic anchored surgical instruments (MASI), relying on magnetic force, can break through the limitations of the single port approach in dexterity. Individual characteristic abdominal wall thickness (ICAWT) deeply influences magnetic force that determines the safety of MASI. The purpose of this study was to research the abdominal wall characteristics in MASI applied environment to find ICAWT, and then construct an artful method to predict ICAWT, resulting in better safety and feasibility for MASI.

METHODSFor MASI, ICAWT is referred to the thickness of thickest point in the applied environment. We determined ICAWT through finding the thickest point in computed tomography scans. We also investigated the traits of abdominal wall thickness to discover the factor that can be used to predict ICAWT.

RESULTSAbdominal wall at C point in the middle third lumbar vertebra plane (L3) is the thickest during chosen points. Fat layer thickness plays a more important role in abdominal wall thickness than muscle layer thickness. "BMI-ICAWT" curve was obtained based on abdominal wall thickness of C point in L3 plane, and the expression was as follow: f(x) = P1 × x 2 + P2 × x + P3, where P1 = 0.03916 (0.01776, 0.06056), P2 = 1.098 (0.03197, 2.164), P3 = -18.52 (-31.64, -5.412), R-square: 0.99.

CONCLUSIONSAbdominal wall thickness of C point at L3 could be regarded as ICAWT. BMI could be a reliable predictor of ICAWT. In the light of "BMI-ICAWT" curve, we may conveniently predict ICAWT by BMI, resulting a better safety and feasibility for MASI.

Abdominal Wall ; anatomy & histology ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Surgical Instruments ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To analyze the clinical value of postoperative radiotherapy for node-positive middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( TESCC ) and to modify the target volume .Methods A total of 286 patients with node-positive middle TESCC underwent radical surgery in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 2004 to 2009.In addition, 90 of these patients received postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates, and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis.The Cox model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.The chi-square test was used for comparing the recurrence between patients receiving different treatment modalities.Results The 5-year overall survival ( OS) rates of the surgery alone ( S) group and surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy ( S+R) group were 22.9%and 37.8%, respectively, and the median OS times were 23.2 and 34.7 months, respectively ( P=0.003) .For patients with 1 or 2 lymph
node metastases (LNMs), the 5-year OS rates of the S group and S+R group were 27.3%and 44.8%, respectively ( P=0.017);for patients with more than 2 LNMs, the 5-year OS rates of the S group and S+R group were 16.7%and 25.0%, respectively (P=0.043).The peritoneal lymph node metastasis rates of N1 , N2 , and N3 patients in the S group were 2.9%, 10.9%, and 20.0%, respectively ( P=0.024) .The S+R group had a significantly lower mediastinal lymph node metastasis rate than the S group ( for patients with 1 or 2 LMNs:8.0%vs.35.3%, P=0.003;for patients with more than 2 LNMs, 10.0%vs.42.3%, P=0.001) , and had a prolonged recurrence time compared with the S group ( 25.1 vs.10.7 months, P=0.000) .However, for patients with more than 2 LNMs, the S+R group had a significantly higher hematogenous metastasis rate than the S group (46.7%vs.26.1%, P=0.039).Conclusions Patients with node-positive middle TESCC could benefit from postoperative radiotherapy.The target volume can be reduced for patients with 1 or 2 LNMs.Prospective studies are needed to examine whether it is more appropriate to reduce the radiotherapy dose than to reduce the target volume for patients with more than 2 LNMs.A high hematogenous metastasis rate warrants chemotherapy as an additional regimen.