BACKGROUNDTo study the expression of CD44v3 and its prognostic value in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSCD44v3 expression was detected in 52 NSCLC tissues and 12 normal pulmonary tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (SP method).

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of CD44v3 in NSCLC was 57.7% (SP method) and 71.2% (RT-PCR), respectively. The positive rate of CD44v3 in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinoma (P < 0.01). Higher expression of CD44v3 was demonstrated in poor differentiation compared with moderate and well differentiation (P < 0.05). The expression of CD44v3 was much higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than that in those without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression rate of CD44v3 was remarkably higher in stage III than that in stage I-II. Multi-variate Logistic analysis showed the expression of CD44v3 and p-TNM stage were significantly prognostic factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of CD44v3 is very common in lung cancer tissues. Detection of CD44v3 expression may be helpful to predict the prognosis of lung cancer patients.

Objective: To explore the effects of vascular risk factors on cognitive function among the elderly in community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 269 elderly people (aged 65 and over) who were randomly selected from three communities.Through face-to-face interview, cognitive function was assessed by mini-mental state examination(MMSE), and blood samples were collected for laboratory examination.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the vascular risk factors affecting cognitive function. Results: Age ((73.1±6.6), (71.3±4.9), t=4.603, P<0.05), education level (χ²=12.727, P<0.05), hypertension (χ²=9.106, P<0.05) and LDL-C (χ²=5.157, P<0.05) were significantly different in the elderly with or without mild cognitive impairment(MCI). After controlling age, gender and education, the logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension(β=0.378, P=0.006, OR(95%CI)=1.44(1.10-1.91)), systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg(β=0.350, P=0.011, OR(95%CI)=1.42(1.08-1.86), 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and high LDL-C(β=0.355, P=0.014, OR(95%CI)=1.43(1.08-1.89)) were the risk factors of MCI in the elderly in the community.Hypertension alone or high LDL-C (β=0.365, P=0.029, OR(95%CI)=1.44(1.04-2.00)) alone was risk factor for mild cognitive impairment in the elderly in the community.The risk of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly with hypertension and high LDL-C was 2.00 times higher than that in the healthy elderly (β=0.696, P<0.05, OR(95%CI)=2.00(1.36-2.97)). Conclusion Mild cognitive impairment in the elderly is closely related to hypertension and elevated LDL-C levels.Multiple vascular risk factors can further increase the risk of cognitive impairment.