Objective:To investigate the detection of bone marrow tumor cells in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients and their relationship with clinical features, treatment response and prognosis.Methods:A total of 113patients with newly diagnosed SCLC from January 2018 to October 2022 at Beijing Chest Hospital were prospectively enrolled. Before treatment, bone marrow was aspirated and separately submitted for tumor cells detection by liquid-based cytology and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) detection by the substrction enrichment and immunostaining fluorescence in situ hybridization (SE-iFISH) platform. The correlation between the detection results of the two methods with patients' clinical features and treatment response was evaluated by Chi-square. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to create survival curves and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis.Results:The positive rate of bone marrow liquid-based cytology in SCLC was 15.93% (18/113). The liver and bone metastases rates were significantly higher (55.56% vs 11.58% for liver metastasis, P＜0.001; 77.78% vs 16.84% for bone metastasis, P＜0.001) and thrombocytopenia was more common (16.67% vs 2.11%, P=0.033) in patients with tumor cells detected in liquid-based cytology than those without detected tumor cells. As for SE-iFISH, DTCs were detected in 92.92% of patients (105/113), the liver and bone metastasis rates were significantly higher (37.93% vs 11.90% for liver metastasis, P=0.002; 44.83% vs 20.23 % for bone metastasis, P=0.010), and the incidence of thrombocytopenia was significantly increased (13.79% vs 1.19%, P=0.020) in patients with DTCs≥111 per 3 ml than those with DTCs＜111 per 3 ml. The positive rates of bone marrow liquid-based cytology in the disease control group and the disease progression group were 12.00% (12/100) and 46.15% (6/13), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.002). However, the result of SE-iFISH revealed the DTCs quantities of the above two groups were 29 (8,110) and 64 (15,257) per 3 ml, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P=0.329). Univariate analysis depicted that the median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) of liquid-based cytology positive patients were significantly shorter than those of tumor cell negative patients (6.33 months vs 9.27 months for PFS, P=0.019; 8.03 months vs 19.50 months for OS, P=0.019, P=0.033). The median PFS and median OS in patients with DTCs≥111 per 3 ml decreased significantly than those with DTCs＜111 per 3 ml (6.83 months vs 9.50 months for PFS, P=0.004; 11.2 months vs 20.60 months for OS, P=0.019). Multivariate analysis showed that disease stage ( HR=2.806, 95% CI:1.499-5.251, P=0.001) and DTCs quantity detected by SE-iFISH ( HR=1.841, 95% CI:1.095-3.095, P=0.021) were independent factors of PFS, while disease stage was the independent factor of OS ( HR=2.538, 95% CI:1.169-5.512, P=0.019). Conclusions:Both bone marrow liquid-based cytology and SE-iFISH are clinically feasible. The positive detection of liquid-based cytology or DTCs≥111 per 3 ml was correlated with distant metastasis, and DTCs≥111 per 3 ml was an independent prognostic factor of decreased PFS in SCLC.

Immunotherapy has become the cornerstone of current malignant tumor treatment.However,the response of different patients to immunotherapy is highly heterogeneous,and not all patients can benefit from it.There is an urgent need to find biomarkers that can effectively predict the efficacy of immunotherapy.C-C chemokine ligand 4(CCL4)is a cytokine,belonging to the inflammatory CCL subfamily.It is mainly secreted by immune cells and tumor cells and shows low or no expression in normal tissues but abnormally high expression in various malignant tumor tissues.After binding to CCL4 and its receptor C-C chemokine receptor type 5(CCR5),it can recruit and mediate immune cell migration,destroy the stabili-ty of the tumor microenvironment(TME),participate in carcinogenesis and promote the development of tumors.In the tumor immune microenvironment,CCL4 can mediate and recruit the directed migration of key immune cells such as monocytes,macrophages,natural killer(NK)cells,and T cells,which makes it a potentially important element affecting the efficacy of im-munotherapy and has specific value.This paper reviews the research progresses of CCL4's effects on immune escape in TME,in order to provide clues and references for basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To investigate the detection of bone marrow tumor cells in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients and their relationship with clinical features, treatment response and prognosis.Methods:A total of 113patients with newly diagnosed SCLC from January 2018 to October 2022 at Beijing Chest Hospital were prospectively enrolled. Before treatment, bone marrow was aspirated and separately submitted for tumor cells detection by liquid-based cytology and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) detection by the substrction enrichment and immunostaining fluorescence in situ hybridization (SE-iFISH) platform. The correlation between the detection results of the two methods with patients' clinical features and treatment response was evaluated by Chi-square. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to create survival curves and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis.Results:The positive rate of bone marrow liquid-based cytology in SCLC was 15.93% (18/113). The liver and bone metastases rates were significantly higher (55.56% vs 11.58% for liver metastasis, P＜0.001; 77.78% vs 16.84% for bone metastasis, P＜0.001) and thrombocytopenia was more common (16.67% vs 2.11%, P=0.033) in patients with tumor cells detected in liquid-based cytology than those without detected tumor cells. As for SE-iFISH, DTCs were detected in 92.92% of patients (105/113), the liver and bone metastasis rates were significantly higher (37.93% vs 11.90% for liver metastasis, P=0.002; 44.83% vs 20.23 % for bone metastasis, P=0.010), and the incidence of thrombocytopenia was significantly increased (13.79% vs 1.19%, P=0.020) in patients with DTCs≥111 per 3 ml than those with DTCs＜111 per 3 ml. The positive rates of bone marrow liquid-based cytology in the disease control group and the disease progression group were 12.00% (12/100) and 46.15% (6/13), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.002). However, the result of SE-iFISH revealed the DTCs quantities of the above two groups were 29 (8,110) and 64 (15,257) per 3 ml, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P=0.329). Univariate analysis depicted that the median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) of liquid-based cytology positive patients were significantly shorter than those of tumor cell negative patients (6.33 months vs 9.27 months for PFS, P=0.019; 8.03 months vs 19.50 months for OS, P=0.019, P=0.033). The median PFS and median OS in patients with DTCs≥111 per 3 ml decreased significantly than those with DTCs＜111 per 3 ml (6.83 months vs 9.50 months for PFS, P=0.004; 11.2 months vs 20.60 months for OS, P=0.019). Multivariate analysis showed that disease stage ( HR=2.806, 95% CI:1.499-5.251, P=0.001) and DTCs quantity detected by SE-iFISH ( HR=1.841, 95% CI:1.095-3.095, P=0.021) were independent factors of PFS, while disease stage was the independent factor of OS ( HR=2.538, 95% CI:1.169-5.512, P=0.019). Conclusions:Both bone marrow liquid-based cytology and SE-iFISH are clinically feasible. The positive detection of liquid-based cytology or DTCs≥111 per 3 ml was correlated with distant metastasis, and DTCs≥111 per 3 ml was an independent prognostic factor of decreased PFS in SCLC.

Objective:To summarize the practice of continuing medical education programs in tuberculosis at Beijing Chest Hospital, and to put forward suggestions and references for improving the level of education and the quality of training.Methods:This paper examined the current situation of continuing medical education programs in tuberculosis at Beijing Chest Hospital. A satisfaction survey was administered to 3 451 trainees in 30 programs using a questionnaire that assessed the four aspects of learning attitude, learning environment and conditions, learning performance, and development status. SPSS 22.0 was used for the χ 2 test and t-test. Python 3.8.1 was used for word frequency analysis. Results:Of the participants, 75.54% (2 607) were generally satisfied and 23.41% (808) were satisfied with the programs. Physicians with different titles, regions, and education levels differed significantly on satisfactory items ( P<0.05). Chief physicians (professors) demonstrated a significantly higher understanding of the training programs compared to other physicians ( P<0.001). Physicians who worked in Beijing exhibited a significantly greater learning uptake than those from regions outside Beijing ( P=0.002). Physicians with doctoral and master's degrees were significantly less satisfied with the teaching materials compared to those with undergraduate or lower degrees ( P=0.001). Conclusions:The overall satisfaction of participants in continuing medical education programs in tuberculosis is relatively high. The managerial staff should improve the programs in multiple dimensions by giving full play to the advantageous disciplines in the hospital, developing brand training programs, and establishing a full-cycle management mechanism. Additionally, it is crucial to standardize high-quality programs, actively expand online distance education, and explore verifiable self-study models.

Objective:An artificial intelligence(AI)model based on deep learning algorithms was constructed using clinical data to evaluate the feasibility of predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:Clinical and pathological data of 132 patients with NSCLC who were diagnosed and treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy between January 2020 and January 2024 at Beijing Chest Hospital/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute were collected.Statistical analysis was conducted to identify the main factors affecting the efficacy of neoadjuvant im-munotherapy combined with chemotherapy.Variables were selected based on statistical results and relevant literature,and a variable data-set was constructed.A deep learning model was established using a multi-layer perceptron(MLP)algorithm with 5-fold cross-validation,and the performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).Results:Among the 132 patients,univari-ate analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences in sex(P=0.020),smoking history(P=0.004),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)(P=0.038)and programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)≥1%(P=0.038)between the major pathological response(MPR)and non-MPR groups.Patients in the complete pathological response(pCR)group and non-pCR groups showed statistical differences in tumor size(P=0.007)and CEA levels(P=0.010).After 5-fold cross-validation,the average area under the curve(AUC)of the MPR prediction model in the validation and test sets was 0.72 and 0.71,respectively.Conclusions:The deep learning model can effectively predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoim-munotherapy in patients with NSCLC.

Mycobacterium abscessesus (MAB) is the most common species of rapidly growing pathogenic nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). MAB is also an opportunistic pathogen with high drug resistance. The unique structure of cell wall enables it to exist in different forms and to undergo morphological transformation, making it the "shapeshifter of the mycobacterial world" , which facilitates its survival in natural environment in a saprophytic manner; and also facilitates its invasion into the host with long-term survival and being pathogenic. This article reviews research progress on the specific deformability of MAB and the mechanism associated with its phenotypic transformation; discusses the evolutionary characteristics of MAB to adapt environmental changes to provide reference for better understanding the biological characteristics and pathogenicity of MAB.

Objective:To detect the inflammatory reaction of macrophages induced by lipoglycans of different genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) in vitro and to analyze the differences in lipoglycan virulence. Methods:Lipoglycans were extracted from Mtb of Beijing, T1 and MANU2 genotypes and H37Rv by Triton X-114 liquid phase method and the crude extracts of lipoglycans was used to stimulate RAW264.7 macrophages. Changes in cytokine and receptor expression and cell apoptosis were detected 24 h after stimulation. The virulence of lipoglycans from different genotypes of Mtb was analyzed and compared. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey′s multiple comparisons test were used to compare the differences in various indexes between groups. Results:The expression of IL-10 at mRNA level induced by lipoglycans from Mtb of Beijing, T1 and MANU2 genotypes and H37Rv was (0.94±0.24), (1.86±0.24), (1.90±0.24) and (2.55±0.75) times that of the control group. Moreover, IL-10 mRNA expression induced by lipoglycans from Mtb of Beijing genotype was significantly lower than that of H37Rv group ( P<0.05). After stimulating RAW264.7 cells with the crude extracts of lipoglycans, the proportions of living cells in H37Rv, Beijing genotype, T1 genotype and MANU2 genotype groups were (72.75±2.25)%, (60.99±0.13)%, (80.66±0.40)% and (79.06±1.19)%, and the total cell apoptosis ratios was (10.42±0.23)%, (8.30±0.03)%, (9.24±0.79)% and (8.04±0.48)%, respectively. The proportion of living cells in Beijing genotype group was the lowest ( P<0.05), and the proportions of living cells in T1 and MANU2 genotype groups were higher than that in H37Rv group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in cell apoptosis ratio among the groups ( P>0.05). Lipoglycan-induced cell death was increased in Beijing genotype group, and the lipoglycan from Beijing genotype Mtb was more virulent than those from Mtb of T1 and MANU2 genotypes. Conclusions:Lipoglycan from Mtb of Beijing genotype could induce a higher level of cell death in vitro. It was an antigen component with stronger virulence than those from Mtb of T1 and MANU2 genotypes.

Post-translational modification of host proteins induced by pathogenic microorganism plays a critical role in the development, treatment and prevention of diseases. Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) is an intracellular pathogen that causes tuberculosis. The post-translational modification induced by Mtb infection is essential in the development and progression of tuberculosis. In recent years, it has been found that Mtb-induced host protein acetylation plays an important role in the regulation of host immunity against tuberculosis, which significantly affects the development of tuberculosis. This review focused on the role and mechanism of Mtb in regulating host protein acetylation, aiming to provide reference for future investigation on potential immunotherapy for tuberculosis.

The definition of adjuvant in immunology is the non-specific immunopotentiator, which only performs auxiliary functions. With the appearance of various adjuvants and their successful application in some vaccines against infectious disease, they have received extensive attention and been studied in-depth. This review focused on the types, functions and prospects of adjuvants used in tuberculosis vaccines, aiming to provide reference for adjuvant selection and development in future.

Objective:To observe the characteristics of the phagocytosis and bactericidal function of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MDR- Mtb)-infected macrophage model, and the changes of the immune response and metabolic function in the process of phagocytosis and bactericidal function, aiming to provide reference for studying the role and mechanism of macrophages in the occurrence and development of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB). Methods:We established MDR- Mtb and H37Rv-infected macrophage models, and used the colony-forming unit (CFU), Magnetic Luminex ? Assay and Cholesterol Assay kit to observe the effects on phagocytosis and bactericidal function, the secretion of Th1(IL-12/23 p40, IL-27 and TNF-α) and Th2 cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) and cholesterol metabolism. The data were analyzed by SPSS25.0 software. The data were expressed as Mean± SD and analyzed by t test or F test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:(1) After MDR- Mtb-infected macrophages, the intracellular CFU gradually increased and reached the highest at 24 h, while the extracellular CFU gradually decreased and reached the lowest at 24 h. The intracellular CFU at 48 h was lower than that at 24 h, while the extracellular CFU was higher than that at 24 h ( P<0.05). Both intracellular and extracellular CFU at 48 h were close to those at 4 h ( P>0.05). The intracellular CFU was lower than the H37Rv group at 8-48 h, while the extracellular CFU was higher than the H37Rv group ( P<0.05). (2) The level of IL-12/23 p40, IL-27, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 of MDR-TB group were higher than those of blank group ( P<0.05), but the level of TNF-α and IL-6 at 24 h and 48 h were higher than that at 4 h ( P<0.05). IL-12/23 p40 and TNF-α at 48 h and IL-6 at 24 h were lower than those of the H37Rv group, while IL-27 at 48 h was higher than that of the H37Rv group ( P<0.05). (3) The levels of cholesterol of MDR-TB group at 24 h and 48 h were lower than those of 4 h and blank group ( P<0.05), but the level of cholesterol was similar to the H37Rv group at any time ( P>0.05). (4) TNF-α reached the highest when the intracellular CFU reached the highest at 24 h, and IL-6 reached the highest when the intracellular CFU decreased at 48 h. With the decreasing of cholesterol expression, the intracellular CFU increased and then decreased. Conclusions:MDR- Mtb could induce the phagocytosis and bactericidal function of macrophages, increase the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and promote the utilization and consumption of cholesterol, but this function was weaker than that of H37Rv strain.