Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is one of the most frequently reported infectious diseases. With the increasing antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gonorrhea has become a major public health problem worldwide, making it imperative to develop a safe and effective vaccine. Lipooligosaccharides (LOS), which exist on the outer surface of gram-negative bacteria, contain many important antigenic determinants. In recent years, a large number of studies have shown that LOS may become the most potential target of Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine and immunotherapy. This article reviewed the structure of LOS, its role in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, research progress in LOS vaccine and the challenges faced in vaccine development, aiming to provide reference for further study.

In the nucleus, chromatin is folded into hierarchical architecture that is tightly linked to various nuclear functions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that confer these archi-tectures remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the functional roles of H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), one of the abundant histone modifications, in three-dimensional (3D) genome organization. Unlike in mouse embryonic stem cells, inhibition of methyltransferases G9a and GLP in differentiated cells eliminated H3K9me2 predominantly at A-type (active) genomic compartments, and the level of residual H3K9me2 modifications was strongly associated with B-type (inactive) genomic compartments. Furthermore, chemical inhibition of G9a/GLP in mouse hepatocytes led to decreased chromatin-nuclear lamina interactions mainly at G9a/GLP-sensitive regions, increased degree of genomic compartmentalization, and up-regulation of hundreds of genes that were associated with alterations of the 3D chromatin. Collectively, our data demonstrated essential roles of H3K9me2 in 3D genome organization.

Objective To examine the efficacy and safety of 125Iseed implantation for treating neuroblastoma (NB) in animal models.Methods A total of 45 nude mice models of neuroblastoma were constructed and divided into the 125Igroup.control group.and blank group at 15 mice per group.The long and short diameters of the tumor were measured every 3 days.and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated every 9 days.Apoptotic and proliferative protein expression levels in tumor tissue and peritumoral tissue.as well as endocrine markers and bone marrow of the nude mice.were analyzed.The independent sample t test was used to compare the mean scores.and ANOVA was used for comparison between multiple groups.Results Tumor volume inhibition rate was significantly higher in the 125Igroup than in the control group and blank group on days 9.18.and 27(all P<0.05).Caspase-3 expression in tumor tissues was significantly higher in the 125Igroup than in the control group and blank group (all P<0.05).whereas proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was significantly lower in the 125Igroup than in the control group and blank group (all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in Caspase-3 and PCNA expression between the control group and blank group (all P>0.05).In addition.no significant difference in the expression of Caspase-3 and PCNA in peritumoral tissue was observed between the 125Igroup.control group.and blank group (all P>0.05).Cell apoptosis in tumor tissue was significantly lower in the blank group and control group than in the 125Igroup (all P<0.05).while there was no significant difference between the blank group and the control group (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in endocrine markers between the three groups (P>0.05).There was no significant bone marrow suppression in the 125Igroup.and this observation was similar to those in the control group and blank group (all P>0.05).Conclusions 125Iseeds have significant toxicity to NB.125Iseed implantation is safe in nude mice with NB within the therapeutic doses.

Background and objective Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against epidermal growth fac-tor receptor. Emerging evidence showed improved effcacy with the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the data in oriental population are limited. hTe aim of this study is to investigate the eff-cacy of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC.Methods NSCLC patients receiving cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristic, effcacy, outcome and toxicity data were analyzed.Results A total of 40 patients were enrolled into this study in which 29 were male, 36 with adenocarcinoma. In the 23 patients who had received palliative chemotherapy previously (with a median of 2 prior chemotherapy regimens), the median progression-free survival (PFS) atfer the last prior chemotherapy regimen was 2.3 months. For the overall population, 13 (32.5%) patients achieved partial response atfer cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy. Response rate were 52.9% (9/17) and 17.4% (4/23) in chemotherapy-naive patients and chemotherapy-treated patients, respectively (P=0.018). hTe median PFS was 4.8 months for the overall population. In chemotherapy-naive patients and chemotherapy-treated patients, the median PFS was 8.4 months and 4.1 months, respectively (P=0.062). hTe estimated median overall survival was 17.1 months. Toxicities were generally manageable and no treatment-related deaths occurred.Conclusion Cetuximab in addition to che-motherapy appears to be associated with promising effcacy and acceptable toxicity proifle in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC. Further validation is needed.

Background and objective Lung cancer in young patients (less or equal to 45 years) is relatively rare. We explored the effcacy and survival of Geiftinib for young patients with unknown epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation of advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Methods hTe clinical data of 55 young patients with unknown EGFR gene mutation in advanced lung adenocarcinoma referred to the Cancer Hospital&Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from Jan 2006 through Dec 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of 55 young patients enrolled, the me-dian age was 41 years. hTe objective response rate and disease control rate were 43.6%and 90.9%, respectively. hTe median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.0 months. Among the factors analyzed, brain metastasis had signiifcant effect on PFS (P=0.017). hTe median overall survival (OS) was 24.0 months. hTe independent prognostic factors to signiifcantly improve OS included non-smoking history (P=0.028) and receiving other anti-cancer treatment atfer Geiftinib therapy (P<0.001). Conclusion hTe median PFS and OS of the young patients with Unknown EGFR gene mutation in advanced lung adeno-carcinoma were similar with general population.

Background and objective At present no standard second-line combination has been established for recurrent small cell lung cancer (SCLC). hTerefore we evaluate the effcacy and safety of irinotecan in combination with nedapla-tin/cisplatin against refractory or relapsed small cell lung cancer. Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of 1,140 patients who diagnosed small cell lung cancer at our hospital from April 2009 to April 2012. Of all the patients, 34 patients were treated with irinotecan and nedaplatin (irinotecan 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 nedaplatin 85 mg/m2 day 1, every 3 weeks) , and 20 patients were treated with irinotecan and cisplatin (irinotecan 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 cisplatin 75 mg/m2 day 1, every 3 weeks) as the second-line treatment. Prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox's Regression-proportional hazards model. Results Of all the 54 eligible patients, median progression free survival (PFS) was 4.9 months, and median OS was 13.3 months. Median PFS was 5.4 months for irinotecan plus nedaplatin (IN) and 4.9 months for irinotecan plus cisplatin (IC), respectively (P=0.465). Median OS was 14.3 months and 13.3 months, respectively (P=0.704). In multivariate analysis, ECOG PS, number of metastases and cycles of chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. hTe toxicities were mild, while toxicity proifle was slightly different for each of the arms:hematologic toxicity was higher in IN group, and diarrhea was higher in IC group. Conclusion Irinotecan plus platinum is effective and tolerable for refractory and relapsed small cell lung cancer. Irinotecan plus nedaplatin is non-inferior to irinotecan plus cisplatin in terms of effcacy and safety.

Background and objective Subsequent chemotherapy were needed in patients with advanced pul-monary adenocarcinoma experiencing disease progression atfer epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) treatment. hTe study is to explore factors potentially inlfuencing effcacy of subsequent chemotherapy. Meth-ods One hundred and ninety-one patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, who were resistant from EGFR-TKIs and then received subsequent chemotherapy, were identified. Data of patient’s characteristics, responses to chemotherapy and survival time were analyzed retrospectively. Results hTe overall response rate of the pemetrexed-based chemotherapy (9.3%) was higher than non-pemetrexed-based regimen (1.1%), P=0.011. Furthermore, the response in the second-line was more ob-visous [objective response rate (ORR) 14.3%vs 3.7%, P=0.041]. hTe patients who achieved response of partial response (PR) showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those who achieved non-PR (PFS 10.1 months and 2.3 months, P=0.012). hTe patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy had longer PFS and OS than those with non-platinum-based che-motherapy, therefore platinum-based regimen was independent prognosis factors for PFS and OS (PFS:RR=0.634, 95%CI:0.466-0.832, P=0.004;OS:RR=0.666, 95%CI:0.460-0.960, P=0.030), especially the pateients who were aquired EGFR-TKIs resistance and who got drmatic progression from EGFR-TKIs treatment might got more beneifts from platinum-based chemo-therapy. However there was no signiifcant difference in ORR, PFS or OS between patients with TKIs primary resistance and acquired resistance, or between dramtic progression and gradual/local progression. Conclusion hTe patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma might get beneifts from pemetrexed-based or platinum-based chemotherapy atfer they were EGFR-TKIs resistace.

BACKGROUNDChemotherapy is the main treatment measure of advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy,toxicity,time to disease progression(TTP) and overall survival under the combined chemotherapy with gemcitabine(GEM) plus cisplatin(DDP) in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

METHODSRetrospective review was conducted on 79 chemotherapy-naive cases of advanced NSCLC treated with GEM and DDP from October 1999 to November 2005.Among 79 patients,51 were male and 28 female;the median age was 53 years old(ranged from 21 to 74);there were 17 cases of squamous cell carcinoma,53 cases of adenocarcinoma,3 cases of large cell carcinoma,1 case of adeno-sqamous cell carcinoma,5 unidentified cases;there were 26 cases in IIIB stage and 53 cases in IV stage according to AJCC 1997 standard.All patients received GEM 800-1250 mg/m² on days 1 and 8 and DDP 75-80 mg/m² on day 1 or 30 mg/m² for three days by intravenous administration,with 21 days as one cycle.Each patient received 2-4 cycles chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe total clinical reponse rate(complete and partial response) was 31.6%,and clinical benefit rate(complete and partial response and stable disease) was 73.4%.1-year survival rate was 64.9%,2-year survival rate was 32%.After median follow-up of 2.33 years,median TTP was 5.06 months.The main toxicities were nausea,vomitting and hematological toxicities.The rates of grade III to IV leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 25.4% and 31.6% respectively.Other toxicities were slight and tolerable.

CONCLUSIONSCombined chemotherapy with GEM plus DDP as first-line treatment to advanced NSCLC is an effective and feasible regimen,which is one of the standard regimens.For old patients,this regimen is a good choice.The fit dosage of GEM for Chinese is 1000 mg/m².

BACKGROUNDMultimodality treatment is the milestone of improving the prognosis of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The aim of this study is to retrospectively review the prognostic factors for SCLC.

METHODSFrom January 1999 to June 2005, clinical data were collected from 253 patients who had a good performance status (PS=0-1) and underwent multimodality therapy (chemotherapy+radiotherapy±surgery), and the prognostic factors were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and COX multivariate proportional hazards model.

RESULTSWith a median follow-up of 23.2 months (3-85 months), 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 77.9%, 33.8% and 23.3% respectively, and 88.3%, 40.2%, 31.2% in LD patients, 62.9%, 22.0% and 8.8% in ED patients, respectively. Median survival time (MST) of all the patients was 23 months (95% CI: 19-27 months). Univariate analysis indicated that gender (P=0.0395), stage (P= 0.0000 ), LDH (P=0.0000), operation (P=0.0029), weight loss (P=0.0000) and the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy (P=0.0000) significantly influenced survival in SCLC. Multivariate analysis suggested that gender (P=0.019), LDH (P=0.000), operation (P=0.024) and weight loss (P=0.006) were the independent prognostic factors of survival.

CONCLUSIONSGender, LDH, operation, and weight loss are the important prognostic factors for patients with SCLC who have a good PS and undergo multimodality treatment.