甲状腺乳头状癌前上纵隔淋巴结转移临床病理特征初步分析

目的 探讨肿瘤位置、最大直径及甲状腺外浸等临床病理特征与甲状腺癌前上纵隔淋巴结转移的关系。 方法 研究分析初次手术治疗的60例甲状腺乳头状癌患者临床及病理资料,运用检验临床病理特征与前上纵隔淋巴结阳性率的相关性。 结果 肿块位置、最大直径、数量、腺体外侵、受累腺叶数及Ⅵ区淋巴结转移等特征,以及患者年龄等相关因素中,只有VI区淋巴结对前上纵隔淋巴结状态有影响;60例患者前上纵隔淋巴结转移率为10/60(16.67%)。相关因素的前上纵隔淋巴结转移率对比:≥55岁vs <55岁(20% vs 16.36%, P<0.05);肿块位于下极 vs 上极 vs 中极(P>0.05);最大直径≥1.5 cm vs 最大直径<1.5 cm(18.18% vs 15.79, P>0.05);单灶 vs 多灶(21.88% vs 10.71%, P>0.05);单叶 vs 多叶(17.5% vs 15%, P>0.05);男性vs女性(20% vs 15.55%, P>0.05); Ⅵ区淋巴结阳性vs 阴性(24.43% vs 3.57%, P<0.05); 结论 总体来说,甲状腺乳头状癌前上纵隔淋巴结转移率较低。本研究发现VI区淋巴结状态可能与前上纵隔淋巴结转移相关,未来仍需大样本前瞻性的研究验证。     

Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) eyeball oil exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK activation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and croton oil-treated mice

The effect of tuna eyeball oil (TEO) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in macrophage cells was investigated. TEO had no cytotoxicity in cell viability as compared to the control in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. TEO reduced the levels of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines by up to 50% in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of NF-κB and MAPKs as well as iNOS and COX-2 proteins was reduced by TEO, which suggests that its anti-inflammatory activity is related to the suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. The rate of formation of ear edema was reduced compared to that in the control at the highest dose tested. In an acute toxicity test, no mice were killed by TEO doses of up to 5000 mg/kg body weight during the two week observation period. These results suggested that TEO may have a significant effect on inflammatory factors and be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic.     

Macroporous thin membranes for cell transplant in regenerative medicine

The aim of this paper is to present a method to produce macroporous thin membranes made of poly (ethyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) copolymer network with varying cross-linking density for cell transplantation and prosthesis fabrication. The manufacture process is based on template techniques and anisotropic pore collapse. Pore collapse was produced by swelling the membrane in acetone and subsequently drying and changing the solvent by water to produce 100 microns thick porous membranes. These very thin membranes are porous enough to hold cells to be transplanted to the organism or to be colonized by ingrowth from neighboring tissues in the organism, and they present sufficient tearing stress to be sutured with surgical thread. The obtained pore morphology was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope, and confocal laser microscopy. Mechanical properties were characterized by stress–strain experiments in tension and tearing strength measurements. Morphology and mechanical properties were related to the different initial thickness of the scaffold and the cross-linking density of the polymer network. Seeding efficiency and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells inside the pore structure were determined at 2 h, 1, 7, 14 and 21 days from seeding.     

Adaptive Strategy for External Beam Radiation Therapy in Prostate Cancer: Management of the Geometrical Uncertainties With Robust Optimization

PurposeWe aim to develop and validate a new adaptive method for prostate cancer radiation therapy (RT), using an offline strategy to improve treatment personalization by modeling the internal target volume on individual basis and account for the residual set-up uncertainties by robust optimization.Methods and MaterialsTwenty patients with intermediate-high prostate cancer treated with radical radiation therapy were enrolled. The first step of the offline adaptive RT strategy is the identification of a patient-specific internal target volume based on the kV cone beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) data sets acquired during the first 5 fractions. The deformable image registration algorithm ANACONDA was used to propagate the clinical target volumes (CTVs) from the reference-planning computed tomography to the CBCTs; these contours were assessed by a radiation oncologist. In the second step, the internal target volume was used to replan the treatment using a min-max robust algorithm based on the worst scenario optimization. The CTV coverage and organs-at-risk sparing achieved with the robust plan (RP) were analyzed and compared with the original standard plan, calculating the dose distributions on the residual CBCTs.ResultsThe RP was shown to achieve optimal coverage of the CTV even in the worst scenario, with significantly lower doses to the rectum and bladder. CTV coverage of the RP was statistically better than the standard plan in terms of D99 (P = .008) and D98 (P = .02). Statistically significant mean dose reduction and D2 reduction were noted for the rectum (P < .05) and bladder (P < .009). Moreover, the RP appeared to be less sensitive to bladder and rectal filling.ConclusionsThis adaptive strategy in prostate cancer radiation therapy is feasible and safe; it may be used to adapt the treatment with better target coverage and organs-at-risk sparing than standard planning target volume–based planning.     

Exploration and validation of the effects of robust co-expressed immune-related genes on immune infiltration patterns and prognosis in laryngeal cancer

ObjectivesLaryngeal cancer is a common malignant tumor that originates from the larynx, yet its molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly explored. The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate immune-related genes in laryngeal cancer through gene co-expression networks, which may serve as biomarkers for its immunotherapy.MethodsWe applied ESTIMATE to evaluate the immune-infiltration landscape of tumor microenvironment. The co-expression networks were constructed by weighted gene co expression network analysis (WGCNA) and compared with the existing human immune related genes (IRGs) to determine the co-expressed IRGs. GSVA combined with CIBERSORT and ssGSEA illustrated the correlation of hub genes and immune infiltration patterns. TIDE algorithm and Subclass mapping evaluated the function of hub genes in predicting immune function and immunotherapeutic sensitivity. The pRRophetic was employed in the sensitivity prediction of chemotherapeutic drugs.ResultsA total of 23 co-expressed IRGs were identified and showed robust expression characteristics. These genes were significantly related to immune infiltration patterns, immune function and sensitivity prediction of immunotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs for laryngeal cancer patients. Genetic alteration in somatic mutation level and related pathways were also revealed.ConclusionThe 23 co-expressed IRGs may act as immunotherapeutic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for laryngeal cancer with certain expression robustness. The molecular mechanisms deserve further investigation, which will guide clinical treatment in the future.     

T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas in the lung

While the lung is frequently involved by systemic lymphoma, primary pulmonary lymphoma accounts for less than 1% of all extranodal ymphomas. In particular, T-cell lymphoma is very rare in the lung, as a primary or secondary lesion. Patients with pulmonary T-cell lymphoma usually present with cough, dyspnea, pain, fever, recurrent infections, and hemoptysis. Typical radiologic features include pulmonary nodules, consolidation, solid pulmonary opacities, cystic changes, hilar adenopathy, and pleural effusions. Patients with these clinical and radiologic findings are frequently presumed to have pneumonia and initially treated with empirical antibiotics. Therefore, CT-guided needle biopsy, bronchoscopic examination, or even wedge biopsy should be considered when clinical symptoms show deterioration despite adequate antibiotic therapy. Precise pathologic diagnosis and molecular characterization are recommended in all cases, following the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Principles of treatment typically vary with the different histologic types of T-cell lymphoma.     

Extracellular vesicles transmitted miR-31-5p promotes sorafenib resistance by targeting MLH1 in renal cell carcinoma

Sorafenib provides survival benefits in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but its use is hampered by acquired drug resistance. It is important to fully clarify the molecular mechanisms of sorafenib resistance, which can help to avoid, delay or reverse drug resistance. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can mediate intercellular communication by delivering effector molecules between cells. Here, we studied whether EVs are involved in sorafenib resistance of RCC and its possible molecular mechanisms. Using differential centrifugation, EVs were isolated from established sorafenib-resistant RCC cells (786-0 and ACHN), and EVs derived from sorafenib-resistant cells were uptaken by sensitive parental RCC cells and thus promoted drug resistance. Elevated exogenous miR-31-5p within EVs effectively downregulated MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) expression and thus promoted sorafenib resistance in vitro. Mice experiments also confirmed that miR-31-5p could mediate drug sensitivity in vivo. In addition, low expression of MLH1 was observed in sorafenib-resistant RCC cells and upregulation of MLH1 expression restored the sensitivity of resistant cell lines to sorafenib. Finally, miR-31-5p level in circulating EVs of RCC patients with progressive disease (PD) during sorafenib therapy was higher when compared to that in the pretherapy status. In conclusion, EVs shuttled miR-31-5p can transfer resistance information from sorafenib-resistant cells to sensitive cells by directly targeting MLH1, and thus magnify the drug resistance information to the whole tumor. Furthermore, miR-31-5p and MLH1 could be promising predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets to prevent sorafenib resistance.     

鼻咽癌放化疗患者味嗅觉改变及自我报告症状的相关性

目的 基于鼻咽癌放化疗患者自我报告症状进行分析,探讨症状困扰与味嗅觉改变(taste and smell alterations, TSAs)的相关性,为症状评估和管理策略的制定提供依据。方法 采用横断面调查,于2021年6—12月,采用一般资料调查表、味嗅觉调查表(the Taste and Smell Survey, TSS)、安德森症状量表-头颈部模块(M.D.Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck, MDASI-HN)对142例鼻咽癌放化疗患者进行问卷调查。结果 TSS总分为10.00(6.00,13.00),味觉维度7.00(5.00,9.00),嗅觉维度3.00(0.00,5.00)。MDASI-HN量表核心症状困扰个数为11.00(7.75,13.00),头颈症状困扰个数为7.00(4.00,9.00),生活干扰个数为5.00(2.00,6.00),其中核心症状困扰、头颈症状困扰与TSAs程度分级呈正相关(P<0.05)。MDASI-HN量表条目睡眠不安、发音/讲话困难、食物或饮水呛咳、工作(包含家务劳动)与TSAs程度分级...