The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers in Taiwan

Introduction

For never-smokers (smoked <100 lifetime cigarettes), lung cancer (LC) has emerged as an important issue. We aimed to investigate the effects of prevalence changes in tobacco smoking and particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (PM_2.5) levels on LC in Taiwan, in relation to contrasting PM_2.5 levels, between Northern Taiwan (NT) and Southern Taiwan (ST).

二补助育汤对胚胎着床障碍小鼠子宫血管生成相关因子表达的影响

目的：探讨二补助育汤对胚胎着床障碍模型小鼠子宫内膜形态及血管生成素-1（Ang-1）mRNA、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）mRNA的表达和定位的影响。方法：24只ICR雌性小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、戊酸雌二醇组、二补助育汤组，每组6只，用米非司酮建立胚胎着床障碍动物模型，各组给予相应药物灌胃，妊娠第5天处死小鼠后，检测各组妊娠率、平均着床位点数、子宫内膜Ang-1和VEGF mRNA表达量及其蛋白定位。结果：模型组小鼠平均胚胎着床位点数、Ang-1 mRNA、VEGF mRNA表达量明显低于空白组（均P<0.05）；与模型组比较，二补助育汤组平均胚胎着床位点数、Ang-1 mRNA、VEGF mRNA表达量显著提高（均P<0.05）。结论：二补助育汤可提高子宫内膜Ang-1和VEGF蛋白表达量，促进子宫内膜血管生成，从而提高子宫内膜容受性。     

甲状腺功能减退与子宫内膜癌的相关性分析

 目的 探讨甲状腺功能减退与子宫内膜癌（EC）的关系及EC患者癌组织分化程度和雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）的表达与甲状腺功能之间的关系。方法 选取2015年1月—2018年7月我院收治的EC患者113例，同时随机选取年龄与EC组相匹配的此段时间内我院健康体检的妇女156例作为对照组，检测血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）、甲状腺激素（FT4）。比较两组间甲状腺功能减退的患病率，并利用免疫组织化学法测定EC患者手术切除标本的癌组织中ER、PR的表达，分析EC患者癌组织分化程度及癌组织中ER、PR的表达与甲状腺功能之间的相关性。结果 EC组甲状腺功能减退的患病率较对照组高（P<0.000）。低分化EC患者的TSH高于中分化EC患者（P=0.025）。EC手术切除标本的癌组织中ER、PR阳性与阴性患者的TSH、FT4差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 甲状腺功能减退与EC具有相关性。     

胰腺导管腺癌CT、MR相关研究进展

胰腺导管腺癌（pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma，PDAC）是最常见的胰腺恶性肿瘤，其恶性程度高，患者生存率低。CT、MR是PDAC诊断最常用的影像检查，其不仅可以帮助PDAC进行诊断、鉴别，还能通过特殊序列来提供相应功能参数。此外，影像组学可以挖掘更多的影像信息供临床医生分析、预测患者术后生存率。CT、MR对于PDAC临床治疗具有重要的指导意义，故本文对PDAC相关CT、MR进展进行综述。     

肺腺癌对一代EGFR-TKIs原发耐药的危险因素分析

目的:分析对一代表皮生长因子受体酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors,EGFR-TKIs)原发耐药的EGFR突变肺腺癌患者的临床特征,为预测肺腺癌患者是否对一代EGFR-TKIs原发耐药提供依据。方法:收集2014年01月至2019年04月于本院住院,一线使用一代EGFR-TKIs且随访时间超过6个月的EGFR敏感突变(19Del/21L858R)肺腺癌患者,根据疗效纳入原发性耐药组(NR=40)和敏感组(NS=237),比较两组患者的临床、影像特征及实验室指标之间的差异,分析对一代EGFR-TKIs原发耐药的危险因素。结果:EGFR敏感突变患者的原发性耐药发生率为14.4%。原发性耐药组与敏感组患者相比,二者在吸烟指数(P=0.004)及淋巴结转移(P=0.03)的差异有统计学意义。血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶(neuron specific enolase,NSE)≥10.725 ng/mL、肿瘤直径≥3.55 cm的患者更易对一代EGFR-TKIs耐药(P<0.05),各因素AUC值分别为0.615、0.716。联合NSE+肿瘤直径两项指标时AUC为0.735(95%CI:0.665~0.804),联合NSE+肿瘤直径+吸烟指数三项指标时AUC为0.751(95%CI:0.679~0.822),均优于单项指标。多因素Logistics回归分析证实,血清NSE浓度、肿瘤直径及吸烟指数是预测EGFR敏感突变患者对一代EGFR-TKI原发耐药的独立影响因素(P<0.05)。结论:吸烟指数≥400、病灶直径≥3.55 cm、血清NSE浓度≥10.725 ng/mL的患者更易对一代EGFR-TKIs原发耐药。单因素对预测EGFR突变患者是否对一代EGFR-TKIs原发耐药准确性较低,综合上述三项指标预测效果更好。     

Suppression of PRDX4 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) has been proposed to play a role in the development of EMs. Peroxiredoxins are a family of antioxidant proteins that exhibit peroxidase activity in a thioredoxin-dependent manner, protecting cells against OS. The Western blotting results showed that the relative expression of PRDX4 was significantly increased in ectopic endometria compared with the normal endometria of EMs-free (p?<?.05). The H₂O₂ concentration was also significantly higher in the ectopic endometrium. PRDX4 siRNA was transfected into primary ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs). The viability of the transfected EESCs was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the results showed significantly decreased cell viability. Furthermore, the apoptosis rate and ROS generation in flow cytometry assays were significantly increased after the knockdown of PRDX4 expression (p?<?.05). Scratch assays and transwell assays revealed that decreased expression of PRDX4 mediated by siRNA inhibited EESC migration and invasion. In conclusion, these findings indicate the potential role of PRDX4 in the development of EMs and PRDX4 as a possible therapeutic target for EMs treatment.     

Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of infertile patients with endometriosis and endometrial polyps: A retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to discuss the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of surgically diagnosed endometriosis complicated by endometrial polyps and investigate the association between pregnancy outcomes during subsequent pregnancies.Materials and methodsFrom January 2013 to December 2016, 1263 infertile patients were enrolled in the study. We identified 451 patients with endometriosis, and divided them into a polyp group (n = 204) and a non-polyp group (n = 247) based on whether or not they were associated with endometrial polyps. Postoperative clinical pregnant women (n = 82) among the polyp group were then classified into a study group and a control group composed of those undergoing a singleton pregnancy (n = 164) who delivered during the same time period. Clinical statuses and complications during pregnancy and delivery were collected from hospitals and by telephone interviews and surveys through the mail.ResultsThe prevalence rate of endometriosis infertile group was obviously higher than the non-endometriosis infertile group ([45.23%; 204/451] versus [17.12%; 139/812]). Women suffering from stage 1 to 4 endometriosis had a 42.44% (73/172), 40.69% (59/145), 55.89% (38/68) and 51.52% (34/66) occurrence rate of endometrial polyps, respectively. The frequency of endometrial polyps for stage 3 and 4 patients was obviously higher than that of stage 1 and 2 patients ([53.73%; 72/134] versus [41.64%; 132/317]). Moreover, the occurrence rate of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) was 57.81% (37/64), which was obviously higher than that of ovarian endometriosis (42.42%; 98/231) and peritoneal endometriosis (44.23%; 69/156). Of the 204 women diagnosed with posterior endometrial polyps, 89 became pregnant, 7 pregnancies ended in a spontaneous abortion, and 82 successfully delivered a baby. The clinical pregnancy rate of patients in stages 1 and 2 was wholly higher than that of patients in stages 3 and 4 ([48.70%; 56/115] versus [37.71%; 26/82]). The postsurgical pregnancy status of patients suffering from peritoneal endometriosis was slightly better than those with ovarian or DIE, but differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.626). We also found that the pregnancy rate was statistically elevated in patients whose EFI scores range from 7 to 10. When compared to the control group, women with endometriosis and endometrial polyps had a higher risk of their pregnancy being complicated by placenta previa (13.41%) and cesarean delivery (59.76%).ConclusionPatients with endometriosis have a higher frequency of endometrial polyps. We found that a combined hysteroscopy and laparoscopy surgical procedure is an effective way to increase pregnancy rates. Different endometriosis stages and types in patients were associated with clinical pregnancy and spontaneous abortion rates. Women affected by both endometriosis and endometrial polyps have an independently elevated risk of placenta previa and cesarean delivery during pregnancy.     

AKR7A3在肺腺癌中异常表达及临床意义

目的:探讨醛-酮还原酶家族7成员A3（AKR7A3）在肺腺癌中的异常表达及与临床病理特征的关系，并探究其临床意义。方法:采用生物信息学数据库分析、免疫组化、Western Blot、Real-time PCR等方法对肺腺癌组织及不同细胞中AKR7A3的表达进行检测与分析。结果:Oncomine数据库分析结果显示，在肺腺癌中，AKR7A3的表达普遍高于正常肺组织，分别为正常肺组织的1.811倍（P=0.022）、1.356倍（P<0.01）、1.413倍（P=0.002）。Kaplan-Meier Plotter数据库分析结果显示，AKR7A3高表达的患者较低表达的患者生存时间缩短，差异具有统计学意义（P=0.003 7）。免疫组化染色显示肺腺癌组织中AKR7A3的表达较癌旁增高，在与临床病理特征的相关性分析中，发现其与肿瘤分化程度（P<0.01）、淋巴结转移情况（P=0.029）以及TNM分期（P<0.01）相关，且会造成患者生存时间缩短（P=0.031）。Cox多因素分析表明AKR7A3可能是影响肺腺癌患者预后的独立危险因素(P=0.012)。Western Blot及Real-time PCR实验提示不同肺腺癌细胞中AKR7A3蛋白及mRNA表达普遍增高。结论:AKR7A3在肺腺癌中表达增高，对预后有不良影响，有促进肿瘤发生发展的作用。     

脂联素对高脂饮食诱导的胰岛素抵抗子宫内膜癌裸鼠移植瘤生长的影响

目的 探讨脂联素对高脂饮食诱导裸鼠胰岛素抵抗子宫内膜癌移植瘤生长的影响。方法 40只裸鼠随机分成高脂组和普食组，每组20只，分别喂养高脂饲料（high-fat diet，HFD）和普通饲料（normal diet，ND），10周后测定裸鼠空腹血糖（fasting blood glucose，FBG）和空腹血胰岛素（fasting serum insulin，FINS）水平，计算胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR），建立胰岛素抵抗裸鼠模型。第11周接种子宫内膜癌HEC-1B细胞，待瘤体长至0.5 cm时，两组随机选取10只裸鼠腹腔注射脂联素（adiponectin，APN）分为HFD+APN组、ND+APN组；其余裸鼠分别注射0.9%氯化钠分为HFD组、ND组；14周后，测定各组血糖和血脂的代谢情况。结果 高脂组裸鼠10周后的平均体重、体长、FBG、FINS、HOMA-IR均大于普食组，糖耐量试验和胰岛素耐量试验结果显示血糖水平亦高于普食组（均P＜0.05）；接种子宫内膜癌HEC-1B细胞后均成瘤，建模成功。HFD+APN组和ND+APN组移植瘤平均重量和体积增长速度均分别低于HFD组和ND组（均P<0.05）。HFD组和HFD+APN组14周后的FINS、HOMA-IR、TC和TG均较ND组和ND+APN明显升高（均P<0.01），且HFD组明显高于HFD+APN组（均P<0.01）；HFD+APN组的血脂联素水平低于ND+APN组（P<0.01），HFD组则低于ND组（P<0.05）。结论 脂联素可改善高脂饮食导致的胰岛素抵抗，抑制子宫内膜癌移植瘤生长。     

The long-term influence of hospital and surgeon volume on local control and survival in the randomized German Rectal Cancer Trial CAO/ARO/AIO-94

BackgroundThe association of treatment volume and oncological outcome of rectal cancer patients undergoing multidisciplinary treatment is subject of an ongoing debate. Prospective data on long-term local control and overall survival (OS) are not available so far. This study investigated the long-term influence of hospital and surgeon volume on local recurrence (LR) and OS in patients with locally advanced rectal cancers.MethodsIn a post-hoc analysis of the randomized phase III CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial after a follow-up of more than 10 years, 799 patients with stage II/III rectal cancers were evaluated. LR-rates and OS were stratified by hospital recruitment volume (≤20 vs. 21–90 vs. >90 patients) and by surgeon volume (≤10 vs. 11–50 vs. >50 procedures).ResultsPatients treated in high-volume hospitals had a longer OS than those treated in hospitals with medium or low treatment volume (p = 0.03). The surgeon volume was adversely associated with LR (p = 0.01) but had no influence on overall survival. The positive effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) on local control was the strongest in patients being operated by medium-volume surgeons, less in patients being operated by high-volume surgeons and missing in those being operated by low-volume surgeons.ConclusionsPatients with locally advanced rectal cancers might benefit from treatment in specialized high-volume hospitals. In particular, the surgeon volume had significant influence on long-term local tumour control. The effect of neoadjuvant CRT on local tumour control may likewise depend on the surgeon volume.