The key role of macrophage depolarization in the treatment of COPD with ergosterol both in vitro and in vivo

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the lung, which play an important role in COPD. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation of ergosterol are well documented. However, the effect of ergosterol on macrophage polarization has not been studied. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of ergosterol on macrophage polarization in CSE-induced RAW264.7 cells and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats COPD model. Our results demonstrate that CSE-induced macrophages tend to the M1 polarization via increasing ROS, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as increasing MMP-9 to destroy the lung construction in both RAW264.7 cells and SD rats. However, treatment of RAW264.7 cells and SD rats with ergosterol inhibited CSE-induced inflammatory by decreasing ROS, IL-6 and TNF-α, and increasing IL-10 and TGF-β, shuffling the dynamic polarization of macrophages from M1 to M2 both in vitro and in vivo. Ergosterol also decreased the expression of M1 marker CD40, while increased that of M2 marker CD163. Moreover, ergosterol improved the lung characters in rats by decreasing MMP-9. Furthermore, ergosterol elevated HDAC3 activation and suppressed P300/CBP and PCAF activation as well as acetyl NF-κB/p65 and IKKβ, demonstrating that HDAC3 deacetylation was involved in the effect of ergosterol on macrophage polarization. These results also provide a proof in immunoregulation of ergosterol for therapeutic effects of cultured C. sinensis on COPD patients.     

A prognostic signature based on immune-related genes for cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) is the fourth commonest female malignancy worldwide. CESC progresses in immune-microenvironment mainly composed of infiltrating immune and stromal cells. Here, we performed an integrated analysis incorporating the expression profiles from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and scores of immune and stromal cells calculated by Estimation of Stromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm. A two-gene signature (CD1C and CD6 genes) was established to predict the prognosis of CESC. Based on this signature, patients were divided into the high- and low-risk groups, and this signature showed good prognostic performance according to the results of Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in train set and two validation sets. A nomogram was built for evaluating the clinical applicability of this signature. In addition, based on Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database, 2 hub genes showed negative correlations with tumor purity and positive correlations with infiltrating levels of immune filtrating cells. What’s more, we propose new treatment strategies for the two prognostic subtypes. Low- risk patients were found presenting with a higher level of immune checkpoint molecules and showing higher immunogenicity in immunophenoscore (IPS) analysis, which indicated a better response for immunotherapy. Meanwhile, estimated by Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database, the high-risk patients showed sensitive responses to five chemotherapy drugs. Finally, 10 candidate small-molecule drugs for CESC were defined. In summary, the CD1C-CD6 signature can accurately predict the prognosis of CESC.     

血清SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF水平与宫颈癌临床病理特征及预后的关系

目的:探讨血清鳞状细胞癌抗原（SCC-Ag）、细胞角蛋白19片段抗原(CYFRA21-1)及血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）水平与宫颈癌临床病理特征及预后的关系。方法:选取2010年1月至2012年12月海南西部中心医院收治的146例宫颈癌患者、50例宫颈上皮内瘤病变（CIN）患者(CIN组)和50例正常健康女性(对照组)，比较各组血清SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF水平。分析宫颈癌患者血清SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF水平与临床病理特征的关系，采用Kaplan-Meier法分析不同临床病理特征患者生存率差异，多因素COX比例风险回归模型分析宫颈癌患者预后的影响因素。结果:宫颈癌组血清SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF水平均明显高于CIN组和对照组［SCCA（ng/ml）:9.04±2.35 vs 1.91±0.62和0.65±0.14；CYFRA21-1（ng/ml）:5.48±1.62 vs 0.92±0.43和0.64±0.25；VEGF（pg/ml）:326.42±48.15 vs 125.48±23.60和108.62±18.73，均P＜0.01］。血清SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF水平与宫颈癌患者的临床分期、病理分级、淋巴结转移、浸润深度及脉管浸润相关（P＜0.05）。单因素及多因素COX回归分析显示，临床分期［HR（95%CI）:2.016（1.512～2.915）］、淋巴结转移［HR（95%CI）:4.013（2.937～6.016）］、SCC-Ag［HR（95%CI）:2.972（2.106～4.618）］、CYFRA21-1［HR（95%CI）:1.704（1.335～2.519）］及VEGF［HR（95%CI）:2.116（1.685～3.164）］阳性表达是宫颈癌患者预后不良的危险因素。结论:宫颈癌患者血清SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF水平明显升高，SCC-Ag、CYFRA21-1及VEGF阳性表达是影响宫颈癌患者预后不良的危险因素。     

Prevalence of HER2 Expression and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters in Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma in North-East Indian Population

Objective: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (erbb2/HER2) overexpression, has now been implicatedin advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. The study was conducted to determine the rate of HER2positivity in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in North-EastIndia and to assess the impact of various demographic and clinical parameters on HER2 positivity. Methods: A total of68 patients of age >18 years of gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma diagnosed on histopathological examinationfrom September 2016 to February 2018 at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Assam were enrolled for the observational(epidemiological) study. All patients were subjected to the HER2 immunohistochemistry test using a FDA-approved,standardized test kit. HER2 expression was correlated with various demographic and clinicopathological parameters.Results: The overall rate of HER2 positivity in the population studied was 56% (n=38). The rate was non-significantlyhigher in male, older age group (>60 years) and Hindu population. Similarly, HER2 positivity rate was higher in patientswith well differentiated histology and was more common in patients with stage II and III diseases, but neither of theassociations is statistically significant. HER2 positivity rate was significantly higher in proximal and in GEJ tumours(56% versus 44%, P=0.002). Conclusion: HER2 overexpression was evident in 56% of the North-East Indian patientswith locally advanced and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The overexpression correlatedsignificantly with primary tumour site. Routine testing of gastric and gastroesophageal tumours for HER2 expressionis recommended to provide a therapeutic advantage in Indian patients.     

食管癌高、低发区食管鳞癌患者生存及其影响因素分析

目的 探讨食管癌高、低发区食管鳞癌患者的生存状况及其影响因素。方法 收集38 741例经病理学证实为食管鳞癌患者的资料，其中，高发区患者23 273例（60.1%），低发区15 468例（39.9%）。所有患者均行食管癌根治术。运用卡方检验分析不同临床病理特征患者的组间差异，Kaplan-Meier法绘制不同临床病理特征患者的生存曲线并用Log rank进行检验。多因素Cox比例风险回归模型法分析影响生存的主要因素。结果 低发区男性患者所占比例高于高发区（P<0.001），低发区诊断年龄≥50岁食管癌患者所占比例高于高发区（P<0.001）。高发区食管鳞癌患者的整体生存优于低发区患者（P<0.001）。Cox比例风险回归模型综合分析结果表明：高低发区、性别、确诊年龄、肿瘤部位、分化程度、TNM分期和肿瘤家族史均是影响食管鳞癌患者生存的独立因素。结论 高发区食管鳞癌患者整体生存优于低发区；低发区是食管鳞癌患者预后差的独立危险因素。     

从脾论治慢性肾脏病的生物学基础探讨

脾为后天之源,肾为先天之本,以后天滋先天,使从脾论治成为中医临床治疗慢性肾脏病(CKD)的经典方法。现代医学研究发现人体内最庞大的“器官”——肠道菌群与“脾”的功能非常密切。目前研究发现肠道菌群紊乱是加速CKD进展的重要环节,基于脾肾互根互用的中医原理,收集、整理肠道菌群与CKD代谢功能、免疫应答及肾脏损伤关联的文献,从肠道菌群与机体功能代谢和内环境稳态的角度进行探讨,认识到运用中医药可通过干预肠道菌群的丰度、结构和代谢功能,维持肠道微生态的平衡,从而达到调节肾脏代谢和免疫应答的作用,提出肠道菌群是从脾论治慢性肾脏病的重要生物学基础。     

健康状态中医辨识研究前景分析

健康状态中医辨识是基于中医原创思维和健康理论,运用中医健康状态评价的方法和技术,形成中医健康状态评价方法体系,对健康状态进行辨识。世界卫生组织指出,21世纪的医学,不应继续以疾病为主要研究对象,而应以人类健康作为医学研究的主要方向。进行健康状态中医辨识相关研究,符合21世纪的医学将从疾病医学向健康医学转变的趋势,也符合新医改形势下卫生保健提倡的“关口前移”,对促进人群健康有重要意义。     

基于“肺膀胱别通”浅析针刺肺经穴调治膀胱病

肺与膀胱相通,上为荣养周身以御邪,下以气化排浊调津液,从肺与膀胱关系可以看出,太阳之气与肺气共同卫外,以顾护肌表皮毛,故临床针刺治疗太阳体证时可考虑从肺经穴入手。临床取肺经穴位调治膀胱及其经脉病时,应辨别虚实,采取对应的补泻手法,考虑大部分肺经穴提插、捻转补泻手法不便施展,笔者认为可根据辨证采用更为合适的迎随补泻、徐疾补泻、开阖补泻,即观其脉证,补泻择之。其实不仅肺经穴可治膀胱病,膀胱经穴亦可治肺病,由于肺与膀胱两者经气互通,其中一条经上的穴位可治疗另一条相通经的循行部位或主治方向的疾病。虽然脏腑别通理论在针灸学上具备广泛应用的基础,但因表里经脏腑相互属络关系,更多被提及、应用的是"肺与大肠相关"。容易忽视"肺膀胱别通"在"卫气供给""津液代谢"上的关联。故在临床针刺治疗膀胱病时,可从有别于常规、传统的选经取穴上论治,亦可基于"肺与膀胱相关"以膀胱经穴治肺病,或以两经同取的方式指导针刺治疗相关病证。     

观察疏肝健脾法治疗月经不调的临床治疗效果及相应的护理观察

目的:探讨疏肝健脾法治疗月经不调的临床治疗效果,并总结相应护理方法。方法:选取自2017年9月-2018年9月在日照市中医医院接受诊疗的136例肝郁脾虚型月经不调患者随机分为对照组和研究组,对照组行逍遥丸治疗,并给予常规护理;研究组行逍遥散、参苓白术散治疗,并给予针对性护理,比较两组患者的治疗效果与护理满意度。结果:研究组治疗总有效率为91.18%(62/68),明显高于对照组的66.18%(45/68)(P<0.05);研究组患者护理满意率为94.12%(64/68),明显高于对照组的76.47%(52/68)(P<0.05)。结论:针对肝郁脾虚型月经不调患者,采取疏肝健脾法进行治疗具确切临床疗效,辅以针对性护理,还能提高患者护理满意度,值得推广应用。