High infiltration of mast cells is associated with improved response to adjuvant chemotherapy in gallbladder cancer

Recent studies have reported that tumor‐infiltrating mast cells (TIM) play an important role in tumor regression, but the effect of TIM in gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains unclear. The present study aims to investigate the prognostic value of TIM in GBC patients and its responsiveness to gemcitabine‐based adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). A total of 298 GBC patients from Zhongshan Hospital were recruited for this study. TIM infiltration was measured by immunohistochemical staining. Accumulation of TIM is significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in GBC patients. The benefit from gemcitabine‐based ACT was superior among patients with high infiltration of TIM with GBC. Multivariate analysis identified TIM infiltration as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. A heatmap showed that TIM‐activated gene signatures were positively correlated with CD8+ T cells' gene signatures. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) suggested that TIM was related to multiple T cell‐related processes and signaling pathways, including the interferon gamma signaling pathway and the leukocyte migration signaling pathway. It was confirmed that CD8+ T cell infiltration was positively correlated with high TIM infiltration in tissue microarray (TMA), suggesting that TIM infiltration was linked to the immune surveillance in GBC. TIM can be used as an independent prognostic factor and a predictor of therapeutic response of gemcitabine‐based ACT in GBC patients, which may mediate immune surveillance by recruiting and activating CD8+ T cells in GBC.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术探讨生脉注射液抗新型冠状病毒肺炎的作用机制

目的采用网络药理学与分子对接技术探讨生脉注射液的活性成分和治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的潜在作用机制。方法利用TCMSP及BATMAN-TCM数据库筛选生脉注射液的活性化合物,通过TCMSP及Targetnet在线数据库预测作用靶点,通过Cytoscape3.7.1构建活性成分-作用靶点网络图;在GeneCards及OMIM数据库中以"coronavirus pneumonia"为关键词搜索冠状病毒肺炎相关疾病靶点,与生脉注射液化合物靶点进行交集筛选出共同靶点作为研究靶点,将共同靶点导入STRING数据库获取数据后在Cytoscape 3.7.1软件中构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络图;利用R语言进行GO(gene ontology)功能、KEGG(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes)通路富集分析,预测其作用机制,并构建"成分-靶点-通路"网络图;通过DiscoveryStudio 2.5软件对关键靶点进行分子对接分析。结果生脉注射液筛选得到22个活性化合物,分别为邻苯二甲酸二辛酯、β-谷甾醇、当归酰基戈米辛O、戈米辛A、戈米辛R、五味子丙素、内南五味子酯乙、长南酸、南五味子内酯、香蒲木脂素B、新杜松烷酸A、新杜松烷酸B、新杜松烷酸C、新南五味子木脂宁、五味子内酯A、五味子内酯E、五味子酸、尿苷、薯蓣皂苷元、鸟嘌呤核苷、N-反式阿魏酰酪胺、豆甾醇。相应作用靶点224个,与COVID-19的共同靶点16个,分别为CASP3、CASP8、PTGS2、BCL2、BAX、PRKCA、PTGS1、PIK3CG、F10、NOS3、DPP4、NOS2、TLR9、ACE、ICAM1、PRKCE,关键靶点涉及CASP3、PTGS2、NOS2、NOS3、ICAM1。GO功能富集分析得到生物过程(BP)条目771个,细胞组成(CC)条目11个,分子功能(MF)条目79个。KEGG通路富集分析筛选得到67条(P0.05)信号通路,主要涉及糖尿病并发症AGE-RAGE信号通路、凋亡通路、P53信号通路、小细胞肺癌通路等。分子对接结果显示与关键靶点对接较好的成分有五味子内酯E、豆甾醇、N-反式阿魏酰酪胺。结论生脉注射液中的活性化合物五味子内酯E、豆甾醇、N-反式阿魏酰酪胺等能作用于CASP3、PTGS2、NOS2、NOS3等靶点调节多条信号通路发挥抗炎、免疫调节、抗休克、增加血氧饱和度等作用,从而可能发挥对COVID-19的治疗作用。     

四象体质类型与糖调节受损糖尿病转化率的临床研究＊

目的 探讨糖调节受损（IGR）四象体质类型与客观指标相关性。方法 临床收集的122名成年人分为太阳人、太阴人、少阳人和少阴人（因太阳人人数较少，忽略不计）等四种体质，测量空腹血糖（FBG）、餐后2小时血糖（2hBG）、血脂四项等指标，半年后未经治疗，再次测量这些指标，计算糖尿病转化率。结果 IGR者中太阴人所占比例为55.8%，少阳人为21.7%，少阴人为22.5%。其中，朝鲜族的IGR占比明显高于满族和汉族。太阴人与少阳人、少阴人比较，FBG及2hBG、血脂四项、收缩压、舒张压、体重方面有显著性差异（P < 0.05），超重及肥胖人数太阴人中占61.2%、少阳人中占53.8%、少阴人中占29.6%。半年后复查，太阴人与少阳人、少阴人比较，FBG及2hBG、血脂四项、收缩压、舒张压方面有显著性差异（P < 0.05），糖尿病的转化率为太阴人32.8%，少阳人23.1%，少阴人3.7%。结论 IGR者中太阴人所占比例最高。IGR太阴人的FBG及2hBG、血脂四项、收缩压、舒张压、体重偏高，半年后复查，太阴人的DM转化率最高。     

支原体肺炎患儿免疫功能变化的检测价值

目的分析免疫功能变化在支原体肺炎感染患儿中的检测价值。方法在2016年8月-2018年8月在医院接受诊治的114例支原体肺炎患儿与114例健康体检者作为本次研究。按根据是否属于支原体肺炎划分为试验组与常规组。试验组与常规组均接受免疫功能变化检测,总结并对比两组补体、免疫球蛋白水平、红细胞免疫水平以及T淋巴细胞亚群水平。结果试验组患儿的各项补体、免疫球蛋白水平相对于常规组而言均有明显数据差异(P<0.05);试验组患儿的各项细胞免疫水平相对于常规组而言均有明显数据差异(P<0.05);试验组患儿的各项T淋巴细胞亚群水平相对于常规组而言均有明显数据差异(P<0.05)。结论免疫功能变化在支原体肺炎感染患儿中的检测价值突出,可以作为患儿症状的检测与症状严重程度的判断依据。     

The role of transforming growth factor-beta in immune suppression and chronic inflammation of squamous cell carcinomas

Despite a decline in the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) over the past 20 years, their survival rate has remained nearly the same, indicating that treatment options have not improved relative to other cancer types. Immunotherapies have a high potential for a sustained effect in SCC patients, but their response rate is low. Here, we review the suppressive role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) on the antitumor immune response in SCC and present its potential as a therapeutic target in combination with the current range of immunotherapies available for SCC patients. We conclude that SCCs are an optimal cancer type to study the effectiveness of TGFβ inhibition due to the prevalence of dysregulated TGFβ signaling in them.     

系统免疫炎症指数和骨骼肌质量指数与肝硬化合并肝癌患者术后预后的关系

目的:探讨系统免疫炎症指数（SII）和骨骼肌质量指数（SMI）与肝硬化合并肝癌患者术后预后的关系。方法:选取2015年1月至2017年12月我院收治的128例肝癌合并肝硬化患者。比较不同水平SII和SMI组患者临床病理特征和预后，分析影响肝硬化合并肝癌患者术后预后的危险因素。结果:术前SII高水平组的BCLC分期、脉管癌栓占比、低分化占比高于低水平组，差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。术前SMI高水平组的年龄、美国麻醉医师协会分级、BCLC分期、肿瘤个数、脉管癌栓占比均低于或少于低水平组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。术前SII低水平组1年、2年、3年累积总生存率分别为90.8%、75.5%、47.3%，术前SII高水平组1年、2年、3年累积总生存率分别为70.7%、58.2%、39.1%，差异有统计学意义（P=0.045）。术前SMI低水平组1年、2年、3年累积总生存率分别为73.3%、55.3%、34.8%，术前SMI高水平组1年、2年、3年累积总生存率分别为90.4%、77.8%、49.7%，差异有统计学意义（P=0.010）。Cox多因素分析结果显示，BCLC B-C期、多发肿瘤、低分化、脉管癌栓、术前高水平SII是患者术后预后的独立危险因素（P＜0.05），根治性切除和术前高水平SMI是其独立保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论:术前SII和SMI水平与肝硬化合并肝癌患者预后密切相关，高水平SII是其独立危险因素，而高水平SMI是其独立保护因素。     

近30年中国文献报道恶性淋巴瘤合并自身免疫性血细胞减少症的系统性分析

本文通过收集1989年1月至2019年12月国内学者发表在国内外期刊上的文献及参考文献,共纳入符合标准的140例恶性淋巴瘤(malignant lymphoma,ML)合并自身免疫性血细胞减少(autoimmune cytopenia,AIC)病例,包括溶血性贫血(autoimmune hemolytic anemia,AIHA)、免疫性血小板减少症(immune thrombocytopenia,ITP)、纯红细胞再生障碍性贫血(pure red cell aplasia,PRCA)及Evans综合征等。虽然各亚型淋巴瘤病例数均较少(n=1~28),但通过系统性分析仍得到部分有意义的发现。除免疫性中性粒细胞减少(autoimmune neutropenia,AIN)外,各类AIC均有报道,发生率依次为AIHA>ITP>冷凝集素综合征(cold agglutinin syndrome,CAS)>PRCA>Evans综合征。AIC见于各亚型淋巴瘤,但各类AIC在不同亚型发生率存在差异。CAS仅见于淋巴瘤B细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤(B cell nonHodgkin′slymphoma,B-NHL)、AIHA、ITP,Evans综合征多见于B-NHL,PRCA则多见于T细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤(T cell non Hodgkin′s lymphoma,T-NHL)。相较于糖皮质激素等常规治疗,合并ML的AIC抗肿瘤治疗对有效率更高。恶性淋巴瘤合并AIC临床情况复杂,需引起临床关注。     

Ethics as ritual: smoothing over moments of dislocation in biomedicine

Applications of biomedical R&D currently imply substantial societal concerns. This paper explores, based on semi‐structured interviews with scientists in Norway, how biomedical researchers experience and tackle such concerns in their daily work. It shows how ritualised routine responses to dislocatory moments help maintain order in the daily work of the interviewed scientists; they do not address directly but instead smooth over concerns by a ritualised way of using ethics. This may foreclose substantive reflection and function as a stabiliser for ‘business as usual’. Overall, the current way of responding to concerns as described by the interviewees may contribute to a depoliticisation of important issues. The paper contributes to sociological work on ethics by linking it to recent discussions on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and by the empirical research presented. The insights can also help improve science policies such as RRI.     

Relationship between MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 and MSH6 gene-specific alterations and tumor mutational burden in 1057 microsatellite instability-high solid tumors

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) are predictive biomarkers for immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Still, the relationship between the underlying cause(s) of MSI and TMB in tumors remains poorly defined. We investigated associations of TMB to mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression patterns by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MMR mutations in a diverse sample of tumors. Hypothesized differences were identified by the protein/gene affected/mutated and the tumor histology/primary site. Overall, 1057 MSI-H tumors were identified from the 32 932 tested. MSI was examined by NGS using 7000+ target microsatellite loci. TMB was calculated using only nonsynonymous missense mutations sequenced with a 592-gene panel; a subset of MSI-H tumors also had MMR IHC performed. Analyses examined TMB by MMR protein heterodimer impacted (loss of MLH1/PMS2 vs. MSH2/MSH6 expression) and gene-specific mutations. The sample was 54.6% female; mean age was 63.5 years. Among IHC tested tumors, loss of co-expression of MLH1/PMS2 was more common (n = 544/705, 77.2%) than loss of MSH2/MSH6 (n = 81/705, 11.5%; P < .0001), and was associated with lower mean TMB (MLH1/PMS2: 25.03 mut/Mb vs MSH2/MSH6 46.83 mut/Mb; P < .0001). TMB also varied by tumor histology: colorectal cancers demonstrating MLH1/PMS2 loss had higher TMBs (33.14 mut/Mb) than endometrial cancers (20.60 mut/Mb) and other tumors (25.59 mut/Mb; P < .0001). MMR gene mutations were detected in 42.0% of tumors; among these, MSH6 mutations were most common (25.7%). MSH6 mutation patterns showed variability by tumor histology and TMB. TMB varies by underlying cause(s) of MSI and tumor histology; this heterogeneity may contribute to differences in response to ICI.