Relation Between Tumor Size and Lymph Node Metastasis According to Subtypes of Breast Cancer

PurposeTumor size and lymph node metastasis are important factors that contribute to the progression of breast cancer. We aimed to analyze the relationship between tumor size and lymph node metastasis molecular subtype and examine the effects of nodal metastasis on overall survival (OS).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 16,552 patients who underwent breast surgery in Samsung Medical Center between 2000 and 2015. Information on tumor size (largest diameter of the invasive component), number of positive lymph nodes, and molecular subtype were obtained. We constructed a linear regression model to evaluate the relationship between tumor size and lymph node metastasis. To determine the effect of nodal metastasis on OS, we performed a Cox proportional regression analysis with Np/T (number of metastatic lymph nodes [n]/tumor size [cm]).ResultsThis study included 12,007 patients with a median follow-up of 62 months. The linear regression coefficients were 1.043 for luminal A, 1.024 for luminal B, 0.656 for HER2, and 0.435 for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes. No significant difference was observed in the coefficients between the luminal A and B subtypes (p = 0.797), while all other coefficients showed significant difference. After adjusting for other risk factors, the hazard ratio (HR) of Np/T for each subtype was significant for OS: luminal A (HR, 1.134; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.097–1.171; p < 0.001), luminal B (HR, 1.049; 95% CI, 1.013–1.086; p = 0.007), HER2 (HR, 1.069; 95% CI, 1.014–1.126; p = 0.013), and TNBC (HR, 1.038; 95% CI, 1.01–1.067; p = 0.008).ConclusionThe incidence of lymph node metastasis differed according to molecular subtype. Luminal types have higher incidence of nodal metastasis than HER2 and TNBC. The HR of Np/T was highest in luminal A subtypes and lowest in TNBC subtypes.     

基于NF-κB信号通路探讨中医药治疗脓毒症的研究进展

脓毒症（sepsis）是重症医学科常见的急危重症，具有高发病率和高病死率的特点。目前，临床上针对脓毒症的治疗用药多以西药为主，长期使用存在抗生素耐药、激素不良反应和费用高昂等问题。因此，探寻新型、高效、安全、廉价的药物和治疗模式是现阶段研究的重点方向。中医药凭借其“整体观念、辨证论治、一人一方”的独特优势，在脓毒症的预防和治疗中积累了相当丰富的临床经验。近年来，中医药与脓毒症核转录因子-κB（NF-κB）信号通路的研究较多。该文通过筛选相关临床研究与文献，从脓毒症的病因病机，辨证论治，发病机制，NF-κB信号通路和中医药对脓毒症的干预等方面进行系统归纳整理，研究发现一些单味中药及其提取物、中药复方和中药注射液可以通过调控NF-κB信号通路的激活，调节巨噬细胞的免疫功能，有效抑制NF-κB介导的肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α），白细胞介素-1（IL-1），IL-6等炎症因子及其蛋白的表达，显著减轻全身炎症反应和各脏器损伤，改善预后。但囿于客观条件的限制，部分研究也存在促炎-抗炎平衡机制模糊、药代动力学不明及药物安全性评价较低等问题，有待进一步研究与探索，以期为中医药治疗脓毒症提供新的理论基础和诊疗思路。     

Identification of key genes and pathways in discoid lupus skin via bioinformatics analysis

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is the most common skin manifestation of lupus; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying DLE remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to identify key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in discoid lupus skin and investigate their potential pathways.To identify candidate genes involved in the occurrence and development of the disease, we downloaded the microarray datasets {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE52471","term_id":"52471"}}GSE52471 and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE72535","term_id":"72535"}}GSE72535 from the Gene Expression Database (GEO). DEGs between discoid lupus skin and normal controls were selected using the GEO2R tool and Venn diagram software (http://bioinformatics.psb.ugent.be/webtools/Venn/). The Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Enrichr, and Cytoscape ClueGo were used to analyze the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome pathways and gene ontology. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of these DEGs were further assessed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval Interacting Genes version 10.0.Seventy three DEGs were co-expressed in both datasets. DEGs were predominantly upregulated in receptor signaling pathways of the immune response. In the PPI network, 69 upregulated genes were selected. Furthermore, 4 genes (CXCL10, ISG15, IFIH1, and IRF7) were found to be significantly upregulated in the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, from analysis of Enrichr and Cytoscape ClueGo.The results of this study may provide new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of DLE. However, further experimentation is required to confirm these findings.     

以专培学员为主导的CBL教学对心血管专培学员自身综合能力提升的影响

心血管专科医师规范化培训目标要求高于住院医师培训，完成心血管专培的医生应能在医疗、教学、科研能力上明显提高，达到心血管专科主治医师水平。如何提高心血管专培学员教学能力是专培中的难点。将专培学员随机分为两组,分别采用案例教学法（case-based learning, CBL）和传统教学法进行带教,课程结束后通过测验和调查问卷两种方式对教学效果进行考察。旨在探讨由心血管专培学员主导CBL教学法在实施过程中是否对其自身综合能力有所提升。结果显示，CBL教学法组学生临床理论及病例分析考试分数均高于对照组；心血管专培学员通过主导CBL教学，在教学能力、组织能力和学科协调均有提升；相较传统教学法,CBL教学法的教学效果更佳,有利于心血管专培学员自身综合能力提升。