miRNAs in lung cancer: A link to aging

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Development of lung cancer is associated with exposure to carcinogens such as tobacco smoke and some environmental factors. The incidence of lung cancer increases with age, particularly after age 60. It was estimated that less than 2% of all lung cancer cases occurred in patients younger than 45; therefore, this type of tumor can be considered as an aging-related disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules capable of regulating expression of over 50% of protein-coding genes. miRNAs were shown to play an extremely important role in cell functioning, affecting all biological processes, as well as development of various diseases. Expression profiles of miRNAs are known to be altered in cancer, including lung cancer, and also exhibit changes during aging. These RNA molecules are stable in tissue sections and blood and reflect tumor origin, histotype, and stage, which make them candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. miRNA mimetics or inhibitors can be delivered into a cell, with possible therapeutic implications. Here, we review the results obtained during the last several years that demonstrate the aging-related regulation of miRNAs expression, in association with their role in lung cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to anticancer therapy, as well as the possibility to use miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for treatment response.     

异常体动脉供血正常左肺下叶的CT表现与解剖基础

目的探讨异常体动脉供血正常左肺下叶的CT表现及其解剖学基础。方法回顾性分析6例异常体动脉供血正常左肺下叶的CT表现及解剖。结果增强CT及术后大体标本均显示6例（100%）粗大异常动脉起源于降主动脉左侧,异常动脉直径约为12 mm,6例（100%）左下肺动脉在背段动脉起始远侧缺如。6例（100%）CT表现左肺下叶基底段呈毛玻璃影伴体积缩小,其大体标本切面见多个扩张血管,镜下肺组织部分区域见大小不等厚壁血管,肺泡腔内有多量含铁血黄素,间质内见血管扩张、充血及灶性出血。结论异常体动脉供血正常左肺下叶的CT表现可反映其解剖基础,CT增强扫描可确诊该病。     

儿童先天性肺囊性疾病69例诊疗分析

目的：总结儿童先天性肺囊性疾病的诊断和治疗经验,探讨肺囊性疾病的手术治疗时机与手术方式。方法回顾性分析2004年7月至2013年7月我们收治的69例先天性肺囊性疾病患儿临床资料,男39例,女30例,年龄2d至15岁,平均年龄（1．2±0．6）岁。其中先天性肺囊肿48例,先天性肺叶气肿15例,先天性肺囊性瘤样畸形6例。肺囊肿中行囊肿摘除术8例,40例行肺叶切除术;先天性肺叶气肿15例,均行肺叶切除术;先天性肺囊性瘤样畸形6例,均行肺叶切除术。结果患儿均治愈出院,无一例死亡。术后近期并发症包括气胸5例,胸腔积液4例,乳糜胸1例,肺炎4例。随访2个月至9年,均恢复良好。结论儿童先天性肺囊性疾病表现多样,易产生压迫症状或急性呼吸窘迫,应早诊断,早治疗,手术切除是治疗的根本方法,对于有急性呼吸窘迫症状者,应急诊手术治疗。     

CT-guided biopsy of lung lesions: defining the best needle option for a specific diagnosis

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the performance of fine and cutting needles in computed tomography guided-biopsy of lung lesions suspicious for malignancy and to determine which technique is the best option for a specific diagnosis.

METHODS:

This retrospective study reviewed the data from 362 (71.6%) patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy and from 97 (19.7%) patients who underwent cutting-needle biopsy between January 2006 and December 2011. The data concerning demographic and lesion characteristics, procedures, biopsy sample adequacy, specific diagnoses, and complications were collected. The success and complication rates of both biopsy techniques were calculated.

RESULTS:

Cutting-needle biopsy yielded significantly higher percentages of adequate biopsy samples and specific diagnoses than did fine-needle aspiration biopsy (p<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of cutting-needle biopsy were 93.8%, 97.3%, and 95.2%, respectively; those of fine-needle aspiration biopsy were 82.6%, 81.3%, and 81.8%, respectively (all p<0.05). The incidence of pneumothorax was higher for fine-needle aspiration biopsy, and that of hematoma was higher for cutting-needle biopsy (both p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our experience using these two techniques for computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy showed that cutting-needle biopsy yielded better results than did fine-needle aspiration biopsy and that there was no significant increase in complication rates to indicate the best option for specific diagnoses.     

A case of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm with ecchymotic lesions on the whole body

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) derived from plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors is a very rare, and characterized by cutaneous and bone marrow involvement and leukemic spread. The neoplasm presents with an aggressive behavior, and the clinical findings include cytopenia, particularly thrombocytopenia. The tumor cells are negative for antigens of T- and B- cell lines. However, these cells express CD4, CD56 and CD123, which are markers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and negative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). From this point of view, a 71-year-old man who was initially found to have a cutaneous mass on his face and thorax was reported here, and initially was diagnosed as “eczema”. The skin rashes then became aggravated on a trial of low dose topical corticosteroid for 2 months. According to skin biopsy, the tumor cells reveal an immature blastic appearance and positive for CD4 and CD56, negative for CD3, CD20, indicating a diagnosis of BPDCN. Here, we report the dismal course of a patient with BPDCN without accepting further therapy, and only survived 3 months.     

Cytomorphology of intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the liver

We describe the first cytology case report of an intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm (IOPN) of the liver. A 51‐year‐old male presented with recurrent cholangitis. Magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram revealed a 1.1 × 0.9 cm polypoid lesion within the left intrahepatic bile duct. Fine‐needle aspiration and needle core biopsy (NCB) revealed nests, 3‐dimensional or papillary clusters of columnar or cuboidal cells with loss of polarity. The nuclei were uniform with even chromatin, and cytoplasm was granular or vacuolated. No mitosis or necrosis was seen. The cytologic and histologic diagnosis was “consistent with Intraductal Oncocytic Papillary Neoplasm (IOPN), intermediate grade (borderline).” The patient then underwent a left lateral liver segmentectomy. Microscopic examination showed histology similar to the NCB with no stromal invasion identified. Hepatic IOPN poses a diagnostic challenge due to its broad differential diagnoses. Both malignant and non‐malignant IOPNs may present with similar clinical symptoms, pathology, histology, cytomorphology, and immunohistochemistry. Hepatic IOPN should be excised as it is a precursor lesion of adenocarcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:895–898. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

同时性结直肠癌肝转移瘤消融治疗后辅助化疗起始时间对患者预后的影响

目的本研究以探究微波消融（MWA）治疗后辅助化疗（AC）起始时间对同时性结直肠癌肝转移瘤（CRLM）患者肝内无复发生存（RFS）及肝损害的影响。 方法回顾性分析2013年10月至2019年1月在中山大学附属第六医院确诊为同时性CRLM且行超声引导下经皮MWA治疗联合AC治疗的患者。本研究共纳入患者144例,其中G1组98例,G2组46例。中位肝内RFS为22.2个月。根据MWA术后AC开始时间,将患者分为≤4周（G1）和4~8周（G2）2组。比较G1组和G2组消融后及第1次AC前后血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）水平的变化。采用Kaplan-Meier法和Log-rank检验计算并比较两组患者的肝内RFS。采用Cox比例风险模型对肝内RFS的危险因素进行单因素和多因素回归分析。 结果G1组肝内RFS较G2组显著延长（中位肝内RFS,40.6个月 vs 12.6个月,Log-rank P=0.007）。采用Cox比例风险模型分析结果发现,辅助化疗开始时间间隔为4~8周（HR=1.917,95%CI：1.104~3.327,P=0.021）和肝转移瘤个数（HR=1.292,95%CI：1.096~1.524,P=0.002）是肝内RFS时间短的独立影响因素。G1组和G2组第1次AC前、后ALT、AST水平,差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。 结论对于同时性CRLM患者,在MWA治疗后早期开始AC（≤4周）有助于延长术后肝内RFS时间。     

A pulmonary source of infection in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury leads to a worse outcome and poor recovery of kidney function

BACKGROUND:Hospital mortality rates are higher among patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(SA-AKI)than among patients with sepsis.However,the pathogenesis underlying SA-AKI remains unclear.We hypothesized that the source of infection affects development of SA-AKI.We aim to explore the relationship between the anatomical source of infection and outcome in patients with SA-AKI.METHODS:Between January 2013 and January 2018,113 patients with SA-AKI admitted to our Emergency Center were identifi ed and divided into two groups:those with pulmonary infections and those with other sources of infection.For each patient,we collected data from admission until either discharge or death.We also recorded the clinical outcome after 90 days for the discharged patients.RESULTS:The most common source of infection was the lung(52/113 cases,46%),followed by gastrointestinal(GI)(25/113 cases,22.1%)and urinary(22/113,19.5%)sources.Our analysis showed that patients with SA-AKI had a significantly worse outcome(30/52 cases,P<0.001)and poorer kidney recovery(P=0.015)with pulmonary sources of infection than those infected by another source.Data also showed that patients not infected by a pulmonary source more likely experienced shock(28/61 cases,P=0.037).CONCLUSION:This study demonstrated that the source of infection infl uenced the outcome of SA-AKI patients in an independent manner.Lung injury may influence renal function in an asyet undetermined manner as the recovery of kidney function was poorer in SA-AKI patients with a pulmonary source of infection.