Dynamic changes of different phenotypic and genetic circulating tumor cells as a biomarker for evaluating the prognosis of RCC

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and relevant autophagy Beclin-1 genes expression are critical biomarkers for tumorigenesis and tumor progress. Here we investigated the relationship of dynamic changes of CTCs and Beclin-1 expression of CTCs with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) prognosis.

Materials and methods: A total of 69 patients with RCC were enrolled and divided into two groups based on the postoperative status of distant metastasis, including metastasis-free group (n = 58) and metastatic group (n = 11). Demographic characteristics of each patient were recorded in detail. All 69 enrolled patients had received multiple CTC tests and peripheral blood samples were obtained at three different time points (1 day before operation, 6 months and 12 months after operation). Peripheral blood samples were drawn before each time point and CTCs were separated by using Can Patrol CTC enrichment technique. CTCs were divided into epithelial, mesenchymal and mixed phenotype based on different surface biomarkers. RNA in situ hybridization assay was used to detect the expression of Beclin1 gene.

Results: The percentages of epithelial, mesenchymal and mixed CTCs were 11.64%, 28.04% and 60.32%, respectively. There were no significant differences of initial CTCs counts between metastasis-free group (8.43 ± 5.15) and metastatic group (7.71 ± 3.82) (P > 0.05). As for metastatic group, the number of mixed CTCs at 12 months postoperatively was significantly higher than that of mixed CTCs preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). In the metastatic group, the number of Beclin1 positive CTCs was significantly higher than that of Beclin1 negative CTCs preoperatively (P < 0.05), moreover, there were several significantly changes of Beclin1 positive CTCs with different types and at different time points.

Conclusion: The recurrence or metastasis of RCC was uncorrelated with initial CTCs counts, but probably related with the variation trend of CTCs, especially mesenchymal CTCs and Beclin1 positive CTCs.     

miR-25 is up-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer and promotes cell proliferation and motility by targeting FBXW7

Increasing evidence showed that miR-25 is involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of various human cancers, while its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear. Here, we found that miR-25 is significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tissue samples and cell lines. Inhibition of miR-25 remarkably suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NSCLC cells, whereas enforced expression of miR-25 significantly increased NSCLC cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, we identified F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBXW7) as a direct target of miR-25 and overexpression of FBXW7 partially attenuates the oncogenic effect of miR-25 on NSCLC cells. In conclusion, miR-25 is up-regulated in NSCLC and promotes NSCLC cells proliferation and motility partially by targeting FBXW7. Our data suggest that miR-25 might serve as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment in the future.     

Anuria and abdominal pain induced by ceftriaxone-associated ureterolithiasis in adults

Ceftriaxone is known to cause biliary pseudolithiasis and, rarely, nephrolithiasis mainly in children. However, we reported the development of bilateral distal ureteral ceftriaxone-associated lithiasis in 7 adults, which suggests that the risk of ureterolithiasis impaction should be considered when treating patients with ceftriaxone, even in adults. To avoid strengthening greater renal damage, ureteroscopic insertion of double J stents may be an alternative management for patients with ureteral ceftriaxone-associated lithiasis.     

基质金属蛋白酶-9在脑缺血中的作用

基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）是参与细胞外基质降解的重要酶类。研究证实，脑缺血时MMP-9能分解细胞外基质和基底膜，破坏血脑屏障，最终导致神经元凋亡。其表达与脑缺血后血管源性脑水肿的发生、溶栓治疗后的出血性转化、脑白质降解等关系密切，在脑缺血后继发性损伤方面具有重要作用。     

抑癌基因LKB1在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的 通过检测新发现的抑癌基因LKB1在乳腺癌中表达情况,探讨其与乳腺癌变的关系及其预后意义。方法 用Western印迹法比较不同乳腺癌细胞株LKB1基因的表达情况,构建LKB1基因表达质粒,转染至该基因低表达的细胞株,研究细胞生长数度及凋亡相关蛋白表达的改变;以Western印迹法检测LKB1基因在121例乳腺癌手术标本中的表达,结合临床病理资料分析该基因在乳腺癌中的临床意义。结果 MDA-MB-435细胞中未能检测到LKB1基因的表达,转染LKB1基因表达质粒后,MDA-MB-435细胞的生长受到明显抑制;细胞周期分析,G1期细胞的比例18．3％增至40．9％;细胞中细胞周期相关因子细胞周期蛋白D1、细胞周期蛋白E的含量下降,而其抑制因子p21的含量升高;单因素分析表明LKB1低表达与高复发率(P=0．002)及总生存率差(P=0．008)显著相关。结论 在LKB1基因缺表达的乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-435细胞中,转入并表达该基因能明显抑制其乳腺癌细胞的生长;其作用与p21介导的G1期阻滞有关;LKB1基因低表达与乳腺癌预后差显著相关。     

Immunodominant CD4+ responses identified in a patient vaccinated with full-length NY-ESO-1 formulated with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant

There is increasing evidence showing the involvement of CD4(+) T cells in initiating and maintaining antitumor immune responses. NY-ESO-1 is expressed by various tumors but not normal tissues except testis. We conducted a cancer clinical trial by using full-length NY-ESO-1 protein formulated with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant and injected into patients intramuscularly. Autologous dendritic cells pulsed with NY-ESO-1 ISCOMATRIX in combination with overlapping synthetic peptides were used to identify immunodominant T cells from a vaccinated patient. We show here the identification and characterization of two novel CD4(+) T cell epitopes. T cells specific to these epitopes not only recognized autologous dendritic cells loaded with NY-ESO-1 but also NY-ESO-1-expressing tumor cell lines treated with IFN-gamma. One of the two responses identified was greater than the previously identified immunodominant HLA-DP4-restricted response and correlated with NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T cell induction after vaccination. This T cell response was vaccinated in most patients who expressed HLA-DR2. This study has systematically surveyed patients vaccinated with full-length tumor antigen for a vaccinated CD4 helper T cell response.     

Autophagy is involved in oral rAAV/Aβ vaccine-induced Aβ clearance in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

The imbalance between β-amyloid(Aβ) generation and clearance plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer 's disease(AD). The sporadic form of AD is characterized by an overall impairment in Aβ clearance. Immunotherapy targeting Aβ clearance is believed to be a promising approach and is under active clinical investigation. Autophagy is a conserved pathway for degrading abnormal protein aggregates and is crucial for Aβ clearance. We previously reported that oral vaccination with a recombinant AAV/Aβ vaccine increased the clearance of Aβ from the brain and improved cognitive ability in AD animal models, while the underlying mechanisms were not well understood. In this study, we first demonstrated that oral vaccination with rAAV/Aβ decreased the p62 level and up-regulated the LC3BII/LC3B-I ratio in APP/PS1 mouse brain, suggesting enhanced autophagy. Further, inhibition of the Akt/m TOR pathway may account for autophagy enhancement. We also found increased anti-Aβ antibodies in the sera of APP/PS1 mice with oralvaccination, accompanied by elevation of complement factors C1 q and C3 levels in the brain. Our results indicate that autophagy is closely involved in oral vaccination-induced Aβ clearance, and modulating the autophagy pathway may be an important strategy for AD prevention and intervention.     

小儿巨大肺大泡1例

患儿,男性,6岁,因长期间歇性咳嗽、咳痰、喘息来我院就诊.2岁时因感冒、发热、喘息在当地医院常规X线拍片检查示:左侧肺野透亮度异常增强,其内无肺纹理,左肺组织压缩约80%,诊断为左侧气胸,给予胸腔闭式引流术治疗,但胸片及临床症状均无明显好转.