Primary biliary cholangitis presenting with granulomatous lung disease misdiagnosed as lung cancer: A case report.

BACKGROUND: There are few cases of pulmonary granulomatous changes secondary to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). No case of granulomatous lung disease secondary to PBC misdiagnosed as lung cancer had been reported. CASE SUMMARY: A middle-aged woman presented with lung nodules and was misdiagnosed with lung cancer by positron emission tomography/computed tomography. She underwent left lobectomy, and the pathology of the nodules showed granulomatous inflammation, which was then treated with antibiotics. However, a new nodule appeared. Further investigation with lung biopsy and liver serology led to the diagnosis of PBC, and chest computed tomography indicated significant reduction in the pulmonary nodule by treatment with methylprednisolone and ursodeoxycholic acid. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of pulmonary nodules requires integrating various clinical data to avoid unnecessary pulmonary lobectomy.

Ultra-high photoelectric conversion efficiency and obvious carrier separation in photovoltaic ZnIn2X4 (X = S, Se, and Te) van der Waals heterostructures.

The need for low-carbon solar electricity production has become increasingly urgent for energy security and climate change mitigation. However, the bandgap and carrier separation critical requirements of high-efficiency solar cells are difficult to satisfy simultaneously in a single material. In this work, several van der Waals ZnIn2X4 (X = S, Se, and Te) heterostructures were designed based on density functional theory. Our results suggest that both ZnIn2S4/ZnIn2Se4 and ZnIn2Se4/ZnIn2Te4 heterostructures are direct bandgap semiconductors at the Γ point. Besides, obvious carrier spatial separations were observed in the ZnIn2S4/ZnIn2Se4 and ZnIn2Se4/ZnIn2Te4 heterostructures. Interestingly, the ZnIn2S4/ZnIn2Se4 heterostructure has a suitable bandgap of 1.43 eV with good optical absorption in the visible light range. The calculated maximum theoretical photoelectric conversion efficiency of ZnIn2S4/ZnIn2Se4 heterostructure was 32.1%, and it can be further enhanced to 32.9% under 2% tensile strain. Compared to single-layer ZnIn2X4 materials, the electron effective mass of the ZnIn2S4/ZnIn2Se4 heterostructure is relatively low, which results in high electron mobility in the heterostructure. The suitable bandgap, obvious carrier separation, high electron mobility, and excellent theoretical photoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZnIn2S4/ZnIn2Se4 heterostructure make it a promising candidate for novel 2D-based photoelectronic devices and solar cells.

Schisandrin B inhibits the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by inducing cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. Schizandrin B (Sch B) is one of the main dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans present in the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Schisandraceae). Sch B has multiple functions against cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Sch B on the proliferation, cell cycling, apoptosis and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and transwell invasion assays. Treatment with Sch B inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Sch B induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase by down-regulating the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4, and CDK6, but up-regulating p53 and p21 expression in A549 cells. Furthermore, Sch B triggered A549 cell apoptosis by increasing Bax, cleaved caspase-3, 9, Cyto C, but decreasing Bcl-2 and PCNA expression. In addition, Sch B inhibited the invasion and migration of A549 cells by down-regulating the expressions of HIF-1, VEGF, MMP-9 and MMP-2. Therefore, Sch B has potent anti-tumor activity and may be a promising traditional Chinese medicine for human lung carcinoma.

[Study on the relations between smoking and the risk of age-specific lung cancer deaths in urban and rural areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between smoking and lung cancer mortality of residents living in the urban and rural areas of China. METHODS: Using the national census data on causes of death and case-control studies, stratified analysis was conducted by parameters as geography and age, to calculate the risk ratios, excess risks, average years lost for life expectancy by smoking in males and females in 103 cities/counties in China. RESULTS: Smoking increased the risks for lung cancer death in all ages older than 35 years of age, in urban and rural areas, through data analysis on 52 193 cases died from lung cancer in 1986 - 1988 and 307 934 matched controls in China. The risk ratio was 3.0 (95%CI: 2.9 - 3.1) with 53.0% excess for lung cancer deaths in the male smokers. The years lost for life expectancy were 18.5 in urban, and 17.7 in rural male smokers aged 35 to 69 years. Similarly, the risk ratio was 3.0 (95%CI: 2.9 - 3.1), with 26.0% excess for lung cancer deaths in female smokers. The life-expectancy lost was 13.0 and 20.4 for female smokers aged 35 to 69 years in urban and rural areas, respectively. CONCLUSION: In both urban and rural areas, risk on lung cancer deaths caused by smoking in all males and females aged at 35 years and older had been significantly increased. Control of smoking prevalence should play a vital role in the prevention of the lung cancer death risks in China.

[Relationship between smoking and risk of esophageal cancer in 103 areas in China: a large-scale case-control study incorporated into a nationwide survey of mortality].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between smoking and risk of esophageal cancer (EC), and present a theoretical framework of control selection in population-based case-control study which was incorporated into a nationwide retrospective survey of mortality in China. METHODS: A large-scale population-based case-control study was incorporated into the nationwide retrospective survey of mortality conducted 1989 - 1991 in 24 urban cities selected by non-random sampling and 79 rural counties selected from 3000 counties included in the 1973 - 1975 cancer distribution survey by random sampling during. A questionnaire survey was conducted by home visit to investigate the death causes and smoking history of 19 734 deceased male adults who died of esophageal cancer during 1986 - 1988 at the age >or= 35. Two control groups were set up to undergo questionnaire survey by home visit to investigate the smoking history of the deceased persons and the informants. Control group I included the surviving spouses or other informants of 31 989 male adults who died of non-malignant digestive diseases during 1986 - 1988 at the age >or= 35, and control group II included 104 846 male spouses of the deceased female adults who died of different causes during 1986 - 1989 at the age >or= 35. The relative risks and population smoking attributable risks for EC were calculated using non-conditional logistic model, and the results were compared for consistency between the analyses using two different control groups. RESULTS: The EC absolute death rates were higher in the smokers than in the non-smokers in all urban and rural area groups. The total EC absolute death rate per 1000 among the non-smokers vs. smokers was 0.37:0.65 in the urban areas, 0.99:1.29 in the inland rural areas, and 1.09:1.62 in the coastal rural areas in the control group I, and there was a similar trend in the control group II. There was a significant dose-response relation between the period of smoking and the death risk of EC and between the daily cigarette consumption and the death risk of EC. The risk ratios, for example, for cigarette per day < 10, 10-, and 20- in the urban men were 1.42, 1.82, 2.22 in the control group I (trend test P < 0.01), and 1.57, 1.95, and 3.18 in the control group II (trend test P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Smoking is an important risk factor for mortality from EC in China. Investigating the surviving spouses of the deceased patients is a creative, effective, and feasible trial, with the prerequisite of whole population-based survey, in study of the main types of death and the relevant risk factors.

Smoking and mortality from esophageal cancer in China: a large case-control study of 19,734 male esophageal cancer deaths and 104,846 living spouse controls.

An innovative population-based case-control study was conducted in a national mortality survey to assess the hazards of tobacco use on esophageal cancer among Chinese men. Cases were 19,734 males aged 35 years or older, who died of esophageal cancer during 1986-1988. Controls were 104,846 male living spouses of the same age when their wife died (of any cause) during the same period in the same county or city. The absolute esophageal cancer death rates were higher in smokers than those in nonsmokers in all geographical groups. The relative risks for esophageal cancer were 1.88 (95% CI: 1.73-2.05) and 1.39 (95% CI: 1.28-1.50) in urban and rural men, respectively, after adjustment for other relevant covariates including age group (5 years) and locality. When the calculation was restricted to men aged 35-69, the risk ratios for current cigarette smokers increased significantly with increasing number of cigarettes smoked daily and duration of smoking. Tobacco use, in any form, is an important risk factor for esophageal cancer in Chinese men. Selecting living spouses as controls is a unique and useful approach in the design of case-control studies of cigarette smoking.