Correlation Study on the Expression of INSR, IRS-1, and PD-L1 in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer.

Objective: To study the expression and correlation of insulin receptor (INSR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 45 lung cancer tissues and 30 adjacent normal tissues of NSCLC patients diagnosed in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from June 2019 to August 2020 were selected. The expressions of INSR, IRS-1, and PD-L1 proteins in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues of NSCLC were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results: The expression of INSR and IRS-1 in NSCLC was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal lung tissue (P < 0.05). INSR expression had statistical significance with the degree of pathological differentiation of nonsmall cell carcinoma (P = 0.031), but had no significant association with age, gender, pathological type, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis status (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between IRS-1 positive expression and NSCLC patients' age, gender, pathological typing, degree of differentiation, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05). PD-L1 positive expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis of NSCLC (P = 0.028), while there was no significant correlation with gender, age, pathological type, TNM stage, and pathological differentiation degree of NSCLC patients (P > 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that PD-L1 protein expression had a significant positive correlation with IRS-1 protein expression (r = 0.373), but was not correlated with the expression of INSR protein. Conclusion: IRS-1 may be involved in the regulation of PD-L1 expression and mediate the occurrence of tumor immune escape, which is expected to become a new target for NSCLC immunotherapy and provide new clinical evidence for immunosuppressive therapy.

Novel compound heterozygous mutation of SLC12A3 in Gitelman syndrome co-existent with hyperthyroidism: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Gitelman syndrome (GS) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive tubulopathy, characterized clinically by hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria, and metabolic alkalosis, and is caused by an inactivating mutation in SLC12A3. GS is prone to misdiagnosis when occurring simultaneously with hyperthyroidism. It is important to consider the possibility of other diseases when hyperthyroidism is combined with hypokalemia, which is difficult to correct. CASE SUMMARY: A female patient with hyperthyroidism complicated with limb weakness was diagnosed with thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis for 4 mo. However, the patient's serum potassium level remained low despite sufficient potassium replacement and remission of hyperthyroidism. GS was confirmed by whole exome and Sanger sequencing. Gene sequencing revealed compound heterozygous mutations of c.488C>T (p.Thr163Met), c.2612G>A (p.Arg871His), and c.1171_1178dupGCCACCAT (p.Ile393fs) in SLC12A3. Protein molecular modeling was performed to predict the effects of the identified missense mutations. All three mutations cause changes in protein structure and may result in abnormal protein function. All previously reported cases of GS coexisting with autoimmune thyroid disease are reviewed. CONCLUSION: We have identified a novel compound heterozygous mutation in SLC12A3. The present study provides new genetic evidence for GS.

Present and Future Prospects of the Anti-cancer Activities of Saikosaponins.

Since their discovery, saikosaponins (SSs) have been found to play an important role in treating a variety of cancers via diverse mechanisms of action. This review summarizes the current research status and prospects of the anti-cancer activities of SSs, providing novel insights into the limitations of current studies. In addition, it discusses whether SSs can be applied in immunotherapy and the possible mechanisms by which SSs may facilitate immunotherapy. The research is significant to understanding the anti-cancer potents of SSs in the development of SSs-based therapeutic strategies and clinical practice.

Microstructures, physical and sustained antioxidant properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose based microporous photophobic films.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/sodium citrate (SC)/lipid tea polyphenol (LTP) photophobic films with different pore sizes from micron scale to nanometer scale were prepared by regulating the SC content (1-7%). The microstructures, physical and sustained antioxidant properties of these films were studied by using wide angel X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscope, whiteness meter, ultraviolet spectrophotometer, texture analyzer and peroxide value test. Composite films with higher SC content showed larger pore size and whiteness. With the increasing SC content, crystallinity first increased then decreased. The addition of SC decreased the Ds (surface fractal dimension) value, smoothness of the cross-section structure, tensile strength, elongation and modulus of composite films. HPMC/SC/LTP microporous films possessed control-release property in oil system, reflected by the lowest peroxide value of peanut oil enclosed in film with 3% SC during three weeks, meaning this film showed the best sustained antioxidant property.