Effects of different KRAS mutants and Ki67 expression on diagnosis and prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a prevalent form of non-small cell lung cancer with a rising incidence in recent years. Understanding the mutation characteristics of LUAD is crucial for effective treatment and prediction of this disease. Among the various mutations observed in LUAD, KRAS mutations are particularly common. Different subtypes of KRAS mutations can activate the Ras signaling pathway to varying degrees, potentially influencing the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUAD. This study aims to investigate the relationship between different KRAS mutation subtypes and the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUAD. A total of 63 clinical samples of LUAD were collected for this study. The samples were analyzed using targeted gene sequencing panels to obtain sequencing data. To complement the dataset, additional clinical and sequencing data were obtained from TCGA and MSK. The analysis revealed significantly higher Ki67 immunohistochemical scores in patients with missense mutations compared to controls. Moreover, the expression level of KRAS was found to be significantly correlated with Ki67 expression. Enrichment analysis indicated that KRAS missense mutations activated the SWEET_LUNG_CANCER_KRAS_DN and CREIGHTON_ENDOCRINE_THERAPY_RESISTANCE_2 pathways. Additionally, patients with KRAS missense mutations and high Ki67 IHC scores exhibited significantly higher tumor mutational burden levels compared to other groups, which suggests they are more likely to be responsive to ICIs. Based on the data from MSK and TCGA, it was observed that patients with KRAS missense mutations had shorter survival compared to controls, and Ki67 expression level could more accurately predict patient prognosis. In conclusion, when utilizing KRAS mutations as biomarkers for the treatment and prediction of LUAD, it is important to consider the specific KRAS mutant subtypes and Ki67 expression levels. These findings contribute to a better understanding of LUAD and have implications for personalized therapeutic approaches in the management of this disease.

Combined ultrasound and germination treatment on the fine structure of highland barley starch.

Highland barley is a grain crop grown in Tibet, China. This study investigated the structure of highland barley starch using ultrasound (40 kHz, 40 min, 165.5 W) and germination treatments (30℃ with 80% relative humidity). The macroscopic morphology and the barley's fine and molecular structure were evaluated. After sequential ultrasound pretreatment and germination, a significant difference in moisture content and surface roughness was noted between highland barley and the other groups. All test groups showed an increased particle size distribution range with increasing germination time. FTIR results also indicated that after sequential ultrasound pretreatment and germination, the absorption intensity of the intramolecular hydroxyl (-OH) group of starch increased, and hydrogen bonding was stronger compared to the untreated germinated sample. In addition, XRD analysis revealed that starch crystallinity increased following sequential ultrasound treatment and germination, but a-type of crystallinity remained after sonication. Further, the Mw of sequential ultrasound pretreatment and germination at any time is higher than that of sequential germination and ultrasound. As a result of sequential ultrasound pretreatment and germination, changes in the content of chain length of barley starch were consistent with germination alone. At the same time, the average degree of polymerisation (DP) fluctuated slightly. Lastly, the starch was modified during the sonication process, either prior to or following sonication. Pretreatment with ultrasound illustrated a more profound effect on barley starch than sequential germination and ultrasound treatment. In conclusion, these results indicate that sequential ultrasound pretreatment and germination improve the fine structure of highland barley starch.

[Component Characteristics and Source Appointment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Lianyungang City].

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important precursors of ozone and particulate matter; thus, their impacts on air quality are particularly significant. To study the composition characteristics and sources of VOCs in Lianyungang City, four national control sites were selected to conduct VOCs sampling and analysis on typical days in spring, summer, and autumn. Concentrations of VOCs, the effects of different components of VOCs on ozone formation were quantified, and the sources of VOCs were analyzed using the Positive Matrix Factorization model. The VOC concentrations were in the range of 27.46×10-9-40.52×10-9 in spring, 45.79×10-9-53.45×10-9 in summer, and 38.84×10-9-46.66×10-9 in autumn. Concentrations of oxygenated compounds accounted for 41%-48% of all measured VOCs. VOC species with higher concentrations were acetone, acrolein, and propionaldehyde, and the concentration of isoprene was higher in summer. Generally, VOC concentrations were higher at 09:00 than at 13:00 when acrolein, ethylene, and dichloromethane concentrations changed greatly. The ozone formation potential (OFP) of oxygenated compounds was the highest, followed by aromatics and alkenes, and the OFP of alkanes was the smallest. The VOC species with higher OFP were acrolein, propylene, and ethylene. The main sources of VOCs in Lianyungang were industry (49%), solvent usage (23%), transportation (14%), paint usage (10%), and natural sources (4%). The results suggest further investigating the oxygenated compounds with higher concentrations and higher OFP in Lianyungang City, and studying the impacts of industrial sources on VOCs.

Treatment of infected wounds with methylene blue photodynamic therapy: An effective and safe treatment method.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial resistance is a problem during the process of healing of infected wounds. As a therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has broad-spectral antibacterial activity and non-selective action, which makes it possible to deal with antibiotic resistance.. Methylene blue is a commonly used medicine, but it is rarely used in clinical practice as a photosensitizer. The effect of methylene blue photodynamic therapy (MB-PDT) on infected wounds remains unclear. Our study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MB-PDT on infected wounds. METHODS: In this study, 5 patients with infected wounds were included, all of them were treated with MB-PDT by using the red LED which irradiated the wounds directly (635 nm, 120 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2). The frequency and course of treatment were determined by the severity of the wound. RESULTS: After an average of 4 PDT session, infected wounds of all the patients healed.. The treatment also showed an excellent cosmetic effect. According to the follow-up periods of patients ranged from 3 to 12 months, there were no recurrences and side effects. CONCLUSIONS: MB-PDT has a great healing effect on infected wounds, and it is a safe, cheap and active clinical therapy.

Susceptibility and Resistance Mechanisms During Photodynamic Therapy of Melanoma.

Melanoma is the most aggressive malignant skin tumor and arises from melanocytes. The resistance of melanoma cells to various treatments results in rapid tumor growth and high mortality. As a local therapeutic modality, photodynamic therapy has been successfully applied for clinical treatment of skin diseases. Photodynamic therapy is a relatively new treatment method for various types of malignant tumors in humans and, compared to conventional treatment methods, has fewer side effects, and is more accurate and non-invasive. Although several in vivo and in vitro studies have shown encouraging results regarding the potential benefits of photodynamic therapy as an adjuvant treatment for melanoma, its clinical application remains limited owing to its relative inefficiency. This review article discusses the use of photodynamic therapy in melanoma treatment as well as the latest progress made in deciphering the mechanism of tolerance. Lastly, potential targets are identified that may improve photodynamic therapy against melanoma cells.

Efficacy and safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for the treatment of ulcerative squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy is a nonsurgical alternative to conventional tumor excision for squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, photodynamic therapy has many advantages in improving wound healing, especially for diabetic foot lesions and infected ulcers. However, the effect of photodynamic therapy on ulcerative squamous cell carcinoma is not yet clear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in treating squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A total of six cases of ulcerative squamous cell carcinoma were included in our study. Each ulcer region was irradiated with 120 J/cm2 using a 635-nm red light-emitting diode after application of 5-aminolevulinic acid solution at 1-week intervals. The number of treatment sessions depended on the healing of the lesions. RESULTS: The ulcerative lesions showed complete clinical remission with an average 3.7 photodynamic therapy sessions. There was no recurrence during a follow-up of 8.5 months (range, 3 months to 1 year). The patients were able to complete the treatment protocol with good cosmetic results and no significant complications. In addition, most patients reported significant improvement in their quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy is a promising method for treating ulcerative squamous cell carcinoma. However, its effects need to be validated in larger patient samples in clinical trials.

Analysis of risk factors for stage I lung adenocarcinoma using low-dose high-resolution computed tomography.

Risk factors for stage I lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed using low-dose high-resolution computed tomography (CT). The patients were divided into case group (stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients) and control group (benign pulmonary nodules patients). All patients were subjected to low-dose high-resolution CT. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the CT imaging features of the two groups. Stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients were significantly associated with nodular site (X3, upper left lobe) [95% CI (1.796, 54.695), p=0.008], nodule type (X4) (p<0.001), nodule size (X5) [95% CI (0.614, 0.803), p<0.001], spicule sign (X7) [95% CI (0.029, 0.580), p=0.008], lobulation sign (X8) [95% CI (0.048, 0.673), p=0.011]. The stepwise regression equation is: Logistic (p) =-12.009 + 2.294X3 - 0.327X4 - 0.354X5 - 2.042X7 - 1.713X8. Risk factors of low-dose and high-resolution CT imaging for patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma are nodular site (upper left lobe), nodule type, nodule size, spicule sign, and lobulation sign.

The clinical study of the optimalization of surgical treatment and the traditional Chinese medicine intervention on palmar hyperhidrosis.

To analyze the efficacy of different surgical methods in treating palmar hyperhidrosis and the compensatory hyperhidrosis after surgery and to observe the efficacy of "Energy-boosting and Yin-nourishing anti-perspirant formula" on postsurgical hyperhidrosis patients. Two-hundred patients were randomly assigned to groups A (Chinese and Western medicine, T4 transection plus "Energy-boosting and Yin-nourishing anti-perspirant formula") and B (Western medicine, T4 transection). The surgical efficiency, recurrence rate, compensatory hyperhidrosis, and the long-term life quality were compared. Another 100 cases (group C, T2 transection) were analyzed as a control group. After surgery, the palmar hyperhidrosis and armpit sweating were relieved in all the three group patients and in 34 % of patients combined with plantar hyperhidrosis, the symptoms were relieved. Transient palmar hyperhidrosis was found in three cases at day 2 to day 5 postoperatively. One case of Horner's syndrome and one case recurrence were found in group C patients. The compensatory sweating of various degrees occurred in all the three groups. There were 25, 24, and 43 cases in groups A, B, and C, respectively. There is a significant difference between groups C, A, and B. The compensatory sweating in 13 cases of group A and four cases of group B had different degrees of improvement in the follow-up 6 months after surgery. There is a significant difference. Thoracoscopic bilateral T4 sympathetic chain and the Kuntz resection are the optimized surgical treatments for the palmar hyperhidrosis. "Energy-boosting and Yin-nourishing anti-perspirant formula" is effective in treating the postoperative compensatory sweating.

Effect of Yiqi Bufei recipe [see text] on patients with pulmonary incompetence after pneumonectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Yiqi Bufei Recipe ([see text], YBR) on surgical tolerability, pulmonary compensatory function and post-operation rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary incompetence (PI) after pneumonectomy. METHODS: YBR intervention was applied to 60 patients with PI after pneumonectomy (as test group), the pulmonary and cardiac functions changes before and after operation, occurrence of postoperative complications, mortality, and the number of hospitalization days and intensive care unit (ICU) confinement period were observed. Meantime, for the negative and positive controls, the same parameters were observed comparatively in 60 patients with normal lung function, and in 60 patients with PI undergoing a similar operation but untreated with Chinese herbs. RESULTS: Lung function in the test group showed insignificant change before and after operation (P >0.05), while significant decrease was seen in the two control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the incidences of post-operation complications and mortality as well as the number of hospitalization days and the ICU confinement period in the test group were significantly lower than those in the positive control group respectively (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: YBR could relieve lung injury after pneumonectomy, improve surgical tolerability, reduce the length of postoperative hospitalization days and ICU confinement period, and lower the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality in patients with PI after pneumonectomy.

Rule of Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation in the patients with thoracic diseases at perioperation stage.

OBJECTIVE: To study the rule of syndrome differentiation in the patients with thoracic diseases at perioperation stage. METHODS: A standard was created referring to the related literature, and it was applied to differentiate the Chinese medicine syndrome in 150 patients before and three days after thoracic operation. RESULTS: Before operation, Chinese medicine syndromes were as differentiated as phlegm type in 45.3%, blood stasis type in 17.3%, and qi-stagnancy type in 16.0%. The patients with asthenia syndrome markedly increased after operation, accounting for 34.0% (51 patients, including qi-, yin-, and blood-deficiency syndromes). The most frequently seen intermixed syndromes were qi-deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome and Pi ()-deficiency with phlegm-dampness syndrome. The intermixed syndromes revealed in 37.5% and 42.0% of the patients before and after operation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The syndrome in the patients with thoracic disease before operation was mostly the excessive syndrome, mainly the phlegm syndrome type; at postoperation stage, Chinese medicine syndrome in patients become asthenia in essence with excessive superficiality, which is mostly revealed as Pi-deficiency with phlegm-dampness.

Memory alloy embracing fixator in treatment of multiple fractured ribs and flail chest.

BACKGROUND: With the development of internal fixation materials, simple operation with internal fixation has become a tendency. Ni-Ti shape memory alloy embracing fixator has such advantages as slight injury, easy operation, security, reliable fixation, and better histocompatibility. The present study was to explore curative effect and postoperative results of Ti-Ni shape memory alloy embracing fixator in patients with multiple fractured ribs and flail chest. METHODS: The curative effect and long-term follow-up results were observed after internal fixation with a shape memory alloy embracing fixator in patients with multiple fractured ribs and flail chest from January 2006 to December 2009. RESULTS: All patients were cured with an average hospital stay of 10.31±3.14 days. Post-operative pain was less severe than preoperative pain (P=0.02). The rate of postoperative complications such as atelectasis, pulmonary infection, etc was 17.65%. There were fewer long-term complications and less influence on daily work and life. CONCLUSIONS: It is practical to perform an operation for fracture of multiple ribs using a Ti-Ni shape memory alloy embracing fixator. The fixator, which is less traumatic, simple, safe, and reliable, has a good-histocompatibility and fewer postoperative complications.

[Clinical observation on intervention of Yiqi Bufei Recipe in patients with severe pulmonary function incompetence after lung resection].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Yiqi Bufei Recipe (YBR) on clinical symptoms, pulmonary function and recovery in patients with severe pulmonary function incompetence (PFI) after lung resection (LR). METHODS: The clinical symptoms were observed, the pulmonary function examined and blood-gas analysis conducted in 30 patients with PFI after LR (the treatment group) and in 30 cases with normal pulmonary function after LR (the control group). RESULTS: In the treatment group, clinical manifestations including cough, dyspnea, frequency of oxygen inhalation, and mobility, as well as the results of blood-gas analysis were improved after operation, while pulmonary function changed insignificantly. There was no significant difference in occurrence of postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: YBR can relieve acute lung injury caused by LR and improve the tolerance of patients with PFI for operation, which is benificial for postoperative recovery.