Significance of TRIM29 and ß-catenin expression in non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: TRIM29 belongs to the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family. It has been reported to be up-regulated or be down-regulated in many cancer types, suggesting the oncogenic function of TRIM29 may be depend on different molecular signaling pathway. It was found that ß-catenin function (a key molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway) was required for TRIM29's oncogenic effects. TRIM29 gene expression was also found to be heterogeneous in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtypes. In this study, the possible associations of TRIM29 expression with clinicopathological factors, prognosis, and ß-catenin in human NSCLC were analyzed. METHODS: TRIM29 and ß-catenin expression of tumor and adjacent normal tissues in 251 cases of NSCLC treated by surgery was detected by the Immunohistochemical method. The relationship between clinical pathological data, ß-catenin, and TRIM29 expression was analyzed. RESULTS: TRIM29 expression of tumor tissues was significantly higher than adjacent normal tissues. Expression of TRIM29 in squamous cell carcinoma (SC) tissues was positively correlated with abnormal expression of ß-catenin, histological grade, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis and that was positively correlated with tumor size, histological grading, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis in adenocarcinoma (AC). TRIM29 expression in SC and AC was significantly different and the intensity of poorly differentiated SC was significantly higher than that of AC. High-expression of TRIM29, poorly differentiated grade, and high clinical stage were independent prognostic indicators. CONCLUSION: We considered that TRIM29 may play a reference role in distinguish poorly differentiated AC and SC of NSCLC, combining with CK5/6 and CK7, and it could improve postoperative assessment and have the reference value for clinical treatment. The interaction between TRIM29 and ß-catenin may participate in the development of lung SC.

Blood collection procedures influence contamination rates in blood culture: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Blood culture contamination is a significant adverse event. The aim of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of a strict blood collection procedure in reducing the blood culture contamination rate. METHODS: A prospectively controlled study was performed in two different medical areas in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) for 16 months (from May 2006 to September 2007). In test group, a strict blood collection procedure was carried out by trained nurses with the veinpuncture sites were scrupulously disinfected with 2.5% tincture of iodine plus 70% alcohol. In control group, commonly used procedure in PUMCH was performed with 0.45% chlorhexidine acetate plus 0.2% iodine. Blood culture positive results for 4 target organisms (Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Propionibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium species and Bacillus species) were further assessed by physicians from infectious department to determine whether a sample was true positive (pathogen) or false positive (contamination). RESULTS: Total 9321 blood culture collections were analyzed. The blood culture contamination rate in test group was significantly lower than that in control group (5/3177 (0.16%) vs. 77/6144 (1.25%); χ(2) = 13.382, P < 0.001). The most common contaminant was Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (76.83%). The average cultural time during which contaminated samples became positive was longer than that for true pathogen samples (42.0 hours vs. 13.9 hours, P = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Using a strict blood collection procedure can significantly reduce blood culture contamination rate.

Giant-cell anaplastic carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells of the chest cavity: a distinctive form of thymic carcinoma?

Here, the authors describe a case of giant-cell anaplastic carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells of the chest cavity-which could be a distinctive form of thymic carcinoma-which expressed CD5 and CD45. To the authors' knowledge, there has been no previous report on this subject. A 62-year-old woman presented with continuous pain in the left back associated with coughing and shortness of breath for more than 2 months prior to referral to the hospital. Palliative resection of a mediastinal tumor was performed. During the operation, it was found that the mass occupied most of the chest invading the chest wall, aorta, vena cava, and lung tissue. The patient soon died from diabetic complications in spite of anti-infection treatment. The tumor was composed of large areas of necrosis and anaplastic neoplastic giant cells with high mitotic activity, and osteoclast-like cells; there was marked inflammatory cell infiltration. The anaplastic neoplastic giant cells were immunoreactive for CKpan, CD5, CD45, VIM, and p53. Approximately 50% to 60% of the tumor cells showed immunoreactivity for Ki-67. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA was negative for tumor cells and nonneoplastic osteoclastic giant cells. Because this tumor is very rare, extensive clinical, radiological, and morphological examinations as well as immunohistochemical studies are essential to make the diagnosis.