Prognostic value of serum soluble interleukin-23 receptor and related T-helper 17 cell cytokines in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

The signaling of interleukin (IL)-23 and its receptor (IL-23R) play a crucial role in the development of cancers. However, the clinical significance of human serum soluble IL-23R (sIL-23R) and its relationship with IL-23 are still not explored in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In our study, sIL-23R was first identified in the serum of NSCLC patients, but not in healthy controls, by proteomics. The IL-23R mRNA and protein were upregulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues tested by quantitative PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The levels of sIL-23R, IL-23, and IL-17 in 195 NSCLC patients' serum were determined by ELISA, and high levels of sIL-23R were significantly associated with advanced N stage (P = .039), clinical stage (P = .007), and poor 5-year survival rate. In vitro, sIL-23R was shown binding to IL-23 and the balance could affect patients' N and T stage, overall survival, and downstream cytokine IL-17 in a potential antagonistic relationship. Although sIL-23R, IL-23, and IL-17 were all associated with poor prognosis, only the sIL-23R/IL-23 ratio (hazard ratio, 1.945; 95% confidence interval, 1.147-3.299; P = .014) was found to be an independent factor for prognosis. Therefore, we identified fragments of soluble cytokine receptor of IL-23R with affinity ability to its natural ligand IL-23 in NSCLC patients' serum. The balance between the 2 antagonists can work as a potential prognostic serum marker.

Antibodies against atypical pathogens and respiratory viruses detected by Pneumoslide IgM test in adults with community-acquired pneumonia in Guangzhou City.

BACKGROUND: To detect the serum antibodies against respiratory viruses and atypical pathogens in adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Guangzhou City (Guangdong province, China). METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out with samples from 685 adults who were admitted with CAP and 108 non-CAP control patients. Atypical pathogens and respiratory viruses in serum were detected using the Pneumoslide IgM test from Vircell, Spain. All patients were divided into 6 groups according to age: 18-24, 25-44, 45-59, 60-74, 75-89, and >90. RESULTS: The total positive rate of CAP was 35.4%, which was highest in the 18-24 age group (P < .05). The highest positive rate, 17.11%, was observed for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP). The mean age of MP-infected patients was higher than that of the controls (P < .05). The positive rates for influenza B (INFB), Legionella pneumophila (LP1), Coxiella burnetii (COX), influenza A (INFA), parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Chlamydophila pneumoniae (CP), and adenovirus (ADV) were 5.56%, 3.07%, 2.63%, 2.34%, 1.90%, 1.61, 0.88%, and 0.29%, respectively. There were 4.37% of patients with CAP having multiple infections. The main symptoms observed in the 685 CAP patients were cough and sputum production, in 78.4% and 67.4%. Fever was followed by 54% of CAP patients. Dyspnea (39.1%), anorexia (36.8%), increased thirst (26.7%), chills (18.7), headache (14.6%), and nausea (13.1%) were also frequently observed in the CAP patients. CONCLUSIONS: MP infection was the most common in adult CAP patients in Guangzhou City with the highest positive rate in the 18-24 age groups.

Effects of placebo-controlled insulin-sensitizing drugs on hormonal parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome patients: A network meta-analysis.

This network meta-analysis was conducted to compare effects of different placebo-controlled insulin-sensitizing drugs, including metformin, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, and troglitazone on hormonal parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to July 2017. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met our inclusion criteria were included. We combined direct and indirect evidences to evaluate weighted mean difference (WMD) value and draw surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Totally 28 eligible RCTs were enrolled. The network meta-analysis results indicated that: Compared with placebo, patients treated with pioglitazone had relatively higher sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (nmol/L) level (WMD = 6.65, 95%CI = 0.57-12.98), patients treated with metformin had comparatively lower total testosterone (TT) (ng/mL) level (WMD = -0.20, 95%CI = -0.39 to -0.02); Compared with rosiglitazone, patients treated with metformin had relatively higher estradiol (E2 ) (pg/mL) level (WMD = 47.91, 95%CI = 11.44-85.55). However, there were no statistical significance among the placebo-controlled insulin-sensitizing drugs in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (IU/L), luteinizing hormone (LH) (IU/L), dehydroepiandrostrone-sulphate (DHEAS) (µg/dL), free testosterone (FT) (pg/mL) and androstenedione (ng/mL). The results of cluster analysis showed that rosiglitazone may be the best drug for PCOS patients regarding to DHEAS, TT, FSH, and LH, metformin may be the best drug for PCOS patients as for E2 , FT, and androstenedione. Rosiglitazone had the best effect on PCOS patients in terms of DHEAS, TT, FSH, and LH, metformin had the best effect on PCOS patients for E2 , FT, and androstenedione.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-like Synoviocyte Suppression Mediated by PTEN Involves Survivin Gene Silencing.

Survivin is a proto-oncogene biomarker known for its anti-apoptotic and cell cycle regulating properties induced by the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. In the context of non-cancer pathology, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), survivin has emerged as a feature associated with severe joint damage and poor treatment response. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a phosphatase antagonizing all classes of PI3K. The interplay between survivin oncogenic mechanisms and proliferation suppression networks in RA has remained largely elusive. This study investigated the effect of PTEN on survivin gene expression in rheumatiod arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocyte (RA-FLS). We showed for the first time that the suppression of RA-FLS was mediated by PTEN involving survivin silencing. Considering that survivin suppressants are currently available in clinical trials and clinical use, their effects in RA-FLS support a probably RA therapy to clinical practice.