Relationship of mTORC1 and ferroptosis in tumors.

Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed death, dependent on iron ions and oxidative stress, with a predominant intracellular form of lipid peroxidation. In recent years, ferroptosis has gained more and more interest of people in the treatment mechanism of targeted tumors. mTOR, always overexpressed in the tumor, and controlling cell growth and metabolic activities, has an important role in both autophagy and ferroptosis. Interestingly, the selective types of autophay plays an important role in promoting ferroptosis, which is related to mTOR and some metabolic pathways (especially in iron and amino acids). In this paper, we list the main mechanisms linking ferroptosis with mTOR signaling pathway and further summarize the current compounds targeting ferroptosis in these ways. There are growing experimental evidences that targeting mTOR and ferroptosis may have effective impact in many tumors, and understanding the mechanisms linking mTOR to ferroptosis could provide a potential therapeutic approach for tumor treatment.

The role of TGF-ß in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive malignant tumor with low rate of surgical resection and poor prognosis. Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is a cytokine that has both protumor and antitumor activities, depending on tumor microenvironment. The interaction between TGF-ß signaling and the tumor microenvironment in PC is complex. Here, we reviewed the role of TGF-ß in the tumor microenvironment of PC, highlighting producers of TGF-ß and TGF-ß responders in the tumor microenvironment of PC.

Rare Pseudo-Chediak-Higashi Inclusions in Therapy-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Myelodysplasia-Related Changes.

BACKGROUND: Defined as rare large azurophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, Pseudo-Chediak-Higashi granules mimic those in granulocytes cytoplasm of Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Rare cases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues tumors showed Pseudo-Chediak-Higashi inclusions in cytoplasm, some of which presented with unusual morphological characteristics. METHODS: Herein, we report the first case, in which rare pseudo-Chediak-Higashi inclusions were observed in therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (t-AML-MRC). RESULTS: The rare pseudo-Chediak-Higashi inclusions may be positive for Sudan black, and some scholars think that these rare inclusions are a kind of dysgranulopoiesis. CONCLUSIONS: The case highlights the significance of an integrated diagnostic work-up, with an interesting effect for morphology.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Appearing During Blast Phase of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening illness with rapid progression and high mortality and is associated with genetic defects or can be induced by malignancies or severe infections. Most of the hematological malignancy-related HLH reported was accompanied by lymphoid neoplasms. METHODS: Here, we present an unusual case of HLH with co-existing blast phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-BP). RESULTS: A diagnosis of AML-M5 with most likely concomitant HLH was made based on the clinical features, morphology, flow cytometry immunophenotyping, and genetics. Moreover, clinical characteristics were more suggestive of myeloid blast phase CML than de novo AML with the positive p210 BCR-ABL1. However, disease-causing mutations of HLH were not available, the patient probably had secondary malignancy-associated HLH induced by an acute infection. CONCLUSIONS: The case focuses on the contribution of bone marrow morphological examination in getting the first diagnostic clue of CML-BP concomitant with HLH.

Cysteine Metabolism in Tumor Redox Homeostasis.

Cysteine (Cys) is a semi-essential nutrient amino acid that plays an important role in cells through endogenous production and various transport systems. Intracellular Cys can be used as a precursor of protein synthesis to maintain cell homeostasis and to generate sulfur-containing substances, including glutathione (GSH), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and taurine. There have been quite a few reports that Cys is related to tumor occurrence and development, and its level is closely related to tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, it helps in maintaining the tumor redox balance and increasing drug resistance. This review aims to summarize the production and metabolism of Cys and its role in tumors, with special emphasis on the potential therapeutic value of Cys in tumors to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

Evidence-based nursing intervention can improve the treatment compliance, quality of life and self-efficacy of patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the improvement effect of evidence-based nursing intervention on treatment compliance, quality of life and self-efficacy of patients with lung carcinoma (LC) undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. METHODS: From May 2018 to August 2019, 183 patients with LC who received radiotherapy and chemotherapy in our hospital were selected and divided into two groups in accordance with different nursing methods. Among them, 85 patients who received routine nursing intervention were included in the control group (CG), and 98 patients who received evidence-based nursing intervention were included in the research group (RG). The improvement of pulmonary function indexes [(FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)] was observed before and after nursing. The pain degree was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS). The treatment compliance between groups was compared. The psychological emotions of the patients were evaluated by a self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and a self-rating depression scale (SDS). The General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) was applied to assess the self-efficacy and the Quality of Life (SF-36) scale was applied to evaluate the quality of life. The incidence of secondary infection was observed in the two groups. The nursing satisfaction was evaluated by a nursing satisfaction questionnaire made by our hospital. RESULTS: After nursing, the improvement of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC levels in the RG were obviously better than that in the CG; The scores of VAS, SAS and SDS and total incidence of secondary infection in the RG were obviously lower than those in the CG; The treatment compliance, GSES and SF-36 scores, and nursing satisfaction scores of patients in the RG were obviously higher than that in the CG. CONCLUSION: Evidence-based nursing intervention can improve treatment compliance, lung function, self-efficacy and quality of life for patients with LC undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Laser in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension Trial (LIGHT) in China - A Randomized Controlled Trial: Design and Baseline Characteristics.

PURPOSE: To describe the baseline characteristics of a trial to evaluate whether selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), as a first-line treatment, provides superior economic and health-related quality of life outcomes to medical treatment in China. DESIGN: The LiGHT China trial is an unmasked, single-center, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: A total of 771 previously undiagnosed patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG, 622 patients) or ocular hypertension (OHT, 149 patients) at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center were recruited from March 2015 to January 2019. Subjects were randomized to SLT-1st (followed by medication then surgery when required) or Medicine-1st (medication followed by surgery when required). The primary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQL). The secondary outcomes were clinical outcomes, cost, cost-effectiveness, Glaucoma Utility Index, Glaucoma Symptom Scale, visual function, and safety. RESULTS: The mean age of POAG patients was 49.8 years and 38.8 years for OHT. The median intraocular pressure was 20 mm Hg for the 1,105 POAG eyes and 24 mm Hg for the 271 OHT eyes. POAG eyes had thinner central cornea thickness (CCT, 536 µm) than OHT eyes (545 µm). Median mean deviation of the visual field in POAG eyes was -4.2 dB. Median refractive error was -1.5 D for OHT eyes and -1.25 D for POAG eyes. There was no difference between POAG and OHT patients on baseline scores of GUI, GSS and VF-14. The difference between OHT and POAG on the EQ-5D-5L was 0.024. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with participants in the LiGHT UK trial, participants in this trial were younger, more myopic and had more severe visual field defects.

Comparison of Biomechanically Corrected Intraocular Pressure Obtained by Corvis ST and Goldmann Applanation Tonometry in Patients With Open-angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

PRECIS: Biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) measurements provided by the new Corvis ST (CST) were higher than measurements obtained with Goldman applanation tonometry (GAT) in eyes with ocular hypertension (OHT) or open-angle glaucoma (OAG). PURPOSE: To compare bIOP obtained with a new version of CST with GAT measurements in patients with OAG and OHT, and to identify factors affecting IOP measurement differences between these methods. METHODS: A total of 122 eyes with OAG or OHT were enrolled. Sixty eyes were treated with prostaglandin analogs (PGA) and 62 eyes with selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). IOP was measured with CST, followed by GAT. Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured with ultrasound pachymetry. Measurements obtained with these 2 approaches were compared. RESULTS: The overall mean IOP was 15.2±3.0 mm Hg and 14.1±3.2 mm Hg with the CST and GAT, respectively (r=0.74; P<0.0001). There was a 1.17 mm Hg bias between tonometers, with 95% limits of agreement of -2.66 to 5.01 mm Hg. According to multivariate regression analysis, differences between bIOP and GAT-IOP were associated with CCT (P=0.001) and age (P=0.007) in the PGA group, but only with CCT in the SLT group (P=0.002). bIOP and GAT-IOP values were influenced by age (PGA: P=0.014; SLT: P=0.006) and CCT (PGA: P=0.007; SLT: P=0.032), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BIOP values were higher and less affected by CCT than GAT-IOP values in eyes with OAG and OHT. However, these measurements may not be interchangeable in the clinic.

[The impact of telmisartan on angiotensin converting enzyme 2 mRNA expression in monocyte-derived macrophages of diabetic hypertensive patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of telmisartan on the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mRNA in monocyte-derived macrophages of hypertensive patients accompanied with diabetes. METHODS: 62 essential hypertensive patients accompanied with diabetes were randomly divided into two groups: regular treatment group, and telmisartan group. Then the content of ACE and ACE2 in serum was detected by ELISA, and the expression of ACE mRNA and ACE2 mRNA in monocyte-derived macrophages of patients was detected by RT-PCR before and after having been treated. RESULTS: (1) After having been treated for 4 weeks and 12 weeks, the blood pressure of the patients in two groups were decreased significantly, Comparing with regular group, telmisartan group seemed to have more obvious therapeutic effect (P < 0.05); (2) After having been treated for 12 weeks, glycosylated hemoglobin diseased in both group, but there was no significant difference between the two group (P > 0.05); (3) In telmisartan group, the content of ACE2 in serum was increased after having been treated for 12 weeks than that in regular treatment group, [(23.9 ± 8.2) U/L vs (16.3 ± 8.9) U/L, P < 0.05]; and the expression of ACE2 mRNA in monocyte-derived macrophages in telmisartan group was obviously increased after 12 weeks comparing with regular treatment group (0.73 ± 0.06 vs 0.51 ± 0.04, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The role of telmisartan in decreasing blood pressure and it's advantage to the metabolism of glucose are partly related with the up-regulation of ACE2 mRNA.