Huang Qi Tong Bi Decoction Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via HMGB1/TLR/NF-κB Pathway.

The aim of this study was to study the protective effect of Huang Qi Tong Bi Decoction (HQTBT) on the heart of rats. Ischemia-reperfusion injury was established by coronary artery ligation. Proinflammatory cytokines were decreased by XFZY in coronary artery ligated rats. ST segment was also restored with the treatment of HQTBT. Triphenyltetrazole chloride (TTC) staining and pathological analysis showed that HQTBT reduced myocardial injury. Besides, the expressions of HMGB1/TLR/NF-κB pathway in rats were significantly decreased by HQTBT. This study shows that HQTBT inhibited inflammatory reaction on myocardial injury in rats.

Ameliorative Effect of Dangguibuxue Decoction against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Heart Injury in Mice.

Dangguibuxue decoction (DBD), a kind of Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely used to treat blood deficiency disease in China. In this experiment, we studied the effects of the Dangguibuxue decoction (DBD) on the myocardial injury induced by cyclophosphamide in mice. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum were detected by commercial kits. Total white blood cell (WBCs), platelets, and cytokines pathological changes of heart tissue were also examined. In addition, the protein levels of the NF-кB pathway were detected to reveal its mechanism. The results showed that DBD significantly decreased the levels of ALT, AST, CK, and LDH and increased WBCs in CTX-induced mice. In addition, DBD significantly alleviated pathological changes of heart tissue. DBD significantly reduced the protein expressions of NF-кB signaling pathway. In summary, DBD can be considered an effective drug to alleviate CTX-induced heart damage in mice.

Self-efficacy, cancer-related fatigue, and quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer.

We aim to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy, cancer-related fatigue, and quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer. A prospective cohort among 452 patients with resected NSCLC was conducted in 2014 to 2015. The self-efficacy, cancer-related fatigue, and quality of life assessments were investigated in the 3-month follow-up by General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the relationships between the latent variables. Structural equation modelling analysis showed that both GSES (ß = 0.69, p < 0.05) and MFSI-SF (ß = -0.46, p < 0.01) had direct effect on SF-36; GSES also can indirect effect on SF-36 though MFSI-SF (ß = -0.42, p < 0.01). The model fit indices demonstrated a reasonable fit (χ2  = 27.221, CFI = 0.911, GFI = 0.962, RMSEA = 0.051). The results showed self-efficacy has direct and indirect effect on quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer. Furthermore, cancer-related fatigue, as mediated variables, can mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and quality of life. In the future, self-efficacy interventions are need for improving quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer.

Effects of couple based coping intervention on self-efficacy and quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the couple based coping intervention (CBCI) for self-efficacy and quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer, compared with individual coping intervention (ICI). METHODS: From October to December 2015, 132 consecutive patients with resected lung cancer who were married/lived in a stable relationship were randomly assigned to the ICI group and the CBCI group. RESULTS: The CBCI group had higher GSES compared with the ICI group at 2 month after operation, and at 6 month after operation (P<0.05). The CBCI group had higher VT, SF, RE, and MH score of SF-36 compared with the ICI group at 2 month after operation, and at 6 month after operation (P<0.05), but no significant differences were found in RP, PF, BP, and GH score of SF-36 compared between two groups (P>0.05) in these 2 time points. CONCLUSION: Couple based coping intervention is more effective than individual coping intervention for improving the self-efficacy and the quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Practitioners might like to consider using couple based coping intervention strategy to improve self-efficacy and quality of life in patients with resected lung cancer.

Curcumin attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are at a badly high-risk of morbidity and mortality in the world. METHODS: Our study was attempted to investigate the cardioprotective role of curcumin. Hearts injury was assessed in isolated hearts and the rats of coronary artery ligated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed by curcumin in coronary artery ligated rats. ST segment was also reduced by curcumin. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining (TTC) staining and pathological analysis were also showed that curcumin could dramatically alleviate myocardial injury. Besides, the results in vitro also demonstrated that curcumin could improved the function of isolated hearts. Besides, the expressions of inflammation-related pathway in both rats and isolated hearts treated with curcumin were significantly decreased. The present study investigated the protective effects of curcumin on myocardial injury and its mechanism.

High Expression of RIOK2 and NOB1 Predict Human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Outcomes.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. However, there is a shortage of suitable diagnostic markers for early stages of NSCLC, and therapeutic targets are limited. Right open reading frame (Rio) kinase 2 (RIOK2) and Nin one binding (NOB1) protein are important accessory factors in ribosome assembly and are highly expressed in malignant tumours; moreover, they interact with each other. However, the RIOK2 expression profile and its clinical significance as well as NOB1's mechanism in NSCLC remain unknown. In this study, NSCLC cell lines and 15 NSCLC tumour tissues (paired with adjacent normal lung tissues) were collected for a real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. In addition, 153 NSCLC cases and 27 normal lung tissues were used in an immunohistochemical analysis to evaluate the RIOK2 and NOB1 expression profiles, their clinicopathological factors in NSCLC and their correlations with prognoses. RIOK2 and NOB1 were highly expressed in NSCLC cells and tissues, and their expression profiles were significantly associated with the Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and differentiation. RIOK2 expression was correlated with NOB1. The results suggested that simultaneously determining the expression of RIOK2 and NOB1 will improve the diagnostic rate in early stages of NSCLC. Moreover, RIOK2 and NOB1 might be potential targets for NSCLC therapy.

NOB1 expression predicts early response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of Nin one binding (NOB1) expression for response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A total of 105 consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC were retrospectively investigated between January 2012 and June 2014. We used transbronchial biopsy to collect cancer tissue samples. Immunohistochemistry were used in the detection of NOB1 protein expression. We assessed the chemotherapy early response by response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (RECIST) Version 1.1 at the end of the second cycle of chemotherapy. RESULTS: In the 105 transbronchial biopsy NSCLC specimens, 22 (21.0%) stained NOB1 - , 35 (33.3%) stained +, 31 (29.5%) stained ++ and 17 (16.2%) stained +++. The early response rate to chemotherapy was 59.0% in overall NSCLC. Early response to chemotherapy has no relationship with patients' age, gender, smoke status, performance status and chemotherapy regimens (P>0.05), but related with TMN stage, histopathological grade, as well as NOB1 expression (P < 0.05). In squamous cell carcinoma and non-squamous cell carcinoma, same results were found. Logistic regression analysis showed TMN stage, histopathological grade and NOB1 expression were independent prognosis factors for early response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. After adjusted by TMN stage and histopathological grade, the OR for NOB1 expression was 1.429 (95% CI 1.115-1.743, P = 0.008) for early response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that enhanced expression of NOB1 related with poor early response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

A three gene-based risk score predicts prognosis of resected non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: To study the prognosis-predicting value of a risk score based on phosphorylated At (p-Akt), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Nin one binding (NOB1) expression in patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A prospective cohort among 98 consecutive patients with resected NSCLC was conducted in 2009 to 2010. Immunohistochemistry was used in the detection of p-Akt, VEGF, and NOB1 expression. Any of three genes with positive expression was allocated a score of 1, otherwise scored 0. The risk score ranged from 0-3. Prognosis outcomes included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Log-rank test and Cox hazard model were used to investigate the prognosis predicting value for the risk score. RESULTS: In the 98 NSCLC tissue specimens, p-Akt, VEGF and NOB1 positive Expression rates were 42.9%, 66.3%, and 60.2%, respectively. The median for OS was 44 month, with 95% CI 35-51 months, and the median for PFS was 36 months, with 95% CI 25-49 months. Log-rank test showed OS and PFS related with TMN stage, lymph node metastasis, p-Akt expression, VEGF expression, NOB1 expression, and gene-based risk score (P<0.05). Multivariate COX analysis showed pTMN stage, lymph node metastasis, p-Akt expression, VEGF expression, and gene-based risk score were independent prognosis factors for OS and PFS. The adjusted HR for gene-based risk score with every one score increase was 1.21 [1.04-1.56] for OS and 1.19 [1.02-1.79] for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the risk scores based on p-Akt, VEGF, NOB1 expression can predict postoperative survival in patients with resected NSCLC.

Relationship between NOB1 expression and prognosis of resected non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Nin one binding (NOB1) protein expression and prognosis for resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A prospective cohort of 70 consecutive patients with resected NSCLC was studied in 2009. Immunohistochemistry was used in the detection of NOB1 protein expression. Prognosis outcomes included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The log-rank test and Cox hazard model were used to estimate the relationship between NOB1 expression and prognosis. RESULTS: In the 70 NSCLC tissue specimens, 14 (20%) stained -, 24 (34%) stained +, 21 (30%) stained ++ and 11 (16%) stained +++. The NOB1 high expression rate was 16%. NOB1 expression was significantly different between TMN stage (p=0.024) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.001), as well as histopathological grades (p=0.037). Median OS was 43 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 35-51 months), and median PFS was 37 months (95% CI, 25-49 months). OS and PFS were related to TMN stage and lymph node metastasis, as well as NOB1 expression (p<0.05). After adjustment for TMN stage and lymph node metastasis, the hazard ratio (HR) for high NOB1 expression was 1.7 (95% CI, 1.1-3.0, p=0.027) for OS, and 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3-3.7, p=0.031) for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that enhanced expression of NOB1 is related to poor overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with resected NSCLC.

The relationship between total red blood cells and plasma transfusion and acute lung injury risk after cardiac surgery: a retrospective study.

The aim of our study was to determine whether red blood cells (RBCs) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion is independently associated with the development of acute lung injury (ALI) in patients after cardiac surgery. In retrospective study, 165 patients were included. The results showed total fresh RBCs transfusion were not significantly increased in patients who developed ALI compared with patients who did not develop ALI (4.7 ± 2.4, 4 [0-12] units VS 4.0 ± 1.9, 3 [0-9] units, P = 0.119). FFP transfusion were also not significantly increased (704.1 ± 832.5, 600 [150-6500] ml VS 533.9 ± 323.6, 400 [125-3100] ml, P = 0.053). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that only age and CPB time were independent factors for ALI, but not for total RBCs and FFP transfused, with the adjusted OR 0.952 (95% CI 0.762-1.189, P=0.664), and 1.000 (95% CI 0.999-1.001, P = 0.480), respectively. In subgroup analysis, female patients showed a lower ALI incidence in low RBCs transfused group (23.9% VS 45.0%, OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.98) and in low FFP transfused group (22.0% VS 44.4%, OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.90). Our study demonstrates that red blood cells and fresh-frozen plasma transfusion are not related with ALI after cardiac surgery in our institution.

NOB1 in non-small-cell lung cancer: expression profile and clinical significance.

Nin one binding (NOB1) gene has been reported up-regulated in several types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of NOB1 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and assess the clinical significance. qRT-PCR was used in the detection of NOB1 mRNA expression both in NSCLC tissue and in adjacent normal lung tissue. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used in the detection of NOB1 protein expression. The clinicopathological implications of NOB1 were analyzed statistically. It was confirmed by RT-qPCR that expression of NOB1 mRNA in NSCLC cells was higher than in human lung cells (P < 0.05), and NOB1 mRNA was also over-expressed in NSCLC tissue when compared with adjacent tissue and normal lung tissue (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that NOB1 protein was significant increased in NSCLC cell lines compared with human lung cell line. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry showed that NOB1 protein was significant increased in NSCLC tissue compared with adjacent tissue and normal lung tissue (P < 0.05). There were significant associations between NOB1 expression and TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and histopathological grade (P < 0.05), but not gender, age, smoke, or tumor diameter (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that enhanced expression of NOB1 gene plays an important role in the occurrence and development of NSCLC. NOB1 may be a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.

[Combined use of occluder plus bare stent in the treatment of aortic dissection with tear at the area of visceral branches].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the novel method of combinedly use of occluder and bare stent in the treatment of aortic dissection with distal tear at visceral branches. METHODS: From April 2010 to September 2012, 6 patients (5 male and 1 female patients, aged from 29 to 62 years, mean 47.2 years) were diagnosed as Stanford type B aortic dissection that been revealed by CT angiography. The main tears were sealed with stent-grafts firstly, and then the tears at the visceral branch area were evaluated that impossible to close spontaneously. Atrium septal defect occluder and ventricular septal defect were implanted at the tears with the anterior disc in false lumen, while the posterior disc in the true lumen. After that, the bare stents were implanted in the true lumen to pull the occluders on the aortic wall. RESULTS: Among the 6 procedures, occluders were successfully implanted in 5 cases, and 1 failed anchoring at the tear, and the alternative method of coils embolization was applicated. After all the procedures, the immediate aortogrophy revealed that the false lumen disappeared in the 5 cases that occluders were used, and the visceral branches were all patent. No paraplegia, lesion of visceral organs or other complications occurred. All the cases were followed at least 5 months. There was one endoleak due to a non-sealed tear at the descending aorta, one new-occurred small tear in the descending aorta but with no communication to the false lumen. CONCLUSIONS: The combinedly use of occluder and bare stent in the treatment of aortic dissection with tears at the visceral branch area is a sum of two simple technique plus each other. It is easily to master. The lesions at the aortic that ordinary stent-grafting incapable to seal are successfully solved then. The huge trauma of open or hybrid procedures are avoided.

Prognostic significance of GSTP1, XRCC1 and XRCC3 polymorphisms in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

AIM: Individual differences in chemosensitivity and clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy may be due to genetic factors. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of GSTP1, XRCC1 and XRCC3 in NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 460 cases were consecutively selected from The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between Jan. 2003 to Nov. 2006, and all were followed-up until Nov. 2011. Genotyping of GSTP1 Ile105Val, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met was conducted by duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with confronting-two-pair primer methods. RESULTS: Patients with GSTP Val/Val exhibited a shorter survival time, and had a 1.89 fold greater risk of death than did those with the IIe/IIe genotype. For XRCC1 Arg194Trp, the variant genotype Trp/Trp was significantly associated with a decreased risk of death from NSCLC when compared with the Arg/Arg. Individuals carrying XRCC1 399Gln/Gln genotype had a longer survival time, with a lowered risk of death from NSCLC. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that GSTP1 Ile105Val, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and XRCC1Arg399Gln genes have a role in modifying the effect of platinum-based chemotherapy for NSCLC patients in a Chinese population. Our findings provide information for therapeutic decisions for individualized therapy in NSCLC cases.

Curcumin attenuates cardiopulmonary bypass-induced lung oxidative damage in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Acute lung injury is a common complication after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Oxidative damage greatly impacts CPB-induced lung ischemic pathogenesis and may represent a target for treatment. We aimed to investigate whether curcumin upregulates heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression and ameliorates lung injury in a rat CPB model. METHODS: A total of 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 sets of 5 groups (n = 8 per group): sham; control (CPB); vehicle; low-dose curcumin (L-Cur); and high-dose curcumin (H-Cur). Animals were pretreated with a single intraperitoneal injection of vehicle, L-Cur (50 mg/kg), or H-Cur (200 mg/kg) 2 hours prior to CPB. Lung tissue, serum, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was harvested 2 or 24 hours postoperatively. In the control group, CPB-induced lung injury was confirmed by histopathologic examination and a significantly increased wet-to-dry lung weight ratio and pulmonary permeability index value was observed (P < .05 vs sham group). Cardiopulmonary bypass was associated with a marked rise in the level of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase and a fall in superoxide dismutase 2 and 24 hours after surgery (P < .05 vs sham group). Administration of curcumin ameliorated lung damage and reversed the oxidative stress markers in a partially dose-dependent manner (P < .05 vs vehicle group). Furthermore, HO-1 gene transcription and protein expression were elevated to a greater extent in the lungs after curcumin pretreatment compared with the vehicle pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin has the potential to provide protection from CPB-induced lung damage reflected in the expression of oxidative stress markers. The antioxidant effect of curcumin may be partly related to upregulation of HO-1.

The relationship between EGFR gene mutation status and ERCC1 in lung adenocarcinoma of Chinese patients receiving platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The specific aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the mutation status of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) in lung adenocarcinoma of patients that received platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. One hundred and seven primary lung adenocarcinoma patients with 22 stage IIa, 61 stage IIb, and 24 stage IIIa (TNM staging 2009) were included in this study. EGFR genetic mutations including exon 19 and 21 were detected by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing and compared with various clinical/pathologic features. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of ERCC1 compared to EGFR mutation status in tumors. The frequency of EGFR mutations before and after chemotherapy was 64.3% (61/107) and 73.2% (70/107), respectively. The mutation frequency of exon 19 and 21 were 60.7% (37/61) and 39.3% (24/61) prior to chemotherapy, compared to 58.6% (41/70) and 41.4% (29/70) after chemotherapy. Mutations in EGFR were significantly different in females (prechemo: p = 0.003 vs. postchemo: p = 0.012) and nonsmokers (prechemo: p = 0.007 vs. postchemo: p = 0.000). Positive expression of ERCC1 was higher in patients with unchanged EGFR mutation status (28.4%, 25/88) than that in patients with altered mutation status (26.3%, 5/19) (p = 0.021). Log rank analysis indicated that disease-free survival was influenced by EGFR mutation status. Patients with an unchanged EGFR mutational status after chemotherapy were more likely to express ERCC1, and this change may serve as a clinical indicator of therapy response.

[Clinical analysis of skip N2 metastases in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics of skip N2 metastasis of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are not clear. This study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features and the distribution pattern of N2 lymph nodes, thus to analyze the relationship between the survival rate and skip metastasis of NSCLC patients. METHODS: Clinical data of 292 patients with stage IIIA NSCLC undergoing radical surgical resection plus mediastinal nodal dissection in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathologic features, distribution of skip N2 metastasis and survival were analyzed respectively. RESULTS: The incidence rate of skip N2 metastasis in stage IIIA NSCLC patients was 15.8%, which was correlated to the size of the tumor (P<0.05). Moreover, the relationship between the primary tumor location and N2 positive lymph nodes were described as follows: right upper lobe cancer displayed skip-N2 nodal metastasis mostly in the 3rd and 4th station (85.7%), right middle lobe mostly in the 7th station(75.0%), right lower lobe mostly in the 3rd and 7th station(81.0%), left upper lobe mostly in the 5th and 6th station(80.0%), and left lower lobe mostly in the 7th station (65.0%). The 3-year survival rate of patients with skip N2 metastasis was 45.4%, compared to 29.5% in patients with the involvement of N1 and N2 nodes. Survival analysis showed that skip N2 metastasis was an independent risk factor of stage IIIA NSCLC in addition to tumor size, histology, type of resection, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In stage IIIA NSCLC, primary tumors in different locations have their own corresponding areas of N2 nodal metastasis. Skip N2 metastasis is an independent prognostic factor for the survival of NSCLC. Patients with skip N2 metastasis have a favorable outcome.