The Protective Effects of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Allergic Asthma.

As an ancient Gram-negative bacterium, Helicobacter pylori has settled in human stomach. Eradicating H. pylori increases the morbidities of asthma and other allergic diseases. Therefore, H. pylori might play a protective role against asthma. The "disappearing microbiota" hypothesis suggests that the absence of certain types of the ancestral microbiota could change the development of immunology, metabolism, and cognitive ability in our early life, contributing to the development of some diseases. And the Hygiene Hypothesis links early environmental and microbial exposure to the prevalence of atopic allergies and asthma. Exposure to the environment and microbes can influence the growing immune system and protect subsequent immune-mediated diseases. H. pylori can inhibit allergic asthma by regulating the ratio of helper T cells 1/2 (Th1/Th2), Th17/regulatory T cells (Tregs), etc. H. pylori can also target dendritic cells to promote immune tolerance and enhance the protective effect on allergic asthma, and this effect relies on highly suppressed Tregs. The remote regulation of lung immune function by H. pylori is consistent with the gut-lung axis theory. Perhaps, H. pylori also protects against asthma by altering levels of stomach hormones, affecting the autonomic nervous system and lowering the expression of heat shock protein 70. Therapeutic products from H. pylori may be used to prevent and treat asthma. This paper reviews the possible protective influence of H. pylori on allergic asthma and the possible application of H. pylori in treating asthma.

[Clear cell tumor of the lung: report of seven cases and literature review].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics, chest imaging, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of clear cell tumor of the lung (CCTL). METHODS: Seven cases of CCTL diagnosed from January 2000 to December 2010 in our hospital, and 38 cases from literatures published in mainland of China, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The age of the patients was (44 ± 18) years, with equal sex distribution. In most of the patients, the lesions were incidentally found during routine examinations. Chest roentgenogram or CT scan showed a homogenous, rounded opacity (solitary nodule) of (3.2 ± 1.4) cm in diameter. Contrast-enhanced CT scans revealed a sign of intense enhancement because of these tumors were highly vascular, containing capillaries and sinusoidal vessels in some patients. Pathologic examination showed rounded and oval tumor cells with abundant clear cytoplasm, distinct cell borders, and cytoplasm rich in periodic acid Schiff-positive glycogen granules. Immunohistochemically, CCTL expressed melanocytic and myogenic markers, such as human melanoma black-45 (HMB-45), HMSA-1 and actin. But its epithelial markers were negative. Resection via operation was the only effective method till now. CONCLUSIONS: CCTL is a rare benign tumor with special features of clinical characteristics, radiology and pathology. The diagnosis is based on distinct pathologic characteristics. Earlier operation with long term follow-up is recommended.

[The in vitro and in vivo effects of adenovirus-mediated inhibitor of growth 4 and interleukin-24 co-expression on the radiosensitivity of human lung adenocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the radiosensitivity of the recombinant adenoviral vector (called Ad-ING4-IL-24) carrying and co-expressing inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) and interleukin-24 (IL-24) to human lung adenocarcinoma and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The expression levels of ING4 and IL-24 were detected by Western blot. The growth-suppressing and apoptosis-inducing effect of Ad-ING4-IL-24 combined with radiotherapy on SPC-A-1 lung carcinoma cells were assessed by MTT assay and FCM respectively. The 25 nude mice were randomly divided into 5 groups of 5 mice ecah: PBS group, Ad group, Ad-ING4-IL-24 group, radiotherapy group and joint group (Ad-ING4-IL-24 combined radiotherapy). Mice in all groups except radiotherapy group were intratumorally injected every other day for 6 cycles. The short and long axes of the tumor were measured dynamically, tumor volume was calculated as: V = L × W(2/2), changes in tumor volume were graphed. The human lung carcinoma model was established with SPC-A-1 cells in nude mice. The ratios of tumor-suppression and q were calculated. The expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, VEGF in tumor samples were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expressions of ING4 and IL-24 were successfully expressed in SPC-A-1 cells. MTT assay and FCM showed that the levels of cell-growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in Ad-ING4-IL-24 combined with radiotherapy group [(86.2 ± 0.8)%, (60.9 ± 1.0)%] were higher than in Ad-ING4-IL-24 group [(49.8 ± 0.3)%, (26.3 ± 1.3)%] and in radiotherapy group [(44.4 ± 2.2)%, (33.3 ± 0.8)%] (ratio of cell-growth inhibition, F = 550.88, P < 0.01; ratio of induced apoptosis F = 614.08, P < 0.01). Ad-ING4-IL-24 combined with radiotherapy showed an enhanced radiosensitivity effect on human lung adenocarcinoma (q = 1.20). In Ad-ING4-IL-24 group, radiotherapy group and Ad-ING4-IL-24 combined with radiotherapy group, the weight inhibition ratio was 49.5% (5 nude mice), 35.4% (5 nude mice), 79.8% (5 nude mice) respectively. Ad-ING4-IL-24 combined with radiotherapy had a synergetic and enhanced radiosensitivity effect on inhibiting the growth of transplanted tumor (q = 1.18). According to immunohistochemistry, Ad-ING4-IL-24 was shown to up-regulate the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 but down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 and VEGF. CONCLUSION: Ad-ING4-IL-24 had an enhanced radiosensitivity effect on human lung adenocarcinoma, and therefore acted as a radiotherapy sensitizer, which may be related to its effect on apoptosis-induction and antiangiogenesis.

N'-(3,5-Dichloro-2-hydroxy-benzyl-idene)-3-methoxy-benzohydrazide methanol solvate.

In the title compound, C(15)H(12)Cl(2)N(2)O(3)·CH(3)OH, the Schiff base mol-ecule is nearly planar, with a dihedral angle of 4.5 (2)° between the two benzene rings. An intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bond is observed. The methanol solvent mol-ecule is linked to the Schiff base mol-ecule through inter-molecular N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

[Combined effects of endostatin gene transfer and ionizing radiation on lung adenocarcinoma model of A549-cells].

OBJECTIVE: The combined inhibition effects of endostatin gene transfer and ionizing radiation on lung adenocarcinoma model of A549-cell were investigated. METHODS: Human endostatin gene was transferred into lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell by retrovirus-mediation to obtain an A549/Endo cell. A549 and A549/Endo cells were xenoimplanted in nude mice respectively (each group included 10 mice). Then, the changes of the tumor size of each group (n = 5) and its growth inhibition rate were estimated. The implanted tumors of each group (n = 5) were exposed to radiation with 20 Gy at 28 day after implantation. They were irradiated again with 20 Gy 3 day later. The ionizing radiation was strictly confined to the tumor by shielding the rest of the body with lead. The size of tumor was measured periodically. The microvessel density (MVD) of 4 groups of implanted tumors (A549, A549/Endo, A549 + IR and A549/Endo + IR) were compared on day 42 postgrafting by the immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: PCR confirmed that endostatin gene was inserted into the genomic DNA of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell. The tumor formation time showed significant difference (P < 0.05) between group A549 (7.8 +/- 1.6) d and group A549/Endo (12.2 +/- 1.7) d. At the time of day 42 postgrafting, the tumor sizes of group A549 and group A549/Endo were (927.8 +/- 269.2) mm3 and (217.5 +/- 81.5) mm3 respectively (P < 0.01), and the tumor growth inhibition rate was 76. 5%. At the time of day 14 after irradiation, the tumor sizes of group A549 and group A549/Endo were (157.7 +/- 49.0) mm3 and (4.6 +/- 2.9) mm3 respectively (P < 0.01). The results of immunohistochemical detection showed that the MVD of-A549/Endo implanted tumor was significantly decreased [21.62 +/- 3.55 compared with A549 implanted tumor 35.78 +/- 5.67 (P < 0.01)]. Moreover , it also showed that ionizing radiation could further reduce the MVD of A549/Endo implanted tumor from 21.62 +/- 3.55 to 11.32 +/- 2.78 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Retroviruses can highly mediate the transfer of endostatin gene into the adenocarcinoma cells. Endostatin gene transfer can inhibit the xenoimplanted tumor growth by its direct inhibition on neovascularization. The combination of endostatin gene transfer with ionizing radiation treatment can synergistically inhibit the neovascularization and the growth of lung adenocarcinoma.

Clear cell tumor of the lung: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: There have been no clinical reports on clear cell tumor of the lung (CCTL) based on large studies or epidemiological surveys in the literature. The purpose of this study was to provide a retrospective analysis of CCTL patients in China by reviewing the clinical data of reported CCTL cases. METHODS: The China academic journals full-text database search engines were used to collect the related cases from January 1979 to June 2011. The analysis was performed on patients' age, gender, symptom, nodular number, tumor size, lesion localization, chest radiograph or chest computed tomography. RESULTS: Thirty-nine cases of CCTL were reported in China. The ratio of male:female was 1.29:1. The average age at diagnosis was 43 ± 17 years. Most of them were accidentally discovered on routine chest roentgenogram or computed tomography. The ratio of asymptomatic:symptomatic was 2.25:1 (27:12). Cough, fever, sputum, dyspnea and chest pain occurred frequently in symptomatic patients. Solitary pulmonary nodule on chest radiography was found in 38 patients, and no specific lobar distribution had been noted. The average tumor size was 3.6 ± 2.4 cm in diameter. All patients were diagnosed after thoracotomy, and the postoperative courses were all uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: CCTL is a rare benign tumor with special features of clinical characteristics, radiology and pathology. The diagnosis is based on distinct pathological characteristics. Earlier operation with long-term follow-up is recommended.

An unusual case of Welder's siderosis with local massive fibrosis: a case report.

Welder's siderosis was traditionally described as "benign pneumoconiosis" because of the absence of associated symptoms, functional impairment or pulmonary fibrosis. Although several authors have reported evidence of fibrosis in the lungs of welders, siderosis with local massive fibrosis has been rarely described. In this paper, we present a case of Welder's siderosis with local massive fibrosis mimicking lung cancer.

Angiosarcoma of the lung: 2 cases report and literature reviewed.

Angiosarcoma is a kind of malignant tumors derived from vascular endothelial cell. Its incidence rate is very low. Pulmonary angiosarcomas are usually secondary tumors, and primary cases are less than 20 so far. Here we presented two cases of angiosarcoma involved the lung, and we only confirmed case 2 as a primary pulmonary angiosarcoma. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis of pulmonary angiosarcoma were reviewed in this article too.