Asparagine synthetase regulates lung-cancer metastasis by stabilizing the β-catenin complex and modulating mitochondrial response.

The availability of asparagine is the limitation of cell growth and metastasis. Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) was an essential enzyme for endogenous asparagine products. In our study, ASNS-induced asparagine products were essential to maintain tumor growth and colony formations in vitro.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulator expression pattern correlates with the immune landscape in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma is the leading cause of tumor-related death. The tumor microenvironment (TME) may determine anti-tumor treatment responses. We focused on 23 m6A regulators, and analyzed m6A regulator expression patterns in 995 lung adenocarcinoma samples collected from 7 publicly available datasets.

Tumor-related cytokine release syndrome in a treatment-naïve patient with lung adenocarcinoma: A case report.

Background: Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is defined as systemic inflammation that usually occurs following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy administration; however, it has not been reported in patients with untreated non-small cell lung cancer to date.

Case Summary: A 44-year-old nonsmoking woman presented to the hospital due to fever, palpitation, nausea, and cough for 1 mo and was diagnosed with stage cT3N3M0 (IIIc) adenocarcinoma of the lung. Auxiliary examinations revealed elevated cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6] and inflammatory factor levels, which decreased after treatment with corticosteroids and immunoglobulin and when tumor growth was controlled following chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and antiangiogenesis therapy.

Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy for Chinese Patients With Metastatic Squamous NSCLC in KEYNOTE-407.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy significantly improved survival outcomes versus placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated metastatic squamous NSCLC in the randomized, double-blind, phase 3 KEYNOTE-407 study. We present the results of Chinese patients enrolled in the KEYNOTE-407 global and China extension studies.

Methods: Patients enrolled from mainland China in the KEYNOTE-407 global (NCT02775435) and China extension studies (NCT03875092) were randomized 1:1 to 35 cycles of pembrolizumab or placebo plus four cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel.

Correlation between sleep characteristics and cognitive decline in the elderly people: A cross-sectional study in China.

Study Objectives: In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the sleep characteristics in the elderly Chinese people to comprehensively investigate the association between sleep and cognitive function in the elderly people. We aimed to evaluate the most important demographic factors, conventional physiological indices and living habits that may influence sleep.

Methods: We surveyed 2901 elderly people (age ≥60 years old) face-to-face from 1 July to 31 December 2017, who were recruited from 17 communities of the Pudong New Area (Shanghai, China) by probability proportional to size.

Randomized clinical trial of pembrolizumab vs chemotherapy for previously untreated Chinese patients with PD-L1-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: KEYNOTE-042 China Study.

In the global KEYNOTE-042 study (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02220894), pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival (OS) vs chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive locally advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR/ALK alterations. We present results from patients in KEYNOTE-042 enrolled from China in the global or extension study (NCT03850444; protocol identical to global study).

Scutellarin ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inflammation.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is featured with inflammation and extensive lung remodeling caused by overloaded deposition of extracellular matrix. Scutellarin is the major effective ingredient of breviscapine and its anti-inflammation efficacy has been reported before. Nevertheless, the impact of scutellarin on IPF and the downstream molecular mechanism remain unclear.

Demographic Factors and Cognitive Function Assessments Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment Progression for the Elderly.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to conduct a 6-year follow-up and acquire a large sample dataset to analyze the most important demographic factors and cognitive function scale variables associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression for an elderly cohort (age ≥ 60 years old). We analyzed the subjects who had participated in a survey in 2011 and were successfully contacted in the later survey in 2017. For each subject, the basic demographic information was recorded, including sex, age, education level, marital status, working status, income level, and physical mental illness history.

Hypoxia promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling via HIF-1α to regulate mitochondrial dynamics.

Background: Increasing research suggests that mitochondrial defect plays a major role in pulmonary hypertension (PH) pathogenesis. Mitochondrial dynamics and quality control have a central role in the maintenance of the cell proliferation and apoptosis balance. However, the molecular mechanism underlying of this balance is still unknown.

Propylthiouracil-induced organizing pneumonia: A case report.

Rationale: Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a common antithyroid drug which can treat hyperthyroidism effectively. PTU is, however, associated to multiple adverse effects. In rare case, PTU can cause interstitial pneumonia.

The compound mutations in Chinese advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Literatures regarding the prevalence and clinical significance of compound EGFR mutations are limited. Until now, none of retrospective or prospective research has focused on compound mutations except case reports. In this study, we screened a cohort of 3,000 treatment-naïve Chinese advanced NSCLC patients using capture-based ultra-deep targeted sequencing to evaluate the prevalence of compound mutations and the efficacy of EGFR-TKI in this population.

Bronchial Epithelial Cells Promote the Differentiation of Th2 Lymphocytes in Airway Microenvironment through Jagged/Notch-1 Signaling after RSV Infection.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Notch-1 signaling through Notch-1 ligands on bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) in regulating the development of T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes after RSV infection.

Methods: Firstly, we analyzed the expression of cytokines and Notch-1 ligands in BECs by using real-time PCR. Then, RSV-infected BECs were co-cultured with CD4+ T cells in a transwell chamber for 48 h, and differentiation of T cells in the lower chamber was determined using flow cytometry and real-time PCR.

Remnant lipoproteins play an important role of in-stent restenosis in type 2 diabetes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-centre observational cohort study.

Background: Increasing evidence has suggested that the presence of remnant lipoproteins is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis. Remnant lipoproteins are lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides (TGs), and the main components include very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the fasting state. Diabetic patients often have hypertriglyceridemia with elevated levels of VLDL cholesterol but normal levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Afatinib versus gemcitabine/cisplatin for first-line treatment of Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring mutations: subgroup analysis of the LUX-Lung 6 trial.

Introduction: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death in China. Four epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors - afatinib, erlotinib, icotinib, and gefitinib - are available for first-line treatment of NSCLC in China; however, there are few data to guide treatment choice. The Phase III LUX-Lung 6 trial compared afatinib with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of patients from Southeast Asia with mutation-positive advanced NSCLC.

Afatinib vs erlotinib for second-line treatment of Chinese patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Background: The global Phase III LUX-Lung 8 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01523587) identified significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with second-line afatinib vs erlotinib in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of data for patients in LUX-Lung 8 from mainland China (n=67).

Gene-gene and gene-environment interaction data for platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Gene-gene (GXG) and gene-environment (GXE) interactions play important roles in pharmacogenetics study. Simultaneously incorporating multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical factors is needed to explore the association of their interactions with drug response and toxicity phenotypes. We genotyped 504 SNPs in a total of 490 Chinese non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and the correlation of GXG and GXE interactions with platinum-based chemotherapeutic efficacy and safety were analyzed.

Effects of Glucocorticoid-Induced Transcript 1 Gene Deficiency on Glucocorticoid Activation in Asthmatic Mice.

Background: Glucocorticoid (GC) is the first-line therapy for asthma, but some asthmatics are insensitive to it. Glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 gene (GLCCI1) is reported to be associated with GCs efficiency in asthmatics, while its exact mechanism remains unknown.

Methods: A total of 30 asthmatic patients received fluticasone propionate for 12 weeks.

Mutational landscape and clonal diversity of pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare and indolent lung malignancy, characterized by a protracted but unpredictable growth behavior. Currently, the treatment of PACC relies on surgery and local radiotherapy. However, treatment options for advanced PACC patients are limited.

A consensus on immunotherapy from the 2017 Chinese Lung Cancer Summit expert panel.

The notable clinical success of cancer immunotherapy using checkpoint blockade suggests that it is likely to form the foundation of curative therapy for many malignancies. However, checkpoint blockades do not achieve sustained clinical response in most patients and thus amounts of problems needed to be figured out. Regarding these challenges, the 2017 Chinese Lung Cancer Summit expert panel organized a forum on the 14th Chinese Lung Cancer Summit to formally discuss these controversies.

Platelet Distribution Width on Admission Predicts In-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: It is known that there is a definite association between platelet distribution width (PDW) and poor prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there are no data available regarding the prognostic significance of PDW for in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with CAD and T2DM. We aimed to determine the value of PDW on admission that predicted ISR in patients with CAD and T2DM.

Does EGFR Mutation Type Influence Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Advanced EGFR Mutation-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer? Analysis of Two Large, Phase III Studies Comparing Afatinib with Chemotherapy (LUX-Lung 3 and LUX-Lung 6).

Introduction: In LUX-Lung 3 and LUX-Lung 6, afatinib significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus chemotherapy in patients with tumors harboring common epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (Del19/L858R) and significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with tumors harboring Del19 mutations. Patient-reported outcomes stratified by EGFR mutation type are reported.

Patients And Methods: Lung cancer symptoms and health-related quality of life (QoL) were assessed every 21 days until progression using the EORTC Quality of Life Core Questionnaire C30 and its lung cancer-specific module, LC13.

EGFR mutation detection in circulating cell-free DNA of lung adenocarcinoma patients: analysis of LUX-Lung 3 and 6.

Background: In the Phase III LUX-Lung 3/6 (LL3/LL6) trials in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma patients, we evaluated feasibility of EGFR mutation detection using circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and prognostic and predictive utility of cfDNA positivity (cfDNA+).

Methods: Paired tumour and blood samples were prospectively collected from randomised patients. Mutations were detected using cfDNA from serum (LL3) or plasma (LL6) by a validated allele-specific quantitative real-time PCR kit.

Valproic acid (VPA) enhances cisplatin sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells via HDAC2 mediated down regulation of ABCA1.

Valproic acid (VPA) has been suggested to be a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI). Our present study revealed that VPA at 1 mm, which had no effect on cell proliferation, can significantly increase the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to cisplatin (DDP). VPA treatment markedly decreased the mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1, while had no significant effect on ABCA3, ABCA7 or ABCB10.