Clinical Utility of Circulating Tumor DNA for Detecting Lung Cancer Mutations by Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing With Insufficient Tumor Samples.

Background: Circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) is increasingly applied in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore clinical utility of a minimal invasive and sensitive way of ctDNA for next-generation sequencing in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with inadequate tumor samples.

Methods: Targeted DNA sequencing was performed on tissue biopsies and matched plasma samples from 60 patients with NSCLC.

miR-16-5p specifically inhibits IFN-γ-regulated memory T helper cell differentiation in malignant pleural effusion of non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The mechanism for memory T helper (Th) cell differentiation in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression, play a crucial role in the regulation of memory Th cell differentiation. However, whether miRNAs can inhibit the differentiation of memory Th cells in MPE of NSCLC has not been reported.

Comprehensive analysis reveals potential therapeutic targets and an integrated risk stratification model for solitary fibrous tumors.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors with unpredictable evolution and with a recurrence or metastasis rate of 10-40%. Current medical treatments for relapsed SFTs remain ineffective. Here, we identify potential therapeutic targets and risk factors, including IDH1 p.

A FLASH model of radiolytic oxygen depletion and reactive oxygen species for differential tumor and normal-tissue response.

Objective: FLASH-RT can potentially improve the sparing of normal tissues while preserving the tumoricidal efficiency, owing to the radiation with ultra-high dose rate. However, the FLASH mechanism remains to be solved. A popular FLASH model is based on radiolytic oxygen depletion (ROD), which explains for radiation protection of normal tissues under FLASH-RT.

SWI/SNF complex gene variations are associated with a higher tumor mutational burden and a better response to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: a pan-cancer analysis of next-generation sequencing data corresponding to 4591 cases.

Background: Genes related to the SWItch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex are frequently mutated across cancers. SWI/SNF-mutant tumors are vulnerable to synthetic lethal inhibitors. However, the landscape of SWI/SNF mutations and their associations with tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have not been elucidated in large real-world Chinese patient cohorts.

Plasma SGIP1 methylation in diagnosis and prognosis prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aberrant methylation of some genes can serve as promising biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma SGIP1 methylation in HCC. The study included a total of 269 subjects, of which 129 were with HCC, 45 with liver cirrhosis (LC), 45 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 50 were healthy controls (HCs).

Polymorphisms in matricellular SPP1 and SPARC contribute to susceptibility to papillary thyroid cancer.

There is a compelling need to identify novel genetic variants for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) susceptibility. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data showed associations between SPP1 and SPARC mRNA overexpression and aggressive behaviors of PTC, which prompted us to assess potential associations between genetic variants in these genes and PTC risk. Three highly linked SPARC loci (rs1054204, rs3210714, and rs3549) contributed to reduced PTC risk under a codominant model (odds ratio [OR], 0.

lncRNA GAS8-AS1 genetic alterations in papillary thyroid carcinoma and their clinical significance.

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GAS8-AS1 is the second-most frequently altered gene, following the BRAF gene, in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We aimed to study the specificity and significance of genetic alterations in GAS8-AS1 in PTC. In this study, we reported the prevalence of genetic alterations of GAS8-AS1 in tissues of 48 nodular goiter, 573 papillary thyroid cancer, 95 colorectal cancer, 101 non-small cell lung cancer, 92 glioma, and 69 gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients, and in peripheral white blood cells of 286 healthy volunteers.

Classification of gastric cancer by EBV status combined with molecular profiling predicts patient prognosis.

Purpose: To identify how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status combined with molecular profiling predicts the prognosis of gastric cancer patients and their associated clinical actionable biomarkers.

Experimental Design: A next-generation sequencing assay targeting 295 cancer-related genes was performed in 73 EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) and 75 EBV-negative gastric cancer (EBVnGC) specimens and these results were compared with overall survival (OS).

Results: PIK3CA, ARID1A, SMAD4, and PIK3R1 mutated significantly more frequently in EBVaGC compared with their corresponding mutation rate in EBVnGC.

A systematic review and quantitative assessment of methylation biomarkers in fecal DNA and colorectal cancer and its precursor, colorectal adenoma.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) arises from accumulated genetic and epigenetic alterations, which provide the possibility to identify tumor-specific biomarkers by analyzing fecal DNA. Methylation status in human genes from tumor tissue is highlighted as promising biomarker in the early detection of CRC. A number of studies have documented altered methylation levels in DNA extracted from stool samples, but generated heterogeneous results.

Interfering Expression of Chimeric Transcript Promotes Cell Proliferation in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a distinct type of head and neck cancer which is mostly prevalent in southern China. The development of NPC involves accumulation of multiple genetic changes. Chromosomal translocation is always thought to be accompanied with the fusion chimeric products.

Interleukin-10 inhibits interleukin-1β production and inflammasome activation of microglia in epileptic seizures.

Background: Microglia are important for secreting chemical mediators of inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. Interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-1β secreted by glial cells support neuronal functions, but the related mechanisms remain vague. Our goal was to demonstrate the efficacy of IL-10 in suppressing IL-1β and in inflammasome activation in mice with epileptic seizure based on an epileptic-seizure mouse model.

The immune characterization of interferon-β responses in tuberculosis patients.

We aimed to assess the immunoregulatory effects of IFN-β in patients with tuberculous pleurisy. IFN-β, IFN-γ and IL-17 expression levels were detected, and correlations among these factors in different culture groups were analyzed. Pleural fluid mononuclear cells (PFMC) from tuberculous pleural effusions, but not peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors, spontaneously expressed IFN-β, IL-17 and IFN-γ.

Associations between RET tagSNPs and their haplotypes and susceptibility, clinical severity, and thyroid function in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background: It is unclear whether common genetic variants of the RET proto-oncogene contribute to disease susceptibility, clinical severity, and thyroid function in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Methods: A total of 300 DTC patients and 252 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Seven RET tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using the KASPar platform.

The association between circulating tumor cells and Epstein-Barr virus activation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and microemboli (CTM) are attracting increasing attention in medical biology and clinical practice. However, the clinical relevance of CTCs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not yet been ascertained, and no study has focused on the influence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status on CTCs in NPC patients. These issues were therefore examined.

RET/PTC Rearrangements Are Associated with Elevated Postoperative TSH Levels and Multifocal Lesions in Papillary Thyroid Cancer without Concomitant Thyroid Benign Disease.

RET/PTC rearrangements, resulting in aberrant activity of the RET protein tyrosine kinase receptor, occur exclusively in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). In this study, we examined the association between RET/PTC rearrangements and thyroid hormone homeostasis, and explored whether concomitant diseases such as nodular goiter and Hashimoto's thyroiditis influenced this association. A total of 114 patients diagnosed with PTC were enrolled in this study.

Effect of Active Workstation on Energy Expenditure and Job Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Recently developed active workstation could become a potential means for worksite physical activity and wellness promotion. The aim of this review was to quantitatively examine the effectiveness of active workstation in energy expenditure and job performance.

Methods: The literature search was conducted in 6 databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscuss, Web of Science, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Scopuse) for articles published up to February 2014, from which a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific memory NKT cells in patients with tuberculous pleurisy.

Natural killer T (NKT) cells from mouse and human play a protective role in the immune responses against the infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the characteristic of CD3(+)TCRvβ11(+) NKT cells at the local site of M. tuberculosis infection remains poorly defined.

Tuberculosis antigen-induced expression of IFN-α in tuberculosis patients inhibits production of IL-1β.

The mechanism by which IFN-α regulates the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection in humans is poorly understood. In the present study, we found that freshly isolated pleural fluid mononuclear cells (PFMCs) from tuberculous pleural effusion but not peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) spontaneously expressed IFN-α and IL-1β in vivo.

TGF-β enhanced IL-21-induced differentiation of human IL-21-producing CD4+ T cells via Smad3.

IL-21 has pleiotropic effects on innate and adaptive immune response, and plays an important role in the development of autoimmune disease and antitumor activity. It has been reported that IL-21 is produced by CD4(+) T cells and NKT cells. However, the differentiation of IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells in humans remains largely unclear.

Interleukin-21 maintains the expression of CD16 on monocytes via the production of IL-10 by human naïve CD4+ T cells.

Interleukin 21 exerts a variety of regulatory effects on both innate and adaptive immune cells. Although the suppressive effect of IL-21 via the induction of IL-10 in mouse model has been defined, the inhibitory effect of IL-21 in humans is not well understood. In the present study, we showed that IL-21 induced IL-10 production by human naive CD4(+) T cells.