Serum cytokine profiles during engraftment syndrome and acute graft-versus-host disease in adult patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: The underlying biology of engraftment syndrome (ES) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is not fully elucidated, and the extent of its overlap with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) remains unclear. In order to establish potential indicator to distinguish ES more accurately, we conducted a retrospective analysis of cytokine levels during HSCT.

Methods: A total of 121 consecutive adult patients who underwent HSCT were enrolled in this study.

Overexpression of TRAF4 promotes lung cancer growth and EGFR-dependent phosphorylation of ERK5.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) is overexpressed in a variety of carcinomas of different origins, but its role in tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Previous studies suggest that TRAF4 promotes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the downstream signaling pathway of TRAF4-mediated EGFR activation, as well as its effects on tumor cells, have not been fully elucidated.

Theoretical insights into volatile iodine adsorption onto COF-DL229.

COF-DL229 is one of the promising sorbents for the capture of volatile radioiodine due to its large adsorption capacity. However, the interaction mechanism between them remains unclear. In the present work, the adsorption of volatile iodine onto COF-DL229 was systematically investigated using periodic density functional theory and crystal orbital Hamilton population calculations.

Surfactant protein-A inhibits thymic stromal lymphopoietin-mediated T follicular helper cell differentiation and IgE production in asthma.

Lung surfactant protein A (SP-A) is critical for immunomodulation. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-activated dendritic cells (DCs) drive T follicular helper (Tfh) cells differentiation in allergic asthma. We employed wild-type (WT) and SP-A mice injected with TSLP and ovalbumin (OVA)-activated DCs and challenged with OVA.

Metabolic profiling of asthma in mice and the interventional effects of SPA using liquid chromatography and Q-TOF mass spectrometry.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that leads to 250 000 deaths annually. There is a need to better understand asthma by identifying new pathogenic molecules. We conducted a liquid-chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS)-based metabolomics study to test for asthma and investigate the interventional mechanisms of surfactant protein A (SPA) in OVA-induced asthma mice.

[IgG4-related lung disease:a clinical analysis and literature review].

Objective: To summarize the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment experience of IgG4-related lung disease for the sake of improving clinical understanding of this disease and reducing the misdiagnosis and mistreatment rates.

Methods: To analyze the general situation, clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, histopathology, therapy and prognosis of 2 patients with IgG4-related lung disease, who were admitted in the department of respiratory diseases at Changhai Hospital. Publications related to IgG4 lung disease were reviewed.

Malignant pleural effusion supernatants are substitutes for metastatic pleural tumor tissues in EGFR mutation test in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Though the possibility of using malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) as alternatives for metastatic pleural tumor tissues (MPTTs) in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation test has been examined, due to the lack of studies comparing the results in matching MPEs and MPTTs, the clinical value of MPEs for advanced adenocarcinoma patients with pleural effusions is not confirmed.

Methods: EGFR mutation statuses in matching MPTTs, MPE supernatants and cell blocks, of 41 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma as diagnosed by thoracoscopy were analyzed using amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS).

Results: EGFR mutations were detected in 46.

Predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with lung cancer.

Objective: Existing oncology performance status measurements are used to predict chemotherapy toxicity in all patients with cancer, regardless of age. A new predictive model for grade 3-5 chemotherapy toxicities was developed by Hurria et al. (2011).

B and T lymphocyte attenuator is highly expressed on intrahepatic T cells during chronic HBV infection and regulates their function.

Background: T cell antiviral function is impaired during chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Programmed death-1 (PD-1) impairs antiviral T cell responses, but dysfunction is not always reversed by blockade of PD-1 pathway. Whether distinct T cell populations expressing different sets of inhibitory molecules exist has not been determined.

[Study on synthesis on a novel nano-antibacterial inorganic filler and its antibacterial property].

Objective: To synthesize a novel nano-antibacterial inorganic filler and provide a new way to give dental composite resin antibacterial property.

Methods: Quaternary ammonium iodide N,N,N-trimethyl-3-(trimethoxysilyl) propan-1-aminium iodide were organically synthesized firstly and then the N,N,N-trimethyl-3-(trimethoxysilyl) propan-1-aminium iodide was grafted to the nano-silica particle to synthesize the antihacterial inorganic fillers nano-silica particle grafted with quaternary ammonium salt. All the products were analyzed and identified by infrared spectrum analysis.

Bronchoscopy in some tertiary grade A hospitals in China: two years' development.

Background: Although bronchoscopy has been widely performed in China, little has been known about its current state and development. In order to investigate the clinical application of bronchoscopy and make instructions for future education and development, the Chinese Society of Respiratory Diseases conducted postal surveys in both 2008 and 2010 in China.

Method: Questionnaires were sent to 40 tertiary grade A hospitals in 2008 and 58 tertiary grade A hospitals in 2010 to investigate bronchoscopies performed in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

A regulatory role for IL-10 receptor signaling in development and B cell help of T follicular helper cells in mice.

IL -10 is widely accepted as a survival, proliferation, and differentiation factor for B cells. However, IL-10 deficiency accelerates disease progression as the result of autoantibody production in many autoimmune disease models. It was demonstrated that T follicular helper cells (T(FH) cells) play a key role in helping B cells that are secreting Abs.

Pulmonary metastases 12 years after a mastectomy for borderline phyllodes tumor.

Phyllodes tumor is a rare breast tumor. A 45-year-old woman who underwent left mastectomy 12 years ago was found to have infiltrates in both lungs in a health examination. Combining histological examinations of the lung and breast samples, the diagnosis of borderline phyllodes tumor metastases to the lung was made.

Lipopolysaccharide mediated mast cells induce IL-10 producing regulatory T cells through the ICOSL/ICOS axis.

The mechanisms by which mast cells (MCs) regulate immune responses are still largely unknown. Here, we showed that MCs induced interleukin (IL)-10 producing T cells to regulate inflammatory responses. To gain insight into the molecules involved, we set up an in vitro system in which lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated MCs and CD4(+) T cells were co-cultured.

Pulmonary surfactant protein D binds MD-2 through the carbohydrate recognition domain.

Pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a member of the collectin family and plays crucial roles in the innate immunity of the lung. We have previously shown that surfactant protein A (SP-A), a homologous collectin, interacts with MD-2 and alters lipopolysaccharide signaling. In this study, we examined and characterized the binding of SP-D to MD-2 using a soluble form of recombinant MD-2 (sMD-2).

A new inducible adenoviral expression system that responds to inflammatory stimuli in vivo.

Background: Gene transfer using inducible promoters, which control expression of transgenic proteins in response to physiological conditions, may have significant advantages. In this study, we tried to achieve an inducible adenoviral expression system for physiologically responsive gene therapy of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.

Methods: A luciferase reporter vector with a hybrid promoter containing the human IL-1beta enhancer region (-3690 to - 2720) and the human CIITA promoter IV (-399 to + 2) was constructed.

[Amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection: a case report and review of the literatures].

Objective: To describe the clinical features of amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection.

Methods: Case report and review of the related literatures. The clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, radiographic patterns, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection were described.

The effect of N-acetylcysteine on Clara cells and Clara cell 16 kDa protein in a murine model of allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the number of Clara cells and the production and secretion of Clara cell 16 kDa protein (CC16) in a murine model of allergen-induced airway inflammation, as well as the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on CC16 and Clara cell numbers, in order to determine the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of NAC.

Methodology: BALB/c mice were divided into control, ovalbumin (OVA) and NAC groups. An allergen-induced airway inflammation model (OVA group) was established by sensitizing and challenging mice with OVA.

[Application of SCID mouse-human leukemia model for leukemia research].

SCID mouse-human leukemia model is an important and useful tool for study on proliferation, differentiation and modulation of leukemic cells. In this article, the establishment of the model, advances in research and application in studies of pathogenesis, cell biology, clinical diagnosis, therapy and assessment of prognosis of leukemia patients are reviewed. The limitations of the model are also commented.