P53 codon 72 Arg/Pro polymorphism and lung cancer risk in Asians: an updated meta-analysis.

The polymorphism of p53 codon 72, a transversion of G to C (Arg to Pro), has been demonstrated to be associated with the risk for lung cancer. However, individual studies conducted in Asians have provided conflicting and inconclusive findings. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis by pooling all currently available case-control studies to estimate the effect of p53 codon 72 Arg/Pro polymorphism on the development of lung cancer.

[The mechanism of transforming growth factor beta1 in myofibroblast differentiation].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism underlying myofibroblast differentiation induced by transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 in obliterative bronchiolitis following lung transplantation.

Methods: Heterotopic tracheal transplantation was performed in Smad3 wild-type and knock-out mice to simulate the lung transplantation in human. Murine tracheal fibroblasts cultivated in primary culture were used for in vitro study.

[The role of transforming growth factor-beta1/Smad3 signaling in bronchiolitis obliterans following lung transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism underlying bronchiolitis obliterans (OB) following lung transplantation and the significance of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1/Smad3 signal pathway in this pathological process.

Methods: The tracheas of BALB/c mice were transplanted into the subcutaneous tissues of a Smad3ex8/ex8 gene knock-out Swiss black mouse and a Smad3 wild-type Swiss black mouse. Forty-two days later the tracheas were taken out.

[Gene diagnosis and prognosis of mediastinal lymph node occult micrometastasis in non-small cell lung carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate gene diagnosis of occult micrometastasis in the mediastinal lymph node in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and to evaluate its prognostic significance.

Methods: With mRNA expression of mucoid1 (MUC1) gene examined by RT-PCR, 168 mediastinal lymph nodes taken from 37 pN(0) (negative lymph nodes) NSCLC patients (stage Ia approximately IIb) made up the experiment group. Thrity negative lymph nodes from 14 benign lesions and 30 positive lymph nodes from 15 NSCLC patients served as control.