Clinicopathological features, treatment modalities, and prognosis of esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma: A single-center retrospective study.

Objectives: Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (ENEC) is a rare cancer that is highly malignant and related to a poor prognosis. In this retrospective study we aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and management of patients with ENEC and to evaluate the potential prognostic factors.

Methods: Altogether 82 patients diagnosed with ENEC between January 2009 and December 2020 at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were retrospectively enrolled.

Prognostic and predictive value of serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor sensitive mutations and receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Background: Despite the widespread use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), no biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations have yet been identified. The purpose of our study was to explore the effect of baseline serum tumor markers in stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-seven patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC who harbored EGFR-sensitive mutations and were treated with EGFR-TKIs were retrospectively reviewed.

Significance of glucocorticoid receptor expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.

Background: Pemetrexed is the preferred chemotherapy agent in the management of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-sq-NSCLC), but lacks biomarkers predicting its efficacy. Dexamethasone, one of the premedications of pemetrexed, may downregulate p53 through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The purpose of our study was to explore the effect of GR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and its role in predicting pemetrexed efficacy.

PA-MSHA in combination with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor: A new strategy to overcome the drug resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells.

The inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling by Gefitinib provides a promising treatment strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, drug resistance to Gefitinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors presents a major issue. Using NSCLC cell lines with differential EGFR status, we examined the potency of PA-MSHA (Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin) in combination with Gefitinib on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, EGFR signaling and tumor growth. PC-9, A549, and NCI-H1975 cells were treated with PA-MSHA, Gefetinib, or PA-MSHA plus Gefetinib at different concentrations and times.

Rta-IgG as a biomarker for diagnosis and post treatment prognostic of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common type of head and neck cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to detect the expression of Epstein-Barr viral Rta protein in patients with untreated NPC, and compare the serum Rta-IgG with the VCA-IgA in patients with NPC.

Methods: In the current work, the nasopharyngeal tissues of untreated NPC patients (n= 13) and non-NPC controls (n= 10) were collected for the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to analyze the levels of Rta protein expression, meanwhile serum samples from the participants were prepared to assess the roles of Rta-IgG level with Enzyme-linked immunosorbence assay (ELISA) in diagnosis of NPC including the patients with NPC, the patients with other cancers, and normal volunteers.

Flexibility Analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Aa.

Objective: To investigate the flexibility and mobility of the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Aa.

Methods: The graph theory-based program Constraint Network Analysis and normal mode-based program NMsim were used to analyze the global and local flexibility indices as well as the fluctuation of individual residues in detail.

Results: The decrease in Cry1Aa network rigidity with the increase of temperature was evident.

Resection of the main trunk of the superior mesenteric vein without reconstruction during surgery for giant pancreatic mucinous cystadenoma: A case report.

Pancreatic tumors, with peri-pancreatic main vascular invasion, especially the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) or the portal vein, are very common. In some cases, vascular resection and reconstruction are required for complete resection of pancreatic tumors. However, the optimum surgical method for venous management is controversial.

Homology modeling of mosquitocidal Cry30Ca2 of Bacillus thuringiensis and its molecular docking with N-acetylgalactosamine.

Objective: To investigate the theoretical model of the three-dimensional structure of mosquitocidal Cry30Ca2 and its molecular docking with N-acetylgalactosamine.

Methods: The theoretical model of Cry30Ca2 was predicted by homology modeling on the structure of the Cry4Ba. Docking studies were performed to investigate the interaction of Cry30Ca2 with N-acetylgalactosamine on the putative receptor.

Vinorelbine and capecitabine in anthracycline- and/or taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer: sequential or combinational?

Purpose: The difference between combinational and pre-planned sequential therapies using regimens that include non-anthracycline and taxane in the first-line setting remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the interaction between vinorelbine (N) and capecitabine (X) in breast cancer cells and to compare the simultaneous or sequential administration of the two drugs in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) as first-line treatment.

Methods: First, we explored the effects of vinorelbine on thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and thymidylate synthase (TS) expression in breast cancer cells.

The p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis involving 51,236 subjects.

Published data on the association between p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between the p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk.

XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis involving 28,709 subjects.

Published data on the association between Xeroderma Pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) Lys751Gln polymorphism and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between them.

N546 in beta18-beta19 loop is important for binding and toxicity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin.

Our previous mutagenic analysis showed that the unique residue N546 in the apex of beta18-beta19 loop of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin is important for its toxicity. In this study, trypsin digestion susceptibility, binding to BBMV and oligomer formation activity was therefore analyzed to determine the mechanism of toxicity change of these mutant toxins. The results showed that residue N546 was not involved in toxin oligomerisation and maintaining the stability of toxin, the enhanced toxicity of mutant N546A was just because of increased binding to BBMV, and reduction in toxicity of other mutants were caused by reduction in initial or irreversible binding to BBMV.

The theoretical three-dimensional structure of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry5Aa and its biological implications.

Cry5Aa is a crystal protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis serovar. damstadiensis during its stationary phase, this delta-endotoxin is active against nematodes and has great potential for nematodes control. The theoretical model of the three-dimensional structure of Cry5Aa was predicted by homology modeling on the structures of the Cry1Aa which is specific to Lepidopteran insects.

[Prognosis of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast (PNHLB).

Methods: The characteristics, treatment methods and outcomes of 45 patients with PNHLB were retrospectively analyzed. Chemotherapy including CHOP and CHOP-like regimens was administered in 43 patients, and monoclonal antibody therapy in 6 patients.

The theoretical 3D structure of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry5Ba.

Cry5Ba is a delta-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis PS86A1 NRRL B-18900. It is active against nematodes and has great potential for nematode control. Here, we predict the first theoretical model of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a Cry5Ba toxin by homology modeling on the structure of the Cry1Aa toxin, which is specific to Lepidopteran insects.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast: eight-year follow-up experience.

The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast (PNHLB). Forty-five patients with PNHLB treated in our hospital during a 15-year period were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-four were females and one male, with a median age of 47 years.

[Cytogenetic and interphase FISH studies in the diagnosis of malignant lymphomas].

Objective: To evaluate the role of cytogenetic study and interphase FISH analysis in differential diagnosis of patients with clinical and/or cytological diagnosis as lymphoma or "suspicious for lymphoma".

Methods: Routine histology, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics and interphase FISH studies were used to assess 223 cases with superficial lymph nodes of not less than 1. 5 cm in diameter.