Modulation of mTOR and epigenetic pathways as therapeutics in gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract, with extremely dismal prognosis. Limited therapeutic options are available for GBC patients. We used whole-exome sequencing of human GBC to identify the ErbB and epigenetic pathways as two vulnerabilities in GBC.

Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 and cigarette smoke induces the synthesis of lipid droplets by glycerol kinase 5.

Particulate matter (PM2.5) and cigarette smoke exposure are leading factors contributing to various diseases, especially respiratory diseases. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of PM2.

Phase 1/2 study of ceritinib in Chinese patients with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with crizotinib: Results from ASCEND-6.

Background: Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with crizotinib inevitably relapse, with brain as common site of progression.

Patients And Methods: ASCEND-6, a phase 1/2, single-arm study, included adult Chinese patients with stage IIIB or IV ALK+ NSCLC pretreated with crizotinib as the last therapy (irrespective of prior chemotherapies [≤2]). Primary endpoints were pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability.

High-throughput single-EV liquid biopsy: Rapid, simultaneous, and multiplexed detection of nucleic acids, proteins, and their combinations.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), mRNA, and proteins in/on extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent potential cancer biomarkers. Concurrent detection of multiple biomarkers at a single-EV level would greatly improve prognosis and/or diagnosis and understanding of EV phenotypes, biogenesis, and functions. Here, we introduced a High-throughput Nano-bio Chip Integrated System for Liquid Biopsy (HNCIB) system for simultaneous detection of proteins and mRNA/miRNA in a single EV.

Coagulopathy is a major extrapulmonary risk factor for mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: To investigate the risk factors for the death in patients with COVID-19 with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Research Design And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled inpatients with COVID-19 from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital (Wuhan, China) between December 25, 2019, and March 3, 2020. The epidemiological and clinical data were compared between non-T2DM and T2DM or between survivors and non-survivors.

Corticosteroid therapy for coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: a cohort study with propensity score analysis.

Background: The impact of corticosteroid therapy on outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly controversial. We aimed to compare the risk of death between COVID-19-related ARDS patients with corticosteroid treatment and those without.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective observational study, patients with ARDS caused by COVID-19 between January 20, 2020, and February 24, 2020, were enrolled.

Airway microbiota is associated with the severity of non-CF bronchiectasis.

Background: Airway microbiota are associated with several chronic respiratory diseases. However, limited studies examined microbiota in non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis, especially its relationship with severity and immunology.

Objectives: We characterized the microbiota of patients with different severities of bronchiectasis and examined the correlation between microbiota and the immunological indices.

Real-World Scenario of Patients With Lung Cancer Amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in the People's Republic of China.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak throughout the world has affected millions of people in many ways, putting a huge burden on the health care system. The ongoing outbreak of this respiratory disease has posed critical challenges to public health, research, and medical communities around the world. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with lung cancer in the People's Republic of China.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

We performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively investigate the efficacy and safety of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). The secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and ≥grade 3 adverse events (AEs).

Vagal α7nAChR signaling regulates α7nAChRSca1 cells during lung injury repair.

Background: The distal airways of the lung and bone marrow are innervated by the vagus nerve. Vagal α7nAChR signaling plays a key role in regulating lung infection and inflammation; however, whether this pathway regulates α7nAChRSca1 cells during lung injury repair remains unknown. We hypothesized that vagal α7nAChR signaling controls α7nAChRSca1 cells, which contribute to the resolution of lung injury.

PCR coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for microbiological diagnosis and surveillance of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Etiological diagnosis is essential for anti-infective therapy in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The present study aimed to evaluate the capacity of sequential PCR coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) tests as a rapid diagnostic technique for patients with VAP. A total of 12 patients diagnosed with VAP were enrolled at the intensive care unit in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University.

Clinical Characteristics of Pregnant Women With Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic. Despite the growing number of patients with COVID-19 infection, data on the clinical characteristics of pregnant patients are still limited.

Methods: We retrospectively included childbearing-age female patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 15 to February 23, 2020.

The role of perilipin 2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of perilipin 2 (PLIN2) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection in vivo and in vitro. Twenty-eight-week-old male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into the control and PAO1 (P. aeruginosa standard strain) groups, which were administered phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or PAO1 intratracheal instillation, respectively.

Particulate matter exposure promotes Pseudomonas aeruginosa invasion into airway epithelia by upregulating PAFR via the ROS-mediated PI3K pathway.

Over exposure to particulate matter (PM) could irritate respiratory tract infection; while, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is one of the main common pathogens. Our study aims are to define whether PM exposure enhances the invasion of P.

Lung-resident mesenchymal stem cells regulated the inflammatory responses in innate and adaptive immune cells through HVEM-BTLA pathway during ARDS.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an organ failure syndrome caused by overactivation of the immune system. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been found to be effective in ARDS therapy due to their excellent immunomodulatory abilities; however, people are concerned about the safety of infusing exogenous cells. We found that rat lung-resident mesenchymal stem cells (LRMSCs) (Sca-1CD45CD31) played important roles in regulating inflammation in the lungs during the pathogenesis of ARDS.

Induction of ASC pyroptosis requires gasdermin D or caspase-1/11-dependent mediators and IFNβ from pyroptotic macrophages.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in cell-based therapies for a variety of disorders. Some factors such as inflammatory mediators in the diseased area might damage the survival of MSCs and affect their efficacy. Pyroptosis is a form of programmed necrosis as a response for immune cells to cytosolic pathogenic stimuli.

Vagal-α7nAChR signaling promotes lung stem cells regeneration via fibroblast growth factor 10 during lung injury repair.

Background: Proliferation and transdifferentiation of lung stem cells (LSCs) could promote lung injury repair. The distal airways of the lung are innervated by the vagus nerve. Vagal-alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) signaling plays a key role in regulating lung infection and inflammation; however, whether this pathway could regulate LSCs remains unknown.

Novel visualized quantitative epigenetic imprinted gene biomarkers diagnose the malignancy of ten cancer types.

Background: Epigenetic alterations are involved in most cancers, but its application in cancer diagnosis is still limited. More practical and intuitive methods to detect the aberrant expressions from clinical samples using highly sensitive biomarkers are needed. In this study, we developed a novel approach in identifying, visualizing, and quantifying the biallelic and multiallelic expressions of an imprinted gene panel associated with cancer status.

The association between serum albumin/prealbumin level and disease severity in non-CF bronchiectasis.

Non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis is a chronic pulmonary disease that can lead to malnutrition. Serum prealbumin and albumin level are related to inflammatory and nutritional status. Thus, we aimed to confirm our hypothesis that low serum albumin and prealbumin level, as well as body mass index (BMI), is correlated to severe non-CF bronchiectasis.

Knockdown of enhances the anticancer effect of gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as gefitinib, are widely used as standard treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. However, the subsequent inevitable drug resistance has become a major challenge in clinical treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of tissue-type plasminogen activator () in gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.

Risk Factors Associated With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Death in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

Importance: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that was first reported in Wuhan, China, and has subsequently spread worldwide. Risk factors for the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 pneumonia have not yet been well delineated.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or died.