EGFR and COX-2 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer and the correlation with clinical features

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the expression of EGFR and COX-2 and their correlation with prognosis in NSCLC</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The paraffin embedded tumor samples of 50 NSCLC patients receiving radical resection were analyzed immunohistochemically for EGFR and COX-2 expression and their prognostic values were explored.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The positive rate of EGFR protein in NSCLC tumor cells was 46%, which was significantly higher than its expression in normal lung (p = 0.0234) and paracancerous tissues (p = 0.020). EGFR expression was significantly higher in nodal positive than in nodal negative patients (p = 0.04). The mean survival time for EGFR positive patients (31 months) was significantly lower than that for patients with EGFR negative expression (48 months) (p = 0.008,). In patients receiving post-operation thoracic irradiation, the mean survival time for EGFR positive patients was significantly lower than that for patients without EGFR positive expression (25 vs. 48 months, P = 0.004). The positive rate of COX-2 protein expression in NSCLC tumor cells was 90%, which was significantly higher than that in normal tissue(p = 0.00) and paracancerous tissue (p = 0.00). There was no correlation between COX-2 expression and patient survival, and no correlation between COX-2 and EGFR protein expression (P = 0.555).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>COX-2 and EGFR are over-expressed in NSCLC. EGFR is an independent prognostic factor and a predictive factor for radiotherapy response in NSCLC.</p

Discrete π-Stacks from Self-Assembled Perylenediimide Analogues.

The formation of well-defined finite-sized aggregates represents an attractive goal in supramolecular chemistry. In particular, construction of discrete π-stacked dye assemblies remains a challenge. Reported here is the design and synthesis of a novel type of discrete π-stacked aggregate from two comparable perylenediimide (PDI) dyads (PEP and PBP). The criss-cross PEP-PBP dimers in solution and (PBP-PEP)-(PEP-PBP) tetramers in the solid state are well elucidated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy. Extensive π-π stacking between the PDI units of PEP and PBP as well as repulsive interactions of swallow-tailed alkyl substituents are responsible for the selective formation of discrete dimer and tetramer stacks. Our results reveal a new approach to preparing discrete π stacks that are appealing for making assemblies with well-defined optoelectronic properties

Large Differences between Glaciers 3D Surface Extents and 2D Planar Areas in Central Tianshan

Most glaciers in China lie in high mountainous environments and have relatively large surface slopes. Common analyses consider glaciers’ projected areas (2D Area) in a two-dimensional plane, which are much smaller than glacier’s topographic surface extents (3D Area). The areal difference between 2D planar areas and 3D surface extents exceeds −5% when the glacier’s surface slope is larger than 18°. In this study, we establish a 3D model in the Muzart Glacier catchment using ASTER GDEM data. This model is used to quantify the areal difference between glaciers’ 2D planar areas and their 3D surface extents in various slope zones and elevation bands by using the second Chinese Glacier Inventory (CGI2). Finally, we analyze the 2D and 3D area shrinking rate between 2007 and 2013 in Central Tianshan using glaciers derived from Landsat images by an object-based classification approach. This approach shows an accuracy of 89% when it validates by comparison of glaciers derived from Landsat and high spatial resolution GeoEye images. The extracted glaciers in 2007 also have an agreement of 89% with CGI2 data in the Muzart Glacier catchment. The glaciers’ 3D area is 34.2% larger than their 2D area from CGI2 in the Muzart Glacier catchment and by 27.9% in the entire Central Tianshan. Most underestimation occurs in the elevation bands of 4000–5000 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The 3D glacier areas reduced by 30 and 115 km2 between 2007 and 2013 in the Muzart Glacier catchment and Central Tianshan, being 37.0% and 27.6% larger than their 2D areas reduction, respectively. The shrinking rates decrease with elevation increase

Topography-Related Glacier Area Changes in Central Tianshan from 1989 to 2015 Derived from Landsat Images and ASTER GDEM Data

Studies have investigated the glacier projected area (2D Area) on a horizontal plane, which is much smaller than the glacier topographic surface extent (3D Area) in steep terrains. This study maps the glacier outline in Central Tianshan using Landsat images from four periods, i.e., 1989, 2002, 2007 and 2015, by an object-based classification approach, and analyzes the glacier 2D and 3D area changes related to topographic factors based on Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global DEM data. This approach shows an accuracy of 90.8% for clean ice mapping. The derived clean ice outlines are in good agreement with the 2nd Chinese Glacier Inventory (CGI2) and the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS). The fields with a northern aspect receive the least surface solar radiation, leading to dominant existing glaciers. Glaciers are near evenly distributed in slope zones of 0&deg; to 50&deg; and have a mean slope angle of 28.8&deg;, resulting in a 30.3% larger 3D area than the 2D area in 2015 in Central Tianshan. The glacier 2D area decreased by 404 km2 (&minus;8.1%) between 1989 and 2015, while the 3D area declined by 516 km2 (&minus;7.9%). The glacier 2D area showed a reduction of &minus;1.8% between 1989 and 2002, &minus;3.8% between 2002 and 2007, and &minus;2.7% between 2007 and 2015, and these retreating rates closely responded to the variations of regional mean air temperature and precipitation. Topographically, most reductions occurred in elevation bands of 3000&ndash;4000 m and in slope zones of 10&ndash;20&deg; and 40&ndash;50&deg;, and in the eastern aspect fields. The northern Tekes River catchment had the largest shrinking rate of &minus;17.0% (2D area), followed by the southern Karasu River (&minus;14.2%) and Muzart River (&minus;7.7%) catchments. In contrast, glaciers in the Kumerik/Aksu and Tailan River catchments in the Tuomuer region showed little change (&minus;2%)

A Clinicopathological Analysis of Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background and objective Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (PLAM) is a rare tumor with unique clinicopathological features. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinicopathological features, the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Methods Three cases of PLAM were analyzed by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and their clinical data, and the relative literatures were reviewed. Results Three cases of patients suffered from PLAM were the women in their reproductive aged, from 27 years to 45 years (mean 37.7 years), two cases of the HRCT showed bilateral diffuse cystic airspaces changed, and one case was the pneumothorax. The histopathological examination revealed the tumor was composed of the variably sized cystic spaces are lined by plaque-like or nodular aggregates of endothelial cells and the hyperplasia, smooth-muscle-like spindle cells which was along with the bronchi and the vessels. The immunohistochemistry showed that Des, Caldes, SMA, MSA, HMB-45, CD63, Vim, ER and PR were positive in the hyperplasia spindle cells, and there was no expression of MRAT-1. The FVIII, CD34 were positive in the capillary endothelial cells, and the D2-40 was positive in the lymphatic vessels. All the patients were alive without the recrudescence of the PLAM since the diagnosis, about 3 months to 25 months, and there was no LAM in their other systems. Conclusion The most significant histopathological feature of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis was the progressive invasion of smooth muscle cells into the lymphatic vessels, and the blood vessels. The majority of the cases occur in the lungs of the women in the predominantly premenopausal and middle-age. It is a poor prognosis due to the progressive respiratory failure

Nanodomain Formation of Ganglioside GM1 in Lipid Membrane: Effects of Cholera Toxin-Mediated Cross-Linking

Cross-linking of specific lipid components by proteins mediates transmembrane signaling and material transport. In this work, we conducted coarse-grained simulation to investigate the interactions of binding units of chorela toxin (CTB) with mixed ganglioside GM1 and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid bilayer membrane. We determine that the binding of CTB pentamers cross-links GM1 molecules into protein-sized nanodomains that have distinct lipid order compared with the bulk. The toxin in the nanodomain partially penetrates into the membrane. The local disordering can also transmit across the membrane via lipid coupling. Comparison simulations on CTB binding to a membrane that is composed of various lipid components demonstrate that several factors are responsible for the nanodomain formation: (a) the negatively charged headgroup of a GM1 receptor is responsible for the multivalent binding; (b) the head groups being full of hydrogen-bonding donors and receptors stabilize the GM1 cluster itself and ensure the toxin binding with high affinity; and (c) significant size and order differences between the protein receptor lipids and bulk lipids are essential to promoting phase separation and signal transportation