Int J Med Sci
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Background: In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, whether new pulmonary lesions will continue to develop after treatment was unknown. This study aimed to determine whether new pulmonary lesions will develop after treatment in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, and investigate their CT features and outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included 56 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia from January 20 to March 5, 2020. ⋯ The newly developed lesions were usually multiple (38, 90.5%), distributed in the previously involved (39, 92.9%) or uninvolved (27, 64.3%) lobes, and manifested as ground-glass opacities (GGOs) with consolidation (23, 54.8%) or pure GGOs (19, 45.2%). After their occurrence, the new lesions in most patients (32, 76.2%) showed direct absorption, whereas those in some patients (10, 23.8%) progressed before absorption. Conclusion: During treatment, most patients with COVID-19 pneumonia will develop new pulmonary lesions, which usually manifest as multiple GGOs distributed around the primary lesions or in previously uninvolved lobes, and are subsequently absorbed directly.
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Non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) is one novel low frequency mutated gene identified in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) using next-generation sequencing. However, its clinical relevance, potential function and mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: Genomic sequencing datas from 104 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases were screened a series of low frequency mutant genes. ⋯ PCR-array showed MYH9 knockdown led to a significant change of genes expression associated with angiogenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This observation is further confirmed in TCGA database of LUSC (lung squamous cell carcinoma), CESC (cervical squamous cell carcinomas) and HNSC (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma). Conclusions: Collectively, our study identifies a novel role and mechanism of MYH9, highlights a significance of MYH9 as a metastatic biomarker, and offers potential therapeutic targets for ESCC patients harboring MYH9 mutations.
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Background: Current evidence suggests an increased prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and anemia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ID and subsequent anemia can be due to iron losses via bleeding resulting in absolute ID or inflammation-driven retention of iron within macrophages resulting in functional ID and anemia of inflammation. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 204 non-exacerbated COPD patients in outpatient care. ⋯ Conclusion: ID is common in COPD patients, but a uniform definition for accurate diagnosis does not exist. Prevalence of functional ID and anemia increased during follow-up. The associations of ID and anemia with reduced functional lung capacity and elevated inflammation may reflect a more severe COPD phenotype.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive disease of unknown cause. It is characterized by the aberrant activation of the bronchioalveolar epithelium, the formation of fibroblast foci and the excessive production extracellular matrix. ⋯ In this study, we characterize for the first time the expression of CX3CL1 and its receptor in lung tissue from patients with IPF; and its effect on collagen production in IPF fibroblasts. We found that CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis has a modified expression in the lung tissue, importantly this axis is expressed on fibroblasts, and CX3CL1 decreased the collagen production in pulmonary fibroblasts derived from IPF patients.
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Due to the high toxicity of currently used chemotherapeutics, novel methods of cancer treatment are needed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) seem to be an interesting alternative due to penetration through biological membranes and systemic barriers. AuNPs as carriers of chemotherapeutics allow for reduced concentrations whilst maintaining the expected effect, and thus reducing the costs of therapy and adverse effects. ⋯ We have shown that cellular response varies according to the type and concentration of AuNPs. At some concentrations, we were able to show selective cytotoxicity of our AuNPs conjugates only to cancer cell lines. Synthesized nanoparticles were more cytotoxic to tumor cell lines than chemotherapeutics alone.