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Interaction exists in lung cancer and microbiota. Lung microecological homeostasis can improve the immune tolerance, enhance immune suppression, and inhibit inflammatory responses, to reduce the lung cancer; while lung cancer can lead to pulmonary microecological imbalance, change the lung environment, and promote tumor cell proliferation. Therefore, modulating microbial flora and microecological immunotherapy may be a potential and preventive treatment for lung cancer, to restore tumor immunosuppression and improve patient survival. However, the individual differences in the lung microecology, because of different genetics, ethnic characteristics, and dietary habits, increasing the difficulty of precise diagnosis and treatment, which is also the current bottleneck in the application of microecological immunotherapy. Otherwise, the effectiveness of regulatory measures such as probiotics, prebiotics or antimicrobials is questionable. The research on microbial flora is still in its infancy, and further exploration is needed to form a standardized, effective, and precise treatment plan. So, standardized, effective, and precise microbial flora treatment strategies need to be further explored.

Objective: To explore the protective role of osthole in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice and examine its underlying mechanism., Methods: A murine model of intestinal I/R injury was established with clamping of superior mesenteric artery for 120 min and then clamping was relieved for 60 min. Forty-five SD male mice weighing 27-31 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 15 each): sham group (S), I/R injury group (I/R) and I/R plus osthole treatment group (Ost+). Intestinal wet/dry weight ratio, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were examined by colorimetric assay and diamine oxidase (DAO) was examined by automatic biochemical analyzer, the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-2 were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Intestinal barrier permeability was detected by Evans blue (EB) test. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze all experimental data variance., Results: Intestinal tissues wet/dry weight ratios, Evans blue content and Chiu's score of I/R group mice were significantly higher than those of S and Ost+ groups (0.80% ± 0.03% vs 0.77% ± 0.02% & 0.78% ± 0.02%, (0.11 ± 0.04) vs (0.05 ± 0.02) & (0.06 ± 0.02) µg/mg, 3.42 ± 0.73 vs 0.87 ± 0.35 & 2.63 ± 0.58, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) . Serum level of DAO, MDA, IL-1β & TNF-α of I/R group mice were significantly higher than those of S and Ost+ groups ( (18.9 ± 4.0) vs (14.5 ± 2.3) & (16.0 ± 2.6) U/L, (8.4 ± 1.2) vs (6.9 ± 1.7) & (6.1 ± 2.4) µmol/L, (93 ± 6) vs (51 ± 4) & (67 ± 5) ng/L, (467 ± 31) vs (235 ± 21) & (323 ± 30) ng/L, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) . Serum SOD activity and IL-2 level were significantly lower than those of S and Ost+ groups ( (75 ± 7) vs (93 ± 16) & (89 ± 5) U/ml, (95 ± 16) vs (198 ± 14) & (139 ± 11) ng/L, all P < 0.05) . All parameters showed no significant difference between S and Ost+ groups (all P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Treatment of osthole may protect murine intestinal tissue against intestinal I/R injury. And the mechanisms may be due to its actions of preventing oxygen stress and inflammatory responses.

Objective: to investigate the expression of c-jun-activation-domain binding protein (JAB1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the clinicopathologic significance thereof., Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used on 76 specimens of HCC tissues and native liver tissues adjacent to the HCC tissues, and 10 specimens of normal liver tissues near the liver angioma to detect the expression of JAB1 and the cell proliferative factor Ki67., Results: The expression rate of JAB1 in the HHC tissues was 68.85%, significantly higher than that in the adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissues near liver angioma (38.72% and 34.36% respectively, both P < 0.001). The expression of JAB1 was correlated with the histological differentiation, serum alpha-fetoprotein level, and metastasis (P = 0.000, 0.015, and 0.000), but not with gender, age, tumor size, serum HBsAg, and existence of necrosis and cirrhosis. The expression rate of Ki67 protein in the HCC tissues was 41.45%, significantly higher than that in the adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissues near liver angioma (2.11% and 2.01% respectively, both P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between JAB1 and Ki67 (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: JAB1 is highly expressed in HCC and may play an important role in the oncogenesis and development of HCC. JAB1 may be used as a marker for neoplastic change in liver cells and thus has potential clinicopathologic value.

Objective: To study the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on U937 cell growth and its mechanism., Methods: Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), expressions of cell cycle associated protein and the p27 related protein were detected by Western blot. The binding of P27 and Skp2 was detected by immunoprecipitation., Results: FCM displayed that ATRA could inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells. At 72 h on 1 micromol/L ATRA treatment, 72% of the cells were arrested at G0/G1 phase. Western blot displayed that ATRA could decrease the expression of cyclin A, up-regulate the expression of p21 and p27, and down-regulate the expression of p27 related proteins Skp2. p27 could bind with Skp2 in U937 cells as detected by immunoprecipitation., Conclusion: ATRA may arrest the proliferation of U937 cells through the reduction of Skp2 expression, and finally the induction of the accumulation of p27.

Background & Objective: Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) is a new drug used to treat solid tumors. However, the mechanism is still unclear. This study was to investigate the effects of As(2)O(3) on the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line SMMC-7721, and to explore the mechanisms., Methods: When treated with 0-8 micromol/L As(2)O(3) for 96 h, the survival rate of SMMC-7721 cells was determined by WST-8 assay. When treated with 2 micromol/L As(2)O(3) for 72 h, the expression of P27(kip1) and c-Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (JAB1) in SMMC-7721 cells were detected at different time points by Western blot, the subcellular localization of P27(kip1) and JAB1 was detected by subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescent staining., Results: As(2)O(3) significantly inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of As(2)O(3) to SMMC-7721 cells was (1.81+/-0.41) micromol/L at 96 h. When SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 2 mumol/L As(2)O(3) for 12 h, the expression of JAB1 was down-regulated and that of P27kip1 was up-regulated. Furthermore, P27(kip1) and JAB1 proteins were translocated from the cytoplasm into nuclei when cells were exposed to 2 micromol/L As(2)O(3) for 12 h and 24 h, respectively. The nuclear accumulation of both proteins was also observed under fluorescence microscope after treatment of 2 micromol/L As(2)O(3)., Conclusion: As(2)O(3) attenuates JAB1 expression, thereby disturbs the location and expression of P27(kip1), and may participate in regulating the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells through interfering with the function of P27(kip1).

Objective: To compare the application of HE and enzyme histochemical staining in assessing the viability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells coagulated by microwave ablation at different temperatures., Methods: Two groups of mice (n=6) with transplanted homogenic HCC were treated by microwave ablation at 60 degrees C and 50 degrees C for 3 min, respectively. Before and after microwave ablation, paraffin sections and frozen sections of the tumors were prepared for routine HE staining and enzyme histochemical staining with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase (NADH-diaphorase), respectively, and observed under microscope., Results: Shortly after microwave ablation, the morphology and arrangements of the nucleus of the ablated tumor cells in the two groups showed no obvious alteration in HE stained sections, but in sections with enzyme histochemical staining, the activity of NADH-diaphorase in ablated tumor tissue at 60 degrees C disappeared, suggesting the death of HCC cells; sporadic activity of the enzyme was detected in the coagulated tumor at 50 degrees C, indicating tumor cells surviving the ablation. The ablation effect was markedly different between the two groups (P<0.01)., Conclusion: HE staining is not suitable for evaluation of HCC destruction immediately after microwave ablation, and detection of NADH-diaphorase activity with the enzyme histochemical method better suits this purpose.

Background & Objective: Natural killer (NK) cells have strong potential of killing tumor cells, but it is difficult to expand sufficient NK cells to satisfy the treatment of tumor. This study was to explore the feasibility of efficiently expand NK cells through co-culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and Wilms tumor cell line HFWT., Methods: PBMCs and HFWT cells were co-cultured to expand NK cells. The cytotoxicity of NK cells was measured using 51Cr release assay and crystal violet (CV) staining. The proportions of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD16(+), and CD56(+) cells were detected using flow cytometry., Results: When PBMCs were co-cultured with irradiated HFWT cells for 10-21 days, NK cells were selectively expanded; the proportion of CD56(+)/CD16(+) cells was over 50%. The NK cells killed more than 80% of fresh HFWT cells at an effector/target ratio of 2. The expansion of NK cells required continuous stimulation of PBMCs by HFWT cells., Conclusion: HFWT cells can effectively stimulating PBMCs to sensitively expand human NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy of human tumors.

Aim: To study the specific cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs) induced by dendritic cells(DCs) loaded with tumor-derived endothelial cells (Td-ECs) antigen., Methods: Td-ECs were generated from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by induction with cultured supernatants of tumor cells. The expression of tumor endothelial marker(TEM) was detected by RT-PCR. Human peripheral blood monocyte-derived DCs were loaded with Td-EC freeze-thawing antigen, and the autologous stimulation capacity of DCs was determined via mixed lymphocytes reaction employing MTS colorimetry. Specific cytolytic activity of CTLs induced by DCs was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay., Results: TEM1 and TEM8 were detected only on Td-ECs. DCs loaded with Td-EC antigen stimulated lymphocytes proliferation significantly. CTLs induced by DCs loaded with Td-EC antigen showed higher cytolytic activity against Td-EC than that of the control groups (33% vs 14% at E/T ratio 20, 27% vs 10% at E/T ratio 10)., Conclusion: DC loaded with Td-EC antigen can effectively induce specific CTLs against Td-ECs in vitro.

Eleven liver function tests were used for preoperative estimations of the hepatic function reserve in 103 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and underlying liver cirrhosis. Postoperatively, the patients' liver function could be classified as good recovering (Grade A, n = 38), functional damage (Grade B, n = 37) and liver failure (Grade C, n = 28). Single factor analyses showed 6 of those tests were significant indicators, including the ratio of blood glucose level at 120 minutes and 60 minutes by oral glucose tolerance test, total bilirubin, the ratio of albumin and globulin, prealbumin, prothrombin time and indocyanine green retention at 15 minutes. The correlations between 11 preoperative parameters (xi) and postoperative course scored (Y) were analysed by Fisher's discriminant test. The multiple regression equation Y1 was obtained by comparing from groups of Grade A with B and formula Y2 from groups of Grade B with C. The predictive accuracy of both equations were 88.0%, 83.1%, respectively. To select adequate surgical procedures with the best therapeutic effect and minimal liver damage for the patients with HCC, we proposed a method of "two-stage predications" combining use of Y1 and Y2 for evaluation of liver function reserve.

This paper introduced a technique of portal vein embolization by injection of ethanol via fine needle under guidance of angio-echography. First introportal ethanol injection were done in 28 dogs to evaluate its embolic efficacy and safety. The result showed if a dose of injected ethanol was chosen properly, expected embolization could be obtained with slight toxicity to hepatic parenchyma and function. For clinical application, selective portal vein puncture was percutaneous transhepatic under echo guidance. Ultrasound angiography by injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) into portal vein was introduced initially. After confirmed that the injected branch was that supplied the tumor and there was no retrograde overflow of portal blood, ethanol was injected at a dose no more than 10ml. Eighteen patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and underlying liver cirrhosis underwent the procedure preoperatively. Of 14 cases who received hepatectomies, portal vein embolization developed in 12. Since the procedure was guided by angio-echography it could be used for indicated cases with satisfactory embolic effect and not harmful to liver. The procedure had advantages of simple manipulation and made selective embolization easier compared to interventional transcatheter portal vein embolization.

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glucagon loading test (GLT) were performed preoperatively in 46 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and underlying liver cirrhosis. After operation 17 cases fared with good recovery (group A), 17 with hepatic functional damages (group B) and 12 with liver failure (group C). The glucose tolerance patterns could be classified into three types: (1) blood glucose level returned to 7.3 mmol/L or less 120 minutes after glucose loading, in 82.4% of the patients in group A, (2) with return of glucose level but greater than 7.3 mmol/L, in 60% of the cases in group B and 20% in group C, (3) linear pattern with increasing of glucose level in 100% of the patients in group B or C. For GLT, the plasma cyclic AMP concentration reached a peak level at 10 minute and the peak level/basal level (P/B ratio) was found to be a reliable index, that 70.6% of the patients in group A had a P/B ratio greater than 20, 64.7% in group B with the ratio between 10-20, and 83.3% in group C with that less than 10. For evaluating liver functional reserve, predictability test indicated the sensitivity and efficiency were greater significantly for OGTT and GLT than Pugh's grading (P < 0.05).