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Li Dong,1 Yu-Min Zheng,2 Xiao-Guang Luo,3 Zhi-Yi He2 1Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology, The Second Clinical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiao-Guang LuoDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology, The Second Clinical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail guanche537@126.comZhi-Yi HeDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail yizizhan40559@163.comBackground: Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. The incidence of various cancers in Parkinson’s disease patients is significantly lower than in healthy people. Parkinson’s disease patients are individuals with a high tendency for inflammation, whose peripheral immune system is represented in an activated state. We hypothesized that the hyperinflammatory predisposition of Parkinson’s disease patients is pathogenic.Methods: DBA/1 mice were used to simulate “highly inflammatory individuals”, and the carcinogen DEN was used to induce malignancy. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe the formation of lung tumors. Apoptosis of neurons was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were used to observe CD4, CD28, major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), and programmed death 1 (PD-1). The ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (IBA-1) + inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was used to label M1 microglia, and IBA-1 + arginase 1 (Arg1) was used to label M2 microglia by immunofluorescence. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 was detected by ELISA.Results: DBA/1 mice with high inflammatory tendency showed a continuous increase of peripheral inflammation, promoting intracranial inflammation, decreasing the tumor incidence and increasing the neurodegeneration under induction of malignant change. CD28 and CTLA-4/PD-1 reduced the T-cell-dominated inflammatory response, reduced the intracerebral inflammatory response, protected from neurodegeneration, and increased the incidence of tumor. Combination of CTLA-4 and PD-1 blocker can overactivate T cells, worsen peripheral and intracranial inflammation, reduce the incidence of tumor, cause damage to dopamine neurons, and promote the occurrence of neurodegeneration.Conclusion: High inflammatory tendency induced by malignant stimulation through the imbalance of CD28 and CTLA-4/PD-1 leads to dopamine neuron injury.Keywords: high inflammatory tendency, malignant stimulation, CD28, CTLA-4/PD-1, dopamine neuron injury

Background The global incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, are increasing. However, information on its epidemiology and clinical prognosis is limited. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology and prognostic factors of secondary liver cancer to aid in the pretreatment evaluation of the disease. Methods Patients diagnosed with secondary liver cancer between 2010 and 2014 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were retrospectively included. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to screen for significant factors associated with secondary liver cancer. Results A total of 85,738 secondary liver cancer patients were identified; in this population, the first primary site was the lung (25.9%), followed by the colorectum, pancreas, stomach, breast, and cecum. Patients with primary tumors of the colorectum, cecum and breast had longer median survival time. Advanced age, male gender, black race, poor differentiation or lack of differentiation, regional lymph node metastases, and presence of distant metastasis were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusions In this study, novel findings on the role of the primary site and synchronous distant metastasis to specific organs in patients with secondary liver cancer were described. These findings have significant implications in clinical diagnosis and treatment, and provide a better understanding of secondary liver cancer in the general population.

Background: The eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is known to be more sensitive to corticosteroid. The sputum microbiome has been shown to affect COPD prognosis, but its role in acute exacerbations of eosinophilic COPD is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of the airway microbiome in patients with acute exacerbations of eosinophilic COPD. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with acute exacerbations of COPD from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between June 2017 and June 2018 were divided into two groups. Patients with eosinophils ≥300 cells/μL in the peripheral venous blood were assigned to the eosinophilic group (Eos) and the rest to the non-eosinophilic group (Noneos). All patients received similar treatment including inhaled budesonide according to the guidelines. The induced sputum microbiome was analyzed on the 1st and 7th day of treatment using the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) method. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were measured in the plasma and the sensitivity to corticosteroids was determined in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Quantitative data were compared between the two groups using the independent samples t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical data were evaluated using Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test. Results: Twenty-six patients were classified into Eos group and 31 patients were classified into Noneos group. Prior to treatment, the alpha diversity (Shannon index) (2.65 ± 0.63 vs. 2.56 ± 0.54, t = 0.328, P = 0.747) and the structure of the sputum microbiome were similar in the Eos group and the Noneos group. After 7 days of treatment, alpha diversity increased in both groups, while the microbiome richness (Ace index) was significantly lower in the Eos group (561.87 ± 109.13 vs. 767.88 ± 148.48, t = -3.535, P = 0.002). At the same time, IL-6 (12.09 ± 2.85 pg/mL vs. 15.54 ± 2.45 pg/mL, t = -4.913, P < 0.001) and IL-8 (63.64 ± 21.69 pg/mL vs. 78.97 ± 17.13 pg/mL, t = -2.981, P = 0.004) decreased more significantly in the Eos group, and the percentages of inhibition of IL-8 at dexamethasone concentrations 10-8 to 10-6 mol/L were significantly higher in the Eos group than those in the Noneos group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: The induced sputum microbiome richness decreased more significantly following treatment in the Eos patients compared to the Noneos patients. The lower plasma inflammatory factor levels and the higher percentage of inhibition of IL-8 might be due to higher corticosteroid sensitivity in Eos patients. Key words: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Sputum; Microbiome; Eosinophilic; Corticosteroid; Interleukin-8 inhibition

Lung and systemic inflammation are associated with impaired lung function and increased mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Theophylline and glucocorticoids have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect in some respiratory diseases. However, corticosteroid insensitivity is a major barrier to the anti-inflammatory management of COPD. This study aimed to explore whether a combined treatment of theophylline and dexamethasone (Dex) could decrease cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced inflammation via prevention of a reduction in histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) expression and through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, which may be related to corticosteroid sensitivity. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of Dex (IC(50)-Dex) was used to as a marker of corticosteroid sensitivity. IC(50)-Dex was determined through observation of Dex inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced interleukin (IL)-8 release. Using reverse transcription quantitative PCR and western blotting, U937 cells treated with CSE were assessed for HDAC2 expression levels and phosphorylation levels of Akt. Theophylline and Dex pre-treatment was shown to significantly reduce the CSE-induced release of IL-8 and TNF-α. The combination of theophylline and Dex pretreatment also reversed corticosteroid insensitivity in CSE-induced U937 cells and inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway to a greater extent than theophylline treatment alone. CSE-treated U937 cells showed a reduction in HDAC2 mRNA and protein expression compared with the control group. However, this effect was reduced after pre-incubation with the combined therapy or theophylline alone. In conclusion, pretreatment with theophylline and Dex decreased CSE-induced inflammation via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway and increase in HDAC2 protein expression.

Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar has been proved to be a powerful tool in imaging moving targets in military and civilian applications. The target's movement with respect to the radar sensor provides the angular diversity required for range-Doppler ISAR imagery and image blur due to its motion error. For real targets such as plane, ship and tank have complicated motion components which are unknown to the radar. This paper is a brief review of universally used motion compensation techniques employed in ISAR for a clear and focused image.

Given that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a crucial role during cerebral ischemia and Apobec-1 is a critical regulator of COX-2 mRNA stabilization in gastrointestinal settings, the correlation of COX-2 and Apobec-1 was investigated in neurogenic cells and rat model of cerebral ischemia. After neurogenic SH-SY5Y, NG108-15 and PC12 cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation, cell viability, LDH leakage and Apobec-1 expression were determined. The effect of Apobec-1 overexpression on injury severity of oxygen-glucose deprivation, COX-2 expression, C-to-U editing of COX-2 mRNA were measured in vitro. Then the correlation of Apobec-1 level and injury severity was analyzed in cells with oxygen-glucose deprivation and in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion. Apobec-1 expression was elevated along with upregulation of COX-2 and injury severity of oxygen-glucose deprivation in the three cell lines. Apobec-1 overexpression aggravated injury of oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro and could be correlated to injury severity in vivo. Meanwhile, Apobec-1 increased COX-2 expression and COX-2 mRNA stabilization in neurogenic cells, and failed to catalyze C-to-U editing of COX-2 mRNA. Apobec-1 could upregulate COX-2 expression in neurogenic cells by stabilizing COX-2 mRNA, and might aggravate injury of oxygen-glucose deprivation in neurogenic cells as well as in rats with cerebral ischemia.

Background: Macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory effects which are utilized for the treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Recently, their anti-inflammatory effects have been proposed to be beneficial in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: Since the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects are associated with inhibition of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-ĸB, and both are reported to be involved in the expression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), we set out to determine if these drugs influence the oxidant-antioxidant balance in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. Methods: 16HBE cells were preincubated with erythromycin (EM) at different concentrations and times and then exposed to hydrogen peroxide (0.01 mM). Levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and glutathione (GSH), and activity of γ-GCS and γ-GCS heavy subunit (γ-GCS-HS) protein production were assayed. AP-1 and NF-ĸB binding to the 5′-flanking region of IL-8 and γ-GCS-HS genes was assessed by electrophoretic mobility-shift assay. Results: The increase in IL-8 levels and activity of AP-1 induced by H2O2 were abrogated by preincubation of the cells with EM (5 µg/ml) for 36 h. We also showed that preincubation with EM for 48 h inhibited H2O2-induced GSH levels, γ-GCS activity and expression of γ-GCS-HS, and decreased AP-1 binding to the γ-GCS-HS 5′-flanking region. Conclusions: The confirmation of antioxidants maintaining enzyme suppression by EM raised concerns on whether this drug could disrupt the oxidant/ antioxidant balance during long-term use. These data provide important insights into the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases with macrolide antibiotics.

Objective To clarify the relationship between the quantitatively assessed cube-copying test (CCT) and clinical profiles of cognitive and motor ability in Chinese patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Methods We gave the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which includes the CCT, to evaluate the cognitive function of 102 outpatients with PD. We also gave the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II and III and the Hoehn-Yahr scale to evaluate the patients' motor function and disease severity, respectively. We used Maeshima's method for quantitative assessment of the CCT, and calculated CCT errors by adding incomplete connections and plane-drawing errors. We divided the patients into 2 groups based on normal (no errors) versus abnormal (≥1 errors) CCT scores. Results We found 34 patients with normal scores and 68 with abnormal scores. The 2 groups had significant differences in age of onset, MoCA score, UPDRS II and III scores, and cognitive deterioration rate. CCT errors correlated inversely with cognitive domains except for orientation. Executive function was most commonly affected in both groups. We found correlations between numbers of CCT errors and left-limb movement, fine hand movement, postural instability and gait disorders, UPDRS II and III scores, and cognitive and motor deterioration rates. Conclusions The quantitatively assessed CCT may be useful in estimating cognitive and motor dysfunction in patients with PD, and in monitoring disease progression.

The echo wave of complex target consists by the waves of scatter centers, that is the reason for angle glint. The waves of different scatters have certain phase differences, and these phase differences can influence radar's angle measurement precision and target's RCS wave. By using the relationship, it can suppress angle glint according to the target's RCS at the moment. Simulation and real data validations show that the phase of scatters can help to suppress angle glint.

Background We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the role of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucos -e positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18 FDG-PET/CT) in detecting mediastinal nodal metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Studies about 18 FDG-PET/CT for detecting mediastinal nodal metastasis in patient with NSCLC were systematically searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EBM Review databases from January 1, 2000 to July 26, 2011. A software called "Meta-Disc" was used to obtain pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR), respectively. We also calculated summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves, and the Q* index. Results 20 articles fulfilled all inclusion criteria (3028 eligible patients). The pooled sensitivity, and specificity with 95% confidence interval for PET/CT on a per-patient analysis were 0.719 (0.683–0.753), and 0.898 (0.882–0.912). Corresponding values for PET/CT on a per-nodal-station analysis were 0.610 (0.582–0.636), 0.924 (0.918–0.930). The Q* index estimates under SROC were 0.8464 and 0.8067, respectively. Conclusions 18 FDG-PET/CT had more specificity but less sensitivity for mediastinal nodal metastasis in patients with NSCLC.

Aim at the problem of glint in amplitude-comparison monopulse radar, the text uses the target's RCS weights method to suppress glint. For the effect of the method, besides using the simulation of extended target, the text uses real data of amplitude-comparison monopulse radar to validate the algorithm, and explains the adjust when way used for real data, finally demonstrates the suppressing effect and advances the practicable way for use.