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Background: Numerous studies have characterized the gut microbiome (GM) in lung cancer (LC). Yet, the causality between GM and LC and its subtypes remain uncharacterized. Methods: Two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was designed to investigate the causal relationship between the GM and LC and its subtypes, using publicly available summary data of genome‐wide association studies. The researchers ran two groups of MR analyses, including the genome‐wide statistical significance threshold (5 × 10−8) and the locus‐wide significance level (1 × 10−5). Results: Using MR analysis, we ascertained 42 groups of GM that are intimately linked to LC and its subtypes at the locus‐wide significance level. Of the 42 groups, 12 were in LC, nine in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), six in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), two in lung adenocarcinomas, and 13 in lung squamous carcinomas. After false discovery rate correction, we still found a remarkable causal interaction between the Eubacterium ruminantium group and SCLC. Moreover, five groups of GM closely linked to LC and its subtypes were recognised at the genome‐wide statistical significance threshold. This finding included one group each in LC, NSCLC and SCLC, two groups in lung adenocarcinoma and none in lung squamous carcinoma. None of the foregoing findings were heterogeneous or horizontal pleiotropy. Reverse MR revealed that genetic susceptibility to LC and its subtypes caused significant changes in three groups of GM. Conclusion: Our findings substantiate the causality between GM and LC and its subtypes. This study offers fresh insights into the function of GM in mediating the progression of LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of big data, facing vast amounts of network data, only identifying the reliable data source can the researchers extract the original data that can be used in scientific research. Building reliable network data mining model based on the improvement of PageRank algorithm with applying each improved algorithm. Then the model is divided into three modules: the first, use PageRank and TrustRank to eliminate cheating webpages; then, refine webpages which related to research topic highly by TC-PageRank which combined with the topic relevancy between webpages and weight of time difference; finally, determine the authoritative webpages of the original data source by the improved HITS which considered the influence of the similarity between webpage and research topic and the amplification of webpage links to the authoritative webpages. Meanwhile, the partitioning of matrix operation based on MapReduce reduces the time and space complexity of the algorithms. And the feasibility and accuracy of the method are verified by comparative analysis of the algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the number and distributions of limit cycles in a Z3-equivariant quintic planar polynomial system are studied. 24 limit cycles with two different configurations are shown in this quintic planar vector field by combining the methods of double homoclinic loops bifurcation, heteroclinic loop bifurcation and Poincaré-Bendixson Theorem. The results obtained are useful to the study of weakened 16th Hilbert problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for nearly 15% of all cases of cancer. As a type of highly invasive tumors, SCLC has high degree of malignancy, early and extensive metastasis, and is sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The early treatment response rate of SCLC is high but it can also relapse rapidly without any treatment. Its median survival time is merely four to six months. Although many studies on SCLC have been conducted in recent years, its clinical treatment strategies have remained unchanged. The treatment of SCLC is still confined to chemotherapy regimens of etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) and other classic treatments because the surgical treatment of SCLC, particularly for IIIa treatment, has yet to reach a consensus. This study investigated the prognostic factors and clinical therapy effect in the comprehensive treatment of IIIa SCLC after surgical treatment., Methods: This study was conducted through the retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 78 patients with SCLC who underwent surgical treatment in Beijing Chest Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University between January 1995 and December 1995. Through follow-up, we performed statistical analysis of each patient's gender, age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, surgical methods, and adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy., Results: The median survival in this clinical trial team was 13.93 months. Among the participants, 47 patients accepted neoadjuvant chemotherapy and their median survival were 14.25 months. By contrast, 31 patients accepted postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and their median survival were 13.83 months. No statistical difference was observed between the two groups. Moreover, 28 patients were of single Lymph node metastasis and their median survival was 17.1 months. By contrast, 50 patients were of multiple lymph node metastasis and their median survival was 11.9 months. Significant statistical difference was observed between the two groups (P<0.01)., Conclusions: In performing further evaluation of the status and value of surgical treatment in the comprehensive treatment of SCLC, several patients benefitted from IIIa SCLC surgery with comprehensive treatment.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE The senescence and death of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are the pathologic basis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD). To investigate the molecular phenotypes and senescent mechanism of NP cells, and to identify the method of alleviating senescence of NP cells., Methods: The primary NP cells were harvested from male Sprague Dawley rats (8-10 weeks old); the hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha(HIF-1alpha, HIF-1beta matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and collagen type II as phenotypic markers were identified through immunocytochemical staining. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to test the silencing effect of NP cells after the NP cells were transfected with p53 and p21 small interference RNA (siRNA). Senescence associated-beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) staining was used to test the senescence of NP cells, flow cytometry to test the change of cell cycle, the growth curve analysis to test the NP cells proliferation., Results: Immunocytochemical staining showed that NP cells expressed HIF-1alpha HIF-1beta, MMP-2, and collagen type II. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the relative expressions of mRNA and protein of p53 and p21 were significantly inhibited in NP cells at passage 35 after transfected with p53 and p21 siRNA. The percentage of SA-Pbetagal-positive NP cells at passage 35 was significantly higher than that at passage 1 (P < 0.001). And the percentage of SA-Pbetagal-positive NP cells in the p53 siRNA transfection group and p21 siRNA transfection group were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.001). The flow cytometry showed that the GC1phase of NP cells in p53 siRNA transfection group and p21 siRNA transfection group was significantly shorter than that in control group (P < 0.05), but the S phase of NP cells in p53 siRNA transfection group and p21 siRNA transfection group were significantly longer than that in control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the growth curve showed that the growth rate of NP cells could be promoted after transfection of p53 and p21 siRNA., Conclusion: he senescence of NP cells can be alleviated by silencing of p53 and p21. The effect of alleviating senescence can even ameliorate the progress of IVD and may be a useful and potential therapy for IVD.