A Frailty Screening Questionnaire (FSQ) to Rapidly Predict Negative Health Outcomes of Older Adults in Emergency Care Settings

BACKGROUND

Frailty, at the core of geriatric medicine, is an important concept underpinning health problems but the rapid and valid measurement of frailty for older adults in the Emergency Department (ED) is lacking in China. The Frailty Screening Questionnaire (FSQ), has been shown to be a simple, rapid and practical tool to identify frailty in both community and inpatients settings, yet its utility in acute care settings is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether FSQ is useful to identify frailty and predict adverse outcomes in an emergency care setting.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective study included 350 adults aged 60 and over and admitted to the ED.

MEASUREMENTS

The FSQ questionnaire which assessed self-reported slowness, weakness, inactivity, exhaustion, and weight loss was used to rapidly recognize frailty. FRAIL, Clinical frailty score (CFS), activities of daily living (ADL) and nutrition risk screening 2002 were also assessed. Outcome measures included all-cause 28-day mortality, ADL dependency, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and ICU readmissions 30 and 90 days after discharge. Cox proportional hazard model was used for survival comparison.

RESULTS

The prevalence of FSQ frailty and prefrailty in older adults were 44.6% and 30.9% respectively in the emergency setting. FSQ frailty was associated with increasing age, chronic diseases, malnutrition risk, poor physical function and worse outcomes indicated by higher 28-d mortality, ADL dependency, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and ICU readmissions after discharge. The Kappa coefficient between the FSQ and FRAIL was 0.552. FSQ score was negatively correlated with grip strength and positively correlated with Barthel index, length of hospital stay and CFS score. Cox regression adjusted by epidemiological variables and chronic diseases showed FSQ and all components predicted mortality except weight loss.

CONCLUSION

The FSQ is a rapid and useful tool to screen frailty and an effective tool to predict mortality in busy emergency settings.

Evaluation of MASTDISCS combi Carba plus for the identification of metallo-β-lactamases, KPC and OXA-48 carbapenemase genes in Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates

The increasing frequency of class A KPC enzymes, class B metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and class D OXA-48 enzymes in Enterobacteriaceae makes their early identification urgent. A simple commercial MASTDISCS combi Carba plus disc system (MAST-Carba plus) was designed for the identification of MBLs, KPC and OXA-48 carbapenemase genes in Enterobacteriaceae. To validate the MAST-Carba plus, a total of 77 isolates of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and 84 isolates of noncarbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (non-CPE) were selected for differentiation of the genes of Enterobacteriaceae by MAST-Carba plus. Meanwhile, the carbapenemase genes such as bla_KPC , bla_IMP , bla_VIM , bla_NDM-1 and bla_OXA-48 were detected by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Thus, when considered on the basis of PCR results, the sensitivity of MAST-Carba plus detection of KPC strains is 82·3%, the specificity is 100·0%, the positive predictive value is 100·0% and the negative predictive value is 92·4%. For MBLs strains, the sensitivity is 100·0%, the specificity is 97·1%, the positive predictive value is 84·6% and the negative predictive value is 100·0%. For OXA-48 strains, the sensitivity is 100·0%, the specificity is 99·4%, the positive predictive value is 80·0% and the negative predictive value is 100·0%. Our findings suggest that MAST-Carba plus is a rapid and promising method for identifying the MBLs, KPC and OXA-48 carbapenemase genes in Enterobacteriaceae, which could be exploited in basic microbiology laboratory to prevent the transmission of CPE. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Not only detection of carbapenemases but also identification of their genes accurately and rapidly in Enterobacteriaceae is still a major challenge for clinical laboratories in order to prevent the transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of a new rapid method (MASTDISCS combi Carba plus) for the identification of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), KPC and OXA-48 carbapenemase genes in Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates.

[The association of Bcl-2 gene polymorphism with the esophageal cancer and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma in Hebei Province]

Objective: To investigate the association between the promoter region-938 polymorphism of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) gene and the esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) in Hebei Province. Methods: From 2007 to 2010, 145 esophageal cancer patients and 169 cardiaccancer patientsfrom the outpatient department of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical Universitywereselected in a case group, and 195 non-tumor patients were selected in a control group during the same period. A questionnaire survey was used to collect information of research subjects. Pathological tissues were collected to extract genomic DNA and detect the genotype of bcl-2 gene -938. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the bcl-2 gene locus 938 CC genotype and the EC and GCA. The interaction between age, gender, smoking, drinking, upper gastrointestinal family history and the bcl-2 gene locus 938 CC genotype was analyzed by likelihood ratio test. Results: The age of the esophageal and cardiac cancer groups was (56.3±8.3) and (57.1±8.4) years old, and that of the control group was (54.7±7.1) years old. The proportion of the bcl-2 gene locus 938 CC genotype in the esophageal group [48.3% (70/145)] and the cardiac cancer group [48.5% (82/169)] was higher than that in the control group [33.8% (66/195)] (both P values<0.05).Compared with the AA genotype, the risk of esophageal cancer and cardiac cancerin people with the CC genotype was 2.386 (1.20-4.76) and 2.564 (1.27-5.18) respectively. In the population with CC genotype, compared with the positive family history, drinking, and male, the negative family history, non-drinking, and female had a higher risk of esophageal cancer; compared with the non-smoking, negative family history, non-drinking and male, the smoking, positive family history, drinking, and female had a higher risk of cardiac cancer (all the P interaction values were <0.05). Conclusion: People with bcl-2 gene locus 938 CC genotype in Hebei Provincewere more likely to suffer from the esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma.

Ultrasound-Guided Continuous Radiofrequency Ablation Of Painful Residual Limb Neuroma In Individuals With Limb Amputation-A Retrospective Case Series

BACKGROUND

Residual limb neuromas are a significant cause of post-amputation pain. There is little knowledge concerning ultrasound-guided (US) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate US-guided RFA for neuroma associated pain in individuals with limb amputation.

METHODOLOGY

The notes of nine consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. Information obtained included neuroma size and nerve, RFA duration/temperature, pain scores, analgesic requirements and ease/comfort of prosthetic use. Eight patients had lower-limb amputations and one had a trans-radial amputation. All except one, underwent diagnostic US-guided steroid injection to confirm the neuroma as the source of pain, prior to RFA.

RESULTS

Six patients reported significant reduction in pain scores (defined as at least 50% reduction) and an improvement in comfort/ease of wearing their prosthetic limb, with no adverse effects. Three of these six patients also reported a reduction in analgesic requirements. Of the three remaining patients - one had a large sciatic nerve neuroma that was eventually surgically excised, another had confounding pain from an adjacent bony spur, whilst the third patient did not receive a routine diagnostic steroid injection prior to RFA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that US-guided RFA is safe and effective for small to medium-sized residual limb neuroma associated pain in individuals with limb amputation. It can reduce pain and analgesic requirements, improve comfort/ease of wearing the prosthesis and potentially avoid surgical excision. We recommend patients should undergo a diagnostic steroid injection prior to RFA to confirm that the neuroma is the source of pain.

5033Effect of intraoperative hybrid surgery on incidence of CPB-AKI in children Congenital heart disease patients: a propensity score matched study

Objective

Cardiopulmonary bypass-associated acute kidney injury (CPB-AKI) is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery in children patients. Intraoperative hybrid cardiac surgery (IPH) is a new technique which needed contrast administration. Contrast was also reported to induce AKI. Therefore, we hypothesized that the IPH would increase the occurrence of CPB-AKI in children Congenital heart disease patients.

Methods

A total of 1509 consecutive patients (age≤3 year) undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study from November, 2017 to May, 2018. Multivariate logistic regression was performed in this retrospective study. Propensity score matched analysis was applied for confounding factors. Perioperative and interoperative characteristics and outcomes in IHP group with or without AKI are compared. CPB-AKI was determined by serum Creatinine (SCr) increased twice as much as preoperative or need dialysis within 7 days postoperatively.

Result

IPH was found to be an independent risks factor in the development of CPB-AKI development (OR 2.798, 95% CI 1.823–4.296, p<0.001). Other independent risk factors for CSA-AKI were: CPB time >100 min (OR 2.068, 95% CI 1.521–2.811, P<0.001), weight≤5 kg (OR 3.409, 95% CI 2.192–5.302, P<0.001). Cohort analysis revealed that AKI occurred more frequently in the IPH group before and after matching (30.4% vs. 12.97%, P<0.001; 32.2% vs. 18.3% %, P=0.015, respectively). IPH group also had higher prolonged length of postoperative stay in the hospital (11 vs 7.5, P<0.001; 10.9 vs 7.7, p=0.01), and higher length of mechanical ventilation support (27 vs 10, P<0.001; 26 vs 16, <0.001) before and after matching. Perioperative and interoperative characteristics and outcomes of patients with or without AKI are compared. Only CPB duration was an independent factor for AKI in IPH group.

Comparison of outcomes Variablesa Without PSM PSM IPH group (n=128) No IPH group (n=1381) P IPH group (n=117) No IHP group (n=117) P Median LOSPHOS (days) 11 (8.0, 13.0) 7.4 (6.5, 10.6) <0.001d 11.0 (8.0, 13.0) 7.5 (6.5, 14.7) <0.001d Median LOSMV (hours) 27 (19.0, 71.0) 10 (5, 24) <0.001d 27.0 (18.0, 71.0) 17 (3.0, 49.0) <0.001d Overall mortality n (%) 0 (0%) 14 (1.0%) 0.252c 0 (0%) 2 (1.7%) 0.156c Dialysis, n (%) 3 (2.4%) 23 (1.6%) 0.573c 3 (2.6%) 6 (2.6%) 1.000c AKI, n (%) 39 (30.4%) 176 (12.7%) <0.001b 37 (31.6%) 21 (17.9%) 0.015b aLOSPOHOS: length of postoperative stay in hospital; LOSMV: length of mechanical ventilation; CPB: cardiopulmonary bypass. bχ2 test. cFisher's exact test. dRank sum test.

Study flow

Conclusion

IPH was associated with a higher incidence of CPB-AKI.

Cerebral Damage after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Longitudinal Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous DTI cross-sectional studies have showed the cerebral damage feature was different in the three clinical stages after carbon monoxide poisoning. Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is an advanced diffusion imaging model and considered to better provide microstructural contrast in comparison with DTI parameters. The primary aim of this study was to assess microstructural changes in gray and white matter with diffusional kurtosis imaging in the acute, delayed neuropsychiatric, and chronic phases after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The secondary aim was to relate diffusional kurtosis imaging measures to neuropsychiatric outcomes of acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In all, 17 patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Patients were scanned within 1 week, 3-8 weeks, and 6 months after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics including mean kurtosis, mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, and kurtosis fractional anisotropy were measured in 11 ROIs and then further correlated with neuropsychiatric scores.

RESULTS

In WM, mean kurtosis tended to increase from the acute-to-delayed neuropsychiatric phases and then decrease in the chronic phase, while in GM mean kurtosis showed a constant decline. Contrary to mean kurtosis, mean diffusivity first decreased then tended to increase in WM, while in GM, from the acute to chronic phases, mean diffusivity showed a constant increase. In both WM and GM, the fractional anisotropy and kurtosis fractional anisotropy values progressively declined with time. Kurtosis fractional anisotropy showed the best diagnostic efficiency with an area under the curve of 0.812 (P = .000). Along with neuropsychiatric scores, kurtosis fractional anisotropy of the centrum semiovale and Digit Span Backward were most relevant (r = 0.476, P = .000).

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinally, microstructural changes were inconsistent in WM and GM with time after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics provided important complementary information to quantify the damage to cognitive impairment.

[The role of neutrophil in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis]

SummaryChronic nasal-sinusitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent inflammation in the nasal and nasal mucosa. The pathogenesis of CRS is extremely complex and there is currently a lack of effective therapy. The reason for inaccurate diagnosis and invalid treatment of CRS is its sophisticated and unclear mechanism. The pathogenesis of CRS from Asian populations is neutrophil infiltration mediated by Th1/Th17 mixture. Consequently, exploring the function of neutrophil in the pathogenesis of CRS plays an important role in clinical diagnosis and treatment for CRS patients in China.

Molecular cloning, characterisation, and expression analysis of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein gene in Xupu goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus)

1. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) plays a key role in fatty acid uptake and intracellular transport. The objective of the present study was to identify and characterise the A-FABP gene in Xupu goose.2. The full-length cDNA of goose A-FABP gene was cloned from the liver tissue using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The distribution of the goose A-FABP in different tissues was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).3. The results showed that the full-length cDNA sequence of goose A-FABP was 657 bp, containing a 5'-UTR of 52 bp, a 3'-UTR of 206 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 399 bp, which encoded a polypeptide of 132 amino acids (AA).4. The AA sequence of goose A-FABP showed 76.52%, 75.00%, 93.18% and 99.24% identities with previously described homologues from humans (Homo sapiens), mouse (Mus musculus), chicken (Gallus gallus), and duck (Anas platyrhynchos), respectively, and phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship among them. The transcript of Xupu goose A-FABP was ubiquitously expressed in all tested tissues, and showed a high-level expression in abdominal fat, sebum and liver.5. A significant positive correlation was identified between A-FABP mRNA abundance in the three adipose tissues and liver weight, ratio of liver to body weight, TG content, and VLDL concentration in the plasma of Xupu goose. A significant negative correlation was observed between the mRNA level of A-FABP and HDL concentration in the plasma of Xupu goose.6. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the function and mechanism of A-FABP in the fat deposition process.

Nanostructuring with Structural-Compositional Dual Heterogeneities Enhances Strength-Ductility Synergy in Eutectic High Entropy Alloy

A lamellar (L1₂ + B2) AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 eutectic high entropy alloy (EHEA) was severely deformed by a novel hybrid-rolling process. During hybrid-rolling, the deformation was carried out in two stages, namely cryo-rolling followed by warm-rolling at 600 °C. The strain (ε) imparted in each of these steps was identical ~1.2, resulting in a total strain of ε~2.4 (corresponding to 90% reduction in thickness). The novel processing strategy resulted in an extremely heterogeneous microstructure consisting of retained lamellar and transformed nanocrystalline regions. Each of these regions consisted of different phases having different crystal structures and chemical compositions. The novel structure-composition dual heterogeneous microstructure originated from the stored energy of the cryo-rolling which accelerated transformations during subsequent low temperature warm-rolling. The dual heterogeneous microstructure yielded an unprecedented combination of strength (~2000 MPa) and ductility (~8%). The present study for the first time demonstrated that dual structure-composition heterogeneities can be a novel microstructural design strategy for achieving outstanding strength-ductility combination in multiphase high entropy alloys.

Prognostic factors in Asian and white American patients with cervical cancer, considering competing risks

Background

Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common malignant tumour in women worldwide. Previous research studies have given little attention to its prognostic factors in the rapidly growing Asian American population. In the present study, we explored prognostic factors in Asian and white American patients with cervical cancer, considering competing risks.

Methods

The study included 58,780 patients with cervical cancer, of whom 54,827 were white and 3953 were Asian American, and for all of whom complete clinical information was available in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Death from cervical cancer was considered to be the event of interest, and deaths from other causes were defined as competing risks. The cumulative incidence function and the Fine-Gray method were applied for univariate and multivariate analysis respectively.

Results

We found that, for all patients (white and Asian American combined), the cumulative incidence function was associated with several factors, such as age at diagnosis, figo (Fédération internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique) stage, registry area, and lymph node metastasis. Similar results were found when considering white patients only. However, for Asian American patients, registry area was not associated with the cumulative incidence function, but the other factors (for example, figo stage) remained statistically significant. Similarly, in multivariate analyses, we found that age at diagnosis, figo stage, lymph node metastasis, tumour histology, treatment method, and race were all associated with prognosis.

Conclusions

Survival status differs for white and Asian American patients with cervical cancer. Our results could guide the treatment of, and facilitate prognostic judgments about, white and Asian American patients with cervical cancer.

Lymphocyte and its CD4+ and CD8+ subgroup changes after paraquat poisoning

OBJECTIVE

Paraquat (PQ) poisoning is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Poor prognostic outcomes have been attributed to the herbicide's toxicity and the lack of effective treatments. Our study aims to investigate the changes in lymphocyte count in both patients who survived and died from PQ poisoning and explore the prognostic value.

METHOD

This is a retrospective case serials observational study. Adult patients admitted with acute PQ poisoning. The notes of 1000 patients who presented with acute PQ poisoning were reviewed. One hundred thirty patients having the T lymphocyte met the inclusion criteria and were grouped into those that survived the poisoning (95) and non-survivors (35).

RESULTS

On admission, non-survivors had a higher ingestion volume of PQ and urine PQ concentration as well as higher severity indices (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and Poisoning Severity Score). Patients in the survival group had a higher dosage of immunosuppressant and a longer hospital stay. Leukocytes, especially neutrophils, were higher among non-survivors; however, the converse was found with lymphocytes. T lymphocyte (CD3) count was consistently higher among survivors as well as the subgroups CD4+ and CD8+. No differences in the ratio of CD4/CD8 were found between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Our study has shown that changes in lymphocyte count as its subgroups could indicate a host's immune status and lymphocytes play an important role as a surrogate marker of host immunity, which could be a useful prognostic tool in the assessment of this disease.

[Clinical analysis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis in 71 children]

Objective: To summarize the clinical data including manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) in children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 71 patients with pathologically proven EGE at Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2008 to January 2017. Their clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging examinations, endoscopic findings, histopathological examinations, and treatment were collected and analyzed. Results: Among 71 EGE cases, 47 (66%) cases were male and 24 (34%) cases were female, and the median age was 9.2 (0.2-16.5) years old. The main clinical manifestations included abdominal pain (76%, 54/71), vomiting (68%, 48/71), anorexia (54%, 38/71), weight loss (38%, 27/71), and diarrhea (37%, 26/71). There were 27 cases (38%) with a history of allergic diseases or family history. The median absolute value of eosinophil in peripheral blood of the 71 patients was 0.4 (0-36.8)×10(9)/L, and 27 cases (38%) showed an increase in eosinophil counts. Serum IgE was measured in 52 patients (104.3 (3.4- 3 000.0)×10(3) U/L), and 30 patients (58%) showed an increase in serum IgE. A large number of eosinophils ((41.0±8.5)/HP) were found in 3 patients' ascites. The endoscopic examination of upper gastrointestinal tract revealed hyperemic edema in 62 cases (87%), plaque in 44 cases (62%), erosion in 17 cases (24%) and ulceration in 16 cases (23%). Histopathologically, in 8 cases (11%) the disease involved both stomach and duodeneum, in 21 cases (30%) involved stomach only, and in 37 cases (52%) involved duodeneum only. In addition, in 6 cases (8%) the disease involved esophagus and in 10 cases (14%) involved colorectum. Microscopically, eosinophil counts averaged 67/HP, 33/HP, 40/HP and 38/HP in esophageal, gastric, duodenal and colorectal mucosa respectively. A total of 34 cases were treated with glucocorticoid, and all these patients had alleviation of symptoms, which occurred within 14.9 days on average, but EGE recurred in 11 cases (32%). Conclusions: The clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings of EGE are diverse and nonspecific. Histopathological examination of gastrointestinal mucosa is particularly important for the diagnosis. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective, but the patients with EGE are prone to relapse.

Implication of lymph node staging in migration and different treatment strategies for stage T2N0M0 and T1N1M0 resected gastric cancer: a SEER population analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences between stage T2N0M0 and stage T1N1M0 gastric cancer (GC) and to identify the necessity of adjuvant treatment (AT) for these stages.

METHODS

Between years 2004 and 2015, 1971 stage IB GC patients who underwent radical surgery were recruited using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. We conducted univariate/multivariate analyses, the propensity score matching and evaluated gastric cancer-specific survival (GCSS) and overall survival (OS) with the log-rank test.

RESULTS

T1N1M0 had a significantly worse survival than T2N0M0 in both GCSS and OS before and after the propensity score matching. Examined lymph nodes (ELN) ≤ 15 and T1N1M0 were independent risk factors for worse GCSS and OS in stage IB GC. The absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) was an independent risk factor for worse GCSS and OS in T1N1M0 but not in T2N0M0. AT demonstrated similar GCSS and OS with surgery alone (SA) for T2N0M0 but better survival for T1N1M0. Compared to CT and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) group, SA demonstrated significantly worse GCSS and OS for T1N1M0. There was no significant difference between CT and CRT in both T2N0M0 and T1N1M0 stages. T2N0M0 had a better survival than T1N1M0 in ELN ≤ 15 subgroup. However, similar survival was demonstrated in ELN > 15 subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

T2N0M0 GC has a better survival rate than T1N1M0 GC when ELN are ≤ 15. Moreover, T2N0M0 GC may not benefit from AT. T1N1M0 GC requires CT but not adjuvant radiotherapy.

Abstract P3-09-06: CXCL1 chemokine stimulates migration and invasion in ER-negative breast cancer through activation of the ERK/MMP-2/9 signaling axis

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), a member of the CXC chemokine family, has been reported to be a critical factor in inflammatory diseases and tumor progression. However, its functions and molecular mechanism in estrogen receptor α (ER) negative breast cancer (BC) has little been known. In this study, we discovered that CXCL1 is overexpression in ER-negative breast cancer tissues and cell lines compared with ER-positive patient tissues and cell lines. Treatment with recombinant human CXCL1 protein promotes ER-negative BC cell migration and invasion in dose-dependent manner and stimulates the activation of p-ERK1/2, but not p-STAT3 or p-AKT. Whereas, knockdown of CXCL1 in BC cells attenuates these effects. Moreover, CXCL1 induces the expression of MMP2/9 via ERK1/2 pathway. The blockage of ERK by its antagonists (U0126) can abolish the effect of CXCL1 on MMP2/9 expression. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis revealsa strong positive correlation between CXCL1 and p-ERK1/2 expressions in BC tissues. In conclusion, our study illustrates that CXCL1 is highly expressed in ER-negative BC and stimulates cell migration and invasion through ERK/MMP2/9 pathway, which may serve as a potential therapeutictarget in ER-negative breast cancer.

Citation Format: Liu S, Yang C, Guo S, Chen R. CXCL1 chemokine stimulates migration and invasion in ER-negative breast cancer through activation of the ERK/MMP-2/9 signaling axis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-09-06.

Higher lncRNA CASC15 expression predicts poor prognosis and associates with tumor growth in cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of long non-coding RNA Cancer Susceptibility Candidate 15 (CASC15) in cervical cancer and its potential molecular mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The CASC15 expression was measured in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines by using quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), flow cytometry analysis and transwell cell invasion assays were employed to detect the capacities of cell proliferation and cell invasion. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was applied to detected the E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression in EMT pathway.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that lncRNA CASC15 expression was higher in cervical cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Higher lncRNA CASC15 expression associated with lymph node metastasis and FIGO stage. Moreover, our results showed that higher lncRNA CASC15 expression predicted poor prognosis of cervical cancer. Functional assays showed that knockdown of lncRNA CASC15 suppressed cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in cervical cancer. Moreover, we also found that knockdown of lncRNA CASC15 inhibited cell invasion ability and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) signaling pathway by upregulating E-cadherin and downregulating N-cadherin expression in cervical cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that lncRNA CASC15 expression may be a prognostic biomarker and contributed to cell proliferation and invasion in cervical cancer.

Long-term follow-up of patients treated with entecavir and peginterferon add-on therapy for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection: ARES long-term follow-up

Addition of peginterferon alpha (PEG-IFN add-on) to entecavir (ETV) treatment after a short lead-in phase results in more response than ETV monotherapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). This study is the first to assess long-term efficacy of this treatment strategy. Patients who received ETV ± 24 weeks of PEG-IFN add-on in a global trial (ARES study) and completed follow-up were eligible to participate in this observational LTFU study if they had at least one combined HBeAg and HBV DNA measurement beyond week 96 of the ARES study. The primary endpoint was combined response (HBeAg loss and HBV DNA <200 IU/mL) at LTFU. In total, 48 patients treated with PEG-IFN add-on and 48 patients treated with ETV monotherapy were included. The median follow-up duration was 226 (IQR 51) weeks, and 86/96 (90%) patients were initial non-responders. At LTFU, combined response was present in 13 (27%) vs 11 (23%) patients (P = 0.81), and 1 log₁₀  HBsAg decline in 59% vs 28% (P = 0.02) for PEG-IFN add-on and ETV monotherapy, respectively. In 41 initial non-responders who continued ETV therapy, combined response at LTFU was present in 9 patients (PEG-IFN add-on: 5/22 [23%]; ETV monotherapy: 4/19 [21%]). Beyond week 96 of follow-up, rates of serological response became comparable between PEG-IFN add-on and ETV monotherapy. Although in this LTFU study initial non-responders were overrepresented in the add-on arm, PEG-IFN add-on possibly leads rather to accelerated HBeAg loss than to increased long-term HBeAg loss rates.