Microvascular alterations of the ocular surface and retina in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease

AIM:To examine the disparities in macular retinal vascular density between individuals with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease(CTD-ILD)and healthy controls(HCs)by optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and to investigate the changes in microvascular density in abnormal eyes.METHODS:For a retrospective case-control study,a total of 16 patients(32 eyes)diagnosed with CTD-ILD were selected as the ILD group.The 16 healthy volunteers with 32 eyes,matched in terms of age and sex with the patients,were recruited as control group.The macular retina’s superficial retinal layer(SRL)and deep retinal layer(DRL)were examined and scanned using OCTA in each individual eye.The densities of retinal microvascular(MIR),macrovascular(MAR),and total microvascular(TMI)were calculated and compared.Changes in retinal vascular density in the macular region were analyzed using three different segmentation methods:central annuli segmentation method(C1-C6),hemispheric segmentation method[uperior right(SR),superior left(SL),inferior left(IL),and inferior right(IR)],and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study(ETDRS)methods[superior(S),inferior(I),left(L),and right(R)].The data were analyzed using Version 9.0 of GraphPad prism and Pearson analysis.RESULTS:The OCTA data demonstrated a statistically significant difference(P<0.05)in macular retinal microvessel density between the two groups.Specifically,in the SRL and DRL analyses,the ILD group exhibited significantly lower surface density of MIR and TMI compared to the HCs group(P<0.05).Furthermore,using the hemispheric segmentation method,the ILD group showed notable reductions in SL,SR,and IL in the superficial retina(P<0.05),as well as marked decreases in SL and IR in the deep retina(P<0.05).Similarly,when employing the ETDRS method,the ILD group displayed substantial drops in superficial retinal S and I(P<0.05),along with notable reductions in deep retinal L,I,and R(P<0.05).In the central annuli segmentation method,the ILD group exhibited a significant decrease in the superficial retinal C2-4 region(P<0.05),whereas the deep retina showed a notable reduction in the C3-5 region(P<0.05).Additionally,there was an observed higher positive likelihood ratio in the superficial SR region and deep MIR.Furthermore,there was a negative correlation between conjunctival vascular density and both deep and superficial retinal TMI(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Patients with CTD-ILD exhibits a significantly higher conjunctival vascular density compared to the HCs group.Conversely,their fundus retinal microvascular density is significantly lower.Furthermore,CTD-ILD patients display notably lower superficial and deep retinal vascular density in comparison to the HCs group.The inverse correlation between conjunctival vascular density and both superficial and deep retinal TMI suggests that detecting subtle changes in ocular microcirculation could potentially serve as an early diagnostic indicator for connective tissue diseases,thereby enhancing disease management.

Expression of Peroxiredoxins and Pulmonary Surfactant Protein A Induced by Silica in Rat Lung Tissue

Silicosis is one of the most serious occupational diseases in China and dates back to centuries ago. In this study, we successfully established a rat model of silicosis by intratracheal silica injection for 28 days and determined hydroxyproline levels to evaluate collagen metabolism in lung homogenates. Oxidative stress status was evaluated by detecting catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities.

Comparative Proteome Analysis of Human Lung Squamous Carcinoma Tissue

Objective： To establish the two-dimensional electrophoresis profiles with high resolution and reproducibility from human lung squamous carcinoma tissue and paired normal tumor-adjacent bronchial epithelial tissue, and to identify differential expression tumor-associated proteins by using proteome analysis. Methods： Comparative proteome analysis with 20 human lung squamous carcinoma tissues and the paired normal bronchial epithelial tissues adjacent to tumors was carried out. The total proteins of human lung squamous carcinoma tissue and paired normal tumor-adjacent bronchial epithelial tissue were separated by means of immobilized pH gradient-based two-dimensional gel electrophoresis （2-DE） and silver staining. The differential expression proteins were analyzed and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS）. Results： （1） Well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE patterns of human lung squamous carcinoma and adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissues were obtained. For tumor tissue, average spots of 3 gels were 1567±46, and 1436±54 spots were matched with an average matching rate of 91.6%. For control, average spots of 3 gels were 1349±58, and 1228±35 spots were matched with an average matching rate of 91.03%. The average position deviation of matched spots was 0.924±0.128 mm in IEF direction, and 1.022±0.205 mm in SDS-PAGE direction; （2） A total of 1178±56 spots were matched between the eleetrophoretie maps of 20 human lung squamous carcinoma tissues and paired normal tumor-adjacent bronchial epithelial tissues. Seventy-six differentially expressed proteins were screened; （3） Sixty-eight differential proteins were identified by PMF, some proteins were the products of oneogenes, and others involved in the regulation of cell cycle and signal transduetion; （4） In order to validate the reliability of the identified results, the expression of 3 proteins mdm2, c-jun and EGFR, which was correlated with lung squamous carcinoma, was detected by immunohistoehemieal staining and Western blot analysis. The results revealed that mdm2, c-jun and EGFR were up-regulated in lung squamous carcinomas, whereas they were down-regulated in adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissues, normal lung tissues and inflammatory pseudotumor, which was consistent with our proteome analysis results. Conclusion： The well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE patterns of human lung squamous carcinoma and adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissues were established and 68 differential proteins were characterized by applying comparative proteome analysis successfully. These results will provide scientific foundation for screening the molecular biomarker used to diagnose and treat lung squamous carcinoma, as well as to improve the patient＇s prognosis and provide new clue for the research of lung squamous carcinogenic mechanism.

Cryptococcal antigen testing of lung tissue homogenate improves pulmonary cryptococcosis diagnosis:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Pulmonary cryptococcosis(PC)is an opportunistic infectious disease of the respiratory system.Lung tissue biopsies,culture of respiratory samples(e.g.,sputum,lung tissue,pleural fluid,and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid),and cryptococcal antigen(CrAg)testing are helpful for a definitive diagnosis.However,these tests are sometimes falsely negative.PC is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed owing to the absence of obvert symptoms,poor imaging specificity,and false-negative laboratory tests.CASE SUMMARY We report two female patients who underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle pulmonary biopsy of a lung nodule for a confirmed diagnosis.In both patients,the CrAg test on the lung biopsy tissue homogenate was positive,while the serum CrAg test was negative.Combined with the lung tissue pathology,we made the diagnosis of PC.Antifungal therapy was effective in both patients.CONCLUSION Given the findings of our cases and the literature review,lung tissue homogenate CrAg testing can be helpful in improving the diagnosis of PC.

The influence of aprotinin on the mRNA expression of P-selectin and ICAM-1 in the in situ lung tissue after ischemic cold storage and reperfusion

To explore the influence of aprotinin on the mRNA expression of P-selectin and ICAM-1 in lung tissue after ischemic reperfusion.Methods Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group,LPD group and aprotinin group.In situ rabbit lung preservation model was established.In control group,the left lower lung lobe was stored at 10℃ in a specially made lung preservation container for 2 hours and reperfused for another 2 hours.In LPD group and aprotinin group,the left lower lobe was perfused with LPD solution or aprotinin containing LPD solution,respectively,after left lung hilus was clamped.The other procedures were the same as those in control group.The lung tissue was harvested at different time intervals including preclamping lung hilus,2 hours after clamping and 2 hours after reperfusion.The mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and P-selectin in the lung tissue was detected with RT-PCR technique.Results The contents of mRNA of P-selectin at 2 hours after reperfusion in control group and LPD group were significant higher than pre-ischemia and 2 hours after champing the left lung hilus.There was no such significant difference in aprotinin group.The mRNA expression of P-selectin in aprotinin group at 2 hours after reperfusion was significantly lower than that in control group and LPD group.The ICAM-1 mRNA expression at 2 hours after Ischemia and 2 hours after reperfusion in control group and LPD group was significantly higher than the pre-ischemia and its was significantly higher than that in aprotinin group.Conclusion Aprotinin can inhibit the upregulation of the mRNA expression of P selectin and ICAM-1 after ischemia reperfusion in the lung tissue,so the addition of aprotinin in LPD solution may reduce the ischemia reperfusion injury in lung tissue.5 refs,1 tab.

Proteomic Comparison of Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis Profiles from Human Lung Squamous Carcinoma and Normal Bronchial Epithelial Tissues

Differential proteome profiles of human lung squamous carcinoma tissue compared to paired tumor-adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissue were established and analyzed by means of immobilized pH gradient-based two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorp-tion/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The results showed that well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE patterns of human lung squamous carcinoma and adjacent normal bronchial epithelial tissues were obtained under the condition of 0.75-mg protein-load. The average deviation of spot position was 0.733±0.101 mm in IEF direction, and 0.925±0.207 mm in SDS-PAGE direction. For tumor tissue, a total of 1241±88 spots were detected, 987±65 spots were matched with an average matching rate of 79.5%. For control, a total of 1190±72 spots were detected, and 875±48 spots were matched with an average matching rate of 73.5%. A total of 864±34 spots were matched between tumors and controls. Forty-three differential proteins were characterized: some proteins were related to oncogenes, and others involved in the regulation of cell cycle and signal transduc-tion. It is suggested that the differential proteomic approach is valuable for mass identification of differentially expressed proteins involved in lung carcinogenesis. These data will be used to establish human lung cancer proteome database to further study human lung squamous carcinoma.

Relationship between expression of HDAC2,IL-8,TNF-α in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and smoking

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of histone acetylation enzyme 2(HDAC2),interleukin-8(IL-8),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and smoking.Methods A total of 73 cases of lung adenocarcinoma confirmed by pathological examination after surgical

Expression of aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-3 in lung tissue of rat model with ischemia-reperfusion injury

End-stage lung diseases are common and frequentlyoccurring diseases which are difficult for clinical treatment. In recent years, lung transplantation has become a widely accepted and effective therapeutic option for patients with the end-stage pulmonary diseases. Early pulmonary edema resulting from ischemia-reperfusion injury accounts for the major part of mortality and morbidity after lung transplantation. The water channel proteins in lung injury have been little studied, and their impact on the formation of pulmonary edema remains unclear. In this study, we established a rat lung ischemia-reperfusion model to study its impact on the expressions of water channel proteins in lung tissue and explore a new approach to lung transplantation in pulmonary edema pathogenesis.

Effect of oxidative stress-associated damage to the lung tissue caused by different body mass index in the rat models

Objective To investigate the influence of different diets on serum protein expression levels of 4-hydroxynonenal(4-HNE),thioredoxin(Trx),thioredoxin reductase(TrxR)and the sctivities of Trx and TrxR,and to explore the effect of damage to the lung tissue and the underlying mechanisms of different body mass index caused by different diets in the rat models.Methods