Original article Activated changes of platelet ultra microstructure and plasma granule membrane protein 140 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background Non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Platelet activation may play an important role in pathologic progress in lung cancer. In this study, we aimed to clarify the influence of activated platelets on lung cancer generation and growth, and the relationship among these functional and ultrastructural chanqes of platelets and the severity of pathoeenetic condition in these Datients with NSCLC.Methods One hundred and thirty-six cases of patients with pathologically confirmed NSCLC were included in this study. Fifty-four healthy people were enrolled as controls. The change of ultra microstructure and activity of blood platelets were observed under the transmission and scanning electron microscope. Simultaneous determination of plasma granule membrane protein 140 （GMP-140） was made.Results Transmission electron microscopy showed remarkable changes of ultra microstructure of platelets in patients with NSCLC, including swelling, increase of α-granules, vesicles, and glycogenosome. Scanning electron microscopy showed many more surface processes and wrinkles on platelets in patients with NSCLC. The reference plasma levels of GMP-140 of healthy controls were （18.2±2.7） μg/L. The plasma levels of GMP-140 in patients with NSCLC were （47.8±12.3） μg/L, which were much higher than those of the controls. There was a medium positive correlation between plasma levels of GMP-140 and amount of α-granules （r=0.514, P 〈0.01） and a high positive correlation between plasma levels of GMP-140 and area of platelet （r=0.84, P 〈0.01） in patients with NSCLC. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed significant shift to the left in patients with NSCLC whose a-granules per platelet were 19 or more compared to those 18 or less （Log rank statistic, X^2= 17.38, P〈0.01）.Conclusions There are significant activated changes of ultra microstructure and increased activity of blood platelets in patients with NSCLC. These activated platelets may play an important role in the generation and growth of lung cancer. These changes can be used as a diagnostic index of severity, progression, and prognosis of NSCLC.

Precipitation Behavior of Nb in Steel under Ultra Fast Cooling Conditions

By measuring the expansion curves of a Nb bearing steel at different cooling rates by using Gleeble-3800 thermomechanical simulator, combining with metallographic analysis, different phase zones were determined. Also, precipitation behavior of Nb at different phase zones was investigated under ultra fast cooling conditions. The experimental results showed that adopting a proper deformation temperature, the ultra fast cooling process can restrain the precipitation of Nb at austenite phase zone. More quantities and smaller size precipitates of Nb can be found at the ferrite or bainite phase zone by controlling the ultra fast cooling ending temperature. With the increase of holding time at austenite, ferrite and bainite phase zones respectively, the volume fraction of precipitation, density, and average size of precipitates will increase obviously. With the decrease of early ultra fast cooling ending temperature, the density of Nb precipitates first increase（at ferrite phase zone） and then decrease（at bainite phase zone）, the volume fraction of Nb precipitation decreases and precipitates can be refined. The optimal early ultra fast cooling ending temperature is located at ferrite phase zone. The combination of high rolling temperature with early ultra fast cooling technology opens the way for new cooling schedules and makes the production of high strength steels easier and cheaper by making full use of Nb precipitation strengthening effect.