ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins in the lung tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsPulmonary tissues were obtained from the surgically resected lung tissues of patients with NSCLC who were clinical diagnosed. The lung cancer tissues were derived from the pathologically diagnosed NSCLC and the normal tissues were from lung tissues 5 cm away from the lung lesions (29 cases in the lung cancer group and 32 cases in the normal group). The expression of autophagy-related proteins ATG5, LC3B, and p62 in lung tissues were measured by Western blot, and mRNA expression of ATG5 and p62 in the lung tissues were measured by real-time PCR.ResultsWestern blot analysis showed that the expression of ATG5 and p62 in lung cancer group were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.05). However, the expression of LC3B in lung cancer group was significantly lower than that in normal group (P<0.05). Real-time PCR analysis found that the mRNA expression of ATG5 and p62 in lung cancer group were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.05). The expression of ATG5, LC3B and p62 had no relationship with gender, age, smoking history, tumor location, tumor size, clinicopathological classification, differentiation or TNM stage. The expression of ATG5 had statistical significance in lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but there was no difference for LC3B or p62 in lymph node metastasis (P>0.05).ConclusionsAutophagy plays a role in the tumorigenesis of lung cancer. If it’s possible to regulate and control autophagy-related genes and proteins effectively, it may supply new insights or targets into treatment for lung cancer patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) for pulmonary fungal disease.MethodsAll patients were collected from January 2015 to December 2018. They were diagnosed with pulmonary fungal disease by tissue biopsy, body fluid or blood test, and without other diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer, lung abscess, tuberculosis, or organizing pneumonia, etc. After clinical anti-fungal treatment, clinical symptoms were relieved, chest CT lesions were absorbed, laboratory-related checks were turned negative in these patients. All patients underwent bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid/brush examination, and blood galactomannan antigen test/latex agglutination test. They were divided into an EBUS-GS group and a non-EBUS-GS group according to whether EBUS-GS check was performed. Non-parametric test was used to analyze the diagnostic value of EBUS-GS in pulmonary fungal diseases.ResultsFifty-one patients were included and 20 patients in the EBUS-GS group and 31 patients in the non-EBUS-GS group. The EBUS-GS group had a higher positive rate of pulmonary fungal disease. The diagnostic rates of the EBUS-GS group and the non-EBUS-GS group were statistically different (90.0% vs. 48.4%, P<0.05).ConclusionEBUS-GS can improve the diagnosis rate of pulmonary fungal disease and provides further evidence for a clear diagnosis.