BackgroundSelf-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) have enabled a approving management of malignant airway stenosis. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment in patients with benign airway stricture are unclear. We conducted this study to retrospectively determine the efficacy and long-term outcomes in patients who have undergone SEMS placement for benign tracheobronchial stenosis.MethodsAll patients treated with SEMSs from July 2003 to June 2016 were reviewed for symptomatic response, complications, and long-term outcomes.ResultsTotal 131 stents were successfully deployed in 116 patients. Ninety-eight patients demonstrated clinical improvement after stent insertion (84.48%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.89–91.07). Compared with uncovered stents, covered stents were associated with more sore throats complaints or chest pain (13.89% versus 28.81%, P = 0.036) and with higher incidences of major and minor granulation tissue formation and with recurrent stenosis (4.17% versus 15.25%, P = 0.029; 11.11% versus 37.29%, P < 0.0001 and 9.72% versus 28.81%, P = 0.005, respectively). Each covered and uncovered stent developing tissue hyperplasia required a median of 2 (range: 1–15) and 1(range: 1–7) fibrobronchoscope with electrocautery therapy, respectively. At follow-up (median: 1276 days; range: 2–4263), 68 patients had complete resolution, 15 remained under interventional treatment, 8 had bronchial occlusions, 7 underwent surgery, 14 were lost to follow-up, and 4 died of stent unrelated causes.ConclusionSEMS placement achieved most clinical improvement among patients in our study, if adequate endotracheal measures were used to address stent-related complications. The use of permanent SEMSs for benign tracheobronchial stenosis was effective and safe for the majority of patients in a long-term follow-up.Trial registrationThe study has been retrospectively registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry on October 21, 2018 (Registry ID: ChiCTR1800019024).

Quercetin is a herbal flavonoid derived from various foods of plant origin and widely used as a major constituent of nutritional supplements. Quercetin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and can play a role in anti-inflammatory procedure. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is one of the important pro-inflammatory factors, especially in early phage of inflammation. However, the mechanisms regulating ICAM-1 expression by quercetin in human A549 cells were still unclear. In this study, the inhibitory effect of quercetin on ICAM-1 expression by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta)-stimulated A549 cells was investigated, and the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways were explored. Quercetin attenuated IL-1 beta-induced expression of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. The experiment suggested that quercetin actively inhibited inhibitory protein of nuclear factor-kappa B (I kappa B) degradation, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity. The c-fos and c-jun, components of activator protein-1 (AP-1), were mediated by MAPK pathways. ERK and p38 were involved in the c-fos mRNA expression, and JNK was involved in the c-jun mRNA expression. The inhibitory effect of quercetin on ICAM-1 expression was mediated by the sequential attenuation of the c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions. These inhibitory effects were partially inhibited by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, but not by PD98059, a specific inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and SP600125, a specific inhibitor of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). Taken together, these results suggest that quercetin negatively modulating ICAM-1 partly dependent on MAPK pathways.

Purpose: LINC00680 was reported to be involved in various cancers through multiple mechanisms. Therefore, we intended to investigate its role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: Firstly, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to test LINC00680 in NSCLC tissue and cell lines. Subsequently, A549 and H1299 cells were transfected with LINC00680 overexpressing plasmids and their proliferation and colony formation and apoptosis was tested by Transwell assay and flow cytometry. In addition, xenograft tumor experiments in nude mice also affirmed. Meanwhile, we predicted that miR-410-3p, LINC00680 and high-mobility group protein box 1(HMGB1) relationship by Starbase, dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assay. Finally, the carcinogenic effects of LINC00680 were reversed by ethyl pyruvate (EP), a specific inhibitor of HMGB1. Results: LINC00680 was upregulated in NSCLC and was closely related to the malignancy and poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. LINC00680 promoted proliferation and colony formation and inhibited apoptosis of A549 and H1299 cells. In addition, overexpressing LINC00680 accelerated the growth of NSCLC cells in xenograft tumor experiments in nude mice also affirmed. Meanwhile, high-mobility group protein box 1(HMGB1) was astoundingly amplified in NSCLC and was negatively regulated by miR-410-3p. Further, HMGB1 acted as a downstream target of miR-410-3p, upregulating miR-410-3p to attenuate HMGB1, while LINC00680 strengthened the expression of HMGB1 in A549 and H1299 cells. Discussion: Thus, these results indicated that LINC00680 was cancerogenic in NSCLC by upregulating HMGB1 via sponging miR-410-3p.

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Background: Mechanicalventilation can affect the lung, causing edema and alveolar inflammation. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays an important role in this inflammatory response. Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate whether cyclic cell stretch upregulates the production of ICAM-1 by human alveolar epithelium and to explore possible mechanisms of upregulation. Methods: Human type 2-like alveolar epithelial cells (A549 cells) were exposed to cyclic tensile strain via a four-point bending system, with strains of varying frequency (0.2, 0.5, and 1 Hz), duration (0, 1, 3, and 6 h), and magnitude (500, 1,000, and 2,000 microstrain). Strain was applied at varying frequency (0.2, 0.5, 1 Hz) but at constant time (3 h) and magnitude (1,000 microstrain), at varying duration (0, 1, 3, and 6 h) but at constant frequency (0.5 Hz) and magnitude (1,000 microstrain), or at varying magnitude (500, 1,000, and 2,000 microstrain) but at constant time (3 h) and frequency (0.5 Hz). Results: Mechanical loading induced ICAM-1 protein and mRNA production in a frequency- and duration-dependent manner. At the 3-hour time point, large loadings (1,000 or 2,000 microstrain) upregulated ICAM-1 protein production, but there was no statistically significant difference between these two groups (p > 0.05). PD98059, a specific inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, partially abrogated the stretch-induced ICAM-1 protein upregulation at the 3-hour loading. Conclusion: Mechanical strain can upregulate ICAM-1 production. The response is frequency and duration dependent, which may involve both ERK pathways and reactive oxidant species production.