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Abstract. The aim of the present study was to determine whether serum miR-499 may be used as a biomarker for early detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study was designed as an initial screening phase and a subsequent validation phase. In the screening phase, we analyzed serum levels of miR-499 in a subset of 40 patients with stage I (n=20) and stage IV (n=20) NSCLC. In the validation phase, miR-499 expression levels in serum (n=514) and tissue (n=136) from NSCLC patients were detected in a large and independent cohort of 514 patients. miR-499 in the screening phase was found to be significantly elevated in the serum of stage I NSCLC patients compared with that in stage IV NSCLC patients (P<0.001). Validation analysis showed that serum miR-499 levels were robust in differentiating NSCLC patients from control subjects [area under the curve (AUC)=0.906; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.879 to 0.929). Serum miR-499 levels were significantly lower in stage III and IV patients compared with those with stage I (both P<0.001) or II (both P<0.001). Low serum miR-499 levels were associated with shorter overall survival and served as an independent prognostic biomarker in NSCLC patients [hazard ratio (HR)=1.63; 95% CI=1.33-2.0; P<0.0001). In addition, low serum levels of miR-499 indicated a poor disease-free survival in stage I-II NSCLC patients. Serum miR-499 may prove to be a promising biomarker for early detection and prognosis prediction of NSCLC.

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The disturbance of highway construction upon surrounding vulnerable ecosystems is a common threat in the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region of southwestern China. We evaluated the disturbance of highway on plant species richness and diversity and soil nutrients from adjacent to the highway to 300 m upslope and 100 m downslope in forests and grasslands by setting 12 belt transects in forests and grasslands (six belt transects and six control belt transects, respectively). The results showed that there were some significant variances in belt transects with respective control belt transects for species richness and diversity in both forests and grasslands. Species richness and diversity of trees were lower within a 50-m distance from the highway and more noticeable on the downslope portion. Species richness and diversity of shrubs and herbs appeared higher near highway edge. Both species richness and diversity of herbs were similar in forests. In addition, exotic species, such as Eupatorium adenophorum, were further from the road and more widely dispersed in grasslands. Soil nutrients except total potassium (TK) were lower in the downslope area adjacent to highway edge and showed a significant increase with increasing distance from the highway in both forests and grasslands. This indicates that grasslands acted as microhabitats for exotic species and are more easily to be invaded than forests, especially if disturbed. Once destroyed, plant species and soil nutrients will require a significant amount of time to be restored to control levels. This work illustrates that the effects extend considerably to distances upslope and downslope from the construction site. Given that these changes occurred relatively quickly, the study suggests that the environmental "footprint" grows far beyond the road and adjacent zone of disruption.