Search

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common type of cancer, and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality, worldwide. Up-to-date statistics on pancreatic cancer would provide us with a better understanding of epidemiology and identify the causative risk factors for the prevention of this disease. Methods: The degree and change patterns of exposure as well as the attributable cancer burden, including incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and prevalence in global and regional, by sex, age, year, for pancreatic cancer, with the data extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2021. All data analyses were conducted using linear regression analysis and the Joinpoint software (version 5.0.1). Results: In 2021, 508,533 new cases of pancreatic cancer have been reported; the mortality and prevalence rate increased to 5.95, and 5.12 respectively; and the global DALYs rate increased to 130.33 this year. Besides, the pancreatic cancer-associated rates of incidence, mortality, DALYs, and prevalence were higher in males than in females. In addition, these indicators in the high SDI (Sociodemographic index) region were higher than the global mean. To date, the high fasting plasma glucose remained the major risk factor that influenced the incidence, mortality, DALYs, and prevalence of pancreatic cancer, followed by tobacco and high body mass index (BMI). Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that the burden of pancreatic cancer is increasing generally, therefore, more attention and measures should be taken to cope with this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a G protein-coupled receptor-activating peptide, is increased in airway epithelium, plasma, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic patients. We hypothesized that ET-1 may contribute to the increased airway smooth muscle mass found in severe asthma by inducing hypertrophy and inhibiting apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. To investigate this hypothesis, we determined that treatment of primary human bronchial smooth muscle cells with ET-1 dose dependently [[10.sup.11]-[10.sup.-7] M] inhibited the apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal. ET-I treatment also resulted in a significant increase in total protein synthesis, mediated through both [ET.sub.A] and [ET.sub.B] receptors, cell size, as well as increased expression of myosin heavy chain, [alpha]-smooth muscle actin, and calponin. ET-1-induced hypertrophy was accompanied by activation of JAKI/STAT-3 and MAPK1/2 (ERKI/2) cell signaling pathways. Inhibition of JAK1/STAT-3 pathways by piceatannol or ERK1/2 by the MAPK/ERK kinase 1/2 inhibitor U0126 blunted the increase in total protein synthesis. The hypertrophic effect of ET-1 was equivalent to that of the gpl30 cytokine oncostatin M and greater than that induced by cardiotrophin-1. ET-1 induced release of IL-6 but not IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, or cardiotrophin-1, although treatment of cells with IL-6 alone did not induce hypertrophy. These results suggest that ET-1 is a candidate mediator for the induction of increased smooth muscle mass in asthma and identify signaling pathways activated by this mediator. interleukin-6; oncostatin M; signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; asthma

Induction of hypertrophy and inhibition of apoptosis may be important mechanisms contributing to increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass in asthma. Data from our laboratory indicate that cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) induces hypertrophy and inhibits apoptosis in isolated human ASM cells. To determine whether these novel effects of CT-1 also occur in the airway tissue milieu and to determine whether structural changes are accompanied by functional changes, matched pairs of guinea pig airway explants were treated with or without CT-1 for 7 days, and structural features as well as isometric and isotonic contractile and relaxant mechanical properties were measured. CT-1 (0.2-5 ng/ml) increased both myocyte mass and extracellular matrix in a concentration-dependent fashion. CT-1 (10 ng/ml)-treated tissues exhibited a significant increase in passive tension at all lengths on day 7; at optimal length, passive tension generated by CT-1-treated tissues was 1.72 [+ or -] 0.12 vs. 1.0 [+ or -] 0.1 g for control. Maximal isometric stress was decreased in the CT-1-treated group on day 7 (0.39 [+ or -] 0.10 kg/[cm.sup.2]) vs. control (0.77 [+ or -] 0.15 kg/[cm.sup.2], P < 0.05). Isoproterenol-induced relaxant potency was reduced in CT-1-treated tissues, log E[C.sub.50] being -7.28 [+ or -] 0.34 vs. -8.12 [+ or -] 0.25 M in control, P < 0.05. These data indicate that CT-1 alters ASM structural and mechanical properties in the tissue environment and suggest that structural changes found in the airway wall in asthma are not necessarily associated with increased responsiveness. tracheal explants; mechanics; cytokines: asthma; matrix; smooth muscle hypertrophy

Natural blue sapphire is a gem species of corundum, which has high economic value due to its beauty and rarity. Color is the most important factor affecting the price of sapphire and mainly caused by trace elements. However, there is little quantitative data currently available to demonstrate the correlation between trace elements and colorimetric parameters of natural blue sapphire. In this study, the UV‐Vis‐NIR spectra and colorimetric parameters were collected by UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrophotometer while the chemical composition was analyzed by laser‐ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results show that the content ratio of (FeOT + TiO2)/MgO has negative correlation with b* but positive correlation with Cab*, illustrating its obvious effect on the blue color saturation of natural blue sapphire. In addition, the existence of Cr can produce purple hue and the content of Cr shows positive correlation with hue‐angle hab only in the low range (5‐15 ppm), which implies the content of Cr has a limited influence on the hue of natural blue sapphire and the effect may be more complicated as the content of Cr increases above 15 ppm. This investigation can provide quantitative data for scientific color grading and additional applications of natural blue sapphire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of neurokinin (NK)-receptor NK1 remains unchanged in asthmatics and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while it increases twofold in smokers. The expression of NK2-receptor increases in asthmatics, smokers and in patients with COPD. The observations could prove effective in the treatment of airway inflammations of smokers and asthmatic patients. The tachykinin neuropeptides substance P and NK play an important role in the inflammatory reactions in the airways of smokers and asthmatics.