Identification of a disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature for the prognostic and immune landscape prediction in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Disulfidptosis, a newly identified form of cell death, is triggered by disulfide stress. Herein, a unique signature was developed based on disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRlncRNAs) for the prognostic and immune landscape prediction of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS

Transcriptome, somatic mutation, and clinical data were acquired at The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Individuals were partitioned into training and test cohorts at a 1:1 ratio to facilitate the development of a DRlncRNA signature using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation method. Based on the median risk score, all HNSCC individuals were stratified into the high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG). Kaplan-Meier survival and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to estimate the prognostic value, and a nomogram was generated for survival prediction. To provide a more comprehensive assessment, the tumor microenvironment, functional enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and immunotherapeutic sensitivity were explored between LRG and HRG.

RESULTS

A DRlncRNA signature was established with 10 DRlncRNAs. The corresponding values of areas under the ROC curves for 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 0.710, 0.692, and 0.640. A more favorable prognosis was noted in the patients with lower risk, along with higher immune scores, increased immune-related functions, and immune cell infiltration, as well as improved response to the immunotherapeutic intervention in comparison with individuals at higher risk.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that the developed DRlncRNA signature holds promise as a reliable prognostic marker and predictor of immunotherapy response in HNSCC patients.

Metal-polyphenol networks-modified tantalum plate for craniomaxillofacial reconstruction

Using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to make the porous tantalum plate and modify its surface. The physicochemical properties, cytocompatibility, antioxidant capacity, and histocompatibility of the modified materials were evaluated to prepare for the repair of craniomaxillofacial bone defects. The porous tantalum plates were 3D printed by selective laser melting technology. Tantalum plates were surface modified with a metal polyphenol network. The surface-modified plates were analyzed for cytocompatibility using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide and live/dead cell staining. The antioxidant capacity of the surface-modified plates was assessed by measuring the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde. The histocompatibility of the plates was evaluated by animal experiments. The results obtained that the tantalum plates with uniform small pores exhibited a high mechanical strength. The surface-modified plates had much better hydrophilicity. In vitro cell experiments showed that the surface-modified plates had higher cytocompatibility and antioxidant capacity than blank tantalum plates. Through subcutaneous implantation in rabbits, the surface-modified plates demonstrated good histocompatibility. Hence, surface-modified tantalum plates had the potential to be used as an implant material for the treatment of craniomaxillofacial bone defects.

5-Methylcytosine-related lncRNAs: predicting prognosis and identifying hot and cold tumor subtypes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

5-Methylcytosine (m⁵C) methylation is recognized as an mRNA modification that participates in biological progression by regulating related lncRNAs. In this research, we explored the relationship between m⁵C-related lncRNAs (mrlncRNAs) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to establish a predictive model.

METHODS

RNA sequencing and related information were obtained from the TCGA database, and patients were divided into two sets to establish and verify the risk model while identifying prognostic mrlncRNAs. Areas under the ROC curves were assessed to evaluate the predictive effectiveness, and a predictive nomogram was constructed for further prediction. Subsequently, the tumor mutation burden (TMB), stemness, functional enrichment analysis, tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic responses were also assessed based on this novel risk model. Moreover, patients were regrouped into subtypes according to the expression of model mrlncRNAs.

RESULTS

Assessed by the predictive risk model, patients were distinguished into the low-MLRS and high-MLRS groups, showing satisfactory predictive effects with AUCs of 0.673, 0.712, and 0.681 for the ROCs, respectively. Patients in the low-MLRS groups exhibited better survival status, lower mutated frequency, and lower stemness but were more sensitive to immunotherapeutic response, whereas the high-MLRS group appeared to have higher sensitivity to chemotherapy. Subsequently, patients were regrouped into two clusters: cluster 1 displayed immunosuppressive status, but cluster 2 behaved as a hot tumor with a better immunotherapeutic response.

CONCLUSIONS

Referring to the above results, we established a m⁵C-related lncRNA model to evaluate the prognosis, TME, TMB, and clinical treatments for HNSCC patients. This novel assessment system is able to precisely predict the patients' prognosis and identify hot and cold tumor subtypes clearly for HNSCC patients, providing ideas for clinical treatment.

Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and the risk of incident laryngeal cancer: a longitudinal UK Biobank-based study

We assessed the association between long-term joint exposure to ambient air pollutants and the risk of laryngeal cancer and whether this risk was modified by genetic susceptibility. We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze data from UK Biobank to determine the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollutants-nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and 2.5-µm and 10-µm particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) and the risk of laryngeal cancer. In multivariable-adjusted models, in model 3 and compared with the participants with lower quintile scores for air pollution, the participants with the highest quintile scores for air pollution had a higher laryngeal cancer risk. The observed association was more pronounced among the participants who were female, were smokers, had a systolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 120 mmHg, and had diabetes. Compared with the participants with a low GRS and the lowest quintile score for air pollution exposure, those with an intermediate GRS and the highest quintile score for air pollution exposure had a higher risk of laryngeal cancer. Long-term exposure to NO₂, NO, or PM_2.5, individually or jointly, was associated with a risk of incident laryngeal cancer, especially in the participants with an intermediate GRS.

The possible mechanism of Hippophae fructus oil applied in tympanic membrane repair identified based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of Hippophae fructus oil (HFO) in the treatment of tympanic membrane (TM) perforation through network pharmacology-based identification.

METHODS

The compounds and related targets of HFO were extracted from the TCMSP database, and disease information was obtained from the OMIM, GeneCards, PharmGkb, TTD, and DrugBank databases. A Venn diagram was generated to show the common targets of HFO and TM, and GO and KEGG analyses were performed to explore the potential biological processes and signaling pathways. The PPI network and core gene subnetwork were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. A molecular docking analysis was also conducted to simulate the combination of compounds and gene proteins.

RESULTS

A total of 33 compounds and their related targets were obtained from the TCMSP database. After screening the 393 TM-related targets, 21 compounds and 22 gene proteins were selected to establish the network diagram. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that HFO may promote TM healing by influencing cellular oxidative stress and related signaling pathways. A critical subnetwork was obtained by analyzing the PPI network with nine core genes: CASP3, MMP2, IL1B, TP53, EGFR, CXCL8, ESR1, PTGS2, and IL6. In addition, a molecular docking analysis revealed that quercetin strongly binds the core proteins.

CONCLUSION

According to the analysis, HFO can be utilized to repair perforations by influencing cellular oxidative stress. Quercetin is one of the active compounds that potentially plays an important role in TM regeneration by influencing 17 gene proteins.

Comparative efficacy of platelet-rich plasma applied in myringoplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Tympanic membrane (TM) perforation is quite common in the clinical setting. Chronic TM perforations require surgical treatments such as myringoplasty. Currently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a novel, effective substance that is increasingly utilized for TM perforation repair. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP in the application of TM perforation repair.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted to screen the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science databases up to July 2020. Studies were identified in accordance with the selection criteria by two coauthors independently. Data regarding the healing and hearing outcomes were pooled and analyzed via Review Manager version 5.3 and STATA version 12.0 software. Odds ratio (OR) was utilized to compare the closure rate. Furthermore, the results of hearing improvements and incidence of complications were also compared to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP.

RESULTS

A total of eight studies with 455 participants were eligible according to the selection criteria. Compared to conventional surgery, the OR of closure was 2.70 (95% CI: 1.27 to 5.76, P = 0.01, I2 = 0%) in randomized controlled trial (RCT) subgroup and 6.18 (95% CI: 2.22 to 17.25, P = 0.0005, I2 = 0) in non-RCT subgroup. The overall OR of closure was 3.69 (95% CI: 2.02 to 6.74, P<0.0001, I2 = 0%), suggesting a significant effect on the healing of TM perforation. Between preoperative and postoperative hearing results, there is no statistical difference between the PRP and the control groups. Additionally, the use of PRP resulted in a lower incidence of complication than the use of conventional approaches.

CONCLUSION

The application of PRP during the TM surgeries can enhance the closure rate, provide similar hearing improvements and decrease the incidence of postoperative complications. Given these advantages, PRP can be considered an effective treatment for TM regeneration.