Bibliometric analysis of photodynamic therapy and immune response from 1989-2023.

Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment approach for precancerous and cancerous lesions, known for its ability to activate the host immune response. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to identify the research trends and hotspots related to the immune response in PDT. Methods: We analyzed articles and reviews published from 1989 to 2023, retrieved from the Web of Science database. Using Citespace and VOSviewer, we visualized the distribution patterns of these studies in time and space. Results: The analysis revealed a substantial increase in the number of publications on PDT-related immune response since 1989. A total of 1,688 articles from 1,701 institutions were included in this analysis. Among thei nstitutions, the Chinese Academy of Sciences demonstrated exceptional productivity and a willingness to collaborate with others. Additionally, 8,567 authors contributed to the field, with Mladen Korbelik, Michael R. Hamblin, and Wei R. Chen being the most prolific contributors. The current research focus revolves around novel strategies to enhance antitumor immunity in PDT, including PDT-based dendritic cell vaccines, combination therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and the use of nanoparticles for photosensitizer delivery. Furthermore, genes such as CD8A, TNF, CD4, IFNG, CD274, IL6, IL10, CALR, HMGB1, and CTLA4 have been evaluated in the context of PDT-related immunity. Conclusion: PDT not only achieves tumor ablation but also stimulates the immune response, bolstering antitumor immunity. This study highlights the emerging hotspots in PDT-related immune response research and provides valuable insights for future investigations aimed at further enhancing antitumor immunity.

Early diagnosis for the onset of peri-implantitis based on artificial neural network.

The aim of this study is to construct an artificial neural network (ANN) based on bioinformatic analysis to enable early diagnosis of peri-implantitis (PI). PI-related datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional enrichment analyses were performed between PI and the control group. Furthermore, the infiltration of 22 immune cells in PI was analyzed using CIBERSORT. Hub genes were identified with random forest (RF) classification. The ANN model was then constructed for early diagnosis of PI. A total of 1,380 DEGs were identified. Enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of neutrophil-mediated immunity and the NF-kappa B signaling pathway in PI. Additionally, higher proportion of naive B cells, activated memory CD4 T cells, activated NK cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, and neutrophils were observed in the soft tissues surrounding PI. From the RF analysis, 13 hub genes (ST6GALNAC4, MTMR11, SKAP2, AKR1B1, PTGS2, CHP2, CPEB2, SYT17, GRIP1, IL10, RAB8B, ABHD5, and IGSF6) were selected. Subsequently, the ANN model for early diagnosis of PI was constructed with high performance. We identified 13 hub genes and developed an ANN model that accurately enables early diagnosis of PI.

Bidirectional association between polycystic ovary syndrome and periodontal diseases.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and periodontal disease (PDD) share common risk factors. The bidirectional interaction between PCOS and PDD has been reported, but until now, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Endocrine disorders including hyperandrogenism (HA) and insulin resistance (IR) in PCOS disturb the oral microbial composition and increase the abundance of periodontal pathogens. Additionally, PCOS has a detrimental effect on the periodontal supportive tissues, including gingiva, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Systemic low-grade inflammation status, especially obesity, persistent immune imbalance, and oxidative stress induced by PCOS exacerbate the progression of PDD. Simultaneously, PDD might increase the risk of PCOS through disturbing the gut microbiota composition and inducing low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, genetic or epigenetic predisposition and lower socioeconomic status are the common risk factors for both diseases. In this review, we will present the latest evidence of the bidirectional association between PCOS and PDD from epidemiological, mechanistic, and interventional studies. A deep understanding on their bidirectional association will be beneficial to provide novel strategies for the treatment of PCOS and PDD.

Identification of a Prognostic Pyroptostic-Related Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on LASSO-Cox Regression Analysis.

Pyroptosis is associated with the biological behavior of the tumor and with tumor immunity. We investigated the effect of pyroptosis on the tumor microenvironment and tumor immunity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). RNA sequencing data and clinical information of HNSCC were downloaded from TCGA. Differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes in HNSCC were identified between HNSCC and normal tissue. Pyroptosis-related classification of HNSCC was conducted based on consensus clustering analysis. LASSO-Cox regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic risk model-based pyroptosis-related gene. Evaluation of the immune microenvironment was conducted in prognostic risk signature based on pyroptosis-related genes. Total 22 differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes were identified in HNSCC. Six prognostic-related genes were included to construct a LASSO regression model with a prognostic risk score = (0.133 ∗ GSDME (DFNA5) + 0.084 ∗ NOD1 + 0.039 ∗ IL6 + 0.003 ∗ IL1B + 0.084 ∗ CASP3 + 0.028 ∗ NLRP2). Higher fraction of resting memory CD4+ T cells and macrophages M1 was infiltrated in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group in HNSCC. Furthermore, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the IL-17 signaling pathways were identified to be involved in the development of high-risk HNSCC. Our study constructed a prognostic risk signature based on pyroptosis-related genes, which emphasizes the critical importance of pyroptosis in HNSCC and provided a novel perspective of HNSCC therapy.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-13 in mast cells of human periapical lesions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and MMP-13 in mast cells (MCs) of human periapical lesions and to discuss the pathogenic role of MCs in periapical lesions. METHODS: Ninety samples were divided into three groups: (1) periapical granuloma group (n=30); (2) periapical cyst group (n=30); (3) normal periodontal membrane group (n=30). The samples were fixed in 10% neutral formalin for over 48 h and made into serial sections. After H&E staining, histological changes were observed under the optical microscope. Moreover, double immunofluorescence (DIF) staining was performed to detect expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 in MCs of periapical lesions under the fluorescence microscope. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the number of MMP-8 and MMP-13 double positive MCs in the periapical lesions increased significantly (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the density of MMP-8 and MMP-13 double positive MCs in the periapical cyst group and periapical granuloma group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The number of MCs increased significantly in periapical lesions and there was a considerable increase in the density of MMP-8 and MMP-13 double positive MCs. These results indicate that MCs positive for MMP-8 and MMP-13 might contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic apical periodontitis.

Application of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for detection of p16INK4a in cervix.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) method to detect p16INK4a. METHODS: 119 cases of exfoliative cells following Thinprep cytologic test (TCT) test were selected for TRFIA and biopsy tissues of these patients according to TCT results were collected for immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. RESULTS: There were 40 cases with cervicitis, 16 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1), 15 cases of CIN2, 26 cases of CIN3, and 22 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). For each group, TCT results displaying above ASC-US were 7, 6, 12, 23, and 21 cases. IHC results were positive for 2, 13, 14, 26, and 21 cases, while the TRFIA results were positive for 5, 12, 13, 25, and 21 cases, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were not significantly different between TCT and TRFIA test due to the limited cases. Significantly more CIN1 cases were positive by TRFIA, as compared with cervicitis (75.00% vs. 12.50%, χ2=21.116, p<0.001). Most (93.65%) CIN2/3 and SCC cases were positive for p16INK4a (higher than CIN1, χ2=4.877 and p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Detecting p16INK4a protein by TRFIA is suitable to discriminate cervical dysplastic/neoplastic lesions from cervicitis. A commercial kit which created in the future might be a rapid, simple, and low-cost method to obtain objective results with an instrument automatically on a large scale.

An Efficient Transient Expression System for Enhancing the Generation of Monoclonal Antibodies in 293 Suspension Cells.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are useful in research, diagnosis, and therapy. The increased demands of recombinant mAbs require efficient production systems. A variety of expression vectors have been developed for stable or transient production of mAbs in mammalian cells. Although a few commercial expression systems of mAbs can be listed, the high expense often impedes academic research. METHODS: In this study, we described the development of a transient mammalian system based on a bicistronic vector, which contained an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and enhancer elements to express the IgG1 light chain (LC) and heavy chain (HC) in one transcript. Optimization of all components of the expression system, including gene transfer methods and regulatory elements, yielded maximal expression levels in serum-free 293 suspension cells (Freestyle 293-F). RESULTS: This method enabled consistent production of the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) mAb up to 300 mg/L in less than one week under transiently transfected conditions. Furthermore, purified anti-PD-1 IgGs showed specific affinity to the target antigen human PD-1 and PHA-stimulated human T cells. CONCLUSION: The simplicity of the procedure made it suitable for the fast and high-yield production of IgG antibodies in small scales, which expedited the screening of a large number of recombinant candidates.

[Anatomical and radiographical studies of the bifid mandibular canal].

To review the recent progress about the anatomical and radiographical studies of bifid mandibular canal (BMC) in English literature recorded in PubMed from 2006 to 2015 to deepen our understanding of BMC. A BMC is an anatomical variation of the mandibular canal; its occurrence might be a result of the incomplete fusion of mandibular canal during prenatal development. The four types of BMC have been classified according to anatomical location and configuration. Characteristic radiographic features and identifying methods of BMC on panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were described; the visibility of BMC on panoramic radiographs and CBCT images was compared. Clinical value of identifying the location as well as the configuration of BMC for surgical procedures that involve the mandible was discussed.

Color-tunable mixed photoluminescence emission from Alq3 organic layer in metal-Alq3-metal surface plasmon structure.

This work reports the color-tunable mixed photoluminescence (PL) emission from an Alq3 organic layer in an Au-Alq3-Au plasmonic structure through the combination of organic fluorescence emission and another form of emission that is enabled by the surface plasmons in the plasmonic structure. The emission wavelength of the latter depends on the Alq3 thickness and can be tuned within the Alq3 fluorescent spectra. Therefore, a two-color broadband, color-tunable mixed PL structure was obtained. Obvious changes in the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates and the corresponding emission colors of Au-Alq3-Au samples clearly varied with the Alq3 thickness (90, 130, and 156 nm).