Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China: A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China. Methods: This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China. Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28, 2022, and February 21, 2023. The collected information included basic demographics, medical history, smoking and drinking history, vaccination history, changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection, and other postinfection symptoms, as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders. Results: Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects. The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%. Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction. Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction. Before infection, the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51, respectively; after infection, they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey. The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%. Recovery was higher in males, never smokers, those who received two or three vaccine doses, and those that had never experienced dental health issues, or chronic accompanying symptoms. Conclusions: The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China. Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors, including sex, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, history of head-facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking and drinking history, and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Non-coding RNA in infantile hemangioma.

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common benign vascular tumor of infancy, but its pathogenesis has not been fully discovered. From the cellular perspective, CD133+ stem cells orchestrate the proliferation and development of IH. Regarding molecular mechanisms, hypoxia inducible factor-1α, renin-angiotensin system, and vascular endothelial growth factor are current study hotspots, while non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) might be essential factors participating in this network. Therefore, this article reviewed published studies concerning the roles of ncRNAs in IH and listed noted miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. Other ncRNAs, such as snRNAs, snoRNAs, and tsRNAs, though have not been examined in IH, are mentioned as well to discuss their potential functions. Due to the continuous development of sequencing technologies and computational pipelines for ncRNAs annotation, relevant studies will provide evidence to gradually enhance acknowledgments of ncRNAs' role in IH. The pathogenesis of IH might be revealed and the treatment protocol would be optimized in the future. IMPACT: Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play critical roles in infantile hemangioma. This article thoroughly reviewed all ncRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) mentioned in previous studies regarding the pathogenesis of infantile hemangioma. Other ncRNAs are promising subjects for further investigation. This review introduced the emerging ncRNAs that need to be explored in IH.

[Latest Findings on the Role of RUNX1 in Bone Development and Disorders]. / RUNX1åœ¨éª¨å‘è‚²åŠéª¨ç›¸å ³ç–¾ç— ä¸­çš„ä½œç”¨ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

Runt-related transcription factor (RUNX1) is a transcription factor closely involved in hematopoiesis. RUNX1 gene mutation plays an essential pathogenic role in the initiation and development of hematological tumors, especially in acute myeloid leukemia. Recent studies have shown that RUNX1 is also involved in the regulation of bone development and the pathological progression of bone-related diseases. RUNX1 promotes the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes and osteoblasts and modulates the maturation and extracellular matrix formation of chondrocytes. The expression of RUNX1 in mesenchymal stem cells, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts is of great significance for maintaining normal bone development and the mass and quality of bones. RUNX1 also inhibits the differentiation and bone resorptive activities of osteoclasts, which may be influenced by sexual dimorphism. In addition, RUNX1 deficiency contributes to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, delayed fracture healing, and osteoporosis, which was revealed by the RUNX1 conditional knockout modeling in mice. However, the roles of RUNX1 in regulating the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes, the sexual dimorphism of activities of osteoclasts, as well as bone loss in diabetes mellitus, senescence, infection, chronic inflammation, etc, are still not fully understood. This review provides a systematic summary of the research progress concerning RUNX1 in the field of bone biology, offering new ideas for using RUNX1 as a potential target for bone related diseases, especially osteoarthritis, delayed fracture healing, and osteoporosis.

Exposure of nonylphenol promoted NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in allergic rhinitis mice.

Studies have confirmed that the intake of nonylphenol (NP) can increase nasal symptoms, eosinophils, and Th2 responses in allergic rhinitis (AR) mice. However, the molecular mechanism of NP exacerbating AR inflammatory response remains unclear. Recent data suggest that NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis contributes to AR development. To investigate the effects of NP on NLRP3 inflammasomes and pyroptosis, an AR mouse model induced by ovalbumin (OVA) was established and treated with 0.5 mg/kg/d NP every other day. Nasal symptoms were evaluated after the final OVA instillation. Mast cells and Eosinophils in the nasal mucosa were observed using toluidine blue and Sirius red staining, respectively. The levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, phospho-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, IL-18, GSDMD and IL-1ß, were assessed by using immunohistochemical staining, ELISA, quantitative real-time PCR, or Western blot. Exposure to NP aggravates AR symptoms and promotes eosinophils, mast cells, and inflammatory factors release, along with significantly increased of NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, and GSDMD. It was concluded that NP exposure promotes NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis of the nasal mucosa. Targeted of NLRP3 and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis may be a novel therapeutic strategy for AR exposed to NP.

Diphosphine Ligand-Enabled Nickel-Catalyzed Chelate-Assisted Inner-Selective Migratory Hydroarylation of Alkenes.

The precise control of the regioselectivity in the transition metal-catalyzed migratory hydrofunctionalization of alkenes remains a big challenge. With a transient ketimine directing group, the nickel-catalyzed migratory ß-selective hydroarylation and hydroalkenylation of alkenyl ketones has been realized with aryl boronic acids using alkyl halide as the mild hydride source for the first time. The key to this success is the use of a diphosphine ligand, which is capable of the generation of a Ni(II)-H species in the presence of alkyl bromide, and enabling the efficient migratory insertion of alkene into Ni(II)-H species and the sequent rapid chain walking process. The present approach diminishes organosilanes reductant, tolerates a wide array of complex functionalities with excellent regioselective control. Moreover, this catalytic system could also be applied to the migratory hydroarylation of alkenyl azahetereoarenes, thus providing a general approach for the preparation of 1,2-aryl heteroaryl motifs with wide potential applications in pharmaceutical discovery.

MACC: a visual interactive knowledgebase of metabolite-associated cell communications.

Metabolite-associated cell communications play critical roles in maintaining the normal biological function of human through coordinating cells, organs and physiological systems. Though substantial information of MACCs has been continuously reported, no relevant database has become available so far. To address this gap, we here developed the first knowledgebase (MACC), to comprehensively describe human metabolite-associated cell communications through curation of experimental literatures. MACC currently contains: (a) 4206 carefully curated metabolite-associated cell communications pairs involving 244 human endogenous metabolites and reported biological effects in vivo and in vitro; (b) 226 comprehensive cell subtypes and 296 disease states, such as cancers, autoimmune diseases, and pathogenic infections; (c) 4508 metabolite-related enzymes and transporters, involving 542 pathways; (d) an interactive tool with user-friendly interface to visualize networks of multiple metabolite-cell interactions. (e) overall expression landscape of metabolite-associated gene sets derived from over 1500 single-cell expression profiles to infer metabolites variations across different cells in the sample. Also, MACC enables cross-links to well-known databases, such as HMDB, DrugBank, TTD and PubMed etc. In complement to ligand-receptor databases, MACC may give new perspectives of alternative communication between cells via metabolite secretion and adsorption, together with the resulting biological functions. MACC is publicly accessible at: http://macc.badd-cao.net/.

Endoscopic Repair of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea Due to Trauma by a Bamboo Stick in a Pediatric Patient.

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (CSFR) is a condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid flows out of the nasal cavity due to rupture of the arachnoid, dura, and nasal membranes because of bone defects in the skull base. The authors report a rare case of CSFR in a 2-year-old girl who experienced trauma in the nasal cavity by a bamboo stick. She underwent endoscopic repair for the CSFR. During surgery, a bulged vesicle was observed at the left cribriform plate with a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid draining from the surrounding area. Postoperative recovery was good. Endoscopic CSFR repair in pediatric patients is minimally invasive, effective, and safe as demonstrated in this case. Prevention of CSFR in children is important. Parents and caretakers of children need to be more aware, and potentially dangerous objects should not be kept within reach of children.

Curcumin and analogues against head and neck cancer: From drug delivery to molecular mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most life-threatening diseases which also causes economic burden worldwide. To overcome the limitations of traditional therapies, investigation into alternative adjuvant treatments is crucial. PURPOSE: Curcumin, a turmeric-derived compound, demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in diverse diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, research focuses on curcumin analogues and novel drug delivery systems, offering approaches for improved efficacy. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of curcumin's current findings, emphasizing its mechanisms of anti-HNSCC effects and potential for clinical application. METHOD: An electronic search of Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Embase was conducted to identify literature about the application of curcumin or analogues in HNSCC. Titles and abstracts were screened to identify potentially eligible studies. Full-text articles will be obtained and independently evaluated by two authors to make the decision of inclusion in the review. RESULTS: Curcumin's clinical application is hindered by poor bioavailability, prompting the exploration of methods to enhance it, such as curcumin analogues and novel drug delivery systems. Curcumin could exhibit anti-cancer effects by targeting cancer cells and modulating the tumor microenvironment in HNSCC. Mechanisms of action include cell cycle arrest, apoptosis promotion, reactive oxygen species induction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, attenuation of extracellular matrix degradation, and modulation of tumor metabolism in HNSCC cells. Curcumin also targets various components of the tumor microenvironment, including cancer-associated fibroblasts, innate and adaptive immunity, and lymphovascular niches. Furthermore, curcumin enhances the anti-cancer effects of other drugs as adjunctive therapy. Two clinical trials report its potential clinical applications in treating HNSCC. CONCLUSION: Curcumin has demonstrated therapeutic potential in HNSCC through in vitro and in vivo studies. Its effectiveness is attributed to its ability to modulate cancer cells and interact with the intricate tumor microenvironment. The development of curcumin analogues and novel drug delivery systems has shown promise in improving its bioavailability, thereby expanding its clinical applications. Further research and exploration in this area hold great potential for harnessing the full therapeutic benefits of curcumin in HNSCC treatment.

Elevated Mast Cell Abundance Is Associated with Enrichment of CCR2+ Cytotoxic T Cells and Favorable Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Mast cells constitute indispensable immunoregulatory sentinel cells in the tumor microenvironment. A better understanding of the regulation and functions of mast cells in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) could uncover therapeutic approaches to reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Here, we performed flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of patient LUAD samples to comprehensively characterize LUAD-infiltrating mast cells. Mast cells exhibited functional heterogeneity and were enriched in LUAD with ground-glass opacity features (gLUAD). The mast cells in gLUAD exhibited proinflammatory and chemotactic properties while those in radiologically solid LUAD (sLUAD) were associated with tumor angiogenesis. Mast cells were an important source of CCL2 and correlated with the recruitment of CCR2+ CTL, a specific subcluster of preexhausted T cells with tissue-resident memory phenotype and enhanced cytotoxicity. Increased infiltration of mast cells and CCR2+ CTLs and their colocalization showed a strong association with favorable prognosis after surgery but were not associated with improved survival after chemotherapy. Collectively, these findings reveal a key role of mast cells in LUAD and their potential cross-talk with CTLs, suggesting that targeting mast cells may be an immunotherapeutic strategy for LUAD. SIGNIFICANCE: Comprehensive characterization of mast cells in lung adenocarcinoma elucidates their heterogeneity and identifies interplay between mast cells and CCR2+ T cells that is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Mesoscale DNA feature in antibody-coding sequence facilitates somatic hypermutation.

Somatic hypermutation (SHM), initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), generates mutations in the antibody-coding sequence to allow affinity maturation. Why these mutations intrinsically focus on the three nonconsecutive complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) remains enigmatic. Here, we found that predisposition mutagenesis depends on the single-strand (ss) DNA substrate flexibility determined by the mesoscale sequence surrounding AID deaminase motifs. Mesoscale DNA sequences containing flexible pyrimidine-pyrimidine bases bind effectively to the positively charged surface patches of AID, resulting in preferential deamination activities. The CDR hypermutability is mimicable in in vitro deaminase assays and is evolutionarily conserved among species using SHM as a major diversification strategy. We demonstrated that mesoscale sequence alterations tune the in vivo mutability and promote mutations in an otherwise cold region in mice. Our results show a non-coding role of antibody-coding sequence in directing hypermutation, paving the way for the synthetic design of humanized animal models for optimal antibody discovery and explaining the AID mutagenesis pattern in lymphoma.

Endoscopic Resection of a Rare Chondromyxoid Fibroma From the Nasal Septum.

ABSTRACT: Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign tumor mostly found in the metaphysis of long bones. In rare cases, it develops in unusual locations. We report a case of chondromyxoid fibroma from the nasal septum. Endoscopic surgery was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. A plasma knife was used to ablate the tumor. No recurrence was noted at the 4-year follow-up. The advantages of endoscopic surgery include direct observation, improved visibility and magnification, reduced intraoperative trauma, and fewer postoperative complications. The advantages of the plasma knife include its ability to separate and ablate the tumor simultaneously while effectively reducing bleeding and maintaining the visibility of the surgical field.

Increased Tumor Intrinsic Growth Potential and Decreased Immune Function Orchestrate the Progression of Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background: The overall 5-year survival of lung cancer was reported to be only ~15%, with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) as the main pathological subtype. Before developing into invasive stages, LUAD undergoes pre-invasive stages of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), where surgical resection gives an excellent 5-year survival rate. Given the dramatic decline of prognosis from pre-invasive to invasive stages, a deeper understanding of key molecular changes driving the progression of LUAD is highly needed. Methods: In this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing on surgically resected 24 AIS, 74 MIA, 99 LUAD specimens, and their adjacent paired normal tissues. Survival data were obtained by follow-up after surgery. Key molecular events were found by comparing the gene expression profiles of tumors with different stages. Finally, to measure the level of imbalance between tumor intrinsic growth potential and immune microenvironment, a tumor progressive (TP) index was developed to predict tumor progression and patients' survival outcome and validated by external datasets. Results: As tumors progressed to more invasive stages, they acquired higher growth potential, mutational frequency of tumor suppressor genes, somatic copy number alterations, and tumor mutation burden, along with suppressed immune function. To better predict tumor progression and patients' outcome, TP index were built to measure the imbalance between tumor intrinsic growth potential and immune microenvironment. Patients with a higher TP index had significantly worse recurrence-free survival [Hazard ratio (HR), 10.47; 95% CI, 3.21-34.14; p < 0.0001] and overall survival (OS) [Hazard ratio (HR), 4.83e8; 95% CI, 0-Inf; p = 0.0013]. We used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD dataset for validation and found that patients with a higher TP index had significantly worse OS (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.83-1.45; p = 0.048), demonstrating the prognostic value of the TP index for patients with LUAD. Conclusions: The imbalance of tumor intrinsic growth potential and immune function orchestrate the progression of LUAD, which can be measured by TP index. Our study provided new insights into predicting survival of patients with LUAD and new target discovery for LUAD through assessing the imbalance between tumor intrinsic growth potential and immune function.

Bisphenol A attenuates the therapeutic effect of the selective G protein-coupled estrogen receptor agonist G-1 on allergic rhinitis inflammation in mice.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastics widely used in everyday life and affects the immune system. Previous studies found that the selective G protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) agonist G-1 can reduce the inflammation associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). BPA also interferes with the protective effect of estradiol against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE: We explored whether BPA attenuates the effect of G-1 on inflammation in a mouse AR model. METHODS: The AR model was established by sensitizing and stimulating female BALB/c mice with ovalbumin (OVA) and G-1/BPA. Eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocyte subsets (including T and B cells) in nasal mucosa and Th2 and Treg cells in the spleen were detected by flow cytometry. Cytokines and transcription factors characteristic of Th2 and Treg cells in nasal mucosa were detected using cytometric bead arrays and quantitative PCR, respectively. RESULTS: G-1 reduced OVA-induced nasal mucosal inflammation in mice. The proportions of eosinophils, neutrophils, Siglec-F+ neutrophils, lymphocytes, and T cell subsets were reduced by G-1, and this effect was attenuated by BPA. G-1 significantly decreased the Th2 population and levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and GATA-3; these effects were attenuated by BPA. The enhanced Treg response (as evidenced by an increased Treg population and higher IL-10 and Foxp3 levels) mediated by G-1 tended to be reduced by BPA. DISCUSSION: We found that G-1 reduced OVA-induced nasal mucosal inflammation and significantly decreased the Th2 response, while increasing the Treg response. These effects were attenuated by BPA.

Yes-associated protein promotes bone healing after tooth extraction in mice.

In this study, a tooth extraction socket model was established in vivo, and Lv-YAP1-GFP, Lv-GFP or saline was injected locally into the extraction socket. Expression of markers of osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, adipogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis explore whether YAP can promote bone formation in the process of tooth extraction socket healing. 66 BALB/c mice were divided into 3 groups and underwent left maxillary first molar extraction, Lv-YAP1-GFP, Lv-GFP or saline was injected into the tooth extraction socket. The maxilla was harvested 1, 3, 7, and 10 days after operation for subsequent analysis by Micro-CT and immunohistochemical analysis. Quantitative analysis of the expression of TRAP, ALP, BMP2, RUNX2, Osterix, OCN, RANKL, PPARγ, and PCNA was conducted. The results of immunofluorescence showed that the lentivirus was successfully transfected into the extraction socket. On the middle and last stage of tooth extraction healing, results of Micro-CT showed that the BV/TV, Tb.Th and Tb.N were significantly higher in the experimental group, results of immunohistochemistry showed that the overexpression of YAP increase in the expression of BMP2, ALP, RUNX2, Osterix, OCN, and PCNA. The expression of PPARγ and TUNEL staining results were significantly lower in the experimental group. The expression of TRAP and RANKL showed no significant differences among the 3 groups. We conclude that YAP could promote bone formation in the middle and late stages of tooth extraction socket healing. The overexpression of YAP increased bone formation and cell proliferation, decreased adipogenic differentiation and apoptosis.

The m6A methyltransferase METTL3 aggravates the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through inducing EMT by m6A-modified Snail mRNA.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to elucidate the role of METTL3 in aggravating the progression of NPC through m6A modification on Snail and thus the stimulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: Differential expressions of METTL3 in 48 paired NPC tissues and paracancerous tissues were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Its level in NPC patients with different clinical stages and metastatic states was examined. Prognostic potential of METTL3 in NPC patients was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method. After knockdown of METTL3, expression changes of Snail and EMT-related genes, as well as invasive and migratory abilities in SUNE-1 cells were detected. The interaction between Snail with METTL3 and IGF2BP2 was verified by RIP (RNA-Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation) assay. At last, the roles of METTL3/Snail regulatory loop in influencing EMT and metastasis of NPC were clarified. RESULTS: METTL3 was upregulated in NPC tissues than that of paracancerous ones. NPC patients with advanced stage or lymphatic metastasis expressed higher level of METTL3. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that NPC patients expressing high level of METTL3 suffered worse prognosis. Knockdown of METTL3 downregulated protein levels of Snail and N-cadherin, while E-cadherin was upregulated in SUNE-1 cells. Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL3 inhibited invasive and migratory abilities in NPC cells. RIP assay confirmed the interaction between Snail and METTL3. Besides, knockdown of METTL3 decreased the enrichment abundance of Snail in anti-IGF2BP2. Overexpression of Snail partially reversed the regulatory effects of METTL3 on EMT-related gene expressions and metastatic abilities in NPC. CONCLUSIONS: METTL3 is upregulated in NPC, which regulates EMT and metastasis in NPC cells through m6A-modified Snail mRNA.

Dermoid Cyst of Nasal Tip and Nasal Septum.

ABSTRACT: Dermoid cyst is a congenital and benign disease with most occur on the head and neck. It is rarely that occur on the nasal tip and nasal septum at same time and rarely repair of using nasal septum mucosa. The authors treated a child with dermoid cyst in the nasal tip and septum. Only the dermoid cyst at the tip of the nose caused the change of appearance. Dermoid cyst of nasal septum did not cause any clinical symptoms. She underwent excision of the dermoid cyst at the tip of the nose and endoscopic surgery for the dermoid cyst in the nasal septum and used the nasal septum mucosa for repair at the same time. After 6 months of recovery, the appearance of the nasal tip recovered well without obvious scar, the nasal septum area recovered well, and the local stoma was unobstructed without recurrence. The authors found that this kind of nasal septal cyst with no clinical symptoms can achieve good therapeutic effect through endoscopic surgery and repair of using nasal septum mucosa, with less damage, rapid recovery, and good prognosis.

Probing Synergistic Targets by Natural Compounds for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Designing combination drugs for malignant cancers has been restricted due to the scarcity of synergy-medicated targets, while some natural compounds have demonstrated potential to enhance anticancer effects. METHODS: We here explored the feasibility of probing synergy-mediated targets by Berberine (BER) and Evodiamine (EVO) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using the genomics-derived HCC signaling networks of compound treatment, NF-κB and c-JUN were inferred as key responding elements with transcriptional activity coinhibited during the synergistic cytotoxicity induction in BEL-7402 cells. Then, selective coinhibitors of NF-κB and c-JUN were tested demonstrating similar synergistic antiproliferation activity. RESULTS: Consistent with in vivo experiments of zebrafish, coinhibitors were found to significantly reduce tumor growth by 79% and metastasis by 96% compared to blank control, accompanied by anti-angiogenic activity. In an analysis of 365 HCC individuals, the low expression group showed significantly lower malignancies and better prognosis, with the median survival time increased from 67 to 213%, compared to the rest of the groups. CONCLUSION: Together, NF-κB and c-JUN were identified as promising synergistic inducers in developing anti-HCC therapies. Also, our method may provide a feasible strategy to explore new targeting space from natural compounds, opening opportunities for the rational design of combinational formulations in combatting malignant cancers.

Rank-in: enabling integrative analysis across microarray and RNA-seq for cancer.

Though transcriptomics technologies evolve rapidly in the past decades, integrative analysis of mixed data between microarray and RNA-seq remains challenging due to the inherent variability difference between them. Here, Rank-In was proposed to correct the nonbiological effects across the two technologies, enabling freely blended data for consolidated analysis. Rank-In was rigorously validated via the public cell and tissue samples tested by both technologies. On the two reference samples of the SEQC project, Rank-In not only perfectly classified the 44 profiles but also achieved the best accuracy of 0.9 on predicting TaqMan-validated DEGs. More importantly, on 327 Glioblastoma (GBM) profiles and 248, 523 heterogeneous colon cancer profiles respectively, only Rank-In can successfully discriminate every single cancer profile from normal controls, while the others cannot. Further on different sizes of mixed seq-array GBM profiles, Rank-In can robustly reproduce a median range of DEG overlapping from 0.74 to 0.83 among top genes, whereas the others never exceed 0.72. Being the first effective method enabling mixed data of cross-technology analysis, Rank-In welcomes hybrid of array and seq profiles for integrative study on large/small, paired/unpaired and balanced/imbalanced samples, opening possibility to reduce sampling space of clinical cancer patients. Rank-In can be accessed at http://www.badd-cao.net/rank-in/index.html.

[The relationship between adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy and asthma in children and analysis of changes in asthma after adenotonsillectomy].

Adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy in children are closely related to asthma. Their pathogenesis and clinical symptoms are interacted on each other. The unified airway theory believes that the upper and lower respiratory tracts are connected through the release of systemic inflammatory factors. Studies have shown that adenoid and tonsillectomy surgery have a positive effect on the control and development of asthma. The symptoms of postoperative asthma, frequency of attacks, control medication and asthma severity related indicators in children were significantly reduced compared with those before surgery. It has been shown that asthma can increase the incidence of respiratory complications after adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy, so postoperative care after adenotonsillectomy is also important to control asthma. Understanding the relationship between diseases can help clinicians make a more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.

A Rare Case of a Congenital Nasopharyngeal Ganglioglioma With Dyspnea in a 1-Month-Old Male Infant: A Case Report.

Background: A ganglioglioma (GG), a tumor with both neuronal and astrocytic components, rarely occurs outside the central nervous system. Case Summary: We present the first reported case of a 1-month-old male with a congenital nasopharyngeal GG, nasal congestion, and dyspnea; we include the operative video. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to explore whether the tumor communicated with the intracranial space. We used an endoscopic plasma technique to ensure complete tumor resection. This afforded a good visual field, endoscopic magnification, and good hemostasis. Conclusions: We report a rare case of a nasopharyngeal GG triggering nasal congestion and dyspnea in a 1-month-old male, and report our experience with the treatment of nasopharyngeal GG and similar diseases.