Dietary patterns suggest that dark chocolate intake may have an inhibitory effect on oral cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous studies reported that variations in dietary intake patterns substantially impact human health, specifically tumorigenesis. However, confounding factors in previous cohort studies have obscured the relationship between dietary differences and the risk of oral cancer (OC). Materials and methods: We developed an outcome dataset from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data on three OCs within the GAME-ON project, using GWAS-META merging. We extracted 21 dietary exposures, including 10 dietary patterns, 6 vitamins, and 5 micronutrients, from the UK Biobank database, using the inverse variance weighting method as the primary statistical method. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to detect heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Serum metabolite concentrations were adjusted using multivariate Mendelian randomization. Results: Of the 10 analyzed dietary patterns, 8 showed no significant association with the risk of developing OC. Consumption of dark chocolate (inverse variance weighted [IVW]: Odds ratio (OR) = 0.786, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.622-0.993, p = 0.044) and sweet pepper exhibited an inverse relationship with OC risk (IVW: OR = 0.757, 95% CI: 0.574-0.997, p = 0.048). Reverse MR analysis revealed no reverse causality. Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between the intake of 6 vitamins and 5 micronutrients and the risk of developing OC. After using multivariable MR to adjust for serum caffeine, linoleate, theophylline, and theobromine metabolism levels, consuming dark chocolate was unrelated to a decreased risk of OC. After adjusting each serum metabolite individually, the observed p-values deviated from the original values to varying degrees, indicating that the components of dark chocolate could have different effects. Among these components, theophylline demonstrated the most significant inhibitory effect. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a causal relationship between the intake of dark chocolate and sweet peppers and a lower risk of OC. The components of dark chocolate could have different effects.

Ionothermal-Transformation Strategy to Synthesize Hierarchically Tubular Porous Single-Iron-Atom Catalysts for High-Performance Zinc-Air Batteries.

Inexpensive carbon-based nitrogen-coordinated iron single-atom catalysts (CN-FeSACs) have been recently demonstrated as the most promising platinum substitutions for boosting the sluggish oxygen electrode performance in fuel cells and metal-air batteries. However, it is still a great challenge to develop economical and effective CN-FeSACs satisfying the needs of high output power. Herein, an ionothermal-transformation strategy is proposed to synthesize hierarchically tubular porous CN-FeSACs with an ultrahigh special surface area of 2500 m2 g-1 to host abundant single-atom iron sites with an attempt to simultaneously boost sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics and mass transport. Benefiting from the unique feature, the final obtained material shows an ORR half-wave potential of 0.885 V, higher than that of benchmark Pt/C (0.850 V). When assembled into zinc-air battery, a large peak power density of 208 mW cm-2 is achieved, which is far superior to that of Pt/C (119 mW cm-2). This work provides an economical and feasible strategy to prepare hierarchically porous CN-FeSACs for energy conversion.

Facile synthesis of iron oxide supported on porous nitrogen doped carbon for catalytic oxidation.

Iron oxide (FexOy) supported on porous nitrogen doped carbon is synthesized by a facile pyrolysis method. SiO2 and NaNO3 are used as the template and activation agent respectively for porous structure generation and large specific surface area (SSA) creation. The obtained materials show superior catalytic oxidation ability and can activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in a wide pH range (3-9) to degrade organic pollutants. The degradation process is a two-stage reaction, including a rapid initial decay and a following slow reaction stage. According to the free radical quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy analysis, and electrochemical tests, the superoxide radical (O2-) and singlet oxygen (1O2) are proved to play crucial roles in organics degradation. The high SSA (773 m2 g-1), abundant of structural defects, and synergistic effect between FexOy and the nitrogen doped carbon are the key factors for the enhanced activity. The catalysts in this study can be synthesized easily and contain no toxic metals, thus should have great potential in the wastewater remediation.

Enterovirus 71 induces autophagy in mice via mTOR inhibition and ERK pathway activation.

AIMS: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the main viruses that cause hand-foot-mouth disease; however, its pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. This study characterized the relationship between EV71 infection and autophagy in vivo and explored the molecular mechanism underlying EV71-induced autophagy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mouse model of EV71 infection was prepared by intraperitoneally injecting one-day-old BALB/c suckling mice with 30 µL/g of EV71 virus stock solution for 3 days. The behavior, fur condition, weight, and mice mortality were monitored, and disease scores were calculated. The pathological damage to the brain, lung, and muscle tissues after the viral infection was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were used to detect the expression levels of viral protein 1, Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated (p)-mTOR, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2, and p-ERK. KEY FINDINGS: EV71 infection can trigger autophagy in the brains, lungs, and muscles of infected mice. The autophagy response triggered by EV71 is achieved by the simultaneous mTOR inhibition and the ERK pathway activation. Blocking the mTOR pathway may aggravate autophagy, whereas ERK inhibition alleviates autophagy but cannot completely prevent it. SIGNIFICANCE: EV71 infection can induce autophagy in mice, involving mTOR and ERK signaling pathways. These two signaling pathways are independent and do not interfere with each other.

Free posterior tibial flap reconstruction for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article was to determine outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx (SCCHP) in whom the free posterior tibial flap was used for primary reconstruction of hypopharynx defects after cancer resection. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between August 2009 and February 2012, 10 patients with SCCHP underwent posterior tibial flap reconstruction for hypopharynx defects. The corresponding clinical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Despite the multistep and time-consuming procedure, the posterior tibial flap survival rate was 100%. Operation-induced complications did not occur in four patients. Six patients developed postoperative hypoproteinemia, four patients developed postoperative pulmonary infections, and four patients developed pharyngeal fistula. The pharyngeal and laryngeal functions of all patients were preserved. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrates that the posterior tibial flap is a safe and reliable choice for the reconstruction of hypopharynx defects.

[Clinical analysis of epithelioid hemangioma of the head and neck in six cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical presentation, pathological feature, therapy and outcome of epithelioid hemangioma. METHOD: We reviewed the clinical findings, pathologic changes and outcomes of six cases with epithelioid hemangioma from Aug. 2007 to Sept. 2011. RESULT: There are four males and two females ranged from 18 to 44 years(median year was 29.5). Primary lesions sites included the parotid gland, neck and ear. Four lesions presented as a solitary mass, and no patient had history of trauma. All patients were treated by surgeries, and not complemented by medical. There were four patients relapsed during follow-up, and three of them accepted reoperations (two patients received postoperative radiotherapies), and no recurrence was detected. CONCLUSION: Epithelioid hemangioma represents a benign vascular tumor, accurate diagnosis relies on clinical characteristic, histopathologic appearance and immunohistochemical findings, and it must be differentiated with Kimura's disease. The main treatment is surgery and the prognosis is well, but easy to recurrence.

[Diagnosis and management of laryngeal verrucous carcinoma (case report in one patient and literature review)].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical, pathological character and differential diagnosis of laryngeal verrucous carcinoma. METHOD: Clinical data of one case with laryngeal verrucous carcinoma in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULT: The diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma was difficult and depend on repeated biopsy. Verrucous carcinoma of larynx is a highly differentiated variant of squamous carcinoma that has peculiar clinical and morphological features. The basement membrane is not invaded. It is prone to distant metastasis, than to local recurrence. The case underwent the partial laryngectomy, and was followed up for more than 4 years with no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx is a special pattern of the well-differentiated squamous cancer. A correct diagnosis requires close cooperation between the laryngologist and the pathologist. The main treatment of verrucous carcinoma is complete surgical excision to reserve larynx function as far as possible and improve the quality of life.

[Diagnosis and management of granular cell tumor of the larynx].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the histogenesis, morphological features and biologic behaviors of granular cell tumor(GCT) of the larynx. METHOD: A retrospective study was performed in three cases of GCT in our hospital, the clinical data were studied with histopathologic analysis, histochemical and immunohistochemical staining, and combining with the analysis of domestic and foreign literatures. RESULT: Histopathologic features of laryngeal GCT were identical to that in soft tissues, but pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia was present in 50%-60% cases of the tumor. This disease may originate from the neurogenic Schwann cell, S-100 could be positive in immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal GCT is a rare benign tumor and can be cured by local excision.