The ANRIL Genetic Variants and Their Interactions with Environmental Risk Factors on Atherothrombotic Stroke in a Han Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke (IS) is considered to be a heterogeneous, multifactorial disease with a strong genetic background. This study aims to determine whether variants in the antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) gene are associated with IS in Han Chinese, as well as whether there is evidence of a gene-environment interactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-controlled association study was conducted in which only patients with atherothrombotic stroke (ATS) were enrolled. Multifactor dimensionality reduction model was employed to screen the best interaction combinations among gene and environmental risk factors; RESULTS: A total of 405 subjects (200 cases and 205 controls) and 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ANRIL gene were included in this study. The 4 SNPs (rs1537378, rs2184061, rs7044859, and rs7865618) were found to be significantly related to ATS in Chinese Han nationality. In overall people or subjects aged 45 years or older, the GG genotype and G allele of rs1537378, the AA genotype and A allele of rs2184061 and rs7865618, and the AA genotype of rs7044859 increased the risk of ATS. In males, the GG genotype and G allele of rs1537378, the AA genotype and A allele of rs7865618, and the A allele of rs2184061 conferred a susceptibility to ATS. Additionally, the AAAGAGCAAAAAATAG haplotype exhibited an elevated risk of ATS, and a significant interaction was found in ATS susceptibility between ANRIL gene and dyslipidemia; CONCLUSIONS: The ANRIL gene was related to ATS susceptibility in a Han Chinese. Future studies should be performed with larger samples and among different ethnic populations.

Long non-coding RNA NKILA inhibits migration and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells via suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged recently as key regulators of tumor development and progression. Our previous study identified an NF-KappaB interacting lncRNA (NKILA) which was negatively correlated with breast cancer metastasis and patient prognosis. However, its clinical significance and potential role in Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) remain unclear. Here we show that NKILA is down-regulated in TSCC cancer tissues than that in matched adjacent noncancerous tissues. And low NKILA expression in TSCC is significantly correlated with tumor metastasis and poor patient prognosis. In vitro, overexpression of NKILA decreases TSCC cells migration and invasion. Mechanistic study shows that NKILA inhibits the phosphorylation of IκBα and NF-κB activation as well as the induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Ectopic expression of NKILA in Tscca cells inhibits NF-κB activator TNF-α-promoted cell migration and invasion, while applying NF-κB inhibitor Bay-117082 or JSH-23 in NKILA silenced CAL27 cells reverses cell migration capacity to lower level. In vivo experimental metastasis model also demonstrates NKILA inhibits lung metastasis of NOD/SCID mice with TSCC tumors. These results suggested that NKILA is a vital determinant of TSCC migration and invasion and NF-κB signaling pathway mediates this effect. Given the above mentioned function of NKILA, it could act as a potential predictor for overall survival in patients with TSCC and a potential therapeutic target for TSCC intervention.

Intraoral lining with the fibular osteomyofascial flap without a skin paddle during maxillary and mandibular reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: To achieve an ideal intraoral lining, we harvest the fibular osteomyofascial flap to avoid the common embarrassment caused by the fibular osteomyocutaneous flap, and we report on our experience with this technique in this article. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients underwent reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible using an osteomyofascial free fibula flap after oncologic ablation. Data, including the size of the fascial flaps, the number of debulking operations, the complications at both the donor and recipient sites, and the dental rehabilitation, were collected. RESULTS: All fascial flaps survived and were remucosalized, except one with partial necrosis. None of the patients in the osteomyofascial group required an additional debulking operation, and 82% of the patients (23 of 28) had conventional dentures and showed good chewing function and cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: The fibular osteomyofascial flap yielded a more anatomic solution for oral mucosal defects, obviating the need for additional debulking and potentially reducing donor-site wound problems. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E832-E836, 2016.

Synchronous reconstruction of bilateral osteoradionecrosis of the mandible using a single fibular osteocutaneous flap in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The reconstruction of bilateral osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of mandibular defects using a single free bone flap is rarely performed because extensively radiated neck tissue with severe fibrosis is usually unsuitable for vascularized reconstruction. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) underwent bilateral reconstruction of advanced ORN in the mandible using a single fibular osteocutaneous flap. Clinical factors associated with the operation were assessed, including classification of mandible defects, types of recipient vessels, perioperative complications, and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: All of the fibular osteocutaneous flaps survived completely, with the exception of 1 inner skin paddle that presented partial necrosis in a reconstruction of through-and-through defects. All patients experienced an improvement in cosmetic results 6 months after the reconstruction, whereas 23 patients experienced improved mouth opening compared to the preoperative condition. CONCLUSION: Advanced bilateral ORN in patients with NPC could be synchronously reconstructed with a single fibular osteocutaneous flap. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E-E, 2016.

Mitochondrial fission determines cisplatin sensitivity in tongue squamous cell carcinoma through the BRCA1-miR-593-5p-MFF axis.

Cisplatin has been widely employed as a cornerstone chemotherapy treatment for a wide spectrum of solid neoplasms; increasing tumor responsiveness to cisplatin has been a topic of interest for the past 30 years. Strong evidence has indicated that mitochondrial fission participates in the regulation of apoptosis in many diseases; however, whether mitochondrial fission regulates cisplatin sensitivity remains poorly understood. Here, we show that MFF mediated mitochondrial fission and apoptosis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cells after cisplatin treatment and that miR-593-5p was downregulated in this process. miR-593-5p attenuated mitochondrial fission and cisplatin sensitivity by targeting the 3' untranslated region sequence of MFF and inhibiting its translation. In exploring the underlying mechanism of miR-593-5p downregulation, we observed that BRCA1 transactivated miR-593-5p expression and attenuated cisplatin sensitivity in vitro. The BRCA1-miR-593-5p-MFF axis also affected cisplatin sensitivity in vivo. Importantly, in a retrospective analysis of multiple centers, we further found that the BRCA1-miR-593-5p-MFF axis was significantly associated with cisplatin sensitivity and the survival of patients with TSCC. Together, our data reveal a model for mitochondrial fission regulation at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels; we also reveal a new pathway for BRCA1 in determining cisplatin sensitivity through the mitochondrial fission program.

Minimally invasive selective neck dissection: a prospective study of endoscopically assisted dissection via a small submandibular approach in cT(1-2_N(0) oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Selective neck dissection (SND) in clinical N0 (cN0) cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been performed by surgeons using a retroauricular or modified facelift approach with robotic or endoscopic assistance. However, these procedures provide cosmetic satisfaction at the cost of possible maximal invasiveness. In this prospective study, we introduced and evaluated the feasibility as well as surgical invasiveness and cosmetic outcome of endoscopically-assisted SND via a small submandibular approach. METHODS: Forty-four patients with cT1-2N0 oral SCC (OSCC) were randomly divided into two groups of endoscopically-assisted SND and conventional SND. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes of patients were evaluated, including the length of the incision, operating time for neck dissection, estimated blood loss during the operation, amount and duration of drainage, total hospitalization period, total number of lymph nodes retrieved, satisfaction scores based on the cosmetic results, perioperative local complications, shoulder syndrome, and follow-up information. RESULTS: The mean operation time in the endoscopically-assisted group (126.04 ± 12.67 min) was longer than that in the conventional group (75.67 ± 16.67 min). However, the mean length of the incision was 4.33 ± 0.76 cm in the endoscopically-assisted SND group, and the amount and duration of drainage, total hospital stay, postoperative shoulder pain score, and cosmetic outcomes were superior in the endoscopically-assisted SND group. Additionally, the retrieved lymph nodes and complications were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopically-assisted SND via a small submandibular approach had a longer operation time than the conventional approach. However, endoscopically-assisted SND was feasible and reliable while providing minimal invasiveness and satisfactory appearance.

Simultaneous determination of arsenic, antimony, bismuth and mercury in geological materials by vapor generation-four-channel non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Chemical vapor generation (CVG) coupled with non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry (NDAFS) has been widely used for determination of vapor-forming elements, but most of such works have been focused on single element analysis, and reports dealing with more than three elements simultaneous determination by CVG-NDAFS are rare. In this work, a sensitive and robust analytical procedure for the simultaneous determination of arsenic, antimony, bismuth and mercury in geological materials using vapor generation-four-channel non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry has been developed. The conditions of instrumentation and vapor generation of arsenic, antimony, bismuth and mercury were optimized. The optimized concentrations of KBH(4) and HCl required for analytes generation were 1.3% (m/v) and 20% (v/v), respectively. The interferences of coexisting ions and mutual hydride interferences were investigated carefully. One thousand milligrams per litre of Fe(3+); 500mgl(-1) of Pb(2+), Zn(2+), Mn(2+); 50mgl(-1) Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Cr(6+), Co(2+); 10mgl(-1) Ag(+) and 5mgl(-1) Au(3+) does not interfere with the determination of As, Sb, Bi and Hg. Associating a dilution of 1:250 (m/v) in the procedure of sample pretreatment, the tolerant concentrations of As, Sb, Bi and Hg in real geological materials are 2500, 1000, 250 and 5000ppm, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the detection limits for As, Sb, Bi and Hg were determined to be 0.068, 0.047, 0.037 and 0.008ngml(-1), respectively. The precisions for seven replicate determinations at the 5ngml(-1) of As, Sb, Bi and 1ngml(-1) of Hg were 0.47, 0.60, 0.97 and 0.93% (R.S.D.), respectively. Sample digestion was carried out on 500mg sample with 3ml HNO(3) and 10ml HCl, followed by addition of thiourea solution for the quantitative reduction of As(V), Sb(V) to As(III), Sb(III). The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of As, Sb, Bi and Hg in a series of certified geological reference materials using simple aqueous standard calibration technique. The results obtained are in good agreement with the certified values.