Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by stimulating the release of neutrophil extracellular traps in the tumor immune microenvironment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) on the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) through neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the tumor immune microenvironment. METHODS: The expression of NETs-related markers was identified through immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting in different clinical stages of OSCC samples. The relationship between NETs-related markers and clinicopathological characteristics in 180 samples was analyzed using immunohistochemistry data. Furthermore, the ability to predict the prognosis of OSCC patients was determined by ROC curve analysis and survival analysis. The effect of P. gingivalis on the release of NETs was identified through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, both in vitro and in vivo. CAL27 and SCC25 cell lines were subjected to NETs stimulation to elucidate the influence of NETs on various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis in vitro. Furthermore, the impact of NETs on the growth and metastatic potential of OSCC was assessed using in vivo models involving tumor-bearing mice and tumor metastasis mouse models. RESULTS: Immunochemistry analysis revealed a significant correlation between the NETs-related markers and clinical stage, living status as well as TN stage. P. gingivalis has demonstrated its ability to effectively induce the release of NETs both in vivo and in vitro. NETs have the potential to facilitate cell migration, invasion, and colony formation. Moreover, in vivo experiments have demonstrated that NETs play a pivotal role in promoting tumor metastasis. CONCLUSION: High expression of NETs-related markers demonstrates a strong correlation with the progression of OSCC. Inhibition of the NETs release process stimulated by P. gingivalis and targeted NETs could potentially open up a novel avenue in the field of immunotherapy for patients afflicted with OSCC.

Precision Extraction of Lingual Mandibular Supernumerary Teeth Using Dynamic Navigation and High-Speed Handpieces: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND The extraction of impacted supernumerary teeth requires precision and accuracy to mitigate iatrogenic damage to crucial anatomical structures during dental surgical procedures, thereby enhancing postoperative healing outcomes. Dynamic navigation systems (DNS) have been applied in dentistry in maxillofacial fractures, orthognathic surgery, root canal treatment, and endodontic surgery. CASE REPORT A 22-year-old female patient visited our department to assess and manage unerupted third molars. An initial cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan was obtained. Radiographic and clinical examinations showed the presence of a supernumerary tooth impacted on the lingual side between the root of the lower second premolar and the lower first molar and bilateral lower impacted third molars. The patient agreed to removal of these teeth. To perform the treatment planning of this case and to guide the surgeon intraoperatively, a dynamic surgical navigation system was recommended for surgical extraction of a supernumerary tooth and the impacted third molars. CONCLUSIONS The dynamic navigation system coupled with a high-speed contra-angle handpiece for the extraction of supernumerary teeth is a personalized, digitally-driven, precise, minimally invasive, and efficient treatment approach. In this case, the DNS and the high-speed contra-angle handpiece were seamlessly integrated to facilitate visualization of the surgical procedure, thereby safeguarding of surrounding vital anatomical structures while enhancing patient comfort.

PLAU and LAMC2 can predict a poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC.

Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common malignancy of the head and neck. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the development of HNSCC have not been fully elucidated. Materials and Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE23036 datasets. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to reveal the correlations among genes and to search for significantly correlated gene modules. The expression levels of genes in HNSCC and normal samples according to antibody-based detected methods was assessed by utilizing the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). The impact of the selected hub genes on the prognosis of HNSCC patients was assessed by analysing immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) expression levels and clinical data. Results: Twenty-four genes positively correlated with tumour status and 15 genes negatively correlated with tumour status were screened out by WGCNA. PLAU and LAMC2 were associated with a poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC and were finally screened out and verified by GEPIA and HPA database analysis. Immunohistochemistry of samples collected from 175 patients with HNSCC and subsequent statistical analysis also showed that PLAU and LAMC2 were associated with a poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC, and the levels of these two factors were positively correlated. The expression and co-localization of PLAU and LAMC2 in HNSCC tissues were confirmed by double immunofluorescence labeling. Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between PLAU and LAMC2 expression in HNSCC samples, and PLAU and LAMC2 might be independent prognostic biomarkers for HNSCC.