Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes and skin photoaging: From basic research to practical application.

BACKGROUND: Skin photoaging is a condition caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet irradiation, resulting in a variety of changes in the skin, such as capillary dilation, increased or absent pigmentation, dryness, sagging, and wrinkles. Stem cells possess a remarkable antioxidant capacity and the ability to proliferate, differentiate, and migrate, and their main mode of action is through paracrine secretion, with exosomes being the primary form of secretion. Stem cell-derived exosomes contain a variety of growth factors and cytokines and may have great potential to promote skin repair and delay skin ageing. METHODS: This review focuses on the mechanisms of UV-induced skin photoaging, the research progress of stem cell exosomes against skin photoaging, emerging application approaches and limitations in the application of exosome therapy. RESULT: Exosomes derived from various stem cells have the potential to prevent skin photoaging. CONCLUSION: The combination with novel materials may be a key step for their practical application, which could be an important direction for future basic research and practical applications.

Surgical treatment of pulsatile tinnitus related to the sigmoid sinus.

Objective: Tinnitus-a common clinical symptom-can be categorized into pulsatile tinnitus (PT) and non-PT. Among these, PT is usually associated with sigmoid sinus symptoms, such as sigmoid sinus wall defect or diverticulum, for which various surgical treatments are available. We have discussed the clinical efficacy of surgery for sigmoid sinus-associated PT via the transmastoid approach in this study. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 4 patients who underwent surgery for sigmoid sinus-associated PT via the transmastoid approach at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January to December 2020. Of these, 2 patients had sigmoid sinus wall defect and 2 had sigmoid sinus diverticulum. Post-operative tinnitus grading and surgical efficacy were determined. Results: After surgery, PT dissolved in 3 patients, while tinnitus significantly decreased in 1 patient. During the follow-up period of 12-18 months, none of the 4 patients showed complications related to increased intracranial pressure or venous sinus thrombosis, and tinnitus symptoms disappeared in 3 patients without recurrence, although 1 patient occasionally developed tinnitus. Postoperative thin-slice CTA of the temporal bone indicated that the sigmoid sinus bone wall defect or diverticulum was completely repaired with a thick soft tissue coverage. Conclusion: Surgical repair of sigmoid sinus-associated PT via the transmastoid approach deserves clinical promotion as it exhibited better efficiency while being relatively less invasive.

Flexible endoscopy in the visualization of 3D-printed maxillary sinus and clinical application.

BACKGROUND: During postoperative follow-up, the visible range of maxillary sinus (MS) is limited, even combining 0° and 70° rigid endoscopes together. Flexible endoscope has been used in larynx examinations for a long time, but rarely in nasal cavity and sinus. We aimed to evaluate the application values of rigid and flexible endoscopes for visualization of MS. METHODS: We followed up 70 patients with lesions in MS via both rigid and flexible endoscopes. In addition, we used thin-slice CT image of the sinus to create a MS model and divided it into two parts for 3D printing. The inner surface of the 3D-printed sinus was marked with grid papers of the same size (5 mm × 5 mm), then the visual range under rigid endoscopes with different angle and flexible endoscopes was calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: In clinical follow-up, we found that flexible endoscopy can reach where rigid endoscopy cannot, which is more sensitive than medical imaging. Endoscopes showed the largest observation range of the posterolateral wall, more than half of which can be visualized by 0° endoscope. Almost all of the posterolateral wall can be revealed under 45° endoscope, 70° endoscope and flexible endoscope. The visual range of each wall under flexible endoscope is generally greater than that under rigid endoscopes, especially of the anterior wall, medial wall and inferior wall. CONCLUSION: There was obviously overall advantage of using flexible endoscope in postoperative follow-up of MS lesions. Flexible endoscopy can expand the range of observation, and improve the early detection of the recurrent lesion. We recommend flexible endoscope as a routine application.

The prognostic value of before treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers (NLR, dNLR, PLR and LMR) in NPC patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 111 NPC patients from January 2013 and December 2016. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to determine the cut-off values of these inflammatory biomarkers. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression model were used to evaluate the association between these parameters and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The optimal critical value of NLR was 2.02, by which cases were divided into high NLR group (NLR ≥ 2.02) and low NLR group (NLR < 2.02). The elevated NLR was significantly associated with decreased OS (P = 0.009) and remained significant in multivariate analysis (HR 8.48, 95% CI 1.69-42.46, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The before treatment NLR may be an independent prognostic biomarker for OS in patients with NPC. NLR, dNLR and PLR might be a useful complement to TNM staging in the prognosis evaluation of NPC patients.

Metabolic Analysis of Potential Key Genes Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

The biological mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. In this study, we found 21 proteins upregulated and 38 proteins downregulated by SLE relative to normal protein metabolism in our samples using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. By PPI network analysis, we identified 9 key proteins of SLE, including AHSG, VWF, IGF1, ORM2, ORM1, SERPINA1, IGF2, IGFBP3, and LEP. In addition, we identified 4569 differentially expressed metabolites in SLE sera, including 1145 reduced metabolites and 3424 induced metabolites. Bioinformatics analysis showed that protein alterations in SLE were associated with modulation of multiple immune pathways, TP53 signaling, and AMPK signaling. In addition, we found altered metabolites associated with valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; one carbon pool by folate; tyrosine metabolism; arginine and proline metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; limonene and pinene degradation; tryptophan metabolism; caffeine metabolism; vitamin B6 metabolism. We also constructed differently expressed protein-metabolite network to reveal the interaction among differently expressed proteins and metabolites in SLE. A total of 481 proteins and 327 metabolites were included in this network. Although the role of altered metabolites and proteins in the diagnosis and therapy of SLE needs to be further investigated, the present study may provide new insights into the role of metabolites in SLE.

Stem cell-derived exosomes: A supernova in cosmetic dermatology.

INTRODUCTION: Stem cell-derived exosomes are cell-free vesicles secreted by stem cells. Exosomes play a pivotal role in cell-to cell communication due to the functional proteins and genetic information which they carry. In addition, studies on cell migration, tumor invasion, tissue regeneration, myocardial repair after injury, and fracture healing have been widely reported. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this review is to sum up the current state of research on multiple stem cell-derived exosomes in cosmetic dermatology and to discuss the current challenges and future directions. METHODS: We searched "skin" and "exosome" from PubMed to find the application of stem cell exosomes in cosmetic dermatology. RESULTS: We found that stem cell-derived exosomes have an important place in skin cosmetology such as wound healing, skin aging, and scar formation. CONCLUSION: Stem cell derived exosomes supply a potential tool to cosmetic dermatology. The performance of stem cell derived exosomes in regulating skin physiological and pathobiological functions suggests that stem cell derived exosomes have potential in cosmetic dermatology.

Presurgical platelet-lymphocyte ratio for prognosis in advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in individuals undergoing radical resection.

BACKGROUND: Patient prognosis in hypopharyngeal carcinoma remains difficult to predict, necessitating new, readily available biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)'s effects on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in individuals undergoing radical resection for advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). METHODS: A total of 89 patients were retrospectively assessed. PLR, and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte (dNLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR) ratios were determined based on complete blood count. Then, the prognostic values of PLR, dNLR and NLR were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses adjusted for disease-specific prognostic factors. Endpoints of interest were RFS and OS. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff of PLR was 98.815, based on which individuals were categorized into the high- (PLR ≥98.815) and low- (PLR <98.815) PLR groups. High PLR (p = .022) had a significant association with reduced RFS, which still showed significance in multivariable analysis (HR = 2.020, 95%CI: 1.076-3.794, p = .029). In univariate analysis, PLR (p = .046) and positive surgical margin (p = .021) also had significant associations with OS. CONCLUSION: Elevated PLR has associations with increased risk of recurrence and reduced survival in advanced HSCC cases undergoing radical resection. High presurgical PLR may independently predict RFS. Therefore, further multi-institutional prospective studies are needed to better characterize the role of pre-operative blood PLR as prognostic factors in HSCC.

Preoperative platelet-lymphocyte ratio predicts recurrence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of preoperative platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR (dNLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) on the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Materials & methods: Overall survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Multivariable Cox regression model was used to evaluate the independent prognostic significance of variables. Results: High PLR (>103.96), NLR (>1.96) and dNLR (>1.70) predicted lower RFS according to Kaplan-Meier method. In COX regression model, patients with high PLR had poor RFS estimates compared with those with lower PLR (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative PLR was a more valuable prognostic factor than NLR, dNLR and LMR for the recurrence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The prognostic value of preoperative derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients undergoing total laryngectomy with laryngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicate that inflammation plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Inflammatory response biomarkers are recognized as promising prognostic factors in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) in patients with total laryngectomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 137 patients with LSCC who received total laryngectomy from January 2009 to December 2015. The preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and dNLR were calculated. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off values of these parameters. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression model were used to evaluate the association between these parameters and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The optimal critical value of dNLR was 1.85, by which cases were divided into high dNLR group (dNLR ≥ 1.85) and low dNLR group (dNLR < 1.85). The elevated dNLR was significantly associated with decreased RFS (HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.56-4.75, p = .000) and remained significant in multivariate analysis (p = .034). However, we did not find any significant correlation between dNLR and OS. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated preoperative dNLR may be an independent prognostic biomarker for RFS in patients undergoing total laryngectomy with LSCC.

[Low-temperature-dependent Raman study on A1 (LO) mode of 6H-SiC].

Variable temperature method was lent for low temperature Raman study on bulk monocrystal 6H-SiC in the temperature range from 80 to 320 K. Some Raman folding modes of 6H-SiC were assigned in the spectrum. The peak position and line width of optical phonon A1 (LO) versus temperature mainly below RT was focused on by 3-phonon and 4-phonon models. The result showed that as the temperature decreased the line width decreased, while the peak position shifted to high wave number. It was found that as the temperature varied below 160 K, the change in peak position and line width was little, different from it was at RT, revealing that the line type of A1 (LO) mode was mainly decided by the phonon characteristics and the effect of temperature could be ignored when it was below 160 K. It was showed that 4-phonon model was closer to the experiment data for fitting. Both the third and forth anharmonic vibration contributed to the spectrum, while the former was the main process. Moreover, the phonon lifetime became longer when the temperature fell because of the decrease in the atomic thermal motion.

[A Raman study of ZnO powders with ZnO2 as precursor].

Raman spectra of ZnO powders prepared by firing ZnO2 precipitate were reported in detail for the first time. By comparing the spectra with that of the sample fabricated by another method and analyzing frequency difference between the focused-laser irradiated samples with different firing temperature in preparation, it was concluded that the -333 cm(-1) peak is ascribed to E2 (high)-E2 (low) and the -661 cm(-1) peak to its overtone. In addition, a new interpretation for the observed Raman peaks between 400 and 500 cm(-1) in ZnO2 powders was presented based on the IR data and ab initio calculation.