Effect of Smoking on Cepstral Parameters.

Smoking exerts certain damage to the voice, which affects sound characteristics. This study explored the effects of smoking, smoking time, and smoking amount on cepstral parameters. We collected the acoustic signals of sustained vowels in 301 participants (135 smokers and 166 nonsmokers). The cepstral parameters, including cepstral peak prominence (CPP), CPP standard deviation (CPP SD), low to high-frequency spectral ratio (L/H), low to high-frequency spectral ratio standard deviation (L/H SD), and voice disorder cepstral/spectral index of dysphonia (CSID), of the sustained vowels were investigated through the analysis of dysphonia in speech and voice (ADSV) application. The effects of smoking on these parameters were explored. The influences of smoking time and smoking amount on cepstral parameters were also analyzed by multiple linear regression. The CPP and L/H values in the smoking group were lower than those in the nonsmoking group (CPP: P < 0.001, L/H: P = 0.033) and negatively correlated with smoking time (CPP: R2 = 0.3828, P < 0.0001; L/H: R2 = 0.02996, P = 0.0447) and smoking amount (CPP: R2 < 0.4526, P < 0.0001; L/H: R2 = 0.08823, P = 0.00005). The CPP SD, L/H SD, and CSID values in the smoking group were higher than those in the nonsmoking group (CPP SD: P = 0.006, L/H SD: P = 0.034, CSID: P < 0.001) and positively correlated with smoking time (CPP SD: R2 = 0.03648, P = 0.0265, L/H SD: R2 = 0.09121, P = 0.0004, CSID: R2 = 0.01247, P = 0.1972) and smoking amount (CPP SD: R2 = 0.05495, P = 0.0062, L/H SD: R2 = 0.1316, P < 0.0001, CSID: R2 = 0.03851, P = 0.0225). Compared with other cepstral parameters, smoking time and smoking volume had the greatest impact on CPP (smoking time: R2 = 0.385, smoking amount: R2 = 0.443). This study confirmed that smoking has a significant effect on cepstral parameters. Compared with the cepstral parameters of nonsmokers, an increase in smoking time and smoking volume increases the abnormality of the cepstral parameters of smokers.

LINC00632 relates to milder Th1/Th2 imbalance, attenuated nasal symptoms, and better response to therapy in allergic rhinitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Long intergenic noncoding RNA 00632 (LINC00632) regulates nasal inflammation and CD4+ T cell differentiation into T helper (Th) 2 cells in allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aimed to explore the relationship between LINC00632 and Th1/Th2 balance, and the clinical value of LINC00632 in AR patients. METHODS: In total, 120 AR patients, 20 non-atopic obstructive snoring patients as disease controls (DCs), and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Their LINC00632 expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: LINC00632 expression was declined in AR patients compared with DCs and HCs (both P ˂ 0.001). Moreover, LINC00632 could distinguish AR patients from DCs with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.795 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.701-0.889), and from HCs with an AUC of 0.895 (95%CI: 0.831-0.960). LINC00632 was positively related to Th1 cells (P = 0.037) and Th1/Th2 axis (P ˂ 0.001) in AR patients. In addition, LINC00632 was inversely associated with Th2 cells (P ˂ 0.001) and interleukin (IL)-4 (P = 0.010) in AR patients. Besides, LINC00632 was negatively related to rhinorrhea score (P = 0.019), itching score (P = 0.008), sneezing score (P = 0.004), and total nasal symptom score (TNSS) (P ˂ 0.001), but no correlation between LINC00632 and congestion score was observed (P = 0.093). During treatment, LINC00632 was elevated, while TNSS score was reduced (both P ˂ 0.001). Furthermore, LINC00632 increment was associated with the reduction of TNSS score during the therapy (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: LINC00632 relates to milder Th1/Th2 imbalance, attenuated nasal symptoms, and better response during 4-week therapy in AR patients.

The PSMD14 inhibitor Thiolutin as a novel therapeutic approach for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through facilitating SNAIL degradation.

Metastasis and chemoresistance are major causes of poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), manipulated by multiple factors including deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB). DUB PSMD14 is reported to be a promising therapeutic target in various cancers. Here, we explored the antitumor activity of Thiolutin (THL), the PSMD14 inhibitor, as a new therapy strategy in ESCC. Methods: Through 4-NQO-induced murine ESCC model, we investigated the expression of PSMD14 in esophageal tumorigenesis. Ubiquitin-AMC assay was performed to evaluate DUB activity of PSMD14 with THL treatment. The effect of THL on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, stemness and chemosensitivity was detected by using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Immunoprecipitation and in vivo ubiquitination assay were conducted to examine whether THL could impair the deubiquitination and stability of SNAIL regulated by PSMD14. Results: Compared with normal esophageal epithelium, PSMD14 was upregulated in 4-NQO-induced murine esophageal epithelium dysplasia and ESCC tissues. THL could significantly weaken DUB activity of PSMD14. Furthermore, the results of in vitro and in vivo assays showed that THL efficiently suppressed motility and stemness and increased sensitivity to cisplatin in ESCC. Mechanically, THL impaired the interaction between PSMD14 and SNAIL, then promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of SNAIL to inhibit EMT which plays a crucial role in ESCC metastasis, stemness and chemosensitivity. TCGA database analysis revealed that high concomitant PSMD14/SNAIL expression predicted shorter overall survival in esophageal cancer. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate for the first time that suppression of PSMD14/SNAIL axis by THL could be a novel and promising therapeutic approach for ESCC clinical therapy.

Two cases of rare thyroid malignancy-case report.

We report 2 cases of rare thyroid malignancy: angiosarcoma and myoepithelial carcinoma (MC). Thyroid angiosarcomas (TAS) is extremely rare and comprises less than 1% of primary thyroid cancer worldwide. MC usually presents as a slow-growing painless mass arising in the salivary glands. It has not been reported in the thyroid gland. The first case describes a 59-year-old patient who was admitted to hospital with the discovery of thyroid nodule for 1 month. The tumor thrombus was found in the left internal jugular vein and superior thyroid artery during the operation. Diagnosis of angiosarcoma of the thyroid was based on positive endothelial markers such as thrombomodulin and CD31 after total thyroidectomy. The left internal jugular vein, left recurrent laryngeal nerve and anterior cervical banding muscle were invaded by thyroid tumor. No lymph node metastasis was observed. The patient died after 4 years. The second case describes a 55-year-old woman who presented with the discovery of thyroid nodule for 1 month. Right thyroid lobectomy and right neck lymph node functional dissection were carried out. The results from postoperative pathology revealed that papillary carcinoma in right lobe of thyroid and MC next to thyroid were found. Besides, the metastasis of MC was observed at right II-IV level and right VI level. Five years later, the patient was re-admitted to hospital, primarily due to the discovery of anterior cervical tumor for one year. Then, she underwent left thyroid lobectomy and right tumor resection. Postoperative routine pathology showed recurrent MC in the right thyroid. After surgery and radiotherapy, the patient was followed up for 2 years. Angiosarcoma and myoepithelioma should be kept in mind in diagnosis of thyroid malignant tumor.

Genomic DNA methylation analysis reveals that BLNK is a key potential gene in the regulation of autophagy-related thyroid cancer progression.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between autophagy and DNA methylation, and to identify key genes for autophagy-regulated thyroid cancer progression. We divided patients with thyroid cancer into high-autophagy score (AS) group and low-AS group based on their AS values. The results found that AS was associated with the distant metastasis of thyroid cancer, and adversely affected prognosis. Then, we screened 359 differently expressed genes (DEGs) with DNA methylation status consistent with gene expression change. Functional classification analysis demonstrated that the 359 DEGs consistent with DNA methylation status were significantly involved in adhesion, migration, and differentiation of immune cells. To further screen the key genes in the autophagy-related thyroid cancer progression, we constructed a protein-protein interactions (PPI) network and performed prognostic analysis. B cell linker (BLNK) was identified as the key potential gene affecting autophagy-related thyroid cancer progression. Finally, we verified that BLNK promoted the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells, and BLNK expression was regulated by DNA methylation. Our research provides a new perspective for exploring the relationship between autophagy and DNA methylation during the progression of thyroid cancer and provides a new target for the treatment of metastatic thyroid cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a comprehensive treatment in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is important for advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma (LHC).Aims/objectives: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of docetaxel, nedaplatin, and 5-fluorouracil in induction treatment of advanced LHC.Material and methods: A total of 157 cancer patients were included. The primary endpoints of this study were overall response rate, pathological complete response rate, the safety of induction treatment, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).Results: After two-cycle induction treatment, 17(10.8%) patients experienced complete remission, 76 (48.4%) experienced partial remission, 47 (30.0%) had stable disease, and 17 (10.8%) had progressive disease. The TNM stage decreased by two or more in 17 cases, decreased by one in 71 cases, increased in 15 cases, and did not change in 54 cases after induction treatment. Most of the adverse chemotherapy responses were alleviated by symptomatic management. After the induction treatment, 29 patients continued receiving chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, and 112 underwent surgical management depending on tumor site followed by radiotherapy. The median PFS was 13.00 ± 2.10 months and the median OS was 14.20 ± 0.29 months.Conclusions and significance: Combination of docetaxel, nedaplatin, and 5-fluorouracil plays an important role in the comprehensive treatment of advanced LHC.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG20 promotes the tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma via targeting miR-197/LIN28 axis.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been verified to participate in the tumour regulation, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Nevertheless, the role of lncRNA SNHG20 on OSCC still remains elusive. Here, we investigate the physiopathologic functions of lncRNA SNHG20 in OSCC tumorigenesis and explore its potential mechanism. LncRNA SNHG20 was up-regulated in OSCC tissue compared with adjacent non-tumour tissue. Meanwhile, SNHG20 was overexpressed in cancer stem-like cells. In vitro and in vivo, loss-of-function experiments showed that lncRNA SNHG20 knockdown inhibited proliferative ability, mammosphere-forming ability, ALDH1 expression, stem factors (LIN28, Nanog, Oct4, SOX2) and tumour growth. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-197 targeted the 3'-untranslated regions of SNHG20 and LIN28 by complementary binding. Validation experiments confirmed the associated functions of SNHG20/miR-197/LIN28 axis on OSCC proliferation and stemness. In summary, our results reveal the important function of SNHG20/miR-197/LIN28 axis in the oncogenesis and stemness of OSCC, suggesting the vital role of SNHG20 in OSCC tumorigenesis.

EGFRwt/vIII-PKM2-ß-catenin cascade affects proliferation and chemo-sensitivity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Patients suffered from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have an overall poor prognosis owing to proliferation and resistance to treatment. Hence, mining the underlying mechanism of malignancies above and translating the bench outcomes to clinical practice are in urgent need. Previous studies found that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) increases and co-expresses with EGFRvIII in HNSCC tissues, which indicates poor prognosis of HNSCC patients. Here, we clarify that compared with EGFRwt, EGFRwt/vIII enhances the capability of proliferation and colony formation in HNSCC cells in vitro, and reduces the sensitivity to cisplatin. Furthermore, EGFRwt/vIII induces nuclear translocation of the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) in a time-dependent manner. The aberrant expression of PKM2 in HNSCC suggests unfavorable outcome. Especially, nuclear PKM2 determines the activation of ß-catenin signaling and regulates the proliferation and chemo-sensitivity of HNSCC cells. Together, our findings demonstrate that EGFRwt/vIII-PKM2-ß-catenin cascade controls the proliferation and chemo-sensitivity of HNSCC, thereby providing a promising strategy for diagnosis and therapy of HNSCC.

[Clinical application of endoscopy-assisted resection of tumors in parapharyngeal space].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the advancement of the endoscopic video system in parapharyngeal space tumor resection. METHODS: Thirty cases parapharyngeal space tumor patients underwent endoscopy-assisted tumors resection in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery of Tianjin First Central Hospital. The passway included trans-oral cavity in 6 cases, 21 cases with trans-neck side and trans-neck-parotid gland in 3 cases. RESULTS: Tumors of all cases were completely resected, without residual tumor. It was included 23 cases of benign tumors (14 cases of parotid pleomorphic adenoma, 8 cases of neurilemmoma, lymph node tuberculosis in 1 case), malignant tumor in 7 cases (2 cases of metastatic carcinoma, 2 cases of malignant mixed tumor, 1 case of malignant neurilemmoma, 2 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma). Tongue deflection was recorded in 2 cases. There were neither wound infection or bleeding. All the cases were followed up after operation without recurrence. Seven cases of malignant tumor patients were all alive with follow-up 1 year in 1 case, 3 years in 4 cases, 2 cases for five years. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy-assisted tumors resection can deal with visual lesion corner and allow previous part no visibility surgery into all operation under direct vision. It contributed to improve the quality of operation, reduce the surgery complication. It was worth to be wide spreaded in clinic.