Iodide-umpolung catalytic system for non-traditional amide coupling from nitroalkanes and amines.

An N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) catalyst was developed for use in the non-traditional synthesis of amide derivatives from nitroalkanes and amines. In contrast to traditional oxidative catalysis, this catalytic system involves reversing the polarities of two catalytic components (umpolung) by means of a hypervalent iodine reagent. A variety of functional groups were tolerated in the reaction, suggesting that they have the potential for use in other types of oxidative catalytic reactions.

Fluoroquinolones upregulate insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3, inhibit cell growth and insulin-like growth factor signaling.

Fluoroquinolones (FQs), commonly known for their antibiotic properties, exhibit additional pharmacological potential with anti-proliferative effects on various malignant cell types and immunomodulatory responses. Despite these observed effects, the precise mechanisms of action remain elusive. This study elucidates the biological impact of FQs on insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) productions in a p53-dependent manner. Cultured cells and mouse models treated with FQs demonstrated increased IGFBP-3 mRNA expression and protein secretion. The FQ-induced IGFBP-3 was identified to impede cell growth by inhibiting IGF-I signaling and exerting effects through an IGF-independent pathway. Notably, FQ-mediated suppression of cell proliferation was reversed in p53-null and p53 knockdown cells, suggesting the pivotal role of p53 in FQ-induced IGFBP-3 production and IGFBP-3-mediated growth inhibition. Additionally, ciprofloxacin, a clinically used FQ, exhibited the induction of tumor cell apoptosis and attenuation of tumor growth in a syngeneic mouse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model. These findings unveil a novel mechanism through which FQs act as anti-proliferative agents, prompting further exploration of their potential utility or derivative compounds in cancer treatment and prevention.

Monocular Vision Loss After Ear Filler Injection.

Ophthalmic artery occlusion caused by facial hyaluronic acid filler injection has always been a rare but devastating complication. With the pursuit of beauty, people have become more interested in ears and hyaluronic acid fillers. Herein, we report the case of a more serious rare complication of ophthalmic artery occlusion caused by ear filler injection. A 45-year-old woman developed vision loss on the left side immediately after receiving cosmetic hyaluronic acid injection in the ear, with only the visual field at the inferior temporal side remaining. She was diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion in the left eye. After treatment with hyaluronidase injection, dexamethasone, hyperbaric oxygen, and oral alprostadil, blood flow was partially restored in the left ophthalmic artery, and her vision improved. Vascular complications after ear injections are rare. However, as the demand for ear filler injections increases, the probability of serious vascular complications is predicted to increase. The potential mechanism by which occlusion occurred involved the filler reaching the superficial temporal artery system through the superior auricular artery, thus occluding the ophthalmic artery. Having an understanding of anatomy is an important measure to avoid complications.Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Prodigiosin Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor ß Signaling by Interfering Receptor Recycling and Subcellular Translocation in Epithelial Cells.

Prodigiosin (PG) is a naturally occurring polypyrrole red pigment produced by numerous microorganisms including some Serratia and Streptomyces strains. PG has exhibited promising anticancer activity; however, the molecular mechanisms of action of PG on malignant cells remain ambiguous. Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is a multifunctional cytokine that governs a wide array of cellular processes in development and tissue homeostasis. Malfunctions of TGF-ß signaling are associated with numerous human cancers. Emerging evidence underscores the significance of internalized TGF-ß receptors and their intracellular trafficking in initiating signaling cascades. In this study, we identified PG as a potent inhibitor of the TGF-ß pathway. PG blocked TGF-ß signaling by targeting multiple sites of this pathway, including facilitating the sequestering of TGF-ß receptors in the cytoplasm by impeding the recycling of type II TGF-ß receptors to the cell surface. Additionally, PG prompts a reduction in the abundance of receptors on the cell surface through the disruption of the receptor glycosylation. In human Caucasian lung carcinoma cells and human hepatocellular cancer cell line cells, nanomolar concentrations of PG substantially diminish TGF-ß-triggered phosphorylation of Smad2 protein. This attenuation is further reflected in the suppression of downstream target gene expression, including those encoding fibronectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and N-cadherin. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Prodigiosin (PG) emerges from this study as a potent TGF-ß pathway inhibitor, disrupting receptor trafficking and glycosylation and reducing TGF-ß signaling and downstream gene expression. These findings not only shed light on PG's potential therapeutic role but also present a captivating avenue towards future anti-TGF-ß strategies.

Intermittent Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Mimicking a Ventricular Tachycardia.

This case report describes a patient in their 50s with a history of pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who presented to the emergency department with sudden onset shortness of breath.

Correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms in inpatients with COVID-19 in Taiwan.

Objectives: Inpatients with COVID-19 may experience high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms during the pandemic. No prior study has examined these symptoms with COVID-19 inpatients in Taiwan. Using data from a tertiary hospital in Northern Taiwan, we investigated anxiety and depressive symptoms and the associated sociodemographic or clinical characteristics in these patients. Methods: Data of anxiety and depressive symptoms by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as well as the sociodemographic and clinical correlates were retrospectively retrieved and analyzed for COVID-19 patients admitted to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital from June 4 to June 28, 2021. Results: In total, 152 patients with COVID-19 were included. Among all the COVID-19 inpatients, 9.9 % (n = 15) had an HADS anxiety score of ≥8 and 7.2 % (n = 11) had an HADS depression score of ≥8. COVID-19 inpatients with HADS anxiety score ≥8 or HADS depression score ≥8 were found to have a longer length of hospital stay compared to the respective comparison group. The female patients, patients aged >55 years, and patients hospitalized for >15 days had significantly higher anxiety scores than did the corresponding comparison groups. Conclusion: COVID-19 inpatients with either anxiety or depression were associated with longer length of hospital stay. Age, sex, and hospitalization length were found to be associated with anxiety symptoms in inpatients with COVID-19. Future studies are warranted to elucidate differential mechanisms potentially related to anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with COVID-19.

Suppression of TGFß-Induced Interleukin-6 Secretion by Sinulariolide from Soft Corals through Attenuation of the p38-NF-kB Pathway in Carcinoma Cells.

Sinulariolide (SC-1) is a natural product extracted from the cultured-type soft coral Sinularia flexibilis and possesses anti-inflammation, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory in several types of cancer cells. However, the molecular pathway behind its effects on inflammation remains poorly understood. Since inflammatory cytokines such as TGFß, TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 activate transcription factors such as Smads, NF-κB, STAT3, Snail, Twist, and Zeb that drive the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in this study, we focus on the investigation in effects of SC-1 on TGFß-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) releases in an in vitro cell culture model. We showed that both intracellular IL-6 expression and secretion were stimulated by TGFß and associated with strong upregulation of IL-6 mRNA and increased transcription in A549 cells. SC-1 blocked TGFß-induced secretion of IL-6 while showing no effect on the induction of fibronectin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 genes, indicating that SC-1 interferes with only a subset of TGFß activities. In addition, SC-1 inhibits TGFß-induced IL-6 by suppressing p38 MAPK signaling and subsequently inhibits NF-κB and its nuclear translocation without affecting the canonical Smad pathway and receptor turnover. Overall, these data suggest that p38 may involve in the inhibition of SC-1 in IL-6 release, thus illustrating an inhibitory effect for SC-1 in the suppression of inflammation, EMT phenotype, and tumorigenesis.

TMEM211 Promotes Tumor Progression and Metastasis in Colon Cancer.

Colon cancer is the third most important cancer type, leading to a remarkable number of deaths, indicating the necessity of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colon cancer patients. Several transmembrane proteins (TMEMs) are associated with tumor progression and cancer malignancy. However, the clinical significance and biological roles of TMEM211 in cancer, especially in colon cancer, are still unknown. In this study, we found that TMEM211 was highly expressed in tumor tissues and the increased TMEM211 was associated with poor prognosis in colon cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We also showed that abilities regarding migration and invasion were reduced in TMEM211-silenced colon cancer cells (HCT116 and DLD-1). Moreover, TMEM211-silenced colon cancer cells showed decreased levels of Twist1, N-cadherin, Snail and Slug but increased levels of E-cadherin. Levels of phosphorylated ERK, AKT and RelA (NF-κB p65) were also decreased in TMEM211-silenced colon cancer cells. Our findings indicate that TMEM211 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition for metastasis through coactivating the ERK, AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways, which might provide a potential prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target for colon cancer patients in the future.

Pantothenate Kinase 4 Governs Lens Epithelial Fibrosis by Negatively Regulating Pyruvate Kinase M2-Related Glycolysis.

Lens fibrosis is one of the leading causes of cataract in the elderly population. The primary energy substrate of the lens is glucose from the aqueous humor, and the transparency of mature lens epithelial cells (LECs) is dependent on glycolysis for ATP. Therefore, the deconstruction of reprogramming of glycolytic metabolism can contribute to further understanding of LEC epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the present study, we found a novel pantothenate kinase 4 (PANK4)-related glycolytic mechanism that regulates LEC EMT. The PANK4 level was correlated with aging in cataract patients and mice. Loss of function of PANK4 significantly contributed to alleviating LEC EMT by upregulating pyruvate kinase M2 isozyme (PKM2), which was phosphorylated at Y105, thus switching oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. However, PKM2 regulation did not affect PANK4, demonstrating the downstream role of PKM2. Inhibition of PKM2 in Pank4-/- mice caused lens fibrosis, which supports the finding that the PANK4-PKM2 axis is required for LEC EMT. Glycolytic metabolism-governed hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling is involved in PANK4-PKM2-related downstream signaling. However, HIF-1α elevation was independent of PKM2 (S37) but PKM2 (Y105) when PANK4 was deleted, which demonstrated that PKM2 and HIF-1α were not involved in a classic positive feedback loop. Collectively, these results indicate a PANK4-related glycolysis switch that may contribute to HIF-1 stabilization and PKM2 phosphorylation at Y105 and inhibit LEC EMT. The mechanism elucidation in our study may also shed light on fibrosis treatments for other organs.

The Clinical and Biological Effects of Receptor Expression-Enhancing Protein 6 in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

There are currently no effective biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), which causes a poor 5-year overall survival rate. Thus, it is crucial to identify more effective diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for TSCC patients. The receptor expression-enhancing protein 6 (REEP6), a transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, controls the expression or transport of a subset of proteins or receptors. Although it was reported that REEP6 plays a role in lung and colon cancers, its clinical impact and biological role in TSCC are still unknown. The present study aimed to identify a novel effective biomarker and therapeutic target for TSCC patients. Expression levels of REEP6 in specimens from TSCC patients were determined with immunohistochemistry. Gene knockdown was used to evaluate the effects of REEP6 in cancer malignancy (colony/tumorsphere formation, cell cycle regulation, migration, drug resistance and cancer stemness) of TSCC cells. The clinical impact of REEP6 expression and gene co-expression on prognosis were analyzed in oral cancer patients including TSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Tumor tissues had higher levels of REEP6 compared to normal tissues in TSCC patients. Higher REEP6 expression was related to shorter disease-free survival (DFS) in oral cancer patients with poorly differentiated tumor cells. REEP6-knocked-down TSCC cells showed diminished colony/tumorsphere formation, and they also caused G1 arrest and decreased migration, drug resistance and cancer stemness. A high co-expression of REEP6/epithelial-mesenchymal transition or cancer stemness markers also resulted in poor DFS in oral cancer patients. Thus, REEP6 is involved in the malignancy of TSCC and might serve as a potential diagnostic/prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TSCC patients.

Deep Temporal Artery Anatomy: Implications for Improving the Safety of Deep Temporal Injections.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the anatomy of the deep temporal artery (DTA) is critical to ensure safe filling of the deep temporal region. However, current treatment guidelines still focus on how to avoid the superficial temporal artery and the middle temporal vein, and an understanding of the safety of avoiding DTA injury is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the positioning and course of the DTA to help clinicians safely perform the injection and filling in the temporal region. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) scans and dissections of the skulls of 34 fresh frozen cadavers perfused with lead oxide were performed. Reconstruction and trajectory analysis of all DTA branches were performed using Mimics and MATLAB software. RESULTS: In this study, the DTA was identified in all samples, which originated from the maxillary artery of the external carotid artery system. According to image reconstruction and anatomical observations, the distribution of the anterior and posterior branches of the DTA had two different distribution patterns. The anatomical level of the DTA is located between the temporal muscle and the periosteal layer. Compared with observations in previous studies, the anterior branch of the DTA is slightly different, and we found that its course is closer to the frontal area in Asian specimens. CONCLUSION: The anatomical information on the DTA described in this study may help improve awareness of the safety of temporal injection by aesthetic physicians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. .

Betulinic Acid Inhibits the Stemness of Gastric Cancer Cells by Regulating the GRP78-TGF-ß1 Signaling Pathway and Macrophage Polarization.

Cancer stemness is the process by which cancer cells acquire chemoresistance and self-renewal in the tumor microenvironment. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is a biomarker for gastric cancer and is involved in cancer stemness. By inducing cancer stemness in various types of cancer, the polarization of macrophages into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) controls tumor progression. Betulinic acid (BA) is a bioactive natural compound with anticancer properties. However, whether GRP78 regulates TAM-mediated cancer stemness in the tumor microenvironment and whether BA inhibits GRP78-mediated cancer stemness in gastric cancer remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of GRP78 in gastric cancer stemness in a tumor microenvironment regulated by BA. The results indicated that BA inhibited not only GRP78-mediated stemness-related protein expression and GRP78-TGF-ß-mediated macrophage polarization into TAMs, but also TAM-mediated cancer stemness. Therefore, BA is a promising candidate for clinical application in combination-chemotherapy targeting cancer stemness.

Zygomatico-Orbital Artery: A Reevaluation of the Temporal Blood Vessels.

BACKGROUND: The current anatomical description of the zygomatico-orbital artery (ZOA) is mainly based on cadaver head studies and does not accurately reflect the complete anatomical information of the ZOA. The purpose of this study was to reveal the anatomical characteristics of the ZOA and to provide an anatomical basis for relevant operations in the temporal area. METHODS: Computed tomographic scans and autopsies were performed on 78 cadaver heads perfused with lead oxide. Mimics software was used to construct a three-dimensional image based on the bilateral intertragic notches and the right inferior orbital margin for a detailed analysis of the ZOA. RESULTS: The occurrence rate of ZOA in the 101 qualified hemisectioned cadaver heads was 86.14% (87 of 101). According to our observations, 46 of 87 (52.87%) originated from the superficial temporal artery above the zygomatic arch, 23 of 87 (26.44%) from the superficial temporal artery under the zygomatic arch, and 18 of 87 (20.69%) from the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery. The ZOA communicates with the deep and superficial arches of the supraorbital artery, transverse facial artery, and ophthalmic artery. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the anatomical characteristics of the ZOA. Moreover, these findings may guide skin flap transplantation and prevent associated injection complications.

Isoliquiritigenin Inhibits Gastric Cancer Stemness, Modulates Tumor Microenvironment, and Suppresses Tumor Growth through Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 Downregulation.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for gastric cancer; however, the currently available therapeutic drugs for treatment have limited efficacy. Cancer stemness and the tumor microenvironment may play crucial roles in tumor growth and chemoresistance. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone facilitating protein folding and cell homeostasis during stress and may participate in chemoresistance. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a bioactive flavonoid found in licorice. In this study, we demonstrated the role of GRP78 in gastric cancer stemness and evaluated GRP78-mediated stemness inhibition, tumor microenvironment regulation, and chemosensitivity promotion by ISL. ISL not only suppressed GRP78-mediated gastric cancer stem cell-like characteristics, stemness-related protein expression, and cancer-associated fibroblast activation but also gastric tumor growth in xenograft animal studies. The findings indicated that ISL is a promising candidate for clinical use in combination chemotherapy.

Alleviation of oxidative stress in pancreatic tissue of hyperglycemic mice by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SCS4.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SCS4 in alleviating oxidative stress in the pancreatic tissue of hyperglycemic mice. A total of 90 six-week-old specific pathogen-free male Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups [normal group (NG), blank control group (MG), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control group (CG), SCS4 first control group (DT1), SCS4 second control group (DT2), and SCS4 third control group (DT3)]. Except the NG group, in the other five groups, streptozotocin (STZ) was intraperitoneally injected for five consecutive days to establish a hyperglycemia model; the concentration of STZ was 50 mg/kg (bw). After successful modeling, DT1, DT2, and DT3 mice were administered 0.2 ml of L. plantarum SCS4 bacterial solution (1010 colony forming unit/ml), the cellular content of L. plantarum SCS4, and the inactivated cellular content of L. plantarum SCS4, respectively. Furthermore, 0.2 ml of PBS was given to mice in the CG group for control. The levels of insulin (INS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the morphology of the pancreas was observed. The results showed that after 10 weeks of gavage treatment, the level of INS in the DT3 group significantly increased to 6.36 mIU/L compared with that in the MG group (p < .05). Meanwhile, the levels of ROS and MDA of DT3 returned to normal levels of 291.07 IU/ml and 4.29 mnol/L, respectively. The activities of various antioxidant enzymes increased. The levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx in DT3 were the closest to the levels in NG. In addition, the pathological sections showed that the degree of pancreatic tissue lesions was relatively more severe in the MG group than in the NG group. The degree of pancreatic tissue lesions was relatively less severe in the DT2 group than in the MG group, and no significant lesion was seen in the DT3 group. Our results indicated that the inactivated bacterial content of L. planetarium SCS4 was more effective in improving oxidative stress in the pancreas of hyperglycemic mice. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: L. plantarum SCS4 was separated from fermented sausage in Sichuan. This study indicated that inactivated bacterial content of L. planetarium SCS4 was more effective in improving oxidative stress in the pancreas of hyperglycemic mice. The results suggested that lactic acid bacteria from traditional foods with ability of improving oxidative damage, which can be applied in food nutrition and related fields to make people with good dietary habits and prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases such as type II diabetes effectively.

The Antileukemic and Anti-Prostatic Effect of Aeroplysinin-1 Is Mediated through ROS-Induced Apoptosis via NOX Activation and Inhibition of HIF-1a Activity.

Aeroplysinin-1 is a brominated isoxazoline alkaloid that has exhibited a potent antitumor cell effect in previous reports. We evaluated the cytotoxicity of aeroplysinin-1 against leukemia and prostate cancer cells in vitro. This marine alkaloid inhibited the cell proliferation of leukemia Molt-4, K562 cells, and prostate cancer cells Du145 and PC-3 with IC50 values of 0.12 ± 0.002, 0.54 ± 0.085, 0.58 ± 0.109 and 0.33 ± 0.042 µM, respectively, as shown by the MTT assay. Furthermore, in the non-malignant cells, CCD966SK and NR8383, its IC50 values were 1.54 ± 0.138 and 6.77 ± 0.190 µM, respectively. In a cell-free system, the thermal shift assay and Western blot assay verified the binding affinity of aeroplysinin-1 to Hsp90 and Topo IIα, which inhibited their activity. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the cytotoxic effect of aeroplysinin-1 is mediated through mitochondria-dependent apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS interrupted the cellular oxidative balance by activating NOX and inhibiting HIF-1α and HO-1 expression. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced Apl-1-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and preserved the expression of NOX, HO-1, and HIF-1a. Our findings indicated that aeroplysinin-1 targeted leukemia and prostate cancer cells through multiple pathways, suggesting its potential application as an anti-leukemia and prostate cancer drug lead.

Endoglin Modulates TGFßR2 Induced VEGF and Proinflammatory Cytokine Axis Mediated Angiogenesis in Prolonged DEHP-Exposed Breast Cancer Cells.

Angiogenesis is the process of vascular network development and plays a crucial role in cancer growth, progression, and metastasis. Phthalates are a class of environmental pollutants that have detrimental effects on human health and are reported to increase cancer risk. However, the interplay between phthalate exposure and angiogenesis has not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, we investigated the effect of prolonged di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) treatment on the angiogenic potential of triple-negative breast cancer. MDA-MB-231 cells were exposed to physiological concentrations of DEHP for more than three months. Prolonged DEHP exposure induced angiogenesis in breast cancer cells. Endoglin (ENG)/CD105 is a membrane glycoprotein and an auxiliary receptor of the TGFß receptor complex. In endothelial cells, ENG is highly expressed and it is a prerequisite for developmental angiogenesis. A literature review highlights endoglin as a well-known mesenchymal stem cell marker responsible for vascular development and angiogenesis. NGS analysis showed that endoglin overexpression in DEHP-exposed MDA-MB-231 cells correlated with tumor development and growth. An in vivo zebrafish xenograft assay showed that VEGFA induced sprouting of the subintestinal vein (SIV) in embryos injected with DEHP-exposed cells. Endoglin knockdown reduced SIV sprouting and VEGFA expression in zebrafish embryos. An in vitro HUVEC tube formation assay showed that endoglin depletion reversed DEHP-induced VEGF-mediated HUVEC tube formation in coculture. DEHP-induced endoglin activated TGFß/SMAD3/VEGF and MAPK/p38 signaling in MDA-MB-231 cells. A cytokine angiogenesis antibody array showed induced expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL1α, IL1ß, IL6, and IL8, along with GMCSF and VEGF. Endoglin knockdown reversed DEHP-induced activation of the TGFß/SMAD3/VEGF signaling axis, MAPK/p38 signaling, and cytokine regulation, limiting angiogenesis potential both in vivo and in vitro. Targeting endoglin might serve as a potential alternative treatment to control angiogenesis, leading to metastasis and limiting cancer progression.

Perceptions towards charcoal-burning suicide and the surge of this lethal method in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: Whether sociocultural perceptions of charcoal-burning suicide have influenced its rapid increase in prevalence is unclear. We aimed to explore perceptions of Taiwan's general population regarding charcoal-burning suicide, their personal belief in life after death, and related feelings of thoughts associated with those who attempt charcoal-burning suicide. METHODS: An online web-based survey, focussing on sociocultural attitudes towards death, as well as perceptions towards charcoal-burning suicide, and those who attempt charcoal-burning suicide, was conducted from 14 January to 14 June 2016. RESULTS: In total, 1343 adults completed the online survey (mean age of 33.46; 66.6% women). Notably, 90.3% of participants considered charcoal burning to be an easily accessible suicide method. Multivariable analyses revealed that among the examined factors, the perceived 'painlessness' of charcoal-burning suicide was associated with an over seven-fold increased risk of choosing charcoal-burning suicide (OR = 7.394; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 2.614-20.912). CONCLUSION: As reflected in this study, charcoal-burning suicide is perceived as easily accessible and painless. The perceived 'painlessness' may be the factor that distinguishes the choice of charcoal-burning suicide from that of other suicide methods. Future efforts to target these perceptions regarding charcoal-burning suicide may be warranted in both media reporting and suicide prevention programmes.

Effect of EGFR on SQSTM1 Expression in Malignancy and Tumor Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of malignant tumor. Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) serves as an adaptor of autophagy for degrading protein aggregates. The regulation of autophagy by EGFR and its clinical impacts are indicated in various types of cancer. However, the association of EGFR and SQSTM1 in OSCC is still unknown. Our results show that the expression levels of SQSTM1 and EGFR proteins are higher in tumor tissues than in the corresponding tumor-adjacent (CTAN) tissues of OSCC patients. The expression levels of SQSTM1 were positively associated with the EGFR expression level. High co-expression of SQSTM1 and EGFR is associated with poor prognosis in OSCC patients. Moreover, SQSTM1 expression is decreased in EGFR-knockdown cells. Cell growth and invasion/migration are also decreased in cells with single/combined knockdowns of EGFR and SQSTM1 or in SQSTM1-knockdown cells without EGFR kinase inhibitor Lapatinib treatment compared to that in scrambled cells. However, cell growth and invasion/metastasis were not significantly different between the scrambled cells and SQSTM1-knockdown cells in the presence of Lapatinib. This study is the first to indicate the biological roles and clinical significance of SQSTM1 regulation by EGFR in OSCC.