Elective neck dissection versus elective neck irradiation in cT3/4N0 maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma (MS-SCC) is an infrequent malignancy, and determining the optimal neck management for patients with cT3/4N0 MS-SCC remains a topic of ongoing debate. The purpose of this study was to compare the prognoses and quality of life outcomes of patients who underwent either elective neck dissection (END) or elective neck irradiation (ENI) for cT3/4N0 MS-SCC. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we enrolled patients with surgically treated cT3/4N0 MS-SCC, and the impact of different neck management strategies on regional control and disease-specific survival was compared using propensity score matching. The effect of surgical intervention on quality of life was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients included, 36 underwent END. After propensity score matching, our analysis indicated that END did not lead to superior outcomes than ENI, as demonstrated by comparable rates of regional control (p = 0.990) and disease-specific survival (p = 0.999). However, in the 70 returned questionnaires, patients who underwent END reported higher scores in the domains of appearance, chewing, and speech than did patients who underwent ENI. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that while END and ENI contribute to similar prognoses, END yields superior functional outcomes.

Elective Neck Dissection Improves Regional Control in cN0 Minor Salivary Gland Carcinoma in the Oral Cavity.

PURPOSE: Consensus regarding whether elective neck dissection (END) provides better outcomes than observation in clinically node negative (cN0) minor salivary gland (MSG) carcinoma is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the impact of END with that of observation on regional control (RC) and overall survival (OS) and to detect the predictors for lymph-node metastasis in oral MSG carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single-institution, retrospective cohort study was designed; it included patients with cN0 oral MSG carcinoma treated at a tertiary teaching hospital between January 2002 and January 2022. The primary predictor variable was END and primary outcome variables were RC and OS. The secondary outcome variable was lymph-node metastasis. Other covariates included demographic and pathologic features, TNM stage, and adjuvant treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to determine the effect of END on RC and OS. The chi-squared test and logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors for lymph-node metastasis. RESULTS: A total of 268 patients (107 men and 161 women) with a mean age of 46.4 ± 15.5 years were included. The 5-year RC rate was statistically different between the observation and END groups (75%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 67%-83; 95% CI, 81%-93%, respectively; P = .014). Cox regression analysis confirmed that END (hazard ratio [HR] 2.395; 95% CI: 1.433-8.275; P = .034) was independently associated with a decreased risk of regional recurrence. The 5-year OS rates for the observation and END groups were 66% (95% CI, 56-76%) and 76% (95% CI, 66-86%), respectively, and the difference was not statistical (P = .057). Occult metastasis occurred in 24.6% of patients. Primary tumor location on the tongue/floor of the mouth (odds ratio [OR], 4.287; 95% CI, 1.773-9.125; P = .011), T3/4 stage (OR, 3.286; 95% CI, 1.228-8.253; P = .021), and high-grade disease (OR, 6.674; 95% CI, 2.199-14.326; P < .001) were independently associated with an increased risk of occult metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: RC was better with END than with observation, but OS was comparable with the two approaches. Primary tumor location on tongue/floor of the mouth, T3/4 stage, and high-grade disease were associated with an increased risk of lymph-node metastasis.

DUXAP8 Promotes LPS-Induced Cell Injury in Pulpitis by Regulating miR-18b-5p/HIF3A.

BACKGROUND: The dysregulated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in progression of various diseases, including pulpitis. Double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) has been found to be upregulated in pulpitis. Herein, the functional mechanism of DUXAP8 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulpitis was explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS: DUXAP8, microRNA-18b-5p (miR-18b-5p), or hypoxia-inducible factor 3A (HIF3A) levels were examined through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Cell behaviours were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay for cell viability, Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay for cell proliferation, and flow cytometry for cell apoptosis. Protein levels were measured using western blot. Inflammatory reaction was analysed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Oxidative stress was assessed by commercial kits. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and pull-down assay were used for validation of interaction between targets. RESULTS: Cell apoptosis, inflammatory reaction, and oxidative stress were induced by LPS in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). DUXAP8 upregulation and miR-18b-5p downregulation were found in pulpitis. LPS-induced cell injury was relieved after downregulation of DUXAP8. DUXAP8 interacted with miR-18b-5p. The regulation of DUXAP8 was related to miR-18b-5p sponging function in LPS-treated HDPCs. HIF3A served as a target of miR-18b-5p. MiR-18b-5p protected against LPS-induced cell injury through targeting HIF3A. DUXAP8 targeted miR-18b-5p to regulate HIF3A level. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated that LPS-induced cell injury in pulpitis was promoted by DUXAP8 through mediating miR-18b-5p/HIF3A axis.

Overexpression of fatty acid desaturase 3 predicts poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, because its discovery time is in the late stage of the disease, so it is important to develop HNSCC biomarkers to achieve the purpose of early detection and treatment. Fatty acid desaturase 3 (FADS3), the third member of the FADS family, is involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis. Here, we for the first time investigated FADS3 expression in HNSCC, as well as its potential biological function, prognostic value and its impact on the immune system. In this study, we used bioinformatics for gene expression analysis, clinicopathological analysis, enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. Statistical analysis was done using R. Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and CIBERSORT were used to analyze the effect of FADS3 on immune responses in HNSCC. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis, and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) data were used to validate the results from bioinformatics analysis. Our findings indicate that FADS3 influences HNSCC prognosis. High expression of FADS3 is related to higher lymphatic metastasis, histologic grade, and lymphovascular invasion. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that FADS3 is related to inhibition of amino acid metabolism. CIBERSORT analysis showed high FADS3 expression correlates with reduced levels of B cells. FADS3 is a marker of HNSCC, and high expression of FADS3 is associated with poor prognosis of HNSCC.

[The effect of acid etching on bond strength of different self-adhesive resin cements to dentin].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of acid etching on bond strength (µTBS) of self-adhesive resin cements (Unicem, G-Cem, Clearfil SA Cement, BisCem) to dentin. METHODS: Thirty-two human third molars without caries were used for the study. One fourth of the crowns were cut off, perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth with (Isomet) a low-speed saw, in order to expose the dentin surfaces of the sectioned sides. The sectioned dentin surfaces of the experimental groups were etched for 15 s. Subsequently, resin blocks were bonded to the dentin surfaces, with one of the four cements (Unicem, G-Cem, Clearfil SA Cement, BisCem). After being stored in water for 24 hours, all specimens were perpendicularly sectioned through the dentin-resin interfaces, prepared into beams about 1 mm×1 mm×8 mm for µTBS tests with micro-tensile tester. The micro-morphologies of the cement-dentin interfaces were assessed using scanning electron microscope. The data was analyzed using SPSS16.0 software package. RESULTS: Without pre-treatment of acid etching, Unicem group (12.9±3.2) MPa, G-Cem group (11.7±2.6) MPa and Clearfil SA Cement group (10.9±2.3) MPa possessed a higher bond strength than BisCem group (6.8±2.4) MPa (P<0.05). Specimens with pre-treatment of acid etching showed a significantly lower dentin bond strength compared to those without pretreatment of acid etching (P<0.05) in self-adhesive cements (G-Cem, Clearfil SA CementUnicem, Unicem), but there was no significant difference in bond strength in BisCem group with or without acid etching. CONCLUSIONS: With pretreatment of acid etching, the bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to dentin decreases in G-Cem, Clearfil SA Cement and Unicem group, while there is no significant effect on the bond strength of BisCem group. Supported by Public Technology Applied Research Project of Science and Technology Bureau of Shaoxing City of Zhejiang Province (2012B70079).

[Progressively transformed germinal center in oral and maxillofacial region: report of 3 cases].

PURPOSE: To discuss the diagnosis and prognosis of progressively transformed germinal center and emphasize the necessity of long term follow-up after treatment. METHODS: Three patients were diagnosed as progressively transformed germinal center (PTGC) from 2010 to 2012. The clinical characteristics, histological features, differential diagnosis, prognosis were analyzed with review of literatures. RESULTS: Among 3 cases, 2 were found around parotid gland, one was in the neck. All patients were young male adults, who received excisional biopsy and regular histopathological examination. They were followed up for 8 months to 2.5 years, no relapse was found. CONCLUSIONS: PTGC occurs more commonly in young male adults. It always appears as an isolated and painless enlarged lymph node, which responses poorly to antibiotics. The final diagnosis is relied on histopathological and immunocytochemical examinations. Close follow-up is necessary, and attention should be paid to nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease although there is no clear evidence about their relationship of development. Supported by Science and Technology Plan Project of Shaoxing City(2011A23029).