Identification of Down-Expressed CRNN Associated with Cancer Progression and Poor Prognosis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is increasing, and it poses a significant threat to human health; therefore, identifying specific targets for LSCC remains crucial. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was used to compare the different expression genes expressed in LSCC. Immunohistochemical assay and western blotting were used to analysis protein expression. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide)((4,5 Dimethyl thiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide)4,5 Dimethyl thiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) and 5-ethynyl 2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) assay. Flow cytometry was used to measure the cell cycle. Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay and transwell assay. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed 36 upregulated and 65 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when comparing LSCC tumors to adjacent tissues, with cornulin (CRNN) identified as a key hub gene connecting these DEGs. We observed a consistent downregulation of CRNN expression in LSCC cell lines and tissues and was associated with poor patient survival and the tumor microenvironment. CRNN overexpression was found to significantly inhibit cell growth, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion, while CRNN knockdown had the opposite effects. Additionally, in vivo experiments demonstrated that CRNN overexpression suppressed tumor growth in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: CRNN functions as a potential tumor suppressor and regulates important aspects of LSCC, providing valuable insights into the role of CRNN in LSCC pathogenesis and potential for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Accelerate the process of getting vaccinated: factors associated with consideration of and accessibility to COVID-19 vaccination in metropolises of China.

BACKGROUND: Rapid mutation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is sweeping the world and delaying the full reopening of society. Acceleration of the vaccination process may be the key element in winning the race against this virus. We examine factors associated with personal considerations of and accessibility to the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in metropolises of China. METHODS: This multi-center, cross-sectional research was conducted using online questionnaires from April 1 to June 1, 2021, in community health service centers of Shanghai, Chengdu and Fuzhou. 9,047 vaccinated participants were included and data for 8,990 individuals were eligible for analysis. Chi-square test was conducted to find potential predictors, which were included in the logistic regressions. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the influence of region, socio-economic status (SES), and attitudes on vaccination process. RESULTS: In consideration phase, participants in Fuzhou (OR:2.26, 95%CI: 1.90 to 2.68) and Chengdu (OR: 2.48, 95%CI: 2.17 to 2.83) were more likely than those in Shanghai to consider longer than one month. These odds increased for participants with master or above degree (reference: illiteracy and primary school), higher monthly household income (reference: < ¥5000), and greater vaccination hesitancy (reference: low hesitancy). Unemployed and household-based participants (OR: 3.37, 95%CI: 1.69 to 6.75, reference: farmer) and participants without brand preference (OR:1.13, 95%CI:1.02 to 1.26) may take longer time of consideration. In the accessibility phase, participants in Fuzhou (OR: 8.82, 95%CI: 7.28 to 10.68) and Chengdu (OR: 2.28, 95%CI: 1.98 to 2.63) were more likely to wait longer than one week. These odds decreased for participants with master or above degree (reference: illiteracy and primary school), monthly household income from ¥5000 to ¥10,000 (reference: < ¥5000), and teacher or student (reference: farmer). Participants without brand preference (OR: 0.86, 95%CI: 0.77 to 0.95) were likely to wait shorter after appointment, while participants with higher risk awareness of domestic epidemic (medium, OR: 1.24, 95%CI: 1.12 to 1.37, reference: low) may wait longer. CONCLUSIONS: The influential factors changed over two phases of vaccination process. Regional disparity affected both consideration and accessibility phases. Expect that, SES, and hesitancy were major factors of the consideration phase, but had limited impact on accessibility phase.

SLC3A2 inhibits ferroptosis in laryngeal carcinoma via mTOR pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the mRNA and protein expression of SLC3A2 in laryngeal carcinoma cells and tissues, and functional regulatory mechanism of SLC3A2 in cell ferroptosis of laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: We chose the key gene-SLC3A2 of DEGs from TCGA by bioinformatics analysis, and then we constructed stable knockdown of SLC3A2 in laryngeal carcinoma cells. MTT assay and clonogenic assay were used to determine cell viability and cell growth, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-qPCR and western blotting, respectively. Xenograft tumor model was used to determine the role of SLC3A2 in tumor growth. RESULTS: The results of limma analysis recovered that 92 genes were involved in both upregulated DEGs and high risk of poor prognosis, whereas 36 genes were involved in both downregulated DEGs and low risk of poor prognosis. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that mTOR signaling pathway and ferroptosis exerted a role in regulating these intersection genes. Moreover, SLC3A2 is a key gene in ferroptosis in laryngeal carcinoma. SLC3A2 is highly expressed in laryngeal carcinoma tissues and cells. Patients with high SLC3A2 expression exerted poor survival. SLC3A2 deficiency inhibited cell proliferation and foci formation. Furthermore, knockdown of SLC3A2 expression induced the efficacy of ferroptosis and suppressed ferroptosis related proteins expression. Mechanically, SLC3A2 deficiency facilitated ferroptosis through upregulating the expression of mTOR and P70S6K, whereas inhibited p-mTOR and p-P70S6K expression in laryngeal carcinoma cells. SLC3A2 deficiency inhibited tumorigenesis in nude mice. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that SLC3A2 negatively regulates ferroptosis through mTOR pathway in laryngeal carcinoma.

An exploration on COVID-19 vaccination motivation patterns from the perspective of the Chaxu culture in metropolis of China: A multi-center study.

Objectives: Chaxugeju is a very special Chinese culture following a self-centered and outward expanding social network, which might be a significant culture factor for vaccination behavior. This study aimed to identify the motivation pattern in China, and paid special focus on socio-economic status (SES), region, and migration. Methods: We used a latent class analysis, with a sample of 12,432 participants collected in China from April to June, to identify the COVID-19 vaccination motivation patterns. Multinomial logistic regression models were utilized to separately explore associations between SES, migration, region, and COVID-19 vaccination motivation patterns. Results: Three COVID-19 vaccination motivation patterns were identified: Self-protection (41.9%), Trust and Self-protection (38.5%), and Trust and Differential Protection (19.6%). Participants with higher income were more likely to be Trust and Self-protection, and when income is more than 50,000 CNY per month, they are more likely to be self-protection. Professional/white collar were more likely to be Self-protection. Participants from Shenzhen were more likely to be Trust and Differential protection. The moderating effects of gender were found for income and region. Gender does not moderate the associations of occupation or migration and COVID-19 vaccination motivation patterns. Conclusion: Three motivational patterns were identified in which the Trust & Differential Pattern followed the traditional self-family-community Chaxu circle. However, the Chaxu motivation pattern was not the dominant one which might be weakened by SES. Migration and Shenzhen preserved the traditional social network, keeping in the trust and differential pattern. All of these factors in various cultural contexts should be considered when promoting vaccines.