SOCS1 as a Biomarker Candidate for HPV Infection and Prognosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

The pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between HNSCC and HPV remain unclear. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the gene expression dataset of HPV-associated HNSCC based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC were screened. Gene function enrichment, protein-protein interactions (PPI), survival analysis, and immune cell infiltration of DEGs were performed. Furthermore, the clinical data of HNSCC tissue samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. In total, 194 DEGs were identified. A PPI network was constructed and 10 hub genes (EREG, PLCG1, ERBB4, HBEGF, ZFP42, CBX6, NFKBIA, SOCS1, ATP2B2, and CEND1) were identified. Survival analysis indicated that low expression of SOCS1 was associated with worse overall survival. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SOCS1 expression was higher in HPV-negative HNSCC than in HPV-positive HNSCC, and there was a positive correlation between SOCS1 expression and patient survival. This study provides new information on biological targets that may be relevant to the molecular mechanisms underpinning the occurrence and development of HNSCC. SOCS1 may play an important role in the interaction between HPV and HNSCC and serve as a potential biomarker for future therapeutic targets.

A morphology-based integrated teaching mode combining pathology and radiology with the aid of teaching media: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The integration of curriculum is an important approach for enhancing medical education and facilitating interdisciplinary connections among students. This study aimed to develop a new morphological integrated teaching mode for undergraduate stomatology education by combining stomatological pathology and radiology courses with instructional media. METHODS: In total, 63 undergraduates were included in this study and divided into three groups: traditional (Group T; the control group) and two experimental groups: KoPa WiFi EDU (Group K), and KoPa WiFi EDU-cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) (Group K-C). All participants attended a 2-h lecture on periapical cysts and completed the first theoretical test. Subsequently, they underwent a 4-h experimental training session on the pathology and radiology of periapical cysts using different teaching methods. Following the training, participants completed the second theoretical test and underwent the first image-reading skill evaluation. After a 3-month period, participants completed the third theoretical test and underwent the second image-reading skill evaluation. The effectiveness of the teaching methods was assessed by analyzing the differences in theoretical test and experimental skill evaluation scores. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the first theoretical outcomes among three groups (p > 0.05). However, the second theoretical scores, the first objective evaluation scores, and the first subjective evaluation scores were significantly higher in the integrated teaching mode (3D teaching mode with the KoPa WiFi EDU and CBCT: 89.29 ± 4.55, 81.00 ± 8.15, and 61.57 ± 5.52, respectively; 2D teaching mode with the KoPa WiFi EDU system: 80.43 ± 3.41, 73.00 ± 8.01, and 55.67 ± 5.66, respectively) than in the traditional teaching mode (72.57 ± 3.84, 69.38 ± 4.91, and 48.67 ± 5.54, respectively) (p < 0.05). Moreover, the long-term teaching effect of the integrated mode was better than that of the traditional mode (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The morphology-based integrated teaching mode combining pathology and radiology aroused student enthusiasm for learning, and resulted in enhanced learning outcomes in dental experimental education.

Ethanolic extract from Sophora moorcroftiana inhibit cell proliferation and alter the mechanical properties of human cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies. Previous studies have shown that the ethanol extract of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds (EESMS) possesses an antiproliferative effect on several tumors in vitro. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the impact of EESMS on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell proliferation. METHODS: The proliferation and apoptotic effects of HeLa cells treated with EESMS were evaluated using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Single-cell level atomic force microscopy (AFM) was conducted to detect the mechanical properties of HeLa cells, and proteomics and bioinformatics methods were used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of EESMS. RESULTS: EESMS treatment inhibited HeLa cell proliferation by blocking the G0/G1 phase, increasing the expression of Caspase-3 and affecting its mechanical properties, and the EESMS indicated no significant inhibitory effect on mouse fibroblasts L929 cell line. In total, 218 differentially expressed proteins were identified using two-dimensional electrophoresis, and eight differentially expressed proteins were successfully identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The differentially expressed proteins were involved in various cellular and biological processes. CONCLUSION: This study provides a perspective on how cells change through biomechanics and a further theoretical foundation for the future application of Sophora moorcroftiana as a novel low-toxicity chemotherapy medication for treating human cervical cancer.

Nature-Inspired Strategy: Novel Borohydride-Based Solid Electrolytes Extracted from Cathode-Electrolyte Interphase.

As the core component of all-solid-state batteries, current solid-state electrolytes fail to simultaneously meet multiple demands, such as their own high performance, the chemical, electrochemical and mechanical compatibility of electrode interface. A fresh perspective is rather desired to guide the development of novel solid electrolytes with comprehensive performance. Herein, this work proposes a novel strategy to synthesize solid electrolytes extracted from cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI), which is inspired by peach trees secreting peach gum to prevent further damage. A proof-of-concept, using LiBH4-Se and LiBH4-S as prototypes, confirms that as-synthesized electrolytes inherited and improved up the advantages of LiBH4 with unexpected compatibility toward multiple cathodes. It is believed that the family of new electrolytes will be continuously expanded under the guidance of this CEI-derived concept.

Polyimide-Based Solid-State Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries with a Long-Cycling Life.

Metal-air batteries have attracted wide interest owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy densities, particularly for lithium-oxygen batteries. One of the challenges inhibiting the practical application of lithium-oxygen batteries is the unavoidable liquid electrolyte evaporation accompanying oxygen fluxion in the semi-open system, which leads to safety issues and poor cyclic performance. To address these issues, we propose a solid-state polyimide based gel polymer electrolyte (PI@GPE), immobilizing and reserving a liquid electrolyte in the gelled polymer substrate. The liquid electrolyte uptake of PI@GPE is measured to be 842%, 6 times higher than that of the commercial glass fiber separator, contributing to a high ionic conductivity of 0.44 mS cm-1. Additionally, PI@GPE possesses an enhanced lithium transference number of 0.596 as well as superior interfacial compatibility with lithium metals. Under 0.1 mA cm-2 and 0.25 mA h cm-2, PI@GPE-based lithium-oxygen batteries demonstrate distinguished long-cycling stability of 366 cycles, 4 times more than that with a glass fiber separator and liquid electrolyte. Our work provides a unique solid-state gel polymer electrolyte to mitigate liquid electrolyte leakage, exhibiting promising potential application in highly safe lithium-oxygen batteries with a long-cycling life.

Cellulose Acetate-Based High-Electrolyte-Uptake Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Semi-Solid-State Lithium-Oxygen Batteries with Long-Cycling Stability.

Lithium-oxygen batteries have received great research interest owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density and are considered as one of the promising secondary batteries. However, there are still some challenges in their practical application, like liquid organic electrolyte evaporation in the semi-open system and instability in the high-voltage oxidizing environment. In this work, a cellulose acetate-based gel polymer electrolyte (CA@GPE) is proposed, whose cross-linked microporous structure ensures the ultrahigh liquid electrolyte uptake of 2391%. The prepared CA@GPE exhibits a high lithium-ion transference number of 0.595, a satisfying ionic conductivity of 0.47 mS cm-1 and a wide electrochemical stability window up to 5.0 V. The Li//Li symmetric cell employing CA@GPE could cycle stably over 1200 h. The lithium-oxygen battery with CA@GPE presents a superb cycling lifetime of 370 cycles at 0.1 mA cm-2 under 0.25 mAh cm-2 . This work offers a possible strategy to realize long-cycling stability lithium-oxygen batteries.

Tissue mechanics modulate PCNP expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas with different differentiation.

Background: PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), a novel zinc finger protein, participates in cell cycle regulation. Previous studies have confirmed that PCNP plays a role in mediating cellular development and invasion in a variety of cancer types. However, the relationship between PCNP expression and the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires further exploration. In this study, we used biological atomic force microscopy to examine the histomorphological and mechanical properties of OSCC to explore the relationship between PCNP expression and differentiation of OSCC. Methods: Seventy-seven OSCC samples with varying degrees of differentiation were selected for hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and cellular mechanical measurement. The expression of PCNP and the mechanical properties such as stiffness and roughness of the tissue interface in OSCC samples were investigated. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was utilized to assess the relationship of PCNP expression with patient survival. Results: The level of PCNP was significantly higher in well-differentiated OSCC than in moderately and poorly differentiated OSCC (P < 0.001). High expression of PCNP was specifically associated with higher tumor differentiation, lack of lymph node metastasis, and lower tumor node metastasis stage (all P < 0.05). Patients with high PCNP expression had a higher survival rate than those with low PCNP expression. The average variation of stiffness within a single tissue ranged from 347 kPa to 539 kPa. The mean surface roughness of highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated OSCC and paraneoplastic tissues were 795.53 ± 47.2 nm, 598.37 ± 45.76 nm, 410.16 ± 38.44 nm, and 1010.94 ± 119.07 nm, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a positive correlation between PCNP expression and tissue stiffness of OSCC (R = 0.86, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The expression of PCNP was positively correlated with patient survival, tumor differentiation, and mechanical properties of tissue interfaces. PCNP is a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and staging of OSCC. Furthermore, determination of the mechanical properties of the tissue interface could provide further useful information required for the detection and differentiation of OSCC.