Head Tissue Research Articles

The Effects of Exposing Solea senegalensis to Microbeads with and Without Pesticides

Microplastics (MP) are contaminants able to cause adverse effects on organisms. MPs are capable to interact with other environmental contaminants, including pesticides, altering their toxicity. The objective of the study was to research the sublethal effects (enzymatic activity) of pesticides alone and in combination with MPs. Cholinesterase enzymes are used as biomarkers to determine and evaluate the effects produced in organisms after exposure to pollutants. This study showed the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymatic activity in the tissue of Solea senegalensis exposed to two environmental pollutants, the insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and antibacterial triclosan (TCS) with and without microplastics (MPs). Solea senegalensis was chosen because it is a species in high demand because of its high economic value in southern Europe, as well as the use of this species in ecotoxicology and its increasing use as sentinel species, which justify using it to assess biological effects of pollutants. Toxicity tests were performed in organisms exposed to concentrations of between 5 and 80 μg/L CPF and 0.1 and 0.4 mg/L TCS for 96 h. In addition, each test incorporated MPs that were added at different concentrations in order to evaluate their role as a possible enhancer of the effects caused by the previous pollutants. In the case of CPF, the head and muscle tissue cholinesterase activity was inhibited from a concentration of 5 μg/L both without and with MPs, and the AChE enzymatic activity for the treatment with MPs was approximately half the activity for the treatment without MPs in the tissues studied. Besides, TCS inhibited the cholinesterase activity at a concentration of 0.3 mg/L in the muscle of S. senegalensis. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the TCS + MP treatment compared to the controls. These results showed the importance of studies in assessing the anticholinesterase effects of pesticides combined with microplastics due to the abundance of these contaminants in the marine environment and the role of cholinesterase activity (biomarker) in the neurotransmission of key physiological processes.

A case report of adult primary soft tissue sarcoma of the head and neck

Head and neck primary soft tissue sarcoma is a rare adult connective tissue malignant tumor derived from mesenchymal tissue, which can occur in the paranasal sinuses, throat or neck space.The clinical manifestations are local spread masses in the head and neck or difficulty breathing, swallowing, etc al. MRI and enhanced CT examination are the most commonly used to diagnose such diseases. Pathological diagnosis requires immunohistochemistry combined with FISH to detect MDM2 and CDK4. In this report，two cases of primary soft tissue sarcoma were reported,one is parotid high-differentiated liposarcoma and the other is laryngeal dedifferentiated leiomyosarcoma, introducing the characteristics diagnosis and treatment, and reviewing the relevant literature.

Signal to noise ratio quantifies the contribution of spectral channels to classification of human head and neck tissues ex vivo using deep learning and multispectral imaging.

Accurate identification of tissues is critical for performing safe surgery. Combining multispectral imaging (MSI) with deep learning is a promising approach to increasing tissue discrimination and classification. Evaluating the contributions of spectral channels to tissue discrimination is important for improving MSI systems. Develop a metric to quantify the contributions of individual spectral channels to tissue classification in MSI. MSI was integrated into a digital operating microscope with three sensors and seven illuminants. Two convolutional neural network (CNN) models were trained to classify 11 head and neck tissue types using white light (RGB) or MSI images. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) of spectral channels was compared with the impact of channels on tissue classification performance as determined using CNN visualization methods. Overall tissue classification accuracy was higher with use of MSI images compared with RGB images, both for classification of all 11 tissue types and binary classification of nerve and parotid ( ). Removing spectral channels with reduced tissue classification accuracy. The spectral channel SNR is a useful metric for both understanding CNN tissue classification and quantifying the contributions of different spectral channels in an MSI system.

Prognostic Utility of Nutritional Risk Index in Patients with Head and Neck Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

The nutritional risk index (NRI) is an excellent indicator of nutritional status and a significant prognostic factor in several malignancies, but the relationship between NRI and the prognosis of head and neck soft tissue sarcoma (HNSTS) patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NRI in patients with HNSTS. We retrospectively reviewed patients with HNSTS between 1990 and 2021. In order to determine the optimal cut-off value of NRI, the Maximally selected log-rank statistic was performed. We evaluated the effect of NRI on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Then, OS and PFS nomograms based on NRI were constructed. In total, 436 HNSTS patients were included in this study. The optimal cut-off value of NRI was 99.34. Patients with low-NRI showed significantly worse OS and PFS than patients with high-NRI, respectively (5-year OS rate of 43.0 vs. 70.8%, 5-year PFS rate of 29.0 vs. 45.0%, all p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, distant metastasis, deep tumor depth, tumor grade, and NRI were prognostic factors for both PFS and OS, and treatment modality was associated with OS but not PFS. The concordance indexes (C-indexes) of OS and PFS nomograms were 0.794 (95% CI, 0.759-0.829) and 0.663 (95% CI, 0.626-0.700), respectively, which also performed well in the validation set. NRI is an independent predictor of OS and PFS in HNSTS patients. The validated nomograms based on NRI provide useful predictions of OS and PFS for patients with HNSTS.

The inflammatory-nutritional score and nomogram for R0 resected head and neck soft tissue sarcoma.

To explore the predictive value of inflammatory-nutritional score (INS) and a nomogram for survivals in head and neck soft tissue sarcoma (HNSTS) patients with negative resection margins (R0). Clinical characteristics and hematological features of 315 HNSTS patients underwent R0 surgery were analyzed. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate, 3-year recurrence-free survival rate and disease-free survival (DFS) rate were 77.3%, 61.0% and 55.4%, respectively. High INS was associated with a deep tumor location (p < 0.001), high tumor grade (p < 0.001), and advanced AJCC stage (p < 0.001). The low-risk group (INS 0) exhibited a higher 5-year OS rate and 3-year DFS rate than others (87.6% vs. 81.3% vs. 53.3%, p < 0.001; 62.2% vs. 56.9% vs. 37.9%, p=0.007). The INS (p=0.023), tumor depth (p < 0.001), pT classification (p=0.022), pN classification (p < 0.001) and tumor grade (p < 0.001) were independent survival predictors. Moreover, a novel nomogram for predicting OS was generated and assessed by the concordance index, exhibiting a better performance than the p7TNMG classification alone (p < 0.001). For R0 resected HNSTS patients, the oncological outcomes can be predicted using the INS system and a specific nomogram.

Effect of subject-specific head morphometry on specific absorption rate estimates in parallel-transmit MRI at 7 T.

To assess the accuracy of morphing an established reference electromagnetic head model to a subject-specific morphometry for the estimation of specific absorption rate (SAR) in 7T parallel-transmit (pTx) MRI. Synthetic T1 -weighted MR images were created from three high-resolution open-source electromagnetic head voxel models. The accuracy of morphing a "reference" (multimodal image-based detailed anatomical [MIDA]) electromagnetic model into a different subject's native space (Duke and Ella) was compared. Both linear and nonlinear registration methods were evaluated. Maximum 10-g averaged SAR was estimated for circularly polarized mode and for 5000 random RF shim sets in an eight-channel transmit head coil, and comparison made between the morphed MIDA electromagnetic models and the native Duke and Ella electromagnetic models, respectively. The averaged error in maximum 10-g averaged SAR estimation across pTx MRI shim sets between the MIDA and the Duke target model was reduced from 17.5% with only rigid-body registration, to 11.8% when affine linear registration was used, and further reduced to 10.7% when nonlinear registration was used. The corresponding figures for the Ella model were 16.7%, 11.2%, and 10.1%. We found that morphometry accounts for up to half of the subject-specific differences in pTx SAR. Both linear and nonlinear morphing of an electromagnetic model into a target subject improved SAR agreement by better matching head size, morphometry, and position. However, differences remained, likely arising from details in tissue composition estimation. Thus, the uncertainty of the head morphometry and tissue composition may need to be considered separately to achieve personalized SAR estimation.

Ex Vivo Functional Assay for Evaluating Treatment Response in Tumor Tissue of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) displays a large heterogeneity in treatment response, and consequently in patient prognosis. Despite extensive efforts, no clinically validated model is available to predict tumor response. Here we describe a functional test for predicting tumor response to radiation and chemotherapy on the level of the individual patient. Resection material of 17 primary HNSCC patients was cultured ex vivo, irradiated or cisplatin-treated, after which the effect on tumor cell vitality was analyzed several days after treatment. Ionizing radiation (IR) affected tumor cell growth and viability with a clear dose-response relationship, and marked heterogeneity between tumors was observed. After a single dose of 5Gy, proliferation in IR-sensitive tumors dropped below 30% of the untreated level, while IR-resistant tumors maintained at least 60% of proliferation. IR-sensitive tumors showed on average a twofold increase in apoptosis, as well as an increased number and size of DNA damage foci after treatment. No differences in the homologous recombination (HR) proficiency between IR-sensitive and -resistant tumors were detected. Cisplatin caused a decrease in proliferation, as well as induction of apoptosis, again with marked variation between the samples. Our functional ex vivo assay discriminated between IR-sensitive and IR-resistant HNSCC tumors, and may also be suitable for predicting response to cisplatin. Its predictive value is currently under investigation in a prospective clinical study.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 in Head and Neck Region.

The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) in the head and neck region. We examined the evidence of the association of ACE 2 expression in oral tissues, salivary glands, and head and neck carcinoma. We searched Pub Med/Medline, Biorxiv, and Google Scholar to identify relevant literature. Studies reporting ACE 2 expression in human oral tissues and with a focus on head and neck carcinoma samples were included. From 110 studies, we extracted 15 studies analyzing the distribution and expression of ACE 2 in different head and neck tissues - olfactory mucosa and nasopharynx n=5, oral mucosa n=5, salivary gland n=5, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients n=3. ACE 2 was found to be expressed at a 4.43-fold increase in the head and neck region (OR, 4.43; 95% CI, 3.76-5.22; I2= 97%, Ph=<0.00001) when compared with controls (other tissues except for head and neck region). RNA expression of ACE 2 was 60% higher in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients than that in the normal tissues (OR=0.60, 95% CI, 0.04-9.26, Ph=0.00001). In conclusion, the meta-analysis of the studies indicated that ACE 2 is highly expressed in olfactory mucosa, nasopharynx, oral mucosa, and salivary glands. Furthermore, the results indicate that ACE 2 expression is increased in patients with head and neck cancer.

Blue light stimulates light stress and phototactic behavior when received in the brain of Diaphorina citri

Blue light with a wavelength of 400–470 nm is the composition of the visible light. However, in recent years, blue light contributed the most significance to light pollution due to the artificial light at night. Previously, we have demonstrated that the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, an important pest in citrus production, has significant positive phototaxis with a light-emitting diode light of 400 nm. In this study, ACP with positive phototactic behavior to 400 nm light (PH) and non-phototactic behavior to 400 nm light (NP) were collected, individually. Transcriptome dynamics of head tissues of PH and NP groups were captured by using RNA-sequencing technology, respectively. Forty-three to 46 million clean reads with high-quality values were obtained, and 1773 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. Compared with the NP group, there were 841 up-regulated DEGs and 932 down-regulated DEGs in the PH group. Eight pathways were significantly enriched in the PH group in the KEGG database, while 43 up-regulated pathways and 25 down-regulated pathways were significantly enriched in the PH group in the GO database. The DGE approach was reliable validated by real time quantitative PCR. Results indicated that the blue light acted as an abiotic stress causing physiological and biochemical responses such as oxidative stress, protein denaturation, inflammation and tumor development in ACPs. Additionally, the light was absorbed by photoreceptors of ACPs, and converted into electrical signal to regulate neuromodulation. This study provides basic information for understanding the molecular mechanisms of ACP in response to blue light and provides a reference for further studies to elucidate phototactic behavior.

Common Postauricular Swelling Diagnosed as rare Kimura Disease.

Kimura disease is a rare benign chronic inflammatory condition of unknown aetiology that causes the subcutaneous tissue of head and neck to become swollen. It is more common in males, primarily seen in young Asian [1]. Here we are going to present a rare case report of 49 years old male diagnosed as kimura disease with a common presentation of postauricular swelling. It is characterised by peripheral eosinophilia FNAC suggestive of polymorphous population of lymphocytes, centrocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils and occasional eosinophils. Diagnosis confirmed by histopathological examination.

Team Consistency in Reducing Operative Time in Head and Neck Surgery with Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction.

To evaluate the impact of consistent surgical teams on procedure duration in head and neck free tissue transfer, and to evaluate the length of stay and readmission rates with consistent teams. A retrospective chart review of head and neck microvascular reconstruction by a single surgeon between August 2017 and November 2021 was performed. Procedure duration, wound complications, length of stay, and 30-day readmissions were analyzed. One circulating nurse (CN) and surgical technologist (ST) were considered "consistent" due to their prior work with the primary surgeon. All others were considered "ad hoc." Teams were "Consistent CN + ST," "Consistent ST," "Consistent CN," or "Ad hoc." Procedure duration between groups was compared via analysis of variance. Multivariate linear regression was performed to predict procedure duration. A total of 135 patients were included. Age, sex, and American Society of Anesthesiologists status did not significantly differ across groups (p=0.963; p=0.467; p=0.908, respectively). The mean procedure duration was 339.3 min and differed significantly across all groups (p=0.006, Cohen d=0.32). Compared to the Ad hoc group, consistent teams demonstrated significant reductions in mean procedure duration (Consistent CN + ST: 58.4 min, p=0.001, Cohen d=0.67; Consistent ST: 51.6 min, p=0.013, Cohen d=0.61; Consistent CN: 44.5 min, p=0.031, Cohen d=0.52). Controlling for other factors, the ad hoc team predicted increased procedure duration on multivariate analysis ( 57.38, 19.92-94.85, p < 0.003). Wound complications, length of stay, and readmission rates did not differ significantly across groups (p=0.940; p=0.174; p=0.935, respectively). Consistent CN and ST improve operative efficiency in head and neck-free tissue transfer. Future studies may evaluate the impact of team consistency on complications, physician burnout, and health systems costs. 3 Laryngoscope, 133:2154-2159, 2023.

Modelling of daily radiofrequency electromagnetic field dose for a prospective adolescent cohort

IntroductionRadiofrequency electromagnetic fields originate from a variety of wireless communication sources operating near and far from the body, making it challenging to quantify daily absorbed dose. In the framework of the prospective cohort SCAMP (Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones), we aimed to characterize RF-EMF dose over a 2-year period. MethodsThe SCAMP cohort included 6605 children from greater London, UK at baseline (age 12.1 years; 2014–2016) and 5194 at follow-up (age 14.2; 2016–2018). We estimated the daily dose of RF-EMF to eight tissues including the whole body and whole brain, using dosimetric algorithms for the specific absorption rate transfer into the body. We considered RF-EMF dose from 12 common usage scenarios such as mobile phone calls or data transmission. We evaluated the association between sociodemographic factors (gender, ethnicity, phone ownership and socio-economic status), and the dose change between baseline and follow-up. ResultsWhole body dose was estimated at an average of 170 mJ/kg/day at baseline and 178 mJ/kg/day at follow-up. Among the eight tissues considered, the right temporal lobe received the highest daily dose (baseline 1150 mJ/kg/day, follow-up 1520 mJ/kg/day). Estimated daily dose [mJ/kg/day] increased between baseline and follow-up for head and brain related tissues, but remained stable for the whole body and heart. Doses estimated at baseline and follow-up showed low correlation among the 3384 children who completed both assessments. Asian ethnicity (compared to white) and owning a bar phone or no phone (as opposed to a smartphone) were associated with lower estimated whole-body and whole-brain RF-EMF dose, while black ethnicity, a moderate/low socio-economic status (compared to high), and increasing age (at baseline) were associated with higher estimated RF-EMF dose. ConclusionThis study describes the first longitudinal exposure assessment for children in a critical period of development. Dose estimations will be used in further epidemiological analyses for the SCAMP study.

GLOKOM HASTALARINDA SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAFİ BULGULARI

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to measure the stiffness values in different regions of the eye with shear wave elastography (SWE) in patients with glaucoma and to compare the results with healthy eyes to investigate whether there is a change in the elasticity of the ocular compartments in glaucoma patients.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we compared 12 patients with open-angle glaucoma and 32 healthy volunteers using an SWE-equipped ultrasonography device. Only the right eye was evaluated in all patients. First, the eye globe was generally examined in B-mode. Then, the stiffness values of the optic nerve head, retro-orbital nerve, sclera-retina complex and retro-orbital adipose tissue in the posterior segment and the stiffness values of the cornea, lens and anterior chamber in the anterior segment of the eye were measured with SWE in kiloPascal and both groups were compared statistically.RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the patient and control groups in terms of the stiffness values recorded in the measurements performed in different parts of the eye.CONCLUSIONS: Although SWE is an easily applicable method, no significant differences were found between glaucoma and control groups. However, thanks to this study, reference values for different parts of the eye in normal individuals have been determined.

Mediation of PKM2-dependent glycolytic and non-glycolytic pathways by ENO2 in head and neck cancer development

BackgroundEnolase 2 (ENO2) is a crucial glycolytic enzyme in cancer metabolic process and acts as a “moonlighting” protein to play various functions in diverse cellular processes unrelated to glycolysis. ENO2 is highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues relative to normal tissues; however, its impact and underlying regulatory mechanisms in HNSCC malignancy remain unclear.MethodsMolecular alterations were examined by bioinformatics, qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation, and ChIP-PCR assays. Metabolic changes were assessed by intracellular levels of ATP and glucose. Animal study was used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the ENO inhibitor.ResultsENO2 is required for HNSCC cell proliferation and glycolysis, which, surprisingly, is partially achieved by controlling PKM2 protein stability and its nuclear translocation. Mechanistically, loss of ENO2 expression promotes PKM2 protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and prevents the switch of cytoplasmic PKM2 to the nucleus by inactivating AKT signaling, leading to a blockade in PKM2-mediated glycolytic flux and CCND1-associated cell cycle progression. In addition, treatment with the ENO inhibitor AP-III-a4 significantly induces HNSCC remission in a preclinical mouse model.ConclusionOur work elucidates the signaling basis underlying ENO2-dependent HNSCC development, providing evidence to establish a novel ENO2-targeted therapy for treating HNSCC.

A Sierpinski Arrowhead Curve Slot Vivaldi Antenna for Microwave Head Imaging System

The development of antipodal Vivaldi antenna with a fractal slot is presented in this paper due to its promising application as an element of possible multisensory systems of head stroke imaging. The fractal slot is applied to improve the directivity, bandwidth and gain of the antenna. Hence, this research mainly aims to create and optimise a compact Vivaldi antenna through the fractal slot for the detection of stroke in the human head. The antenna is designed with an overall dimension of 65 × 65 × 1.6 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> using Roger RO4350B as a substrate through the CST Studio Suite 2019 software. The proposed antenna will also be compared with an antipodal Vivaldi antenna without the fractal slot to observe differences in the result. The proposed antenna can produce a wide bandwidth of 1.44 GHz ranging from 2.35 GHz to 3.79 GHz at the maximum gain of 7.35 dBi. Furthermore, the prototype antenna has a directivity characteristic, which produces the unidirectional radiation necessary for microwave imaging procedures. The proposed antenna is also evaluated with the CST studio head model, thus providing satisfactory penetration results through the head tissue. A value of 0.0013 W/kg per 10 g is achieved for the maximum SAR. Thus, the proposed antenna met most of the requirements for the imaging process, which will affect its effectiveness during scanning of head stroke.

SPECTRUM OF PALPABLE HEAD AND NECK SWELLINGS ON FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY- A TERTIARY CARE STUDY.

The head and neck swellings are relatively common pathology presentation in our setup. These swellings are evaluated by clinical history and examination with the aid of investigations like Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC), USG and CTof the region and excision biopsy. FNAC is a very simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive technique used to diagnose different types of swellings like lymph node, thyroid, skin and soft tissue and salivary glands in head and neck region. This study was taken up to assess the frequency and incidence of palpable swellings on basis of sites, age, sex and distribution of inammatory, benign and malignant lesions. It was found that lymph nodal swellings (41.57%) are the most common followed by thyroid (31.54%), skin and soft tissue (16.48%) and salivary gland (10.39%) pathologies in that order. Study indicated presence of more non-neoplastic lesions (79.56%) are more prevalent than neoplastic lesions (20.43%). Histopathological correlation was not done in the cases of the study

Long-Read Genome Sequencing of Abscondita cerata (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), the Endemic Firefly of Taiwan.

Abscondita cerata is the most abundant and widely distributed endemic firefly species in Taiwan and is considered a key environmental and ecological indicator organism. In this study, we report the first long-read genome sequencing of Abs. cerata sequenced by Nanopore technology. The draft genome size, 967 Mb, was measured through a hybrid approach that consisted of assembling using 11.25-Gb Nanopore long reads and polishing using 9.47-Gb BGI PE100 short reads. The drafted genome was assembled into 4,855 contigs, with the N50 reaching 325.269 kb length. The assembled genome was predicted to possess 55,206 protein-coding genes, of which 20,862 (37.78%) were functionally annotated with public databases. 47.11% of the genome sequences consisted of repeat elements; among them DNA transposons accounted for the largest proportion (26.79%). A BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single Copy Orthologs) evaluation demonstrated that the genome and gene completeness were 84.8% and 79%, respectively. The phylogeny constructed using 1,792 single copy genes was consistent with previous studies. The comparative transcriptome between adult male head and lantern tissues revealed (1) the vision of Abs. cerata is primarily UV-sensitive to environmental twilight, which determines when it begins its nocturnal activity, (2) the major expressed OR56d receptor may be correlated to suitable humidity sensing, and (3) Luc1-type luciferase is responsible for Abs. cerata's luminescent spectrum.

LSD1 silencing inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of hypopharyngeal cancer cells by inducing autophagy and pyroptosis.

Hypopharyngeal cancer is a subtype of the head and neck malignancies. We aimed to explore the role of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A) in the progression of hypopharyngeal cancer and to identify the potential mechanisms. First, LSD1 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues and the correlation between LSD1 and the stage of HNSC were analyzed by the University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN). Following LSD1 silencing, proliferation of pharyngeal cancer cell line FaDu cells was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Wounding healing and transwell assays were used to measure the capacities of migration and invasion. In addition, expression of proteins related to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and pyroptosis was tested by Western blot analysis or immunofluorescence. After treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inhibitor MCC950, the malignant biological properties were measured again. High LSD1 expression was observed in HNSC tissues, which was correlated with stage. LSD1 knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of hypopharyngeal cancer cells. Moreover, autophagy and pyroptosis were induced by LSD1 depletion, observed by the enhanced fluorescence intensity of LC3, gasdermin-D (GSDMD)-N, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), accompanied by upregulated expression of LC3II/LC3I, Beclin-1, NLRP3, cleaved-caspase 1, ASC, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 and downregulated expression of p62. Importantly, 3-MA or MCC950 addition obviously reversed the inhibitory effects of LSD1 silencing on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of hypopharyngeal cancer cells. To sum up, LSD1 silencing could restrain the progression of hypopharyngeal cancer cells by inducing autophagy and pyroptosis.

Protective Effects of L-Arginine on Mitochondria of Rat Epididymis in Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced by Prolonged Methionine Load

INTRODUCTION: The study of markers of oxidative stress, metabolites of nitric oxide (II) (NOx) and the balance of carnitine fractions in mitochondria of rat epididymis, permits to evaluate the protective role of L-arginine in experimental hyperhomocysteinemia.&#x0D; AIM: To study the influence of L-arginine on the parameters of energy metabolism, level of NO metabolites, oxidative modification of proteins and balance of carnitine fractions in mitochondria of the head and tail of rat epididymis in hyperhomocysteinemia.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: In animals of group 1 (n = 8), severe hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was modeled by administration of methionine suspension at a dose of 1.5 g/kg twice daily for 21 days with addition of 1% methionine in drinking water; group 2 rats (n = 8) received suspension base without methionine; animals of group 3 (n = 8) were daily administered L-arginine solution at a dose of 500 mg/kg intragastrically against the background methionine load from day 11 to day 21; group 4 animals (n = 8) were administered L-arginine solution of at a dose of 500 mg/kg for 10 days; group 5 (n = 8) served as a control for group 4 and received drinking water intragastrically. Concentrations of total homocysteine and NOx were determined in serum. In the mitochondrial fraction of the homogenate of epididymis tissues, the level of oxidatively modified proteins (OMP), the concentration of NOx, lactate and carnitine fractions, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), H+-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were evaluated.&#x0D; RESULTS: HHcy was accompanied by reduction of the level of NOx in blood serum and mitochondria of epididymis head tissues. In mitochondria of tissues of head and tail of epididymis, a marked reduction of all fractions of carnitine, activity of LDH, H+-ATPase, SDH, increase in the activity of SOD and in the level of OMP were observed. With modeled HHcy, L-arginine reduced the extent of hyperhomocysteinemia, prevented reduction of NOx level in the blood serum and epididymis head and reduced the content of OMP of the epididymis mitochondria.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: L-arginine introduced in combination with methionine, reduces the extent of severity of hyperhomocysteinemia. The positive effect of L-arginine on increase in the concentration of NOx metabolites in blood serum and mitochondria of epididymis in conditions of methionine load was also confirmed. L-arginine exhibits antioxidant properties, reducing the severity of oxidative stress induced by hyperhomocysteinemia. Differences in the adaptive response to oxidative stress of the mitochondria of the head and tail of epididymis were demonstrated.

Production and antioxidant activity of peptides from sturgeon head

The head is a significant, but typically unused, fish by-product. Here, we developed an industrially applicable new method to make head tissue peptides (HTPs) by autoclaving, blending and enzymatic hydrolysis of sturgeon head tissue. Four conditions were tested: head tissue autoclaved in distilled water (DW) and hydrolyzed with papain (DW-P) or papain and bromelain (DW-P + B), or head tissue autoclaved without DW and hydrolyzed with papain (WDW-P) or papain and bromelain (WDW-P + B). Among these conditions, DW-P + B resulted in the highest peptide yield, more peptides of <500 Da, and peptides with the highest antioxidant activity. Next, the same method produced sturgeon skin tissue peptide (STP) and skin collagen peptide (SCP) and the bioactivities were compared. The gross yield of HTP per fish was higher than that of STP and SCP because the sturgeon's head is ∼3 times heavier than its skin. The HTP contained more reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging amino acids (Glx, His, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Tyr, Val) and showed significantly higher ABTS• scavenging activity than STP and SCP. The extracellular cell-protection and intracellular anti-ROS activities of HTP on the application of oxidative stress were similar to those of STP and SCP. Moreover, HTP showed high transparency and high safety (a low endotoxin level). All these features suggest that HTP is suitable for percutaneous applications. Extracellular oxidative stress promotes human skin aging; thus, HTP may be a novel, low-cost ingredient for anti-aging cosmetics. The present study will help to exploit zero industrial discards, resulting in blue transformation of by-products.