SUMMARY Tonguesquamouscellcarcinoma(TSCC)isthemostcommontypeoforalcancerandis well known for its high rate of proliferation and lymph nodal metastasis.Exploring the underlying path-ways regulating TSCC could provide novel ideas for diagnosis and prognosis of TSCC patients,as well as molecular targets for treatment of TSCC.MicroRNAs (miRNAs)are small noncoding RNAs that inhibit gene expression through the 3′untranslated regions (3′UTRs)of their target messenger RNAs.They play crucial roles in numerous biological processes,including cancer progression.Although great efforts have been made,what role miRNAs may play in the early detection and diagnosis of TSCC is not fully under-stood .Recently,our team has performed a series of basic and clinical researches in an attempt to investi-gate the relationships between miRNA expressions and prognosis of patients with TSCC and the mecha-nisms under regulation of TSCC.The results showed that miR-1 95,miR-34a,miR-29b,miR-375 and miR-26a could inhibit TSCC cells progression and development via a sophisticated network of genes.Spe-cifically,the anti-tumor effects of miR-1 95 in TSCC may be partially mediated by its inhibition of Cy-clinD1 and Bcl-2 expression.The expression of miR-34a could inhibit migration and invasion of TSCC cell lines via targeting MMP9 and MMP1 4.The function of miR-29b may be through the miR-29b/Sp1 /PTEN/AKT axis.Overexpression of miR-375 inhibited Sp1 expression by targeting the 3′untranslated re-gion of the Sp1 transcript.MEG3 and miR-26a inhibited TSCC cell proliferation,cycle progression and promoted cell apoptosis and miR-26a could increase the MEG3 expression through reduction of the ex-pression of DNMT3B in TSCC.In light of the role of those miRNAs in diagnosis and prognosis of TSCC, we reported that decreased miR-1 95 and miR-375 expression was associated with poor overall survival rate of the TSCC patients,while miR-34a expression was negatively correlated with cervical lymph node me-tastases.Furthermore,combined low expression levels of miR-26a and MEG3 emerged as an independent prognostic factor for poor clinical outcomes in TSCC patients,suggesting that combined miR-26a and MEG3 expression might prove useful as an independent biomarker of clinical prognosis among TSCC pa-tients.

Collagen is the building component of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs and is often affected by inflammation in temporomandibular disorders.The macromechanical properties of collagen are deteriorated by chronic inflammation.However,the mechanism by which inflammation influences disc function remains unknown.The relationship between the ultrastructure and nanomechanical properties of collagen in inflamed discs should be clarified.Seven-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups.Chronic TMJ inflammation was induced by intra-articular injection of complete Freund's adjuvant,and samples were harvested after 5 weeks.Picrosirius staining revealed multiple colours under polarized light,which represented alternative collagen bundles in inflamed discs.Using atomic force microscopy scanning,the magnitude of Young's modulus was reduced significantly accompanied with disordered collagen fibril arrangement with porous architecture of inflamed discs.Transmission electron microscopy scanning revealed a non-uniform distribution of collagen fibres,and oversized collagen fibrils were observed in inflamed discs.Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy revealed a decrease in 1 338 cm-1/amide Ⅱ area ratio of collagen in different regions.The peak positions of amide Ⅰ and amide Ⅱ bands were altered in inflamed discs,indicating collagen unfolding.Our results suggest that sustained inflammation deteriorates collagen structures,resulting in thedeterioration of the ultrastructure and nanomechanical properties of rat TMJ discs.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are common clinical conditions. The number of patients with TMJ diseases is large, and the etiology, epidemiology, disease spectrum, and treatment of the disease remain controversial and unknown. To understand and master the current situation of the occurrence, development and prevention of TMJ diseases, as well as to identify the patterns in etiology, incidence, drug sensitivity, and prognosis is crucial for alleviating patients′suffering.This will facilitate in-depth medical research, effective disease prevention measures, and the formulation of corresponding health policies. Cohort construction and research has an irreplaceable role in precise disease prevention and significant improvement in diagnosis and treatment levels. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to explore the relationship between potential risk factors and outcomes of TMJ diseases, and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follw-ups. The consensus aims to establish a standard conceptual frame work for a cohort study on patients with TMJ disease while providing ideas for cohort data standards to this condition. TMJ disease cohort data consists of both common data standards applicable to all specific disease cohorts as well as disease-specific data standards. Common data were available for each specific disease cohort. By integrating different cohort research resources, standard problems or study variables can be unified. Long-term follow-up can be performed using consistent definitions and criteria across different projects for better core data collection. It is hoped that this consensus will be facilitate the development cohort studies of TMJ diseases.