The transcription factor HOXB13 plays crucial roles in cancer development. HOXB13 is abnormally expressed in most cancers, which makes it a valuable therapeutic target for cancer therapy. The level of HOXB13 differs significantly between healthy and cancer tissues, which indicates that the level of HOXB13 is closely related to carcinogenesis. The regulatory network mediated by HOXB13 in cancer proliferation, metastasis, and invasion has been systematically investigated. Moreover, HOXB13 variants play distinct roles in different cancers and populations. By understanding the molecular mechanisms and mutation features of HOXB13, we provide a comprehensive overview of carcinogenesis networks dependent on HOXB13. Finally, we discuss advancements in anticancer therapy targeting HOXB13 and the roles of HOXB13 in drug resistance to molecular-targeted therapies, which serves as a foundation for developing HOXB13-targeted drugs for clinical diagnosis and cancer therapies.
Humans ; Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism* ; Carcinogenesis/genetics* ; Mutation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Liuling Jiedu Pills on acute pharyngitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in rats.Methods The rat model of acute pharyngitis was replicated using the method of injecting 1×109 CFU·mL-1 of Staphylococcus aureus solution into the pharynx of rats.SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Lanqin Oral Solution group(5 mL·kg-1),and a low-,medium-,and high-dose group of Liuling Jiedu Pills(4.375,8.750,and 17.500 mg·kg-1),with 10 rats in each group.Rats in each group were administered the drug by gavage once a day for 7 days.The general conditions of the rats were observed and recorded every day during the modeling and drug administration periods,and the local inflammation in the pharynx was scored;histopathological changes in the pharynx of the rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;serum interleukin 1β(IL-1β),interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by ELISA.Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in rat pharyngeal tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,rats in the model group had significantly increased pharyngeal erythema,significantly higher inflammation scores(P＜0.01),significantly lower body mass on days 5-7 after modeling(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),significantly higher pathological scores(P＜0.01),significantly higher levels of the serum inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α(P＜0.01),and significantly higher pharyngeal tissues showed significantly higher levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α proteins(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the pharyngeal erythema was significantly reduced in the Lanqin Oral Solution group and the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Liuling Jiedu Pills,and the inflammation scores were significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and the serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α were significantly reduced(P＜0.01);the body mass of the rats in the Lanqin Oral Solution group,and in the medium-and high-dose groups of Liuling Jiedu Pills,were significantly increased on the seventh day of the modeling(P＜0.01);the histopathological scores and the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α proteins in pharyngeal tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Liuling Jiedu Pills can significantly improve the symptoms and inflammatory pathological changes of pharyngeal tissues in rats with acute pharyngitis,and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of an outbreak of tsutsugamushi disease in Chuzhou region, Anhui Province, and to clarify the new changes of epidemic focus of tsutsugamushi disease in China. Methods Field epidemiological investigation and analysis of clinical features were done. The detections of specific antibodies against Rickettsia tsutsugamushi were conducted to diagnose tsutsugamushi disease using colloidal gold immunochromatography assay combined with Well-Felix reaction. The geomorphic and climatic characteristics of the new epidemic focus were investigated. Results The outbreak occurred from October to November, 2007. The epidemic focus located on mountainous brushland regions, and the air temperature fluctuated from 20-4 ℃. Nineteen cases of tsutsugamushi disease in the new-found epidemic focus were finally diagnosed, 9 cases out of them were hospitalized, another 9 had recovered when diagnosed by serological tests; the remaining one had classical manifestations of tsutsugamushi disease but did not receive the serological test for certain cause. The main clinical symptoms were chilly in 14 cases, fever in 19 cases, headache in 15 cases; among the 9 hospitalized patients, the symptoms were lymphadenectasis in 8 inpatients, skin rash in 7 inpatients, splenomegaly in 4 inpatients and skin eschar and ulcer in 7 inpatients and Weil-Felix reaction by OXκantigen positive in 4 cases; the specific antibodies against Rickettsia tsutsugarnushi of 18 tested cases were all positive. No severe complications occurred in all patients. Before the first case was identified, all other cases were not diagnosed in time and did not receive correct antibiotic treatment. Nine hospitalized patients recovered rapidly with the treatment of doxycycline. Conclusions The outbreak of tsutsugamushi disease in Anhui Province in 2007 is type of emerged in autumn and transitional epidemic focus. There is epidemic focus of tsutsugamushi disease in northern region of Anhui Province. Doxycycline is rapid and effective for the treatment of tsutsugamushi disease.