Objective:To explore the correlation between ferroptosis-related proteins SLC7A11, GPX4, ACSL4 and the radiosensitivity and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. And to investigate the potential of these proteins as molecular markers for predicting the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （nasopharyngeal carcinoma group） and 20 cases of chronic nasopharyngiti s（control group）. The relevant clinical data were reviewed, and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were collected for study. The expressions of SLC7A11, GPX4, and ACSL4 in pathological specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expression differences of ferroptosis-related proteins between the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group and the control group were analyzed. The nasopharyngeal carcinoma group was further divided based on the protein expression levels into high and low expression subgroups for SLC7A11, GPX4, and ACSL4. Subsequently, a differential analysis of clinical data and survival analysis was conducted for each of these subgroups. Finally, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing radiotherapy resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Results:①The differential analysis revealed that, compared to the control group, the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group exhibited significantly higher expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, and lower expression of ACSL4 （P<0.05）. ②Notably, the proportion of patients displaying radioresistance was higher in the SLC7A11 and GPX4 high expression groups compared to their respective low expression groups （P<0.05）. However, the proportion of radioresistance in the ACSL4 high expression group was lower than that in the ACSL4 low expression group （P<0.05）. Survival analysis indicated that the 5-year overall survival rate was lower in the SLC7A11 and GPX4 high expression groups compared to their respective low expression groups（P<0.05）. However, the 5-year overall survival rate of the ACSL4 high expression group was higher than that of the ACSL4 low expression group（P<0.05）. ③logistic regression analysis showed that SLC7A11 and GPX4 was an independent risk factor for radioresistance in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues over-express SLC7A11, GPX4, and under-express ACSL4. Over-expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 are independent risk factors for radioresistance in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The inhibition of ferroptosis may be related to the occurrence, progression and radioresistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Detection of the expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, and ACSL4 has guiding significance for the evaluation of radiosensitivity and prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/radiotherapy* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Coenzyme A Ligases/metabolism* ; Radiation Tolerance ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase ; Retrospective Studies ; Ferroptosis ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and effects of periodontal endoscope(PE)-assisted subgin-gival scaling and root planning(SRP)and traditional SRP on the psychological and quality of life of patients with peri-odontitis.Methods This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee,and informed consent was ob-tained from the patients.Patients with periodontitis who were treated in the Department of Periodontology,Nanjing Sto-matological Hospital,Medical School of Nanjing University from April 2018 to December 2022 with residual periodontal pockets(PD≥5 mm)6 weeks after traditional SRP treatment were enrolled,and the residual periodontal pockets were further treated with PE-assisted SRP(PE+SRP).After 6 weeks of traditional SRP treatment and 3 months of PE+SRP treatment,clinical indicators,including plaque index(PLI),probing depth(PD),clinical attachment loss(CAL)and bleeding on probing(BOP),were measured,and periodontal tissue self-awareness scale scores,oral health impact profile-14(OHIP-14)score and dental fear scale(DFS)score were collected.Moreover,visual analog scale(VAS)scores were col-lected after traditional SRP and PE-assisted SRP treatments.Results Twenty-three patients with periodontitis,includ-ing 832 sites of 486 affected teeth,were included in the clinical study.Three months after PE+SRP treatment,all clini-cal periodontal indicators,PLI(t = 9.254,P＜0.001),PD(t = 50.724,P＜0.001),CAL(t = 22.407,P＜0.001)and BOP(t = 9.217,P＜0.001),were significantly improved.Compared with traditional SRP(VAS:2.48±1.70),the pain caused by PE+SRP(VAS:2.57±1.80)was not significantly different(t = 0,192,P = 0.850).There was no significant dif-ference in the scores of the periodontal tissue self-awareness scale between the two groups(t = 1.485,P = 0.152).The OHIP-14(SRP:12.13±7.63;PE+SRP:10.26±5.25,t =-1.589,P = 0.126)and DFS(SRP:40.70±12.63;SRP+PE:41.57±12.61,t = 0.404,P = 0.690)scores were not significantly different.Conclusion All clinical periodontal indi-cators were significantly improved after PE-assisted SRP treatment of residual periodontal pockets,and compared with traditional SRP,PE-assisted SRP had no negative impact on the quality of life or psychological status of patients with periodontitis.Therefore,PE+SRP can be promoted in clinical practice.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignant tumor often leading to liver metastasis and mortality. Despite some success with PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, the response rate for colon cancer patients remains relatively low. This is closely related to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment mediated by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Our previous work identified that a phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1) allosteric inhibitor, HKB99, exerts a range of anti-tumor activities in lung cancer. Here, we found that upregulation of PGAM1 correlates with increased levels of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in human colon cancer samples, particularly in liver metastatic tissues. HKB99 suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in cell culture and syngeneic tumor models. M2-polarization, induced by colon cancer cell co-culture, was reversed by HKB99. Conversely, the increased migration of colon cancer cells by M2-TAMs was remarkably restrained by HKB99. Notably, a decrease in TAM infiltration was required for the HKB99-mediated anti-tumor effect, along with an increase in CD8⁺ T cell infiltration. Moreover, HKB99 improved the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment in syngeneic tumors. Overall, this study highlights HKB99's inhibitory activity in TAM-mediated colon cancer progression. Targeting PGAM1 could lead to novel therapeutic strategies and enhance the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies for colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with hereditary dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) type II. METHODS: Clinical data of the pedigree members were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to whole exome sequencing. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics of the affected family members have included amber teeth along with significant attrition, constricted roots and dentine hypertrophy leading to pulpal obliteration, which were suggestive of DGI type II. All of the affected members were found to have harbored a novel heterozygous c.2837delA (p.Asp946Valfs*368) variant of the DSPP gene which was predicted to be likely pathogenic. CONCLUSION The c.2837delA variant of the DSPP gene probably underlay the disease in this pedigree. Above finding has expanded the variant spectrum of DSPP gene and provided a basis for molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for this pedigree.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta/genetics* ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phosphoproteins/genetics* ; Sialoglycoproteins/genetics*