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Background: The influence of lymph node dissection (LND) on survival in patients with head and neck neurogenic tumors remains unclear. We aimed to determine the effect of LND on the outcomes of patients with head and neck neurogenic tumors.Methods: Data of patients with surgically treated head and neck neurogenic tumors were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1975-2016) to investigate the relationship between LND and clinical outcomes by survival analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed in IVa and IVb group.Results: In total, 662 head and neck neurogenic tumor patients (median age: 49.0 [0-91.0] years) met the inclusion criteria, of whom 13.1% were in the IVa group and 86.9% were in the IVb group. The median follow-up time was 76.0 months (range: 6.0-336.0 months), and the 5-year and 10-year overall survival was 82.4% (95% CI, 0.79-0.85) and 69.0% (95% CI, 0.64-0.73). Cox regression analysis revealed older age (P < .001), advanced stage (P = .037), African American race (P = .002), diagnosis before 2004 (P < .001), and chemotherapy administration (P < .001) to be independent negative predictors of overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that LND was not a predictor of clinical nodal negativity (cN0) in either IVa or IVb patients.Conclusions: In head and neck neurogenic patients, LND may not impact the outcome of cN0 in either IVa or IVb group. These data can be recommended in guiding surgical plan and future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common malignant tumor originating from the extracranial sympathetic nervous system in children. The molecular mechanisms underlying this disease are complex, and not completely understood. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to quantify the expression of miR-20a-5p and its target gene ATG7 in clinical NB tissues. The biological function of miR-20a-5p and ATG7 in SH-SY5Y cells was investigated through in vitro studies (Real-Time cell kinetic analyzer, colony formation assay, caspase-Glo 3/7 assay and western blotting). The luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify the biological relationship between miR-20a-5p and ATG7. Results: Here we found that miR-20a-5p expression was significantly downregulated whereas its target autophagyrelated gene 7 (ATG7) was increased along with clinical staging of NB progression. Correlation analysis showed that miR-20a-5p had a negative correlation trend with ATG7. In SH-SY5Y cells, forced expression of miR-20a-5p suppressed ATG7 expression, autophagy initiation and cellular proliferation while promoted apoptosis, suggesting a potential association between miR-20a-5p and ATG7. Further bioinformatic target prediction combined with protein expression and luciferase reporter assay verified that miR-20a-5p inhibited ATG7 by directly binding to its 3'-UTR, confirming the involvement of miR-20a-5p in the regulation of ATG7 in NB. Conclusions: These results clarified that miR-20a-5p inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis through negative regulation of ATG7 and thus autophagy suppression in SH-SY5Y cells. Therefore, defining the context-specific roles of autophagy in NB and regulatory mechanisms involved will be critical for developing autophagy-targeted therapeutics against NB. Both miR-20a-5p and ATG7 would be potential therapeutic targets for future NB treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that γδ TFH cells are capable of modulating antibody production in immunized and infected mouse model. In recent studies, human γδ TFH cells are shown to contribute to the activation of humoral immunity and promote the maturation of B cells. However, little information is available on their involvement in neuroblastoma (NB) pathogenesis., Results: In the present study, the frequency of γδ TFH cells in 74 NB patients was significantly higher compared with that in 60 healthy controls. Moreover, most γδ TFH cells in NB patients had a naive phenotype with up-regulation of CD25, CD69, HLA-DR and CD40L and down-regulation of ICOS. Importantly, γδ TFH cells in NB patients produced more IL-4 and IL-10 than those in healthy controls. Furthermore, serum total IgG level was significantly increased in NB patients compared with healthy controls. The expression of CD23 on B cells was up-regulated while CD80 expression was significantly down-regulated in NB patients. Further analysis of B cell compartment showed that the frequency of CD19 + CD27 hi plasma cells was enhanced in NB patients. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the frequency of γδ TFH cells was positively correlated to serum total IgG level and CD19 + CD27 hi plasma cells in NB patients, but negatively correlated to CD19 + B cells., Conclusions: We concluded that γδ TFH cells might promote B cell maturation and antibody production in NB patients.

Background: Autophagy plays a significant role in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. So it is important to inhibit autophagy to protect cardiomyocytes besides anti-apoptosis. MiRNA has been demonstrated to protect cardiomyocytes against apoptosis during IR, while whether it has anti-autophagy effect has not been known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-204 regulated autophagy by regulating LC3-II protein, which is the marker of autophagosome during myocardial IR injury., Methods: Adult SD rats were randomized to Control and IR groups. IR group was treated with 30 min ischemia by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 2 h reperfusion by loosing the ligation. The expression of miR-204 was measured by RT-PCR, and LC3 protein was measured by western-blot., Results: We found that IR induced cardiomyocytes autophagy, together with down-regulation of miR-204 and up-regulation of LC3-II protein. And, we have found that LC3-II protein was regulated by miR-204, using the method of transferring miR-204 mimic or AMO-204 into the cardiomyocytes, before., Conclusions: These studies provided evidence that miR-204 played an important role in regulating autophagy through LC3-IIprotein during IR.

Objective: Rhinoscleroma, a chronic granulomatous bacterial disease of the nasal mucosa that often extends through the lower respiratory tract, is caused by infection with the gram-negative bacillus Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis (KR). We report the clinicopathology and histology associated with KR infection-induced rhinoscleroma in patients admitted to the Beijing Tongren Hospital over a 30-year period., Methods: The clinical and pathologic features of 40 cases of upper aerodigestive tract infections were retrospectively studied. Histochemical examination of biopsy samples was performed, including periodic acid-Schiff, modified Warthin-Starry, and acid-fast stains. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for CD43, CD20, CD68, and lysozymes was performed in 11 specimens, and 8 specimens were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy., Results: KR infection was confirmed in each of the 40 samples. Twenty-seven patients remained relapse free 1 to 10 years following treatment with antibiotic supplemented in some cases with surgery or radiotherapy, and all 13 cases of relapse were successfully eradicated by the end of treatment. KR infection was localized to phagosomes within Mikulicz cells, as determined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Significant tissue injury was observed in most cases., Conclusion: Long-term antibiotic therapy successfully eradicated KR infection in all cases. Although late diagnosis was common in this cohort, retrospective examination of biopsy samples suggests that diagnosis can be improved by combining clinical findings with histologic analysis.

Background: Potassium channels play critical roles in the regulation of cell membrane potential, which is central to the excitability of myometrium. The ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel is one of the most abundant potassium channels in myometrium. The objectives of this study were to investigate the protein expression of KATP channel in human myometrium and determine the levels of KATP channel in lower and upper segmental myometrium before and after onset of labour., Methods: Both lower segmental (LS) and upper segmental (US) myometrial biopsies were collected at cesarean section from pregnant women not-in-labour (TNL) or in-labour (TL) at term. Protein expression level and cellular localization of four KATP channel subunits in US and LS myometrium were determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The contractile activity of myometrial strip was measured under isometric conditions., Results: Four KATP channel subunits, namely Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR1 and SUR2B were identified in pregnant myometrium. While found in vascular myocytes, these subunits appear to be preferentially expressed in myometrial myocytes. Diazoxide, a KATP channel opener, inhibited the spontaneous contractility of pregnant myometrium, suggesting that the KATP channels are functional in human pregnant myometrium. Diazoxide was less potent in TL strips than that in TNL strips. Interestingly, expression of SUR1 was greater in TL than TNL tissues, although no differences were found for SUR2B in these two tissues. For both lower and upper segmental myometrium, Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 were less in TL compared with TNL tissues., Conclusions: Functional KATP channels are expressed in human pregnant myometrium. Down-regulation of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 expression in myometrium may contribute to the enhanced uterine contractility associated with the onset of labour.

Background: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and CRH-related peptide are shown to modulate uterine contractility through two CRH receptor subtype, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 during pregnancy. Through different signaling pathways, CRH-R1 maintains myometrial quiescence whereas CRH-R2 promotes smooth muscle contractility. We hypothesized that the expression of CRH receptors in myometrium might be changed during pregnancy and labour., Method: Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR were used to quantify the cellular localization, the protein levels and the mRNA variants of both CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 in upper segment (US) and lower segment (LS) myometrium from nonpregnant and pregnant women at term before or after labour., Results: CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 were predominately localized to myometrial smooth muscle cells in US and LS. The protein level of CRH-R1 in US was significantly down-regulated in pregnancy, with a further decrease at the onset of labour. However, the expression of CRH-R1 in LS remained unchanged during pregnancy and labour. No significant changes in CRH-R2 expression were observed in US or LS. Six variants of CRH-R1, CRH-R1alpha,-R1beta,-R1c, -R1e,-R1f and -R1g, were identified in nonpregnant and pregnant myometrium. CRH-R2alpha was identified in pregnant myometrium, whereas CRH-R2beta was identified in nonpregnant myometrium, Conclusion: CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 are expressed in nonpregnant and pregnant US and LS myometrium. Changed expression of CRH receptors during labour may underlie the initiation of uterine contractility during parturition.

Background: Large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKCa) plays an important role in the control of uterine contractility during pregnancy. The change from uterine quiescence to enhanced contractile activity may be associated with the spatial and temporal expression of BKCa within myometrium. The objectives of this study were to examine the expression of BKCa alpha- and beta-subunit in upper segment (US) and lower segment (LS) regions of uterus, and to investigate for the possibly differential expression of these proteins in US and LS myometrium obtained from three functional states: (1) non-pregnant (NP); (2) term pregnant not in labour (TNL) and (3) term pregnant in labour (TL)., Methods: Myometrial biopsies were collected from non-pregnant women at hysterectomy and pregnant women at either elective caesarean section or emergency caesarean section. Protein expression level and cellular localization of BKCa alpha- and beta-subunit in US and LS myometrium were determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively., Results: BKCa alpha- and beta-subunit were predominantly localized to myometrial smooth muscle in both US and LS myometrium obtained from non-pregnant and pregnant patients. The level of BKCa alpha-subunit in US but not in LS was significantly higher in NP myometrium than those measured in myometrium obtained during pregnancy. Lower expression of BKCa alpha-subunit in both US and LS was found in TL than in TNL biopsies. Expression of beta-subunit in both US and LS myometrium was significantly reduced in TL group compared with those measured in TNL group. There was no significant difference in BKCa beta-subunit expression in either US or LS between NP and TNL group., Conclusion: Our results suggest that expression of BKCa alpha- and beta-subunit in pregnant myometrium is reduced during labour, which is consistent with the myometrial activity at the onset of parturition.