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Background/purpose: Healthy states of human microbiota depend on a stable community of symbiotic microbes irrespective of external challenges from the environment. Thus, long-term stability of the oral microbiota is of importance, particularly for older patient populations. Materials and methods: We used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to examine the tongue microbiota of 18 individuals receiving long-term care over a 10-month period. Results: Beta diversity analysis demonstrated temporal stability of the tongue microbiota, as microbial compositions from all time points were indistinguishable from each other (P = 0.0887). However, significant individual variation in microbial composition (P = 0.0001) was observed, underscoring the presence of a unique microbial profile for each patient. Conclusion: The temporal dynamics of tongue microbiota exhibit long-term stability, providing diagnostic implications for oral diseases within older patient populations.

Cisplatin resistance poses a major challenge in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Deeper investigations into the mechanisms underlying this drug resistance is of great importance. Here, we used cellular assays and clinical immunohistochemistry to examine molecular pathways involved in both innate and acquired cisplatin resistance. We demonstrated that the p62-mTORC1 signaling complex plays a pivotal role, and is driven by the EGFR signaling network, specifically through the PI3K-Akt axis and the transcription factor C/EBP-β. Elevated p-mTOR expression was associated with cancer relapse and poor prognosis among oral cancer patients. Additionally, we illustrated that mTOR inhibitors enhance the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin, by employing cancer stem cell characteristics. Our work unveils fundamental mechanisms for cisplatin resistance, thereby presenting therapeutic implications for OSCC.

The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells involves the interaction between the viral spike protein and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Given that the spike protein evolves rapidly to evade host immunity, therapeutics that block ACE2 accessibility, such as spike decoys, could serve as an alternative strategy for attenuating viral infection. Here, we constructed a drug screening platform based on oral epithelial cells to rapidly identify peptides or compounds capable of blocking the spike-ACE2 interaction. We engineered short decoy peptides, 8 to 14 amino acids in length, using the spike protein's receptor-binding motif (RBM) and demonstrated that these peptides can effectively inhibit virus attachment to host cells. Additionally, we discovered that diminazene aceturate (DIZE), an ACE2 activator, similarly inhibited virus binding. Our research thus validates the potential of decoy peptides as a new therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2 infections, opening avenues for further development and study.

The resection of oral cancers extending into the pterygoid region remain a challenge for head and neck surgeons. Few studies have suggested the approach methods and showed that the tumor can be resected with a clear vision. In this case series study, we advocated a surgical method for the tumor ablation surgery over this region. The study was conducted in 11 patients with tumors near or directly invading into the pterygoid regions. A cheek flap combined with ramus removal was used to approach the pterygoid plates and the associated muscles. A reciprocating saw was used subsequently for the pterygoid plate resection. In the collected 11 patients, neither serious complications occurred during the surgery nor immediate complications happened after the surgery. Four patients expired during the postoperative follow-up period. Two of them died of cancer related conditions, one for tumor recurrence and the other for distant metastasis. The reasons for non-cancer specific mortality were myocardial infraction and aspiration pneumonia Only one patient showed positive margins in the final surgical pathology.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a globally prevalent malignancy. The molecular mechanisms of this cancer are not well understood and acquire elucidation. Peroxiredoxin like 2A (PRXL2A) has been reported to be an antioxidant protein that protects cells from oxidative stress. Our previous study identified an association between PRXL2A upregulation in OSCC and a worse patient prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are involved in the modulation of biological/pathological properties. The miR-125 family of genes drive pluripotent regulation across a wide variety of cancers. In this study, we identify the oncogenic eligibility of PRXL2A and clarify miR-125b as its upstream regulator. Downregulation of miR-125b can be observed in OSCC tumors. Lower miR-125b expression in tumors results in a worse patient prognosis at the relatively early stage. Reporter assays are able to validate that PRXL2A is a direct target of miR-125b. Exogenous miR-125b expression in OSCC cells results in increased oxidative stress, increased drug sensitivity, and suppressor activity that is paralleled by the knockout of PRXL2A gene. The suppressor activity of miR-125b is able to be rescued by PRXL2A, which suggests the existence of a miR-125b-PRXL2A regulatory axis that is part of OSCC pathogenesis. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) was found to be a downstream effector of the miR-125b-PRXL2A cascade. As a whole, this study has pinpointed novel clues demonstrating that downregulation of miR-125b suppressor underlies upregulation of PRXL2A in OSCC, and this then protects the affected tumor cells from oxidative stress. Keywords: HNSCC, miR-125, NRF2, Oxidation, Peroxiredoxin like 2A

Background/purpose: The purposes of this study were to report the suitability, alternate-forms reliability, and the concurrent validity of the analysis of diadochokinesis (DDK) samples in normal speech using the Diadochokinetic Rate Analysis (DRA) program. Methods: Fifteen healthy participants were recorded as they repeated various syllables as quickly and steadily as possible. When the lowest peak intensity during consonant-vowel syllables is lower than the highest peak intensity during intersyllable pauses, the DRA output is incorrect and the DDK sample is defined as nonexecutable. The executable DDK samples were hand measured and executed by the DRA program to generate outputs at different thresholds. Analyses were based on the percentage of nonexecutable DDK samples and the comparisons of the results between repeated analyses at different thresholds and between automatic and manual measuring methods. Results: One-ninth of the DDK samples could not be accurately executed. When the protocol could be accurately executed, the reliability at different thresholds and the validity between different measuring methods were both satisfactory. Conclusion: Although inadvertent articulatory breakdown or the incoordination of intrasyllabic movements were major limiting factors to the suitability, the alternate-forms reliability and concurrent validity of the analysis of DDK in adults with normal speech using the DRA program were both satisfactory if the DDK train was executable by DRA.