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To improve management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, we need to increase our understanding of carcinogenesis, to identify biomarkers, and drug targets. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers by providing transcriptomics profiles of matched primary tumors, lymph node metastasis, and non-malignant tissue of 20 HNSCC patients as well as by bioinformatic analyses of a TCGA HNSCC cohort, comprising 554 patients. We provide cancer cell signaling networks differentially expressed in tumors versus metastases, such as mesenchymal–epithelial transition, and structural integrity networks. As a proof of principle study, we exploited the data sets and performed functional analyses of a novel cytokeratin, cytokeratin24 (cKRT24), which had not been described as biomarker for tumors before. Survival analysis revealed that low cKRT24 expression correlated with poor overall survival in HNSCC. Experimentally, downregulation of cKRT24 in primary tumors, metastases, and HNSCC cell lines was verified on mRNA and protein level. Cloning and ectopic overexpression of cKRT24 not only affected viability and growth of HNSSC cell lines, but also inhibited tumor growth in murine xenograft studies. We conclude that cKRT24 functions as a tumor suppressor in HNSCC, and may serve as an additional prognostic biomarker and novel target to support current HNSCC treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative Aerial-Ground systems demand robust and efficient control authority to perform precise tracking motion in outdoor exploring, surveillance, and mapping missions. The dynamic characteristics of the swarm system reveal some levels of challenging and model uncertainties. This paper develops a Genetic Algorithm (GA) auto-tuned Fractional Order PID (FOPID) to control the tracking trajectories of a cooperative aerial-ground robotic system. The cooperative team consists of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), aka quadrotor, and an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). The quadrotor communicates, shares information, and performs a coordinated take-off, tracking, and landing over the UGV. The UGV moves on a predetermined path while the UAV follows it. The mission is called over when the UGV makes a complete stop, and then the UAV safely lands over it. The design onboard controllers minimize the tracking errors. A fractional order PID controller is implemented in a genetic algorithm platform in order to perform online optimization to obtain the best control parameters. The simulation results explain the benefits of the presented approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate marginal bone loss (MBL) of dental implants inserted in active lichen planus patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 59 subjects divided into 3 groups depending on their lichen planus diagnosis and administration of a low dose of corticosteroids: 17 healthy individuals, 20 controlled lichen planus patients controlled using low doses of systemic corticosteroids, and 22 noncontrolled lichen planus patients. During 4‐year follow‐up sessions MBL was evaluated, and biopsies were collected from lichen planus patients and examined. Two‐way ANOVA was used to analyze the data (α = 0.05). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in MBL between healthy and controlled patients; however, noncontrolled patients exhibited increased MBL (F = 1309, p < 0.001) which reached 2.53 mm after 4 years. There were significant interactions between state of the disease (F = 1309, p < 0.001), evaluation time (F = 317, p < 0.001), and interaction between state of the disease and observation time (F = 159, p < 0.001). Histopathologic examination of collected biopsies revealed healthy tissue architecture of the controlled patients, while inflammatory cellular infiltration and signs of classical destructive tissue were observed for noncontrolled patients. Conclusions: Lichen planus patients receiving dental implants should be controlled on a low‐dose of corticosteroids to prevent accelerated MBL and to reduce remission of clinical manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]