METTL3 modulates m6A modification of CDC25B and promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma malignant progression.

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation and its methyltransferase METTL3 have been widely reported to be involved in different cancers by regulating RNA metabolism and function. Here, we aimed to explore the biological function and clinical significance of m6A modification and METTL3 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: The prognostic value of METTL3 expression was evaluated using tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining analyses in a human HNSCC cohort.

Two entry tunnels in mouse TAAR9 suggest the possibility of multi-entry tunnels in olfactory receptors.

Orthosteric binding sites of olfactory receptors have been well understood for ligand-receptor interactions. However, a lack of explanation for subtle differences in ligand profile of olfactory receptors even with similar orthosteric binding sites promotes more exploration into the entry tunnels of the receptors. An important question regarding entry tunnels is the number of entry tunnels, which was previously believed to be one.

The correlation between FeNO and nNO in allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and nasal nitric oxide (nNO) in allergic rhinitis (AR) and patients with or without bronchial asthma (BA).A total of 90 patients who were diagnosed with persistent AR (AR group, n = 30), BA (BA group, n = 30), or allergic rhinitis with bronchial asthma (AR-BA) (AR-BA group, n = 30), were enrolled in this study, along with 30 healthy adult volunteers (control group, n = 30). The participants were further divided into 2 groups based on the results of a skin-prick test (SPT): a highly atopic group (SPT = 3+ and above) and a moderately atopic group (SPT = 2+ and below).

Aldh inhibitor restores auditory function in a mouse model of human deafness.

Genetic hearing loss is a common health problem with no effective therapy currently available. DFNA15, caused by mutations of the transcription factor POU4F3, is one of the most common forms of autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness. In this study, we established a novel mouse model of the human DFNA15 deafness, with a Pou4f3 gene mutation (Pou4f3Δ) identical to that found in a familial case of DFNA15.

Prodigiosin Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Cells.

Background/aims: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains a devastating and difficult disease to treat. This study explores the antineoplastic effect of prodigiosin on nasopharyngeal cancer cells.

Methods: Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells and human normal nasopharyngeal epithelial NP69 cells were obtained and treated with prodigiosin or fluorouracil (5-FU).

Role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin and ZEB2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows neoplastic cells to gain the invasive phenotype and become migratory, which is required for cancer progression and metastasis. In the present study, the expression of EMT-associated biomarkers and their association with clinicopathological parameters in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) was investigated. E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) protein expression was evaluated with immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 76 patients with operable LSCC.

Experimental study of local inner ear gene therapy for controlling autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of gene therapy for treating autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss (ASHL) via local administration of a recombinant adenovirus vector containing the Fas ligand or interleukin IL-10 gene. Guinea pigs were divided into four groups, with different microinjections in the scala tympani. Group A were injected with FasL-EGFP, B with IL-10-EGFP, C with EGFP, and D with artificial perilymph.

Inhibition of Myo6 gene expression by co‑expression of a mutant of transcription factor POU4F3 (BRN‑3C) in hair cells.

An eight‑base pair (bp) deletion in the Pou4f3 gene in hair cells is associated with DFNA15, a hereditary form of hearing loss. To explore the pathological mechanisms underlying the development of DFNA15, the effect of the mutation in Pou4f3 on the activity of the myosin VI (Myo6) promoter, was investigated. The upstream regulatory sequence of Myo6 (2625 bp), consisting of an 1899 bp upstream sequence and a 727 bp intron 1 sequence, was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and subcloned into the pGL3‑Basic vector expressing firefly luciferase.

Myosin light chain kinase regulates hearing in mice by influencing the F-actin cytoskeleton of outer hair cells and cochleae.

Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) phosphorylates myosin regulatory light chains to facilitate its interaction with actin filaments and produce contractile activity. The outer hair cells (OHCs) in the ear contain large amounts of actin and a variety myosins. The stereociliary and somatic motility of OHCs are closely related to hearing.

[Study on conditional myosin light chain kinase gene knockout mice resulting in hearing loss].

Objective: To investigate the function of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in hearing in mouse by generating inner hair cell-specific Mlck knockout mice and analyze the effect on their hearing.

Methods: Cross Mlck floxed mice with IHC-Cre mice, the genotype and knockout efficiency were confirmed by PCR. We used auditory brain stem response (ABR) to evaluate mice hearing function at different frequencies.

[Expression of E-cadherin and uPA and their prognostic value in carcinoma of human larynx.].

Objective: To investigate the expression of E-cadherin (ECD) and uPA in laryngeal cancer and evaluate their clinical value in prognosis.

Methods: ECD and uPA were determined by immunohistochemistry of Envision methods in carcinoma tissues of 51 patients of laryngeal carcinoma. All patients were followed and the prognostic factors were analyzed.