[Research progress of liposome drug delivery system in the treatment of head and neck cancer].

Head and neck tumors are one of the major diseases that threaten human health. Targeted chemotherapy is an important treatment for head and neck tumors. However, many anti-cancer drugs are difficult to reach effective concentrations in tumors and can cause damage to normal tissues.

Paclitaxel-loaded ROS-responsive nanoparticles for head and neck cancer therapy.

High intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level is characteristic of cancer cells and could act as a target for the efficient targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment. Consequently, biomaterials that react to excessive levels of ROS are essential for biomedical applications. In this study, a novel ROS-responsive polymer based on D-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and poly (β-thioester) (TPGS-PBTE) was synthesized for targeted delivery of the first-line antineoplastic drug, paclitaxel (PTX).

Association of plasma lead, cadmium and selenium levels with hearing loss in adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012.

To determine the association between hearing loss and environmental Pb, Cd and Se exposure, a total of 1503 American adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2011-2012) were assessed. The average of four audiometric frequencies (0·5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) was used to identify speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), while the average of 3 audiometric frequencies (3, 4 and 6 kHz) was used to identify high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). HFHL adjusted OR determined by comparing the highest and lowest blood Pb and Cd quartiles were 1·98 (95 % CI: 1·27, 3·10) and 1·81 (95 % CI: 1·13, 2·90), respectively.

The expression profiles and prognostic values of HSPs family members in Head and neck cancer.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) ranks as the sixth most common malignancy. The identification of highly specific and sensitive prognostic markers and potential drug targets can contribute to enhanced patient prognosis and individualized treatments. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) act as molecular chaperones and play a crucial role in maintaining cell homeostasis.

DNA methylation biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Aberrant methylation of DNA plays an important role in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In the current study, we aimed to integrate three cohorts profile datasets to identify abnormally methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways associated with NPC.

Methods: Data of gene expression microarrays (GSE53819, GSE412452) and gene methylation microarrays (GSE52068) obtained from the GEO database.

Association between the expression of secreted phosphoprotein - related genes and prognosis of human cancer.

Background: While many studies have assessed the predictive value of secreted phosphoprotein (SPP) genes in cancer, the findings have been inconsistent. To resolve these inconsistencies, we systematically analyzed the available data to determine whether SPP1 and SPP2 are prognostic markers in the context of human cancer.

Methods: The expression of SPP1 and SPP2 was assessed by Oncomine analysis.

Correlation between mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion and presbycusis: A system review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Researchers have evaluated the associations between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 4977 bp deletion and presbycusis. This study aimed to assess the differences of mtDNA 4977 bp deletion between presbycusis patients and controls by conducting a meta-analysis of published studies.

Methods: Databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Data were searched to collect case-control studies on the correlation between mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion and presbycusis.

Association of polymorphisms in grainyhead-like-2 gene with the susceptibility to age-related hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The grainyhead-like-2 (GRHL2) genetic variants were reported in age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) susceptibility in several case-control studies. However, their conclusions are conflicting; it is difficult to precisely assess the disease risk associated with the variants. Therefore we conduct the meta-analysis to discover the association of GRHL2 polymorphisms and the risk of ARHI.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in spiral ganglion neuron apoptosis following chronic kanamycin-induced deafness.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics-induced hearing loss is a common sensorineural impairment. Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are first-order neurons of the auditory pathway and are critical for the maintenance of normal hearing. In the present study, we investigated the time-course of morphological changes and the degeneration process of spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) following chronic kanamycin-induced deafness and determined whether the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was involved in the degeneration of SGNs.

DNA methylation biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Aberrant methylation of DNA is a key driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we sought to integrate four cohorts profile datasets to identify such abnormally methylated genes and pathways associated with HCC.

Methods: To this end, we downloaded microarray datasets examining gene expression (GSE84402, GSE46408) and gene methylation (GSE73003, GSE57956) from the GEO database.

Assessing the impact of cigarette smoking on β-cell function and risk for type 2 diabetes in a non-diabetic Chinese cohort.

Although the impact of cigarette smoking on glucose homeostasis has been extensively studied, the results, however, are still not conclusive. We, therefore, conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a non-diabetic Chinese cohort collected by the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS 2009) to comprehensively assess the relationship between smoking, Hemoglobin A1c, β-cell function and insulin sensitivity. The cohort included a total of 5965 individuals (47.

Identification of candidate aberrantly methylated and differentially expressed genes in thyroid cancer.

Aberrant methylation of DNA sequences plays a criticle role in finding novel aberrantly methylated genes and pathways in thyroid cancer (THCA). This study aimed to integrate three cohorts profile datasets to find novel aberrantly methylated genes and pathways in THCA. Data of gene expression profiling microarrays (GSE33630 and GSE65144) and gene methylation profiling microarrays (GSE51090) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Association of promoter polymorphism and Graves' disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Graves' disease (GD) is a common autoimmune disorder with a genetic predisposition. Owing to the biological effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on the thyroid gland and its gene location, TNF-α should be able to influence an individual's susceptibility to GD. In the present study, we conduct a meta-analysis of rs1800629 and rs361525 in gene from all eligible case-control studies to assess the associations amongst reported gene with GD.

Association between rs3087243 and rs231775 polymorphism within the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 gene and Graves' disease: a case/control study combined with meta-analyses.

We conducted a case/control study to assess the impact of SNP rs3087243 and rs231775 within the gene, on the susceptibility to Graves' disease (GD) in a Chinese Han dataset (271 cases and 298 controls). The frequency of G allele for rs3087243 and rs231775 was observed to be significantly higher in subjects with GD than in control subjects ( = 0.005 and = 0.

Association between polymorphism within interleukin related genes and Graves' disease: a meta-analysis of 22 case-control studies.

Graves' disease (GD) is a common autoimmune disorder with a genetic predisposition. There is strong evidence to suggest that both Th1 and Th2 circulating cytokines are involved in the development of GD. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the impact of seven variations of five -related genes on the susceptibility to GD.

Assessment of type 2 diabetes risk conferred by SNPs rs2241766 and rs1501299 in the ADIPOQ gene, a case/control study combined with meta-analyses.

We conducted a case/control study to assess the impact of two SNPs, rs2241766 and rs1501299 within the ADIPOQ gene, on type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility in a Chinese Han dataset (741 cases and 902 controls). SNP rs2241766 was found significantly associated with T2D risk in the additive model, dominant model and recessive model. A marginal association was detected for SNP rs1501299 in the additive model and recessive model after Bonferroni correction, and haplotype analysis provided additional evidence supporting the association between these two SNPs and T2D risk.

Clinical and genetic characteristics for the Urofacial Syndrome (UFS).

The Urofacial (Ochoa) Syndrome (UFS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder and over 100 patients have been reported thus far. UFS is characterized by the abnormal facial expression and dysfunctional voiding. The patients show a peculiar distortion of the facial expression (grimacing as if in pain or sadness when they tried to smile or laugh) along with urinary tract infection, enuresis, vesicoureteral reflux and hydronephrosis without any underlying neurological lesion and previous urinary obstruction.

MBD2 regulates TH17 differentiation and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by controlling the homeostasis of T-bet/Hlx axis.

Unlike genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications are reversible and amenable to pharmacological interventions, which make them appealing targets for clinical therapy. However, little is known about epigenetic regulation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here we demonstrated that methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2), an epigenetic regulator, controls autoimmunity and EAE through T-bet/Hlx.

Protective effects of membrane-anchored and secreted DNA vaccines encoding fatty acid-binding protein and glutathione S-transferase against Schistosoma japonicum.

In order to explore the high performance bivalent DNA-based vaccine against schistosomes, SjFABP and Sj26GST were selected and used to construct a vaccine. Two strategies were used to construct the bivalent DNA vaccine. In the first strategy, a plasmid encoding antigen in the secreted form was used, while in the other, a plasmid encoding a truncated form of SjFABP and Sj26GST targeted to the cell surface was used.

The Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway (UPP) in the regulation of cell cycle control and DNA damage repair and its implication in tumorigenesis.

Accumulated evidence supports that the ubiquitin proteasome pathway (UPP) plays a crucial role in protein metabolism implicated in the regulation of many biological processes such as cell cycle control, DNA damage response, apoptosis, and so on. Therefore, alterations for the ubiquitin proteasome signaling or functional impairments for the ubiquitin proteasome components are involved in the etiology of many diseases, particularly in cancer development. In this minireview, we first give a brief outline for the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, we then discuss with focus for the ubiquitin proteasome pathway in the regulation of cell cycle control and DNA damage response, the relevance for the altered regulation of these signaling pathways in tumorigenesis is also reviewed.