Persistent accumulation of therapy-induced senescent cells: an obstacle to long-term cancer treatment efficacy.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cancer therapy, while cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy aim to eradicate malignant cells, they also inadvertently trigger cellular senescence in both cancerous and microenvironmental tissues. Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) can act as a barrier against tumor growth by halting cell proliferation in the short term, but the long-term persistence of therapy-induced senescent (TISnt) cells may pose a significant challenge in cancer management. Their distinct characteristics, like senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), metabolic dysregulation, and immune evasion, make them exhibit remarkable heterogeneity to orchestrate the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in therapy resistance.

Characterization of the Mechanical Behavior and Stabilization Mechanism of Soft Soil Treated with Xanthan Gum Biopolymer.

Soft soil poses significant challenges in highway engineering due to its low strength and high compressibility. This study proposes using xanthan gum biopolymer as an environmentally friendly agent to improve the mechanical behavior of soft soil. Laboratory tests were conducted to analyze the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and compressibility of xanthan-gum-stabilized soft soil under dry-wet cycles.

Emerging Functions of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Plants.

Reversible protein phosphorylation, known as the "switch" of the cell, is controlled by protein kinases (PKs) and protein phosphatases (PPs). Based on substrate specificity, PPs are classified into protein serine/threonine phosphatases and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). PTPs can dephosphorylate phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine/phosphothreonine.

Synergistic Efficacy of Plaque Control with Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection on Erosive Non-Gingival Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

This study is the first time to assess the synergistic efficacy and safety of plaque control on erosive non-gingival oral lichen planus (OLP). A randomized, controlled, clinical trial with blind evaluation was designed, and 48 OLP patients with erosive non-gingival OLP lesions were randomly assigned to the experimental group ( = 25, receiving intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection, periodontal scaling, and oral hygiene instruction) and the control group ( = 23, only receiving intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection) once a week for 2 weeks. Erosion size, pain level, plaque index, and community periodontal index were measured at every visit.

TGF-β signaling in the tumor metabolic microenvironment and targeted therapies.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling has a paradoxical role in cancer progression, and it acts as a tumor suppressor in the early stages but a tumor promoter in the late stages of cancer. Once cancer cells are generated, TGF-β signaling is responsible for the orchestration of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and supports cancer growth, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance. These progressive behaviors are driven by an "engine" of the metabolic reprogramming in cancer.

Microenvironment in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Multi-Dimensional Characteristics and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are a group of diseases involving the oral mucosa and that have a risk of carcinogenesis. The microenvironment is closely related to carcinogenesis and cancer progression by regulating the immune response, cell metabolic activities, and mechanical characteristics. Meanwhile, there are extensive interactions between the microenvironments that remodel and provide favorable conditions for cancer initiation.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Facilitate Squamous Cell Carcinoma Lung Metastasis in Mice by Providing TGFβ-Mediated Cancer Stem Cell Niche.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been shown to enhance squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) growth, but it is unclear whether they promote SCC lung metastasis. We generated CAFs from mouse SCCs. RNA expression analyses demonstrated that CAFs had enriched transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling compared to normal tissue-associated fibroblasts (NAFs), therefore we assessed how TGFβ-enriched CAFs impact SCC metastasis.

Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential in embryo development and maintaining normal homeostasis. Extensive evidence shows that TGF-β activation acts on several cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells, to form a pro-fibrotic environment, ultimately leading to fibrotic diseases. TGF-β is stored in the matrix in a latent form; once activated, it promotes a fibroblast to myofibroblast transition and regulates extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and remodeling in fibrosis.

A case of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome with endocrine disorders: Extraordinary efficiency of hydroxychloroquine and mechanism hypothesis.

Background And Purpose: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuro-mucocutaneous disease. In addition to the traditional clinical triad, there is also a diversity of clinical signs, and it may be related to other systemic diseases.

Methods: In the present study, we report a case of MRS with endocrine disorders that exhibits extraordinary therapeutic efficiency by using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), explore whether there is an internal connection between MRS and endocrine disorders, and discuss the mechanism of the therapeutic efficiency of using HCQ.

A personalized computational model predicts cancer risk level of oral potentially malignant disorders and its web application for promotion of non-invasive screening.

Background: Despite their high accuracy to recognize oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) with cancer risk, non-invasive oral assays are poor in discerning whether the risk is high or low. However, it is critical to identify the risk levels, since high-risk patients need active intervention, while low-risk ones simply need to be follow-up. This study aimed at developing a personalized computational model to predict cancer risk level of OPMDs and explore its potential web application in OPMDs screening.

The efficacy and safety of thalidomide on the recurrence interval of continuous recurrent aphthous ulceration: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) is the most common oral mucosal disease. Some patients have almost continuous oral ulcers which influence the quality of life. The aim of this study was to observe the efficacy and safety of thalidomide on the recurrence interval of continuous RAU.

Regulation of proliferation and cell cycle by protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 (PRC1), a microtubule-associated protein, has emerged as a critical regulator of proliferation and apoptosis, acting predominantly in numerous tumors. However, its function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still unknown. To establish the roles of PRC1 in OSCC, 95 oral clinical samples (54 OSCC, 24 oral leukoplakia [OLK], and 17 normal oral mucosa) and seven oral cell lines (6 OSCC and 1 normal oral cell lines) were analyzed using a series of molecular and genomic assays both in vivo and in vitro were conducted in this study.

Extramammary Paget's disease of the oral mucosa and perioral skin.

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is an unusual intraepidermal adenocarcinoma. Only 2 cases of EMPD in the oral mucosa have been reported previously. Here, we present the first report of a rare case of Paget's disease of the oral mucosa and perioral skin with extensive contiguous erythematous and erosive manifestations.

Reduced CX3CL1 Secretion Contributes to the Susceptibility of Oral Leukoplakia-Associated Fibroblasts to .

Candida leukoplakia (OLK) is a kind of oral leukoplakia combined with chronic candidal infection, which plays an important role in the malignant transformation of OLK. However, little is known about the etiology, including susceptibility of leukoplakia to candidal adhesion, invasion and infection. Some antimicrobial peptides secreted by oral epithelial cells or fibroblasts potentially have antifungal activities against .