Neuronal apoptosis in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion area following electrical stimulation of fastigial nucleus

Previous studies have indicated that electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus in rats may reduce brain infarct size, increase the expression of Ku70 in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion area, and decrease the number of apoptotic neurons. However, the anti-apoptotic mechanism of Ku70 remains unclear. In this study, fastigial nucleus stimulation was given to rats 24, 48, and 72 hours before cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Results from the electrical stimulation group revealed that rats exhibited a reduction in brain infarct size, a significant increase in the expression of Ku70 in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion regions, and a decreased number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed no co-localization of Ku70 with TUNEL-positive cells. However, Ku70 partly co-localized with Bax protein in the cytoplasm of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. These findings suggest an involvement of Ku70 with Bax in the cytoplasm of rats exposed to electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus, and may thus provide an understanding into the anti-apoptotic activity of Ku70 in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Quantitative trait loci mapping for kernel row number using chromosome segment substitution lines in maize

Unveiling the genetic architecture of grain yield and yield-related traits is useful for guiding the genetic improvement of crop plants. Kernel row number (KRN) per ear is an important yield component, which directly affects the grain yield of maize. In this study, we constructed a set of 130 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), using Nongxi531 as the donor parent and H21 as recipient parent, by continuous backcrossing and selfing. In total, 11 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected for KRN by stepwise regression under 3 environmental settings, with 9.87-19.44% phenotypic variation being explained by a single QTL. All 11 QTL were also detected by single-factor ANOVA across the 3 environments tested. Of these 11 QTL, 4 were identified across more than 2 environments, indicating that they are authentically expressed under different environments to control the formation and development of KRN in female maize inflorescences. The CSSLs harbored a greater number of favorable alleles for KRN compared to the H21 line, and could be employed as improved H21 lines in maize breeding programs.

Analysis of BRAF(V600E) mutation and DNA methylation improves the diagnostics of thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsies

BACKGROUND

Thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytological features on fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens (FNABs) have a ~20% risk of thyroid cancer. BRAF(V600E) mutation and DNA methylation are useful markers to distinguish malignant thyroid neoplasm from benign. The aim of this study was to determine whether combined detection of BRAF(V600E) mutation and methylation markers on FNABs could improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid cancer.

METHODS

Using pyrosequencing and quantitative methylation-specific PCR (Q-MSP) methods, FNABs from 79 and 38 patients with thyroid nodules in training and test groups, respectively, were analyzed for BRAF(V600E) mutation and gene methylation.

RESULTS

BRAF(V600E) mutation was found in 30/42 (71.4%) and 14/20 (70%) FNABs in training and test groups, respectively. All BRAF(V600E)-positive samples were histologically diagnosed as papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) after thyroidectomy. As expected, BRAF mutation was not found in all benign nodules. Moreover, we demonstrated that the five genes, including CALCA, DAPK1, TIMP3, RAR-beta and RASSF1A, were aberrantly methylated in FNABs. Of them, methylation level of DAPK1 in PTCs was significantly higher than that in benign samples (P <0.0001). Conversely, methylation level of RASSF1A in PTCs was significantly lower than that in benign samples (P =0.003). Notably, compared with BRAF mutation testing alone, combined detection of BRAF mutation and methylation markers increased the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of PTC with excellent specificity.

CONCLUSION

Our data have demonstrated that combine analysis of BRAF mutation and DNA methylation markers on FNABs may be a useful strategy to facilitate the diagnosis of malignant thyroid neoplasm, particularly PTC.

VIRTUAL SLIDES

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/6080878071149177.

[A cross-sectional survey on behavior problems among eco-migrant children of Hui and Han in Ningxia, China]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the detection rate and correlates of behavioral problems among eco-migrant children in Hui and Han ethnicities.

METHODS

Using multistage randomized sampling method, 2 653 eco-migrant teenagers, 3 174 indigenous and 2 334 homeland peers were selected. Their parents were asked to finish the Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a self-developed correlates questionnaire.

RESULTS

765 eco-migrant children with behavioral problems were detected, with detection rate as 28.8%, higher than that of homeland group (24.2%) and native group (19.3%) (χ(2) = 73.547, P < 0.012 5). Ecological migration mainly influenced factors as bad contacts, depression, obsessive-compulsive, discipline, attack for boys aged 6-11, bad contacts for boys aged 12-16 and extraversion behavioral problems for girls aged 12-16, in Hui. These factors both associated to eco-migrant children's behavioral problems in Hui and Han:cesarean section (OR = 1.863, 95% CI:1.144-3.035, for Han) and (OR = 2.979, 95% CI:2.067-4.293, for Hui), physical defects (OR = 1.730, 95%CI:1.087-2.751, for Han) and (OR = 2.552, 95%CI:1.649-3.950, for Hui), arable as a main income way(OR = 1.272, 95%CI:1.066-1.518, for Han) and (OR = 1.212, 95%CI: 1.033-1.422, for Hui), parents' education level above middle school (OR = 0.709, 95% CI: 0.539-0.932, for Han) and (OR = 0.698, 95%CI: 0.542-0.898, for Hui), parents' frequently in good mood (OR = 0.710, 95%CI:0.613-0.821, for Han) and (OR = 0.826, 95%CI:0.718-0.949, for Hui). However, major diseases in the process of growth (OR = 1.794, 95% CI:1.163-2.767), and parents with chronic illness or disability (OR = 1.463, 95% CI:1.061-2.016) only associated with that in Han;single-parent or remarried families(OR = 1.583, 95% CI:1.078-2.325), parents often drinking (OR = 1.557, 95%CI:1.019- 2.379), the time of parents' work longer than half a year (OR = 1.494, 95% CI:1.197-1.864), parents' more content to life now(OR = 0.813, 95% CI:0.700-0.945), and children in older age (OR = 0.939, 95%CI:0.889-0.991) only related to that in Hui.

CONCLUSION

The eco-migrant children showed a low state in mental health, especially among Hui peers, and the correlated factors were different in Han and Hui, which was supposed to get great importance when taking effective intervention.

Green synthesis and catalytic performance of nanoscale CeO2 sheets

Nanoscale CeO₂ sheets, synthesized by a green and facile method, have higher photocatalytic efficiency owing to more surface defects.

A new algorithm for calculating optimal viewing angles in coronary angiography based on 4-D cardiac computed tomography

BACKGROUND

Coronary stenosis is the main cause of the coronary heart disease (CHD). However, coronary arteriography (CAG), which is considered as the 'gold standard' of determining the location and severity of CHD, hardly acquires a satisfactory image for some lesions by traditional viewing angles.

OBJECTIVE

We proposed a new approach to calculate the optimal viewing angles of CAG system to observe vessel segment of interest.

METHODS

Firstly, the 4-D coronary arteries are segmented to obtain a dynamic vessel model. Then, a "rendering" method in computer graphics is used to calculate the optimal viewing angles of the vessel segment in the entire cardiac cycle. At last, an intersection of these angles can be regarded as the optimal ones in the whole cardiac cycle.

RESULTS

Within the constraint of 2% foreshortening, the single phase data show 1% foreshortening without overlapping at the optimal angles proposed by our method, compared with 1.8% foreshortening at working angles set by clinical experts. And the multi-phase experiments also have good results.

CONCLUSIONS

The new approach can provide doctors optimal viewing angles of interested vessel segment in the whole cardiac cycle.

First Report of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid-1 and Hop stunt viroid Infecting Grapevines (Vitis vinifera) in India

During March through July 2012, 10 to 15% of the Vitis vinifera cultivars Thompson Seedless and Anab-e-Shahi exhibited yellow leaf spots and flecks, shortened internodes, and tiny yellow leaves in vineyards of the Bijapur, Doddaballapur, and Kolar districts of Karnataka State, India. These are the major grapevine cultivation regions in India. Samples were collected from four different plants from each district (12 samples in total) and RNA was extracted using 2X CTAB buffer (1). Presence of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid1 (GYSVd-1, genus Apscaviroid) was tested by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primer pair PBCVd100C/194H (4) for the amplification of a 220-bp region of the genome. In agarose gel electrophoresis, five samples showed amplicons of the expected size. These amplicons were cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of GYSVd-1. Based on this data, the full-length genome of GYSVd-1 was amplified by RT-PCR using primer pair 341M (5'-CACTCGCGGGGCGCGTTGGA-3') and 342P (5'-CAATCCCCGGAACCCCCGCT-3') and the amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed two sequence variants namely Kar-1 (GenBank Accession No. AB742222) and Kar-2 (AB742223) with 98% and 99% identity to GYSVd-1 variants IXc (X87913) and II (X87906), respectively. GYSVd-1 variants Kar-1 and Kar-2 clustered in two distinct phylogenetic sub-clades. All 12 samples also tested positive for Hop stunt viroid (HpSVd, genus Hostuviroid) in two separate sets of RT-PCR using HSV-78P (5'-AACCCGGGGCAACTCTTCTC-3') and HSV-83M (5'-AACCCGGGGCTCCTTTCTCA-3'); and HSV-7P (5'-AATTCTCGAGTTGCCGC-3') and HSV-220M (5'-CGAACCGAGAGGTGATGCCA-3'), with the expected size of 303 and 213 bp, respectively (3). Sequence analysis of the amplicons confirmed the presence of HpSVd. Alignment of HpSVd nucleotide sequences obtained from the 12 samples showed the presence of a single type of sequence variant, namely Ind-2 (AB742225). BLAST analysis showed 99% sequence identity of Ind-2 with a HpSVd variant isolated from a 100-year-old grapevine in China. All 12 grapevine samples were also tested for the presence of Australian grapevine viroid (AGVd, genus Apscaviroid), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 (GYSVd 2, genus Apscaviroid), and Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd, genus Pospiviroid) by RT-PCR as described previously (2). None of the samples showed any positives. Northern blot assay using appropriate digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes performed as described previously (2) further confirmed RT-PCR results. Positive controls for RT-PCR and Northern blot were obtained from viroid-infected grapevines maintained in the greenhouse. GYSVd-1 and HpSVd were detected in symptomatic and symptomless plants. Hence, the symptoms observed in the vineyard cannot be attributed to viroid infection. More work is needed to identify the causal agent(s) of the decline of Thompson Seedless and Anab-e-Shadi cultivars. References: (1) C. R. Adkar-Purushothama et al. Plant Dis. 97:149, 2013. (2) D. Jiang et al. Virus Res, 169:237, 2012. (3) Y. Kawaguchi-Ito et al. PLoS One 4:e8386, 2009. (4) L. I. Ward et al. Plant Dis. 95:617, 2011.

Phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity of haemocytes from the ivory snail, Babylonia areolata

Haemocytes from the ivory snail, Babylonia areolata phagocytized Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus after 30 min. Haemocytes phagocytized V. parahaemolyticus at a greater rate than they phagocytized S. cerevisiae. The phagocytic rate (PP) of V. parahaemolyticus by granulocytes to was a little higher than that of S. cerevisiae. The phagocytic index (PI) of V. parahaemolyticus by granulocytes was significantly higher than that of S. cerevisiae. The same was true of hyalinocytes. The PP of granulocytes was significantly higher than that of hyalinocytes for each pathogen. No difference in PI was observed in granulocytes and hyalinocytes. Two defense mechanisms of B. areolata were quantified using flow cytometry. Haemocyte phagocytosis was quantified using fluorescent microbeads and respiratory burst activity was measured using H2O2 increases detected by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Both phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity of the haemocytes increased over time. After 90 min the phagocytic rate no longer increased. In the case of respiratory burst, the greatest increase in fluorescence occurred between 30 and 120 min, no further increase was seen after 120 min. These results showed unequivocally that a native (unstimulated) haemocyte oxidative burst was active in B. areolata. The aim of this study was to further the knowledge of immunology in gastropods.

A novel HLA-C*15 allele, HLA-C*15:02:04

HLA-C*15:02:04 differs from HLA-C*15:02:01 by the nucleotide exchange at position 143.

A novel HLA-A*02 allele, HLA-A*02:129

HLA-A*02:129 differs from HLA-A*02:87 exon 2 at nt 25, nt 29, nt 167 T, nt 184 and nt 192.

The novel allele HLA-A*02:145 differs from HLA-A*02:01:01 by a single amino acid exchange at position 153 from alanine to valine

HLA-A*02:145 differs from HLA-A*02:02:01:01 by the amino acid exchange at position 153 Ala changes to Val.

MEK inhibition leads to lysosome-mediated Na+/I- symporter protein degradation in human breast cancer cells

The Na(+)/I(-) symporter (NIS (SLC5A5)) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates active iodide uptake into thyroid follicular cells. NIS-mediated iodide uptake in thyroid cells is the basis for targeted radionuclide imaging and treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinomas and their metastases. Furthermore, NIS is expressed in many human breast tumors but not in normal non-lactating breast tissue, suggesting that NIS-mediated radionuclide uptake may also allow the imaging and targeted therapy of breast cancer. However, functional cell surface NIS expression is often low in breast cancer, making it important to uncover signaling pathways that modulate NIS expression at multiple levels, from gene transcription to posttranslational processing and cell surface trafficking. In this study, we investigated NIS regulation in breast cancer by MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) signaling, an important cell signaling pathway involved in oncogenic transformation. We found that MEK inhibition decreased NIS protein levels in all-trans retinoic acid/hydrocortisone-treated MCF-7 cells as well as human breast cancer cells expressing exogenous NIS. The decrease in NIS protein levels by MEK inhibition was not accompanied by a decrease in NIS mRNA or a decrease in NIS mRNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. NIS protein degradation upon MEK inhibition was prevented by lysosome inhibitors but not by proteasome inhibitors. Interestingly, NIS protein level was correlated with MEK/ERK activation in human breast tumors from a tissue microarray. Taken together, MEK activation appears to play an important role in maintaining NIS protein stability in human breast cancers.

[Annexin A2 expression in intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and its clinical implications]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of annexin A2 (ANXA2) expression in the intestinal mucosa in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

Intestinal or colonic mucosal biopsy samples were obtained from 54 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 37 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 15 healthy control subjects. Immunohistochemistry was employed to examine the expression of ANXA2 in the intestinal mucosa, and mRNA expression of ANXA2 was detected using real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry showed a ANXA2 positivity rate of 83.3% (45/54) in patients with UC, 27.0% (10/37) in patients with CD, and 53.3% (8/15) in the control subjects. ANXA2 expression in the intestinal or colonic mucosa was significantly up-regulated in patients with UC compared with the patients with CD and healthy control subjects, but was significantly lower in patients with CD than in the healthy controls (P<0.05). The expression levels of ANXA2 were strongly associated with the severity of clinical manifestations and the histopathological grades of UC (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy controls and patients with CD, patients with UC showed a significantly increased ANXA2 mRNA expression level in the inflamed mucosa of UC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

ANXA2 can serve as a marker for differential diagnosis of IBD, and its up-regulated expression is closely related to the pathogenesis of UC.

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies associate with phenotypes and higher risk for surgery in Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggested that anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) status was associated with diagnostic findings, stratified classification phenotypes, disease activity and clinical course of Crohn's disease (CD). However, the relationship between ASCA status and phenotypes of CD remains controversial in these studies.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether ASCA status is associated with the phenotypes and the risk of surgery in diverse populations in CD.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis of studies assessing the association of ASCA status with phenotypes and risk of surgery in CD. Three independent reviewers undertook data extraction. We pooled odds ratios separately for the cohort and case-control studies.

RESULTS

We identified ten cohort studies (n = 2,365) and 14 case-control studies (n = 1,887) that investigated the association of ASCA status with phenotypes and risk of surgery in CD. The meta-analysis of the cohort studies showed significant association between the ASCA-positive status and higher risk of early-onset age (OR 2.25, 95 % CI 1.41-3.57, P < 0.001), ileal involvement disease (1.70, 1.05-2.77, P = 0.03), complicated disease behavior (2.09, 1.71-2.57, P < 0.001), perianal disease (1.49, 1.14-1.94, P = 0.004), and risk for surgery (1.61, 1.29-2.01, P < 0.001). Meta-analysis of the case-control studies also showed a significantly higher risk in ileal involvement disease (1.77, 1.25-2.49, P = 0.001), complicated disease behavior (2.13, 1.70-2.68, P < 0.001), perianal disease (1.96, 1.38-2.78, P < 0.001), and risk for surgery (1.71, 1.17-2.49, P = 0.005), except for the early-onset age (1.16, 0.80-1.69, P = 0.44).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis indicated that positive ASCA status is a risk factor for early-onset age, ileal involvement, complicated behavior, perianal disease and requirement for surgery in CD.

Genetic alterations of RD(INK4/ARF) enhancer in human cancer cells

Recent identification of an enhancer element, RD(INK4/ARF) (RD), in the prominent INK4/ARF locus provides a novel mechanism to simultaneously regulate the transcription of p15(INK4B) (p15), p14(ARF) , and p16(INK4A) (p16) tumor suppressor genes. While genetic inactivation of p15, p14(ARF) , and p16 in human tumors has been extensively studied, little is known about genetic alterations of RD and its impact on p15, p14(ARF) , and p16 in human cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential existence of genetic alterations of RD in human cancer cells. DNAs extracted from 17 different cancer cell lines and 31 primary pheochromocytoma tumors were analyzed for deletion and mutation of RD using real-time PCR and direct DNA sequencing. We found that RD was deleted in human cancer cell lines and pheochromocytoma tumors at frequencies of 41.2% (7/17) and 13.0% (4/31), respectively. While some of these RD deletion events occurred along with deletions of the entire INK4/ARF locus, other RD deletion events were independent of genetic alterations in p15, p14(ARF) , and p16. Furthermore, the status of RD was poorly associated with the expression of p15, p14(ARF) , and p16 in tested cancer cell lines and tumors. This study demonstrates for the first time that deletion of the RD enhancer is a prevalent event in human cancer cells. Its implication in carcinogenesis remains to be further explored.

Menopause with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among rural Chinese women in Beijing: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

This study was to explore the independent influence of menopause on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors in rural Chinese females.

STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional population-based study enrolled 2245 premenopausal and 2498 postmenopausal women aged 40-59 years in Fangshan district, Beijing, China. Data was collected by face-to-face interview, physical examination and biochemical examination during 2009 and 2010. General liner models were employed to calculate age-adjusted means of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs). The comparisons of CVD and it risk factors according to menopausal status, and calculation of adjusted odds ratios/coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals for the associations of quartiles of elapsed time since menopause and age at menopause with CVD and its risk factors was performed by multivariate logistic/liner regression models separately.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age and other confounders, no statistically significant association of menopause with CVD was observed in our participants; however, dyslipidemia prevalence and levels of waist-to-hip ratio, triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were presented higher in postmenopausal group, compared to the premenopausal one (P<0.05). Compared to women who had been menopausal for less than1 year, those with the elapsed time since menopause of 2-3 years had higher CHD prevalence, higher triglycerides level and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Postmenopausal women in rural China had worse CRFs profile than the premenopausal ones, which implied menopause might aggravate the CRFs epidemic beyond effects of aging, and would increase the CVD burden during and after their middle ages.

A black raspberry extract inhibits proliferation and regulates apoptosis in cervical cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer worldwide, and it remains a challenge to manage preinvasive and invasive lesions. Food-based cancer prevention entities, such as black raspberries and their derivatives, have demonstrated a marked ability to inhibit preclinical models of epithelial cancer cell growth and tumor formation. Here, we extend the role of black raspberry-mediated chemoprevention to that of cervical carcinogenesis.

METHODS

Three human cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa (HPV16-/HPV18+, adenocarcinoma), SiHa (HPV16+/HPV18-, squamous cell carcinoma) and C-33A (HPV16-/HPV18-, squamous cell carcinoma), were treated with a lyophilized black raspberry ethanol extract (RO-ET) at 25, 50, 100 or 200μg/ml for 1, 3 and 5days, respectively. Cell proliferation was measured by WST1 (tetrazolium salt cleavage) assays. Flow cytometry (propidium iodide and Annexin V staining) and fluorescence microscopy analysis were used to measure apoptotic cell changes.

RESULTS

We found that non-toxic levels of RO-ET significantly inhibited the growth of human cervical cancer cells, in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner to a maximum of 54%, 52% and 67%, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, cell growth inhibition was persistent following short-term withdrawal of RO-ET from the culture medium. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy demonstrated RO-ET-induced apoptosis in all cell lines.

CONCLUSION

Black raspberries and their bioactive components represent promising candidates for future phytochemical-based mechanistic pathway-targeted cancer prevention strategies.

Selective conversion of bio-oil to light olefins: controlling catalytic cracking for maximum olefins

Light olefins are the basic building blocks for the petrochemical industry. In this work, selective production of light olefins from catalytic cracking of bio-oil was performed by using the La/HZSM-5 catalyst. With a nearly complete conversion of bio-oil, the maximum yield reached 0.28±0.02 kg olefins/(kg bio-oil), which was close to that from methanol. Addition of La into zeolite efficiently changed the total acid amount of HZSM-5, especially the acid distribution among the strong, medium and weak acid sites. A moderate increase of the number of the medium acid sites effectively enhanced the olefins selectivity and improved the catalyst stability. The comparison between the catalytic cracking and pyrolysis of bio-oil was studied. The mechanism of the conversion of bio-oil to light olefins was also discussed.

Gankyrin, a biomarker for epithelial carcinogenesis, is overexpressed in human oral cancer

Little is known about the potential involvement of the oncoprotein gankyrin in human oral cancer progression. In this study, the levels of gankyrin mRNA and protein expression were assessed in human oral epithelial cell lines, at-risk normal oral tissues, premalignant oral lesions, and primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Biopsies included 6 oral epithelial cell lines, 32 OSCC specimens for qRT-PCR analysis, 27 OSCC specimens and 12 premalignant oral lesions for immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTS

Gankyrin was overexpressed in all tested oral epithelial cell lines and the majority of OSCC specimens (32/32 (100%) and 21/27 (71%) at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively). Moreover, 6/12 of premalignant oral lesions overexpressed gankyrin protein.

CONCLUSION

Gankyrin overexpression is a prevalent event in human oral cancer and occurs during the early stages of oral carcinogenesis, thus being a viable therapeutic or chemopreventive target in oral cancer.