Unilateral nasal obstruction induces degeneration of fungiform and circumvallate papillae in rats

Craniofacial and olfactory sensory changes after long-term unilateral nasal obstruction-an animal study using MMP-3-LUC transgenic rats

Nasal obstruction exerts considerable physiological effects on the respiratory system and craniofacial morphology during the developmental stage. This study used MMP-3-LUC transgenic rats for in vivo tracking of long-term expression in the rat nasal region after unilateral nasal obstruction. Skeletal changes of the craniofacial, nasal, and sinus regions were measured through micro-computed tomography examination and analysis with 3D image processing and calculation. Matrix metalloproteinase-3 and olfactory marker protein expression were also investigated through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Unilateral nasal obstruction significantly reduced the MMP-3 signal in the nasal region of MMP-3-LUC transgenic rats, which was mainly expressed in the respiratory epithelium. Long-term obstruction also caused morphological changes of the craniofacial hard tissue, such as nasal septal deviation, longer inter-jaw distance, and increased maxillary molar dental height. It also caused compensatory growth in olfactory nerve bundles and the olfactory epithelium, as confirmed by IHC. In our study, long-term unilateral nasal obstruction caused nasal septal deviation toward the unobstructed side, hyper divergent facial development including longer molar dental height, and reduced MMP-3 production. However, further investigation is necessary to explore the mechanism in depth.

Exploring the dynamics of perioperative symptom networks in colorectal cancer patients: a cross-lagged panel network analysis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer incidence is on the rise, necessitating precise symptom management. However, causal relationships among symptoms have been challenging to establish due to reliance on cross-sectional data. Cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis offers a solution, leveraging longitudinal data for insight.

OBJECTIVE

We employed CLPN analysis to construct symptom networks in colorectal cancer patients at three perioperative time points, aiming to identify predictive relationships and intervention opportunities.

METHODS

We evaluated the prevalence and severity of symptoms throughout the perioperative period, encompassing T1 the first day of admission, T2 2-3 days postoperatively, and T3 discharge, utilizing the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Gastrointestinal Cancer Module (MDASI-GI). To identify crucial nodes in the network and explore predictive and interactive effects among symptoms, CLPNs were constructed from longitudinal data in R.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed a stable network, with disturbed sleep exhibiting the highest out-EI (outgoing expected influence) during T1. Distress had a sustained impact throughout the perioperative. Disturbed sleep at T1 predicted T2 bloating, fatigue, distress, and pain. T1 distress predicted T2 sadness severity. T2 distress primarily predicted T3 fatigue, disturbed sleep, changes in taste, and bloating. T2 shortness of breath predicted T3 changes in taste and loss of appetite. Furthermore, biochemical markers like RBC and ALB had notable influence on symptom clusters during T1→T2 and T2→T3, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Prioritizing disturbed sleep during T1 and addressing distress throughout the perioperative phase is recommended. Effective symptom management not only breaks the chain of symptom progression, enhancing healthcare impact, but also eases patient symptom burdens.

Hypoxia dissociates HDAC6/FOXO1 complex and aggregates them into nucleus to regulate autophagy and osteogenic differentiation

OBJECTIVE

This research aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the periodontitis-associated bone loss, with particular emphasis on the contributory role of hypoxic microenvironment in this process.

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis generally causes alveolar bone loss and is often associated with a hypoxic microenvironment, which affects bone homeostasis. However, the regulating mechanism between hypoxia and jaw metabolism remains unclear. Hypoxia triggers autophagy, which is closely related to osteogenic differentiation, but how hypoxia-induced autophagy regulates bone metabolism is unknown. HDAC6 and FOXO1 are closely related to bone metabolism and autophagy, respectively, but whether they are related to hypoxia-induced bone loss and their internal mechanisms is still unclear.

METHODS

Established rat nasal obstruction model and hypoxia cell model. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression and localization of HDAC6 and FOXO1 proteins, analysis of autophagic flux and transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the autophagy level and observe the autophagosomes, co-immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation were preformed to investigate the interaction of HDAC6 and FOXO1.

RESULTS

Hypoxia causes increased autophagy and reduced osteogenic differentiation in rat mandibles and BMSCs, and blocking autophagy can attenuate hypoxia-induced osteogenic differentiation decrease. Moreover, hypoxia dissociated the FOXO1-HDAC6 complex and accumulated them in the nucleus. Knocking down of FOXO1 or HDAC6 alleviated hypoxia-induced autophagy elevation or osteogenic differentiation reduction by binding to related genes, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Hypoxia causes mandibular bone loss and autophagy elevation. Mechanically, hypoxia dissociates the FOXO1-HDAC6 complex and aggregates them in the nucleus, whereas HDAC6 decreases osteogenic differentiation and FOXO1 enhances autophagy to inhibit osteogenic differentiation.

Two-generation exposure to a high-fat diet induces the change of salty taste preference in rats

High-fat diet (HFD) leads to multiple complications, including taste alteration. This study observed the effect of a two-generation exposure to an HFD on the peripheral taste system in offspring. Ten pregnant Wistar rats were assigned a standard diet (SD) (n = 5) or HFD (n = 5) from day 7 of pregnancy through the lactation. Thirty-six male and female 3-week-old offspring were measured for body weight and blood glucose level, and the circumvallate papillae were collected. The other twenty-four 3-week-old offspring were weaned on the same diet as their mothers and raised individually. The taste preference behaviors were studied using the two-bottle taste preference test and analyzed five basic tastes (sweet, bitter, umami, sour, and salty). The expressions of epithelial sodium channel alpha subunit (ENaCα) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) in the circumvallate papilla were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We found increased body weight and salty taste preference of offspring from the HFD group in both sexes. Correspondingly, the AT1 level of the taste bud cells significantly increased in 3-week-old female offspring from the HFD group. An increase in AT1 levels may be a risk factor for changes in salty taste preference.

Genetic variation in sweet taste receptors and a mechanistic perspective on sweet and fat taste sensation in the context of obesity

Taste sensation enables humans to make nutritionally important decisions such as food preference and consumption. It functions as deterministic factors for unpropitious eating behavior, leading to overweight and obesity. The hedonistic feeling on consumption of fat and sugar-rich meals, in particular, has a negative influence on health. In addition, impairment in the taste receptors alters the downstream signaling of taste transduction pathway. Hence, genetic polymorphism in typical taste receptors is a predictor of taste sensitivity variance across individuals. The present review summarizes the effect of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in sweet taste receptors (T1R2/T1R3) on taste perception among individuals of various body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, in the context of obesity, we discussed the possibility of crosstalk between fat and sweet receptors as well as taste dysfunction in diseased individuals. In overall, a greater understanding of the physiological relationship between taste receptors, altered taste sensitivity, and genetic polymorphisms should lead to more effective obesity prevention approaches.

Unilateral Nasal Obstruction Causes Symptom Severity Scores Similar to Bilateral Nasal Obstruction

The objective of this paper is to investigate the differences between unilateral and bilateral nasal obstruction with subjective symptomatology in nasal obstruction. This is a retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data of patients with nasal obstruction presenting to a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery clinic for evaluation and treatment. Patient demographics including age and gender were recorded along with nasal physical exam findings. These included internal valve narrowing (IVN), external valve narrowing, internal valve collapse, external valve collapse, and septal deviations (inferior and superior). Findings were reported for the left, the right, and both sides. Nasal valve and septal findings were recorded on 3- and 4-point Likert scales, respectively, for each side of the nose. A total of 1,646 patients were included in the study. On univariate analysis, a significant correlation was seen between Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores and all individual exam findings (p < 0.001). On multiple linear regression, total, left, and right septal deviation (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.007, respectively) and total, left, and right IVN (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001) were all predictive of an increased NOSE score. Patients with unilateral septal deviation or internal nasal valve narrowing have symptoms of nasal obstruction similar to those with bilateral nasal obstruction. Unilateral and bilateral septal deviation and internal nasal valve narrowing are predictive of having an increased NOSE score. Unilateral nasal obstruction should be recognized and treated as a cause for severe symptomatic nasal obstruction despite a normal contralateral nasal exam.