Immunoexpression of glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRα) isoform and apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bax) in actinic cheilitis and lower lip squamous cell carcinoma

Effects of photobiomodulation with blue Light Emitting Diode (LED) on the healing of skin burns

The management of skin burns is still challenging. Among the therapeutic methods used, there are topical treatments with pharmacological and herbal agents, low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound, use of biomaterials, reconstructive techniques and photobiomodulation therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation with blue Light Emitting Diode (LED) on burn healing. Fifty Wistar rats were divided into control (CTRL) (n = 25) and blue LED (LED) (n = 25), with subgroups (n = 5) for each time of euthanasia (7, 14, 21, 28 and 32 days). Treated animals were daily irradiated (470 nm, 1W, 0.44 W/cm2, 50 J/cm2). Clinical evaluations were performed and the Wound Retraction Index (WRI) was determined. Histological sections were submitted to hematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue and the immunohistochemical technique, with anti-α-SMA and anti-TGF-β1 antibodies. All data were directly collected by previously calibrated evaluators in a blind manner. The values were included in a statistical program. For all statistical tests used, 5% significance level (p < 0.05) was considered. No statistically significant differences in WRI between groups were observed (p > 0.05). Re-epithelialization was higher using LED at 7 and 14 days (p < 0.05) and greater amount of inflammatory cells was observed at 7 days (p = 0.01). With LED at 21 and 32 days, greater number of mast cells were observed (p < 0.05), as well as smaller number of myofibroblasts at 14, 21, 28 and 32 days (p < 0.05) and lower percentage of TGF-β1 positive cells in the conjunctiva at 7, 14 and 21 days (p < 0.05). Negative correlations were observed in LED between the percentage of TGF-β1 in the epithelium and the mean number of inflammatory cells and number of myofibroblasts (p < 0.05). The results suggest that, depending on the period, blue LED can modulate the healing processes of third-degree skin burns, such as re-epithelialization, inflammatory response, mast cell concentration, myofibroblast differentiation and TGF-β1 immunoexpression. Despite these effects, this therapy does not seem to have significant influence on the retraction of these wounds. Future studies, using different protocols, should be carried out to expand the knowledge about the photobiomodulatory mechanisms of this type of light in the healing process.

Cancer and Stress: Does It Make a Difference to the Patient When These Two Challenges Collide?

Simple Summary

Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common cancer in the world. The burden of the disease has remained challenging over recent years despite the advances in treatments of other malignancies. The very use of the word malignancy brings about a stress response in almost all adult patients. Being told you have a tumour is not a word anyone wants to hear. We have embarked on a study which will investigate the effect of stress pathways on head and neck cancer patients and which signalling pathways may be involved. In the future, this will allow clinicians to better manage patients with head and neck cancer and reduce the patients’ stress so that this does not add to their tumour burden.

Abstract

A single head and neck Cancer (HNC) is a globally growing challenge associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis itself can affect the patients profoundly let alone the complex and disfiguring treatment. The highly important functions of structures of the head and neck such as mastication, speech, aesthetics, identity and social interactions make a cancer diagnosis in this region even more psychologically traumatic. The emotional distress engendered as a result of functional and social disruption is certain to negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The key biological responses to stressful events are moderated through the combined action of two systems, the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) which releases glucocorticoids and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which releases catecholamines. In acute stress, these hormones help the body to regain homeostasis; however, in chronic stress their increased levels and activation of their receptors may aid in the progression of cancer. Despite ample evidence on the existence of stress in patients diagnosed with HNC, studies looking at the effect of stress on the progression of disease are scarce, compared to other cancers. This review summarises the challenges associated with HNC that make it stressful and describes how stress signalling aids in the progression of cancer. Growing evidence on the relationship between stress and HNC makes it paramount to focus future research towards a better understanding of stress and its effect on head and neck cancer.

Oral potentially malignant disorders: A scoping review of prognostic biomarkers

This scoping review aimed to map evidence regarding biomarkers for malignant transformation of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Seventy-three longitudinal studies investigating prognostic biomarkers for OPMD malignant transformation were included, encompassing 5612 disorders and 108 biomarkers, of which 72 were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Most biomarkers were assessed in one or two studies, while five (p53, Ki-67, podoplanin, p16, and DNA ploidy) were analyzed in five or more studies. All studies investigating podoplanin (n = 8) reported a significant association between positive/high immunoexpression and malignant transformation. Similarly, all studies assessing DNA ploidy (n = 5) found that aneuploidy or gross genomic aberrations were significantly associated with malignant transformation. Included studies often presented mixed data from different OPMD subtypes, inadequate description of population characteristics, and lack of adjusted analysis for confounding factors. One hundred and eight biomarkers were identified and, from these, podoplanin immunoexpression and DNA ploidy were considered promising candidates for future long-term clinical research.

Molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in rats

Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) has been widely used in the treatment of various tumors, especially in colorectal cancer. The mechanism of peripheral neurotoxicity induced by L-OHP (OIPN) is unclear and current therapeutic options only serve to alleviate the symptoms rather than prevent OIPN. To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on OIPN in rats, rats were randomly divided into the control group, OIPN model group, and OIPN + EA group. To establish OIPN rat models, a single intraperitoneal injection with 10 mg/kg L-OHP in the OIPN model rats. Rats in the control group received a single intraperitoneal injection with 0.9% lactose. From the third day after establishing OIPN models, the rats were treated with EA. Cold allodynia and heat sensitivity were assessed using the acetone drop and the Hargreaves method, respectively. Pathological changes in nerves were detected using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy. Related mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting from 14 days after establishing OIPN models. Our results showed that L-OHP significantly increased the sensitivity to cold allodynia and nervous injury, which were ameliorated after EA treatment. The expression of glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GR-α) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) was significantly decreased and that of Bax was significantly increased in sciatic nerve of OIPN model rats compared with control rats. However, EA treatment significantly inhibited L-OHP-induced protein expressions in rats. Moreover, compared with the control rats, the nucleus NF-κBp65 levels were significantly increased, while the cytoplasm NF-κBp65 levels were significantly decreased, which were reversed by EA treatment. In conclusion, EA treatment may reduce peripheral neurotoxicity induced by L-OHP through regulating related protein expression.