Analyses of regulatory network and discovery of potential biomarkers for Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) in responses to starvation stress through transcriptome and metabolome.

Whether in aquaculture or in nature, starvation stress limits the growth of fish. The purpose of the study was to clarify the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying starvation stress in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) through liver transcriptome and metabolome analysis. Transcriptome results showed that liver genes associated with cell cycle and fatty acid synthesis were down-regulated, whereas those related to fatty acid decomposition were up-regulated in the experimental group (EG; starved for 72 days) compared to the control group (CG; feeding). Metabolomic results showed that there were significant differences in the levels of metabolites related to nucleotide metabolism and energy metabolism, such as purine metabolism, histidine metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Five fatty acids (C22:6n-3; C22:5n-3; C20:5n-3; C20:4n-3; C18:3n-6) were selected as possible biomarkers of starvation stress from the differential metabolites of metabolome. Subsequently, correlation between these differential genes of lipid metabolism and cell cycle and differential metabolites were analyzed, and observed that these five fatty acids were significantly correlated with the differential genes. These results provide new clues for understanding the role of fatty acid metabolism and cell cycle in fish under starvation stress. It also provides a reference for promoting the biomarker identification of starvation stress and stress tolerance breeding research.

Life quality improvement in hoarse patients with early glottic cancer after transoral laser microsurgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recovery kinetics of voice and quality of life (QOL) over time in patients with early glottic cancer who underwent transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in which acoustic and aerodynamic voice assessments and QOL analyses were done using health-related questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30-questions [EORTC-QLQ-C30] and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck 35-questions [EORTC-QLQ-H&N35]) were administered at designated times. RESULTS: Most voice laboratory parameters worsened during the first month, then recovered to baseline after 6 months. The QLQ-H&N35 speech subscale was significantly improved. Among the voice laboratory parameters, pretreatment harmonics-to-noise ratio was an independent predictor (P = .041) for improvement on the speech subscale at the endpoint. CONCLUSION: Despite an initial deterioration of voice and QOL in the first month, patients who underwent TLM recovered to a plateau since the sixth month and then to better than preoperative status afterward. A greater improvement in QOL was seen in patients with poorer baseline voice quality.

What should we expect from robotic surgery for second primary oropharyngeal cancer?

The outcomes of second primary oropharyngeal cancer (SPOPC) may not be determined by oropharyngeal cancer but from the other index cancer as well. The management of (SPOPC) remains inconclusive and limited. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to maximize the functional outcomes without reducing oncologic effect is suggested as the primary treatment for selected oropharyngeal cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of TORS for the management of SPOPC. Patients who underwent TORS from January 2011 to June 2015 at a tertian referral center in Taiwan were recruited. Loco-regional status, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and postoperative functional status were evaluated. Fifteen patients received TORS for SPOPC with curative intent, including eleven with tongue-base carcinomas, and four with tonsil carcinomas. One case was terminated because of inadequate exposure and the other 14 cases were completed with negative pathologic margins. Two-year OS and DSS were 53 and 77%, respectively. Patients with SPOPC occurring within 6 months had poorer outcomes (p = 0.044). The median time to feeding-tube removal was 5 days, and one patient had long-term gastric-tube dependence. Patients of age <65 years with synchronous SPOPC and esophageal cancer as the other index cancer were significant worse in oncologic outcomes. We concluded that TORS is a feasible alternative treatment in selected patients with SPOPC. Patients with metachronous T1-2 SPOPC without an esophageal primary can achieve excellent survival after TORS, while TORS can maximize functional preservation with limited destruction in patients with low life expectancy.