ABSTRACT
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has numerous physical, psychosocial and financial implications, which significantly affect patients' quality of life. We aimed to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and identify quality of life (QoL) predictors in patients with OSCC. Methods: We included 64 consecutive patients aged 40 to 80 yr treated for OSCC from Jan to Dec 2021. Health-related QoL was evaluated using the 30-item Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the 35-item Head and Neck Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-H&N35). The demographic questionnaire and clinical parameters were also presented. Results: The functioning scale in the QLQ-C30 questionnaire with the lowest average score was Global health status. The mean QLQ-C30 summary score (80.92 ± 10.4) was higher than the Global health status score (50.5 ± 22.2). In the QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire, the symptoms with highest scores were weight loss, dry mouth, and social eating. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that Global health status score was associated with education level [ß-coefficient = 19.33 (95% CI: 10.7-24.9, P=0.004], alcohol consumption [ß-coefficient=10.04 (95% CI: 4.5-14.8), P=0.023] and invasive surgical procedure [ß-coefficient=22.75 (95% CI: 15.0-30.5), P=0.002]. The QLQ-C30 summary score was associated with living alone [ß-coefficient= -20.05 (95% CI: -29.91-(-10.21), P=0.018], smoking status [ß-coefficient=4.35 (95% CI: 1.8-6.91), P=0.043] and alcohol consumption [ß-coefficient =4.59 (95% CI: 1.99-7.19), P=0.037]. Conclusion: We found several significant predictors of worse perception of HRQoL among patients with OSCC, which may be useful for specific prevention and treatment in order to achieve better QoL.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dental stem cells, which originate from the neural crest, due to their easy accessibility might be good candidates in neuro-regenerative procedures, along with graphene-based nanomaterials shown to promote neurogenesis in vitro. We aimed to explore the potential of liquid-phase exfoliated graphene (LPEG) film to stimulate the neuro-differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP). METHODS: The experimental procedure was structured as follows: (1) fabrication of graphene film; (2) isolation, cultivation and SCAP stemness characterization by flowcytometry, multilineage differentiation (osteo, chondro and adipo) and quantitative PCR (qPCR); (3) SCAP neuro-induction by cultivation on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) coated with graphene film; (4) evaluation of neural differentiation by means of several microscopy techniques (light, confocal, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy), followed by neural marker gene expression analysis using qPCR. RESULTS: SCAP demonstrated exceptional stemness, as judged by mesenchymal markers' expression (CD73, CD90 and CD105), and by multilineage differentiation capacity (osteo, chondro and adipo-differentiation). Neuro-induction of SCAP grown on PET coated with graphene film resulted in neuron-like cellular phenotype observed under different microscopes. This was corroborated by the high gene expression of all examined key neuronal markers (Ngn2, NF-M, Nestin, MAP2, MASH1). CONCLUSIONS: The ability of SCAPs to differentiate toward neural lineages was markedly enhanced by graphene film.
