[Clinical analysis of endonasal endoscopic surgery in esthesioneuroblastoma].

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of esthesioneuroblastoma and the efficacy of endonasal endoscopic surgery combined with radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Methods:The clinical and surgical data of 17 patients with esthesioneuroblastoma who underwent endonasal endoscopic surgery in our department from September 2009 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:Among all patients, the modified Kadish stage B was identified in 4 patients, C in 10 patients, and D in 3 patients. Ten of them underwent endonasal endoscopic surgery without neck dissection in one day, whose average operation time is （5.2±2.5） hours and average blood loss is （192±162）mL. Skull base reconstructions were performed in 15 patients, postoperative complications were observed in 3 patients, and negative margins were obtained in 13 patients. All 17 patients were followed up for an average of （49.7±40.2） months. Three patients died and 6 had recurrence and/or metastasis. The 1-year, 2-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.2%, 80.2%, and 80.2%, respectively, and the 1-year, 2-year and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 82.4%, 82.4%, and 50.8%, respectively. The 2-year overall survival rates of patients with negative and positive margins were 100% and 25%, respectively, while the 2-year disease-free survival rates were 61.5% and 25.0%, respectively. Conclusion:Endonasal endoscopic surgery combined with radiotherapy/chemotherapy can achieve satisfactory effect in esthesioneuroblastoma, and the prognosis of patients with positive margins is poor.

Increased SERPINB2 potentiates 15LO1 expression via STAT6 signalling in epithelial cells in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: SERPINB2, a biomarker of Type-2 (T2) inflammatory processes, has been described in the context of asthma. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is also correlated with T2 inflammation and elevated 15LO1 induced by IL-4/13 in nasal epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and location of SERPINB2 in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) and determine whether SERPINB2 regulates 15LO1 and downstream T2 markers in NECs via STAT6 signalling. METHODS: SERPINB2 gene expression in bulk and single-cell RNAseq database was analysed by bioinformatics analysis. SERPINB2, 15LO1 and other T2 markers were evaluated from CRSwNP and HCs NECs. The colocalization of SERPINB2 and 15LO1 was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Fresh NECs were cultured at an air-liquid interface with or without IL-13, SERPINB2 Dicer-substrate short interfering RNAs (DsiRNAs) transfection, exogenous SERPINB2, 15-HETE recombinant protein and pSTAT6 inhibitors. 15LO1, 15-HETE and downstream T2 markers were analysed by qRT-PCR, western blot and ELISA. RESULTS: SERPINB2 expression was increased in eosinophilic nasal polyps compared with that in noneosinophilic nasal polyps and control tissues and positively correlated with 15LO1 and other downstream T2 markers. SERPINB2 was predominantly expressed by epithelial cells in NP tissue and was colocalized with 15LO1. In primary NECs in vitro, SERPINB2 expression was induced by IL-13. Knockdown or overexpression SERPINB2 decreased or enhanced expression of 15LO1 and 15-HETE in NECs, respectively, in a STAT6-dependent manner. SERPINB2 siRNA also inhibited the expression of the 15LO1 downstream genes, such as CCL26, POSTN and NOS2. STAT6 inhibition similarly decreased SERPINB2-induced 15LO1. CONCLUSIONS: SERPINB2 is increased in NP epithelial cells of eosinophilic CRSwNP (eCRSwNP) and contributes to T2 inflammation via STAT6 signalling. SERPINB2 could be considered a novel therapeutic target for eCRSwNP.

Insights from bioinformatics analysis reveal that lipopolysaccharide induces activation of chemokine-related signaling pathways in human nasal epithelial cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is known to elicit a robust immune response. This study aimed to investigate the impact of LPS on the transcriptome of human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC). HNEpC were cultured and stimulated with LPS (1 µg/mL) or an equivalent amount of normal culture medium. Subsequently, total RNA was extracted, purified, and sequenced using next-generation RNA sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to functional enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was constructed, followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify molecular pathways influenced by LPS exposure on HNEpC. Validation of key genes was performed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). A total of 97 DEGs, comprising 48 up-regulated genes and 49 down-regulated genes, were identified. Results from functional enrichment analysis, PPI, and IPA indicated that DEGs were predominantly enriched in chemokine-related signaling pathways. Subsequent qRT-PCR validation demonstrated significant upregulation of key genes in these pathways in LPS-treated HNEpC compared to control cells. In conclusion, LPS intervention profoundly altered the transcriptome of HNEpC, potentially exacerbating inflammatory responses through the activation of chemokine-related signaling pathways.

PM2.5 activates IL-17 signaling pathway in human nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) represents a prevalent environmental pollutant in the atmosphere, capable of exerting deleterious effects on human health. Numerous studies have indicated a correlation between PM2.5 exposure and the development of chronic upper airway inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of PM2.5 on the transcriptome of fibroblasts derived from nasal mucosa. Initially, nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts were isolated, cultured, and subsequently stimulated with PM2.5 (100 µg/mL) or an equivalent volume of normal culture medium for a duration of 24 h. Following this, total RNA from these cells was extracted, purified, and subjected to sequencing using next-generation RNA sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were then identified and utilized for functional enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was constructed, and validation of key genes and proteins was carried out using quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA methods. Results revealed 426 DEGs, comprising 276 up-regulated genes and 150 down-regulated genes in nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts treated with PM2.5 compared to control cells. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were predominantly associated with inflammation-related pathways, including the IL-17 signaling pathway. In alignment with this, PPI analysis highlighted that hub genes were primarily involved in the regulation of the IL-17 signaling pathway. Subsequent validation through quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA confirmed significant alterations in the relative expressions of IL-17 signaling pathway-related genes and concentrations of IL-17 signaling pathway related proteins in nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts treated with PM2.5 compared to control cells. In conclusion, PM2.5 intervention substantially altered the transcriptome of nasal mucosa-derived fibroblasts. Furthermore, PM2.5 has the potential to exacerbate the inflammatory responses of these fibroblasts by modulating the expression of key genes in the IL-17 signaling pathway.

Endoscopic endonasal combined transoral medial approach to the nasopharynx, parapharyngeal space, and jugular foramen.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the feasibility of an endoscopic endonasal combined transoral medial approach for treating lesions in the nasopharynx, parapharyngeal space (PPS), and jugular foramen. METHODS: Anatomical and imaging information of six patients who underwent surgery via this approach were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: The feasibility and advantages of the endoscopic endonasal combined transoral medial approach, which uses an inside-to-outside medial surgical corridor, were identified. Total resection was achieved in 3 cases with benign tumors. Safe resection margins were obtained in 2 cases with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Pathological biopsy of NPC lesion between the Eustachian tube and arterial sheath was achieved. The internal carotid artery (ICA) was accurately located and protected in all cases and no complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Lesions in the nasopharynx, PPS, and jugular foramen can be directly assessed via this approach. The ICA can be well identified during the surgery.

Abnormal luminescent property of Mn(2+) in α-LiZnBO3:Mn(2+).

Mn(2+)-activated red phosphor α-LiZnBO3:Mn(2+) was synthesized by solid state reaction. ESR spectra prove that the doped ions are Mn(2+). The doped Mn(2+) ion is inclined to occupy Zn(2+) site, which is a tetrahedral coordination. The diffuse reflection spectra indicate that α-LiZnBO3:Mn(2+) has strong absorption in the range of 400-450 nm. Excited at 431 nm, an abnormal red emission band in the wavelength of 550-800 nm is observed, which is because of the strong crystal field induced by the distorted tetrahedral. The emission bands are centered at 647 nm, regardless of the excitation wavelength and Mn(2+) doping concentration. The temperature-dependent PL results reveal that α-LiZnBO3:Mn(2+) is thermally stable but the emission peak moves to shorter wavelength as temperature increases because of the decrease of the crystal field.