Mast Cells and Angiogenesis in Oral Malignant and Premalignant Lesions

Mast cell contribution to neoangiogenesis during tumorigenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma is not determined yet. Objectives: To associate numerical mast cell density (MCD) to numerical microvessel density (MVD) during the progression of oral leukoplakia without dysplasia and leukoplakia with dysplasia to squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and methods: MVD was analysed immunohistochemically (mouse monoclonal anti-human CD34) in 49 paraffin-embedded specimens, 35 OSCCs, 9 leukoplakias and 5 normal oral tissues. Toluidine blue counterstaining revealed mast cells. MCD and MVD were assessed at the same optical field. Results: MVD increased between: normal oral mucosa, dysplasia (p=0.004), OSCC (p=0.001), leukoplakia and OSCC (p=0.041). MCD increased between: normal oral mucosa, dysplasia (p=0.003), OSCC (p=0.000), leukoplakia and OSCC (p=0.007). MVD was found to depend on MCD (p=0.000) in a percent 28.3% (power curve fit model). Conclusions: Mast cells are attracted at the lesion site and may turn on an angiogenic switch during tumorigenesis in OSCC

Prognostic DNA methylation markers for sporadic colorectal cancer: a systematic review

Background Biomarkers that can predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and that can stratify high-risk early stage patients from low-risk early stage patients are urgently needed for better management of CRC. During the last decades, a large variety of prognostic DNA methylation markers has been published in the literature. However, to date, none of these markers are used in clinical practice. Methods To obtain an overview of the number of published prognostic methylation markers for CRC, the number of markers that was validated independently, and the current level of evidence (LoE), we conducted a systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. In addition, we scored studies based on the REMARK guidelines that were established in order to attain more transparency and complete reporting of prognostic biomarker studies. Eighty-three studies reporting on 123 methylation markers fulfilled the study entry criteria and were scored according to REMARK. Results Sixty-three studies investigated single methylation markers, whereas 20 studies reported combinations of methylation markers. We observed substantial variation regarding the reporting of sample sizes and patient characteristics, statistical analyses, and methodology. The median (range) REMARK score for the studies was 10.7 points (4.5 to 17.5) out of a maximum of 20 possible points. The median REMARK score was lower in studies, which reported a p value below 0.05 versus those, which did not (p = 0.005). A borderline statistically significant association was observed between the reported p value of the survival analysis and the size of the study population (p = 0.051). Only 23 out of 123 markers (17%) were investigated in two or more study series. For 12 markers, and two multimarker panels, consistent results were reported in two or more study series. For four markers, the current LoE is level II, for all other markers, the LoE is lower. Conclusion This systematic review reflects that adequate reporting according to REMARK and validation of prognostic methylation markers is absent in the majority of CRC methylation marker studies. However, this systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of published prognostic methylation markers for CRC and highlights the most promising markers that have been published in the last two decades

A call for transparent reporting to optimize the predictive value of preclinical research

The US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke convened major stakeholders in June 2012 to discuss how to improve the methodological reporting of animal studies in grant applications and publications. The main workshop recommendation is that at a minimum studies should report on sample-size estimation, whether and how animals were randomized, whether investigators were blind to the treatment, and the handling of data. We recognize that achieving a meaningful improvement in the quality of reporting will require a concerted effort by investigators, reviewers, funding agencies and journal editors. Requiring better reporting of animal studies will raise awareness of the importance of rigorous study design to accelerate scientific progress

First international consensus on the methodology of lymphangiogenesis quantification in solid human tumours

The lymphatic system is the primary pathway of metastasis for most human cancers. Recent research efforts in studying lymphangiogenesis have suggested the existence of a relationship between lymphatic vessel density and patient survival. However, current methodology of lymphangiogenesis quantification is still characterised by high intra- and interobserver variability. For the amount of lymphatic vessels in a tumour to be a clinically useful parameter, a reliable quantification technique needs to be developed. With this consensus report, we therefore would like to initiate discussion on the standardisation of the immunohistochemical method for lymphangiogenesis assessment

Global wealth disparities drive adherence to COVID-safe pathways in head and neck cancer surgery

Peer reviewe

UV and Zero-Valent Iron (ZVI) Activated Continuous Flow Persulfate Oxidation of Municipal Wastewater

Currently, sulfate-radical-based advanced oxidation processes are promising candidates to become viable post-treatment processes for wastewater purification. In this work, a continuous flow UV light/persulfate (PS)/zero-valent iron (ZVI) system has been applied for wastewater treatment for the first time. The influence of certain photo-Fenton-like process parameters, such as space time, PS concentration, and PS to ZVI molar ratio, on the removal of total organic carbon (TOC), was examined using the Box–Behnken design. First, synthetic municipal wastewater was used for the experiments, and the polynomial regression model was constructed utilizing the real data by using the response surface methodology (RSM). The adequacy of the RSM model was assessed by analysis of variance, which showed that the model was reliable and could be applied to improve the process parameters for TOC removal. Moreover, both synthetic and real municipal wastewater were spiked with carbamazepine (CBZ), which is commonly prescribed as an antiepileptic drug, to investigate its fate in the UV/PS/ZVI system. With a space time of 60 min, PS concentration of 60 mM, and PS to ZVI molar ratio of 15, it was possible to remove 71% of TOC and completely remove CBZ from the synthetic municipal wastewater, whereas a 60% TOC removal and complete removal of CBZ were achieved at a space time of 50 min, PS concentration of 50 mM, and PS/ZVI molar ratio of 15 for the real municipal wastewater. This difference in TOC removal could possibly be linked to the complex matrix of the real wastewater and the presence of radical scavenging agents

Optimization and genetic programming modeling of humic acid adsorption onto prepared activated carbon and modified by multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Milk vetch species (MV) as activated carbon (AC) precursors were prepared and modified by multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in order to remove humic acid (HA) removal. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) techniques were applied to characterized MVAC/CNTs. The HA adsorption presented the highest value (22.57 mg/g) at pH 3, while the equilibrium state was reached after 30 min. By increasing the adsorbent's dosage (0.4-0.5 g/L), the removal efficiency was also improved from 90.3 to 97.6. The kinetics of adsorption were fitted to the pseudo-second-order model (R-2 = 0.9991). The Langmuir isotherm model was well fitted to the equilibrium data revealing monolayer adsorption model of HA onto the MVAC/CNTs with the maximum capacity of 73.29 mg/g (R-2 = 0.9967). The obtained values of thermodynamic parameters indicated that the HA adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic and physical in nature. Also, genetic programming was used to obtain an appropriate equation revealing the relationship between the variables. The results showed that the introduced equation can successfully predict the HA removal. All experimental results suggested that MVAC/CNTs are promising adsorbents for the contaminated (with HA) water. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Simultaneous Removal of As(III) and Fluoride Ions from Water Using Manganese Oxide Supported on Graphene Nanostructures (GO-MnO₂)

In the present research, the use of manganese oxides supported on graphene nanostructures (GO-MnO2), which support the synergistic action of adsorption and oxidation, in the combined removal of arsenic and fluoride from drinking water was studied. The simultaneous occurrence of fluoride and arsenic in groundwater is one of the major environmental problems, occurring mainly in anhydrous regions of Latin America and the world. These pollutants cause significant health problems and are difficult to remove simultaneously from drinking water. The structure of GO-MnO2 was characterized by the application of FTIR, EDS and SEM techniques. The effects of the adsorbent’s dosage, the pH value, the contact time and the initial concentrations of As(III) and F ions (F−) were examined with respect to the removal of As(III) and F ions. According to the results, the presence of arsenic enhances fluoride removal with increasing arsenic concentrations, and the presence of fluoride enhances arsenic removal with increasing fluoride concentrations, mainly at a neutral pH value. The co-presence removal efficiencies were 89% (a residual concentration of 1.04 mg/L) for fluoride and about 97% (a residual concentration of 2.89 μg/L) for arsenic

Novel Isocyanate-Modified Carrageenan Polymer Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Application Adsorbent Materials of Pharmaceuticals

The present study focused on the synthesis and application of novel isocyanate-modified carrageenan polymers as sorbent materials for pre-concentration and removal of diclofenac (DCF) and carbamazepine (CBZ) in different aqueous matrices (surface waters and wastewaters). The polymer materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects on the adsorption behavior were studied, and the equilibrium data were fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) was determined by Langmuir–Freundlich model and was ranged for iota-carrageenan (iCAR) from 7.44 to 8.51 mg/g for CBZ and 23.41 to 35.78 mg/g for DCF and for kappa-carrageenan (kCAR) from 7.07 to 13.78 mg/g for CBZ and 22.66 to 49.29 mg/g for DCF. In the next step, dispersive solid phase extraction (D-SPE) methodology followed by liquid desorption and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has been developed and validated. The factors, which affect the performance of D-SPE, were investigated. Then, the optimization of extraction time, sorbent mass and eluent’s volume was carried out using a central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimized conditions, good linear relationships have been achieved with the correlation coefficient (R2) varying from 0.9901 to 0.995. The limits of detections (LODs) and limits of quantifications (LOQs) ranged 0.042–0.090 μg/L and 0.137–0.298 μg/L, respectively. The results of the recoveries were 70–108% for both analytes, while the precisions were 2.8–17.5% were obtained, which indicated that the method was suitable for the analysis of both compounds in aqueous matrices