Decreased effective connectivity between insula and anterior cingulate cortex during a working memory task after prolonged sleep deprivation

Total sleep deprivation (TSD) causes a decline in almost all cognitive domains, especially working memory. However, we do not have a clear understanding of the degree working memory is impaired under prolonged TSD, nor do we know the underlying neurophysiological mechanism. In this study, we recorded EEG data from 64 subjects while they performed a working memory task during resting wakefulness, after 24 h TSD, and after 30 h TSD. ANOVA was used to verify performance differences between 24 h and 30 h TSD in working memory tasks: (1) reaction time and accuracy hit rates, (2) P200, N200, and P300 amplitude and latency in measurements of event-related potential, as well as (3) effective connectivity strength between brain areas associated with working memory. Compared to 24 h TSD, 30 h TSD significantly decreased accuracy hit rates and induced a larger N200 difference waveform. The effective connectivity analysis showed that 30 h TSD also decreased beta frequency in effective connection strength from the right insular lobe to the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Effective connection from the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increased in the match condition of the 2-back task. In conclusion, 30 h TSD had a greater negative impact on working memory than 24 h TSD. This impairment of working memory is associated with decreased strength in the effective connection from the right insula to the left ACC

circ_0000045 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas via regulating HSP70 and MAPK pathway

Abstract Objective Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one severe malignancy driven by complex cellular and signaling mechanisms. However, the roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in HNSCC’s development remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the functions of differentially expressed circRNAs in regulating HNSCC cell functions. Methods Differentially expressed circRNAs were characterized through RNA sequencing in HNSCC tissues. CircRNA’s identity was then confirmed using RT-PCR and Sanger’s sequencing. Next, expression levels of circRNA and mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, after which protein abundances were measured by Western blotting. Subsequently, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HNSCC cells was assessed by MTS, wound healing, and Transwell system, respectively, followed by identification of circRNA-binding proteins in HNSCC cells by circRNA pull-down, coupled with mass spectrometry. Results Great alterations in circRNA profiles were detected in HNSCC tissues, including the elevated expression of circ_0000045. As observed, silencing of circ_0000045 effectively repressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HNSCC cell lines (FaDu and SCC-9). Contrarily, circ_0000045’s overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion in FaDu and SCC-9 cells. Results also showed that circ_0000045 was associated with multiple RNA-binding proteins in HNSCC cells, such as HSP70. Moreover, circ_0000045 knockdown enhanced HSP70 expression and inhibited JNK2 and P38’s expression in HNSCC cells, which were oppositely regulated by circ_0000045’s overexpression. Conclusion The high expression of circ_0000045; therefore, promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion during HNSCC’s development through regulating HSP70 protein and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Working Memory: Change in Functional Connectivity Between the Dorsal Attention, Default Mode, and Fronto-Parietal Networks

Sleep deprivation (SD) is very common in modern society and has a profound effect on cognitive function, in particular on working memory (WM). This type of memory is required for completion of many tasks and is adversely affected by SD. However, the cognitive neural mechanism by which SD affects WM, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the changes in the brain network involved in WM after SD. Twenty-two healthy subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scan while in a state of resting wakefulness and again after 36 h of total SD and performed a WM task before each scanning session. Nineteen main nodes of the default mode network (DMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), fronto-parietal network (FPN), salience network (SN), and other networks were selected for functional analysis of brain network connections. Functional connectivity measures were computed between seed areas for region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analysis and to identify patterns of ROI-to-ROI connectivity. The relationship between the significant changes in functional connectivity in the brain network and WM performance were then examined by Pearson&#39;s correlation analysis. WM performance declined significantly after SD. Compared with the awake state, the functional connectivity between DAN and DMN significantly increased after SD while that between FPN and DMN significantly decreased. Correlation analysis showed that the enhanced functional connectivity between DAN and DMN was negatively correlated with the decline in WM performance and that the decline in functional connectivity between FPN and DMN was positively correlated with decreased WM performance. These findings suggested that SD may affect WM by altering the functional connectivity among DMN, DAN, and FPN.</p

Patterns of lymph node metastasis in level IIB and contralateral level VI for papillary thyroid carcinoma with pN1b and safety of low collar extended incision for neck dissection in level II

Abstract Objective To explore relevant clinical factors of level IIB and contralateral level VI lymph node metastasis and evaluate the safety of low-collar extended incision (LCEI) for lymph node dissection in level II for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with pN1b. Method A retrospective analysis was performed on 218 patients with PTC with pN1b who were treated surgically in the Head and Neck Surgery Center of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from September 2021 to May 2022. Data on age, sex, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, maximum tumor diameter, multifocality, Braf gene, T staging, surgical incision style, and lymph node metastasis in each cervical subregion were collected. The chi-square test was used for comparative analysis of relevant factors. All statistical analyses were completed by SPSS 24 software. Result Each subgroup on sex, age, BMI, multifocality, tumor location, extrathyroidal extension, Braf gene, and lymphatic metastasis in level III, level IV, and level V had no significant difference in the positive rate of lymph node metastasis in level IIB (P > 0.05). In contrast, patients with bilateral lateral cervical lymphatic metastasis were more likely to have level IIB lymphatic metastasis than those with unilateral lateral cervical lymphatic metastasis, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). In addition, lymph node metastasis in level IIA was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in level IIB (P = 0.001). After multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis in level IIA was independently associated with lymph node metastasis in level IIB (P = 0.010). The LCEI group had a similar lymphatic metastasis number and lymphatic metastasis rate in both level IIA and level IIB as the L-shaped incision group (P > 0.05). There were 86 patients with ipsilateral central lymphatic metastasis (78.2%). Patients with contralateral central lymphatic metastasis accounted for 56.4%. The contralateral central lymphatic metastasis rate was not correlated with age, BMI, multifocality, tumor invasion, or ipsilateral central lymphatic metastasis, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The contralateral central lymphatic metastasis in males was slightly higher than that in females, and the difference was statistically significant (68.2% vs. 48.5%, P = 0.041). Conclusion Lymphatic metastasis in level IIA was an independent predictor of lymphatic metastasis in level IIB. When bilateral lateral cervical lymphatic metastasis or lymph node metastasis of level IIA is found, lymph node dissection in level IIB is strongly recommended. When unilateral lateral cervical lymphatic metastasis and lymphatic metastasis in level IIA are negative, lymph node dissection in level IIB may be performed as appropriate on the premise of no damage to the accessory nerve. LCEI is safe and effective for lymph node dissection in level II. When the tumor is located in the unilateral lobe, attention should be given to contralateral central lymph node dissection because of the high lymphatic metastasis rate

Construction of a system for head and neck tumor traceless resection with non-inflatable transaxillary total endoscopic surgery

Abstract Radical cure and functional preservation of tumors are the fundamental goals of surgical treatment of head and neck tumors, and the preservation of good aesthetics is a higher pursuit on this basis. Fully hiding the surgical incision and reducing the visibility of scars are important goals of cosmetic surgery. Using complete endoscopy for the head and neck is an effective method. CO2-free transaxillary total endoscopic surgery is a method with many advantages, which has been widely used in the resection of thyroid tumors, but for other parts and types of tumors in the head and neck, this surgical method is rarely used. The research team expanded its application scope and applied it to submandibular gland tumor resection and other head and neck surgeries for the first time. Through this exploration, it improved traction devices such as retractors, strictly limited the surgical indications, analyzed and summarized the key points, steps and methods of surgery, and built a treatment system for head and neck tumor surgery under complete endoscopy using the non-inflatable transaxillary approach. In this article, we introduce the system and select typical cases to share