Impact of Spatially Heterogeneous Trop-2 Expression on Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral cancer often presents with aggressive behavior and a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. For oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most frequent histological subtype, therapy strategies include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and EGFR inhibitors. Recently, a Trop-2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) has been approved in the United States of America for the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer. However, this ADC has also been tested in other solid tumors including head & neck squamous cell carcinoma. The prognostic impact of Trop-2 has already been reported for several cancers. We studied the prognostic influence of Trop-2 protein expression on OSCC patients’ survival. The cohort comprised n = 229 OSCC patients with available archived tumor tissue and corresponding non-neoplastic oral mucosa tissue. Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated Trop-2 expression in both the central and peripheral regions of each tumor and in corresponding non-neoplastic oral mucosa. In patients suffering from OSCC with combined high central and low peripheral Trop-2 expression, five-year overall survival (OS) was 41.2%, whereas 55.6% of OSCC patients who presented lower central and/or higher peripheral tumoral Trop-2 expression were alive after five years (p = 0.075). In multivariate Cox regression, the expression pattern of high central tumoral and lower peripheral Trop-2 expression was significantly correlated with impaired OS (HR = 1.802, 95%-CI: 1.134–2.864; p = 0.013) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.633, 95%-CI: 1.042–2.560; p = 0.033), respectively, when adjusting for co-variables. Hence, Trop-2 may serve as an independent prognostic biomarker in OSCC. In subsequent studies, the pathophysiological meaning of downregulated Trop-2 expression in the OSCC periphery has to be analyzed.     

Alkylthio-substituierte Bis(benzol-1,2-dithiolato)zinkate,Benzol-1,2-dithiole und -1,2-dithiolate – Edukte für Dibenzo[c,g](1,2,5,6)tetrathiocine und Benzo[c](1,2,3)-trithiole; Untersuchungen zu Benzodithieten und ortho-Dithiobenzochinonen

Alkylthiosubstituted Bis(benzene-1,2-dithiolato)zincates, Benzene-1,2-dithioles, and -1,2-dithiolates – Educts for Dibenzo[c,g](1,2,5,6)tetrathiocins, and Benzo[c](1,2,3)trithioles; Investigations on Benzodithietes and ortho-Dithiobenzochinones Using benzenehexathiolate 1 it is possible to synthesize alkylthio-substituted benzo-1,3-dithiole-2-thiones 2 , or -ones 3 and benzo-di(1,3-dithiole-2-thiones) 4 , or -ones 5 , resp., which were cleaved under basic conditions. The generated benzene-1,2-dithiolates 7 were isolated as benzene-dithiolato zincates 8 , benzene-1,2-dithioles 11 , and benzene-1-thiole-2-thiolates 10 . Dibenzo[c,g](1,2,5,6)-tetrathiocins 9 were synthesized by oxidation of 7 or 8 in good yields. For the per(methylthio)-substituted tetrathiocin 9a the twist conformation was proved by x-ray structure analysis. The tetrathiocin 9a was probably formed via the orthodithiobenzoquinone 13a . Photolysis of 3a at room temperature in solution led to 9a and tetrakis(methylthio)benzo[c] (1,2,3)trithiole 12a as the main product, which was also formed by irradiation of 9a . The trithioles 12 were formed from 8 by reaction with sulfur dichloride. 12a was investigated by x-ray structure analysis. ortho-Dithiobenzoquinone 13c can be claimed as an intermediate upon irradiation of benzo-1,3-dithiol-2-one 3c in an argon matrix at 10 K. Depending on the wavelength the equilibrium lies either on the side of dithiobenzoquinone 13c or benzodithiete 14c . The same is true for system 15/16 , which can be reached by flash vacuum pyrolysis of 3c .     

Microbes versus microbes: control of pathogens in the food chain

Foodborne illness continues as a considerable threat to public health. Despite improved hygiene management systems and increased regulation, pathogenic bacteria still contaminate food, causing sporadic cases of illness and disease outbreaks worldwide. For many centuries, microbial antagonism has been used in food processing to improve food safety. An understanding of the mode of action of this microbial antagonism has been gained in recent years and potential applications in food and feed safety are now being explored. This review focuses on the potential opportunities presented, and the limitations, of using microbial antagonism as a biocontrol mechanism to reduce contamination along the food chain; including animal feed as its first link. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Sr2+ on Calcium‐Deficient Hydroxyapatite Formation Kinetics and Morphology in Partially Amorphized α‐TCP

Hydration of partially amorphized α‐TCP powders with Sr²⁺ concentrations ranging from 0 to 10 mol% substitution for Ca²⁺ was analyzed by isothermal calorimetry and quantitative in‐situ XRD. Hydration of both crystalline α‐TCP and amorphous TCP (ATCP) forming CDHA was retarded to an increasing extent with increasing Sr²⁺ content. Sr²⁺ slightly reduced the crystallite size (XRD coherent scattering domains) of the CDHA formed during hydration, while the size of crystals visible under SEM was not noticeably affected. Reaction enthalpies of ΔH_{R(Sr‐α‐TCP→Sr‐CDHA)} = 122 ± 8 J/g_TCP and ΔH_{R(Sr‐ATCP→Sr‐CDHA)} = 257 ± 8 J/g_TCP were determined for the hydration of crystalline α‐TCP and ATCP containing 5 mol% Sr²⁺ substitution for Ca²⁺. This is comparable with the corresponding reaction enthalpies previously obtained for undoped samples, which are 106 ± 7 J/g_TCP for α‐TCP and 250 ± 7 J/g_TCP for ATCP.     

Flow Fields in Stirred Vessels Depending on Different Internal Heat Exchangers and Vessel Bottoms

This study provides the influence of different heat exchanger internals (helical pipe coils, heating plugs, pipe registers) and reactor bottom shapes (torispherical/dished (Kloepper‐shape), hemispherical, and flat) on the flow field, the turbulent kinetic energy, and the ratio of tangential flow in stirred vessels, based on extensive stereo PIV measurement series in refractive index‐matched, optically completely accessible systems. The investigations impressively show advantages and disadvantages of the various equipment, which have a massive influence on both heat transport and the flow.     

A generic iconic tool for viewing databases

Many software-development environments capture and structure all project information in one or more databases. As these data-gathering techniques become more effective, they make it increasingly difficult to locate relevant information from a vast store. Adapt is a display tool that can depict both the structure and content of databases graphically. The architecture of Adapt and the augmented graph representation it uses for database objects are described. As an example, the use of Adapt with the Triad database, which has 400 objects of 24 types, ranging from management (personnel information, project objectives, reviews, and walkthroughs) to coding (components and modules), is considered. Two kinds of graph operation, display and adaptive, that an Adapt user can perform on the augmented graph are discussed.<>     

Automatic facial expression analysis: a survey

Over the last decade, automatic facial expression analysis has become an active research area that finds potential applications in areas such as more engaging human-computer interfaces, talking heads, image retrieval and human emotion analysis. Facial expressions reflect not only emotions, but other mental activities, social interaction and physiological signals. In this survey, we introduce the most prominent automatic facial expression analysis methods and systems presented in the literature. Facial motion and deformation extraction approaches as well as classification methods are discussed with respect to issues such as face normalization, facial expression dynamics and facial expression intensity, but also with regard to their robustness towards environmental changes.     

Chromosomal mapping of two novel human FGF genes, FGF11 and FGF12

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family comprises to date 12 members, which are involved in various physiological processes throughout embryogenesis and adult life. Two novel members of the family have been identified recently (FGF11 and FGF12). Using in situ hybridization on metaphasic chromosomes, we have been able to assign FGF11 to band p12-p13 of human chromosome 17 and FGF12 to band q28 of human chromosome 3.     

A system for simulation, monitoring and diagnosis of controlled continuous processes with slow dynamics

This paper presents a modelling approach specifically designed to be used in a monitoring and diagnosis system based on the simulation of relevant process and control system variables. The model is based on semantically extended data flow diagrams with each computational process representing the incremental behaviour of a component of the plant to be modelled. Variable as well as delay time behaviour is associated with each component model to support an event-driven simulation which, in turn, reduces computation time. This plant model of independent but interacting computational processes is easily extendable, modifiable and adjustable according to changes in the plant.

The modelling approach is applied to a coal power plant process and is implemented in G2, an object-oriented, real-time expert system shell with built-in simulation and online external connection capabilities. Generic rules guiding the event-driven simulation and monitoring allow for modular adaptation of the model as the plant's structure and functionality change without requiring changes in the rule set.