RNA-Seq Coupling Two Different Methods of Castration Reveals New Insights Into Androgen Deficiency-caused Degereration of Submaxillary Gland in Male Sprague Dawley Rats

Backgroud: Salivary gland degeneration and dysfunction are common symptoms that occur after sex hormone deprivation, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Additionally, immunocastration, which causes drop of sex hormones, has been developed as an alternative to surgical castration, however whether it exerts similar effects as surgical castration on the salivary glands is unknown. Through histological and RNA-seq analysis, we assessed changes in morphology and transcriptome of submaxillary gland (SMG) in response to immunocastration (IM) versus surgical castration (bilateral orchiectomy, ORC). Results: Compared to intact males (EM), ORC caused a dramatical degeneration of SMG in rats, as evidenced by both decreased (P < 0.01) SMG weight and organ index, and by decreased (P < 0.01) quantity of SMG acini and ducts. IM had minimal effects (P > 0.05) on SMG weight and organ index, but it still caused degeneration (P < 0.05) of the acini and ducts. Even though, the quantity of both SMG acini and ducts was much higher (P < 0.001) in IM than in ORC. Functional enrichment analysis of the common regulated genes by ORC/IM revealed disrupted epithelial cell development, angiogenesis, anatomical structure morphogenesis and enhanced cell death are associated with SMG degeneration in deprivation of androgens. Integrated data analysis shown that there existed a selective hyperfunction of SMG ribosome and mitochondrion in ORC but not in IM, which might be associated with more severe degeneration of SMG in ORC than in IM. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that both surgical castration and immunocastration caused SMG degeneration by disrupting epithelial cell development, angiogenesis, anatomical structure morphogenesis and enhancing cell death. But, surgical castration selectively induced hyperfunction of SMG ribosome and mitochondrion, thus causing more severe degeneration of SMG than immunocastration.

Análise de proteínas salivares de corredores de rua após evento esportivo real

The aim was to characterize acute exercise-induced changes in salivary proteins of street runners. Saliva samples from 12 adult male athletes were collected before and immediately after a street race. Two groups were formed based on the distance covered, 5 km (n=4) and 10 km (n=8). Samples were subjected to depletion of amylase, albumin and immunoglobulin G. Then they were concentrated, digested and analyzed by nano-UPLC-tandem nano-ESI-MSE. A total of 69 proteins were identified. Significant changes were observed in the expression of 15 proteins in the 5 km group and 13 proteins in the 10 km group. Among the proteins with altered expression, only 7 had already been described in the literature in similar models (Alpha-Amylase 1, Lactoperoxidase, Alpha Skeletal Muscle Actin, Cystatin-B, Cystatin- SN, Cystatin- SA and Androgen-regulated Protein 3B in the submaxillary gland). This study has shown that street running induces acute changes in the salivary proteome. The results obtained add to the limited data available in the literature in the search for a better understanding of the acute effects of exercise.

Linfomas extranodales de cabeza y cuello

Background: Extranodal lymphomas of the head and neck (ELHN) are rare neoplasms. The role of surgery for the diagnosis justifies thinking of these neoplasms among the differential diagnoses of the surgical disorders of the region. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of ELHN, their location and association with systemic diseases in a series of patients undergoing surgery. Material and methods: The clinical records of 5489 patients undergoing surgery between June 2009 and June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Nineteen patients (0.35%) presented ELHN. Results: Mean age was 56 years (range: 17-84; SD 19.3) and 84% (n = 16) were women. The location of ELHN were the parotid gland (n =12, 63%), submaxillary gland (n = 3, 16%), salivary gland (n = 1, 5%), lacrimal gland (n = 1, 5%) and thyroid gland (n =1, 5%). All the tumors were non-Hodgkin lymphomas with the following subtypes: mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (n = 9, 48%), follicular lymphoma (n = 4, 21%), large B-cell lymphoma (n = 3, 16%), small B-cell lymphoma (n = 1, 5%), mantle cell lymphoma (n = 1, 5%), and anaplastic lymphoma (n =1, 5%). Four patients (21%) presented Sjögren syndrome at the moment of the diagnosis; three were MALT lymphomas and one patient had follicular lymphoma. The diagnosis was made with different surgical procedures. Conclusion: ELHN constitute a singular presentation of onco-hematology neoplasms. In our series, these tumors occurred within a wide age range and were more common in women. The parotid gland was more commonly affected. The diagnosis was made by surgical biopsy or resection of the area affected.

A Comprehensive Multi-Omic Approach Reveals a Relatively Simple Venom in a Diet Generalist, the Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda

Animals that use venom to feed on a wide diversity of prey may evolve a complex mixture of toxins to target a variety of physiological processes and prey-defense mechanisms. Blarina brevicauda, the northern short-tailed shrew, is one of few venomous mammals, and is also known to eat evolutionarily divergent prey. Despite their complex diet, earlier proteomic and transcriptomic studies of this shrew’s venom have only identified two venom proteins. Here, we investigated with comprehensive molecular approaches whether B. brevicauda venom is more complex than previously understood. We generated de novo assemblies of a B. brevicauda genome and submaxillary-gland transcriptome, as well as sequenced the salivary proteome. Our findings show that B. brevicauda’s venom composition is simple relative to their broad diet and is likely limited to seven proteins from six gene families. Additionally, we explored expression levels and rate of evolution of these venom genes and the origins of key duplications that led to toxin neofunctionalization. We also found three proteins that may be involved in endogenous self-defense. The possible synergism of the toxins suggests that vertebrate prey may be the main target of the venom. Further functional assays for all venom proteins on both vertebrate and invertebrate prey would provide further insight into the ecological relevance of venom in this species.

Schwannoma (Neurilemmoma) of the Submandibular Gland

Schwannomas (neurilemmomas) are infrequent, benign mesenchymal neoplasms that pose considerable preoperative diagnostic difficulties. Schwannomas of the submaxillary gland are even less common, with only few cases reported in the literature to date. The present study describes a male with a right submaxillary tumor for the past 9 years; the histopathological study diagnosed schwannoma - no preoperative evaluation having been able to establish the diagnosis.

Salivary proteomic profile of patients with renal cell carcinoma.

622 Background: We aimed to explore the salivary proteomic profile (SPP) of patients undergoing surgery for suspected renal cell carcinoma (RCC), then evaluate any significant findings in a validation cohort. Methods: Prospective IRB approved trial of consecutive patients with suspected RCC undergoing curative surgery. Saliva was collected pre- and postoperatively, and from healthy volunteers. Saliva was mixed with sodium orthovanadate and protease inhibitor, aliquoted, and frozen at -80oC. SPP performed using biomarker concentrated saliva via core-shell hydrogel nanoparticles functionalized with molecular baits coupled to high resolution MS/MS electrospray mass spectrometry analysis; output represented as spectral counts. Wilcoxon Rank Sum test was used for comparisons; p-values were adjusted using false discovery rate (FDR) for multiple testing. Results: Exploratory phase: saliva was collected from 27 volunteers and 34 RCC patients (24 clear cell (cc)RCC, 6 chromophobe (ch)RCC, 4 other). Evaluation of cc vs chRCC revealed differential counts for 56 proteins; none were significant after adjustment by FDR. Comparison of matched pre/post-operative SPP in 14 ccRCC patients identified differential counts of 3 proteins: basic salivary proline-rich protein 3 precursor; prolactin-inducible protein precursor; and submaxillary gland androgen-regulated protein 3B precursor. These were not affected by patient age, partial/radical nephrectomy, or tumor size/stage/grade. Validation phase: power analyses indicated a sample size of 38/53 patients = 90% power = effect size of 0.6/0.5, respectively, 2-sided Type 1 error of 0.025. 49 ccRCC patients were enrolled with pre/postop saliva. 611 proteins were identified; none had differential counts after FDR. Conclusions: Using a unique biomarker technology coupled to high resolution MS, interesting SPP’s were seen between RCC subtypes and before/after ccRCC curative resection. We were unable to show significant differences in pre/post-op levels. More research is needed to further study the SPP in RCC patients and the factors impacting their differential expression. In order to aid such efforts, the raw data will be made available for future researchers.

Transoral Sialolitectomy as an Alternative to Submaxilectomy in the Treatment of Submaxillary Sialolithiasis

Introduction: Sialolithiasis is the most common pathology in the submaxillary gland. The introduction of minimally invasive techniques isolated or associated with sialoendoscopy is replacing glandular resection as a treatment. The conservation of the gland is justified by the recovery of function and a low recurrence rate. The rate of complications is lower in conservative techniques than in submandibular gland resection. Patients and Methods: Thirty-three patients with fixed stones in the hilum of the submaxillary gland were treated by transoral sialolitectomy between July 2015 and July 2018, demographic data of the patients such as the number of stones, size, time of hospital stay, complications, pre- and postoperative lingual nerve function, and lithiasis recurrence were collected. Results: The average volume of the stones was 1.02 cm. Complete removal of the stone was possible in 32 patients. All the patients were operated in the outpatient clinic. Seven (21%) patients reported some degree of alteration of the lingual nerve function, of which the only one presented a persistence of more than 4 weeks due to an inadvertent injury that required a microsurgical anastomosis. Conclusions: Transoral sialolitectomy is a reproducible technique with good results and lower complication rates than submandibular gland resection. Our results in the first 33 cases encourage us to maintain the combined techniques as standard in the treatment of submaxillary sialolithiasis. Current experience guides the definitive substitution of submandibular gland resection by conservative techniques in obstructive pathology.