Objective:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods:A systematic review was conducted across three major databases-Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library-to identify studies examining the association between PNI and outcomes in HNSCC patients. The search included all records from database inception through January 20, 2025. Outcomes assessed included hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS), as well as odds ratios (ORs) for objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Results:A total of 27 articles involving 4,400 patients were included. Patients with low PNI had significantly shorter OS (HR: 2.42, 95% CI: 2.15-2.73, p < 0.001), CSS (HR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.09-3.84, p = 0.026), DFS (HR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.58-2.27, p < 0.001), and PFS (HR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.90-2.62, p < 0.001) compared to those with high PNI. Additionally, low PNI was associated with lower ORR (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22-0.73, p = 0.002) and DCR (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.17-0.53, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent associations between PNI and OS, DFS, and PFS across different Cox models, cancer types, treatment modalities (immune checkpoint inhibitors and surgery), countries, and PNI cut-off values. Clinical trial registration:This study underscores the prognostic significance of PNI in predicting survival outcomes and treatment responses in HNSCC patients. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating PNI into routine prognostic assessments to improve clinical decision-making and patient management in HNSCC.

Background. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) often facilitate cellular communication via exosomes. However, their specific roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are not well understood. Methods. We extracted data on exosome-related lncRNAs from exoRBase and collected transcriptional profiles and clinical details for HNSCC from the TCGA database. Data preprocessing and analyses incorporated Tumor Mutation Burden and Microsatellite Instability from Researcher’s Home and drug sensitivity information from Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database. We developed a prognostic model using Cox regression and LASSO regression analysis, with subsequent multivariate analysis to identify significant prognostic indicators. We also constructed a nomogram to evaluate the model’s clinical relevance, performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and analyzed the immune microenvironment and therapy sensitivity using CIBERSORT and TIDE algorithms. Supporting in vitro experiments and statistical analyses were conducted. Results. Our comprehensive investigation revealed 17 exosome-associated lncRNAs critical for patient survival in HNSCC. This enabled the development of a prognostic model that effectively stratifies patients into high-risk and low-risk categories. These lncRNAs correlate with patient demographics and clinical characteristics such as age, gender, and tumor stage. GSEA highlighted significant gene expression differences between the risk groups, particularly in pathways related to muscle formation, cellular transition, and immune response. The analysis of the immune microenvironment showed distinct immune cell infiltration patterns in high-risk patients, indicative of compromised immune defenses. In addition, we explored the expression of critical immune checkpoints and their impact on immunotherapy efficacy, demonstrating that risk scores may predict treatment responses. Notably, LINC01564 was overexpressed in HNSCC, associated with poorer prognosis, enhanced xenobiotic metabolism, and altered immune cell infiltration. Experimental validation confirmed LINC01564’s role in promoting tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Conclusions. Our study highlights the importance of exosome-associated lncRNAs in HNSCC, identifying 17 critical lncRNAs as vital prognostic markers. The upregulation of LINC01564, associated with poor outcomes and increased tumor aggressiveness, underscores its potential as a therapeutic target.

Background Although there is growing demand for hospice care in China due to its aging population and increasing cancer rates, the sector remains slow to expand. Oncology nurses are the primary providers of hospice care, but little is known about their behaviors towards hospice care and related factors. Methods This cross-sectional study conveniently sampled 933 oncology nurses from six grade A tertiary hospitals in Hubei Province between January to March 2022. The questionnaire was composed of seven parts: general information (including sociodemographic and work-related information), hospice care behaviors, hospice care knowledge, hospice care attitudes, hospice care self-efficacy, hospice care outcome expectancy, and hospice care environment. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent sample t -tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, random forest regression, and BP neural network model analysis. Results A total of 852 questionnaires were valid. The mean score of hospice care behaviors was 50.47 ± 10.56, with a mean item score of 3.61 ± 0.75. The three highest scoring behaviors were “pain assessment of patients (4.21 ± 0.91)”, “satisfying the physical and mental needs of dying patients (4.04 ± 0.92)”, and “creating good relationships between the medical staff and family members (4.02 ± 0.87)”. The two lowest-scoring behaviors were “proactively recommending medical institutions for hospice care to terminally ill patients and their families (2.55 ± 1.10)” and “proactively talking to patients and families about death-related topics for patients who are critically ill and cannot be reversed (2.87 ± 1.03).” Multiple linear regression, random forest regression, and BP neural network models all showed that the frequency of sharing hospice care experiences with colleagues, hospice care attitudes, hospice care self-efficacy, and hospice care environments were positively associated with hospice care behaviors. Conclusions The frequency of hospice care behaviors among Chinese oncology nurses is generally at a moderate to high level. The results provide a basis for promoting hospice care behaviors among oncology nurses in order to improve the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients.

肝细胞癌(HCC)被认为是一种免疫原性肿瘤,在慢性肝炎和肝硬化的人群中发病率更高.尽管近年来分子靶向药物等系统性治疗取得了巨大进展,但由于耐药和频繁的复发和转移,HCC仍是预后最差的几种癌症之一.近年来,癌症免疫抑制治疗等新的治疗策略延长了患者的生命.然而,一种单独的免疫疗法对癌症,特别是实体肿瘤的治疗效果有限.因此,需要有效的免疫治疗组合,如检查点抑制剂(ICIs)和免疫抑制细胞治疗的组合.本文将讨论当前免疫抑制细胞的概念,包括肿瘤相关巨噬细胞(TAMs)、骨髓源性抑制细胞(MDSCs)、肿瘤相关中性粒细胞(TANs)、癌症相关成纤维细胞(CAFs)和调节性T细胞(Tregs),以及免疫抑制治疗的现状,并对未来的发展前景进行展望.

Objective:To explore the application effect of whole-course guided management under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative period of patients with acoustic neuroma.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the patients with acoustic neuroma treated by inpatient surgery in our department from January 2018 to December 2019. The patients before January 2019 adopted the traditional outpatient and inpatient treatment management mode were in the control group. Patients admitted after January 2019 were in the observation group. The experimental group adopted the guided management mode under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery. In other words, on the basis of the traditional management, the whole-course guided management under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery was added, which mainly included outpatient documentation, introduction of basic disease knowledge, preoperative and postoperative life guidance, preoperative and postoperative psychological guidance and family follow-up. Patients in both groups were observed for their first medical contact-discharge time, medical and nursing satisfaction, and psychological status was assessed by self-rating depression Scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) before surgery, on the day of discharge, and 1 month after discharge.Results:The first medical contact discharge time of the whole-course oriented management group under the concept of accelerated rehabilitation surgery was significantly shorter than that of the traditional group, and its medical and nursing satisfaction was significantly improved ( P<0.05); the SDS score and SAS score before operation, on the day of discharge and 1 month after discharge in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The whole-process guided management under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery can significantly shorten the time of patients′ first medical contact and discharge, reduce anxiety and depression in patients with acoustic neuroma before and after surgery, and improve patients′ satisfaction with medical treatment and care.