Macrophages are immune cells with high plasticity that are widely distributed in all tissues and organs of the body. Under the influence of the immune microenvironment of breast tumors, macrophages differentiate into various germline lineages. They exert pro-tumor or tumor-suppressive effects by secreting various cytokines. Pyroptosis is mediated by Gasdermin family proteins, which form holes in cell membranes and cause a violent inflammatory response and cell death. This is an important way for the body to fight off infections. Tumor cell pyroptosis can activate anti-tumor immunity and inhibit tumor growth. At the same time, it releases inflammatory mediators and recruits tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) for accumulation. Macrophages act as “mediators” of cytokine interactions and indirectly influence the pyroptosis pathway. This paper describes the mechanism of action on the part of TAM in affecting the pyroptosis process of breast tumor cells, as well as its key role in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, it provides the basis for in-depth research on how to use immune cells to affect breast tumors and guide anti-tumor trends, with important implications for the prevention and treatment of breast tumors.

Cancer is a major public health problem that threatens human life worldwide. In recent years, immunotherapy has made great progress in both clinical and laboratory research. But the high heterogeneity and dynamics of tumors makes immunotherapy not suitable for all cancers. Dietary polyphenols have attracted researchers' attention due to their ability to induce cancer cell pyroptosis and to regulate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). This review expounds the regulation of dietary polyphenols and their new forms on cancer cell pyroptosis and the TIME. These dietary polyphenols include curcumin (CUR), resveratrol (RES), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), apigenin, triptolide (TPL), kaempferol, genistein and moscatilin. New forms of dietary polyphenols refer to their synthetic analogs and nano-delivery, liposomes. Studies in the past decade are included. The result shows that dietary polyphenols induce pyroptosis in breast cancer cells, liver cancer cells, oral squamous cells, carcinoma cells, and other cancer cells through different pathways. Moreover, dietary polyphenols exhibit great potential in the TIME regulation by modulating the programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis, enhancing antitumor immune cells, weakening the function and activity of immunosuppressive cells, and targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to reduce their tumor infiltration and promote their polarization toward the M1 type. Dietary polyphenols are also used with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to improve antitumor immunity and shape a beneficial TIME. In conclusion, dietary polyphenols induce cancer cell pyroptosis and regulate the TIME, providing new ideas for safer cancer cures.

Background: For the treatment of long bone defects of the extremities caused by trauma, infection, tumors, and nonunion, it has been a challenge for clinical orthopedic surgeons. Bone transport technique have become the only way to treat bone defects. However, inevitable docking site complications related to bone transport technique have been reported by many studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factor of docking site complications of bone transport technique using Ilizarov method in the treatment of bone defect of lower extremity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with docking site complication treated with Ilizarov bone transport technique in the treatment of tibial bone defect. Methods: The retrospective study including 103 patients who underwent bone transport for the treatment of large bone defect in tibia from October 2012 to October 2019. There were 90 male and 13 females with a mean age of 37 years (range 17-66years). The etiology of bone defect includes high-energy trauma in 25 cases, osteomyelitis in 61 and nonunion in 17. There were 19 cases in the proximal 1/3 of the diaphysis, middle 1/3 in 39 and distal 1/3 in 45 cases. There were 12 limbs in active infected state with sinus and drainage.17 patients suffered soft tissue defect after debridement. The mean bone defect was 6.6cm (range 3-13cm). Single bone transport in 80 cases, and double in 23 cases. The docking time, external fixation time, external fixation index, and docking site complications were documented and analyzed. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the factors that may affect the docking site complication of tibial bone defect treated with Ilizarov bone transport technique. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using Association for the Study and Application of the method of Ilizarov criteria (ASAMI) at last clinical visit. Results: 103 patients were followed up for (24-48) months, with an average of 27.5 months, The soft tissue were successfully managed by musculocutaneous flap transfer in 17 cases. However, multiple complications occurred in docking site, with an average of 0.53 complications per patient, an average of 0.16 minor complications and 0.38 major complications per patient. Delayed union in 22 cases (21.4%), axial deviation in 19 cases (18.4%) and soft tissue incarceration in 10 cases (9.7%). According to the results of logistic regression analysis, the distance of bone defect (P=0.001,OR=1.976), and distal 1/3 (P=0.01,OR =1.976) were are risk factors for delayed union. Bone defect distance (P< 0.001, OR = 1.981), external fixation time (P = 0.012, OR= 1.017) were risk factors for axial deviation. Soft tissue defect (P=0.047,OR =6.766) and the number previous operation (P=0.001, OR =2.920) were risk factors for soft tissue incarceration. Base on ASAMI bone score, bony result was excellent in 91 patients, good in 7, fair in 3 and poor in 2. The ASAMI functional result was excellent in 67 patients, good in 26, fair in 8, poor in 2. Conclusion: Ilizarov bone transport technique is a practical and effective method for the treatment of tibial bone defects. However, the incidence of complications at the docking site is high, of which bone defect distance, external fixation time, the number of previous operations, soft tissue defects and the distal 1/3 are risk factors for complications at the docking site, and clinicians should pay attention to them.

With an increase in treatment methods, the mortality rate of breast cancer has gradually decreased. However, the incidence rate has increased due to various factors, such as: poor eating and living habits, negative emotions. How can we effectively reduce the incidence and inhibit the development of breast cancer? Pyroptosis, an inflammatory cell death that can trigger a strong immune response and is a potential mechanism for various diseases. Currently, targeting pyroptosis to inhibit tumor progression is an important topic. Pterostilbene (PTE) is a derivative of resveratrol found. Studies have shown that PTE it can prevent tumors and anti-tumors. Does the antitumor effect of PTE involve cancer cell pyroptosis? Our results showed that PTE significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EMT6 and 4T1 cells in vitro. PTE induces pyroptosis in EMT6 cells and upregulates the expression of the BAX-caspase-3-GSDME pathway. In 4T1 cells, PTE also induces pyroptosis and upregulates the expression of the GZMB-BAX-caspase-3-GSDME pathway. In vivo, PTE can effectively inhibit the growth of mammary tumors in EMT6-transplanted mice. Moreover, PTE recruits immune cells to regulate systemic immune function and the tumor immune microenvironment. PTE increased anti-tumor immune cells and decreased tumor-promoting immune cells in peripheral blood, spleen, and tumors. T cell typing in tumor tissue is regulated by PTE, promoting the differentiation of Th cells into a Th1 type. Moreover, the proportion of B cells increases and the proportion of Treg cells decreases, which promotes the transformation of TAMs to M1-TAMs and decreases the proportion of M2-TAMs. Meanwhile, PTE inhibits tumor angiogenesis and tumor invasion and metastasis. In general, PTE plays a role in cancer prevention and treatment by promoting cancer cell pyroptosis, improving body immunity, and regulating the host tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, PTE pretreatment has shown a better suppression effect.