The increasing demand for diverse foods and tailored nutrition encourages the development of innovative products, such as bread enriched with cricket powder (CP) or potato protein (PP). This study presents the preparation and analysis of gluten-free breads with CP and PP, focusing on their nutritional value and physical properties. Analytical methods included water activity measurement, bread volume, crumb color analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, low-field NMR relaxometry, and texture profile analysis. Ash content ranged from 0.60 ± 0.03% to 1.16 ± 0.11%, and caloric values ranged from 216.2 to 229.5 kcal/100 g. Water activity remained stable across all samples (0.975–0.976). Crumb color analysis showed the greatest change in CP samples (ΔE = 14.07), while PP had minimal impact (ΔE = 2.15). FTIR spectra revealed increased amide I and II bands, indicating higher protein content. NMR results demonstrated shorter T₁, T₂₁, and T₂₂ times for CP, suggesting reduced water mobility and a denser structure, while PP samples showed higher values, indicating a looser, more hydrated matrix. Texture analysis confirmed that CP increased firmness and compactness, whereas PP enhanced springiness. These findings suggest that CP and PP can improve the nutritional and structural properties of gluten-free bread, offering valuable alternatives for modern dietary needs.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are aggressive malignancies with high mortality and poor prognosis. Pseudogenes with altered expression during HNSCC progression may serve as potential biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and therapy selection. Methods: In this report, we analyzed the expression of ANXA2P2 and PA2G4P4 pseudogenes in HNSCC patients using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Clinical correlations were assessed through UALCAN and cBioPortal. Functional enrichment was investigated using REACTOME, ESTIMATE, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism 8. Results: Both ANXA2P2 and PA2G4P4 were significantly upregulated in HNSCC compared to normal tissue. Their expression varied based on HPV status and was negatively correlated with overall survival. High pseudogene expression was associated with dysregulated oncogenic pathways, while low expression was linked to distinct immunological profiles. Conclusions: ANXA2P2 and PA2G4P4 exhibit oncogenic properties in HNSCC and hold potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains a highly aggressive malignancy with limited predictive biomarkers for prognosis and radiotherapy response. Increasing evidence indicates that pseudogenes are functionally active regulators of cancer biology, yet their clinical relevance in HNSCC is poorly defined. Methods: Using transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we analyzed the expression and clinical significance of two pseudogenes, ANXA2P2 and PA2G4P4, in HNSCC. Associations with clinicopathological features, HPV status, tumor subtypes, survival, genomic instability, radiotherapy response, and immune landscape were assessed using bioinformatic tools. Results: Both pseudogenes were significantly upregulated in HNSCC compared to normal tissues. Higher expression levels correlated with adverse clinicopathological features, increased tumor proliferation and wound-healing capacity, and unfavorable TCGA molecular subtypes. High ANXA2P2 and PA2G4P4 expression was associated with reduced overall survival, while their combined low-expression signature identified patients with significantly improved overall and disease-free survival. Notably, lower expression of both pseudogenes was observed in patients responding to radiotherapy, whereas higher expression was linked to genomic instability parameters and enrichment of oncogenic pathways, including MYC, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair. ANXA2P2 expression differed significantly by HPV status, showing reduced levels in HPV-positive tumors. Furthermore, pseudogene expression stratified distinct immune profiles, including immune subtypes, stromal and immune scores, and specific immune cell populations. Conclusions:ANXA2P2 and PA2G4P4 are clinically relevant pseudogenes associated with tumor aggressiveness, immune modulation, and radiotherapy response in HNSCC. These findings support their potential utility as prognostic and predictive biomarkers and provide a rationale for further functional validation in experimental models.