Gastric cancer prevention targeted on risk assessment: Gastritis OLGA staging

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the most lethal epithelial malignancies, and its striking mortality rate prompts a global prevention strategy. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis is the main GC promoter, and the 2014 Global Kyoto conference recognized H. pylori gastritis as a (treatable) infectious disease. It is therefore plausible that any large‐scale intervention for H. pylori eradication would result in cleansing the world of the fifth cause of cancer‐related death. Atrophic gastritis is the cancerization field in which GCs (both intestinal and diffuse histotypes) mainly develop. Discontinuing the inflammatory cascade triggered by H. pylori is tantamount to preventing GC. For patients (still infected or eradicated) who have already developed gastric atrophy, the severity/topography of the atrophic changes correlates with their cancer risk. Gastritis OLGA (Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment) staging consistently ranks the atrophy‐associated cancer risk, providing a solid clinical/biological rationale for establishing patient‐specific surveillance programs. By combining primary and secondary prevention strategies, gastric cancer is a preventable disease.

http://bit.ly/2BGQQSH

Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty for Chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Two weeks after having balloon eustachian tuboplasty, Robin Goebel was on a flight to South America, where she hiked at...

http://bit.ly/2SGN3iF

McGovern Society Leaders Give Students a Roadmap Through Medical School

Pediatric otolaryngologist Zi Yang Jiang, MD, is one of 30 McGovern Society leaders who mentor new medical students, helping them...

http://bit.ly/2DMClgu

Without Borders: Dr. Amber Luong Joins a Mission to Vietnam

Born in Vietnam, Amber Luong, MD, PhD, was 3 in April 1975 when her family left the country the day...

http://bit.ly/2SI6wj1

The efficacy of cotton ball packing after endoscopic sinus surgery: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial

The blocking of airflow into sinonasal cavity may decrease postoperative crusting and the development of adhesions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of cotton ball packing in patients following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

http://bit.ly/2GvuuYA

Changes in the expression of the potassium channels TASK1, TASK3 and TRESK in a rat model of oral squamous cell carcinoma and their relation to malignancy

Publication date: Available online 16 February 2019

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Walther D. Zavala, Mabel R. Foscolo, Patricia E. Kunda, Juan C. Cavicchia, Cristian G. Acosta

Abstract

Objectives

Potassium channels have been proposed to promote cancer cell proliferation and metastases. Thus, we investigated the expression pattern of three 2-pore domain potassium channels (K2 Ps) TASK1, TASK3 and TRESK in advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the commonest oral malignancy.

Design

We used 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) to induce high grade OSCC in male adult rats. We then used immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to study the distribution and expression pattern of TASK1, TASK3 and TRESK in normal versus cancerous tissue. We also examined the expression of β-tubulin III (β-tub3), a marker associated with resistance to taxane-based chemotherapy and poor patient prognosis, and its correlation with the K2 Ps. Finally, we studied the expression of TASK1, TASK3 and TRESK in human samples of SCC of oral origin.

Results

We found that TASK3 was significantly up-regulated whereas TASK1 and TRESK were both significantly down-regulated in advanced, poorly differentiated OSCC. Both, rat and human SCC showed a significant increase in the expression of β-tub3. Interestingly, the expression of the latter correlated positively and significantly with TASK3 and TRESK but not TASK1 in rat OSCC. Our initial results showed a similar pattern of up and down regulation and correlation with β-tub3 for these three K2 Ps in human SCC.

Conclusions

The changes in expression and the co-localization with a marker of resistance to taxanes like β-tub3 turn TASK1, TASK3 and TRESK into potentially new prognostic tools and possibly new therapeutic targets for OSCC.

http://bit.ly/2UYo7zS

Adsorption and release kinetics of growth factors on barrier membranes for guided tissue/bone regeneration: A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 16 February 2019

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Jordi Caballé-Serrano, Yusra Abdeslam-Mohamed, Antonio Munar-Frau, Masako Fujioka-Kobayashi, Federico Hernández-Alfaro, Richard Miron

Abstract

Objectives

Guided bone / tissue regeneration (GBR/GTR) procedures are necessary to improve conditions for implant placement. These techniques in turn can be enhanced by using growth factors (GFs) such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) to accelerate regeneration. The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the GF loading and release kinetics of barrier membranes.

Study design

A total of 138 articles were screened in PubMed databases, and 31 meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the present systematic review.

Results

All the articles evaluated bio-resorbable membranes, especially collagen or polymer-based membranes. In most studies, the retention and release kinetics of osteogenic GFs such as BMP-2 and PDGF were widely investigated. Growth factors were incorporated to the membranes by soaking and incubating the membranes in GF solution, followed by lyophilization, or mixing in the polymers before evaporation. Adsorption onto the membranes depended upon the membrane materials and additional reagents such as heparin, cross-linkers and GF concentration. Interestingly, most studies showed two phases of GF release from the membranes: a first phase comprising a burst release (about 1 day), followed by a second phase characterized by slower release. Furthermore, all the studies demonstrated the controlled release of sufficient concentrations of GFs from the membranes for bioactivities.

Conclusions

The adsorption and release kinetics varied among the different materials, forms and GFs. The combination of membrane materials, GFs and manufacturing methods should be considered for optimizing GBR/GTR procedures.

http://bit.ly/2EfiS9x

An Unusual Cervical Mass in the Hyoid Bone: Intermediate-Grade Chondrosarcoma

We describe a case of a 31-year-old woman with a chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone. The patient presented with a mass in the left submandibular region. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested chondroma, but further imaging investigation with CT revealed an exophytic tumor originating from the body of the hyoid bone. Histopathology of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of a intermediate-grade chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcomas account for 11% of all bone cancers. Primary sites of the head and the neck include the nasal cavity, the skull base, the maxilla, the mandible. Chondrosarcomas of the hyoid bone are very rare, with only 23 cases previously reported in the literature.

http://bit.ly/2DQlPfi

Riedel’s Procedure: A Modification to Obliterate Step Defect

Sinus surgery was first introduced by the ancient Egyptians. In 1750 was the first modern description of frontal sinus surgery. In 1898, Riedel advocated complete removal of the anterior table and floor of the frontal sinus while simultaneously stripping the mucosa. The major postoperative issue involved gross forehead deformity. We aim to provide a modification to reduce the postoperative "step" defect. Riedel's procedure is an effective way of managing frontal sinus disease when endoscopic surgery has repetitively failed. Use of a pedicled pericranial/galeal soft tissue flap can effectively reduce cosmetic deformity postoperatively.

http://bit.ly/2X4gU3g

Patient-reported outcomes of symptom burden in patients receiving surgical or nonsurgical treatment for low-intermediate risk oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A comparative analysis of a prospective registry

Publication date: April 2019

Source: Oral Oncology, Volume 91

Author(s): Moran Amit, Kate Hutcheson, Jhankruti Zaveri, Jan Lewin, Michael E Kupferman, Amy C Hessel, Ryan P Goepfert, G. Brandon Gunn, Adam S Garden, Renata Ferraratto, C. Dave Fuller, Samantha Tam, Neil D. Gross

Abstract

Purpose

To explore treatment-related changes in symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) patients treated surgically and non-surgically.

Patients and Methods

Eighty-six patients with human papillomavirus–associated OPSCC treated at the Head and Neck Center at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center were recruited to a prospective registry study between 2014 and 2016 and completed the core, head and neck-specific, and symptom interference sections of the MD Anderson symptom inventory (MDASI) multi-symptom questionnaire and the EQ-5D health status assessment as a measure of QOL at four time points.

Results

Longitudinal improvements from post-treatment nadir were observed across all groups. For patients treated with single modality, symptom interference, but not core and head and neck specific, MDASI scores were significantly better at 6 months in patients treated with surgery than radiation (P = 0.04). For patients treated with multiple modalities, scores for each of the three domains (i.e., core, head and neck -specific, and interference MDASI) were significantly better in the surgical group than the nonsurgical group at treatment completion (P = 0.0003, P = 0.0006 and P = 0.02) and 6 weeks (P = 0.001, P = 0.05 and P = 0.04), but not 6 months (P = 0.11, P = 0.16 and P = 0.040). No significant differences in EQ5D health status were observed between groups at any time point, reflecting similar overall QOL in all groups.

Conclusion

Symptom burden and QOL improves after treatment in OPSCC survivors over time regardless of whether primary surgical or nonsurgical treatment is used, although acute symptom profiles may differ.

http://bit.ly/2GM85FI

Patterns of EBV-positive cervical lymph node involvement in head and neck cancer and implications for the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma T0 classification

Publication date: April 2019

Source: Oral Oncology, Volume 91

Author(s): Wei-Jie Luo, Yan-Fen Feng, Rui Guo, Ling-Long Tang, Lei Chen, Guan-Qun Zhou, Wen-Fei Li, Xu Liu, Ying Sun, Ai-Hua Lin, Jun Ma, Yan-Ping Mao

Abstract

Objectives

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive cervical lymph node (CLN) metastasis of unknown primary origin is classified as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) T0 by the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual (8th edition). We aimed to investigate the possible primary sites and patterns of EBV-positive CLN metastases and to provide implications for the management of NPC T0 classification.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed 269 patients with newly diagnosed EBV-positive CLN metastatic disease who underwent EBV detection via EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. Fifteen patients with unknown primary tumors underwent follow-up after initial treatment.

Results

In patients with EBV-positive CLNs, the most common primary sites after the nasopharynx (51.7%) were the salivary gland (24.5%), lung (7.8%), oropharynx (3.3%), nasal cavity/maxillary (3.3%), oral cavity (2.2%), orbit (1.1%), and liver (0.4%). No primary site was found in 15 patients (5.6%). For salivary gland malignancies, level II and I were the most frequently involved regions. Tumors arising from the lung or liver metastasized to the lower neck (level IV, V, and VI) rather than the upper neck. After initial treatment, 2/15 patients with EBV-positive CLNs of unknown primary exhibited primary NPC and oropharyngeal tumor, respectively. Further, even without prophylactic irradiation to the nasopharynx, only one of 13 unknown primary patients developed NPC.

Conclusions

The origins of EBV-positive CLNs may not be restricted to the nasopharynx alone, and are likely to involve the head and neck or non-head and neck regions. NPC T0 classification should be cautiously assigned to such tumors.

http://bit.ly/2tz0bYx

The efficacy of cotton ball packing after endoscopic sinus surgery: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial

Publication date: Available online 17 February 2019

Source: Auris Nasus Larynx

Author(s): Seon-Lin Kim, Sung-Dong Kim, Han-Seul Na, Jae-Wook Kim, Keun-Ik Yi, Sue-Jean Mun, Kyu-Sup Cho

Abstract

Objective

The blocking of airflow into sinonasal cavity may decrease postoperative crusting and the development of adhesions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of cotton ball packing in patients following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Methods

Thirty nine patients with chronic rhinosinusitis requiring the same extent of ESS were included. As a part of postoperative care, the patients were instructed to perform a nasal saline irrigation and apply a nasal spray in each nostril, and then informed to put a cotton ball in a one side of nostril, and the other side was kept to be empty as a control. Patients' subjective symptoms, patients' pain while receiving sinonasal cavity debridement, time required to perform debridement, and postoperative wound healing were evaluated.

Results

Although cotton ball packing resulted in less discomfort for postnasal drip, rhinorrhea, headache, and facial pain than no packing, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. The cotton ball packing was associated with significantly less pain on while performing postoperative debridement, therefore less time was needed to perform debridement. The cotton ball packing appears to improve wound healing within the sinus cavities up to 1 month postoperatively.

Conclusion

The use of the cotton ball packing after ESS results in significantly less formation of crusts and adhesions, leading to decreasing pain and time during postoperative debridement and promoting faster wound healing.

http://bit.ly/2NbADJJ