Treatment of Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma: Clinical Results Using the Kitasato Modality

The conventional therapeutic regimen for maxillary sinus carcinoma consists of dissection of the maxilla, full-dose irradiation and extensive chemotherapy. However, the results obtained with this treatment are often poor. Even when patients recover, their quality of life is significantly reduced as a result of deformity of facial structures and swallowing and articulation dysfunctions. A retrospective analysis of 68 patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma treated with the Kitasato modality between 1975 and 1999 was conducted. All patients underwent pergingival maxillary sinus surgery combined with pre- and postoperative irradiation therapy with standardized total doses of 16 Gy; the postoperative irradiation was given in combination with regional intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy administered via the superficial temporal artery. All visible tumor lesions were removed where possible in order to preserve or facilitate cellular immunity after surgery. The cumulative 5-year survival rates were 85.7% for Stage II patients, 88.1% for Stage III, 76.6% for Stage IVA and 75.0% for Stage IVB.     

Tongue Base Reduction with Temperature-controlled Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

In recent years a considerable effort has been made to establish the use of different surgical techniques for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Nevertheless, treatment of hypopharyngeal obstruction due to tongue base hypertrophy remains in many ways an unsolved problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tongue base reduction with temperature-controlled radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction in the treatment of OSAS. Twenty patients with OSAS and tongue base hypertrophy were treated with radiofrequency tissue ablation. An intensified treatment protocol was used, delivering 2,800 J per treatment session under local anesthesia. Two nights of polysomnography testing were performed before and after treatment. Daytime sleepiness, snoring and postoperative morbidity were assessed using questionnaires. Mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was reduced from 32.1 to 24.9/h after a mean of 3.4 treatment sessions. Six patients (33%) were cured after the procedure (reduction in RDI of &#83 50% and a postoperative RDI of <15/h) and ten (55%) showed an improvement of >20% in their RDI. Daytime sleepiness and snoring improved significantly. Peri- and postoperative morbidity was low; one severe complication occurred (tongue base abscess). We were able to achieve similar cure and responder rates to those reported in a recently published pilot study but with a reduced number of treatment sessions. We believe that this technique may improve patient acceptance and have beneficial cost implications.     

Congenital nasal masses: diagnosis and management

One hundred and nine congenital nasal masses which presented to two children's hospitals over a 20 year period are reviewed. The diagnosis of the nasal mass is discussed with respect to age, mode of presentation, and site of the lesion, and a management protocol is advocated.     

Reverse Optokinetic After-nystagmus Generated by Gaze Fixation During Optokinetic Stimulation

Gaze fixation during optokinetic stimulation generates an after-nystagmus with a slow component towards the reverse direction of the optokinetic stimulation. The duration and maximum slow component velocity (SCV) of this "reverse OKAN" were observed by changing the duration, velocity and direction of the optokinetic stimulation in nine normal volunteers. The duration of reverse OKAN increased with increasing stimulation time but was unaffected by changes in the stimulation velocity. The maximum SCV of reverse OKAN decreased with an increase in the stimulation velocity but was not significantly affected by changes in the optokinetic stimulation time. There was no directional difference among the horizontal, upwards and downwards reverse OKANs. The reverse OKAN was thought to be generated by a mechanism different from the velocity storage mechanism which produced optokinetic nystagmus and the first phase of OKAN. Retinal slip during the optokinetic stimulation was considered to be an input to the mechanism which generated the reverse OKAN. We hypothesize that the mechanism causing the reverse OKAN may be a generator of the second phase of OKAN, which was also intimately connected with self-motion sensation during the optokinetic stimulation.     

Tissue-engineered human nasal septal cartilage using the alginate-recovered-chondrocyte method

OBJECTIVES: Tissue engineering of nasal septal cartilage has numerous potential applications in craniofacial reconstruction. Chondrocytes suspended in alginate gel have been shown to produce a substantial cell-associated matrix. The objective of this study was to determine whether cartilage tissue could be generated using the alginate-recovered-chondrocyte (ARC) method, in which chondrocytes are cultured in alginate as an intermediate step in tissue fabrication. METHODS: Nasal septal chondrocytes from five patient donors were isolated by enzymatic digestion, then expanded in monolayer culture. At confluency, a portion of those cells were seeded at high density onto a semipermeable membrane and cultured for 14, 21, or 28 days (monolayer group). The remaining cells were suspended in alginate and cultured until a cell-associated matrix was observed (10-17 days). Cells and their associated matrix were released from alginate (ARC group), seeded onto a semipermeable membrane, and cultured as already described. DNA (Hoechst 33258 Assay), glycosaminoglycan (GAG; dimethylmethylene blue assay), and collagen (hydroxyproline assay) were analyzed biochemically. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess expression of collagens type I and type II. Histochemistry was performed to localize cells accumulating sulfated GAG (Alcian blue stain). RESULTS: The ARC constructs, in contrast to the monolayer constructs, had substantial structural stability and the histologic and gross appearance of cartilaginous tissue. ARC constructs demonstrated significantly greater GAG and collagen accumulation than monolayer constructs (P <.05). Histologic analysis revealed substantial GAG and collagen type II production and only moderate collagen type I production. The composition of the matrix was thus similar to that of native human septal cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue-engineered human nasal septal cartilage using the ARC method has the histologic and gross appearance of native cartilage and has biochemical composition more like that of native cartilage than monolayer constructs. This is the first report of human nasal septal neocartilage formation without the use of biodegradable scaffolds.     

Jaw osteosarcomas

Introduction

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent bone malignant tumor. It is usually found on long bones, 5 to 10% are located on jaws, accounting for 0.5 to 1% of all facial tumors. There is little published data which concerns only few patients. Our aim was to study retrospectively cases of facial bone OS in adults, and to compare our results with published data to suggest an optimal management scheme.

Patients and method

Thirty-three patients were managed for an OS, from January 1997 to January 2007. Fourteen patients with a maxillary and mandibular OS, treated in first-intention in our unit, were included. The following data were analyzed: age; personal history; circumstance of discovery; clinical, functional, and physical signs; loco-regional extension and metastasis radiological investigation. The histological slides were systematically reviewed. The protocol, therapeutic outcome, and follow-up were studied.

Results

The mean age at diagnosis was 43. Swelling was the most frequent functional sign. The mean delay before management was 3.4 months. The most frequent radiological presentation was a lytic and hyperdense image. The diagnosis was suggested after CT scan in 57.1% of cases. The biopsy was correlated to the anatomopathological analysis in 78.6% of cases. The most common treatment was surgical exeresis completed by chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate was 50%.

Discussion

Jaw OS are specific because of their localization and specific bone ultrastructure. Their management remains controversial: should they be managed like limb OS or treated more specifically? Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, even if it delays exeresis for 3 months, seems to stop the growth or reduce the tumor. An early anatomopathological analysis of the surgical piece determines adjuvant therapy. The negative prognostic factors are: maxillary localization because of limited exeresis margins, tumoral size, and osteoblastic sub-type.     

Patterns of practice regarding surgical site infection prevention in head & neck surgery: An international survey

IntroductionHead & neck surgery encompasses a variety of surgical approaches for benign and malignant conditions. Due to the complexity in treating patients with head and neck pathology, it is necessary to adhere to basic surgical principles to decrease complications. Among them, surgical site infection can be prevented using a surgery quality protocol including the correct use of antibiotics and optimization of nutritional status.Materials and methodsA survey was sent through the YO-IFOS and SEORL-CCC international mailing list.ResultsA total of 435 surgeons completed the survey. Of the respondents, 97.7% confirm that they scrub their hands before surgery, 40.9% respondents recommend nutritional support according to sign and symptoms, 60.9% use of antibiotic prophylaxis in clean surgery and just 9.2% use clindamycin in combination.ConclusionThis survey has broadened the scope regarding H&N surgical safety around the globe. Identifying innovative ways in which surgical care may be improved is mandatory.     

Organ preserving transoral laser microsurgery for cancer of the hypopharynx

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer, with a special focus on piriform sinus carcinomas, and to report the oncologic and functional outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-series study at a single institute, an academic tertiary referral center. METHODS: A total of 172 patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx were eligible for this study (1986-2003). The piriform sinus was the most common localization (n = 150). Patients with simultaneous second primaries, distant metastases, or N3 neck disease and cancers of the category pT4b were excluded. Fifteen percent of the patients had stages I and II (according to guidelines from the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer 2002/American Joint Commission on Cancer, 2002), and 85% had stages III and IVa. The median follow-up period was 45 months. All patients (n = 172) were treated by TLM, mainly by selective neck dissection (93%) and/or postoperative radiotherapy (52%). Overall survival, recurrence-free survival, organ preservation, and local control were analyzed as end points. Rate of tracheotomies, postoperative complications, and swallowing function (feeding tube dependency) were also analyzed. RESULTS:: Five-year Kaplan-Meier local control was 84% for pT1; 70% for pT2; 75% for pT3; and 57% for pT4a. Five-year Kaplan-Meier recurrence-free survival was 73% for stages I and II, 59% for stage III, and 47% for stage IVa. The whole group of 172 hypopharyngeal cancer patients was analyzed, with an additional special focus on the homogenous group of piriform sinus carcinomas (n = 150). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the conclusion that TLM is a valid option to standard radical surgery or standard conservation treatment. Oncologic and functional results compare favorably, while morbidity and complication rates tend to be lower.     

Changes in CMDP and DPOAE during acute increased inner ear pressure in the guinea pig

During and after an increase of inner ear pressure, induced by injection of artificial perilymph, the 2f ₁ − f ₂ and f ₂ − f ₁ distortion products (DPs) in cochlear microphonics (CM) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) were recorded in the guinea pig. An inner pressure increase of ∼600 Pa gave only small changes in CMDP and DPOAE. Along with a decrease in f ₁ amplitude, a small decrease in amplitude of the 2f ₁ − f ₂ and a small increase in the f ₂ − f ₁ were measured in CM. This matches a shift from a symmetrical position of the operating point for hair cell transduction, leading to an increase in even-order distortion and a decrease in odd-order distortion. Similar, a decrease in 2f ₁ − f ₂ DPOAE was expected. This might be the case at the generation sites but this effect was then more than compensated for by a better middle ear transfer, accounting for the increase of 0.4 dB of the 2f ₁ − f ₂ DPOAE amplitude. In conclusion, changes of overall inner ear fluid pressure have minor effects on cochlear function. This is a relevant finding for further understanding of diseases with changed inner ear fluid volumes, as Ménière’s.     

Predisposing factors in Bell's palsy: a clinical study with reference to diabetes mellitus,hypertension, clotting mechanism and lipid disturbance

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of risk factors for vascular disease like hypertension, lipid disturbances and diabetes mellitus in a group of patients with Bell's palsy. These patients were compared to patients with a peripheral facial paralysis of known origin. We did find a statistically significant difference between the Bell's palsy patients and their controls for cardio-vascular variables only. Hypertension proved to be by far the most important single discriminating variable.     

诱导新生大鼠耳蜗大上皮嵴细胞分化为毛细胞样细胞

目的大鼠耳蜗大上皮嵴细胞（greater epithelial ridge,GER）转染Hath1基因,与耳蜗间质细胞共培养诱导分化为毛细胞样细胞。方法取出生后第1天的大鼠耳蜗,利用机械分离和酶消化相结合的方法分离出纯的GER细胞,与耳蜗间质细胞共培养或转染Hath1基因培养,做免疫组化和扫描电镜观察。结果GER体外培养具有增殖能力,GER与耳蜗间质细胞共培养或转染Hath1基因后,免疫组化MyosinVIIa阳性,扫描电镜部分细胞的表面可见不成熟的纤毛样结构,提示GER已分化为毛细胞样细胞。结论GER细胞作为毛细胞前体细胞可以实现体外培养,与耳蜗间质细胞共培养或转染Hath1后,可分化为毛细胞样细胞。     

Tissue Engineering of Human Salivary Gland Organoids

Radiation therapy for malignant head and neck tumours is mainly responsible for inadvertent damage of the salivary glands. Xerostomia is the major symptom of this condition, with consequent mucositis, dental caries, dysphagia and nutritional deficits. At present there is no routine treatment for radiation-induced salivary dysfunction. Based on the principles of tissue engineering, this study presents a new experimental concept for reconstituting salivary gland function after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Human parotid cells were cultured with two different types of commercially available microcarriers - Cytodex 3 and Cytopore 1 - for up to 3 weeks in vitro . Cultures were controlled daily by means of inverted microscopy. Medium samples were tested for alpha-amylase, tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and S100 in order to control parotid cell function in vitro . The vitality of the cells was investigated by in vitro staining with erythrosine. Immunocytochemical analysis for amylase and cytokeratin was performed in order to confirm epithelial character and maintain acinar cell type. Parotid gland cells could be cultured in a differentiated and vital state on both types of microcarriers for up to 3 weeks. Almost all of the cultured cells exhibited immunoreactivity for cytokeratin. High concentrations of TPA, a specific marker for salivary duct epithelium, indicated persistent differentiation of this cell type in vitro . Positivity for amylase was detectable in 20-45% of cells growing on the microcarriers, and especially on Cytodex 3. Decreasing amylase levels in the culture medium indicated functional deficiencies of the remaining acinar cells. Tissue engineering of human salivary gland organoids on microcarriers is a new approach for potential causative treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia. Before clinical application can be considered significant improvements in the in vitro cultivation of salivary gland tissue and scaffold design have to be realized.     

Influence of Contralateral Stimulation by Two-tone Complexes,Narrow-band and Broad-band Noise Signals on the 2f 1 -f 2 Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Levels in Humans

In order to test the frequency specificity of the efferent suppressive effect on otoacoustic emissions, changes in the 2f 1 -f 2 distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels induced by contralateral stimuli of different spectra were measured in 10 normally hearing adults. Three types of contralateral stimuli were used: ( i ) a set of 6 pairs of pure tones with the same frequencies as used for DPOAE stimulation; ( ii ) 6 narrow-band noise signals with cut-off frequencies equal to the frequencies of the primary tones used for DPOAE stimulation; and ( iii ) broad-band noise with a bandwidth of 840-6,000 Hz. A small suppressive effect was observed mainly in the mid-frequency region. Broad-band noise was more effective at suppressing DPOAEs than narrow-band noises and two-tone complexes. Occasionally, small enhancements in DPOAE amplitudes were observed. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that DPOAE changes induced by contralateral stimuli are not frequency-specific, and are too small to have routine clinical value.     

Transtympanic electrocochleography in the diagnosis of retrocochlear tumours

Transtympanic electrocochleography has been used as a diagnostic procedure in over 250 adult patients with sensorineural deafness. No complications have been encountered. Among these patients vestibulocochlear Schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) has been confirmed in 56 ears, while II other ears have been found to be affected by other space-occupying lesions. As a result of our observations in these patients, we would like to propose that there are at least three separate criteria to be considered in reaching or strongly suspecting a diagnosis of such pathology. These are broadening of the action potential (loss of PI), observation of a clear microphonic response, and preservation of the action potential even when using stimulus intensities which are not audible in the patients' affected ears. The merits of each of these criteria are discussed and compared with other clinical and operative findings. With the electrocochleographic techniques now employed in searching for acoustic neuromas, false negative results are rare though false positive results are still obtained.     

Zur säulenchromatographischen Fraktionierung von Roggenpollenallergenen (Secale cereale)

Zusammenfassung Zur Reinigung von Roggenpollenextrakten (Secale cereale) wurden säulenchromatographische Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Durch stufenweise Erhöhung der Ionenstärke lassen sich an DEAE-Zellulose aus dem nicht dialysierbaren Rückstand des wäßrigen Extraktes mehrere Fraktionen gewinnen (Abb. 1). Immunelektrophorese, Immunodiffusion nach Ouchterlony und Polyakrylamid-Gelelektrophorese zeigen jedoch, daß diese Fraktionen Antigen- bzw. Proteingemische unterschiedlicher Heterogenität sind (Abb. 2 und 3, Tabelle 1). Sie lassen sich auch durch Rechromatographie an Sephadex G-100 nicht in homogene Fraktionen trennen. Die meisten Fraktionen zeigen im direkten Intrakutantest an nicht behandelten Roggenpollenallergikern Allergenaktivität (Tabelle 1). Die Auswahl bestimmter Fraktionen für eine weitere Trennung ist durch die quantitative Ungenauigkeit des Intrakutantestes erschwert. NDS-gelelektrophoretische Untersuchungen unter Verwendung des Proteinaseinhibitors Phenylmethylsulfonylfluorid weisen außerdem darauf hin (Abb. 4), daß in den Roggenpollenextrakten Proteinasen enthalten sind, die sich wahrscheinlich nur schwer von den übrigen Pollenproteinen trennen lassen und das Proteinmuster verändern. Im Intrakutantest ist jedoch auch nach einjähriger Aufbewahrung der Extrakte keine Veränderung ihrer Allergenpotenz nachweisbar.Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Reindarstellung von Roggenpollenallergenen eine schwierige proteinchemische Aufgabe ist.