Epidemiological correlations of insulin resistance and salivary gland tumors

INTRODUCTION: The metabolic syndrome develops on the basis of peripheral insulin resistance. It is a continuously progressing metabolic disorder, which concludes finally into serious diseases. Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and--according to the recent literature--malignancies are the most important consequences. A well-known fact, that metabolic disorders; such as diabetes and obesity, can deeply influence the structure and function of the salivary glands. Considering these data, the question arises; is there any correlation among insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes and salivary gland tumors? AIMS: A retrospective epidemiological examination was performed to analyze the correlations between salivary gland tumors and insulin resistance states (type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome). METHODS: Data of 438 patients were analyzed in the Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of the Semmelweis University. In 224 cases salivary gland tumors were surgically removed. In 214 control cases, bone replacement, or artificial root implantation was the intervention. Known, treated and newly diagnosed diabetic cases were included in the DM group. Cases exhibiting at least 3 of the 5 criteria of the metabolic syndrome composed the MS group. The remaining cases were included in the non-DM/non-MS group. The frequencies of cardiovascular diseases and of primary tumors at other sites were registered in the different groups. RESULTS: Type-2 diabetes was significantly more frequent in the tumorous group (22.8%) than in the controls (6.5%) (p < 0.001). Similarly, the metabolic syndrome was much more frequent among the tumorous cases (31.3%) as compared with the control group (7.9%) (p < 0.001). The rate of cardiovascular diseases was significantly higher in the DM and MS subgroups of the tumorous patients (15.6% and 17.1%, respectively) as compared with the controls (5.6%) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The rate of primary tumors of other sites, as concerns both tumors overall and malignancies, was significantly higher among the salivary gland tumorous cases (17.8% and 8.9%, respectively) than among the controls (8.4% and 2.8%, respectively) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). In the DM and MS subgroups of the tumorous cases the rate of primary tumors was even higher (28.0% and 22.9%, respectively), however, that for the non-DM/non-MS subgroup was similar to that for controls (9.7). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the present results and the literature data a better control of insulin resistant states seems to be necessary, not only to reduce the cardiovascular risk, but also to prevent tumor promotion.     

Cleidocranial dysplasia: diagnostic criteria and combined treatment

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an uncommon, generalized skeletal disorder characterized by delayed ossification of the skull, aplastic or hypoplastic clavicles, and serious, complex dental abnormalities. There are many difficulties in the early diagnosis of CCD because a majority of the craniofacial abnormalities becomes obvious only during adolescence. In the present case, a hypoplastic midface, a relative prognathia of the mandible, and close approximation of the shoulders in the anterior plane were the conspicuous extraoral findings. Prolonged exfoliation of the primary dentition, unerupted supernumerary teeth, and the irregularly and partially erupted secondary dentition produced occlusional anomalies. The presence of the second permanent molars together with the primary dentition and wide spacing in the lower incisor area were typical dental signs. Gradual extraction of the supernumerary teeth and over-retained primary teeth was the first step of oral surgery. This was followed by a surgical exposure of the unerupted teeth by thinning of the cortical bone. Orthodontic treatment was aimed at parallel growth of the jaws. Removable appliances were used to expand the narrow maxillary and mandibular arches, and a Delaire mask compensated for the lack of sagittal growth of the upper jaw. Temporary functional rehabilitation was solved by partial denture. When the jaws have been fully developed, implant insertions and bridges are the therapeutic measures. The reported case and the literature data support the importance of the early diagnosis and interdisciplinary treatment of CCD.     

Ferromagnetic materials in patients: detection before MR imaging

A number of surgical clips and other metallic materials embedded within patients have ferromagnetic properties that present a potential hazard when in the strong fields associated with magnetic resonance imaging. Several types of magnetometers and metal detectors were investigated as possible pre-imaging screening devices. The sensitivities and costs of these devices are given.     

Epidural haematoma after evacuation of contralateral subdural haematoma

Background Sequentially evolving intracranial bilateral haematomas, where the second haematoma develops after the surgical removal of the first one is rarely reported. Aim To report a patient who developed an epidural haematoma after evacuation of a contralateral subdural haematoma. Methods A 49-year-old male was admitted to our department after head injury. A brain computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed an acute subdural haematoma in the right temporal area which was evacuated. During his stay in the intensive care unit, he was submitted to intracranial pressure monitoring, which soon rose. Results A new CT scan showed an acute epidural haematoma in the contralateral parietal area that was also evacuated. Conclusions While rising intracranial pressure after the evacuation of a traumatic haematoma is usually attributed to brain oedema or recurrent haematoma at the craniotomy site, the development of a contralateral epidural haematoma requiring surgical treatment should not be overlooked.     

The effects on teeth of radiotherapy for nasal endodermal sinus tumor (yolk sac tumor) in childhood

A rare case of a 10-year-old girl with an endodermal sinus tumor that occurred in the nasal cavity is presented. She received chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the age of 4. The subsequent abnormal development of the maxillary teeth is described and discussed in the light of the known effects of radiotherapy.     

The effect of leukocyte interleukin injection (Multikine) treatment on the peritumoral and intratumoral subpopulation of mononuclear cells and on tumor epithelia: a possible new approach to augmenting sensitivity to radiation therapy and chemotherapy in oral cancer--a multicenter phase I/II clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the administration of a novel immunoadjuvant, leukocyte interleukin injection, as part of an immuno-augmenting treatment regimen on the peritumoral and intratumoral subpopulations of the tumor infiltrating mononuclear cells and on the epithelial and stromal components, when administered to patients with advanced primary oral squamous cell carcinoma classified as T2-3N0-2M0, as compared with disease-matched control patients (not treated with leukocyte interleukin injection). STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter Phase I/II clinical trial. Fifty-four patients from four clinical centers were included in the dose-escalating study (27 in each group [leukocyte interleukin injection-treated and control groups]). Cumulative leukocyte inter-leukin injection doses were 2400, 4800, and 8000 IU (as interleukin-2 equivalent). METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tumor samples obtained at surgical resection of the residual tumor (between days 21 and 28 after treatment initiation) were used. Histological analysis, necrosis evaluation, and American Joint Committee on Cancer grading were performed from H&E-stained sections. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on three different tumor regions (surface, zone 1; center, zone 2; and tumor-stroma interface, zone 3). Trichrome staining was used to evaluate connective tissue, and morphometric measurements were made using ImagePro analysis software. Cell cycling was determined by the use of Ki-67 marker. RESULTS: Leukocyte interleukin injection treatment induced a shift from stromal infiltrating T cells toward intraepithelial T cells and posted a significant (P <.05) increase in intraepithelial CD3-positive T cells independent of the leukocyte interleukin injection dose, whereas the increase in CD25 (interleukin-2 receptor alpha [IL-2Ralpha])-positive lymphoid cells was significant only at the lowest leukocyte interleukin injection dose (P <.05). Furthermore, both low- and medium-dose leukocyte interleukin injection treatment induced a significant (P <.05) increase in the number of cycling tumor cells, as compared with control values. CONCLUSION: The results could be highly beneficial for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. First, leukocyte interleukin injection treatment induces T-cell migration into cancer nests and, second, noncycling cancer cells may enter cell cycling on administration of leukocyte interleukin injection. This latter effect may modulate the susceptibility of cancer cells to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The findings may indicate a need to re-evaluate the way in which follow-up treatment (with radiation therapy and chemotherapy) of patients with head and neck cancer is currently approached.     

De novo establishment and cost-effectiveness of Papanicolaou cytology screening services in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Cervical carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the developing world. The absence of cervical screening in Vietnam and other developing countries is due in large part to the perceived expense of implementing Papanicolaou cytology screening services, although, to the authors' knowledge, the cost-effectiveness of establishing such services has never been studied in a developing country. METHODS: Using decision analytic methods, the authors assessed cost-effectiveness of Pap screening from a societal perspective in Vietnam, the world's 9th most populous developing country (estimated 1999 population, 79 million). Outcomes measured included life expectancy, cervical carcinoma incidence, cost per woman, and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: Total costs to establish a nationwide 5-year interval Pap screening program in Vietnam will average less than $148,400 annually during the 10-year time period assumed necessary to develop the program and may be considerably lower if only high risk geographic areas are targeted. Maintenance costs will average less than $0.092 annually per woman in the target screening population. Assuming 70% program participation, cervical carcinoma incidence will decrease from 26 in 100,000 to 14.8 in 100,000, and cost-effectiveness will be $725 per discounted life-year. Several assumptions used in this analysis constitute biases against the effectiveness of Pap screening, which in reality may be significantly more cost-effective than reported here. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to widespread belief, Pap screening in developing countries such as Vietnam is extraordinarily inexpensive and appears to be cost-effective. Because prospects are uncertain regarding useful alternatives to the Pap test, the evidence-based argument for establishing conventional Pap screening services in developing countries such as Vietnam is compelling. Population-based conventional Pap screening services have been established de novo in Vietnam and are now operational.     

Total parenteral feeding in infants using peripheral veins

Fifteen infants with life-threatening gastrointestinal anomalies received total parenteral feeding for periods ranging from 10 to 54 days; their ages ranged from one day to 5 months. The solutions were administered through peripheral veins. All patients gained weight during the period of observation and no cases of septicaemia were encountered.     

受体介导的凝血酶对成骨细胞增殖及分化的作用

目的 通过凝血酶对成骨细胞的增殖及分化作用的研究来探讨受体介导的凝血酶的功能.方法 原代成骨细胞分别取自于蛋白酶激活受体(protease-activated receptor,PAR)-1敲除鼠和野生对照鼠的头颅骨.并利用凝血酶,人工合成的PAR-1或PAR-4特异性激活短肽对细胞进行处理,通过对5.溴-2-脱氧尿嘧啶的嵌入及细胞碱性磷酸酶活性的测定探讨PAR-1或PAR-4激活对细胞增殖和分化的影响.结果 在野生鼠成骨细胞,凝血酶及PAR-1激活肽均能促进的细胞增殖和降低碱性磷酸酶的活性,但PAR-4激活肽却无这些作用.然而在PAR-1 敲除鼠的成骨细胞无论是凝血酶还是PAR-4激活肽均不能改变细胞的增殖及碱性磷酸酶的活性.结论 本研究结果 表明凝血酶促进成骨细胞增殖及抑制其分化是通过PAR-1介导的.其他凝血酶受体并不具有此作用.