Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in an advanced metastasized hypopharyngeal carcinoma and cultured tumor cells

Purpose

The inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyzes PGE₂ production and plays an important role in the progression of many solid cancers. However, the role of COX-2 expression in cervical lymph node metastases of head and neck cancer has not been clarified yet.

Patient and methods

We comment on a male patient aged 53 who was admitted to an ENT-department with acute bleeding from an advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma and a frontotemporal mass. Prior to palliative intended radiotherapy, the metastasis was resected. During the procedure, a small amount of tumor tissue was harvested for primary tumor cell culture.

Results

COX-2 overexpression was demonstrated in the primary tumor tissue, the metastasis, in the cultured tumor cells by standard immunohistochemistry, as well as cytochemistry.

Conclusions

A simultaneous expression of COX-2 in head and neck carcinoma was presented for the first time. Besides the prognostic impact in oral carcinogenesis, this COX-2 role of biomarker for aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas should be further evaluated. Additionally, treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinomas with selective COX-2 inhibitors could be beneficial when administered in combination with radiochemotherapy.     

Reaction of sound and demineralised dentine to Carisolv in vivo and in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the structural reaction of intact dentine to Carisolv in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: For the in vivo study occlusal cavities were prepared in 48 caries-free molars in Wistar rats (age: three months) and Carisolv-solution was placed into the cavities of 24 M for 1, 10 and 20 min. Twenty four contralateral molars served as controls and were treated with an inert liquid containing purified water, carmellose and erythrosin for corresponding periods. For the in vitro study 24 rat molars were resected en bloc and fractured to expose an area of crown dentine area. Molars were demineralised with EDTA for eight weeks to expose the collagenous dentinal matrix. One half of the specimens was then coated with Carisolv-solution for 20 min. The other half served as a control and was coated with an inert solution for 20 min. RESULTS: In the in vivo specimens no signs of pulp cell damage were observed in the experimental group. The odontoblastic processes were destroyed in proximity to the floor of the cavity but were intact in the inner portion of dentinal tubules in experimental molars and a mechanical damage was noted in the control molars. In the in vitro specimens no structural discrepancy was detected between the experimental molars and the control molars in collagen fibrils of demineralised dentine. CONCLUSIONS: Carisolv causes destruction of cellular components of odontoblastic processes but does not attack healthy collagen fibrils.     

Effects of phenytoin on dental caries and plaque in Streptococcus sobrinus-infected rats.

Effects of phenytoin (PHT) administration on dental caries in rats infected with Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 were investigated. Twenty-day-old specific pathogen-free Fischer male rats were infected with S. sobrinus 6715 and fed diet 2000 containing 56% sucrose with or without PHT for 52 days. Antibody responses against anti-S. sobrinus in serum and saliva failed to show a statistical difference between PHT-treated and nontreated rats. These results indicate that PHT treatment increased plaque deposition and dental caries in the rats infected with S. sobrinus 6715 and fed diet 2000 containing PHT (1-2 mg/g), as compared with those similarly infected and fed diet without PHT (P < 0.001).     

Proteomics Study on the Differentially Expressed Proteins in 16HBE Cells Exposed to Beryllium Sulfate

Beryllium (Be) is a non-radioactive element with carcinogenic properties, and presents serious occupational and environmental hazards from its resulting toxicants, which could significantly impact the health of the occupational population[1-3]. Beryllium and its compounds can cause diseases such as acute chemical pneumonia, lung cancer, and chronic beryllium disease, which predominantly occurs alongside either lung granuloma or pulmonary fibrosis[4,5]. Furthermore, the mechanism by which beryllium is toxic has not been fully elucidated; therefore, studies on its health hazards as well of its compounds are important. An in-depth study of the mechanism of beryllium toxicity is especially essential to prevent and control its associated health hazards. Tandem mass tag (TMT) technology is a reliable technology in quantitative proteomics, which can be implemented to perform relative quantification and identification analysis of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and other biological macromolecules.     

冠心病患者血小板和淋巴细胞比值与冠脉斑块稳定性及预后的相关性研究

目的探讨冠心病患者血小板和淋巴细胞比值(PLR)与冠脉斑块稳定性及预后的相关性。方法以68例冠心病患者为对象,根据血管超声检查将患者分为斑块稳定组(n=30)和斑块易损组(n=38)。利用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析PLR预测冠脉斑块稳定性及预后的价值。结果斑块稳定组血小板、PLR水平低于斑块易损组(P<0.05),两组淋巴细胞水平比较无差异(P>0.05)。PLR预测斑块易损的AUC、敏感度、特异性、最佳阶段点为0.841(95%CI:0.732~0.919)、71.05%、90.00%、118.64。高PLR主要不良心血管事件发生率为52.78%(19/36),高于低PLR组(18.75%(6/32),P<0.05)。PLR预测冠心病患者预后的AUC、敏感度、特异性、最佳阶段点为0.845(95%CI:0.736~0.921)、80.00%、79.07%、125.64。结论PLR与冠心病患者冠状动脉斑块的稳定性及预后关系密切,检测PLR水平有助于评估斑块性质及预后情况。     

皮肤吻合器在神经外科手术中的应用

目的探讨皮肤吻合器在神经外科手术切口缝合中的应用效果。方法我科自2010年9月至2014年1月对120例神经外科手术切口采用不同方法进行皮肤缝合,根据缝合方法分为吻合器组和传统组,各60例;吻合器组采用一次性皮肤吻合器缝合切口,传统组采用传统丝线缝合切口。观察记录两组手术缝合速度、术后脑脊液切口漏发生率、切口感染发生率、切口缘皮肤坏死发生率。结果吻合器组缝合速度为（9.5±0.7）cm/min,术后脑脊液切口漏发生率为1.7%（/60）,无切口感染及切口缘皮肤坏死病例;传统组缝合速度为（3.4±0.3）cm/min,术后脑脊液切口漏发生率为10%（6/60）,切口感染发生率为3.3%（2/60）,切口缘皮肤坏死发生率为13.3%（8/60）;两组切口吻合速度及术后切口缘皮肤坏死发生率均差异显著（P〈0.05）。结论对于神经外科手术切口,皮肤吻合器缝合皮肤切口较传统丝线缝合有明显的优势。     

Inclinometer-based measures of standing posture in older adults with low bone mass are reliable and associated with self-reported,but not performance-based,physical function

Summary

The association between posture and physical function during daily activities in people at risk for osteoporotic fracture is not clear. We report the reliability of measuring posture using the digital inclinometer and how these measures relate to performance-based and self-reported physical function.

Introduction

This study aims to determine the reliability of a simple clinical method for assessing spine curvatures in people with low bone mass and the association between spine curvature measures and pain, physical function (mobility/activities of daily living (ADL)) and quality of life.

Methods

One rater assessed 36 high-functioning adults, aged 52–82 years, attending an outpatient osteoporosis clinic. A digital inclinometer was used to measure lumbosacral angle (S), lumbar standing posture (L), and thoracic standing posture (T) and ADL performance was assessed using the short form of the Safe Functional Motion test (SFM-6), on two occasions approximately 8.7 days apart. Participants reported average pain intensity over the past week and completed the Timed Up and Go test (TUGT) and the mini-Osteoporosis Quality of Life questionnaire (mini-OQLQ). Acceptable reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Associations were determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) (and Spearman’s rho (r _s), for non-normal data).

Results

ICC (95 % CI) for S, L, and T?=?0.91 (0.82, 0.95), 0.90 (0.82, 0.95), and 0.91 (0.84, 0.95), respectively, for test–retest reliability. Thoracic standing posture was associated with the ADL domain of the mini-OQLQ (r _s?=??0.39) and the TUGT (r?=?0.42). Standing posture was not related to pain or total SFM-6 score.

Conclusions

Digital inclinometer measures provide a quick highly reliable, valid, direct assessment of kyphosis. Use of these measures in the clinical setting is expected to facilitate identification and effective management of postural impairments (e.g., trunk extensor muscle weakness, vertebral fracture) associated with osteoporosis.     

Pharmacotherapeutic targeting of cation‐chloride cotransporters in neonatal seizures

Seizures are a common manifestation of acute neurologic insults in neonates and are often resistant to the standard antiepileptic drugs that are efficacious in children and adults. The paucity of evidence‐based treatment guidelines, coupled with a rudimentary understanding of disease pathogenesis, has made the current treatment of neonatal seizures empiric and often ineffective, highlighting the need for novel therapies. Key developmental differences in γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission between the immature and mature brain, and trauma‐induced alterations in the function of the cation‐chloride cotransporters (CCCs) NKCC1 and KCC2, probably contribute to the poor efficacy of standard antiepileptic drugs used in the treatment of neonatal seizures. Although CCCs are attractive drug targets, bumetanide and other existing CCC inhibitors are suboptimal because of pharmacokinetic constraints and lack of target specificity. Newer approaches including isoform‐specific NKCC1 inhibitors with increased central nervous system penetration, and direct and indirect strategies to enhance KCC2‐mediated neuronal chloride extrusion, might allow therapeutic modulation of the GABAergic system for neonatal seizure treatment. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here .     

全陶瓷关节在全髋关节置换中的应用

近年来,随着陶瓷材料制作工艺的快速发展,提高陶瓷材料的磨损性,生物相容性,无金属离子释放,低摩擦系数和良好的浸润性等特性,使得陶瓷材料取得了令人瞩目的成就,陶瓷-陶瓷假体也被认为是年轻患者最佳选择之一。