Validation of a prognostic scoring system for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by stereotactic radiosurgery

Background  

Selection of patients with local failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) for appropriate type of salvage treatment can be difficult due to the lack of data on comparative efficacy of different salvage treatments. The purpose of the present study was to validate a previously published prognostic scoring system for local failures of NPC treated by radiosurgery based on reported results in the literature.     

Comparison of single versus fractionated dose of stereotactic radiotherapy for salvaging local failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a matched-cohort analysis

Background

Oral submucous fibrosis is a common oral health problem in India. This study was conducted to correlate the histopathological diagnosis with habits and clinical findings in patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).

Methods

Patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis from the Departments of Otorhinolayngology and Pathology, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad, India were studied from 2004–2008. Detailed information was gathered in a pretested proforma. Emphasis was given to the various addictions, clinical findings and histological examination was done.

Results

Two hundred and thirty nine patients were studied, yielding a male to female ratio of 6.8:1. Maximum patients were in the 21–30 years age group with a marked male predominance. Of these, 197 (82.4%) patients chewed areca nut/dohra, 14 (5.8%) were smokers and 2 (0.8%) patients were habituated to alcohol. 89(37.2%) patients reported difficulty in opening of the mouth (trismus). 51 (57.4%) patients were found to have stage II (2–3 cm) trismus while rest had stage I and III. The buccal mucosa was found to be the most commonly involved site. On the basis of histopathological examination, 52(21.7%) were classified as OSF grade I, 75(31.3%) patients as grade II and 112(46.8%) had grade III disease.

Conclusion

The widespread habit of chewing dohra/paan masala is a major risk factor of OSF, especially in the younger age group. In this study, an increase in histopathological grading was found with severity and duration of addiction habit. However no significant correlation was found between clinical staging and histopathological grading.     

RP-HPLC测定立复欣注射液的含量

目的：建立一种快速简便的反相HPLC法测定立复欣注射液的含量,同时考察25度立复欣注射液在5％GS,0．9％NS和10％GNS中的稳定性,方法：采用Lichrospher 100(RP-8.5um*250mm)柱,以甲醇－乙腈－0．04M KH2PO4溶液（31．5：31．5：37）为流动相,流速1ml/min,柱温40度,254nm柴外检测;观察溶液的外观并用酸度计测定其PH值,结果：回收率为100．5：37）为流动相,流速1ml/min,柱温40度,254nm紫外检测,观察溶液的外观并用酸度计测定其PH值,结果：回收率为100．87％,RSD＝1．4％（n=5),在4－120mg/l范围内,峰面积对浓度呈良好的线性关系,r=0\99989,25度下样品在输液中的PH值,含量及颜色在0－6h内均无明显变化。结论：本法简速,灵敏底高,准确性好;25度,6h内样 在上述输液中稳定性好。     

The clinical indications for identical pathogenesis of isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

In the present population-based study, we compared the clinical data of testicular relapses with and without concurrent bone marrow relapse and clinical data of the relapses in other locations among boys with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), in order to study the possible evidence of early sequestration and local regulation of leukaemic lymphoblast in the testis of humans. The results suggest that the pathogenesis of isolated testicular relapse (T) and testicular relapse with a concurrent bone marrow relapse (T+BM) is likely to be similar. Isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses appeared late after the achievement of remission (T 34±16 months, T+BM 32±15 months) in ALL compared to relapses in other locations (CNS 23±11 months, BM 25±19 months). The better prognosis after testicular relapses (estimated second event free survival probability, 2-EFS: T 0.63, T+BM 0.32) compared to bone marrow relapse (2-EFS: BM 0.13) further suggests that testicular relapse with a concurrent bone marrow relapse possibly originates from the isolated testicular relapse, and that the isolated testicular relapse is a separate entity and not a manifestation of systemic recurrence. Higher frequencies of isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses (T 9%, T+BM 5%) were observed among boys with onset of ALL in early puberty (10-12y) compared to those among younger (T 4%, T+BM 2%) and older (T 0%, T+BM 0%) boys. The late occurrence, the possible association with hormonal maturation and the good prognosis after testicular relapses suggest a possible local regulation of the residual leukaemic lymphoblast in human testis.     

Telomere length in relation to insulin resistance,inflammation and obesity among Arab youth

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the associations of telomere length to markers of obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation in Saudi children. Methods: A total of 69 boys and 79 girls, aged 5–12 years, participated in this cross‐sectional study. Anthropometrics were measured. Serum glucose and lipid profile were measured using routine laboratory methods. Serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha and active plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 were quantified using customized multiplex assay kits. C‐reactive protein and angiotensin II were quantified using ELISA. Leucocyte telomere length was examined by quantitative real time PCR utilizing IQ cycler. Results: Mean telomere length was significantly shorter in obese boys compared with their lean counterparts (p = 0.049), not in girls. It was not associated to insulin resistance, adipocytokines and markers of inflammation. In girls, the significant predictor of telomere length was waist circumference, explaining 24% of variance (p = 0.041) while in boys, systolic blood pressure explained 84% of the variance (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Childhood obesity in boys corresponds to shorter leucocyte telomere length which is not evident in girls. The association of leucocyte telomere length to blood pressure and waist circumference in children suggests clinical implications as to the contribution of these parameters in premature ageing.     

Height, health and growth hormone

The principal objective of this paper is to provide health practitioners with information on the positive aspects of shorter stature for use in counseling short children with poor self-images. Another objective is to provide information on the physical capabilities, health potential and psychosocial characteristics of shorter stature as a baseline for deciding whether a healthy short child should receive growth hormone therapy. The information presented here was obtained from review of publications covering medical and nutritional research, gerontological studies, athletic performance and environmental, biological and engineering aspects of the human body. It was found that the popular belief in the superiority of tall stature is based primarily on social bias rather than on a scientific foundation. Studies indicating that taller people are healthier or more productive than shorter ones have ignored a wide range of evidence that shorter people are highly creative, productive, long-lived, athletic and better for the environment. The authors urge medical and scientific professionals to consider the many advantages of shorter stature in terms of health, social and environmental benefits.     

Clinical features and predictors of diphtheritic cardiomyopathy in Vietnamese children

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of antitoxin and antibiotics, the mortality rate for diphtheria remains high, mostly because of cardiac complications. METHODS: During 1 year, 154 Vietnamese children with diphtheria admitted to a referral hospital were studied prospectively with clinical examination, including a simple pseudomembrane score, 12-lead and 24-hour electrocardiography, measurement of serum cardiac enzyme levels, and estimation of troponin T levels. RESULTS: Thirteen children had diphtheritic cardiomyopathy on admission, and 19 developed it subsequently. Twelve children (8%) died. The combination of pseudomembrane score of >2 and bull neck predicted the development of diphtheritic cardiomyopathy, with a positive predictive value of 83% and a negative predictive value of 93%. Administration of 24-hour electrocardiography on admission improved the ability to predict diphtheritic cardiomyopathy by 57%. Fatal outcome was best predicted by the combination of myocarditis on admission and a pseudomembrane score of >2. Of the cardiac enzyme levels measured, an elevated aspartate aminotransferase level was the best predictor. The presence of troponin T identified additional children with subclinical cardiac damage. CONCLUSIONS: The development of diphtheritic cardiomyopathy can be predicted by means of simple measures.