Shedding light in otolaryngology: A brief history on the surgical tools of visualization and access

Visualization and access. Historically, these have been the two major factors that have limited advancement in the field of Otolaryngology. No other surgical specialty deals with anatomical challenges quite like those presented by the structures of the head and neck. Otolaryngology is a field of dark cavities, complex and miniscule structures, and awkward angles. The aim of this article is to briefly explore how Otolaryngologists have historically met these challenges, with a specific focus on technological advancements in illumination, visualization, and access. From mirrors reflecting candlelight to fiberoptic illuminated scopes, from bamboo nasal speculums to Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), tracing the historical arc of these technologies highlights the innovative spirit that has come to define the field of Otolaryngology.     

A clinical phase II study with sorafenib in patients with progressive hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a study of the CESAR Central European Society for Anticancer Drug Research-EWIV

Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activity. The activity of sorafenib in progressive hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients was investigated in a phase II clinical study. Progressive HRPC patients received sorafenib 400 mg bid p.o. continuously. Only patients with no prior chemotherapy, and either one-unidimensional measurable lesion according to RECIST-criteria or increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values reflecting a hormone-refractory situation, were eligible for study entry. The primary study objective was the rate of progression-free survival of >/=12 weeks (PFS12). Secondary end points were overall response, overall survival, and toxicity. Fifty-seven patients with PC were enrolled. Two patients had to be withdrawn from the set of eligible patients. According to RECIST criteria, 4 patients out of 55 evaluable patients showed stable disease (SD). According to PSA-response, we saw 11 patients with SD PSA and 2 patients were responders at 12 weeks (PFS12=17/55=31%). Among the 257 adverse events, 15 were considered drug related of maximum CTC-grade 3. Twenty-four serious adverse events occurred in 14 patients (14/55=26%). Seven of them were determined to be drug related. No treatment-related death was observed. Sorafenib has antitumour activity in HRPCP when evaluated for RECIST- and PSA-based response. Further investigation as a component of combination regimens is necessary to evaluate its definite or overall clinical benefit for HRPCP.     

Little Rock Lake (Wisconsin): Perspectives on an experimental ecosystem approach to seepage lake acidification

Ecosystem-level experiments are essential in assessing the effects of environmental perturbations like acidification. To date in North America, such experiments have been rare and geographically limited to drainage lakes in south-western Ontario and to streams in the northeastern US. Seepage lakes, which are the dominant hydrologic type in large regions of the US, have received limited attention from many perspectives, including whole-system manipulation. The Little Rock Lake Acidification Project was initiated to expand insights from previous acidification experiments with whole drainage lakes to a seepage lake system. It involves the gradual acidification of a small (18 ha), seepage lake in northcentral Wisconsin. The lake has been divided into a treatment and reference basin using a flexible, inert barrier; and the treatment basin is being acidified in steps of 0.5 pH units/2 yr period from a starting pH of 6.1 to a final pH of 4.6 (roughly the average pH of rain in this region). The goals are to document the biological and chemical changes which occur, to identify the direct and indirect mechanisms which regulate responses, and to expand insights to a class of lakes previously understudied. In this paper, we describe the history and rationale of the project and we discuss in general terms the utility and constraints of whole-ecosystem manipulations.     

安徽省2007～2008年志贺氏菌流行株菌型分布及脉冲场分子分型

目的了解安徽省志贺氏菌的流行菌型,并建立脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分子分型方法,为菌痢防控提供理论基础。方法对22株志贺氏菌进行血清分型、药物敏感试验和PFGE试验。结果22株志贺氏菌血清分型：B群19株,占总数86.5%;C群1株,占总数的4.5%;D群2株,占总数的9.0%。成功建立了菌痢的PFGE分子分型方法,并将我省22株流行株分为若干带型。试验结果进一步作聚类分析。结论安徽省菌痢流行株以福氏为主;安徽省PFGE分子分型方法和初步带型数据库对提高细菌检测水平有一定意义。