CD105 expression as a measure of microvessel density in supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

The purpose of the present study was to examine the expression of CD105 among patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer and to assess the clinical relevance of CD105-assessed MVD. A total of 40 patients with supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) were included in the present study. Surgical specimens were immunostained for CD105 and MVD was calculated at 400× magnification. The rounded mean value of the vessel count in four fields for each case was used as the final MVD value. The mean MVD value assessed by CD105 in considered supraglottic SCCs was 13.5 (SD = 3.97). High MVD was significantly correlated with advanced (III and IV) clinical stage (Mann–Whitney U test P = 0.01) and malignancy recurrence presence/absence (Mann–Whitney U test P = 0.023). Spearman’s rank correlation test showed significant correlation between high CD105-assessed MVD and pN+ category (rho = 0.337, P = 0.033), advanced Stage (III and IV) (rho = 0.402, P = 0.01) and developed locoregional recurrence (rho = 0.395, P = 0.012). The logistic regression showed that a high CD105+ MVD was the only independent marker of tumor recurrence (P = 0.029; odds ratio, 6.64; 95% CI, 1.218–36.152). The average MVD was significantly higher in patients with advanced TNM stage and in patients with locoregional recurrence of disease, suggesting that angiogenesis is closely related with clinical aggressiveness of tumor. CD105-assessed MVD in supraglottic laryngeal SSCs may identify patients at risk of recurrence of disease.     

Heterotaxy syndrome, analysis of 13 cases and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Heterotaxy syndrome (Ivemark syndrome, or asplenia-polysplenia syndrome) is a heterogeneous group of disease with disturbed body symmetry and malposition of internal organs. Heterotaxy syndrome is caused by the disturbance of the left/right axis in the early embryonic period. AIM OF THE STUDY: The most frequency of heterotaxy syndrome's concomitant anomalies during a five year period in own fetopathology material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of fetopathologic examination of 13 fetuses suffering from prenatally diagnosed heterotaxy syndrome. RESULTS: Situs ambiguus was detected in 9 cases out of 13. In the remaining 4 cases situs inversus totalis was diagnosed. The most frequent and important associated malformation included congenital heart disease was AV channel (10/13) and great vessel anomaly (10/13). CONCLUSION: In cases with prenatally detected complex cardiac anomalies (especially AV channel cases) heterotaxy anomaly must be taken into consideration, with main consequences in prenatal counselling.     

Sarcoma embrionario indiferenciado hepático en niños. Presentación de dos casos clínicos

Undifferentiated embryonal hepatic sarcoma is the third most frequent malignant hepatic neoplasm in children. We describe two cases of school age who presented with dyspnea, weight loss, epigastric pain and a large palpable mass in the right hepatic lobe in the absence of tumor markers. An ultrasound showed a solid mass and the computed tomography, mixed well limited cystic images. Surgical treatment was a right hemihepatectomy and the use of chemotherapy. An undifferentiated embryonal hepatic sarcoma is a diagnostic possibility in school age children presenting with large hepatic mass and negative tumor markers. The initial treatment is a complete tumor resection and chemotherapy in order to increase survival.     

Análisis comparativo de 3 regímenes de tratamiento en niños con linfoma de Burkitt

Between January 1980 and June 1996, a total of 86 patients with Burkitt’s lymphoma were treated at our institution. The current study is a retrospective review of how these patients evolved comparing the complications, overall and disease-free survival rates using 3 different treatment regimens. Forty-six patients were treated with regimen 1, 26 with regimen 2 and 14 with regimen 3. The following variables were analyzed: age and sex of the population, laboratory and X-ray results (blood chemistry, lactic dehydrogenase, bone marrow aspirate, cerebral spinal fluid, cytology, imaging studies of the primary tumor), the stage of the disease, the chemotherapeutic regimen received, the complications experienced, overall and disease-free survival rates, causes of death and prognostic factors. The patients median age was of 72 months. A total of 63 patients (73%) had advanced stage (III–IV) and the remaining 23 early stages (I–II). There was and overall survival rate of 63.9% for all stages and a overall disease-free survival rate of 54.5%. No statistical difference when overall survival comparison was made between regimens 1 (51%) and 2 (72%) (p=0.13). A difference was observed when regimen 1 was compared to regimen 3 (86%) (p=0.025). The overall survival comparison among the three treatment regimens had a p value of 0.06. All of the patients that remained in full remission beyond 18 months are alive and without evidence of disease regardless of the stage and treatment regimen. Intensive, short chemotherapy regimen appears to be a superior regimen when compared to other regimens. Regimen 3 offers a relatively low morbidity and the highest disease free survival of the three regimens studied.     

Risk factors for laryngeal cancer in Montenegro

Laryngeal cancer is the most common head and neck cancer. There might be many risk factors for laryngeal cancer. Smoking, especially cigarette smoking and alcohol are indisputable risk factors. The authors of this paper assessed the presumed risk factors in order to identify possible aetiological agents of the disease.A hospital-based case-control study was conducted. The study group consisted of 108 histologically verified laryngeal cancer patients and 108 hospital controls matched by sex, age (+/-3 years) and place of residence. Laryngeal cancer patients and controls were interviewed during their hospital stay using a structured questionnaire. According to multiple logistic regression analysis six variables were independently related to laryngeal cancer: hard liquor consumption (Odd Ratio/OR/=2.93, Confidence Interval/CI/95% = 1.17 to 7.31), consumption more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day (OR=4.96, CI 95% = 2.04 to 12.04), cigarette smoking for more than 40 years (OR=4.32, CI 95% = 1.69 to 11.06), smoking more than 30 cigarettes per day (OR=4.24, CI 95% = 1.75 to 10.27), coffee consumption more than 5 cups per day (OR=4.52, CI 95% = 1.01 to 20.12) and carbonated beverage consumption (OR=0.38, CI 95%=0.16 to 0.92). The great majority of laryngeal cancers could be prevented by eliminating tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.     

Restoration of Cone Vision in the CNGA3−/− Mouse Model of Congenital Complete Lack of Cone Photoreceptor Function

Congenital absence of cone photoreceptor function is associated with strongly impaired daylight vision and loss of color discrimination in human achromatopsia. Here, we introduce viral gene replacement therapy as a potential treatment for this disease in the CNGA3^−/− mouse model. We show that such therapy can restore cone-specific visual processing in the central nervous system even if cone photoreceptors had been nonfunctional from birth. The restoration of cone vision was assessed at different stages along the visual pathway. Treated CNGA3^−/− mice were able to generate cone photoreceptor responses and to transfer these signals to bipolar cells. In support, we found morphologically that treated cones expressed regular cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel complexes and opsins in outer segments, which previously they did not. Moreover, expression of CNGA3 normalized cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in cones, delayed cone cell death and reduced the inflammatory response of Müller glia cells that is typical of retinal degenerations. Furthermore, ganglion cells from treated, but not from untreated, CNGA3^−/− mice displayed cone-driven, light-evoked, spiking activity, indicating that signals generated in the outer retina are transmitted to the brain. Finally, we demonstrate that this newly acquired sensory information was translated into cone-mediated, vision-guided behavior.     

Validity,Internal Consistency,and Test-retest Reliability of the Montenegrin 10-item Voice Handicap Index

The purpose of the this cross-sectional study was to assess clinical validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the adapted Montenegrin translation of the Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI-10). It included 50 patients with voice disorders, divided into three subgroups according disease aetiology: structural, neurological, and functional and a control group of 50 vocally healthy participants. Mean patient VHI-10 score of 21.1±7.6 was significantly higher than the 2.3±2.5 score of controls (p<0.001). Each of the three patient subgroups also scored significantly higher than control (p<0.001). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of 0.90 (p<0.001) indicated a very strong correlation between the Montenegrin VHI-10 score and self-reported perception of the severity of voice disorder. Excellent internal consistency was found in the patient group, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.94. Test-retest reliability was also excellent, with intra class correlation coefficient of 0.98. The translated Montenegrin version of VHI-10 is a valid, reliable, and clinically useful tool for self-assessment of the severity of voice disorders in individuals with voice problems in daily practice and in research projects.Key words: dysphonia, quality of life, self-assessment, VHI-10, voice disorders     

Force–velocity profiling of sprinting athletes: single-run vs. multiple-run methods

European Journal of Applied Physiology - This study explored the agreement between a single-run and a multiple-run method for force–velocity (Fv) profiling of sprinting athletes; we evaluated...