Survival in node-positive early oral squamous cell carcinoma: sentinel node biopsy versus elective neck dissection

Patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) for early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who harbour occult metastases (pN+ve) may be at greater risk of mortality due to prolonged overall treatment times than those identified as pN+ve on elective neck dissection (ELND). A retrospective comparative survival analysis was therefore undertaken to test this hypothesis. Patients were identified from the South Glasgow multidisciplinary team (MDT) database. Group 1 comprised 38 patients identified as pN+ve, or who were false negative, on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Group 2 comprised 146 patients staged pN+ve on ELND. The groups were compared with the Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. In addition, a matched-pair analysis was performed. A unique and specifically designed algorithm was deployed to optimise the pairings. No difference in disease-specific or overall survival was found between the groups. Patients undergoing SLNB as the initial neck staging modality in early OSCC and are identified as pN+ve do not appear to be at a survival disadvantage compared with those staged with ELND.     

Primary and recurrent regional metastases for lateralized oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

ObjectivesMap regional lymph node metastases for lateralized oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and evaluate factors associated with regional metastases and recurrence.Materials and methodsRetrospective cohort study of 715 patients with lateralized OCSCC surgically treated in 1997–2011. Analysis was performed using log-rank, Kaplan-Meier, and multivariable logistic and Cox regression.ResultsRegional metastases were identified in ipsilateral levels IIA (24%), IB (18%), III (13%), V (9%), IV (7%), IA (2%) and IIB (1%) and the contralateral neck (3%). Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.2, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.2–3.9) and T category (T3 vs. T1: HR 4.1, 95% CI 1.9–9.3; T4 vs. T1: HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.3) were associated with regional metastases. Most (71%) isolated regional metastatic recurrences were in undissected levels of the neck, including 58% in levels IV and V. Tumors of the hard palate (HR 4.3, 95% CI 1.2–16.1), upper alveolus (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.7) or with LVI (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0–3.9) were associated with isolated regional recurrence. For upper alveolar/hard palate tumors, depth of invasion (DOI) ≥4 mm (P = .003) and LVI (P = .04) were associated with regional metastases.ConclusionsFor lateralized OCSCC, elective neck dissection of level IIB or the contralateral neck may rarely be needed, but additional surgical or radiation treatment of levels IV and V may be considered based on patient risk factors, including T category 3–4 or LVI. For upper alveolar/hard palate tumors, DOI ≥4 mm is an appropriate threshold for elective neck dissection.     

Silver Diamine Fluoride Protocol for Reducing Preventable Dental Hospitalisations in Victorian Children

IntroductionThis study was designed to assess whether a dental caries management protocol combining a single application of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) with comprehensive oral health education will successfully divert high-risk children from dental treatment under dental general anaesthesia (DGA), arrest active caries in primary teeth, and improve parent-reported child oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL).MethodsChildren aged 2 to 10 years, who attended two public dental agencies in Victoria, Australia, and were unable to tolerate restorative treatments in the clinic setting, elected to participate in either a 38% SDF intervention protocol or, alternatively, referral for DGA. Follow-up examinations were completed at 6 months to assess caries progression, decayed missing filled tooth index, PUFA index (pulpal involvement, ulceration, fistula, abscess), DGA referral rates, and OHRQoL (Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale [ECOHIS]).ResultsOf the total sample, 89.5% of children (n = 102) [mean (SD) age, 4.1 (1.0) years] with 401 active carious lesions elected to participate in the 38% SDF protocol; 10.5% (n = 12) of parents opted for referral for treatment under DGA. The proportion of active caries subsequently arrested at follow-up (number of arrested lesions/number of lesions treated) was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.87). There was an 88% reduction in referrals for DGA in eligible children over the 6-month period. The 38% SDF intervention group showed a significant improvement in ECOHIS scores at follow-up (P < .001).DiscussionAdoption of the 38% SDF intervention protocol resulted in a significant reduction in the rate of preventable dental hospitalisations. Most parents opted against referral for DGA. Parent-reported OHRQoL for children improved significantly.     

大剂量干扰素辅助治疗口腔黏膜恶性黑色素瘤的效果及安全性研究

目的 研究大剂量干扰素辅助治疗口腔黏膜恶性黑色素瘤的临床效果,探讨治疗应用的安全性。方法 选取我院于2017年11月～2018年11月收治的80例口腔黏膜恶性黑色素瘤患者作为研究对象,按照治疗方法不同分为两组,每组40例。对照组患者仅采用单纯手术治疗,治疗组在此基础上采用大剂量干扰素辅助治疗。观察两组患者生存情况、疾病复发情况以及毒副反应。结果 治疗组患者生存期限及无复发生存期明显长于对照组,治疗组复发率为5.00%,明显低于对照组的22.50%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者毒副反应比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 口腔黏膜恶性黑色素瘤患者予以大剂量干扰素辅助疗法安全有效,值得临床推广。     

Oral administration of modified live canine parvovirus type 2b induces systemic immune response

Different strategies have been proposed to overcome maternally derived antibody (MDA) interference with canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) immunisation, including intranasal vaccination, which presents some practical limitations. In the present study, the results of the oral administration of a commercial CPV-2b modified live virus (MLV) vaccine in pups with MDA are reported. The CPV-2b vaccine was orally administered to 14 6-week-old pups with a bait. Blood samples and rectal swabs were collected at different days post-vaccination (dpv) to determine CPV-2 antibody titres and DNA loads. Thirteen pups were positive to serological and virological tests after the first vaccination and one pup became positive after the second vaccine administration. The findings of this study suggest that systemic immunity against CPV-2 may be achieved by the use of an MLV CPV-2b vaccine administered orally even in the presence of MDA titres that usually interfere with vaccination.     

Yogurt is tolerated by the majority of children with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy

BackgroundChildren with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy (IgE-CMA) with gastrointestinal symptoms tolerate yogurt at 100%. Yogurt tolerance in children with IgE-CMA with urticaria and anaphylaxis was 7%.MethodsWe enrolled children with IgE-CMA with cutaneous, respiratory, gastrointestinal and anaphylactic symptoms. All performed prick by prick (PbP) and oral food challenge (OFC) with yogurt. Some children performed also an OFC with CM mixed with wheat flour and baked, baked liquid CM, parmesan.Results34 children were enrolled, 31/34 (91%) with systemic adverse reaction after ingestion of CM (systemic CMA), 3/34 (9%) with isolated contact urticaria (ICU CMA). PbP with yogurt was negative only in one patient. OFC with yogurt was passed (that is, the OFC was negative) by 20/31 (64%) of the children with systemic CMA. 10/11 (91%) of the patients who failed OFC (that is, the OFC was positive) with yogurt were positive to SPT with casein vs. 8/20 (40%) of the patients who passed it (p = 0.018). None of the 19 children who passed OFC with yogurt failed all OFC with processed CM forms other than yogurt that tested vs. 4/8 among those who failed OFC with yogurt (p = 0.006). The rub test with yogurt was negative in 1/3 (33%) of the patients with ICU CMA.ConclusionsThe results of our study are placed alongside others already present in the literature and concerning other methods of processing CM proteins and help to reduce the dietary restrictions of the majority of children with systemic IgE-CMA.     

Redox active or thiol reactive? Optimization of rapid screens to identify less evident nuisance compounds

Compounds that exhibit assay interference or undesirable mechanisms of bioactivity are routinely encountered in assays at various stages of drug discovery. We observed that assays for the investigation of thiol-reactive and redox-active compounds have not been collected in a comprehensive review. Here, we review these assays and subject them to experimental optimization to improve their reliability. We demonstrate the usefulness of our assay cascade by assaying a library of bioactive compounds, chemical probes, and a set of approved drugs. These high-throughput assays should complement the array of wet-lab and in silico assays during the initial stages of hit discovery campaigns to pursue only hit compounds with tractable mechanisms of action.     

薄层色谱法在当前中药质量标准中的应用探讨

薄层色谱鉴别在历版《中国药典》中的应用经历了从无到有、从少到多的过程；而薄层扫描含量测定在最近几版《中国药典》中的应用比例逐渐降低。随着对中药质量标准体系要求的进一步提高，薄层色谱法的不足之处陆续显现，如仪器普及率低、设备并不简单、结果重复性和稳定性较差、鉴别速度及准确性不及高效液相色谱法、展开剂毒性大等，逐渐不合时宜。在制定中药质量标准时，研究者不应该墨守成规，薄层色谱鉴别也不应该是雷打不动的定性鉴别必备选项。高效液相色谱法具备完全取代薄层色谱法的可行性，薄层色谱法可作为高效液相色谱法的补充。为充分降低检测成本、缩短检测周期、提高鉴别效率，笔者建议中药质量标准体系应该大幅减少薄层色谱鉴别方法的应用，增加高效液相特征图谱鉴定，尽量做到“一个条件，一张图谱”；除非确有必要，《中国药典》等国家质量标准体系应将薄层色谱鉴别作为推荐方法，而非强制标准。