Analysis of Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA to Screen for Nasopharyngeal Cancer.

Background: Circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We conducted a prospective study to investigate whether EBV DNA in plasma samples would be useful to screen for early nasopharyngeal carcinoma in asymptomatic persons.

Methods: We analyzed EBV DNA in plasma specimens to screen participants who did not have symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Exome and genome sequencing of nasopharynx cancer identifies NF-κB pathway activating mutations.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive head and neck cancer characterized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and dense lymphocyte infiltration. The scarcity of NPC genomic data hinders the understanding of NPC biology, disease progression and rational therapy design. Here we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 111 micro-dissected EBV-positive NPCs, with 15 cases subjected to further whole-genome sequencing (WGS), to determine its mutational landscape.

Early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA analysis in a surveillance program.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Southeast Asia. Over the last decade, plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA has been developed as a tumor marker for NPC. In this study, the authors investigated whether plasma EBV DNA analysis is useful for NPC surveillance.

Comparison of Rater's reliability on perceptual evaluation of different types of voice sample.

Objective/hypothesis: The objective of this study was to determine whether different types of voice samples affect rater reliability and which type of sample can be rated most reliably, with particular reference to two types of connected speech-passage reading and conversational speech.

Study Design: Prospective reliability study.

Methods: One hundred fifty voice samples from 40 speakers were presented to 14 speech pathologists experienced in managing voice disorders.

The effectiveness of group voice therapy: a group climate perspective.

Objectives/hypothesis: Group therapy has frequently been adopted as a service delivery model for providing voice therapy. However, currently no literature has focused on understanding the underlying processes that are unique to group therapy, which contribute to treatment success. This study aimed at investigating the role of group climate in voice group therapy.

Salivary gland tumors at in vivo proton MR spectroscopy.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate whether proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy can be used to characterize salivary gland tumors (SGTs).

Materials And Methods: Ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. Hydrogen 1 ((1)H) MR spectroscopy was performed with echo times of 136 and 272 msec at 1.

In vivo 1H MR spectroscopy of thyroid carcinoma.

To determine if proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) of thyroid carcinoma is feasible and to determine if 1H MRS spectra of malignant tumors differ from that of normal thyroid tissue. We performed 1H MRS at 1.5 T at echo-times (TE) 136 and 272 ms to examine eight patients with thyroid cancer (primary tumour or nodal metastasis) larger than 1 cm3 in size and five volunteers with normal thyroids.

Comparison of CT and MR imaging for the detection of extranodal neoplastic spread in metastatic neck nodes.

Purpose: To compare computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the detection of extranodal neoplastic spread (ENS) in metastatic cervical nodes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: 17 patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck underwent CT and MR imaging. The neck nodes were assessed for ENS and the results compared using pathology from the surgical resection.

In vivo proton MR spectroscopy of primary and nodal nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of performing in vivo proton ((1)H) MR spectroscopy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to document the (1)H spectrum of this cancer.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with NPC lesions >1 cm(3) underwent localized (1)H MR spectroscopy performed at 1.5 T.

Necrosis in metastatic neck nodes: diagnostic accuracy of CT, MR imaging, and US.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and ultrasonography (US) in the detection of necrosis in metastatic cervical nodes from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven patients (age range, 39-85 years; mean age, 62 years) with squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck underwent CT, MR imaging, and US. Three radiologists evaluated the images for nodal necrosis.

The nuclear localization of NFkappaB and p53 is positively correlated with HPV16 E7 level in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The interaction between the HPV (human papilloma virus) 16 E7 and other cell growth factors, such as p53 and NFkappaB in laryngeal cancer is not clearly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of these three proteins in tumor and non-tumor laryngeal tissues from patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. These three proteins were dominantly expressed in the nucleus and their levels were higher in the tumor tissue than in the non-tumor tissue, although the comparison between the tumor and non-tumor tissues of p53 staining did not reach significance.

MR imaging features of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: report of three cases and literature review.

The MR imaging appearances in three cases of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis are reported, and the findings are combined with three additional cases from a review of the literature. Two patterns of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis were identified. The first pattern is a discrete polypoid mass in the adenoids, and the second pattern is a more diffuse soft-tissue thickening of one or two of the walls of the nasopharynx.