Sarcopenia results in poor survival rates in oral cavity cancer patients.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact or survival of low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) undergoing primary surgery.

Design: This study was a retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated at our referral centre from April 2005 to March 2014 were examined.

Log margin-to-thickness ratio improves disease-specific survival prediction in oral cancer: A single cancer centre database.

Objective: We examined whether dynamic margin criteria margin-to-thickness (MTR) ratio has superior predictive value compared with the resection margin or tumour thickness alone in the survival outcome in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated in Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital Cancer Center between January 2006 and December 2013.

The variant of pri-mir-26a-1 polymorphism is associated with decreased risk of betel quid-related oral premalignant lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: This case-control study evaluated the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs7372209 (T>C) in pri-mir-26a-1 with the risk and progression of betel quid (BQ)-related oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Study Design: In total, 597 BQ chewers were recruited: 196 healthy controls, 241 patients with OPLs, and 160 patients with OSCC. Genotypes were determined using the TaqMan real-time assay.

Prognostic Performance of a New Staging Category to Improve Discrimination of Disease-Specific Survival in Nonmetastatic Oral Cancer.

Importance: Inflammatory status is associated with outcome in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Combining the preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and histopathologic features may provide clinicians with more exact information regarding the prognosis of OSCC.

Objective: To compare the prognostic performance of the routinely used pathologic TNM staging with a new staging category that incorporates the NLR and histopathologic features.

Genetic variants in microRNA-146a (C>G) and microRNA-1269b (G>C) are associated with the decreased risk of oral premalignant lesions, oral cancer, and pharyngeal cancer.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms at miR-146a C>G (rs2910164) and miR-1269b G>C (rs7210937) and the risk of developing oral premalignant lesions (OPLs), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), pharyngeal SCC (PSCC), and oral and pharyngeal SCC (OPSCC).

Design: Genotyping of miR-146a C>G and miR-1269b G>C was performed in two case-control studies using the TaqMan assay. A total of 197 healthy control subjects, 241 OPLs patients, and 188 OPSCC patients who habitually chewed betel quid (BQ) were recruited into one case-control study.

Initial Factors Influencing Duration of Hospital Stay in Adult Patients With Peritonsillar Abscess.

Objectives: To review cases of peritonsillar abscess and investigate the initial clinical factors that may influence the duration of hospitalization. To determine the predictive factors of prolonged hospital stay in adult patients with peritonsillar abscess.

Methods: Subjects were adults hospitalized with peritonsillar abscess.

Aberrant DNA hypomethylation of miR-196b contributes to migration and invasion of oral cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of small endogenous non-coding RNAs of ~21-24 nucleotides in length. Previous studies have indicated that miR-196b has either an oncogenic or tumor-suppressive function in various types of cancer. However, the biological role of miR-196b in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear.

Effect of the pesticide, deltamethrin, on Ca2+ signaling and apoptosis in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

Deltamethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used extensively in pest control. Although deltamethrin has been shown to induce cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) rises and apoptosis in different cancer cells, there is no information concerning the effects of deltamethrin on oral cancer. This study explored the effects of deltamethrin on [Ca(2+)]i and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

M-3M3FBS-induced Ca² ⁺ movement and apoptosis in HA59T human hepatoma cells.

The effect of 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-(meta-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-benzenesulfonamide (m-3M3FBS), a presumed phospholipase C activator, on cytosolic free Ca² ⁺ concentrations ([Ca² ⁺ ]i ) in HA59T human hepatoma cells is unclear. This study explored whether m-3M3FBS elevated basal [Ca² ⁺ ]i levels in suspended cells by using fura-2 as a Ca² ⁺ -sensitive fluorescent dye. M-3M3FBS at concentrations of 10- 50 μM increased [Ca² ⁺ ]i in a concentration-dependent fashion.

Effect of the environmental pollutant bisphenol A dimethacylate (BAD) on Ca2+ movement and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

The environmental pollutant bisphenol A dimethacylate (BAD) has been used as a dental composite. The effect of BAD on cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)]i) and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells was explored. The Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 was applied to measure [Ca(2+)]i.

The mechanism of carvacrol-evoked [Ca2+]i rises and non-Ca2+-triggered cell death in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

Carvacrol is one of the main substances of essential oil which triggers intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization and causes cytotoxicity in diverse cell models. However, the mechanism of carvacrol-induced Ca(2+) movement and cytotoxicity is not fully understood. This study examined the effect of carvacrol on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)), cell viability and apoptosis in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

Mechanism of [Ca2+]i rise induced by angiotensin 1-7 in MDCK renal tubular cells.

The effect of angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) on cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) in MDCK renal tubular cells was explored. The Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 was applied to measure [Ca(2+)](i). Ang 1-7 at concentrations of 10-50 µM induced a [Ca(2+)](i) rise in a concentration-dependent manner.

Transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression: 15-year clinical experience in Southern Taiwan.

Background/purpose: To present the results and evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic transnasal orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent endoscopic transnasal orbital decompression from 1996 to 2010 in one institution. We included 42 orbits of 25 patients.

Effect of sertraline on [Ca2+](i) and viability of human MG63 osteosarcoma cells.

The antidepressant, sertraline, has been shown to have diverse in vitro effects. This study examined whether sertraline altered [Ca(2+)](i) in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells by using fura-2 as a Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye. At 50-200 µM, sertraline induced a [Ca(2+)](i) rise in a concentration-dependent manner.

Effect of m-3m3FBS on Ca2+ handling and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

The effect of 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-(meta-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-benzenesulfonamide (m-3M3FBS), a presumed phospholipase C activator, on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in OC2 human oral cancer cells is unclear. This study explored whether m-3M3FBS changed basal [Ca2+]i levels in suspended OC2 cells by using fura-2 as a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye. M-3M3FBS at concentrations between 10-60 μM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner.

NAT2 slow acetylation haplotypes are associated with the increased risk of betel quid-related oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: NAT2, the most important phase II metabolic enzyme for betel quid (BQ), might modify the risk of BQ-related oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in Taiwan.

Study Design: PCR-RFLP and TaqMan assay were conducted for genotyping of NAT2 in 172 OPSCC cases and 170 healthy controls who habitually chewed BQ.

Results: The genotypic and allelic type of T341C and C481T in NAT2 are associated with the risk of OPSCC.

Investigation of carvedilol-evoked Ca²+ movement and death in human oral cancer cells.

The effect of carvedilol on cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺](i)) in OC2 human oral cancer cells is unknown. This study examined if carvedilol altered basal [Ca²⁺](i) levels in suspended OC2 cells by using fura-2 as a Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent probe. Carvedilol at concentrations between 10 and 40 µM increased [Ca²⁺](i) in a concentration-dependent fashion.

Interaction between tumour necrosis factor-α gene polymorphisms and substance use on risk of betel quid-related oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan.

Objective: Betel quid (BQ) components induce the secretion of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in oral keratinocytes, which promotes oral mucosal inflammation and oral cancer. This study was carried out to evaluate the association of TNFA genetic variants (-308G>A and -238G>A) with the risk and prognosis of BQ-related oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Design: A total of 403 subjects (205 cancer cases and 198 healthy controls) who habitually chewed BQ were recruited.

Effect of methoxychlor on Ca2+ handling and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

The effect of the insecticide methoxychlor on the physiology of oral cells is unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect of methoxychlor on cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) in human oral cancer cells (OC2) by using the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. Methoxychlor at 5-20 μM increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner.

Validation of bidimensional measurement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Our previous study showed a close relationship between computed tomography (CT)-derived bidimensional measurement of primary tumor and retropharyngeal nodes (BDMprn) and gross tumor volume of primary tumor and retropharyngeal nodes (GTVprn) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and better prognosis for NPC patients with smaller BDMprn. In this study, we report the results on of a study to validate the use of BDM in a separate cohort of NPC patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 103 newly diagnosed NPC cases who were treated with radiotherapy/concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy from 2002 to 2009.

Primary tumor volume of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: significance for recurrence and survival.

Background: Primary tumor volume (PTV) is known to be a significant prognostic factor in malignant tumor. There have been several studies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) relating tumor volume to treatment outcome. Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of PTV on treatment outcomes in NPC treated with radiotherapy (RT)/concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Tamoxifen-induced [Ca2+]i rises and Ca2+-independent cell death in human oral cancer cells.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of tamoxifen on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) and cell viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells. [Ca(2+)](i) and cell viability were measured by using the fluorescent dyes fura-2 and WST-1, respectively. Tamoxifen at concentrations above 2 microM increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner.

Phospholipase A2-independent Ca2+ entry and subsequent apoptosis induced by melittin in human MG63 osteosarcoma cells.

Melittin, a peptide from bee venom, is thought to be a phospholipase A(2) activator and Ca(2+) influx inducer that can evoke cell death in different cell types. However, the effect of melittin on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and viability has not been explored in human osteoblast-like cells. This study examined whether melittin altered [Ca(2+)](i) and killed cells in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells.