Bilateral versus ipsilateral neck dissection in oral and oropharyngeal cancer with contralateral cN0 neck.

Objective: Contralateral elective neck dissection (cEND) in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OC/OPC) is still a matter of debate. The current study analyzed the outcome in OC/OPC patients with/without cEND.

Methods: OC/OPC patients (n = 471) were diagnosed with contralateral N0 after CT/MRI-scan combined with neck ultrasound.

Pharyngotomy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: functional and oncological aspects.

Background: Head and Neck Surgery constantly has to oppose non-invasive organ preservation methods and therefore should be evaluated especially with regard to clinical and functional outcome. We will discuss the role of pharyngotomy in the treatment of HNSCC.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity, oro-/hypopharynx and supraglottis underwent lateral/median pharyngotomy.

Outcome after pharyngeal reconstruction using pectoralis major and radial forearm flap after resection of pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

The objective of this study is to assess the outcome after pharyngeal reconstruction using pectoralis major and radial forearm flaps in pharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas. 90 patients who underwent flap surgery due to oro/-hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas were compared with 404 patients without pharyngeal reconstruction. Differences between the groups were analyzed using the Chi-square, Fisher exact, and the unpaired student's t test.

In vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic study of a dexamethasone-releasing silicone for cochlear implants.

Cochlear implants have been widely used for patients with profound hearing loss and partial deafness. Residual low-frequency hearing, however, may deteriorate due to insertion trauma and tissue response around the electrode array. The present study investigated in vitro and in vivo release of dexamethasone from silicone used for cochlear implant electrode carriers.

Liposomal treatment of xerostomia, odor, and taste abnormalities in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Smell and taste disorders, sicca symptoms, can be detected in patients with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of local liposomal application in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancers.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with head and neck cancer were included in this study.

Effects of a dexamethasone-releasing implant on cochleae: A functional, morphological and pharmacokinetic study.

Aim: This study evaluated the impact of a dexamethasone-releasing silicone implant on hearing function preservation, cochlear morphology and perilymph pharmacokinetics after cochlear implantation.

Methods: Guinea pigs were implanted unilaterally with silicone rods containing either 2% dexamethasone (DEXA group, n = 18) or no dexamethasone (control group, n = 17). Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured preoperatively and over 6 months postoperatively.

Immunolocalization of antimicrobial and cytoskeletal components in the serous glands of human sinonasal mucosa.

Secretory cells in the seromucous glands of paranasal sinuses secrete antibacterial proteins for innate immune mucosal integrity. We studied the localization of antimicrobial and cytoskeletal components of the human seromucous glands and respiratory epithelium of the maxillary sinus and the ethmoidal cells by immunohistochemical methods. The presence of a variety of defense proteins such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, cathelicidin, and defensin-1, -2, -3 point to a crucial role in the immune defense for the respiratory tract.

Microvascular dysfunction in the course of metabolic syndrome induced by high-fat diet.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). One important feature underlying the pathophysiology of many types of CVD is microvascular dysfunction. Although components of MetS are themselves CVD risk factors, the risk is increased when the syndrome is considered as one entity.

Damage-associated molecular pattern activated Toll-like receptor 4 signalling modulates blood pressure in L-NAME-induced hypertension.

Aims: Recent publications have shed new light on the role of the adaptive and innate immune system in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, there are limited data whether receptors of the innate immune system may influence blood pressure. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a pattern recognition receptor, is a key component of the innate immune system, which is activated by exogenous and endogenous ligands.

Head and neck salivary gland carcinomas--elective neck dissection, yes or no?

Purpose: Surgical resection and subsequent neck dissection (ND) in cases of clinically positive lymph nodes is an accepted primary treatment strategy for salivary gland carcinomas. Because of uncertainty in the extent of lymphogenic metastasis, the authors advocate a strategy of surgical resection and elective ND (END) for all patients. The authors evaluated their treatment by estimating the frequency of metastatic disease and identifying factors associated with an increased risk for metastatic disease.

The human submandibular gland: immunohistochemical analysis of SNAREs and cytoskeletal proteins.

Submandibular acinar glands secrete numerous proteins such as digestive enzymes and defense proteins on the basis of the exocrine secretion mode. Exocytosis is a complex process, including a soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-mediated membrane fusion of vesicles and target membrane and the additional activation of cytoskeletal proteins. Relevant data are available predominantly for animal salivary glands, especially of the rat parotid acinar cells.

Simulation of a MR-PET protocol for staging of head-and-neck cancer including Dixon MR for attenuation correction.

Purpose: To simulate and optimize a MR protocol for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (HNSCC) patients for potential future use in an integrated whole-body MR-PET scanner.

Materials And Methods: On a clinical 3T scanner, which is the basis for a recently introduced fully integrated whole-body MR-PET, 20 patients with untreated HNSCC routinely staged with 18F-FDG PET/CT underwent a dedicated MR protocol for the neck. Moreover, a whole-body Dixon MR-sequence was applied, which is used for attenuation correction on a recently introduced hybrid MR-PET scanner.

Inhibition of radiation induced migration of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by blocking of EGF receptor pathways.

Background: Recently it has been shown that radiation induces migration of glioma cells and facilitates a further spread of tumor cells locally and systemically. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether radiotherapy induces migration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A further aim was to investigate the effects of blocking the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream pathways (Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/Akt) on tumor cell migration in vitro.

Calcium sparks in the intact gerbil spiral modiolar artery.

Background: Calcium sparks are ryanodine receptor mediated transient calcium signals that have been shown to hyperpolarize the membrane potential by activating large conductance calcium activated potassium (BK) channels in vascular smooth muscle cells. Along with voltage-dependent calcium channels, they form a signaling unit that has a vasodilatory influence on vascular diameter and regulation of myogenic tone. The existence and role of calcium sparks has hitherto been unexplored in the spiral modiolar artery, the end artery that controls blood flow to the cochlea.

Tumor necrosis factor-α enhances microvascular tone and reduces blood flow in the cochlea via enhanced sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling.

Background And Purpose: We sought to demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, via sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling, has the potential to alter cochlear blood flow and thus, cause ischemic hearing loss.

Methods: We performed intravital fluorescence microscopy to measure blood flow and capillary diameter in anesthetized guinea pigs. To measure capillary diameter ex vivo, capillary beds from the gerbil spiral ligament were isolated from the cochlear lateral wall and maintained in an organ bath.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate-dependent activation of p38 MAPK maintains elevated peripheral resistance in heart failure through increased myogenic vasoconstriction.

Rationale: Mechanisms underlying vasomotor abnormalities and increased peripheral resistance exacerbating heart failure (HF) are poorly understood.

Objective: To explore the role and molecular basis of myogenic responses in HF.

Methods And Results: 10 weeks old C57Bl6 mice underwent experimental myocardial infarction (MI) or sham surgery.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate modulates spiral modiolar artery tone: A potential role in vascular-based inner ear pathologies?

Objective: The mechanisms regulating spiral modiolar artery (SMA) tone are not known, yet their characterization is pivotal for understanding inner ear blood flow regulation. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), known to stimulate vasoconstriction in several vascular beds, is a candidate regulator of SMA tone with potential pathophysiological relevance.

Methods: Gerbil SMAs were isolated, cannulated and pressurized (30 mm Hg transmural) for experimentation under near-in vivo conditions.

Pharmacological reversal of endothelin-1 mediated constriction of the spiral modiolar artery: a potential new treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Vasospasm of the spiral modiolar artery (SMA) may cause ischemic stroke of the inner ear. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) induces a strong, long-lasting constriction of the SMA by increasing contractile apparatus Ca2+ sensitivity via Rho-kinase. We therefore tested several Rho-kinase inhibitors and a cell-permeable analogue of cAMP (dbcAMP) for their ability to reverse ET-1-induced constriction and Ca2+-sensitization.

Apical membrane P2Y4 purinergic receptor controls K+ secretion by strial marginal cell epithelium.

Background: It was previously shown that K+ secretion by strial marginal cell epithelium is under the control of G-protein coupled receptors of the P2Y family in the apical membrane. Receptor activation by uracil nucleotides (P2Y2, P2Y4 or P2Y6) leads to a decrease in the electrogenic K+ secretion. The present study was conducted to determine the subtype of the functional purinergic receptor in gerbil stria vascularis, to test if receptor activation leads to elevation of intracellular [Ca2+] and to test if the response to these receptors undergoes desensitization.

Endothelin-1-induced vasospasms of spiral modiolar artery are mediated by rho-kinase-induced Ca(2+) sensitization of contractile apparatus and reversed by calcitonin gene-related Peptide.

Background And Purpose: Vasospasms of the spiral modiolar artery may cause an ischemic stroke of the inner ear that manifests itself by a sudden hearing loss. Previously we have shown that endothelin-1 (ET-1) induces vasospasms of the spiral modiolar artery. Here we tested the hypotheses that ET-1-induced vasospasms are (1) reversible by ET(A) receptor antagonists; (2) mediated by a Ca(2+) sensitization of the contractile apparatus via a Rho-kinase-induced inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase; and (3) reversible by the vasodilator calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).

ETA receptors in the gerbil spiral modiolar artery.

A reduction of blood flow in the spiral modiolar artery (SMA), which supplies the cochlea, is implicated in hearing loss and tinnitus. Endothelins are known to be the most potent endogenous vasoconstrictors. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the SMA responds to endothelin, which receptor type is present and which signal transduction pathway is involved.