Development of a risk prediction model for radiation dermatitis following proton radiotherapy in head and neck cancer using ensemble machine learning.

Purpose: This study aims to develop an ensemble machine learning-based (EML-based) risk prediction model for radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing proton radiotherapy, with the goal of achieving superior predictive performance compared to traditional models.

Materials And Methods: Data from 57 head and neck cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were analyzed. The study incorporated 11 clinical and 9 dosimetric parameters.

Longitudinal Assessment of Quality of Life in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy at Different Time Points.

Purpose: This retrospective cohort study aims to compare the quality of life (QoL) in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) versus volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) at different time points.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a longitudinal assessment of QoL on 287 newly diagnosed NPC patients (IMPT: 41 and VMAT: 246). We collected outcomes of global QoL, functional QoL, C30 symptoms, and HN35 symptoms from EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN35 questionnaires at pre-radiotherapy, during radiotherapy (around 40 Gy), 3 months post radiotherapy, and 12-months post radiotherapy (RT).

Association of different cell types and inflammation in early acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris, one of the most common skin diseases, is a chronic cutaneous inflammation of the upper pilosebaceous unit (PSU) with complex pathogenesis. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. During the inflammatory process, the innate and adaptive immune systems are coordinately activated to induce immune responses.

Prognostic utility of neutrophil-to-albumin ratio in surgically treated oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: A total of 622 patients with surgically treated OSCC were enrolled. NAR was defined as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the serum albumin level in peripheral blood before the radical surgery.

PAK1 overexpression promotes myxofibrosarcoma angiogenesis through STAT5B-mediated transactivation: clinical and therapeutic relevance of amplification and nuclear entry.

Myxofibrosarcoma is genetically complex without established nonsurgical therapies. In public datasets, was recurrently gained with mRNA upregulation. Using myxofibrosarcoma cells, we explored the oncogenic underpinning of PAK1 with genetic manipulation and a pan-PAK inhibitor (PF3758309).

Evaluation of Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Domains in the Assessment of the Quality of Life in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: Few instruments are available for assessing the otorhinologic-related quality of life (QOL) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Therefore, we evaluated whether the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) could be applied to these patients.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with NPC, who had been treated with standard protocol and followed up in our institute between 2019 and 2022, were invited to join the cross-sectional study during their clinic visits.

Lymph node ratio as a survival predictor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with multiple adverse pathological features.

Background: The study investigates the prognostic significance of lymph node ratio (LNR) on patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with coexistence of multiple adverse pathological features.

Methods: In total, 100 patients with coexistence of perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and extranodal extension of first primary HNSCC treated with radical surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy were enrolled.

Results: The optimal LNR cut-off value for predicting overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) was 7%.

Low p16 Cytoplasmic Staining Predicts Poor Treatment Outcome in Patients with p16-Negative Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving TPF Induction Chemotherapy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been proven to be associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and diffuse p16 unclear staining is usually considered as HPV-positive. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of p16 cytoplasmic staining in HNSCC prognosis. A total of 195 HNSCC patients who received docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluouracil (TPF) induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy were enrolled.

Blue Nevus Hidden within the Nevus of Ota.

A 3-year-old boy presented with bluish patch and scattered blue spots on the left side of his face. After several sessions of laser treatment, the azury patch in the periorbital area became even darker. Histopathology showed many bipolar, pigment-laden dendritic cells scattered in the papillary and upper reticular dermis.

The Prognostic Value of Preoperative Albumin-to-Alkaline Phosphatase Ratio on Survival Outcome for Patients With Locally Advanced Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

This retrospective cohort study was to assess the prognostic value of preoperative albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) on survival outcome for patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (LAOSCC). A total of 250 patients with LAOSCC receiving upfront radical surgery at a single institute from January 2008 to December 2017 were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the survival predictability of preoperative AAPR on the 5-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Automatic identification of benign pigmented skin lesions from clinical images using deep convolutional neural network.

Objective: We aimed to develop a computer-aided detection (CAD) system for accurate identification of benign pigmented skin lesions (PSLs) from images captured using a digital camera or a smart phone.

Methods: We collected a total of 12,836 clinical images which had been classified and location-labeled for training and validating. Four models were developed and validated; you only look once, v4 (YOLOv4), you only look once, v5 (YOLOv5), single shot multibox detector (SSD) and faster region-based convolutional neural networks (Faster R-CNN).

Effect of glycated hemoglobin A1c on the survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: A multi-institutional database cohort study.

Objectives: Few studies have evaluated the impact of blood glucose levels on cancer prognosis. We investigated the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.

Materials And Methods: A 19-year retrospective cohort study of OSCC patients was performed using the Chang Gung Research Database to identify and enroll 7279 patients diagnosed with OSCC between January 2001 and June 2020.

Salvage Radiotherapy Plus Androgen Deprivation Therapy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer with Biochemical Failure after High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound as Primary Treatment.

We conduct a retrospective analysis of salvage radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy (SRT+ADT) for high-risk prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as the primary treatment. A total of 38 patients, who met the criteria of biochemical failure and were consecutively treated with SRT+ADT, were enrolled. All patients received intensity modulated radiotherapy with a median dose of 70 Gy to the clinical target volume.

Dosimetric Parameters Related to Acute Radiation Dermatitis of Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated by Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy.

Background: Growing patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT). However, a high probability of severe acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) was observed. The objective of the study is to investigate the dosimetric parameters related to ARD for NPC patients treated with IMPT.

Acute radiation dermatitis among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with proton beam therapy: Prognostic factors and treatment outcomes.

A high incidence of severe acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) has been reported for cancer patients treated by proton beam therapy (PBT). This observational study investigated the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of ARD among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with PBT. Fifty-seven patients with newly diagnosed NPC and treated with PBT were enrolled.

Prognostic Value of Pathologically Positive Nodal Number in p16-Negative Oropharyngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with pN3b Status.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the number of pathologically positive nodes (pN+) in p16-negative oropharyngeal (OPSCC) and hypopharyngeal (HPSCC) squamous cell carcinoma cases with pN3b status after surgery. We reviewed the clinical and pathological features of 120 newly diagnosed p16-negative OPSCC and HPSCC patients with pN3b status after radical surgery. The primary endpoints were the 5-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and their prognostic factors.

The Impact of Weight Loss during Chemoradiotherapy for Unresectable Esophageal Cancer: Real-World Results.

Weight loss is a common phenomenon presented in unresectable esophageal cancer (EC) patients during their definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) treatment course. This study explored the prognostic value of weight changes during dCRT in unresectable EC patients. From 2009 to 2017, 69 cT4b thoracic EC patients undergoing complete curative dCRT without baseline malnutrition were included.

Prospective Evaluation of Taste Function in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy.

Importance: The majority of the patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience taste dysfunction (TD) during or after radiotherapy (RT). However, prospectively collected data for taste dysfunction have been limited, especially in the era of intensity-modulated RT (IMRT).

Objective: To evaluate the taste function in patients with HNC receiving IMRT by investigating the association between time course and recovery of TD in both acute and late phases.

The Radiation Dose to the Left Supraclavicular Fossa is Critical for Anastomotic Leak Following Esophagectomy - A Dosimetric Outcome Analysis.

Purpose: For locally advanced esophageal cancer, definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with a radiation dose of 50-50.4 Gy/25-28 Fx is prescribed, followed by adjuvant esophagectomy for better local control or salvage treatment if locoregional recurrence occurs. However, radiation injury before surgery may delay wound healing.

Prognostic stratification of patients with AJCC 2018 pN1 disease in stage III oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Oral cancer with pT1-3N1 without extracapsular extension of the lymph node is classified as stage III according to the eighth edition of the AJCC staging system. Outcomes of a subgroup of patients classified as having stage III oral cancer with single nodal metastasis are observed to be various clinically. Therefore, such clinical outcomes for subgroup analyses in this cohort are necessary.

DRP1 contributes to head and neck cancer progression and induces glycolysis through modulated FOXM1/MMP12 axis.

Abnormal DRP1 expression has been identified in a variety of human cancers. However, the prognostic potential and mechanistic role of DRP1 in head and neck cancer (HNC) are currently poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated a significant upregulation of DRP1 in HNC tissues, and that DRP1 expression correlates with poor survival of HNC patients.

Concurrent chemoradiation therapy is associated with an accelerated risk of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A 9-year prospective follow-up study.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) is the mainstay treatment for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Baroreflex impairment can be a late sequela in patients after neck radiotherapy. We hypothesized that cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is a progressive process that can begin after CCRT and persists for a longer period.

Radiotherapy Is Associated with an Accelerated Risk of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Nine-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study.

Radiation-related extracranial vasculopathy is a common late effect after radiation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We proposed the hypothesis that radiation-related extracranial vasculopathy is a progressive process that can begin immediately after radiotherapy and persist for a longer period, and inflammation and oxidative stress may play a pivotal role in this process. Thirty-six newly diagnosed NPC patients were assessed with B-mode ultrasound for the common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness (IMT) measurement as well as surrogate markers at three different stages (baseline, immediately after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), and 9 years after enrollment).

Treatment of acne scars with fractional carbon dioxide laser in Asians: a retrospective study to search for predicting factors associated with efficacy.

Ablative fractional laser treatment has been extensively used for resurfacing atrophic acne scars. However, few studies have investigated how the parameters set during laser procedures affect efficacy. In this retrospective study, we examined the relationship between efficacy and Fitzpatrick skin type, gender, age, follow-up duration, energy, and treatment sessions utilizing ablative fractional carbon dioxide (CO) laser in Asians with Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV.