Predicting Consanguinity Rates from Exome Sequencing Data in the Lebanese Population.

Consanguinity, prevalent in certain populations because of cultural and social factors, significantly increases the risk of genetic autosomal recessive disorders. In Lebanon, consanguineous marriages constitute 35.5% of unions, with first cousin marriages being the most common.

Ectopic olfactory neuroblastoma is associated with increased frequency of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and reduced disease control: Case series with systematic review and pooled analysis.

Introduction: Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare malignant tumor originating from the olfactory neuroepithelium, typically within the sinonasal cavity. Cases of ONB originating outside of the olfactory cleft area are extremely rare and are referred to as "ectopic" (eONB), in contrast to "orthotopic" tumors (oONB). ONB has been associated with paraneoplastic syndromes (PNSs), including the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).

"You Don't Realize What a Big Change It Is": A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Patients' Experiences of Amputation Preparation, Information Provision, and Support.

The objective of this research was to extend current knowledge on the psychological and emotional aspects around patients' preparation for amputation surgery. This research explored amputees' perspectives on their preparation for amputation surgery and how patients can be better supported for this procedure. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and online qualitative questionnaires with 17 amputees who underwent upper- or lower-limb amputation within the United Kingdom.

Phase II Trial of Induction Chemotherapy for Advanced Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Outcomes after primary surgery for advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are poor. We tested whether induction chemotherapy (IC) can improve disease control or organ preservation.

Patients And Methods: A phase II trial evaluated previously untreated patients with stage II to IV, M0 sinonasal SCC.

Predicting protein complexes in protein interaction networks using Mapper and graph convolution networks.

Protein complexes are groups of interacting proteins that are central to multiple biological processes. Studying protein complexes can enhance our understanding of cellular functions and malfunctions and thus support the development of effective disease treatments. High-throughput experimental techniques allow the generation of large-scale protein-protein interaction datasets.

Roundtable: Four Nations.

Nations have long since preoccupied historians. Histories of how nations came to be, how they persisted, and how nations were unmade are innumerable. As a political unit of analysis, the nation has fascinated and divided.

Impact of Previous Surgery and/or Radiation Therapy on Endoscopic Reconstruction Outcomes.

Background And Objectives: The impact of prior local therapies, including radiation and surgery, on reconstruction outcomes after endonasal surgery is currently not well known. Reconstruction nuances in the preoperative setting merit further evaluation to avoid potential postoperative complications that can hinder overall tumor management and negatively impact patient outcome. We sought to determine whether prior treatments increase risk of reconstruction-related postoperative morbidity and to evaluate the effectiveness of our current treatment paradigm for skull base reconstruction.

Ant colony optimization for the identification of dysregulated gene subnetworks from expression data.

Background: High-throughput experimental technologies can provide deeper insights into pathway perturbations in biomedical studies. Accordingly, their usage is central to the identification of molecular targets and the subsequent development of suitable treatments for various diseases. Classical interpretations of generated data, such as differential gene expression and pathway analyses, disregard interconnections between studied genes when looking for gene-disease associations.

A prospective cohort study on stereotactic radiotherapy in the management of dural recurrence of olfactory neuroblastoma.

Background: Treatment for dural recurrence of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is not standardized. We assess the outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in this population.

Methods: ONB patients with dural recurrences treated between 2013 and 2022 on a prospective registry were included.

Treatment of the neck in residual/recurrent disease after chemoradiotherapy for advanced primary laryngeal cancer.

Concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is extensively used as primary organ preservation treatment for selected advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC). The oncologic outcomes of such regimens are comparable to those of total laryngectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. However, the management of loco-regional recurrences after CRT remains a challenge, with salvage total laryngectomy being the only curative option.

Intravenous iron therapy for patients with iron deficiency and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) presents a significant health challenge, with intravenous (IV) iron therapy considered a potential treatment avenue.

Method: We assessed IV iron therapy's efficacy in HF patients with concurrent iron deficiency versus standard of care. Primary outcomes included the composite of HF hospitalizations or cardiovascular-related mortality, HF hospitalizations, and all-cause, HF, and cardiovascular mortality rates.

Targeting sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma with a combinatory immunotherapy approach.

Purpose: Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy of the sinonasal cavity with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. To investigate the potential for SNUC sensitivity to combinatory immunotherapy, we performed in vitro studies with SNUC cell lines and used multi-spectral immunofluorescence to characterize the in vivo patient SNUC tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

Experimental Design: Human-derived SNUC cell lines were used for in vitro studies of tumor cell susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies.

A 3D in vitro assay to study combined immune cell infiltration and cytotoxicity.

Immune cell-mediated killing of cancer cells in a solid tumor is prefaced by a multi-step infiltration cascade of invasion, directed migration, and cytotoxic activities. In particular, immune cells must invade and migrate through a series of different extracellular matrix (ECM) boundaries and domains before reaching and killing their target tumor cells. These infiltration events are a central challenge to the clinical success of CAR T cells against solid tumors.

Head and Neck Mucosal Melanoma: Where Are We Now?

Purpose Of Review: To highlight recent and relevant treatment considerations while managing mucosal melanoma.

Recent Findings: Evidence is building to support the use of targeted therapy and immunotherapy while managing mucosal melanoma. Surgical resection with postoperative radiotherapy plays a major role in managing resectable disease.

Prognostic value of tumor volume doubling time in lung-metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Objectives: Lung metastases in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) usually have indolent growth and the optimal timing to start systemic therapy is not established. We assessed ACC lung metastasis tumor growth dynamics and compared the prognostic value of time to progression (TTP) and tumor volume doubling time (TVDT).

Methods: The study included ACC patients with ≥1 pulmonary metastasis (≥5 mm) and at least 2 chest computed tomography scans.

Molecularly defined sinonasal malignancies: an overview with focus on the current WHO classification and recently described provisional entities.

Classification of tumors of the head and neck has evolved in recent decades including a widespread application of molecular testing in tumors of the sinonasal tract, salivary glands, and soft tissues with a predilection for the head and neck. The availability of new molecular techniques has allowed for the definition of multiple novel tumor types unique to head and neck sites. Moreover, an expanding spectrum of immunohistochemical markers specific to genetic alterations facilitates rapid identification of diagnostic molecular abnormalities.