Identification and characterization of primary cilia-positive salivary gland tumours exhibiting basaloid/myoepithelial differentiation.

Primary cilia (PC) are non-motile, antenna-like structures on the cell surface. Many types of neoplasms exhibit PC loss, whereas in some neoplasms PC are retained and involved in tumourigenesis. To elucidate the PC status and characteristics of major salivary gland tumours (SGTs), we examined 100 major SGTs encompassing eight histopathological types by immunohistochemical analysis.

Risk Factors for Totally Implantable Central Venous Access Port-related Infection in Patients With Malignancy.

Background: We sought to identify the risk factors of totally implantable central venous access port (TICVAP)-related infections in patients with malignant disease.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 324 consecutive patients who received a TICVAP at our institution were retrospectively analysed. We further analysed cases of TICVAP-related complications.

Telomere shortening in head and neck cancer: association between DNA demethylation and survival.

A growing body of evidence indicates that telomere dysfunction is a biological marker of progression in several types of cancer. However, the association between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and telomere length (TL) remains unknown. We measured the absolute TL levels in a well-characterised dataset of 211 tumoral vs normal tissues obtained from the same patients by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay.

Postoperative Course of Pars Flaccida Cholesteatoma Patients With Habitual Sniffing.

Objective: To investigate the effects of habitual sniffing on the postoperative course of pars flaccida cholesteatoma.

Study Design: Retrospective case series study.

Setting: University hospital.

Correlations between serum cetuximab and EGFR-related markers, and skin disorders in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: Cetuximab inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in cancer and skin cells, thereby inducing anti-cancer effects and skin disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationships between serum cetuximab and EGFR-related markers, and adverse effects in head and neck cancer patients.

Methods: Thirty-four head and neck cancer patients receiving weekly intravenous cetuximab were enrolled.

Long interspersed nuclear element 1 hypomethylation has novel prognostic value and potential utility in liquid biopsy for oral cavity cancer.

Background: New biomarkers are urgently needed to improve personalized treatment approaches for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Global DNA hypomethylation has wide-ranging functions in multistep carcinogenesis, and the hypomethylation of long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) is related to increased retrotransposon activity and induced genome instability. However, little information is available regarding LINE-1 hypomethylation and its prognostic implications in HNSCC.

G Protein-Coupled Receptor Genes, PTGDR1, PTGDR2, and PTGIR, Are Candidate Epigenetic Biomarkers and Predictors for Treated Patients with HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Differences in the biology of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) and HPV-negative OPCs may have implications in patient management. Early detection is imperative to reduce HPV-associated OPC mortality. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can potentially serve as a biomarker for monitoring clinically relevant cancer-related genetic and epigenetic modifications.

Overexpression of Sal-like protein 4 in head and neck cancer: epigenetic effects and clinical correlations.

Background: Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4), an embryonic stem cell factor, has been reported to play an essential role in embryogenesis and oncogenesis. As yet, however, the expression and role of this transcription factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been established.

Methods: We assessed SALL4 mRNA expression in a well-characterised dataset of 230 HNSCC samples (test cohort 110 cases and validation cohort 120 cases).

Neuropeptide receptor genes GHSR and NMUR1 are candidate epigenetic biomarkers and predictors for surgically treated patients with oropharyngeal cancer.

Pathological staging and histological grading systems are useful, but imperfect, predictors of recurrence in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Aberrant promoter methylation is the main type of epigenetic modification that plays a role in the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. To identify new potential prognostic markers, we investigated the promoter methylation status of five neuropeptide receptor genes.

Prostanoid receptor genes confer poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via epigenetic inactivation.

Background: Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other diseases. Prostanoid receptors are clearly involved in the development of many types of cancer. However, their role is not simple and is poorly understood in HNSCC.

Relevance of Level IIb Neck Dissection in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Background: Cervical nodal metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in patients with head and neck cancers. Unfortunately, nodal dissection at level IIb carries a risk of damage to the spinal accessory nerve. We aimed to determine the prevalence of level IIb metastasis and the relevance of nodal dissection at level IIb in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Management of elderly patients with head and neck carcinoma: analysis of outcomes for radical versus palliative treatment.

Background: There are no universally accepted treatment recommendations for elderly patients with head and neck carcinomas. This study investigated whether radical treatment in elderly patients resulted in better survival compared with palliative treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 724 patients aged > 60 years who underwent treatment for primary head and neck carcinomas at Hamamatsu University Hospital.

Risk Factors and Prognostic Factors of Hearing Impairment in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit-Treated Infants.

Background: Infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have a higher incidence of congenital hearing loss compared with the healthy newborn population.

Objectives: To clarify the relationship between risk factors for hearing impairment in NICU-treated infants and deterioration of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold during childhood.

Method: We screened 1,071 high-risk infants admitted to the NICU for hearing impairment.

An Ameloblastoma in the Middle Ear.

An ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive odontogenic tumour that commonly develops from the odontogenic epithelium within the jawbone. Here we present for the first time a case of a rare primary ameloblastoma in the middle ear cavity, along with some consideration of its treatment and a new classification. A 65-year-old woman presented with a left middle ear cavity tumour.

Genes Located on 18q23 Are Epigenetic Markers and Have Prognostic Significance for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 18q23 is associated with significantly decreased survival in head and neck cancer. In agreement with such tumor suppressive roles, the loss of function of genes located in this region can be achieved through LOH and promotor hypermethylation. In this study, the methylation status of promoters of 18q23 genes in 243 head and neck cancer patients was assessed by quantitative methylation-specific PCR.

Clinical analysis of false-negative fine needle aspiration cytology of head and neck cancers.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is frequently used for initial and/or preoperative diagnosis of tumors in the head and neck region. However, false-negative results can lead to misdiagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic results of FNA in the head and neck region and the reasons for false-negative cases.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as Concurrent Treatment with Systemic Steroids for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Comparison of Three Different Steroid Treatments.

We analyzed 356 patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and systemic steroids (n = 161), systemic steroids alone (n = 160), or intratympanic and systemic steroids (n = 35). The main outcome measure was the hearing recovery rate. The effect of other variables, including the initial averaged 5-frequency hearing level, patient age, interval between the onset of symptoms and treatment, presence of vertigo as a complication, presence of diabetes mellitus, smoking history, and presence of hypertension, on the hearing recovery rate was also evaluated.

Trough-Shaped Audiograms Are Common in Patients with Acoustic Neuroma and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Acoustic neuroma sometimes presents with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss as a primary symptom. We investigated 848 untreated cases that included 20 cases with acoustic neuroma with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss and 828 cases without acoustic neuroma. Fourteen of the 20 acoustic neuroma and 90 of the 828 cases of sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss showed a trough-shaped audiogram with the greatest amount of hearing loss in the mid-frequency range.

Hunter Syndrome Diagnosed by Otorhinolaryngologist.

Hunter syndrome is a lysosomal disease characterized by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (I2S). It has an estimated incidence of approximately 1 in 1,62,000 live male births. We report a case of Hunter syndrome diagnosed by an otorhinolaryngologist.

Association of TET3 epigenetic inactivation with head and neck cancer.

The aim of this study was to clarify the epigenetic regulation of ten eleven translocation protein (TET) family genes, which can provide insights into the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the risk of disease recurrence in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We generated methylation profiles of , and genes in tumor samples obtained from 233 patients with HNSCC; these included 57 hypopharynx, 44 larynx, 69 oral cavity, and 63 oropharynx tumor samples. The mRNA expression and promoter DNA methylation of family genes were examined via quantitative RT-PCR and methylation-specific PCR, respectively.