A Prospective, Multicenter European Study on the Effects of Anatolian Propolis and Hypertonic Saline Combination Nasal Spray on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms.

The current study examined the effectiveness of Rhinapi, a hypertonic saline nasal spray with Anatolian propolis added, on allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms in a European population. Four hundred and forty AR patients (251 males and 189 females) from various European centers were enrolled. Nasal examination, overall symptom scores, individual AR symptoms (nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal itching, and nasal obstruction), and quality of life (QoL) were assessed before and after 3 weeks of treatment with Rhinapi, the nasal spray made of hypertonic saline with Anatolian propolis added (Bee&You, Istanbul, Turkey).

Cocaine Reduces Ciliary Beat Frequency of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells.

Background/aim: Cocaine is a widely used recreational drug and is known for its nasal complications including epithelial, cartilage and bone damage. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of cocaine on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of human nasal epithelial cells and therefore better understand its side effects on nasal mucosa.

Materials And Methods: Nasal epithelial cells of 21 healthy subjects were harvested and exposed in vitro to cocaine hydrochloride solutions ranging from 0.

Pharmacokinetics of idarucizumab and its target dabigatran in patients requiring urgent reversal of the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran.

Background: Idarucizumab is a monoclonal antibody fragment that reverses dabigatran anticoagulation. Pharmacokinetics (PK) of idarucizumab have been described in healthy, elderly, or renally impaired (RI) volunteers, but PK data in patients are lacking.

Objectives: This analysis describes the PK of idarucizumab and its target dabigatran in bleeding/surgical patients.

Long-Term Quality of Life and Nutritional Status of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Unlabelled: Disease and therapy of head and neck cancer impair quality of life (QOL). QOL varies profoundly during therapy and follow-up.

Aim: We sought to monitor QOL and nutritional status of patients before, during and after therapy (AT).

Communicate or Die - A Model for HPV+ and HPV- CSCs and Their Interactions with SDF-1α.

Background/aim: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are suspected of being a reason for limited therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) plays a critical role in the communication between CSCs and their microenvironment. We investigated the influence of SDF-1α on HPV+/HPV- SCC cell lines to find an approach of explanation for the superior prognosis of HPV+ HNSCCs.

Lapatinib-induced mesenchymal-epithelial transition in squamous cell carcinoma cells correlates with unexpected alteration of β-catenin expression.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key developmental program that is often activated during cancer progression, and may promote resistance of cancer cells to therapy. Inhibiting EMT appears to be crucial to inhibit drug resistance. The mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), which is the reverse program of EMT in metastases, is characterized by the upregulation of epithelial adhesive proteins such as E-cadherin, and downregulation of mesenchymal proteins such as vimentin.

MMP9, Cyclin D1 and β-Catenin Are Useful Markers of p16-positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Therapeutic EGFR Inhibition In Vitro.

Background/aim: In the United States 53,640 new cases of head and neck cancer were estimated in 2013. Over 95% of these cases were evaluated as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). At present, smoking, drinking alcohol, chewing betel and infection with high-risk types of human papilloma virus (HPV) are classified as risk factors of oropharyngeal squamous cancer cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake level-based lymph node staging in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer--role of molecular marker expression on diagnostic outcome.

Background: A prospective study was performed to assess standard uptake value (SUV)-level based (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) lymph node staging in 33 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OSCC) out of a total of 99 patients with head-and-neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and the role of nodal molecular marker expression in diagnostic outcome prediction.

Methods: Preoperative nodal PET/CT staging in 123 lymph nodes was correlated with postoperative lymph node histology, which served as gold standard. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemistry of the excised lymph nodes.

Incomplete epithelial-mesenchymal transition in p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma cells correlates with β-catenin expression.

Background: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is suggested to be a crucial factor for the development of an invasive and metastatic cell phenotype, which is characterized by down-regulation of epithelial adhesive proteins (e.g. E-cadherin) and induction of mesenchymal proteins (e.

Influence of static magnetic fields combined with human insulin-like growth factor 1 on human satellite cell cultures.

Tissue engineering represents a promising research field, targeting the creation of new functional muscle tissue in vitro. The aim of the present study was to show the influence of static magnetic fields (SMF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1), as enhancing stimuli on human satellite cell cultures, which are preferred sources of stem cells in engineering skeletal muscle tissue. To detect effects on myogenic maturation and proliferation, AlamarBlue® proliferation, assay and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of following markers was performed: desmin (DES), myogenic factor-5 (MYF5), myogenic differentiation antigen-1 (MYOD1), myogenin (MYOG), myosin heavy chain (MYH) and α1 actin (ACTA1).

Effect of time-of-flight technique on the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT for assessment of lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Precise assessment of lymph node metastases is critical to the treatment outcome and overall survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time-of-flight (TOF) technique on the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for assessment of lymph node metastases in HNSCC patients.

Methods: In 39 patients with an initial diagnosis of HNSCC, preoperative staging (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed to assess lymph node metastases before surgery and histologic verification.

Imatinib-associated matrix metalloproteinase suppression in p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma compared to HPV-negative HNSCC cells in vitro.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. The growth and invasion of HNSCC are strongly influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is modified by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The MMP family is still relevant to cancer research, as it promotes malignant transformation, cell proliferation and modulation of angiogenesis even in the early stages of cancer.

Interaction of a CD44+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line with a stromal cell-derived factor-1-expressing supportive niche: An model.

The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory implies that CSCs are surrounded by supportive stromal cells, which are known as the CSC niche. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) shows a multitude of functional effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells, including migration and polarization. Therefore, the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis may be involved in the pathophysiology of the progression, recurrence and metastasis of malignant diseases of the head and neck.

Unexpected alteration of β-catenin and c-KIT expression by 5-FU and docetaxel in p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma compared to HPV-negative HNSCC cells in vitro.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. In several tumour entities, the tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT is associated with tumour transformation in the epithelial tissue in cases of aberrant expression. Furthermore, tumour development and dissemination are a result of dysregulated cellular pathways such as the WNT/β-catenin pathway.

Fine-scale degrader community profiling over an aerobic/anaerobic redox gradient in a toluene-contaminated aquifer.

Hydrocarbon contaminants in groundwater can be degraded by microbes under different redox settings, forming hot spots of degradation especially at the fringes of contaminant plumes. At a tar-oil-contaminated aquifer in Germany, it was previously shown that the distribution of anaerobic toluene degraders as traced via catabolic and ribosomal marker genes is highly correlated to zones of increased anaerobic degradation at the lower fringe of the plume. Here, we trace the respective distribution of aerobic toluene degraders over a fine-scale depth transect of sediments taken at the upper fringe of the plume and below, based on the analysis of 16S rRNA genes as well as catabolic markers in intervals of 3-10 cm.

SDF-1-CXCR4 axis: cell trafficking in the cancer stem cell niche of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), also known as CXCL12, has variable effects on a plurality of cells. CXCR4 has been identified as its corresponding receptor. The SDF-1-CXCR4 axis is postulated to be a crucial key pathway in the interaction between (cancer) stem cells and their surrounding supportive cells in the cancer stem cell niche.

Current oncologic concepts and emerging techniques for imaging of head and neck squamous cell cancer.

The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is increasing and currently they account for 5% of all malignancies worldwide. Inspite of ongoing developments in diagnostic imaging and new therapeutic options, HNSCC still represents a multidisciplinary challenge.One of the most important prognostic factors in HNSCC is the presence of lymph node metastases.

Functional effects of SDF-1α on a CD44(+) CXCR4(+) squamous cell carcinoma cell line as a model for interactions in the cancer stem cell niche.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), also known as CXCL12, has variable effects on a plurality of cells. It is known to have selective effects on cell migration, morphology, survival and cell homing. As such the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis is postulated to be a crucial key pathway in the interaction between (cancer) stem cells and their surrounding supportive cells, the so-called (cancer) stem cell niche.

Alteration of MMP-2 and -14 expression by imatinib in HPV-positive and -negative squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive epithelial malignancy. It is known to be the most common neoplasm appearing in the upper aerodigestive tract. The poor 5‑year survival rate has remained unchanged in the last decades even though improved techniques in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have been established.

[Current oncologic concepts and emerging techniques for imaging of head and neck squamous cell cancer].

The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is increasing and currently they account for 5% of all malignancies worldwide. Inspite of ongoing developments in diagnostic imaging and new therapeutic facilities, HNSCC still represents a multidisciplinary challenge. One of the most important prognostic factors in HNSCC is the presence of lymph node metastases.

Mutation analysis of "Endoglin" and "Activin receptor-like kinase" genes in German patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and the value of rapid genotyping using an allele-specific PCR-technique.

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is an autosomal dominant disorder which is clinically characterised by recurrent epistaxis, mucocutaneous telangiectasia and visceral arteriovenous malformations. Genetic linkage studies identified two genes primarily related to HHT: endoglin (ENG) on chromosome 9q33-34 and activin receptor-like kinase1 (ACVRL1) on chromosome 12q13. We have screened a total of 41 unselected German patients with the suspected diagnosis of HHT.

Does the genotype of HHT patients with mutations of the ENG and ACVRL1 gene correlate to different expression levels of the angiogenic factor VEGF?

The aim of this study was to determine in what way HHT (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia) patients with mutations for the endoglin (ENG) or activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1) gene show different expression levels of the angiogenic factor VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) by correlating VEGF to the HHT genotype. In 18 HHT patients, who were screened for ENG and ACVRL1 gene mutations and 25 healthy controls the VEGF plasma level as well as the VEGF tissue expression were determined by ELISA technique and cryostat sections of the nasal mucosa. In general, the VEGF plasma levels as well as the VEGF tissue expression were significantly higher in HHT patients compared to healthy controls.

Rhinophyma: diagnosis and treatment options for a disfiguring tumor of the nose.

Rhinophyma is a benign dermatologic disease of the nose affecting primarily Caucasian men in their fifth to seventh decades of life. It is characterized by a slowly progressive enlargement with irregular thickening of the nasal skin and nodular deformation. It is assumed to be the end stage of chronic acne rosacea.

TGF-beta1 antisense therapy modulates expression of matrix metalloproteinases in keloid-derived fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been identified as an important regulator of wound healing. Recent developments in molecular therapy offer exciting prospects for the modulation of wound healing, specifically those targeting TGF-beta1. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of TGF-beta1 targeting on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in fibroblasts cultured from earlobe keloids.

Phase I trial with the CD44v6-targeting immunoconjugate bivatuzumab mertansine in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

CD44v6 is a tumor associated antigen abundantly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and in normal squamous epithelium. The immunoconjugate bivatuzumab mertansine (BIWI 1) consists of a highly potent antimicrotubule agent coupled to a monoclonal antibody against CD44v6. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety and efficacy of BIWI 1 administered IV in patients with HNSCC has not been determined.