Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits migration of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by repressing MMP-2 expression.

Metastasis of the cancer cells to the regional lymph nodes parts of the body remains an important cause of treatment failure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most important ingredient in the green tea, has been reported to possess antioxidant and anticancer activities. However, the effects of EGCG on NPC cell metastasis are still unclear.

Targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway as an effectively radiosensitizing strategy for treating human oral squamous cell carcinoma and .

Radiation therapy (RT) is the current standard adjuvant approach for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Radioresistance is a major contributor to radiotherapy failure. In this study, we used patient-derived cells and a radiation-resistant cell line and for two purposes: evaluate the anti-tumor effects and understand the mechanisms in the dual PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway regulation of radiosensitization.

AZD2014 Radiosensitizes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inhibiting AKT/mTOR Axis and Inducing G1/G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in Taiwan. Activation of the mTOR signaling pathway has been linked to decreased radiation responsiveness in human oral cancer, thus it limits efficacy of radiotherapy. To address this question, we investigated the effect of AZD2014, a novel small molecular ATP-competitive inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2 kinase, as a radiosensitizer in primary OSCC and OSCC-derived cell line models.

Predicting three-month and 12-month post-fitting real-world hearing-aid outcome using pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL).

Objective: Determine the extent to which pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL), with or without other predictors such as hearing-aid experience, can predict real-world hearing-aid outcomes at three and 12 months post-fitting.

Design: ANLs were measured before hearing-aid fitting. Post-fitting outcome was assessed using the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) and a hearing-aid use questionnaire.

Comparison of different comorbidity measures for oral cancer patients with surgical intervention: A longitudinal study from a single cancer center.

Objective: Several comorbid measures have been developed and demonstrated the predictive ability for cancer mortality. We conducted a retrospective study on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients to compare the Charlson comorbidity index score (CCIS) to the Elixhauser comorbidity index score (ECIS).

Methods: Newly diagnosed OSCC patients (n=232) post major surgery with or without adjuvant therapy were identified from the cancer registry database between 2006 and 2011.

Modified Tumor Classification With Inclusion of Tumor Characteristics Improves Discrimination and Prediction Accuracy in Oral and Hypopharyngeal Cancer Patients Who Underwent Surgery.

Several histopathological characteristics have a significant prognostic impact on recurrence and survival rates in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We conducted a retrospective study on patients with HNSCC to compare traditional pathological T (pT) classification to a new T classification system that incorporates these histopathological characteristics.Newly diagnosed patients with HNSCC (n = 349) post major surgery were identified from the cancer registry database between 2004 and 2013.

The Prognostic Ability of Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recently, log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) was proven a better prediction of outcomes than other methods in gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer. However, the validity is not yet tested in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We conducted a retrospective study to compare the predictive ability of LODDS, traditional pN classification and lymph node ratio (rN) in OSCC patients.

MCP1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Head and Neck Cancer by AKT Activation.

Aim: To explore whether monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1) is associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and neck metastases in head and neck cancer (HNC).

Materials And Methods: MCP1 and its related protein were evaluated using western blotting, and a migration assay for HNC cell lines. Thirty-five patients with HNC were recruited for the evaluation of MCP1 expression and pathologically-proven neck metastases from their tissue specimens.

RAD001 enhances the radiosensitivity of SCC4 oral cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M checkpoint.

Background: Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase enhances the radiosensitivity of some cancer cells. We investigated the effect of RAD001, an mTOR inhibitor, on irradiated oral cancer cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Clonogenic assays were performed to determine the radiosensitivity of SCC4 and SCC25 cells after treatment with RAD001.

Treatment of refractory Aspergillus otomycosis with voriconazole: case series and review.

Background: Voriconazole is a broad-spectrum azole exhibiting strong anti-Aspergillus activity and good long-term tolerance. However, the evidence for voriconazole efficacy against refractory Aspergillus otomycosis is weak.

Method: We reviewed the medical records of patients with Aspergillus otomycosis treated with voriconazole from January 2008 to June 2012 in a Taiwanese regional hospital.

Acceptable noise level (ANL) and real-world hearing-aid success in Taiwanese listeners.

Objective: The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the relationship between acceptable noise level (ANL), which was measured using Taiwanese and the international speech test signal (ISTS), and real-world hearing-aid success for listeners who were representative of the population commonly seen in clinics.

Design: Unaided ANLs were measured pre-hearing-aid fitting. Hearing-aid success was assessed three months post-fitting using the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) and a hearing-aid use questionnaire.

Association between provider volume and healthcare expenditures of patients with oral cancer in Taiwan: a population-based study.

Background: Oral cancer requires considerable utilization of healthcare services. Wide resection of the tumor and reconstruction with free flap are widely used. Due to high recurrence rate, close follow-up is mandatory.

The impact of influenza vaccinations on the adverse effects and hospitalization rate in the elderly: a national based study in an Asian country.

Objectives: To examine the risk of adverse effects of special interest in persons vaccinated against seasonal influenza compared with unvaccinated persons aged 65 and above.

Methods: We retrospectively observed 41,986 vaccinated elderly persons and 50,973 unvaccinated elderly persons in Taiwan from October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009, using the National Health Insurance database. Neurological and autoimmune disorders and one-year hospitalization rates and in-hospital mortality rates were analyzed according to the vaccination status.

Infectious complications in head and neck cancer patients treated with cetuximab: propensity score and instrumental variable analysis.

Background: To compare the infection rates between cetuximab-treated patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) and untreated patients.

Methodology: A national cohort of 1083 HNC patients identified in 2010 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was established. After patients were followed for one year, propensity score analysis and instrumental variable analysis were performed to assess the association between cetuximab therapy and the infection rates.

The equivalence of acceptable noise level (ANL) with English, Mandarin, and non-semantic speech: a study across the U.S. and Taiwan.

Objective: Acceptable noise level (ANL) determines the maximum noise level that a listener is willing to accept while listening to speech. The objective of this study was to determine the equivalence of ANL measured using different speech stimuli for native speakers who lived in the U.S.

Association of acute phase protein-haptoglobin, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in buccal cancer: a preliminary report.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of inflammation on acute phase protein and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in buccal cancer.

Methods: Western blotting was carried out to investigate the expression of haptoglobin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral cancer cell lines with or without IL-6 stimulation. We studied patients with buccal cancer patients without distant metastasis at diagnosis.

Characterizing the major sonographic textural difference between metastatic and common benign lymph nodes using support vector machine with histopathologic correlation.

Sonographic texture analysis can reflect histopathological components and their arrangement in metastatic and common benign lymph nodes. It is helpful in differentiation between metastatic and benign lymph node lesions for target selection during biopsy of multiple lymph nodes and the strategy of the management. Two ultrasound systems, 107 sonographic regions of interest (ROIs) of metastases and 174 sonographic ROIs of common benign lymph nodes, were recruited in the study.

Increased risk of vascular events in emergency room patients discharged home with diagnosis of dizziness or vertigo: a 3-year follow-up study.

Background: Dizziness and vertigo symptoms are commonly seen in emergency room (ER). However, these patients are often discharged without a definite diagnosis. Conflicting data regarding the vascular event risk among the dizziness or vertigo patients have been reported.

Increased risk of stroke in young head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Background: Chemo-radiotherapy-induced carotid stenosis and cerebrovascular events in head and neck cancer patients can cause severe disability and death. We aimed to estimate the risk of stroke in such patients over a six-year follow-up period.

Patients And Methods: The study cohort consisted of head and neck cancer patients (n=10,172).

Increased risk of ischemic stroke in young nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Purpose: Radiation/chemoradiotherapy-induced carotid stenosis and cerebrovascular events in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can cause severe disability and even death. This study aimed to estimate the risk of ischemic stroke in this patient population over more than 10 years of follow-up.

Methods And Materials: The study cohorts consisted of all patients hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of NPC (n=1094), whereas patients hospitalized for an appendectomy during 1997 and 1998 (n=4376) acted as the control group and surrogate for the general population.

Overexpression of Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor alpha predicts poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral cancer has emerged as one of the fastest growing malignancies in Taiwan. However, biomarkers that reliably predict clinical outcomes have yet to be identified. This study was aimed to identify tumor-associated proteins that could be prognostic biomarkers for oral cancer.

Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in the tympanic membrane.

Primary tympanic membrane cancer is very rare; metastatic cancer to the tympanic membrane is extremely rare and presents diagnostic challenges. We report a case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in the tympanic membrane. The presenting symptom was hearing loss.

Buccal mucosa carcinoma: surgical margin less than 3 mm, not 5 mm, predicts locoregional recurrence.

Background: Most treatment failure of buccal mucosal cancer post surgery is locoregional recurrence. We tried to figure out how close the surgical margin being unsafe and needed further adjuvant treatment.

Methods: Between August 2000 and June 2008, a total of 110 patients with buccal mucosa carcinoma (25 with stage I, 31 with stage II, 11 with stage III, and 43 with Stage IV classified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 6th edition) were treated with surgery alone (n = 32), surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy (n = 38) or surgery plus adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n = 40).

Chinese medicine acupoint herbal patching for allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

The aim of this study is pursue the effect of herbal point-patch treatment on allergic rhinitis patients by investigation of the changes of serum total IgE (T-IgE) and eosinophile cationic protein (ECP) levels and through assessment of the results of SF-36 and rhinitis severity questionnaires. A prospective, randomized, single-blind, parallel, controlled study was used. Forty- three eligible participants were selected from outpatients of the Dept.

Decreased GRP78 protein expression is a potential prognostic marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive tumor and its occurrence in Taiwan is closely related to chronic smoking, alcohol consumption, and especially to betel quid chewing. It became the fourth most common malignant tumor of Taiwanese men in 2006. Unfortunately, there are few biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of this disease.