Transillumination Assisted Cricopharyngeal Myotomy.

Abstract: Cricopharyngeal muscle myotomy (CPM) is a common intervention for relief of dysphagia in patients with Oculo-pharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Because of difficulties in approaching and dissecting cricopharyngeal muscle in these patients, we used transillumination for the myotomy (TA-CPM). Transillumination is a simple technique to improve the guidance and navigation of the surgeon in determining the location and depth of myotomy.

A New Animal Model of Laryngeal Transplantation.

Only three laryngeal transplants have been described in the literature to date, and none of the techniques has enabled a completely satisfactory functional result to be obtained. This article presents a new model of laryngeal transplantation, with quality of revascularisation of the transplant being the principal objective and optimisation of the various steps of the procedure, with the integration of a new reinnervation technique as a secondary objective. We present a preclinical animal study.

Assessment of PABPN1 nuclear inclusions on a large cohort of patients and in a human xenograft model of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare muscle disease characterized by an onset of weakness in the pharyngeal and eyelid muscles. The disease is caused by the extension of a polyalanine tract in the Poly(A) Binding Protein Nuclear 1 (PABPN1) protein leading to the formation of intranuclear inclusions or aggregates in the muscle of OPMD patients. Despite numerous studies stressing the deleterious role of nuclear inclusions in cellular and animal OPMD models, their exact contribution to human disease is still unclear.

A negative feedback loop between fibroadipogenic progenitors and muscle fibres involving endothelin promotes human muscle fibrosis.

Background: Fibrosis is defined as an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Many organs are subjected to fibrosis including the lung, liver, heart, skin, kidney, and muscle. Muscle fibrosis occurs in response to trauma, aging, or dystrophies and impairs muscle function.

Macroglossia: A potentially severe complication of late-onset Pompe disease.

Background: Pompe disease is a rare neuromuscular disorder caused by a deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme, acid α-glucosidase. Macroglossia is a classic clinical sign of several inherited myopathies and has also been reported to occur progressively in late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD).

Methods: We describe patients with LOPD and macroglossia included in the French national Pompe disease registry.

History of tonsillectomy and risk of oropharyngeal cancer.

Objective: To investigate whether palatine tonsillectomy in youth influences the risk of oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) by assessing the association between history of tonsillectomy and risk of tonsillar, base of tongue (BOT) cancer, and other head and neck cancers (HNC).

Materials And Methods: RACKAM was a case-case study comparing frequency of tonsillectomy history in individuals diagnosed with HNC from 2013 to 2018 in 15 centers across France. History of tonsillectomy was defined using combined assessment of patients' recollections and surgeons' visualizations of tonsil area.

High rate of IIA/IIB neck groups involvement supports complete lateral neck dissection in thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Although therapeutic lateral neck dissection (LND) may be indicated in thyroid carcinoma, the cervical lymph node groups IIA and IIB, according to Robbins classification, are often not removed. The aim of our study was to determine the relevance of complete comprehensive LND in thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study between January 2011 and August 2018 in a university teaching hospital.

Expiratory airflow obstruction due to tracheostomy tube: A spirometric study in 50 patients.

Objectives: Tracheostomy is commonly used in intensive care units and in head and neck departments. Airway obstruction due to occluded cuffless tracheostomy tubes themselves remains unknown, although capping trials are commonly used before decannulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which airway obstruction can be caused by occluded cuffless tubes in patients who underwent head and neck surgery.

Effects of tobacco abuse on major chromosomal instability in human papilloma virus 16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

A substantial number of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) have two oncogenic risk factors: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and tobacco use. These factors can be competitive or synergistic at the chromosomal and genomic levels, with strong prognostic and therapeutic implications. HPV16 has been shown in vitro to be a high‑risk HPV that induces low rates of chromosomal copy number alterations.

NutriCancer: A French observational multicentre cross-sectional study of malnutrition in elderly patients with cancer.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of malnutrition and nutritional management between elderly (≥70years old) and younger patients (<70years) with cancer.

Patients And Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of NutriCancer 2012 study; a one-day cross-sectional nationwide survey conducted to assess malnutrition in adult patients with cancer in France. Patients diagnosed with cancer at the study date in both inpatient and outpatient settings were included.

Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy and Inherited Retinal Dystrophy in Bukhara Jews Due to Linked Mutations in the PABPN1 and NRL Genes.

Aim: We have previously described two unrelated Bukhara Jews (BJs) with a combination of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) and inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD), because of mutations in two linked genes: PABPN1 and NRL. Here we investigated the prevalence of the NRL mutation among BJs with OPMD.

Materials And Methods: PABPN1 and NRL mutation testing were performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing on two cohorts of Bukhara Jewish patients: OPMD patients (with or without IRD) and IRD patients (without OPMD).

Fascia Temporalis Free Flap for Cricotracheal Reconstruction: A Novel Approach.

Background: The aim of tracheal reconstruction is to provide an airtight and noncollapsible airway covered with a suitable epithelial lining. To date, no ideal treatment is available for large tracheal defects.

Methods: We report 4 patients who underwent one-stage reconstruction for a cricotracheal stenosis with a free temporoparietal fascia flap and costal cartilage grafts.

Estimation of the overall burden of cancers, precancerous lesions, and genital warts attributable to 9-valent HPV vaccine types in women and men in Europe.

Background: In addition to cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a significant proportion of cancers and precancerous lesions of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, head and neck, as well as genital warts. We estimated the annual number of new cases of these diseases attributable to 9-valent HPV vaccine types in women and men in Europe.

Methods: The annual number of new cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and selected head and neck sites in the population of the European Medicines Agency territory was estimated based on age-specific incidence rates extracted from Cancer Incidence in 5 Continents, Volume X and Eurostat population data for 2015.

Oropharyngeal cancer prognosis by tumour HPV status in France: The multicentric Papillophar study.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) status, tobacco smoking and initial treatment approach on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) in France, a country where smoking declines started late (1990s).

Methods: 340 OPC patients (median age: 60years) from 14 French hospitals were followed up (median 26.7months).

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in tonsil brushings and gargles in cancer-free patients: The SPLIT study.

Objective: To evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in the tonsil using extensive ex vivo brushing and gargling in a large age-stratified sample of cancer-free patients.

Materials And Methods: From 2012 to 2016, consecutive patients undergoing tonsillectomy for benign indications in 19 French University Hospitals were invited to participate in the SPLIT study. Immediately after resection, half-tonsils were extensively brushed at the pathology laboratories on the surface epithelium and in tonsil crypts to collect exfoliated cells.

Comparative analysis of micro-RNAs in human papillomavirus-positive versus -negative oropharyngeal cancers.

Background: Oncogenic mechanisms of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer are still poorly characterized. Analysis of their microRNA expression profile might provide valuable information.

Methods: The microRNA expression profiles were analyzed by micro-arrays in 26 oropharyngeal cancers.

Papillomavirus and cancers: should we extend vaccination to boys in France?

Background: In 2006, the HPV (Human papillomavirus) 6/11/16/18 quadrivalent vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency and obtained its marketing authorization in both girls and boys. Currently, the French guidelines recommend and refund vaccination of girls aged 11 to 14 with a catch-up program for females from 15 to 19 years old.

Discussion: In France, HPV vaccination coverage tends to decrease.

Nuclear poly(A)-binding protein aggregates misplace a pre-mRNA outside of SC35 speckle causing its abnormal splicing.

A short abnormal polyalanine expansion in the polyadenylate-binding protein nuclear-1 (PABPN1) protein causes oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Mutated PABPN1 proteins accumulate as insoluble intranuclear aggregates in muscles of OPMD patients. While the roles of PABPN1 in nuclear polyadenylation and regulation of alternative poly(A) site choice have been established, the molecular mechanisms which trigger pathological defects in OPMD and the role of aggregates remain to be determined.

Deep brush-based cytology in tonsils resected for benign diseases.

A fraction of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), especially in the tonsil, is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), mainly HPV16. Noninvasive diagnostic methods to detect precancerous lesions in the tonsil would be useful, e.g.

Potential impact of a nonavalent HPV vaccine on the occurrence of HPV-related diseases in France.

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is known to be associated with a number of conditions including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal neoplasias and cancers, oropharynx cancers and genitals warts (GW). Two prophylactic vaccines are currently available: a bivalent vaccine designed to prevent HPV type 16 and 18 infection and a quadrivalent vaccine targeting HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18. In France, HPV vaccination is recommended in 11-14 year-old girls with a catch-up for girls aged 15-19.