The Use of Tissue-on-Chip Technology to Focus the Search for Extracellular Vesicle miRNA Biomarkers in Thyroid Disease.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contain microRNAs (miRNAs) which have potential to act as disease-specific biomarkers. The current study uses an established method to maintain human thyroid tissue ex vivo on a tissue-on-chip device, allowing the collection, isolation and interrogation of the sEVs released directly from thyroid tissue. sEVs were analysed for differences in miRNA levels released from benign thyroid tissue, Graves' disease tissue and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), using miRNA sequencing and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to identify potential biomarkers of disease.

Nodular fasciitis of the submandibular gland.

A woman in her 20s presented with a non-tender swelling of the right submandibular gland. Ultrasound was suggestive of pleomorphic adenoma. The histology result of the excised tumour later confirmed a diagnosis of nodular fasciitis which is extremely rare in the submandibular gland.

Erratum: "A microfluidic chip based model for the study of full thickness human intestinal tissue using dual flow" [Biomicrofluidics , 064101 (2016)].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1063/1.4964813.

Maintenance of head and neck tumor on-chip: gateway to personalized treatment?

Aim: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are solid tumors with low overall survival (40-60%). In a move toward personalized medicine, maintenance of tumor biopsies in microfluidic tissue culture devices is being developed.

Methodology/results: HNSCC (n = 15) was dissected (5-10 mg) and either analyzed immediately or cultured in a microfluidic device (37°C) for 48 h.

A microfluidic chip based model for the study of full thickness human intestinal tissue using dual flow.

The study of inflammatory bowel disease, including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, has relied largely upon the use of animal or cell culture models; neither of which can represent all aspects of the human pathophysiology. Presented herein is a dual flow microfluidic device which holds full thickness human intestinal tissue in a known orientation. The luminal and serosal sides are independently perfused with nutrients with simultaneous waste removal for up to 72 h.

Pinning out pathological specimens--are we risking an unnecessary escalation of treatment?

The importance of surgical resection margins is paramount, and it is vital that they are accurately delineated so that clinicians' decisions about adjuvant treatment can be validated. Pathological specimens therefore are often pinned to aid orientation and maintain mucosal margins. However, in cadaveric resections of bovine tongues, pinning of the specimens significantly reduced the depth of tissue.

Somatostatin receptor expression in thyroid disease.

Somatostatin analogues are commercially available and used for the management of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumours, but the expression of the receptors as a target in thyroid disease has not been explored. To assess somatostatin (SST) and somatostatin receptor (SSTR1-5) expression in both normal and thyroid disorders, as a potential target for somatostatin analogue therapy, 67 thyroid tissue specimens were reviewed: 12 differentiated thyroid carcinomas, 14 follicular adenomas, 17 multinodular goitres, 14 Graves disease, 10 Hashimotos thyroiditis specimens and five normal thyroids. Tissue was immunostained for SST and SSTR1-5.

Management of carcinoma showing thymus-like element.

Objective: To consolidate the key features of carcinoma showing thymus-like element, including its management.

Method: We present our experience of the difficult diagnosis and management of this rare tumour. We also present the results of an extensive literature search, documenting those aspects of the clinical picture, natural history and management of carcinoma showing thymus-like element which are relevant to head and neck surgeons.

Adult laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma: report of a case and literature review.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is relatively seen in the pediatric age group with the head and neck region as the commonest site. To the best of our knowledge, few cases of laryngeal involvement in adult have been described in the literature. Biologically, rhabdomyosarcoma is different from squamous cell carcinoma, which is the commonest tumor of the larynx.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors expression and microvascular density in benign and malignant thyroid diseases.

Angiogenesis is critical for the growth and metastatic spread of tumours. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most potent inducer of neovasculature, and its increased expression has been related to a worse clinical outcome in many diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between VEGF, its receptors (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) and microvessel density (MVD) in thyroid diseases.

Biphasic synovial sarcoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall: a case report.

Synovial sarcoma is not common in the head and neck region. Because its histopathologic features are many and varied, it is often misdiagnosed. We report a case of biphasic synovial sarcoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall, and we discuss the clinical and pathologic features of this case.