Relapse of Graves' disease with repetitive depression and dysphagia episodes: A case report.

Graves' disease is a recurrent syndrome often accompanied by depression. I report a rare case in which dysphagia and bulbar myopathy indicated a relapse of Graves' disease, accompanied by recurrent depression.

Circulating naïve and effector memory T cells correlate with prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

T-cell memory is an important mechanism for long-term protection against diverse pathogens. Generation and persistence of memory T cells are vital components of anti-tumor immunity, given their ability to persist for prolonged durations, as well as activate and migrate rapidly. In the present study, we investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of T-cell subsets in the peripheral circulation of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

AKT3 Is a Novel Regulator of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play vital roles in tumor progression by promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. In the present study, we sought to identify the key regulators of the pro-tumoral functions of CAFs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). mRNA expression data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that CAF-specific mRNA expression correlated with genes that relate to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in a HNSCC cohort.

Immunological features of circulating monocyte subsets in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Circulating monocytes are classified into three subsets according to their CD14 and CD16 expressions. Here we investigated all three subsets in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods: Peripheral blood from 54 patients with SCCHN and 24 healthy donors (HDs) was tested for flowcytometry.

Two Different Tracts and Origin of Pyriform Sinus Fistula.

Objective: Suppurative acute thyroiditis is caused by pyriform sinus fistula (PSF), and PSF frequently elicits deep neck abscess. However, complete fistulectomy is the ideal management of PSF, and studies on surgical findings of PSF are exceedingly rare. This study aimed to reveal the origins of PSF, each route, and clinical presentation.

Immunological and Clinicopathological Significance of MFG-E8 Expression in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a glycoprotein secreted by the activated macrophages and acts as a bridge between apoptotic cells and phagocytes. Aside from macrophages, a variety of malignant cells also express MFG-E8. The objective of this study is to elucidate the clinical relevance and significance of MFG-E8 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Prognostic significance and population dynamics of peripheral monocytes in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Several inflammatory biomarkers are considered potential prognostic factors in various cancers. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance and population dynamics of pretreatment inflammatory biomarker levels in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Methods: The influence of neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, monocyte counts, platelet counts, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) was analyzed.

Melanoma antigen family A4 protein produced by transgenic silkworms induces antitumor immune responses.

Recent clinical trials with the aim of developing tumor antigen (TA)-specific cancer vaccines against a number of malignancies have focused on the identification of TAs presented by tumor cells and recognized by T cells. In the present study, the TA melanoma antigen family A4 (MAGE-A4) protein was produced using a transgenic (TG) silkworm system. Using stimulation, it was subsequently determined whether MAGE-A4 protein induced MAGE-A4-specific T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors.

Circulating tumor cells in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Feasibility of detection and quantitation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to present our findings that because circulating tumor cells (CTCs) exist in extremely low numbers, their detection and quantification are challenging.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 32 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and were subjected to the CellSieve Microfiltration Assay using a low-pressure filtration system. The CTCs captured by the filter were stained with an antibody cocktail (anti-cytokeratin (CK) 8, 18, and 19, anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), and anti-CD45 antibodies).

Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment through the induction and accumulation of protumoral macrophages.

Stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) closely interact with tumor cells and affect tumor cell behavior in diverse manners. We herein investigated the mechanisms by which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) affect the functional polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in vitro and in human cancer samples. The expression of CD68, CD14, CD163, CD200R, CD206, HLA-G, CD80, and CD86 was higher in CD14-positive cells co-cultured with the culture supernatants of CAFs established from OSCC specimens (CAF-educated cells) than in control cells.

Impact of a Multidisciplinary Round Visit for the Management of Dysphagia Utilizing a Wi-Fi-Based Wireless Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing.

Objectives: The management of dysphagia requires a multidisciplinary approach, especially in large-scale hospitals. We introduce a novel protocol using a Wi-Fi-based flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) system and aim to verify its effectiveness in evaluation and rehabilitation of inpatients with dysphagia.

Method: We conducted novel Wi-Fi-based FEES at the bedside using 3 iPads as monitors and recorders.

Relationship between tumor-associated macrophage subsets and CD47 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in the tumor microenvironment.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) have been classified into an immunostimulatory M1 subset against microbes and malignancies, and an immunoregulatory M2 subset that secretes immunosuppressive cytokines in order to repair tissues damaged by malignancies. The infiltration of M2 in the tumor microenvironment is known to facilitate immunosuppression and tumor-promoting properties. In the present study, we investigated the phagocytic potential of these macrophage subsets in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in relation to the expression of CD47, the 'don't eat me' signal against macrophages.

Decreasing expression of glucose-regulated protein GRP78/BiP as a significant prognostic predictor in patients with advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP)/glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is important in the endoplasmic reticulum stress, and is highly expressed in various human cancers. The clinical and pathological features of GRP78/BiP are unclear in patients with advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological significance of GRP78/BiP as a prognostic marker for laryngeal SCC.

Dynamic changes in immune cell profile in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapy.

Tumor cells have evolved sophisticated means of escape from the host immune system. To date, several important immunological phenomena have been revealed in peripheral blood as well as within tumors. In the present study, we first investigated the proportion and activation status of peripheral immune regulatory cells and CD8(+) T-cell subsets in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using a multicolor flow cytometer, and then evaluated how therapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil modulated the immune cell profile in peripheral blood.

Expression of ER stress markers (GRP78/BiP and PERK) in adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Conclusion: A high GRP78/BiP expression was proved to be a significant marker for predicting poor outcome after surgery. GRP78/BiP may be a promising molecular target for treatment of ACC.

Background: The glucose-regulated protein GRP78/BiP plays a crucial role in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Expression of Amino Acid Transporters (LAT1 and ASCT2) in Patients with Stage III/IV Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) expression in patients with advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). A total of 73 patients with advanced LSCC were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for LAT1, 4F2hc, system ASC amino acid transporter-2 (ASCT2), cell proliferation by Ki-67, microvessel density (MVD) determined by CD34 and p53.

(18)F-FDG uptake on PET correlates with biological potential in early oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusion: The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may have a role as an imaging biomarker for assessment of malignant potential, including cell metabolism and angiogenesis.

Objective: The usefulness of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been proven in various cancers, including OSCC. Moreover, in several carcinomas, the SUVmax of the tumor has been shown to correlate with the histological type, tumor stage, differentiation, and prognosis.

Immunological significance of the accumulation of autophagy components in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The immunological significance of autophagy in the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. To explore the relationship between autophagy and anti-tumor immune responses, we investigated the expression of autophagy-related proteins and infiltration of immune cells using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The expression of three representative autophagy components, LC3, Beclin-1 and p62/SQSTM1, as well as the number of dendritic cells (DC), T cells and NK cells were examined by IHC in 74 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

CD98 as a novel prognostic indicator for patients with stage III/IV hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Both L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and CD98 are strongly expressed in primary human cancer and play essential roles in tumor growth. We studied the clinicopathological significance of LAT1 and CD98 expression in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: A total of 70 patients with stage III/IV disease were retrospectively reviewed.

Alteration of cancer stem cell-like phenotype by histone deacetylase inhibitors in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Recent progression in the understanding of stem cell biology has greatly facilitated the identification and characterization of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, evidence has accumulated indicating that conventional cancer treatments are potentially ineffective against CSCs. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have multiple biologic effects consequent to alterations in the patterns of acetylation of histones and are a promising new group of anticancer agents.