Salvage surgery in post-chemoradiation laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma: outcome and review.

Our objective was to evaluate recurrence patterns of hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma after chemoradiation and options for salvage surgery, with special emphasis on elderly patients. In a retrospective study all patients who underwent chemoradiation for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma in a tertiary care academic center from 1990 through 2010 were evaluated. Primary outcome measures were the survival and complication rates of patients undergoing salvage surgery, especially in elderly patients.

The Asher-McDade Aesthetic Index in Comparison With Two Scoring Systems in Nonsyndromic Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

Objective: To compare the Asher-McDade aesthetic index with 2 systems used to score the appearance of the nasolabial area in patients with a complete cleft lip and palate.

Design: Retrospective analysis of the results of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients.

Setting: Academic Center for Dentistry of Amsterdam and the VU University Medical Center.

Comparison of two scoring systems in the assessment of nasolabial appearance in cleft lip and palate patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of 2 scoring systems.

Design: This study used a retrospective analysis of the results of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients.

Setting: The study was conducted at the VU Medical Center and the Academic Center for Dentistry of Amsterdam.

The effect of substitution therapy on symptoms in patients with hypothyroidism following treatment for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

Hypothyroidism is a well-known complication following treatment of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinomas, and may cause various psychological and physical problems that negatively affect quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of substitution therapy on symptoms in patients with hypothyroidism. A study-specific questionnaire on physical and psychological problems (before and after substitution therapy) was sent to 70 patients who had been treated between 1977 and 2008 with clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism.

A prospective longitudinal study on endocrine dysfunction following treatment of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: The incidences of hypo(para)thyroidism were assessed prospectively in 137 consecutive patients with laryngeal (84.7%) or hypopharyngeal (15.3%) carcinoma who were treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy between 2004 and 2006.

Correlation of immunohistochemical staining p63 and TTF-1 with EGFR and K-ras mutational spectrum and diagnostic reproducibility in non small cell lung carcinoma.

For treatment purposes, distinction between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma is important. The aim of this study is to examine the diagnostic accuracy on lung cancer small biopsies for the distinction between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and relate these to immunohistochemical and KRAS and EGFR mutation analysis. An interobserver study was performed on 110 prospectively collected biopsies obtained by bronchoscopy or transthoracic needle biopsy of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Outcome of patients with early stage oral cancer managed by an observation strategy towards the N0 neck using ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology: No survival difference as compared to elective neck dissection.

Objectives: Management of the clinically N0 neck in oral cancer patients remains controversial. We describe the outcome of patients with T1-T2 oral cancer and N0 neck based on ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (USgFNAC) who were treated by transoral excision and followed by a 'wait and scan' policy (W&S).

Patients And Methods: This retrospective analysis included 285 consecutive patients of whom 234 were followed by W&S and 51 underwent elective neck dissection (END).

Reproducibility of histopathological subtypes and invasion in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. An international interobserver study.

Histological subtyping of pulmonary adenocarcinoma has recently been updated based on predominant pattern, but data on reproducibility are required for validation. This study first assesses reproducibility in subtyping adenocarcinomas and then assesses further the distinction between invasive and non-invasive (wholly lepidic) pattern of adenocarcinoma, among an international group of pulmonary pathologists. Two ring studies were performed using a micro-photographic image-based method, evaluating selected images of lung adenocarcinoma histologic patterns.

Frequency of lower respiratory tract infections in relation to adaptive immunity in children with Down syndrome compared to their healthy siblings.

Aim: Children with Down syndrome (DS) experience respiratory tract infections (RTIs) more frequently than healthy children. We investigated whether this is related to different immunological characteristics associated with DS.

Methods: The study group consisted of 22 children with DS and 22 of their healthy, age-range matched siblings.

Prospective effects of hearing status on loneliness and depression in older persons: identification of subgroups.

Objective: To determine the possible longitudinal relationships between hearing status and depression, and hearing status and loneliness in the older population.

Design: Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between baseline hearing and 4-year follow-up of depression, social loneliness, and emotional loneliness. Hearing was measured both by self-report and a speech-in-noise test.

Hyperosmolarity and hypoxia induce chondrogenesis of adipose-derived stem cells in a collagen type 2 hydrogel.

Apart from soluble growth factors, various other biophysicochemical cues are known to promote chondrogenesis. Under physiological conditions, cartilage in the joint comprises a hyperosmotic and hypoxic environment. Therefore, in this study, we examined the inductive effects of hyperosmotic and/or hypoxic conditions on adipose stem cells (ASCs) and compared them with conventional TGFβ1-induction.

Artificial neural network analysis to assess hypernasality in patients treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer.

Objective: Investigation of applicability of neural network feature analysis of nasalance in speech to assess hypernasality in speech of patients treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Speech recordings of 51 patients and of 18 control speakers were evaluated regarding hypernasality, articulation, intelligibility, and patient-reported speech outcome. Feature analysis of nasalance was performed on /a/, /i/, and /u/ and on the entire stretch of speech.

Long-term efficacy of voice therapy in patients with voice problems after treatment of early glottic cancer.

Objective: The purpose of the present pilot study is to investigate whether the beneficial short-term effects of voice therapy in patients with voice problems after treatment of early glottic cancer as reported in our earlier study remain present on the long term.

Study Design: In this prospective study, 12 patients, selected based on a screening questionnaire about voice problems and randomly assigned for treatment with voice therapy (vs no treatment), were evaluated with a mean of 13 months after finishing voice therapy to evaluate the long-term voice effects.

Methods: Voice assessment consisted of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and acoustic analyses (percent jitter, percent shimmer, and noise-to-harmonics ratio).

Does glucose variability influence the relationship between mean plasma glucose and HbA1c levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients?

Objective: The A1C-Derived Average Glucose (ADAG) study demonstrated a linear relationship between HbA(1c) and mean plasma glucose (MPG). As glucose variability (GV) may contribute to glycation, we examined the association of several glucose variability indices and the MPG-HbA(1c) relationship.

Research Design And Methods: Analyses included 268 patients with type 1 diabetes and 159 with type 2 diabetes.

Anorectal function evaluation and predictive factors for faecal incontinence in 600 patients.

Aim: Anorectal function was assessed in patients with and without faecal incontinence (FI) . Risk factors predictive for FI were determined.

Method: Between 2003 and 2009, all consecutive patients referred were assessed by questionnaire, anorectal manometry and anal endosonography.

Interobserver agreement in detailed prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease by telemedicine using four-dimensional ultrasound with spatiotemporal image correlation.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical accuracy of four-dimensional (4D) echocardiography in the detailed prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) in a telemedicine setting.

Methods: Ten second-trimester spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) volumes were sent to three observers in different tertiary care centers with expertise in 4D echocardiography. The 10 volumes were selected based on the type of diagnosis to cover a wide spectrum of CHD anomalies, and also included one normal fetal heart.

Nephrotic syndrome in The Netherlands: a population-based cohort study and a review of the literature.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a clinical diagnosis with proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia and oedema. NS is rare in children, and its incidence in The Netherlands is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of idiopathic NS in the Netherlands.

Prognostic significance of truncating TP53 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: TP53 is a key gene in cellular homeostasis and is frequently mutated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). There is a variety of TP53 mutations, each with its own biological and clinical implication. Aim of the study was to assess the prognostic significance of TP53 mutations in HNSCCs and to identify the most relevant mutation.

Paratracheal lymph node dissection during laryngectomy after previous (chemo)radiotherapy: a retrospective analysis of complications and histopathological results.

Objectives: To evaluate complications and histopathological results of paratracheal lymph node dissection (PTLND) at laryngectomy after (chemo)radiotherapy.

Design, Setting And Participants: In a retrospective analysis, complications and histopathological results of paratracheal lymph node dissections were analysed in 191 patients with a recurrent or second primary laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma following radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.

Main Outcome Measures: The percentage of complications in patients with bilateral, unilateral or without PTLND.

Salvage laryngectomy: oncological and functional outcome.

The purpose of the research was to evaluate postoperative complications, functional outcome and survival after salvage laryngectomy. Second, to evaluate the management of the neck in combination with a laryngectomy in this group of patients. A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent total laryngectomy for residual or recurrent squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma after (chemo)radiotherapy between November 1990 and June 2007 was performed.

Evaluation of Cladribine treatment in refractory celiac disease type II.

Aim: To evaluate cladribine [2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA)] therapy in refractory celiac disease (RCD) II.

Methods: An open-label cohort-study of RCD II patients treated with 2-CdA was performed between 2000 and 2010. Survival rate, enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) occurrence, clinical course, and histological and immunological response rates were evaluated.

Perioperative arginine-supplemented nutrition in malnourished patients with head and neck cancer improves long-term survival.

Background: Plasma arginine concentrations are lower in patients with cancer, which indicates that arginine metabolism may be disturbed in these patients. Arginine supplementation has been associated with positive effects on antitumor mechanisms and has been shown to reduce tumor growth and to prolong survival. Furthermore, the prognosis of patients with head and neck cancer remains disappointing.

Prolonged thioguanine therapy is well tolerated and safe in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Background: Thioguanine has been used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, in particular for patients who failed conventional thiopurine therapy. To date, thioguanine has been infrequently studied in ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of thioguanine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation for tuberculosis: radiation-induced carcinoma.

Radiation may cause radiation-induced cancers after a long latency period. In a group of 111 patients surgically treated for hypopharyngeal carcinoma, patients previously treated with radiotherapy for tuberculosis in the neck were compared to patients without previous radiotherapy. Seven patients (7.

Do consanguineous parents of a child affected by an autosomal recessive disease have more DNA identical-by-descent than similarly-related parents with healthy offspring? Design of a case-control study.

Background: The offspring of consanguineous relations have an increased risk of congenital/genetic disorders and early mortality. Consanguineous couples and their offspring account for approximately 10% of the global population. The increased risk for congenital/genetic disorders is most marked for autosomal recessive disorders and depends on the degree of relatedness of the parents.