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.

Management of incidental discovery of microscopic squamous cell carcinoma in zones of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible.

Objectives: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a common complication of head and neck radiotherapy and often requires surgical treatment. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can be exceptionally discovered within zones of ORN on histological examination of the operative specimen. The authors discuss the management of these lesions based on a short patient series.

Conservative three-quarter versus subtotal seven-eighths parathyroidectomy in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: There is at present no consensus concerning surgical techniques for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although both subtotal and total parathyroidectomy provide low rates of recurrence, they may induce hypoparathyroidism, damaging the bone and cardiovascular systems. The aim of our study was to compare 3/4 and 7/8 parathyroidectomy in this population and to discuss the potential benefit of more conservative treatment.

Upper airway obstruction assessment: Peak inspiratory flow and clinical COPD Questionnaire.

Objectives: Spirometric evaluation of upper airway obstruction (UAO) is not commonly performed by Otolaryngologists. In addition, functional evaluation of UAO by flow-volume loops (FVL) is not available in all clinical settings. More recently, peak inspiratory flow (PIF) has proven to be a useful tool to monitor UAO at the patient's bedside.

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.

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.

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.

How to release neck dissections: Role of the triangle between the spinal accessory nerve and the internal jugular vein.

The neck dissection technique has been precisely defined. It allows resection of lymph node groups, comprising at least groups IIA, IIB, III and IV according to Robbins' classification for head and neck cancer. Neck dissection is classically performed in an upwards and forwards direction, but the technique can vary according to the site of lymph nodes.

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.

Incidental cervical metastases from thyroid carcinoma during neck dissection.

Objectives: To quantify and discuss the prevalence of unsuspected thyroid lymph node metastases discovered in specimens from neck dissection for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and discuss the impact on patient management.

Study Design: Retrospective study between May 2004 and January 2007.

Setting: University hospital.

Guidelines (short version) of the French Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Society (SFORL) on patient pathway organization in ENT: The therapeutic decision-making process.

Objectives: The authors present the guidelines of the French Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Society (SFORL) for patient pathway organization in head and neck cancer, and in particular for multidisciplinary team meetings. The present article concerns the therapeutic decision-making process.

Methods: A multidisciplinary work group was entrusted with a review of the scientific literature on the above topic.