Cetuximab in the management of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer: expanding the treatment options?

The treatment of locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has evolved in recent years as a consequence of a better understanding of the potential benefits associated with altered radiation fractionation regimens, concurrently administered chemotherapy and radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) and induction chemotherapy. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is a treatment option for technically resectable disease, where functional morbidity precludes the use of surgery. Induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy may also be used in this setting, and has been validated for larynx preservation.

Anti-sperm antibodies are not associated with sperm DNA damage: a prospective study of infertile men.

Infertile men have poorer sperm DNA integrity than do fertile men, and this damage may contribute to reducing male reproductive potential. However, the etiology of this damage has not been fully characterized. We sought to examine the relationship, if any, between anti-sperm antibodies and sperm DNA damage in a consecutive series of non-azoospermic, infertile men in order to determine whether anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs) may contribute to sperm DNA damage.

Female-to-male breeding ratio in modern humans-an analysis based on historical recombinations.

Was the past genetic contribution of women and men to the current human population equal? Was polygyny (excess of breeding women) present among hominid lineages? We addressed these questions by measuring the ratio of population recombination rates between the X chromosome and the autosomes, rho(X)/rho(A). The X chromosome recombines only in female meiosis, whereas autosomes undergo crossovers in both sexes; thus, rho(X)/rho(A) reflects the female-to-male breeding ratio, beta. We estimated beta from rho(X)/rho(A) inferred from genomic diversity data and calibrated with recombination rates derived from pedigree data.

Loss-of-function of MYO5B is the main cause of microvillus inclusion disease: 15 novel mutations and a CaCo-2 RNAi cell model.

Autosomal recessive microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is characterized by an intractable diarrhea starting within the first few weeks of life. The hallmarks of MVID are a lack of microvilli on the surface of villous enterocytes, occurrence of intracellular vacuoles lined by microvilli (microvillus inclusions), and the cytoplasmic accumulation of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive vesicles in enterocytes. Recently, we identified mutations in MYO5B, encoding the unconventional type Vb myosin motor protein, in a first cohort of nine MVID patients.

Haplotype allelic classes for detecting ongoing positive selection.

Background: Natural selection eliminates detrimental and favors advantageous phenotypes. This process leaves characteristic signatures in underlying genomic segments that can be recognized through deviations in allelic or haplotypic frequency spectra. To provide an identifiable signature of recent positive selection that can be detected by comparison with the background distribution, we introduced a new way of looking at genomic polymorphisms: haplotype allelic classes.

Surgery for Laryngopharyngeal SCC in the Era of Organ Preservation.

Over the past decades, randomized clinical trials have assessed and validated the concept of larynx preservation. This new concept has obviously modified the treatment algorithm for laryngopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. However surgery for larynx and hypopharynx cancer remains indicated in many cases.

Neutralization of IFNgamma defeats haemophagocytosis in LCMV-infected perforin- and Rab27a-deficient mice.

Hereditary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a fatal inflammatory disease and treatments currently may lead to serious side effects. There is a pressing need for effective, less toxic treatments for this disease. Previous reports have suggested that interferon gamma (IFNgamma) has a role in the pathogenesis of HLH.

Head and neck cancer surgery in the elderly--does age influence the postoperative course?

There are few data focusing on postoperative course after major head and neck cancer surgery in the elderly compared with the younger population. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of age on postoperative outcomes. At hospital admission, we prospectively collected data from 261 patients separated into two groups with regard to their age (those >or= 70 years and those < 70 years).

Oscillatory response in a sensory network of ON and OFF cells with instantaneous and delayed recurrent connections.

A neural field model with multiple cell-to-cell feedback connections is investigated. Our model incorporates populations of ON and OFF cells, receiving sensory inputs with direct and inverted polarity, respectively. Oscillatory responses to spatially localized stimuli are found to occur via Andronov-Hopf bifurcations of stationary activity.

Distinct termination morphologies for vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests.

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests, including single-walled nanotubes, are imaged optically as they grow in situ from cobalt/alumina catalyst using water-assisted acetylene chemical vapor deposition. Three distinct termination morphologies are identified and investigated optically and via scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative growth dynamics are extracted and show gradual deceleration and sudden termination of growth.

Dynamics of driven recurrent networks of ON and OFF cells.

A globally coupled network of ON and OFF cells is studied using neural field theory. ON cells increase their activity when the amplitude of an external stimulus increases, while OFF cells do the opposite given the same stimulus. Theory predicts that, without input, multiple transitions to oscillations can occur depending on feedback delay and the difference between ON and OFF resting states.

Toll-like receptor ligands induce polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration: key roles for leukotriene B4 and platelet-activating factor.

Activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) accumulation at infection sites are critical events of host defense. The involvement of leukotriene (LT) B(4) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in TLR ligand-induced activation of inflammatory cell functions is essentially unknown. Using an in vitro model of human PMN migration through human endothelial cell monolayers, we demonstrate that prototypic ligands of TLR1/2, 2/6, 3, 4, 5, and 7/8 promote PMN migration, an effect markedly inhibited by 3 LTB(4) receptor antagonists (70-80% inhibition at 100 nM compared to vehicle-treated cells), 3 PAF receptor antagonists (20-50% inhibition at 10 nM), 3 LT biosynthesis inhibitors (75-85% inhibition at 100 nM), and 1 cytosolic phospholipase A(2)alpha (cPLA(2)alpha) inhibitor (90% inhibition at 1 microM).

Marked induction of the helix-loop-helix protein Id3 promotes the gammadelta T cell fate and renders their functional maturation Notch independent.

alphabeta and gammadelta T cells arise from a common thymocyte progenitor during development in the thymus. Emerging evidence suggests that the pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR) and gammadelta T cell receptor (gammadeltaTCR) play instructional roles in specifying the alphabeta and gammadelta T-lineage fates, respectively. Nevertheless, the signaling pathways differentially engaged to specify fate and promote the development of these lineages remain poorly understood.

The free vascularized flap and the pectoralis major pedicled flap options: comparative results of reconstruction of the tongue.

Reconstruction after extensive resection of the tongue remains a surgical challenge. Free soft-tissue transfer is now favored for head and neck reconstruction following cancer resection. However, the choice of either free tissue transfer (FTT) or of the pedicled Pectoralis Major Musculocutaneous Flap (PMMF), the workhorse in head and neck reconstruction, remains controversial.

[Locally advanced head and neck cancers: recommendations of an expert panel and perspectives for the use of TPF regimen (docetaxel, cisplatin and fluoro-uracil) as induction therapy].

Purpose: The purpose of the present article was to evaluate indications, regimens, treatment modalities, and predictive factors of response to treatment in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods: An expert panel including otolaryngology and head and neck surgery specialists, oncologists, radiotherapists and biologists analyzed the literature providing a synthesis and giving some recommendations.

Synthesis: Findings from the main randomized phase III trials highlight that the TPF regimen (docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil) represent a preferential option when induction chemotherapy is indicated in either operable or non-operable patients.

Strengthening of reentrant pinning by collective interactions in the peak effect.

Since it was first observed about 40 years ago [A. B. Pippard, Proc.

Population pharmacokinetics of erlotinib and its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: A clinical study was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant erlotinib treatment in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [Thomas F, Rochaix P, Benlyazid A, et al. Pilot study of neoadjuvant treatment with erlotinib in non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2007;13:7086-92].

[Iron deficiency anaemia, pancreatitis and epigastric mass in a young female: a rare presentation of a large gastric trichobezoar].

We report the case of a 15-year old girl presenting with a gastric fullness sensation. The biological examination showed iron deficiency anaemia and elevation of the pancreatic enzymes. At endoscopy, a huge trichobezoar is found in the stomach.

Spontaneous cystic artery rupture: a rare cause of haemoperitoneum.

We report the case of a 74-year-old man who presented an acute haemoperitoneum further to the rupture of the cystic artery. The bleeding was successfully controlled using embolization. This procedure was complicated by ischaemic necrosis and perforation of the gall-bladder requiring laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Larynx preservation clinical trial design: key issues and recommendations-a consensus panel summary.

Purpose: To develop guidelines for the conduct of Phase III clinical trials of larynx preservation in patients with locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods And Materials: A multidisciplinary international consensus panel developed recommendations after reviewing results from completed Phase III randomized trials, meta-analyses, and published clinical reports with updates available through November, 2007. The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the panel.