Retrospective Cohort Study on the Impact of Travel Distance on Late-Stage Oral Cancer Treatment and Outcomes: An NCDB Analysis.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines provide evidence-based consensus for optimal individual site- and stage-specific treatments. This is a cohort study of 11,121 late-stage oral cancer patients in the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2016. We hypothesized that patient travel distance may affect treatment choices and impact outcome.

Seroma After Breast Reconstruction With Tissue Expanders: Outcomes and Management.

Background: Seroma is a relatively common complication after breast reconstruction with tissue expanders. The main risk in the presence of seroma is development of periprosthetic infection, which can lead to implant loss. Our goals were to identify risk factors for seroma, and to describe our protocol for managing fluid accumulation.

T-Cell Infiltration and Immune Checkpoint Expression Increase in Oral Cavity Premalignant and Malignant Disorders.

The immune cell niche associated with oral dysplastic lesion progression to carcinoma is poorly understood. We identified T regulatory cells (Treg), CD8+ effector T cells (Teff) and immune checkpoint molecules across oral dysplastic stages of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). OPMD and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue sections (N = 270) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for Treg (CD4, CD25 and FoxP3), Teff (CD8) and immune checkpoint molecules (PD-1 and PD-L1).

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics for Breast Expander/Implant Infection: Treatment-Related Adverse Events and Outcomes.

Background: Despite best practices, infection remains the most common complication after breast reconstruction with expanders and implants, ranging from 2% to 29%. Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics are frequently used in nonsurgical treatment of implant-associated infections in an effort to salvage the reconstruction. Pitfalls of antibiotherapy include adverse events, vascular access site complications, and drug resistance.

Determining the protein drug release characteristics and cell adhesion to a PLLA or PLGA biodegradable polymer membrane.

Biodegradable polymers are of interest for developing controlled protein drug delivery platforms. In this study, two poly (alpha-hydroxy) esters were formulated with Aerosol-OT, a surfactant stabilizer, to encapsulate the protein keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) for controlled release KGF is involved in a number of crucial biologic processes, most notably epithelial growth and repair. The concentration of KGF that caused a biological response in vitro was determined (optimally 10 ng/mL) and compared with the release of KGF from the two biodegradable polymer membrane formulations.

Keratinocyte growth factor and autocrine repair in airway epithelium.

Background: Delayed or nonreepithelialization of the large conducting airway (ie, trachea and bronchus) is a clinically recognized but poorly understood result of airway trauma. This delay results in granulation tissue formation and scarring, which impairs mucocilliary transport and can critically compromise gas exchange. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a known epithelial cell mitogen that is derived from mesenchymal cells.

Possible impedance of luminal reepithelialization by tracheal cartilage metalloproteinases.

Background: Rapid reepithelialization of respiratory epithelium after injury to the large conducting airway (eg, trachea and bronchus) is poor. Our laboratory has developed an in vitro model of the trachea that allows us to examine reepithelialization in a complex culture system. We previously described how the presence of cartilage inhibited respiratory epithelial cell (REC) migration/proliferation.

Interleukin-1 facilitates airway epithelial migration in response to injury.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that interleukin (IL)-1 plays a permissive role in respiratory epithelial cell migration and proliferation.

Study Design: Primary cultures of porcine respiratory epithelial cells or tracheal organ explants were cultured in the presence or absence of function-blocking antibodies to IL-1. Areas of epithelial cell outgrowth were determined in control and antibody-treated organ explants daily for 4 days.

A comparative study of primary and immortalized cell adhesion characteristics to modified polymer surfaces: toward the goal of effective re-epithelialization.

Facilitating tissue regeneration or replacement requires development of synthetic surfaces that promote cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Two successful approaches have been to incorporate minimal cell adhesion recognition sequences at the biomaterial surface and to integrate the entire adhesion molecule into a compatible synthetic matrix. While adhesion assays using immortalized cell lines are important in evaluating synthetic materials, cell type and source play a significant role in the ability of such models to mimic real tissues.

Sympathetic and sensory nerves in control of growth of brown adipose tissue: Effects of denervation and of capsaicin.

The thermogenic function and growth of brown adipose tissue (BAT) are known to be primarily under the control of the sympathetic nervous system. However, BAT also contains nerves containing neuropeptides such as substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) that are presumed to be sensory nerves. In a previous study we demonstrated an atrophy of BAT in capsaicin-desensitized (CAP-DES) rats.