High BAX/BCL2 mRNA ratio predicts favorable prognosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in patients with negative lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis.

Objectives: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), a common type of head and neck cancer, is associated with high rates of metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, accurate prognostic stratification of LSCC patients based on molecular prognostic tumor biomarkers would definitely lead to a better clinical management of this malignancy. The aim of this study was the investigation of the potential combinatorial prognostic value of BCL2 and BAX mRNA expression in LSCC.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Greek patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Background/aim: The causal relation between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx has not been yet clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate HPV infection in 54 SCC of the larynx and correlate it with patients' epidemiological and clinicopathological data.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-four biopsies were collected from patients with laryngeal SCC and tested for HPV DNA.

Continuation of smoking after treatment of laryngeal cancer: an independent prognostic factor?

Aim: The aim of the study is to examine if continuation of smoking after treatment is an independent factor affecting the prognosis of laryngeal cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 153 patients met the inclusion criteria for this prospective study, and they were followed up for 12-60 months. Smoking cessation/continuation rates were recorded and associated with disease recurrence and overall patient survival.

Quantifying the bystander-effect of 2.5G mobile telephones on the speech perception of digital hearing aid users.

Objective: To quantify the bystander-effect of 2.5G mobile telephones (2.5G-MTs) on the speech perception of digital hearing-aid (dHA) users.

Apoptotic and proliferative status in HPV (+) and HPV (-) inverted papilloma patients. Correlation with local recurrence and clinicopathological variables.

Inverted papilloma (IP) is a rare sinonasal benign lesion characterized by aggressive biological behavior. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of various proliferation and apoptotic markers and the presence of HPV genotypes in paraffin sections gathered from surgically treated IP patients. Immunohistochemistry for PCNA, bax, cytochrome c and caspase-8 and flow cytometry for the detection of apoptosis, necrosis and ki67 expression were performed.

The Role of Postural Restrictions after BPPV Treatment: Real Effect on Successful Treatment and BPPV's Recurrence Rates.

Background. Canalith repositioning techniques are adequately established in the literature, as the treatment of choice for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. However, the role of the posttreatment instructions is still not clearly defined.

Adhesion molecules in cancer of the head and neck: role of dysadherin.

Dysadherin is a recently discovered cancer-related cell membrane glycoprotein that has an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. We are focusing on the role of dysadherin in E-cadherin downregulation, the different expression patterns of the molecule in cancer of the head and neck and its potential role as a molecular target for future applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and management of the disease.

Bilateral Peritonsillar Abscesses: A Case Presentation and Review of the Current Literature with regard to the Controversies in Diagnosis and Treatment.

Although unilateral peritonsillar abscess is a common complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis, bilateral peritonsillar abscesses are quite rare. The incidence of unsuspected contralateral peritonsillar abscess identified at tonsillectomy has been reported to be between 1.9% and 24%, while the overall incidence of bilateral peritonsillar abscess is reported to reach 4.

Adenoidectomy plus tympanostomy tube insertion versus adenoidectomy plus myringotomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Objective: To determine whether tympanostomy tube insertion has benefit, compared with simple myringotomy, in children with otitis media with effusion who receive concurrent adenoidectomy as treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome caused by adenoid hypertrophy.

Methods: Fifty-two children older than three years with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome were randomly assigned to receive either adenoidectomy plus tympanostomy tube insertion (group one, n = 25) or adenoidectomy plus myringotomy (group two, n = 27). Pre- and post-operative health-related quality of life was assessed using the otitis media-6 (OM-6) tool, and audiological outcomes were recorded six and 12 months post-operatively.

Effect of perioperative immuno-enhanced enteral nutrition on inflammatory response, nutritional status, and outcomes in head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery.

Administration of immuno-enhanced nutritional support may decrease postoperative morbidity, mortality, and infectious complications in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to verify that perioperative enteral diet, enriched with the nutrients arginine, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and ω-3 fatty acids improves outcomes of head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery. Forty patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were studied.

Hypersensitivity reactions associated with platinum antineoplastic agents: a systematic review.

Platinum-containing chemotherapy agents (cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin) have been approved in the first-line setting of numerous malignancies, such as ovarian, bladder, head and neck, colorectal, and lung cancer. Their extensive use over the last decade has led to a significant increase in the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions, which are defined as unforeseen reactions whose signs and symptoms cannot be explained by the known toxicity of these drugs. Skin rash, flushing, abdominal cramping, itchy palms, and back pain are common symptoms.

Clinical outcomes of sinonasal inverted papilloma surgery. A retrospective study of 67 cases.

Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery has become popular for the management of sinonasal inverted papillomas (IP).

Objective: The purpose of this report is to review our 13 years of experience in managing IPs.

Methods: Retrospective chart study.

Acute hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy agents: an overview.

Hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy agents are defined as unexpected reactions with signs and symptoms not consistent with known toxicity of these drugs. These reactions range from mild to life-threatening and are difficult to predict. Symptoms include flushing, nausea, difficulty breathing, back pain, hypotension and tachycardia.

Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-8 staining in parotid cancer patients: markers of susceptibility in radiotherapy?

Objective: Negative bcl-2 and HLA-DR protein expression have been associated with responsiveness to adjuvant radiotherapy in surgically treated parotid cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-8 protein expression in a group of surgically treated patients to determine whether they also suggest markers of responsiveness to adjuvant radiotherapy.

Study Design: Historical cohort study.

Administration of cisplatin in three patients with carboplatin hypersensitivity: is skin testing useful?

Carboplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent approved in the first-line setting of numerous malignancies. Hypersensitivity to carboplatin has been reported in up to 44% of patients receiving this antineoplastic agent, usually occurring after several courses of treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of skin tests in ruling out cross-reaction to cisplatin to continue platinum-based chemotherapy in patients who are responsive to these agents.

Primary localized laryngeal amyloidosis presenting with hoarseness and dysphagia: a case report.

Introduction: Primary localized laryngeal amyloidosis is an extremely rare condition. It usually presents with hoarseness, pain and/or difficulty in breathing.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with primary localized laryngeal amyloidosis who presented with hoarseness and dysphagia.

Cell adhesion molecules: role and clinical significance in cancer.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that alterations in the adhesion properties of neoplastic cells endow them with an invasive and migratory phenotype. Indeed, changes in the expression or function of cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in all steps of tumor progression, including detachment of tumor cells from the primary site, intravasation into the blood stream, extravasation into distant target organs, and formation of the secondary lesions. This review presents recent data regarding the role of cell adhesion molecules in tumor development and progress with concern to their clinical exploitation as potential biomarkers in neoplastic diseases.

Long-term results of plastipore prostheses in reconstruction of the middle ear ossicular chain.

Purpose: To examine the acoustic results over a long period of time, in patients who underwent ossiculoplasty with Plastipore, and to report the percentage of prosthesis extrusion and factors related to the prognosis.

Procedures: Forty-two patients, who underwent ossiculoplasty with Plastipore, were studied. Patients were followed up for the next 14 years.

Adult laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma: is aggressive treatment justified in all cases? A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Adult laryngeal rhabdomyosarcomas are rare tumours commonly treated by laryngectomy.

Case Report: We present a case of subglottic laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma in an elderly woman, treated by endoscopic resection.

Conclusion: Despite the fact that this tumour is traditionally treated aggressively, this approach is not supported by the literature.

Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy for selected pyriform sinus carcinoma patients--a retrospective chart review.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the functional and oncologic results of supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy and report our experience in the technique, local control and overall survival rates.

Materials And Methods: 18 selected patients with pyriform sinus cancer treated by supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy in a University Hospital setting. Retrospective chart review was used to assess functional and oncologic results of the procedure.

Aggressive verrucous carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses invading the orbit: case report and literature review.

Introduction: Verrucous carcinoma is a variant of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma characterised by an exophytic, warty growth which is slowly but locally invasive and which can cause extensive local destruction if left untreated.

Case Report: We report the first known case of veruccous carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses with rapid orbital invasion. A 58-year-old man presented with right-sided nasal obstruction, a huge right intranasal lesion, intractable dacryocystitis and cutaneous involvement of the nasolacrimal sac region.

Use of rituximab in combination with conventional chemotherapy for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck.

Background: Rituximab, an anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically depletes mature B cells, is an effective single agent in the treatment of relapsed or refractory indolent lymphomas, and has been shown to improve the survival rate of elderly patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma when used in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP).

Patients And Methods: The combined effect of rituximab and CHOP has been comparatively studied against CHOP alone in 18 elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head or neck treated in the 1st Department of Otolaryngology at Hippokration Hospital between January 1998 and January 2004.

Results: Response rates were 91% and 100% in patients treated with rituximab plus CHOP and with CHOP alone, respectively.

Congenital aural atresia reconstruction: a surgical procedure with a long history.

Background: Pinna deformities, combined with congenital aural atresia, have been a matter of serious debate in the literature as they are associated with major aesthetic and functional problems that are difficult to manage. These problems have been described as early as 2000 BC. The aim of the present article is to approach the whole problem as one (pinna malformation and aural atresia) and present the history as well as the current approaches in reconstruction.

Quality of life in children with chronic suppurative otitis media with or without cholesteatoma.

Objective: To validate a disease-specific health related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for children with chronic suppurative otitis media with or without cholesteatoma.

Methods: Caregivers of 45 children with chronic suppurative otitis media, who were offered an operation (tympanoplasty or radical mastoidectomy) in a tertiary children's hospital, were administered a 5-item quality of life survey (COM-5) The COM-5, which is a modified version of OM-6, was administered four times: few weeks and few days before operation and six months and one year postoperatively. Psychometric characteristics and more specifically test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness to clinical change of the COM-5 score were the main outcome measures.

Head and neck cancer in the elderly: an overview on the treatment modalities.

The percentage of elderly people with head and neck cancers (HNC) is rising due to increasing average lifespan. As with younger patients, elderly patients require a multidisciplinary approach in order to optimise treatment results. The biological, not the chronological, age should be defined individually based on co-morbidities and performance status.