Arsenic trioxide enhances the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been approved for the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukaemia. The aim of this study was to determine whether ATO would lead to cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and whether it was able to enhance the cytotoxicity of cisplatin, a standard chemotherapeutic agent. The four HNSCC cell lines SCC9, SCC25, CAL27 and FADU were treated with ATO or cisplatin alone or with ATO and cisplatin in combination.

Transformation of pleomorphic adenoma to carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland is independent of p53 mutations.

Background And Objectives: This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the status of p53 in pleomorphic adenomas and carcinomas ex pleomorphic adenoma in the parotid gland. As loss or mutation of p53 can cause malignant transformation, the possible degeneration of pleomorphic adenomas to carcinomas ex pleomorhic adenoma was investigated by mutational analysis.

Methods: Twenty-five Patients including 14 patients with pleomorphic adenomas and 11 patients with carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland were examined for p53 status.

7beta-hydroxycholesterol induces apoptosis and regulates cyclooxygenase 2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To determine whether treatment with 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (7beta-HC) would trigger cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines in a dose-dependent fashion.

Design: In vitro study.

Subjects: The study included HNSCC cell lines SCC9, SCC25, CAL27, and FaDu.

Down-regulation of Mcl-1 with antisense technology alters the effect of various cytotoxic agents used in treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Antisense oligonucleotides have recently been identified as new anticancer agents. Since human head and neck cancer cells highly express the antiapoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), the aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of the Mcl-1 suppression in combination with various cytotoxic agents in the head and neck cancer cell line SCC9. After oligonucleotide transfection and/or treatment with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), gemcitabine, paclitaxel or cetuximab, proliferation assays were performed to determine cell viability.

Effects of epidermal growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor on the growth of oropharyngeal keratinocytes in coculture with autologous fibroblasts in a three-dimensional matrix.

Tissue engineering of oropharyngeal mucosa is rendered complex by the fact that oropharyngeal keratinocytes are difficult to culture in the long term and do not grow well after several subcultivations. Three populations of oropharyngeal keratinocytes were isolated by a method based on different levels of beta(1)-integrin expression. In particular, keratinocytes were isolated between cell fractions that adhere rapidly on collagen-IV-coated culture dishes (RAC-IV) and populations that are less adherent (RAC-IV-D).

Nimesulide and indomethacin induce apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). There are two isoforms of the enzyme. Recent investigations indicate that both isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2, are involved in carcinogenesis.

The role of fibroblasts from oropharyngeal mucosa in producing proinflammatory and mitogenic cytokines without prior stimulation.

Cytokine production by fibroblasts is not only important for immunological and inflammatory reactions in the epidermis and mucosa, but also for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. To characterize the role of fibroblasts in the oropharyngeal mucosa, the expression of a panel of cytokines and cytokine receptors by fibroblasts isolated from normal human oropharyngeal mucosa was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry (FACS). Oropharyngeal fibroblasts produced the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-6 and IL-8 without addition of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or biological response modifiers, suggesting an active involvement of these cells in host defence mechanisms.

Different KGF expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and in normal mucosa.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are major factors mediating epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in the epidermis and mucosa. In this study the expression of the FGFs keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), acidic FGF (aFGF) and basic FGF (bFGF) was examined in tumour tissue specimens from 14 patients with advanced-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and 3 SCC cell lines by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. None of the SCC cell lines was positive for KGF mRNA, whereas all cell lines were highly positive for aFGF and bFGF.

IL-1 and TNF-alpha but no IL-2 expression is found in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck by RT-PCR.

We studied the expression of IL-1 (Interleukin 1), IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF (granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor), TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and IFN-gamma (Interferon gamma) in tumor specimens and adjacent mucosa from 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No IL-2 and IL-4 expression was detected in any of the tumor specimens. High level expression of IL-1 and TNF-alpha was found in all 12 samples analyzed.

Pertrochanteric fractures of the femur. A comparative study of internal fixation with angle nail-plates and flexible condylar nails.

Two methods of internal fixation of pertrochanteric fractures of the femur, angle nail-plates and flexible condylar nails, were compared in a retrospective clinical study, with emphasis on the results and indications as related to the age and physical condition of the patients.

[Cardiac arrest following protamine sulphate administration (author's transl)].

This study presents the case history of a patient who suffered from recurrent pulmonary embolism, despite heparinisation, after a car accident and who died during preparation for caval ligature. We feel that the protamine sulphate given for neutralization of the heparin effect played an important role, since no signs of massive pulmonary embolism were found at autopsy. Protamine sulphate is known to possess a significant cardiovascular depressive action.

[Injuries of the rotator cuff of the shoulder - experiences in diagnosis and treatment (author's transl)].

Arthrography is an established method to verify injuries of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. In this paper referring about 32 patients with 34 cuff injuries the results after operation (16 patients) and conservative treatment (18 patients) are compared. The following statements based on our experiences are possible: If conservative treatment is without result, operation should be done within 8 weeks after the accident.

[History of the early acute R.D.S. and description of a method to improve immediate postmortem fixation of the lung (author's transl)].

A technique for immediate lung fixation on patients who die of ARDS is described. The advantages compared to the selective needle biopsy, the transthoracic circumscript fixation and the lung fixation organ removal are: 1. functional anatomical proportions are kept, 2.

How to increase the stability of external fixation units. Mechanical tests and theoretical studies.

From general physical laws simple formulae have been deduced from which the rigidity of an external fixation unit mounted in different ways becomes mathematically calculable. Furthermore, the stability of various mounting systems under bending forces was investigated experimentally. Particular attention was paid to details of operating technique which are of special importance to the stability of the whole construction.

Experimental tests concerning the biomechanical behaviour of pertrochanteric osteosyntheses.

The biomechanical behaviour of pertrochanteric fractures stabilized by means of an angled plate or flexible condylar nails was characterized by mechanical testing. The stability and the types of motion occurring under dynamic load in the vicinity of the fracture and the effect on the implant were examined. The mechanical test results corroborated clinical experiences.

[Fractures of the distal end of the femur and their management using condyle plates].

Forty-one patients with fractures of the distal end of the femur are investigated and the importance of the angular plate designed by the AO group for stabilization of these fractures is discussed. For good results it is necessary to have the complete set of instruments and to consider biomechanical principles for stable osteosynthesis, so that early active exercises can be performed. The operation is not always simple but is indicated considering the poor functional and anatomical results after conservative treatment or inadequate fixation.

[The relative elongated patellar ligament after identation of the lateral retinacula (author's transl)].

The treatment of the lateralisation of the patella can be done by lateral indentation of the retinaculum patellae (method of Viernstein). Caused by the medialisation of the patella eventually the patellar ligament can be realtively elongated. This leads to insufficiency of the extensors and therefore to prearthrosis of the knee joint.

[Biomechanical investigations of the ankle joint after shortening of the distal end of the fibula (author's transl)].

Shortening of the distal fibula after malleolar fracture is accompanied with important alterations of the biomechanics and the compressive forces of the ankle joint. The relationship between the extent of shortening, the degree of valgus position of the talus and the reduction of the joint surfaces is described on the basis of experimental investigations. The importance of these circumstances for treatment of malleolar fractures is discussed.

[Arthrography of the hand in an accident clinic (author's transl)].

By 115 arthrographies of the wrist in patients with posttraumatic pain, the importance of the method for diagnosis in injured patients is discussed. It was possible to detect 29 cases with a lesion of the articular disc, 4 patients with ruptured radiocarpal joint and 3 cases with an injury of the distal radioulnar joint. The technique of filling the wrist is described and different manifestations of "normal" arthrogramms are exhibited.