Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Head and Neck Oncologic Reconstruction: 15-year Experience, Past, Present, Future.

Unlabelled: Head and neck reconstruction poses unique challenges due to the complex structure of the region. Primary goals include soft-tissue coverage, adequate color and texture match, and minimal donor-site morbidity. Local and musculocutaneous regional flaps have largely been replaced with fasciocutaneous free flaps (FFF) over recent years.

The effect of race, socioeconomic status, and comorbidity on patients afflicted with COVID 19: A Local Perspective.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to further examine the associations of race, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidity with COVID-19 health outcomes.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 309 PCR confirmed COVID-19 positive adults who presented to Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, LA, from March 9 to May 29, 2020. The primary outcomes investigated were need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and in-hospital mortality.

Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis, Diagnosis and Treatment of a Rare Life-Threatening Infection.

Importance: Necrotizing fasciitis is a relatively uncommon and potentially life-threatening soft tissue infection, with morbidity and mortality approaching 25% to 35%, even with optimal treatment. The challenge of diagnosis for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) is their rarity, with the incidence of approximately 1000 cases annually in the United States. Given the rapid progression of disease and its similar presentation to more benign processes, early and definitive diagnosis is imperative.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission During Flexible Laryngoscopy: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reportedly infected otolaryngologists disproportionately in the early parts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Recommendations from national and international health organizations suggest minimizing the use of flexible laryngoscopy as a result.

Objective: To review evidence on the risks of aerosolization and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from patients to health care personnel during endoscopy of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Knowledge Gaps among Patients and Providers in HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To describe the level of knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) among the general population and health care providers.

Data Sources: Systematic search was performed on December 20, 2018, using MEDLINE (1966 to December 2018), EMBASE (1975 to December 2018), Web of Science (1900 to December 2018), and CENTRAL (1996 to December 2018) databases. English-language literature involving human subjects was used, and studies were limited to case series, case-control, cohort, and randomized controlled trial designs.

A novel gene panel for prediction of lymph-node metastasis and recurrence in patients with thyroid cancer.

Background: Although well-differentiated papillary thyroid cancer may remain indolent, lymph node metastases and the recurrence rates are approximately 50% and 20%, respectively. No current biomarkers are able to predict metastatic lymphadenopathy and recurrence in early stage papillary thyroid cancer. Hence, identifying prognostic biomarkers predicting cervical lymph-node metastases would prove very helpful in determining treatment.

Tumor necrosis factor-α triggers opposing signals in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and induces apoptosis via mitochondrial- and non-mitochondrial-dependent pathways.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Although the treatment outcomes of HNSCC have improved in recent years, the prognosis of patients with advanced-stage disease remains poor. Current treatment strategies for HNSCC include surgery as a primary therapy, while radio-, chemo-, and biotherapeutics can be applied as second-line therapy.

Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a rare malignancy of the head and neck, with fewer than 60 cases reported in the literature. We report a case of PSCCT and provide a brief review of the literature. A 66-year-old female with a history of a hemithyroidectomy for a benign thyroid lesion presented with 3 months of progressively worsening compressive symptoms and shortness of breath.

Association of Continued Preoperative Aspirin Use and Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery.

Importance: No evidence exists to direct the management of preoperative aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) use in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Nevertheless, a considerable number of patients interrupt receiving aspirin therapy during the preoperative period to minimize bleeding complications despite the increased risk of experiencing major adverse cardiac events.

Objective: To determine whether aspirin therapy continued preoperatively increases bleeding complications in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Racial and regional disparity in liver transplant allocation.

Background: Sources of liver transplant disparities are not understood adequately, particularly in terms of race and region.

Methods: Fixed effects multivariate logistic regression augmented by modified forward and backward stepwise regression of transplanted patients from the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research database (1985-2016) was performed to assess causal inference of such disparities.

Results: In the study sample (N = 258,602), significant disparities in the odds of receiving a liver were found: African Americans odds ratio 1.

Prognostic Role of BRAF Cellular Localization in Melanoma.

Background: Approximately half of cutaneous melanoma tissues harbor BRAF mutations, resulting in a constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Nuclear-cytoplasmic transport machinery is dysregulated in neoplastic cells and alters the key regulatory proteins that can lead to tumor progression and drug resistance. The significance of nuclear localization of BRAF has not been fully understood.

Bortezomib sensitizes thyroid cancer to BRAF inhibitor and .

Although overall survival rate for patients with thyroid cancer (TC) is high, there is an alarming 10-year recurrence rate of up to 30% conferring a ~50% survival among these high-risk patients. The BRAF mutation is estimated to be present in over 50% of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cases besides being associated with carcinogenesis and poor prognosis. We assessed the status of NF-κB, Ki-67, cyclin D1 and BRAF in TC tissues and TC cell lines using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

Liver transplantation in New Orleans: parity in a world of disparity?

Background: Racial disparity in access to liver transplantation among African Americans (AA) compared to Caucasians (CA) has been well described. The aim of this investigation was to examine the presentation of AA liver transplant recipients in a socioeconomically challenged region.

Methods: 680 adult liver transplant candidates and 233 resultant recipients between 2007 and 2015 were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate factors significant for transplantation.

Rare primary mucosal melanoma of the larynx.

Few cases of primary mucosal melanoma of the larynx have been documented in the literature, so only a limited amount of data exists regarding its diagnosis and treatment. The prognosis is poor, as patients often present at a late stage with regional or distant metastases. We describe the case of a 66-year-old man who presented with hoarseness and dysphagia.

Immunohistochemistry as an accurate tool for evaluating BRAF-V600E mutation in 130 samples of papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: BRAF mutation has been investigated by immunohistochemistry and has shown high sensitivity and specificity. We aim to investigate the accuracy of immunohistochemistry versus molecular testing of BRAF in papillary thyroid cancer using a large number of polymerase chain reaction-positive BRAF papillary thyroid cancer tissues.

Methods: We stained 130 formalin-fixed papillary thyroid cancer specimens using the VE1 antibody: 100 BRAF positive and 30 BRAF negative confirmed by PCR.

Interferon gamma-induced apoptosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is connected to indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase via mitochondrial and ER stress-associated pathways.

Background: Tumor response to immunotherapy is the consequence of a concerted crosstalk between cytokines and effector cells. Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is one of the common cytokines coordinating tumor immune response and the associated biological consequences. Although the role of IFNγ in the modulation of tumor immunity has been widely documented, the mechanisms regulating IFNγ-induced cell death, during the course of immune therapy, is not described in detail.

Metadherin Expression is Associated with Extrathyroidal Extension in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients.

Background: Metadherin (MTDH) is widely recognized as a promising molecular marker for tumor recurrence and poor survival in many cancers. By multiple pathways, MTDH promotes oncogenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance. This study investigated the role of MTDH in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) to determine its potential association with aggressive clinical and pathologic features, including its relation in tumors harboring a BRAF (V600E) mutation.

Outcomes in thyroid surgery are affected by racial, economic, and healthcare system demographics.

Objectives/hypothesis: Disparities in economic and social parameters have been identified as underlying factors that influence diseases outcomes. We aim to examine the influence of community-specific measures on outcomes related to thyroid surgery.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study utilizing the State Inpatient databases and State Ambulatory Surgery and Services databases, 2010 to 2011.

Efficacy of a Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Educational Platform in a Diverse Urban Population.

Importance: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a preventable disease that plays a causative role in a significant proportion of malignant neoplasms of the head and neck. Inner-city populations are at risk for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, are least likely to receive HPV vaccination, and report a lack of information regarding HPV.

Objective: To determine whether an educational platform affects knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV vaccination in an inner-city community.