Radiation-Induced Pharyngeal Necrosis and Cervical Spine Osteoradionecrosis in Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy is commonly used as an adjunct or alternative to surgery for treating head and neck cancer (HNC). In rare cases, radiation-induced side effects such as posterior pharyngeal wall necrosis, fistula formation, and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) can lead to dangerous complications of the cervical spine (C-spine).

Methods: We conducted a literature review on C-spine ORN in HNC, and we reported four additional cases following the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Improving Interdisciplinary Communication and Pathology Reporting for Head and Neck Cancer Resections: 3D Visualizations and Margin Reconciliation.

Purpose: Surgical pathology reports play an integral role in postoperative management of head and neck cancer patients. Pathology reports of complex head and neck resections must convey critical information to all involved clinicians. Previously, we demonstrated the utility of 3D specimen and defect scanning for communicating margin status and documenting the location of supplemental margins.

Metastatic merkel cell carcinoma to the thyroid gland: Case report and review of the literature.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive and rare neuroendocrine tumor, accounting for less than 1% of skin cancers. Metastasis primarily manifests in the cervical lymph nodes but rarely affect the thyroid.

Methods: We report a case of primary head and neck cutaneous MCC with metastasis to the thyroid gland.

Sensitive MRD Detection from Lymphatic Fluid after Surgery in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Purpose: Our goal was to demonstrate that lymphatic drainage fluid (lymph) has improved sensitivity in quantifying postoperative minimal residual disease (MRD) in locally advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) compared with plasma, and leverage this novel biofluid for patient risk stratification.

Experimental Design: We prospectively collected lymph samples from neck drains of 106 patients with HPV (+) OPSCC, along with 67 matched plasma samples, 24 hours after surgery. PCR and next-generation sequencing were used to quantify cancer-associated cell-free HPV (cf-HPV) and tumor-informed variants in lymph and plasma.

Mechanisms of adaptive hypertrophic cardiac remodeling in a large animal model of premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy.

Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) promoted eccentric cardiac hypertrophy and reduced ejection fraction (EF) in a large animal model of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CM), but the molecular mechanisms and markers of this hypertrophic remodeling remain unexplored. Healthy mongrel canines were implanted with pacemakers to deliver bigeminal PVCs (50% burden with 200-220 ms coupling interval). After 12 weeks, left ventricular (LV) free wall samples were studied from PVC-CM and Sham groups.

Alterations of sarcoplasmic reticulum-mediated Ca uptake in a model of premature ventricular contraction (PVC)-induced cardiomyopathy.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are the most frequent ventricular arrhythmias in the overall population. PVCs are known to acutely enhance contractility by the post-extrasystolic potentiation phenomenon, but over time persistent PVCs promote PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CM), characterized by a reduction of the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction. Ca cycling in myocytes commands muscle contraction and in this process, SERCA2 leads the Ca reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) shaping cytosolic Ca signal decay and muscle relaxation.

Panoramic Endocardial Optical Mapping Demonstrates Serial Rotors Acceleration and Increasing Complexity of Activity During Onset of Cholinergic Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Activation during onset of atrial fibrillation is poorly understood. We aimed at developing a panoramic optical mapping system for the atria and test the hypothesis that sequential rotors underlie acceleration of atrial fibrillation during onset. Methods and Results Five sheep hearts were Langendorff perfused in the presence of 0.

Commercial ctDNA Assays for Minimal Residual Disease Detection of Solid Tumors.

The detection of circulating tumor DNA via liquid biopsy has become an important diagnostic test for patients with cancer. While certain commercial liquid biopsy platforms designed to detect circulating tumor DNA have been approved to guide clinical decisions in advanced solid tumors, the clinical utility of these assays for detecting minimal residual disease after curative-intent treatment of nonmetastatic disease is currently limited. Predicting disease response and relapse has considerable potential for increasing the effective implementation of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies.

Eccentric hypertrophy in an animal model of mid- and long-term premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy.

Background: Tachycardia and heart rate irregularity are proposed triggers of premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-cardiomyopathy). Bigeminal premature atrial and ventricular contractions (PACs and PVCs) increase heart rate and result in rhythm irregularities but differ in their effects on ventricular synchrony. Comparing chronic bigeminal PACs with PVCs would provide insights into mechanisms of PVC-cardiomyopathy.

Survival of Young Versus Old Patients With Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective/hypothesis: To assess whether young patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) demonstrate worse oncologic outcomes than older patients after definitive therapy.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A medical librarian composed a search strategy to identify relevant studies in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and other major databases (Prospero registration number CRD42019127974).

Transcriptome and proteome mapping in the sheep atria reveal molecular featurets of atrial fibrillation progression.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive cardiac arrhythmia that increases the risk of hospitalization and adverse cardiovascular events. There is a clear demand for more inclusive and large-scale approaches to understand the molecular drivers responsible for AF, as well as the fundamental mechanisms governing the transition from paroxysmal to persistent and permanent forms. In this study, we aimed to create a molecular map of AF and find the distinct molecular programmes underlying cell type-specific atrial remodelling and AF progression.

Head and Neck Cancer Survival Disparities by Race and Rural-Urban Context.

Background: This study aims to examine the relationship between race and rural-urban context in head and neck cancer (HNC) survival and determine factors that potentially drive this disparity.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2015, we identified a retrospective cohort of 146,256 patients with HNC. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the Cox proportional hazards regression were used to calculate adjusted HRs.

Post-extrasystolic potentiation as a predictor of premature ventricular contraction-cardiomyopathy in an animal model.

Aims: High premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) burden does not always predict the development of PVC-cardiomyopathy (CM). We sought to evaluate post-extrasystolic potentiation (PESP) of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to predict the severity of PVC-CM in an animal model.

Methods And Results: Right ventricular apical bigeminal PVCs were introduced for 12 weeks in 11 canines to induce PVC-CM.

Mechanisms by Which Ranolazine Terminates Paroxysmal but Not Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Ranolazine inhibits Na current (I), but whether it can convert atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm remains unclear. We investigated antiarrhythmic mechanisms of ranolazine in sheep models of paroxysmal (PxAF) and persistent AF (PsAF).

Methods: PxAF was maintained during acute stretch (N=8), and PsAF was induced by long-term atrial tachypacing (N=9).

Influence of hydraulic loading rate and recirculation on oxygen transfer in a vertical flow constructed wetland.

The oxygen transfer rate (OTR) has a significant impact on the design and operation of vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) intended for organic matter removal and nitrification. Despite its key role, the information on real oxygen input in VFCWs is limited, being usually estimated by mass balance (stoichiometry), through which is calculated only the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). In this study, for the first time, the gas tracer method was applied to evaluate the oxygen transfer capacity of a real-scale VFCW (24.

Eplerenone Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Burden Without Preventing Atrial Electrical Remodeling.

Background: The aldosterone inhibitor eplerenone (EPL) has been shown to reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with systolic heart failure, but the mechanism is unknown.

Objectives: This study hypothesized that by reducing atrial dilation and fibrosis in the absence of heart failure, EPL also reduces AF burden and prevents AF perpetuation.

Methods: The authors conducted a randomized controlled study in 34 sheep that were atrially tachypaced (13 ± 1 week).

Tranexamic Acid Update in Trauma.

Following results from the CRASH-2 trial, tranexamic acid (TXA) gained considerable interest for the treatment of hemorrhage in trauma patients. Although TXA is effective at reducing mortality in patients presenting within 3 hours of injury, optimal dosing, timing of administration, mechanism, and pharmacokinetics require further elucidation. The concept of fibrinolysis shutdown in hemorrhagic trauma patients has prompted discussion of real-time viscoelastic testing and its potential role for appropriate patient selection.

Galectin-3 Regulates Atrial Fibrillation Remodeling and Predicts Catheter Ablation Outcomes.

Objectives: To determine whether Gal-3 mediates sustained atrial fibrillation (AF)-induced atrial structural and electrical remodeling and contributes to AF perpetuation.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) mediates extracellular matrix remodeling in heart failure, but its role in AF progression remains unexplored.

Methods: We examined intracardiac blood samples from patients with AF () to identify potential biomarkers of AF recurrence.

Constitutive Intracellular Na+ Excess in Purkinje Cells Promotes Arrhythmogenesis at Lower Levels of Stress Than Ventricular Myocytes From Mice With Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background: In catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), cardiac Purkinje cells (PCs) appear more susceptible to Ca(2+) dysfunction than ventricular myocytes (VMs). The underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Using a CPVT mouse (RyR2(R4496C+/Cx40eGFP)), we tested whether PC intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) dysregulation results from a constitutive [Na(+)]i surplus relative to VMs.

Cell-selective arrhythmia ablation for photomodulation of heart rhythm.

Heart disease, a leading cause of death in the developed world, is overwhelmingly correlated with arrhythmias, where heart muscle cells, myocytes, beat abnormally. Cardiac arrhythmias are usually managed by electric shock intervention, antiarrhythmic drugs, surgery, and/or catheter ablation. Despite recent improvements in techniques, ablation procedures are still limited by the risk of complications from unwanted cellular damage, caused by the nonspecific delivery of ablative energy to all heart cell types.

Elevated heart rate triggers action potential alternans and sudden death. translational study of a homozygous KCNH2 mutation.

Background: Long QT syndrome (LQTS) leads to arrhythmic events and increased risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD). Homozygous KCNH2 mutations underlying LQTS-2 have previously been termed "human HERG knockout" and typically express severe phenotypes. We studied genotype-phenotype correlations of an LQTS type 2 mutation identified in the homozygous index patient from a consanguineous Turkish family after his brother died suddenly during febrile illness.