CD141⁺ myeloid dendritic cells are enriched in healthy human liver.

Background & Aims: Extensive populations of liver immune cells detect and respond to homeostatic perturbation caused by damage, infection or malignancy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are central to these activities, governing the balance between tolerance and immunity. Most of our knowledge about human liver DCs is derived from studies on peritumoral tissue.

Elective neck dissection for the management of the N0 neck in early cancer of the oral tongue: need for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the need for a randomized controlled trial in order to define the role of an elective neck dissection (END) in the treatment of early tongue cancers.

Methods: We present a large retrospective analysis of patients with T1-2 N0 squamous cell cancers of the oral anterior tongue treated at a single institution. A total of 359 eligible patients with early tongue cancers were divided into 2 groups: END and wait and watch (WW).

Postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is reported to be common among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. This randomized controlled trial was aimed to determine the efficacy of low molecular-weight heparin in the prophylaxis of DVT in this high-risk group and was truncated early in view of an unexpectedly low incidence of DVT. Between March 2002 and January 2004, a total of 99 patients with colorectal cancer - selected for surgery in the lithotomy position - were randomized before surgery to either receive dalteparin or no drug (51 and 48 patients, respectively) during the perioperative period.

D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer in Tata Memorial Hospital: Indian data can now be incorporated in future international trials.

Background: While mortality rates after radical gastrectomy have decreased, there is considerable morbidity after D2 lymphadenectomy. In this study, we assessed the perioperative results of D2 gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Materials: Data of 159 patients who underwent D2 gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma at Tata Memorial Hospital was analyzed for interim analysis.

Laryngeal amyloidosis.

Localized amyloidosis is characterized by the deposition of amyloid fibres in a particular site or organ system in the absence of systemic involvement. Patients with localized laryngeal amyloidosis usually present with long-standing hoarseness or dyspnea. The diagnosis is made by a high degree of suspicion on the basis of the history and a characteristic appearance on direct laryngoscopic examination.