HOX genes: potential candidates for the progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a very aggressive cancer, considered to be a subtype of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Despite significant advances in the understanding and treatment of cancer, prognosis of patients with LSCC has not improved recently. In the present study, we sought to understand better the genetic mechanisms underlying LSCC development.

Peritumoral infiltrate in the prognosis of epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Introduction: Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity present deficits in their cellular immunity that contribute to neoplastic growth. Thus, the inflammatory activity, such as the immunological response to the tumor, can be used as a prognostic factor.

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between peritumoral inflammation and clinical characteristics of the patients, survival, and the disease-free interval.

Assessment of MLL methyltransferase gene expression in larynx carcinoma.

Larynx cancer is the second most common type of cancer among all head and neck cancers. Deregulation of epigenetic effectors, including altered expression of histone methyltransferases from the MLL (mixed lineage leukemia) family, have been reported in many cancer types, yet little is known concerning their involvement in larynx cancer. Our objective was to determine the expression profile of MLL genes in larynx carcinoma and normal adjacent tissues and correlate this profile to tumor characteristics.

Expression of calcium binding protein S100 A7 (psoriasin) in laryngeal carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Many studies have reported increased expression of S100 A7 (psoriasin) in neoplastic lesions. Among them are studies on breast carcinoma, bladder squamous cell carcinoma, skin tumors and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of S100 A7 has not been described for laryngeal cancer.

Interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 production by mononuclear cells from patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer before and after surgical treatment.

Methods: Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied. Cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated during the preoperative and late postoperative periods were stimulated with concanavalin A and Bacille Calmette-Guerin, and the supernatant concentrations of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 were measured.

Expression of cancer-testis antigens MAGE-A4 and MAGE-C1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Tumor markers are genes or their products expressed exclusively or preferentially in tumor cells and cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) form a group of genes with a typical expression pattern expressed in a variety of malignant neoplasms. CTAs are considered potential targets for cancer vaccines. It is possible that the CTA MAGE-A4 (melanoma antigen) and MAGE-C1 are expressed in carcinoma of the oral cavity and are related with survival.

Expression of MAGE-A4 and MAGE-C1 tumor-associated antigen in benign and malignant thyroid diseases.

Background: A subset of thyroid tumors characterized by a follicular growth pattern can represent a serious diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology for genetic profiling have been used in an attempt to resolve some of these issues.

Methods: Tumor tissue samples of thyroid were obtained from 70 patients who underwent surgical therapy.

High expression of cancer testis antigens MAGE-A, MAGE-C1/CT7, MAGE-C2/CT10, NY-ESO-1, and gage in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Background: Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances in head and neck cancer, the 5-year survival of patients with laryngeal cancer has not improved in the last 30 years. Several recent studies indicate that specific targets for immunotherapeutic approaches can be useful in the control of cancer. There is considerable interest in the expression of cancer testis antigens in human cancers since they may serve as the basis for an immunologic approach to therapy.

Electrophysiologic activity of the vestibular fold.

Objectives: To assess the vestibular fold muscle after cordectomy and laryngeal reconstruction, the pattern of motor unit recruitment during sound emission, and the morphologic characteristics of motor unit action potentials.

Design: Prospective analysis.

Setting: Tertiary academic hospital.

Do foreign bodies migrate through the body towards the heart?

Unlabelled: Fixation of foreign bodies (FB), in the mucosa, can favor its migration, giving origin to the popular saying: 'FB walk to the heart'.

Aim: Describe the mechanisms involved in FB migration and how to diagnose them.

Methodology: From a sample of 3,000 foreign bodies, during 40 years, we analyzed four which had extra-lumen migration.

Dynamics of parathyroid hormone secretion after total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation.

Background: Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication in uremic patients. Total parathyroidectomy combined with partial autotransplantation into brachioradialis muscle has been the preference among the options for surgical treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the reserve and ability of suppression of autotransplanted parathyroid tissue using dynamics tests.

Reconstruction of two mandible defects with one fibular flap.

The present report describes an original surgical procedure for the mandibular reconstruction of 2 different defects using a single fibular flap. In addition to the habitual osteotomies, we resected a bone fragment from the middle portion of the flap, with care taken to maintain the integrity of the pedicle throughout its extension to guarantee an adequate blood supply also for the distal portion of the bone flap used for the treatment of the smaller mandibular defect. This simple maneuver permitted the reconstruction of 2 mandibular regions with well-vascularized bone tissue using a single microsurgical flap.

Effect of BCG stimulus on proinflammatory cytokine production in laryngeal cancer.

Background: Evaluate the production of TNF and IL-6 in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures of patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer before and after surgical treatment.

Materials And Methods: Adherent cell cultures were stimulated with LPS and BCG. Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied.

Comparison between general anesthesia and superficial cervical plexus block in partial thyroidectomies.

Unlabelled: Thyroidectomy under the effect of superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) has met resistance.

Aim: to compare variables in patients submitted to hemithyroidectomy under the effect of general anesthesia (GA) and SCPB.

Case Report And Methods: GA was used in 21 patients, and SCPB was used in another 21 patients.

Effect of surgical treatment on lymphoproliferation in advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer.

Objectives: The capacity of cell immunity to act against tumor cells has been presented as a decisive influence in the prognosis of patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphoproliferation in nonadherent peripheral blood cell cultures of patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer.

Study Design: Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied prospectively.

Systemic and local characterization of regulatory T cells in a chronic fungal infection in humans.

The long-term persistence of pathogens in a host is a hallmark of certain infectious diseases, including schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Natural regulatory T (Treg) cells are involved in control of the immune responses, including response to pathogens. Because CTLA-4 is constitutively expressed in Treg cells and it acts as a negative regulator of T cell activation in patients with PCM, here we investigated the involvement of Treg cells in the control of systemic and local immune response in patients with PCM.

Midfacial translocation, a variation of the approach to the rhinopharynx, clivus and upper odontoid process.

Objective: A surgical variation of the technique of facial translocation procedure is proposed, which has been called midfacial translocation for approach to the entire medial and lateral region of the middle third of the face, including the rhinopharynx, sphenoid sinus, pterygomaxillary fossa, odontoid process, and clivus.

Patients And Methods: The medical records of five treated patients accordingly were reviewed for an analysis of the surgical technique, the disease, the topography of the lesion, and the complications.

Results: The approach permitted ventral decompression of the bulbomedullary junction with resection of the C1 arch and the odontoid process in four patients and resection of a chordoma of the clivus located along the midline and extending intradurally in the fifth patient.

Effects of time of contact and concentration of caustic agent on generation of injuries.

Objectives: Solid caustic soda (CS) ingestion levels continue high in Brazil. The aggressiveness of a caustic agent depends, among other factors, on its concentration and time of contact with mucosa. However, the interdependence of these factors in the production of caustic lesion in the esophageal mucosa is not known, especially regarding CS as the strongest corrosive agent.

Behavior of the cricopharyngeal segment during esophageal phonation in laryngectomized patients.

Background: After total laryngectomy, the interruption of the upper digestive tube and the section of the cricopharyngeal segment alter the high-pressure zone of the pharyngoesophageal transition, which will not only start to have a digestive function, but also be stimulated to take on the production of voice and speech. The pressure observed in the cricopharyngeal segment seems to act as a critical factor for the development of esophageal sound production, and manometry is the procedure capable of quantifying the pressure observed in this region.

Objective: The objective of the current study was to assess the upper esophageal sphincter pressure in laryngectomized patients who are either successful or unsuccessful esophageal speakers, both at rest and during esophageal phonation, using manometry.

Expression of cancer testis antigens in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: There is considerable interest in the expression of cancer testis (CT) antigens in human cancers, because they may serve as the basis for diagnostic tests or an immunologic approach to therapy, or as prognostic markers.

Methods: On this basis, we evaluated by semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the expression of genes that code for tumor antigens (melanoma antigen-1 [MAGE-1], MAGE-4, MAGE-10, MAGE-12, B melanoma antigen, CTL-recognized antigen melanoma antigen (CT antigen 2) [LAGE], New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma antigen (CT antigen 1) [NYESO-1], and preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma [PRAME]) in surgical samples of the tumors, margins, and lymph nodes (when present) from patients with a diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma. The study was conducted on 33 patients (31 men and two women), aged 31 to 94 years (mean, 56 years), with squamous cell carcinomas located in the mouth (15 cases), larynx (14 cases), and pharynx (four cases).

Proximal esophageal contractions in laryngectomized patients.

After laryngectomy for treatment of laryngeal cancer, the distal esophageal contractions have low amplitude. Our hypothesis is that proximal esophageal contractions are also impaired. We studied the proximal esophageal contractions in 20 laryngectomized patients (16 men) with a mean age of 44.

Neck mass due to thrombosis of the jugular vein in patients with cancer.

The hypothesis that jugular thrombosis (JT) may cause a mass in the cervical region is usually overlooked. The objective of the present study was to identify the characteristics of neck masses resulting from JT in cancer patients and to analyze the possible reasons for their formation. A retrospective study was conducted on 8 patients with JT affected by 3 types of neoplasia, ie, carcinomas (3 cases), adenocarcinomas (3 cases), and lymphomas (2 cases) located in the breast, digestive apparatus, lymphatic system (2 cases each), lung and an undetermined site (1 case each), diagnosed over the last 12 years.

Severe hypertrophy of the base of the tongue in adults.

The lymphoid follicles at the base of the tongue can be detected when examining the pharynx of adults, but the presence of large follicles, denoted "severe" hypertrophy of the base of the tongue (HBT) is rare. The objective of the present study was to identify severe HBT cases and their symptoms and to correlate them with the presence of pharyngolaryngeal signs and esophageal symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in patients seen at a laryngology clinic. Severe HBT was considered to be present when the follicles prevented the view of the epiglottis or were massively distributed through the pharynx and larynx.

Influence of esophageal motility on esophageal speech of laryngectomized patients.

After laryngectomy for treatment of cancer of the larynx, the patient may have vocal rehabilitation by esophageal speech. Some patients fail to achieve the esophageal speech due to reasons involving surgery, radiotherapy, and psychological alterations. Our hypothesis is that the esophageal motility alterations consequent to laryngectomy may be involved in the failure to achieve esophageal speech.