Nasal polyps show decreased mucociliary transport despite vigorous ciliary beating.

Objective: Mucociliary transport function in the airway mucosa is essential for maintaining a clean mucosal surface. This function is impaired in upper and lower airway diseases. Nasal polyps are a noticeable pathological feature that develop in some of the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

TRPA1/M8 agonists upregulate ciliary beating through the pannexin-1 channel in the human nasal mucosa.

Background: Nasal breathing is important for maintaining physiological respiration. However, airflow in the nasal cavity has an inherent cooling effect and may suppress ciliary beating, an essential frontline defense in the airway. Nasal airflow is thought to be perceived by thermoreceptors for cool temperatures.

Biophysical properties of the neck skin indicating potential complications of salvage surgery for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer.

Background: Chemoradiation therapy is standard practice for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer, but its impact on skin health can cause complications if salvage surgery is required.

Aims/objectives: To develop simple objective indices for the early detection of complications following head-and-neck salvage surgery.

Material And Methods: Preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5 and 7, we measured skin hardness (N), interstitial liquid content (П) and intracellular liquid content (W) as biophysical properties in patients who underwent post-CRT salvage therapy and those who underwent total organ resection without CRT as controls.

Pattern of Recurrence After Platinum-Containing Definitive Therapy and Efficacy of Salvage Treatment for Recurrence in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Background: In first-line systemic therapy for unresectable recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN), regimens are generally selected by time-to-relapse with 6 months cutoff after platinum (Pt)-containing definitive therapy, Pt-refractory or Pt-sensitive recurrence, but clinical characteristics between Pt-refractory and Pt-sensitive recurrence of R/M SCCHN has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate pattern of recurrence and efficacy for salvage treatment for recurrence after Pt-containing definitive therapy for R/M SCCHN in a real-world setting.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 150 patients treated with Pt-containing definitive therapy and analyzed the pattern of recurrence and efficacy of salvage therapy for 63 patients with R/M SCCHN.

Retreatment with nivolumab for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer.

Background: After treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) is discontinued, retreatment with an ICI is a potential sequential treatment, but the clinical efficacy/safety data for this treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer (R/M-HNC) are limited.

Aims/objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of retreatment with nivolumab in R/M HNC.

Materials And Methods: We divided the 29 eligible R/M-HNC patients who discontinued ICI treatment at our hospital into two cohorts to analyze the clinical characteristics and the efficacy of the salvage therapy: the Niv cohort (nivolumab retreatment) and the no-Niv cohort (no nivolumab retreatment).

Expression of T-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel in the Cilia of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells.

Introduction: The mucociliary transport function of the airway epithelium is largely dependent on ciliary beating. The control signal of ciliary beating is thought to be intracellular Ca2+. We herein investigated the expression of T-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC), a generator of intracellular Ca2+ oscillation, in the human nasal mucosa.

Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy Using a Surgical Energy Device: Initial Experience in a Japanese Single-Center Cohort.

Objective: Video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT) was approved for coverage under the Japanese public health insurance system in 2016. In our department, we introduced VAT in 2018, and we have since been performing the procedure with the assistance of surgical energy devices. We herein summarize our cases undergoing VAT, including a review of points to consider when introducing the procedure, and characteristics of the surgical energy devices.

Frequency-specific prediction model of hearing outcomes in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Purpose: The hearing outcome of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is hard to predict. We herein constructed a multiple regression model for hearing outcomes in each frequency separately in an attempt to achieve practical prediction in ISSNHL.

Methods: We enrolled 235 consecutive in-patients with ISSNHL who were treated in our department from 2015 to 2020 (average hearing level at 250-4000 Hz ≥ 40 dB; time from onset to treatment ≤ 14 days; 126 males/109 females; age range 17-87 years (average 61.

Decreased CFTR/PPARγ and increased transglutaminase 2 in nasal polyps.

Objective: Transglutaminase (TGM)2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ are thought to participate in the pathogenesis of nasal polyp formation in cystic fibrosis (CF). We herein investigated expressions of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), TGM2, PPARγ and isopeptide bonds, a reaction product of TGM, in non-CF nasal polyps.

Methods: Nasal polyps and inferior turbinates were collected from chronic rhinosinusitis patients without CF during transnasal endoscopic sinonasal surgery.

Salvage Re-irradiation with Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy Combined with Hyperthermia for Local Recurrence of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma After Chemoradiotherapy.

A sufficient dose of radiation is difficult to administer in re-irradiation for local recurrence of cancer after radiotherapy because of the dose limitation to organs at risk. Re-irradiation cases also include radioresistant tumors that are difficult to control locally, and their prognosis is poor in general. The effect of re-irradiation using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has recently been reported to significantly reduce the dose to organs at risk, and the efficacy of hyperthermia has been reported for radioresistant tumors.

Calmodulin Regulates Ciliary Beats in the Human Nasal Mucosa Through Adenylate/Guanylate Cyclases and Protein Kinases A/G.

Background: The ciliary beat of the airway epithelium, including the sinonasal epithelium, has a significant role in frontline defense and is thought to be controlled by the level of intracellular Ca2+. Involvement of calmodulin and adenylate/guanylate cyclases in the regulation of ciliary beats has been reported, and here we investigated the interrelation between these components of the ciliary beat regulatory pathway.

Methods: The inferior turbinates were collected from 29 patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis/rhinosinusitis during endoscopic sinonasal surgery.

Frequency-specific efficacy of intratympanic steroid on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Hearing recovery would be different in each sound frequency in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). To analyze frequency-specific efficacy of intratympanic steroid on ISSNHL. Of a total of 381 patients with ISSNHL (hearing threshold ≥40 dB; ≤30 days until treatment), 174 patients (174 ears) received systemic steroid plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO group), and 207 patients (208 ears) received systemic plus intratympanic steroid (IT group).

Expression of Cl channels/transporters in nasal polyps.

Purpose: Nasal polyp formation is a common sequela of prolonged chronic rhinosinusitis, but the mechanism underlying this disease state is still controversial. We compared the expressions of Cl channels/transporters in nasal polyps with those in inferior turbinates to explore whether a deficiency in Cl transport may participate in the pathophysiology of nasal polyp formation as in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Methods: Nasal polyps and inferior turbinates were collected from 12 chronic rhinosinusitis patients with hypertrophic rhinitis and/or nasal polyps.

Calmodulin and protein kinases A/G mediate ciliary beat response in the human nasal epithelium.

Background: Mucociliary clearance of the airway epithelium is an essential function for mucosal defense. We recently proposed a hypothetical mechanism of ciliary beat regulation, in which the pannexin-1 (Panx1)-P2X7 unit serves as an oscillator generating a periodic increase in intracellular Ca ([Ca ] ). In the present study, we examined the localization of Panx1 and P2X7 at the ultrastructural level, and investigated the regulatory pathway subsequent to [Ca ] increase.

Efficacy of Intratympanic Steroid on Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: An Analysis of Cases With Negative Prognostic Factors.

Purpose We retrospectively studied the efficacy of intratympanic steroid administration in comparison with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with negative prognostic factors. Method We enrolled 301 patients (302 ears) with ISSNHL (average hearing level at 250-4000 Hz ≥ 40 dB; time from onset to treatment ≤ 30 days). From August 2002 to March 2009, 174 patients (174 ears) received systemic steroid plus HBO therapy (HBO group), and from June 2015 to January 2018, 127 patients (128 ears) received systemic plus intratympanic steroid (IT group).

Decreased ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in the nasal polyp epithelium.

Objective: We investigated the difference in ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in ex vivo and the difference in the expressions of associated molecules (M1/M3 muscarinic receptors, pannexin-1 and P2X7 purinergic receptor) between the nasal polyp and turbinate mucosa.

Study Design: Laboratorial study.

Participants: Nasal polyp and inferior turbinate were collected from patients with hypertrophic rhinitis and/or nasal polyp during endoscopic sinonasal surgery.

Characteristics of diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficients of ranulas and other masses in and around the floor of the mouth.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of ranulas. In addition, to elucidate DWI findings and ADC values of other representative masses in and around the floor of the mouth.

Study Design: DWI findings and ADC values in 35 patients with ranulas and 33 patients with other masses were retrospectively reviewed with a central focus on cystic masses or lesions that may have cyst-like components in and around the floor of the mouth based on the diagnosis of each respective disease.

Acetylcholine-induced Ciliary Beat of the Human Nasal Mucosa Is Regulated by the Pannexin-1 Channel and Purinergic P2X Receptor.

Unlabelled: Background Airway mucociliary transport is an important function for the clearance of inhaled foreign particulates in the respiratory tract. The present study aimed at investigating the regulatory mechanism of acetylcholine (Ach)-induced ciliary beat of the human nasal mucosa in ex vivo. Methods The inferior turbinate mucosa was collected from patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis during endoscopic surgery.

Gene expression profiling to predict recurrence of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: discovery and external validation.

Objectives: To establish a prognostic signature for locally advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) patients treated with surgery.

Results: In the discovery study, unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis identified two clusters which differentiated the Kaplan-Meier curves of RFS [median RFS, 111 days vs. not reached; log-rank test, = 0.

Pharmacokinetics of initial full and subsequent reduced doses of S-1 in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer-effect of renal insufficiency.

Background: S-1 is a combination of tegafur [metabolized to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)] with the modulators gimeracil (5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine) and oteracil potassium. 5-Chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine maintains plasma 5-FU concentrations by inhibiting dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, a pyrimidine catabolism enzyme that degrades 5-FU. As 50% of 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine is excreted in urine, renal insufficiency may increase its blood level, increasing 5-FU concentrations.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Hypomagnesemia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Cetuximab.

Background: Hypomagnesemia is a common adverse event during cetuximab (Cmab) treatment. However, few reports have investigated the incidence and risk factors of hypomagnesemia in head and neck cancer patients treated with Cmab.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 131 head and neck cancer patients who received Cmab-containing therapy.

Impact of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement on treatment tolerance in head and neck cancer patients treated with cetuximab plus radiation.

Objective: We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab plus radiation with or without prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrectomy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck patients who were not suitable to receive platinum.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the case records of 27 locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck patients treated with cetuximab plus radiation (RT) between January 2013 and July 2014. No patient was able to receive platinum because of renal dysfunction or other contraindications.

Possible contribution of pannexin-1 to ATP release in human upper airway epithelia.

Pannexins are a family of transmembrane nonselective channel proteins that participate in the release of ATP into extracellular space. Previous studies have suggested that pannexin-1 (Panx1) may constitute a local autocrine/paracrine system via transmitter ATP in association with the purinergic P2X7 receptor. In this study, we investigate the expressions of Panx1 and P2X7 in human nasal mucosa, together with hypotonic stress-induced ATP release from this tissue.

Possible participation of acidic pH in bone resorption in middle ear cholesteatoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: The etiopathology of bone resorption in cholesteatoma is unclear. We studied pH in middle ear cholesteatoma tissue and the permeability of the cholesteatoma epithelium in an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of bone resorption in this disease.

Study Design: Laboratorial study.