Local 'free-style' perforator flaps in head and neck reconstruction: an update and a useful classification.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Feb 11;
Authors: Kokkoli E, Shih HS, Spyropoulou GA, Jeng SF
PMID: 26890505 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
A Huge Ancient Schwannoma of the Epiglottis.
J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Feb 15;
Authors: Lee DH, Kim JH, Yoon TM, Lee JK, Lim SC
Abstract
Ancient schwannoma of the epiglottis is extremely rare. The authors report the first case of a patient with a huge ancient schwannoma of the epiglottis. Clinicians should consider the possibility that ancient schwannoma may originate in the epiglottis mimicking the other more frequently observed lesions.
PMID: 26890461 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Retrospective data suggests that the higher prevalence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in individuals with type 2 diabetes is mediated by hypertension.
J Vestib Res. 2016 Jan 28;25(5-6):233-239
Authors: D'Silva LJ, Staecker H, Lin J, Sykes KJ, Phadnis MA, McMahon TM, Connolly D, Sabus CH, Whitney SL, Kluding PM
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) has been linked to comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension. However, the relationship between type 2 diabetes (DM) and BPPV is unclear. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the relationship between DM and BPPV in the presence of known contributors like age, gender and hypertension.
METHODS: A retrospective review of the records of 3933 individuals was categorized by the specific vestibular diagnosis and for the presence of type 2 DM and hypertension. As the prevalence of BPPV was higher in people with type 2 DM compared to those without DM, multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify variables predictive of BPPV. The relationship between type 2 DM, hypertension and BPPV was analyzed using mediation analysis.
RESULTS: BPPV was seen in 46% of individuals with type 2 DM, compared to 37% of individuals without DM (p< 0.001). Forty two percent of the association between type 2 DM and BPPV was mediated by hypertension, and supported hypertension as a complete mediator in the relationship between type 2 DM and BPPV.
CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension may provide the mediating pathway by which diabetes affects the vestibular system. Individuals with complaints of dizziness, with comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes, may benefit from a screening for BPPV.
PMID: 26890424 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Visual perception of upright: Head tilt, visual errors and viewing eye.
J Vestib Res. 2016 Jan 28;25(5-6):201-209
Authors: Kheradmand A, Gonzalez G, Otero-Millan J, Lasker A
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Perception of upright is often assessed by aligning a luminous line to the subjective visual vertical (SVV).
OBJECTIVE: Here we investigated the effects of visual line rotation and viewing eye on SVV responses and whether there was any change with head tilt.
METHODS: SVV was measured using a forced-choice paradigm and by combining the following conditions in 22 healthy subjects: head position (20° left tilt, upright and 20° right tilt), viewing eye (left eye, both eyes and right eye) and direction of visual line rotation (clockwise [CW] and counter clockwise [CCW]).
RESULTS: The accuracy and precision of SVV responses were not different between the viewing eye conditions in all head positions (P> 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The accuracy of SVV responses was % significantly different between the CW and CCW line rotations (p ≈ 0.0001; Kruskal-Wallis test) and SVV was tilted in the same direction as the line rotation. This effect of line rotation was however not consistent across head tilts and was only present in the upright and right tilt head positions. The accuracy of SVV responses showed a higher variability among subjects in the left head tilt position with no significant difference between the CW and CCW line rotations (P> 0.05; post-hoc Dunn's test).
CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the challenges to the estimate of upright with head tilt, normal subjects did remarkably well irrespective of the viewing eye. The physiological significance of the asymmetry in the effect of line rotation between the head tilt positions is unclear but it %may suggest suggests a lateralizing effect of head tilt on the visual perception of upright.
PMID: 26890421 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Matricellular Protein Periostin Mediates Intestinal Inflammation through the Activation of Nuclear Factor κB Signaling.
PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0149652
Authors: Koh SJ, Choi Y, Kim BG, Lee KL, Kim DW, Kim JH, Kim JW, Kim JS
Abstract
Periostin is a matricellular protein that interacts with various integrin molecules on the cell surface. Although periostin is expressed in inflamed colonic mucosa, its role in the regulation of intestinal inflammation remains unclear. We investigated the role of periostin in intestinal inflammation using Postn-deficient (Postn-/-) mice. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were transfected by Postn small interfering RNAs. Periostin expression was determined in colon tissue samples from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Oral administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or rectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, induced severe colitis in wild-type mice, but not in Postn-/- mice. Administration of recombinant periostin induced colitis in Postn-/- mice. The periostin neutralizing-antibody ameliorated the severity of colitis in DSS-treated wild-type mice. Silencing of Postn inhibited inteleukin (IL)-8 mRNA expression and NF-κB DNA-binding activity in IECs. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α upregulated mRNA expression of Postn in IECs, and recombinant periostin strongly enhanced IL-8 expression in combination with TNF-α, which was suppressed by an antibody against integrin αv (CD51). Periostin and CD51 were expressed at significantly higher levels in UC patients than in controls. Periostin mediates intestinal inflammation through the activation of NF-κB signaling, which suggests that periostin is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
PMID: 26890265 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Neuronavigated left temporal continuous theta burst stimulation in chronic tinnitus.
Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2016 Jan 30;
Authors: Schecklmann M, Giani A, Tupak S, Langguth B, Raab V, Polak T, Várallyay C, Harnisch W, Herrmann MJ, Fallgatter AJ
Abstract
PURPOSE: Clinical effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in chronic tinnitus are moderate. More precise coil localisation strategies, innovative stimulation protocols, and identification of predictors for treatment response were proposed as promising attempts to enhance treatment efficacy. In this pilot study we investigated neuronavigated continuous theta burst TMS (cTBS).
METHODS: Twenty-three patients received neuronavigated cTBS over the left primary auditory cortex in a randomized sham-controlled trial (verum = 12; sham = 11). Treatment response was evaluated with tinnitus questionnaires and numeric rating scales. Immediate change in numeric rating scales during the first session was used as predictor for treatment response.
RESULTS: Tinnitus was significantly reduced after treatment, but there were no superior effects between verum vs. sham treatment. Immediate change in the first treatment session predicted the response to treatment only in the verum group.
CONCLUSIONS: In our study, verum cTBS was not superior to sham which highlights the persistent need for improving non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for the treatment of tinnitus. Future research should focus on the transfer of positive single session effects to daily treatment trials.
PMID: 26890094 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Mandarin Tone Identification in Cochlear Implant Users Using Exaggerated Pitch Contours.
Otol Neurotol. 2016 Feb 15;
Authors: He A, Deroche ML, Doong J, Jiradejvong P, Limb CJ
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exaggerating the variations in fundamental frequency (F0) contours of Mandarin-based pitch fluctuations could improve tone identification by cochlear implant (CI) users.
METHODS: Twelve normal-hearing (NH) listeners and 11 CI users were tested for their ability to recognize F0 contours modeled after Mandarin tones, in 4- or 5-alternatives forced-choice paradigms. Two types of stimuli were used: computer-generated complex tones and voice recordings. Four contours were tested with voice recordings: flat, rise, fall, and dip. A fifth contour, peak, was added for complex tones. The F0 range of each contour was varied in an adaptive manner. A maximum-likelihood technique was used to fit a psychometric function to the performance data and extract threshold at 70% accuracy.
RESULTS: As F0 range increased, performance in tone identification improved but did not reach 100% for some CI users, suggesting that confusions between contours could always be made even with extremely exaggerated contours. Compared with NH participants, CI users required substantially larger F0 ranges to identify tones, on the order of 9.3 versus 0.4 semitones. CI users achieved better performance for complex tones than for voice recordings, whereas the reverse was true for NH participants. Confusion matrices showed that the "flat" tone was often a default option when the tone contour's F0 range presented was too narrow for participants to respond correctly.
CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate markedly impaired ability for CI users to identify tonal contours, but suggest that the use of exaggerated pitch contours may be helpful for tonal language perception.
PMID: 26890043 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Novel mutations of PIK3CA gene in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Cancer Biomark. 2016 Feb 2;
Authors: Al-Amri AM, Vatte C, Cyrus C, Chathoth S, Hashim TM, Mohamed YS, Ali RA, Alsaid A, Ali AA
Abstract
BACKGROUND: HNSCC is the sixth most common human cancer globally. In Saudi Arabia, HNSCC accounts for seven percent of all newly diagnosed cancer cases. The PIK3CA is one of the most commonly mutated oncogene in human malignancies, including HNSCC.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify mutations in exon 9 and exon 20 of the PIK3CA gene among Saudi HNSCC patients, determine the frequency of these mutations and correlate with clinical and pathological findings.
METHODS: Histopathologically confirmed paraffin embedded HNSCC tumor tissues from 48 patients were obtained. Capillary sequencing method was used to sequence exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene. Concurrently, the expression analysis of the PIK3CA and PTEN genes were performed using real-time PCR.
RESULTS: Sixty percent of the samples studied were of pharyngeal cancer. A total of seven mutations were identified in exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene in 14 HNSCC tumor tissue specimens. The seven mutations encompassed one hot spot mutation E542K, a common mutation T1025T and the five novel mutation comprising three missense and two silent mutations. Interestingly, eight out of the 14 samples with a mutation were of patients with pharyngeal cancer.
CONCLUSION: PIK3CA gene plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis in general and HNSCC in particular. The identification of five novel mutations suggest that Saudis may have different frequencies of somatic genetic alterations that may influence HNSCC compared to other populations.
PMID: 26889984 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Global Sensory Impairment in Older Adults in the United States.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016 Feb;64(2):306-313
Authors: Correia C, Lopez KJ, Wroblewski KE, Huisingh-Scheetz M, Kern DW, Chen RC, Schumm LP, Dale W, McClintock MK, Pinto JM
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there may be a common mechanism resulting in global sensory impairment of the five classical senses (vision, smell, hearing, touch, and taste) in older adults.
DESIGN: Representative, population-based study.
SETTING: National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.
PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling U.S. adults aged 57 to 85.
MEASUREMENTS: The frequency with which impairment co-occurred across the five senses was estimated as an integrated measure of sensory aging. It was hypothesized that multisensory deficits would be common and reflect global sensory impairment that would largely explain the effects of age, sex, and race on sensory dysfunction.
RESULTS: Two-thirds of subjects had two or more sensory deficits, 27% had just one, and 6% had none. Seventy-four percent had impairment in taste, 70% in touch, 22% in smell, 20% in corrected vision, and 18% in corrected hearing. Older adults, men, African Americans, and Hispanics had greater multisensory impairment (all P < .01). Global sensory impairment largely accounted for the effects of age, sex, and race on the likelihood of impairment in each of the five senses.
CONCLUSION: Multisensory impairment is prevalent in older U.S. adults. These data support the concept of a common process that underlies sensory aging across the five senses. Clinicians assessing individuals with a sensory deficit should consider further evaluation for additional co-occurring sensory deficits.
PMID: 26889840 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Non-melanoma skin cancer of the head and neck: the aid of reflectance confocal microscopy for the accurate diagnosis and management.
G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2016 Feb 18;
Authors: Ferrari B, Salgarelli AC, Mandel VD, Bellini P, Reggiani C, Farnetani F, Pellacani G, Magnoni C
Abstract
BACKGOUND: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) represents the most common cutaneous neoplasms of the head and neck. In recent years, novel non-invasive diagnostic tool have been developed, and among these we have the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), that offers the evaluation of the skin at real time with cellular resolution. Numerous studies have identified the main confocal features of skin tumours, demonstrating the good correlation of these features with certain dermatoscopic patterns and histologic findings.
METHODS: The aim of this analysis was to provide new insight into the role of RCM in the diagnosis and management of NMSC of the head and neck. Data comes from the most recent literature, taking into account previous essential reported information in this field. The study eligibility criteria were: studies providing update information, focusing on RCM findings in NMSC, without restrictions for age, sex, ethnicity. A search concerning the role of dermoscopy and RCM in the diagnosis of NMSC was performed on Medline. Duplicated studies, single case report and papers with language other than English were excluded from this study.
RESULTS: RCM clues were analysed for NMSC in association with clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic findings. Moreover, some new findings have been described and possible applications for NMSC of the head and neck have been discussed.
CONCLUSION: RCM allows tissue imaging in-vivo contributing to a more accurate diagnosis of NMSC of the head and neck, sparing time for the patient and costs for the public health system. RCM can also be used for selection of the biopsy site and it is helpful in defining the surgical safety margins to keep during the excision of skin cancers.
PMID: 26889726 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Opportunity Cost of Surgical Management of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma.
Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2016 Mar;9(1):76-81
Authors: Moses H, Powers D, Keeler J, Erdmann D, Marcus J, Puscas L, Woodard C
Abstract
The provision of trauma care is a financial burden, continually associated with low reimbursement, and shifts the economic burden to major trauma centers and providers. Meanwhile, the volume of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma and the number of surgically managed facial fractures are unchanged. Past financial analyses of cost and reimbursement for facial trauma are limited to mandibular and midface injuries, consistently revealing low reimbursement. The incurred financial burden also coincides with the changing landscape of health insurance. The goal of this study is to determine the opportunity cost of operative management of facial trauma at our institution. From our CMF database of greater than 3,000 facial fractures, the physician charges, collections, and relative value units (RVUs) for CMF trauma per year from 2007 to 2013 were compared with a general plastic surgery and otolaryngology population undergoing operative management during this same period. Collection rates were analyzed to assess if a significant difference exists between reimbursement for CMF and non-CMF cases. Results revealed a significant difference between the professional collection rate for operative CMF trauma and that for other operative procedures (17.25 vs. 29.61%, respectively; p < 0.0001). The average number of RVUs billed per provider for CMF trauma declines significantly, from greater than 700 RVUs to 300 over the study period, despite a stable volume. Surgical management of CMF trauma generates an unfavorable financial environment. The large opportunity cost associated with offering this service is a potential threat to the sustainability of providing care for this population.
PMID: 26889352 [PubMed]
Reconstructive Indications of Anterolateral Thigh Free Flaps in Head and Neck Reconstruction.
Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2016 Mar;9(1):40-5
Authors: Khadakban D, Kudpaje A, Thankappan K, Jayaprasad K, Gorasia T, Vidhyadharan S, Mathew J, Sharma M, Iyer S
Abstract
Anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap is a common flap with multitude of indications. The purpose of this article is to review the reconstructive indications of the flap in head and neck defects. This is a retrospective study of 194 consecutive ALT flaps. Data including patient characteristics (age, sex, comorbidities), disease characteristics (histology, T stage), and flap characteristics (size of the flap, type of closure of ALT donor site) were collected. The outcome in terms of flap success rate, surgical, and donor site morbidity were studied. A total of 194 flaps were performed in 193 patients over a period of 10 years. Mean age of the patients was 55 years (range 16-80 years). Out of the 193 patients, 91 (47.1%) patients had oromandibular defects, 52 (26.9%) had tongue defects, 15 (7.7%) had pharyngeal defects, 17 (8.8%) had skull base defects, 4 (2%) had scalp defects, and 14 (7.2%) had contour defects of the neck. The overall flap success rate was 95.8% (8 total flap loss out of 194). Hypertrophic scar was the commonest donor site problem seen in 20 (10.3%) patients. This study shows the versatility of free ALT flap in head and neck reconstruction. It is a reliable and safe. Donor site morbidity is minimal.
PMID: 26889347 [PubMed]
 OncLive |
Uninsured and Medicaid patients have higher overall and cancer-specific mortality rates
News-Medical.net Compared to patients with non-Medicaid insurance, uninsured patients and patients with Medicaid are more likely to present with advanced stages of head and neck cancer and have higher overall and cancer-specific mortality rates, according to research ... Chemoradiation Improves OS for Elderly Patients With Head and Neck CancersOncLive Study links health insurance status and head and neck cancer diagnoses, outcomesEurekAlert (press release) Uninsured and Medicaid Patients with Head and Neck Cancer More Likely to Present with Advanced Tumors ...Newswise (press release) all 76 news articles » |
 CounterPunch |
Is Alcohol the New Tobacco?
CounterPunch According to the National Institute of Health even just regular alcohol consumption “…increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and rectum.” The CAMH calculates the cost of alcohol use in ... and more » |
Paper sensor to track alcohol-related health issues: Indian scientists
Daijiworld.com Kolkata, Feb 19 (IANS): Indian scientists have designed a paper sensor that has the potential to track health adversities associated with alcoholism, which they say is a step forward in the realm of low-priced point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in the ... and more » |
