Prognostic significance of telomerase activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma [NPC] is one of the very few cancers in which care can be anticipated even in patients with advancer disease. Telomerase enzyme is a specialized multisubunit functioning as a reverse transcriptase that can synthesize the telomeric ends at each cell division. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of telomerase activity, particularly in terms of prognostic impact, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma [NPC]. The studs evaluated 25 NPC specimens using polymerase chain reaction based or telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Telomerase activity was detected in 20 [80%] of 25 NPC specimens but in non of the adjacent normal tissue specimens. Factors such as the mean age, sex and size of the tumor did not correlate significantly with telomerase activity. On the other hand, significant positive telomerase activity were observed in the patient with advanced disease, in patients with modal metastases and in patient with poorly differentiated tumour. In conclusion, telomerase activity can be utilized as one of the important prognostic factors in patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Reduction rhinoplasty and nasal patency: acoustic rhinometric evaluation

Reduction rhinoplasty inherently decreases the cross-sectional area of the nasal airway unless surgical measures are taken to prevent this. Acoustic rhinometry is a non invasive and reliable objective method for determining the cross-sectional areas of the nasal cavity, this report describes the findings in a group of 20 patients suffering from nasal deformity who under went hump removal and lateral and medial osteotomies. Tipplasty was performed either by the cartilage splitting technique or by delivery of alar cartilages. Acoustic rhinometry was performed pre and at 6 months post-rhinoplasty. From the study we recommended preoperatire measurement of cross-sectional areas of nasal cavity to determine at risk patients for developing nasal obstruction and site of it, secondly certain surgical measures should be taken during reduction rhinoplasty for prevention of nasal obstruction as correction of internal nasal valve incompetence using cartilage graft, outfracture and turbinoplasty