Relative social standing and suicide ideation among Kenyan males: the interpersonal theory of suicide in context.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between subjective social status and suicide ideation in a sample of young Kenyan men (age 18-34 years). Situating insights from the interpersonal theory of suicide within social determinants of health framework, we consider whether lower subjective social status predicts lower collective self-esteem (CSE), hopelessness, less meaning in life and more loneliness, and whether these characteristics mediate associations between subjective social status and suicide ideation. METHOD: A community-based, semi-rural sample (n = 532) of young men, aged 18-34 years, was collected using a standardized questionnaire. The survey questionnaire included the following validated scale items: the short form of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults, CSE, Herth Hope Index, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation. Regression and mediation analyses were used to test hypotheses. RESULTS: Nearly 12% of respondents reported suicide ideation. Suicide ideation was significantly more common among survey respondents who reported lower subjective social standing. In the first of two mediation models, we found that lower CSE and more loneliness mediate the association between lower subjective social status and suicide ideation. In the second model, we found that respondents with lower CSE and more loneliness expressed lower hope and meaning in life, which also mediated pathways to suicide ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Findings show a novel synthesis of social determinants literature with the interpersonal theory of suicide. Suicide ideation, along with other mental and social outcomes, may figure more prominently than previously appreciated in the benefits of socio-economic equality. Those who do not participate equally in socio-economic development may be at greater risk of engaging in suicide ideation and behaviors. Suicide prevention research and programmatic responses should adopt a health equity perspective to ensure that prevention is targeted where people are more likely to engage in suicide ideation.

Laxatives for the management of constipation in palliative care patients.

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a common problem for palliative care patients which can generate considerable suffering for patients due to both the unpleasant physical symptoms and psychological preoccupations that can arise. There is uncertainty about the 'best' management of constipation in palliative care patients and variation in practice between palliative care settings. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of laxative administration for the management of constipation in palliative care patients, and the differential efficacy of the laxatives used to manage constipation. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched The Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue four, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to January 2005), EMBASE (1980 to January 2005), CANCERLIT, PUBMED, Science Citation Index, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, SIGLE, NTIS, DHSS-DATA, Dissertation Abstracts, Index to Scientific and Technical Proceedings and NHS-NRR and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing laxatives for constipation in palliative care patients. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted patient-reported data measuring changes in stool frequency and ease of passing stools, using objective and validated scales. Tolerance or adverse effects of laxatives used were also sought. The appropriateness of synthesizing data from the controlled trials depended upon the clinical and statistical homogeneity of studies identified. If the controlled trials were homogeneous, a meta-analysis would be attempted. MAIN RESULTS: Four trials involving 280 people were included. Between these trials, the laxatives lactulose; senna; danthron combined with poloxamer (Co-danthramer); Misrakasneham; magnesium hydroxide combined with liquid paraffin (Milpar) were evaluated. All four trials included number and frequency of bowel movements and relative ease of defecation as part of the assessment of laxative efficacy. All of the laxatives demonstrated a limited level of efficacy, although a significant number of participants required rescue laxatives in each of the studies. The only significantly different treatments were in the trial where lactulose plus senna were more effective than danthron combined with poloxamer. Patient preference did not favour either treatment option. Other related systematic reviews have similarly identified that there is a lack of evidence to support the use of one laxative, or combination of laxatives, over another. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of constipation in palliative care is based on inadequate experimental evidence, such that there are insufficient RCT data. Recommendations for laxative use can be related to costs as much as to efficacy. There have been few comparative studies, equally there have been few direct comparisons between different classes of laxative and between different combinations of laxatives. There persists an uncertainty about the 'best' management of constipation in this group of patients.

CD44 expression in sinonasal inverted papillomas and associated squamous cell carcinoma.

Increased expression of the cell adhesion molecule, CD44 standard form (CD44s), has been associated with papillary epithelial tumors, and decreased expression has been linked to tumor invasion and metastasis. Sinonasal inverted papillomas (SIPs) are the most common papillary tumors of the sinonasal tract. This study tests whether the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ and invasive SCC in SIP is associated with altered expression of CD44s. Seventy-six specimens of SIP from 68 patients, 2 specimens of SIP with focal SCC in situ, and 10 specimens of invasive SCC arising in SIP were studied. Automated immunohistochemistry was performed for CD44s expression on paraffin-embedded tissue sections using mouse antihuman CD44 antibody. All 76 SIPs (100%) expressed CD44 (strong membranous staining, 83%; moderate staining, 12%; weak staining, 5%). Two (100%) of 2 SIPs with SCC in situ maintained strong expression in benign and severely dysplastic foci. Six (60%) of 10 SIPs with SCC showed complete loss of CD44s expression, while 4 (40%) of 10 cases of SIP with SCC showed weak expression. Two SIPs with SCC (20%) featured weak diffuse staining of the SCC component, and 2 SIPs with SCC (20%) featured weak focal staining of the SCC component. The non-SCC SIP components of the 10 SIPs with SCC uniformly featured intact membranous CD44 staining. As in other papillary epithelial neoplasms, the typical benign SIP features diffuse membranous CD44s expression. In cases of SIP developing an invasive SCC, CD44s expression in the SCC component is frequently lost.

Radiation optic neuropathy after stereotactic radiosurgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to report the occurrence of optic neuropathy after stereotactic radiosurgery for perichiasmal tumors. METHODS: Records of four patients with visual deterioration after stereotactic radiosurgery were reviewed, including clinical findings, neuroimaging results, and treatment methods. RESULTS: Optic neuropathy developed 7 to 30 months after gamma knife radiosurgery. All patients experienced an abrupt change in visual function. Clinical findings indicated anterior visual pathway involvement. Patterns of field loss included nerve fiber bundle and homonymous hemianopic defects. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed swelling and enhancement of the affected portion of the visual apparatus in three patients. Systemic corticosteroids were administered in all patients and one partially recovered. One patient also received hyperbaric oxygen without improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, optic neuropathy may follow radiosurgery to lesions near the visual pathways. Careful dose planning guided by MRI with restriction of the maximal dose to the visual pathways to less than 8 Gy will likely reduce the incidence of this complication.

Endoscopic excision of a giant pyogenic granuloma of the nasal cavity caused by nasal packing.

A case of a giant pyogenic granuloma of the inferior turbinate secondary to nasal packing is presented and its removal via an endoscopic approach is detailed. The sinus endoscope provides excellent visualization and operative control during excision, obviating the need for a lateral rhinotomy. Pyogenic granulomas of the posterior nasal cavity are rare, and should be considered when a nasal mass is detected after packing for epistaxis.

Successful treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma with combined chemotherapy and proton radiation. Results in 9 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of a newly designed treatment strategy for esthesioneuroblastoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses. DESIGN AND SETTING: Nonrandomized prospective study of a case series in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Nine consecutive patients with newly diagnosed esthesioneuroblastoma or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses from June 1992 to October 1995 underwent this treatment protocol. INTERVENTIONS: After histological diagnosis and detailed imaging, 2 cycles of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy were instituted. Chemotherapy responders were treated with combined photon and stereotaxic fractionated proton radiation therapy totaling approximately 68 Gy to the primary site, whereas poor responders were treated with surgical resection followed by postoperative radiation. In both cases, therapy was then concluded with 2 additional cycles of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Response to therapy, survival, disease-free survival, and complications of therapy were examined. RESULTS: Nine patients with a median Dulguerov T stage of T3 (range, T2 to T4) completed the treatment protocol, with mean follow-up after diagnosis of 20.5 months. Eight of 9 patients exhibited a dramatic response to therapy with remission of their tumor, and resection was not required. One patient failed to respond to induction chemotherapy and received surgical therapy to be followed by postoperative radiotherapy. There have been no recurrences (mean disease-free interval of 14.0 months). Complications were limited and generally transient. CONCLUSIONS: The use of combined cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy with proton radiation has demonstrated initial success in treatment of these tumors. Dramatic response from chemotherapy is possible even in bulky or unresectable disease. This protocol has an acceptable complication rate and conveys less morbidity than craniofacial resection and conventional radiotherapy. Further follow-up will be required to determine the long-term success rate of this therapeutic protocol.

Management of airway obstruction in cicatricial pemphigoid.

Cicatricial pemphigoid is a chronic vesiculobullous disease of the mucosal epithelium that primarily involves the oral cavity and the eyes. The clinical and histologic features are identical to those of bullous pemphigoid, and these features often can be nonspecific for other disease processes. It is not unusual for a period of 1 year or more to elapse before a diagnosis is made. The diagnosis of cicatricial pemphigoid requires characteristic lesions and histopathologic evidence of immunoglobulin deposition along the basement membrane, as well as a high index of suspicion. The authors detail a case of cicatricial pemphigoid resulting in airway obstruction and present the treatment required for both stabilization of the airway and resolution of the disease process.

Ulcerative eosinophilic granuloma: a report of five new cases.

Five new cases of ulcerative eosinophilic granuloma were diagnosed at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1982 and 1993. In all cases the site was the tongue. They were unifocal, did not recur, and had a benign course. This report illustrates their benign nature despite the occasional aggressive presentation, and outlines possible aetiology.

Prevalence of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in benign and malignant tumors of the upper respiratory tract.

The role for human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck tumors is not established. To evaluate the possible role of HPV in head and neck neoplasms, 22 cases of laryngeal squamous papilloma (LP), 32 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), 40 cases of nasal inverted papilloma (NIP), 14 cases of nasal squamous cell carcinoma (NSCC), and 40 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were evaluated for the presence of HPV DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two sets of primers in separate reactions: HPV-L1 consensus primers, HPV16 and HPV18 E7 primers for HPV nucleic acid detection. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of L1 PCR product was used for typing of HPV. Overall, HPV DNA was detected in 18 of 22 cases (81.8%) of LP, 3 of 32 cases (9.4%) of LSCC, 17 of 40 cases (42.5%) of NIP, 3 of 14 cases of NSCC (21.4%), and none of 40 cases of NPC. HPV6 was found more frequently in LP and HPV11 in NIP (P < 0.001). In the three HPV positive LSCCs, two cases had previous LP and were HPV6 and HPV11 positive, as were the prior papillomas. One other case was HPV18 positive. Only HPV16 was found in the NSCC patients. There was no significant difference in the index of HPV positivity between the NSCC cases associated with (16.7%) and without NIP (25.6%). Our results suggest that HPV plays a role in the development of both LP and NIP, and that similar viral types (i.e., HPV6 and HPV11) may exhibit relative differences in their tissue specificity. HPV appears to be of limited importance as a co-factor in LSCC and NPC lesions, indicating differences in the pathogenesis between papillomas and carcinomas in the upper respiratory tract.

Inverted papillomas that invade the orbit.

We describe 10 patients with inverted papillomas (IPs), uncommon endophytic epithelial tumors that arose in the nose, paranasal sinuses, and lacrimal sac, that invaded the orbit; review the world literature on IP; and discuss treatment options. Patients ranged in age from 49 to 72 years (mean age, 62 years; median age, 66 years). Six patients were men and four were women. Presenting symptoms and signs included a medial canthal mass (n = 5), epiphora/lacrimal drainage obstruction (n = 3), inability to wear eyeglasses (n = 2), diplopia (n = 1), and painful dentures (n = 1). Histopathologic examination was performed in each patient and revealed all patients to have areas with malignant transformation: six patients with IPs that contained areas of squamous cell carcinoma and four with areas of transitional cell carcinoma in the tumor within the orbit. Eight of the patients with IPs had a recurrence after initial resection. In two patients, the IPs were completely excised and did not recur; yet, follow-up was short. Eight patients required orbital exenteration for local control of disease. Nevertheless, local spread of tumor through bone to brain occurred in three patients with orbital involvement. Indeed, IPs that invade the orbit have a high incidence of malignancy and are locally aggressive tumors. Treatment is difficult, and the recurrence rate is high. Early, wide excision of this aggressive tumor provides the best chance of cure.

Intraductal tetracycline therapy for the treatment of chronic recurrent parotitis.

Chronic recurrent parotitis (CRP) is recurrent parotid inflammation with non-obstructive sialectasis. Therapies which produce acinar atrophy or remove the acini are effective in treating CRP. Parotidectomy, tympanic neurectomy, duct ligation, and radiation therapy have either a low success rate or a high risk of morbidity. Intraductal antibiotic instillation has been proposed as a possible method of treatment. We hypothesized that the cytotoxic effects of tetracycline could produce acinar atrophy. A double-blind experiment of intraductal tetracycline instillation was performed in ten rabbits. Acinar atrophy and acute inflammation were found in 40% of the tetracycline treated glands; controls had a complete absence of these histologic changes. These results support the use of tetracycline instillation to produce acinar atrophy and therefore, intraductal tetracycline may be an effective, low-risk therapy for CRP. The clinical features of CRP will be reviewed and therapeutic implications discussed.

A multi-institutional experience with stereotactic radiosurgery for solitary brain metastasis.

PURPOSE: A multi-institutional experience in radiosurgery for solitary brain metastases was combined to identify factors associated with safety, efficacy, tumor control, and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of 116 patients with solitary brain metastases who underwent gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery at five institutions was performed. The median follow-up was 7 months following radiosurgery and 12 months following diagnosis. Minimum tumor doses varied from 8-30 Gy (mean, 17.5 Gy). Forty-five patients failed prior radiotherapy and 71 had no prior brain irradiation. Fifty-one patients had radiosurgery alone and 65 underwent combined radiosurgery with fractionated large-field radiotherapy (mean dose, 33.8 Gy). RESULTS: Median survival was 11 months after radiosurgery and 20 months after diagnosis. Follow-up documented local tumor control in 99 patients (85%), tumor recurrence in 17 (15%), and documented radiation necrosis in one (1%). The 2-year actuarial tumor control rate was 67 +/- 8%. Tumor histology affected survival (better for breast cancer, p = .004) and local control (better for melanoma and renal cell, p = .0003) in multivariate analyses. Combined fractionated radiotherapy and radiosurgery improved local control (p = 0.111), but not survival in multivariate testing. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery is effective in controlling solitary brain metastases with low morbidity. Further study is needed to better define optimum treatment parameters for radiosurgery.

Management of inverted papilloma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: importance of radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Locally advanced inverted papilloma and inverted papilloma associated with squamous cell carcinoma are at high risk of local failure due to limitations of surgical resection resulting in repeat surgical procedures. The role of adjuvant radiation therapy is poorly defined. This study reviews a single institution experience of radiation therapy in the management of this disease. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Between 1977 and 1990 25 patients were treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary with radiation therapy for inverted papilloma (seven patients) and inverted papilloma associated with squamous cell carcinoma (18 patients) of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. All patients presented with locally advanced invasive tumors; 5 of 7 with inverted papilloma had previous resections and 4 of 18 with associated squamous cell carcinoma had history of prior surgical excisions of inverted papilloma only (three patients) or inverted papilloma with squamous cell carcinoma in situ (one patient). Sixteen patients underwent radiation treatment following gross total resection, eight patients after subtotal tumor resection and one patient was inoperable by local invasion and received radiation therapy alone. RESULTS: Local control was achieved in 6 of 7 patients with inverted papilloma only and one patient required additional resection for persistent disease. Of 18 patients with associated squamous cell carcinoma, 17 were locally controlled after radiation therapy and one had persistent tumor. One patient failed locally 3 years after treatment. With a mean observation time of 4.8 years (range: 0.5-12.9 years) all seven (100%) patients with inverted papilloma only and 15 of 18 (83%) patients with associated invasive carcinoma are alive and without evidence of disease. Three patients with inverted papilloma associated with squamous cell carcinoma died, two patients as a result of their disease (one patient with persistent disease, one patient after local failure) and one patient of intercurrent disease. No failure in either regional lymph nodes or at distant sites was recorded. In the majority of cases radiation therapy was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Combined radiation therapy and surgery can offer excellent long-term control and should be considered in patients with history of recurrent disease, in the presence of suspected residual disease, after incomplete resection or for unresectable lesions. Patients with associated squamous cell carcinoma have a more aggressive course, however radiation therapy still has the prospect of permanent disease-free survival in patients who achieve local control.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma occurring in a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Case report and literature review.

The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is a reliable regional flap commonly used for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. We report a case of a squamous cell carcinoma that occurred on the cutaneous paddle of a pectoralis flap in a patient with previous chest wall lesions. The need for a careful history of previous chest wall cutaneous lesions is stressed in patients who are to undergo this type of reconstruction.

Chondroblastoma of the temporal bone. Case report and literature review.

Chondroblastoma is a rare tumor of bone that represents approximately 1% of all primary bone tumors. In the temporal bone, only 33 have been reported. We present a case of chondroblastoma of the temporal bone, followed by a literature review and analysis of reported cases. We conclude that the best chance for a prolonged disease-free interval is total excision using a combined otolaryngologic and neurosurgical approach.

Benign metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland: diagnosis of bone lesions by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Two cases of benign salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas metastatic to bone (benign-metastasizing pleomorphic adenomas) diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy are presented. Both primary tumors were slightly atypical cytologically but neither case demonstrated features of carcinoma. The metastatic lesions contained benign epithelial, myoepithelial, and stromal components. In both cases the clinical history was either not known by the radiologist or not communicated to the cytopathologist interpreting the case, and a primary tumor of bone was the leading clinical diagnosis. Obtaining pertinent clinical history and comparing the cytomorphology of the bone aspirate with the primary parotid tumor allowed for an accurate diagnosis in both cases. The differential diagnosis with primary bone tumors is discussed and the importance of clinical history is emphasized.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

We report two solitary fibrous tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses that were histologically and immunohistochemically virtually identical to solitary fibrous tumors (fibrous mesotheliomas) of the pleura. One tumor arose in a 48-year-old woman and the other in a 45-year-old woman. Both patients presented with nasal symptoms, and both patients are alive without evidence of disease 6 months and 1 year after excision. The tumors had a disorganized or "patternless" arrangement of spindle cells in a collagenous background and prominent vascular channels of varying size. Immunoperoxidase stains on paraffin sections showed staining of the cells for vimentin only; there was no staining for keratin, S-100 protein, desmin, and actin. Both cases presented some degree of diagnostic difficulty and had to be distinguished from other spindle cell tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, such as hemangiopericytoma, angiofibroma, and fibrous histiocytoma.

Sinonasal hemangiopericytoma. A reassessment with electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and long-term follow-up.

Sinonasal hemangiopericytomas are rare, occasionally misdiagnosed neoplasms that have often been considered distinct from hemangiopericytomas of other sites. Eleven cases were studied. Nine arose from the nasal cavity and two from the paranasal sinuses. The patients' mean age was 58 years. In nine cases there were no appreciable mitoses; in two, mitoses were frequent. Of 10 cases studied by immunostaining, all were positive for vimentin; two had faint focal staining for actin; one focally expressed S-100 protein; all were negative for cytokeratins, desmin, and Factor VIII-related antigen; and none bound Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1. Five cases were studied by electron microscopy. The most consistent features were basal lamina-like material partly surrounding tumor cells and completely separating them from endothelium, tapered cytoplasmic extensions, and orderly bundles of filaments. Intercellular junctions and pinocytotic vesicles were present in some tumors. Of nine cases with adequate follow-up, tumors recurred in four cases (44%) after a mean of 6.5 years, and none metastasized. A review of the literature showed that high local recurrence rates, late recurrences, and low rates of metastasis were features of tumors in this location. This might be a reflection of early presentation, small tumor bulk, and difficulty of complete resection, rather than evidence for a biologically distinct neoplasm.

Carcinoid tumors of the middle ear.

Carcinoid tumors of the middle ear are rare lesions that represent a class within the spectrum of adenomatous neoplasms. We present four cases that were diagnosed and treated at our institution since 1973, and review the pool of 12 cases in regard to their presentation, symptomatology, physical examination, audiometric and radiographic evaluations, operative procedure and findings, histopathology, and postoperative course. Successful treatment of these low-grade malignancies requires complete excision of the tumor mass, along with the ossicles if they are involved with disease, in order to prevent local recurrence. Although locally invasive, these tumors have a low propensity for distant metastasis. The diagnosis of carcinoid tumor should be considered in all cases of adenomatous neoplasms of the middle ear and mastoid.