The effect of carbon nanoparticles vs. immune colloidal gold technique test strips on parathyroid protection in total thyroidectomy: A randomized clinical trial study.

BACKGROUND: The long-term effect of intraoperative usage of carbon nanoparticles (CN) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) test strip using immune colloidal gold technique (ICGT) is unclear. This study aims to compare the effect of intraoperative usage of CN and ICGT test strips on PG function. METHODS: This randomized clinical study involved adult patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. They were randomly allocated into three groups (control, CN, and ICGT group). Clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: Each group involved 98 patients. Serum calcium and PTH concentrations at 24 h postoperatively (PTH24h) were higher in CN group. The parathyroid function recovered quicker in CN group. Use of CN increased in situ PG preservation and PTH24h. Mediation analysis indicated that 23.05% of the total effect of CN on PTH24h was attributed to PGRIS. CONCLUSION: CN holds promise to improve in situ PG preservation and protect PG vasculature, thereby reducing the incidence of early hypoparathyroidism. The value of ICGT test strips for PG protection is dubious.

XFab-α4-1BB/CD40L fusion protein activates dendritic cells, improves expansion of antigen-specific T cells, and exhibits antitumour efficacy in multiple solid tumour models.

BACKGROUND: Additional immunotherapies are still warranted for non-responders to checkpoint inhibitors with refractory or relapsing cancers, especially for patients with "cold" tumours lacking significant immune infiltration at treatment onset. We developed XFab-α4-1BB/CD40L, a bispecific antibody targeting 4-1BB and CD40 for dendritic cell activation and priming of tumour-reactive T cells to inhibit tumours. METHODS: XFab-α4-1BB/CD40L was developed by engineering an anti-4-1BB Fab arm into a CD40L trimer based on XFab® platform. Characterisation of the bispecific antibody was performed by cell-based reporter assays, maturation of dendritic cell assays, and mixed lymphocyte reactions. The abilities of antigen-specific T-cell expansion and antitumour efficacy were assessed in syngeneic mouse tumour models. Toxicological and pharmacodynamic profiles were investigated in non-human primates. RESULTS: XFab-α4-1BB/CD40L demonstrated independent CD40 agonistic activity and conditional 4-1BB activity mediated by CD40 crosslinking, leading to dendritic cell maturation and T-cell proliferation in vitro. We confirmed the expansion of antigen-specific T cells in the vaccination model and potent tumour regression induced by the bispecific antibody alone or in combination with gemcitabine in vivo, concomitant with improved tumour-reactive T-cell infiltration. XFab-α4-1BB/CD40L showed no signs of liver toxicity at doses up to 51 mg/kg in a repeated-dose regimen in non-human primates. CONCLUSIONS: XFab-α4-1BB/CD40L is capable of enhancing antitumour immunity by modulating dendritic cell and T-cell functions via targeting 4-1BB agonism to areas of CD40 expression. The focused, potent, and safe immune response induced by the bispecific antibody supports further clinical investigations for the treatment of solid tumours.

Prompt diagnosis and airway management for primary thyroid lymphoma with compromised upper airway: a single-institution case series.

Objectives: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare malignant tumour. Prompt and accurate diagnosis and optimal airway management are crucial for PTL, especially when complicated with dyspnoea. Methods: Eight patients with PTL and dyspnoea treated in Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Three of four patients complicated with mild to moderate dyspnoea underwent chemotherapy after prompt diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) combined with cell block immunocytochemistry (CB-ICC) and flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) or core needle biopsy (CNB) combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) without open surgery. Total thyroidectomy was performed in one patient without other diagnostic methods because the FNAC result was inconclusive. Four patients with moderate to severe dyspnoea underwent tracheostomy and incisional biopsy without severe complications after tracheal intubation under the guidance of a fibreoptic bronchoscope performed without general anaesthesia. Conclusions: For patients with mild to moderate dyspnoea suspected of PTL, FNAC along with FCI and CB-ICC or CNB along with IHC are recommended, in addition to prompt chemotherapy to avoid prophylactic tracheostomy. Patients with moderate to severe dyspnoea suspected of PTL should undergo tracheal intubation under the guidance of a fibreoptic bronchoscope without general anaesthesia, followed by tracheostomy with simultaneous thyroid incisional biopsy to reduce the risk of asphyxia during treatment.

Relative efficacy of prophylactic strategies for postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Routine prophylaxis for at-risk patients may reduce the occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia but is not widely adopted due to a lack of evidence on the efficacy of available prophylactic strategies. In this study, we compared the relative efficacy of prophylactic strategies for postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia with a systematic review and network meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched, covering the period from 1980 to May 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing calcium, vitamin D 3 , activated vitamin D 3 , teriparatide, steroids, and magnesium with placebo or each other in patients receiving total or completion thyroidectomy. Involved RCTs reporting symptomatic or biochemical hypocalcemia. The primary outcome was symptomatic hypocalcemia, defined as circumoral tingling, and Chvostek and Trousseau signs. The secondary outcome was biochemical hypocalcemia. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool for randomized trials. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects inverse-variance weighting model. The network meta-analysis was performed under the frequentist framework. This meta-analysis was registered on the PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews) (CRD42022299982). RESULTS: Twenty-seven RCTs comprising 3382 patients are included. Prophylactic strategies of teriparatide, oral calcium plus vitamin D 3 , and oral calcium plus activated vitamin D 3 are superior to placebo in reducing symptomatic hypocalcemia. Teriparatide emerged as the most effective strategy for symptomatic hypocalcemia [relative risk (RR): 0.18; 95% CI: 0.03-0.98], followed by oral calcium plus activated vitamin D 3 (RR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.25-0.73) and oral calcium plus vitamin D 3 (RR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26-0.71). Evidence on monotherapy with either oral calcium or vitamin D 3 in reducing symptomatic hypocalcemia is insufficient. Intravenous calcium and oral calcium are effective in reducing biochemical hypocalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: This network meta-analysis provides information on the relative efficacy of current prophylactic strategies for postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Teriparatide performed better than other interventions and would seem appropriate for deployment among high-risk populations.

JDHY3 Inhibits Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis by Inhibiting the PI3K/AKT Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Jieduhuayu No.3 (JDHY3) is a modified Chinese herbal formula beneficial for treating hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HC), but its pharmacological mechanism is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the herbal formula JDHY3 in inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in HC in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: In this study, HC cells were treated with cisplatin and different concentrations of JDHY3. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the proteins related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. Afterward, the xenograft mouse model was established and treated with cisplatin and JDHY3. Mouse tumour volume was measured, and the tumour tissues were assessed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: JDHY3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of FaDu and Detroit-562 cells. In addition, JDHY3 significantly increased the apoptosis rate of HC cells and downregulated p-PI3K and p-Akt. In addition, JDHY3 upregulated the expression of the apoptosis-promoting proteins Bax, P53, and cleaved caspase-3. In addition, the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was downregulated. Coincubation with SC79 attenuated the decrease in cell proliferation induced by JDHY3, further confirming that the proapoptotic effect of JDHY3 is associated with the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway activation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of in vivo experiments showed that JDHY3 could effectively inhibit the proliferation of HC cells, and HE staining showed that JDHY3 reduced the invasion of HC cells. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of P53 and cleaved caspase-3 was significantly increased in the tissues of the JDHY3-treated group.

[Retracted] MicroRNA­152 inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion by directly targeting MAFB in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that certain of the cell migration and invasion assay data shown in Fig. 3A and B were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors at different research institutes, some of which have been retracted; moreover, there appeared to be some overlapping data examining the western blots featured in Figs. 5B and 6A. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published, or were already under consideration for publication, prior to its submission to Molecular Medicine Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. After having been in contact with the authors, they agreed with the decision to retract the paper. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Molecular Medicine Reports 15: 948­956, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.6059].

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status in Hypopharyngeal Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery-Oriented Comprehensive Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The preoperative controlling nutritional status (pCONUT) score has been shown correlated with the prognosis of some cancerous diseases; however, little is known about the effect of pCONUT score on hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC). Therefore, the objective of our study was to demonstrate the relationship between the pCONUT score and the clinical outcome of patients with HPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-four patients with HPC who underwent surgery between May 2012 and Dec 2020 were enrolled in this study. We evaluated retrospectively their pCONUT scores and calculated the cutoff value regarding the patients' overall survival using the X-tile software. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to determine how the pCONUT score affected overall survival. RESULTS: A cutoff level of 4 was determined to be optimal for the pCONUT score, by which the patients were grouped into high pCONUT score (≥4, n = 22, 23.4%) or low pCONUT score (<4, n = 72, 76.6%) groups. The univariate analysis showed that high pCONUT scores correlated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratio: 2.925, 95% confidence interval: 1.526-5.607, P = .001). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis also showed that high pCONUT scores increased the risk of overall death (hazard ratio: 2.639, 95% confidence interval: 1.365-5.101, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: The pCONUT score is considered a useful prognostic factor in patients with HPC.

Efficacy of Larynx Preservation Surgery and Multimodal Adjuvant Therapy for Hypopharyngeal Cancer: A Case Series Study.

Background: Larynx preservation surgery (LPS) combined with multimodal adjuvant therapy (MAT) is re-emerging as treatment option for hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC). This study aims to explore the survival and functional outcome of this combined approach. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Selected patients with primary HPC treated by LPS and MAT at two large Beijing medical centers between 2005 and 2019 were included. In addition to LPS, patients received one or more of the following treatments: preoperative induction chemotherapy, postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy. Results: In total, 64 patients were included (62 were men, and median age was 57.5 years). The disease in most patients was in stage III (28.1%) or IV (56.3%), or in stage T2 (34.4%) or T3 (45.3%), based on the TNM scale. Across all patients, the rate of overall survival (OS) was 60.7% at 3 yr and 47.3% at 5 yr. OS was significantly higher for patients with stage I or II disease than for those with stage III or IV disease (HR 8.64, 95% CI 3.69-20.2, log-rank P = .010). Decannulation was successful in 55 patients (85.9%), and swallowing function was satisfactory (stage 0-III, on Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale) for 50 (78.1%). Median Voice Handicap Index-10 score on voice performance was 19 (range 4-40), and median Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Questionnaire score for QoL was 75 (range 16-105). Conclusions: LPS and MAT can provide satisfactory oncologic control and good functional outcomes for selected patients with HPC, especially those with stage I or II disease.

Delayed oral feeding reduces pharyngocutaneous fistula formation after open surgical treatment of primary hypopharyngeal cancer: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) formation following open surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) is a common and troublesome complication. To date, the postoperative protocol of restarting oral intake is not clear, and vast discrepancies exist in the literature and among institutions. This study aimed to explore the impact of a postoperative protocol of restarting oral intake on PCF formation after open surgical treatment of primary HPC, and its impact on overall survival (OS) and swallowing function based on the functional outcome swallowing scale (FOSS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 42 patients who received open surgical treatment for primary HPC at Beijing Friendship Hospital between April 2019 and August 2021. This cohort included two groups: patients who restarted oral intake on the 10th postoperative day (Group 1), and those who started on the 20th (Group 2). The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact chi-squared test were used for comparing qualitative data among the groups. RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 27) and Group 2 (n = 15) were comparable in clinical characteristics. PCF occurred in 7 (25.9%) patients in Group 1, while none occurred in Group 2 (P = 0.038). The 2-year OS of all 42 patients was 75.6%; 65.8% and 93.3% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.07). The swallowing function was satisfactory (FOSS Grades 0-III) for 19 (70.4%) patients in Group 1 and 15 (100%) patients in Group 2 (P = 0.035). Laryngeal preservation was achieved in 25 (59.5%) patients, while decannulation was successful in 22 (88.0%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed oral feeding significantly reduces PCF after open surgical treatment of primary HPC, and improves the swallowing function outcome without jeopardizing the OS.

Analysis of risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 209 patients with PTC who underwent primary surgery at the Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from November 2014 to November 2018 was performed. The patients were divided into the LLNM group and the non-LLNM group. The clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients were analysed. The risk factors for LLNM were analysed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The incidence of LLNM was 13.4% in PTC patients. Univariate analysis showed that the maximum diameter of the primary tumour > 2 cm (P < 0.001), bilateral primary tumour (P = 0.020), extrathyroidal extension (ETE) (P < 0.001), central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) (P < 0.001), and CLNM number ≥ 5 (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with LLNM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of the primary tumour > 2 cm, ETE, and CLNM were independent risk factors for LLNM (OR values were 3.880, 5.202, and 4.474, respectively). There were 6 patients with skip lateral cervical lymph node metastasis, accounting for 21% of all LLNM patients. Conclusion: This study revealed several independent risk factors for predicting LLNM in PTC patients, such as the maximum diameter of the primary tumour > 2 cm, ETE and CLNM. Lateral neck dissection may be recommended in PTC patients with those risk factors. Paying attention to the occurrence of skip lateral cervical lymph node metastasis during the clinical diagnosis and treatment processes is necessary.

Intracapsular Enucleation of Cervical Sympathetic Chain Schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES: Schwannoma arising from cervical sympathetic chain (CSC) is a rare clinical entity. CSC is hard to preserve in CSC schwannoma (CSCS) surgeries, resulting in Horner's syndrome (HS) and first bite syndrome (FBS). This article aims to explore our experience in successful preservation of CSC in CSCS surgeries. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of CSCS cases treated at our tertiary medical institution between Apr 2018 and March 2022. Only cases with successful intraoperative preservation of CSC were included. RESULTS: In total, 3 cases were included. There were 2 male patients and 1 female patient. Their age was between 38 years old and 66 years old (average and median age was 52 and 51 years old, respectively). Presenting symptom was neck mass for all them, 2 of which were on the left side, while 1 was on the right. Intracapsular enucleation of the CSCS was attempted and achieved in all 3 cases. Hemorrhage from the inner surface of capsules was diffuse and heavy. Constant saline irrigation, suction, and bipolar coagulation were needed to achieve hemostasis. Postoperative HS presented between 4 hours and 14 hours after surgery for all 3 patients, which took 1 month to 3 months to recover, whereas FBS did not occur in any patient. Median duration of follow-up was 6 months. No recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Intracapsular enucleation should be attempted in CSCS surgeries, although hemorrhage might be diffuse and hard to control. When intracapsular enucleation was achieved, postoperative FBS can be avoided, while postoperative HS could occur, but its recovery was satisfactory.

NTF2 Upregulation in HNSCC: a Predictive Marker and Potential Therapeutic Target Associated With Immune Infiltration.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a type of malignant tumor with an increasing incidence worldwide and a meager 5-year survival rate. It is known that nuclear transporter factor 2 (NTF2) transports related proteins into the nucleus physiologically. However, the role of NTF2 in HNSCC remains unclear. Methods: In this study, RNA-Seq data of HNSCC samples with corresponding clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In addition, other expression profiling data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differential expressions of NTF2, along with the overall survival (OS) rates were identified and analyzed. Then, the clinical features and expression levels of NTF2 were utilized to develop a prognostic model. The study also utilized the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) methods to determine the related pathways of NTF2. Furthermore, the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database was referenced to discover the immune correlation of NTF2. In this research investigation, RT-qPCR, western blotting, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, wound-healing assay, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining methods were adopted to perform experimental verifications. Results: This study's results confirmed that the NTF2 expressions were significantly increased in HNSCC tissue when compared with normal tissue. In addition, the high expression levels of NTF2 were found to be associated with poor prognoses, which was confirmed via the IHC validations of HNSCC samples with survival data. The results of functional enrichment analysis showed that the NTF2 was associated with epithelial cell growth, skin differentiation, keratosis, and estrogen metabolism. Furthermore, the expressions of NTF2 were determined to be negatively involved with immune infiltrations and correlated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) responses following various ICB therapy strategies. The results of the CCK-8 assay and wound-healing assay confirmed the NTF2's promoting effects on the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. Conclusions: This study defined a novel prognostic model associated with the expressions of NTF2, which was shown to be independently related to the OS of HNSCC. It was concluded in this study that NTF2 might be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HNSCC.

Preoperative perforator mapping of anterolateral thigh flaps using computed tomographic angiography and visual coordinate system for the reconstruction of head and neck defects.

OBJECTIVES: The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is a versatile workhorse flap for the reconstruction of head and neck defects; however, variations in the location of perforators are a significant concern. This prospective study proposes a rapid, effective, and convenient method for mapping the location of sizeable perforators on the curved thigh skin surface using the visual coordinate system in computed tomographic angiography (CTA) images. METHODS: Fourteen patients suffering from defects after head and neck carcinoma resection underwent CTA prior to ALT flap reconstruction at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2018 to August 2021. Using sterile gauze swab developing lines pasted on the patients' thighs, we established a coordinate system visualized both in CTA images and the thighs. The perforator information was then compared between the CTA and intraoperative findings. RESULTS: Twenty-one perforators were detected on CTA in the designed flaps, which were also confirmed during the operation with a visual pulse. The course and source of the perforators were consistent with the intraoperative findings. The distances of perforator coordinate points between CTA and intraoperative findings were <5 mm. Another five perforators (mostly without visual pulse) found intraoperatively could not be identified on preoperative CTA. Most flaps survived in their entirety, and one flap suffered a small area of necrosis due to perforator compression. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the efficacy of a novel perforator mapping method for anterolateral thigh flaps.

Survival and swallowing function outcome impact factors analysis of surgery-oriented comprehensive treatment for hypopharyngeal cancer in a series of 122 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Under current standards of treating highly aggressive hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC), oncological control and functional outcome are still unsatisfactory worldwide. This study explored the surgery-oriented comprehensive treatment approach based on 15 years of practice. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of HPC patients treated by the senior author at Chinese PLA General Hospital between Nov 2005 and Aug 2012 and Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital between May 2014 and Nov 2019 was studied. Oncological control, swallowing function, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed. RESULTS: In total, 122 patients were included in this study, with 11 (9.0%) cases in the early stage and 111 (91.0%) cases in the advanced stage. Five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 40.0% and 36.1%, respectively. The swallowing outcome was satisfactory in 90 (73.8%) patients. Tracheostomy-free survival was achieved in 55 (45.1%) patients. Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that the size of the surgical defect, local-regional recurrence, and distant metastasis were independent impact factors for OS and DFS (P < .05). Multivariate analysis showed that the logistic regression coefficients (standard error) of pharyngo-cutaneous fistula and local-regional recurrence on swallowing function were 1.274 (.532) and 1.283 (.496), respectively (P < .05). In addition, the logistic regression coefficients (standard error) of the clinical stage, local-regional recurrence, decannulation, and feeding tube on QoL were -7.803 (3.593), -7.699 (3.151), 13.853 (3.494), and -20.243 (3.696), respectively (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery-oriented comprehensive treatment can give rise to good swallowing function without jeopardizing oncological control. The size of the surgical defect, local-regional recurrence, and distant metastasis were independent factors impacting OS and DFS. Pharyngo-cutaneous fistula and local-regional recurrence were independent factors impacting swallowing function. Clinical stage, local-regional recurrence, decannulation, and feeding tube were independent factors impacting QoL.

Diagnosis and Management of Occult Cervical Tuberculous Lymphadenopathy.

Objective: Some cervical tuberculous lymphadenopathy (CTL) presents no evidence of tuberculosis (TB), even after thorough examination of a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimen. After the examination of excisional specimens, when the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis identifies the nucleic acid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) or the culture results are positive, then the diagnosis of CTL is established. We refer to this condition as occult CTL (OCTL). Patient and Methods: The present work is a retrospective review of a consecutive series of OCTL cases that were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, between June 2015 and September 2020. When the diagnosis of OCTL was established, the patients received the standard anti-TB chemotherapy. Results: Fourteen cases of OCTL, including 9 female and 5 male patients, aged 24 to 71 years (median age 42 years), were included in the present study. The most commonly observed levels of lymph node involvement were level V and level II. Each level of the involved lymph nodes was removed entirely through en bloc surgical resection. An evaluation of the excisional specimens led to positive PCR results in all 14 cases, with 2 cases presenting positive culture and 3 cases exhibiting positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining. Recovery was uneventful, and the anti-TB chemotherapy was completed in all cases. The median duration of follow-up was 29 months, during which no case of TB relapse was observed. Conclusions: Wide surgical excision is crucial for the diagnosis and management of OCTL, and when used in combination with anti-TB chemotherapy, it results in satisfactory patient outcomes.

Diagnosis and Management of Giant Esophageal Fibrovascular Polyp With Hypopharyngeal Pedicle.

Background: Fibrovascular polyps (FVPs) with hypopharyngeal pedicles (hFVPs) are the rare intraluminal benign tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract, and their accurate diagnosis and optimal management are challenging. Purpose: The present retrospective study attempted to explore the optimal diagnosis and treatment of hFVPs. Research Design: The clinical records of 2 patients with giant, irregularly shaped hFVPs, who underwent several failed surgical procedures after inaccurate diagnosis, were reviewed. Finally, the patients were correctly diagnosed and successfully treated at Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital in different years, 2018 and 2020. Results: Case 1 was of a 43-year-old woman with 2 months of progressive dysphagia. Gastroenterologists overlooked the origin of her FVP, and decided to sever its narrowest point in the oesophagus through endoscopy. However, upon unsuccessful removal of the mass, a gastrotomy procedure was performed to extract the mass 7 days later. Symptoms recurred 3 months after the treatment, and a fibreoptic laryngoscopy confirmed hFVP in the patient at our department. A transcervical approach was used to sever the hypopharyngeal pedicle, achieve haemostasis and remove the oesophageal tumour. No recurrence was detected during the 2-year follow-up period after the treatment. Case 2 was of a 32-year-old man with dysphagia who had previously undergone transthoracic and transcervical oesophagotomy procedures within a gap of 3 months for the removal of FVP causing dysphagia. The hypopharyngeal pedicle was not diagnosed in the patient. The symptoms of dysphagia recurred 4 years after the treatment, and a fibreoptic laryngoscope confirmed hFVP at our department. The tumour was removed successfully through the transcervical approach. No recurrence was detected during the 6-months follow-up after surgery. Conclusion: In conclusion, the transcervical approach is suitable for achieving haemostasis and removing giant, irregularly shaped hFVPs.

Preclinical Application of Conditional Reprogramming Culture System for Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Management of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC) remains highly challenging due to highly variable therapeutic responses. By establishing an in vitro model for LHSCC based on conditional reprogramming (CR), a cell-culture technique, we aim to investigate its potential value on personalized cancer therapies. Herein, a panel of 28 human LHSCC CR cells were established from 50 tumor tissues using the CR method. They retained tumorigenic potential upon xenotransplantation and recapitulated molecular characteristics of LHSCC. Differential responses to anticancer drugs and radiotherapy were detected in vitro. CR cells could be transformed to xenograft and organoid, and they shared comparable drug responses. The clinical drug responses were consistent with in vitro drug responses. Collectively, the patient-derived CR cell model could promisingly be utilized in clinical decision-making and assisted in the selection of personalized therapies for LHSCC.

Prognostic value of α2δ1 in hypopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective study.

Voltage-dependent calcium channel subunit alpha-2/delta-1 (α2δ1) has been identified as a marker of cancer stem cells in multiple malignant tumor types. However, α2δ1's role in the prognosis of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) was not reported. In our study, ten pairs of HSCC and peritumoral normal tissues were used for immunohistochemistry assessment. And α2δ1 expression levels of 34 more HSCC samples were also evaluated, represented by the integral optic density using Image-Pro Plus. Clinicopathological associations and prognostic value of α2δ1 were analyzed. As a result, α2δ1 expression was frequently increased in HSCC tissues. Although the correlation between patients' clinicopathological characteristics and their α2δ1 expression levels was not significant, α2δ1 expression was significantly correlated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) (P = 0.018) and progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.023). Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses suggested α2δ1's prognostic role for both OS and PFS (P = 0.013 and 0.011, respectively). This study specifically demonstrated that α2δ1 regularly increased in HSCC compared with peritumoral tissues, and α2δ1 could act as a promising prognostic marker in HSCC patients.

[Advances in head and neck squamous cell cancer research based on radiomics].

Radiomics refers to extract advanced quantitative features in radiological images in a high-throughput way, to invert the features into extensible data with the help of mathematical algorithms, and to establish descriptive and predictive models of tumors. It has important value in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of tumors. As an entirely new field, radiomics becomes the research hotspot of clinical medicine and biomedical engineering because of its objective, holistic, non-invasive characteristics. Head and neck squamous cell cancer is one of the common malignant tumors. Radiomics is gradually applied to the study of head and neck squamous cell cancer. This article reviews the research progress of radiomics and its application in head and neck cancer.

Management of deep neck infections from cervical esophageal perforation caused by foreign body: A case series study.

PURPOSE: Esophageal perforation caused by foreign body is common in Chinese medical institutions, and resultant deep neck infections (DNI) is quite different from typical DNI. The purpose of this article was to share our experience on management of this particular type of DNI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on a consecutive sample of such patients at Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital from 2015 to 2019. RESULTS: In total, 24 cases were recorded. CT scan of the neck and upper thorax was the most useful tool for early diagnosis. Gas formation was not predictive of a worse clinical course. Eleven patients with minor DNI were treated with antibiotics and foreign body removal; while 13 patients with major DNI were treated with neck incision and drainage, ICU observation, and prolonged usage of antibiotics. Outcome was generally good, but major complications, including sepsis and lingual artery rupture, could occur. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative management, focusing on prompt extraction of esophageal foreign body and adequate antibiotic coverage, can lead to good outcome for mild cases; while in addition to these measures, neck incision, cervical and superior mediastinal exploration, and high negative pressure drainage, should be performed for severe cases.