Assessment of the Factors That Affect the Anatomic and Functional Success of Cartilage Tympanoplasty in Children.

Objectives: Many factors may influence the surgical outcome of tympanoplasty in children, including age, the size and location of perforation, otorrhea, status of contralateral ear, surgical technique, and adenoid hypertrophy. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of pediatric cartilage tympanoplasty and to assess the factors that affect the success of tympanoplasty in children. Methods: Children with chronic otitis media who underwent tympanoplasty using cartilage as graft material were evaluated retrospectively. Patient age, gender, size and site of the perforation, status of the contralateral ear, preoperative and postoperative hearing levels, surgical technique, and postoperative complications were noted. Results: Of the 72 patients included in the study, 27 were male and 35 were female. The average age was 13.22 +/- 2.64 and mean follow-up time was 18.4 +/- 8.62 months. Anatomic and functional success rates were 88.8% and 80.6%, respectively. Age, gender, and the status of the contralateral ear had no effect on surgical success rate. The mean preoperative and postoperative pure-tone averages were 33.2 6+/- 10.37 and 21.00 +/- 13.25 dB, respectively. Conclusion: Anatomic and functional outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty are quite satisfactory in pediatric patients. Chronic otitis media should be treated surgically as early as when patient cooperation is possible. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

http://ift.tt/2hC1Ndc

Incidence of a Bifid Mandibular Condyle in Dry Mandibles.

Background: A bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) is a rare anatomical variation with an etiology not fully understood. Although there are numerous case reports regarding it, purposeful epidemiological investigations on the BMC frequency among different groups are scarce. This study aims to investigate the incidence and laterality of BMC among series of adult males from Bulgaria and perform a morphometric analysis of it. Materials and methods: A series of 500 dry intact mandibles from adult males was investigated. The condyles were macroscopically observed and when skulls were available, the corresponding mandibular fossae were also inspected. In the cases when bifid condyles were found, 27 measurements were taken. Results: Bifid mandibular condyle was observed in 4 (0.8%) mandibles. All of the cases were unilateral, 2 on the right side (0.4%) and 2 on the left (0.4%). The condyles were divided into medial and lateral heads by a sagittal fissure or a notch. Conclusion: The established frequency of BMC was comparable with those reported in Turkish and Korean populations. The lack of injury marks and traces implies a developmental etiology of this condition. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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Cone Beam Computed Tomography Findings of Desmoplastic Ameloblastoma of Maxilla.

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is one of 6 subtypes and also a rare variant of ameloblastoma. It is not recognized perfectly up to now. Although most of the conventional ameloblastomas can be diagnosed in posterior of the mandible, DA more transpires in anterior of the jaws. Our patient was a 57-year-old man with swelling in the right side of the anterior maxilla. In the medical examination bone expansion was detected with a normal covering mucosa and no discoloration. This paper provides more information about cone beam computed tomography image features of DA. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

http://ift.tt/2hC30AX

Effects of Surface Treatment Modification and Implant Design in Implants Placed Crestal and Subcrestally Applying Delayed Loading Protocol.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the surface modification and cervical implant design on the bone remodeling in implants installed at the crestal and subcrestal bone level. Methods: Ten American Fox Hound of approximately 1 year of age, each weighing approximately 14 to 15 kg, were used for this study. Two different dental implant macrodesign were used: cylindric-conical with 3.5 mm of diameter and 9 in length (implant A) and conical with 2.9 mm of diameter and 9 mm in length (implant B). Two surfaces were used: sandblasting and acid etching (surface 1) and sandblasting and acid etching, then maintained in an isotonic solution of 0.9% sodium chloride (surface 2). Four groups were performed (n = 20 implants): Group A1 (implant A with the surface 1), Group A2 (implant A with surface 2), Group B1 (implant B with surface 1), and Group B2 (implant B with surface 2). The mandibular premolars and molars (P1, P2, P3, M1) were removed and, after 2 months of healing, implants were inserted at the crestal and 2 mm subcrestal position related to the buccal bone level. Analysis was performed at 4 and 8 weeks. Histomorphometry with longitudinal measurements and bone implant contact, bone remodeling and implant stability quotient analysis were realized. Results: The surface 2 showed to get more close contact between implant and new bone formed after implant placement and more stability surrounding platform both at 4 and 8 weeks. Surface 2 groups and subrestally placed showed to have better results in terms of linear measurements, with less bone loss and soft tissue distance to the IS. The data showed significant differences among the groups (P

http://ift.tt/2hqYjMl

Tissue Fluorescence Imaging (VELscope) for Quick Non-Invasive Diagnosis in Oral Pathology.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy of the oral cavity; its incidence is increasing and late-stage presentation is common. It is usually predated by oral premalignant disorders. For this reason, early diagnosis is fundamental to reduce the malignant transformation of oral premalignant disorders and for increase the survival rate for oral cancer. Scraping the surface of the lesion is useful for having cytological features of the investigated tissue. The features of smears of oral premalignant lesions are the keratinization growth (red, orange, brown), the increased nuclear area and so the nuclear hyperchromatism, the nuclear pleomorphism, and the chromatin clumping. All those features are essential for doing the right diagnosis. However, the oral disease should be recognized at the first view by the clinical investigation without touching the lesions avoiding possible alteration in the cells of the tissue. The current standard of incisional biopsy with histology is painful for patients and involves a delay, although histology is completed. The aim of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of other available tests that are unobtrusive and provide immediate results like the tissue fluorescence imaging. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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The Effects of Short- and Long-Term Exposure to Hyperbaric Oxygen on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance.

The aim of this study is to assess the effects of short- and long-term exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC). This study included 47 consecutive nondiabetic patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Participants were divided into 2 groups according to the taken number of HBOT sessions. Nineteen patients who received

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Descriptive Epidemiology of Orofacial Clefts in Ethiopia.

Background: The prevalence of birth defects including orofacial clefts (OFC) in Ethiopia is not known and there is no established birth defects registration system. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and incidence of OFC in Ethiopia. Design: Retrospective hospital-based descriptive study. Methods: The authors obtained data from the Smile Train database on Ethiopian patients with OFC who underwent surgical treatment from June 2007 to December 2013 at 31 hospitals distributed throughout the country. Data related to live births in Ethiopia during the mentioned period were obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health database for estimates of the incidence and prevalence rates. Results: The total number of life births during the study period was 18,811,316. During this same period, 18,073 cleft patients approximately ranging from 1 to 75 years old were examined and treated at the hospitals mentioned earlier. The incidence rate estimated from the total number of affected children during the study period (N = 8232) is 0.44/1000 live births. The prevalence rate is 0.20/1000 and this was estimated using the number of total population in 2013 (N = 88,703,914). There is a significant difference in frequency between bilateral clefts of the lip and/or palate (CLP) (26.9%) versus unilateral CLP (73.1%) (P

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Cone Beam Computed Tomography Heralding New Vistas in Appropriate Diagnosis and Efficient Management of Incidentally Found Impacted Mesiodens.

As dentistry continues to go "digital," the field has seen a phenomenal increase in the use of digital imaging in dental practice. Complex impacted mesiodens present potential treatment complications and sometimes possible patient morbidity. Objectives of diagnostic imaging are to aid in diagnosis, decision making, and enhance treatment outcomes. As cases become more complex, sophisticated multiplane imaging methods allowing for a three-dimensional view are more likely to meet these objectives as opposed to traditional two-dimensional radiography. The clinical report elucidates with the help of an illustrative patient how cone beam computed tomography imaging can assist the surgeon during surgical treatment planning, risk assessment, and treatment outcomes of impacted mesiodens. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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Cosmetics, Vol. 3, Pages 42: Stability of Sun Creams Formulated with Thermal Spring Waters from Ourense, Northwest Spain

Sun protection creams were formulated with a commercial rosemary extract and with thermal waters from different springs in the Northwest Spain. A six month stability study was carried out and microbiological and chemical stability, as well as sensorial characteristics, were evaluated. In all creams, the mesophilic count always remained low (under 10 cfu/mL) and most of them showed greater antioxidant stability than the control cream formulated with distilled water. Color was stable during storage in almost all creams. Sensory analysis showed a quite similar valoration of the creams regardless the sex of the panelists, and small differences were found between consumers aged 30–40 and >40. Formulations elaborated from Outariz and A Chavasqueira thermal waters were preferred to those prepared with distilled water as a control.

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Audiovisual Sentence Repetition as a Clinical Criterion for Auditory Development in Persian-Language Children with Hearing Loss

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2016
Source:International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Mohammad Majid Oryadi-Zanjani, Maryam Vahab, Zahra Rahimi, Anis Mayahi
ObjectivesIt is important for clinician such as speech-language pathologists and audiologists to develop more efficient procedures to assess the development of auditory, speech and language skills in children using hearing aid and/or cochlear implant compared to their peers with normal hearing. So, the aim of study was the comparison of the performance of 5-to-7-year-old Persian-language children with and without hearing loss in visual-only, auditory-only, and audiovisual presentation of sentence repetition task.MethodsThe research was administered as a cross-sectional study. The sample size was 92 Persian 5-7 year old children including: 60 with normal hearing and 32 with hearing loss. The children with hearing loss were recruited from Soroush rehabilitation center for Persian-language children with hearing loss in Shiraz, Iran, through consecutive sampling method. All the children had unilateral cochlear implant or bilateral hearing aid. The assessment tool was the Sentence Repetition Test. The study included three computer-based experiments including visual-only, auditory-only, and audiovisual. The scores were compared within and among the three groups through statistical tests in α=0.05.ResultsThe score of sentence repetition task between V-only, A-only, and AV presentation was significantly different in the three groups; in other words, the highest to lowest scores belonged respectively to audiovisual, auditory-only, and visual-only format in the children with normal hearing (P<0.01), cochlear implant (P<0.01), and hearing aid (P<0.01). In addition, there was no significant correlationship between the visual-only and audiovisual sentence repetition scores in all the 5-to-7-year-old children (r = 0.179, n = 92, P = 0.088), but audiovisual sentence repetition scores were found to be strongly correlated with auditory-only scores in all the 5-to-7-year-old children (r = 0.943, n = 92, P = 0.000).ConclusionsAccording to the study's findings, audiovisual integration occurs in the 5-to-7-year-old Persian children using hearing aid or cochlear implant during sentence repetition similar to their peers with normal hearing. Therefore, it is recommended that audiovisual sentence repetition should be used as a clinical criterion for auditory development in Persian-language children with hearing loss.



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The risk of postoperative bleeding – A (DErmatoSurgical Study Initiative) DESSI-Study

	If a surgical procedure in patients on a combination therapy of 2 or more antiplatelet cannot be postponed, it should be conducted with the patient remaining on combination therapy.		Alexandros G. Sfakianakis
	Discontinuation of phenprocoumon therapy and subsequent switching to low-molecular-weight heparin was associated with the highest risk of bleeding (9.26%).		Alexandros G. Sfakianakis
	Platelet inhibitors should not be stopped prior to surgery		Alexandros G. Sfakianakis
	Discontinuation of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) is recommended 24 hours prior to surgery.		Alexandros G. Sfakianakis
	The risk of postoperative bleeding		Alexandros G. Sfakianakis

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Emergence of electronic cigarette use in US adolescents and the link to traditional cigarette use

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 67
Author(s): Stephanie T. Lanza, Michael A. Russell, Jessica L. Braymiller
BackgroundElectronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly used by US adolescents and may be a gateway to traditional cigarette use. We examine rates of both products by age and examine differences in age-varying rates by sex and race/ethnicity.MethodsData are from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a national sample of US middle and high school students (n=22.007); students ages 11–19 were included. Past 30-day e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use were examined as a function of age; sex and race/ethnicity were included as moderators. The age-varying association between e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use was also examined.ResultsRates of e-cigarette use increase faster than traditional cigarette use from ages 13–16. Compared to females, males had higher rates of e-cigarette use from ages 14–17.5 and traditional cigarette use from ages 15–18. Between ages 12–14, more Hispanic adolescents used e-cigarettes compared to White or Black adolescents; after age 14 Hispanics and Whites reported similar rates, peaking at twice the rate for Blacks. Hispanic adolescents report greater traditional cigarette use versus Whites between ages 12–13, but lower rates between ages 15–18. E-cigarette use was strongly associated with traditional cigarette use, particularly during early adolescence [OR>40 before age 12].ConclusionsYoung Hispanic adolescents are at elevated risk for use of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes during early adolescence. During early adolescence, youth using e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke traditional cigarettes compared to youth not using e-cigarettes. The study of age-varying effects holds promise for advancing understanding of disparities in health risk behaviors.



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Racial differences in the link between alcohol expectancies and adolescent drinking

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 67
Author(s): Devin E. Banks, Tamika C.B. Zapolski
IntroductionAlcohol expectancies are important determinants and predictors of adolescent alcohol use. Research with African Americans has shown that the endorsement of positive alcohol expectancies differs from that of Whites during childhood and predicts different alcohol outcomes during young adulthood. However, limited research has explored racial differences in the relationship between expectancy endorsement and alcohol use in school-aged adolescents. The current study examines the effect of White or African American race on the relationship between positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol use.MethodsParticipants were 104 adolescents ages 12–18 who identified as either non-Hispanic White or non-Hispanic African American. Participants completed self-report measures of alcohol consumption and positive social alcohol expectancies.ResultsPreliminary analyses revealed no racial differences in alcohol expectancies or consumption. However, race moderated the relationship between alcohol expectancies and alcohol use such that more positive expectancies predicted alcohol use among White youth, but not African American youth.ConclusionsThese results suggest that alcohol expectancies, which were thought to be important mediators of the relationship between social and personality factors and adolescent alcohol use may not be as impactful for African Americans. Future research should focus on identifying factors posing unique risk for alcohol consumption in this population.



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Supraglottoplasty for Neonatal Laryngomalacia

Kevin and Karla Urrutia were born at term, but as twins they were both underweight – the boy weighing in at 4 pounds 10 ounces and the girl at 4 pounds 15 ounces.   "Karla was eating fine after birth, but Kevin had stridor caused by a soft, immature cartilage of the upper larynx that obstructed the airway during inhalation, which made the necessary coordination between breathing and eating very difficult," says their aunt Yamilet Fernandez, MD , who spoke on behalf of the twins' mother Yadira Espindola.  "We took him to three different pediatricians, all of whom said he was having trouble eating because he was so tiny."

Zi Yang Jiang, MD

When an upper respiratory infection worsened his condition, the Urrutias took him to Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, where the pediatric emergency team started an IV and arranged a transfer to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.  Fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist Zi Yang Jiang, MD, was called in to evaluate Kevin's airway in February 2016.  "We noticed right away that his chin was a little small, and on endoscopic examination we saw that he had laryngomalacia," says Dr. Jiang, an assistant professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School.  "To combat the combination of laryngomalacia, retrognathia and a viral infection, our pediatrics team put him on a CPAP machine to increase pressure in his airway and keep it from collapsing."

A few days later, Dr. Jiang attempted a supraglottoplasty but Kevin's mouth was too small to accommodate the instruments. He recommended waiting a month to give the infant time to grow.
"Kevin was in a cycle of continual worsening," Dr. Jiang says. "He was using so many calories trying to breathe that he was unable to gain weight, which meant that he was not going to outgrow the problem. We wanted him get over the viral infection and grow, and that just takes time."

In total, Kevin, his mother and his aunt spent two months at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, where the infant was given supplemental calories through a feeding tube through his nose.  "Ultimately we repeated our attempt at a supraglottoplasty, which was successful," Dr. Jiang says. "We released the mucosal band that tethered the vocal cords in order to strengthen the airway. Kevin used a breathing tube immediately after the surgery because of swelling, but after a day and a half the Pediatric Intensive Care team was able to extubate him. We got him off the CPAP and on a nasal cannula, and eventually back to breathing normally without any supplemental oxygen."

Kevin was discharged two weeks after the surgery and returned home with a feeding tube. "After being fed through the tube without a proper meal for so long, he had to relearn how to eat, which took about a month," Dr. Fernandez says. "He's still underweight but breathing and eating well without the feeding tube.  He's the loveliest little thing. We're grateful to the staff at the hospital – they were awesome. Dr. Jiang is our savior and we love him for that.  We have so much appreciation for what he did for our baby."

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Eight ORL Specialists Named to Top Doctors Lists for 2016

Six members of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery have been selected by their peers as Super Doctors® in Texas. Following an extensive independent nomination and research process, the results were published in the June 2016 issue of Texas Monthly magazine.

Martin J. Citardi, MD

Martin J. Citardi, MD , FACS, who specializes in the treatment of complicated sinus and nasal disease and is a core member of the Texas Sinus Institute and Texas Skull Base Physicians, has been named to Super Doctors list for the sixth consecutive year.  Dr. Citardi is chief of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and professor and chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at McGovern Medical School.  An internationally recognized ear, nose and throat surgeon, he has specialty interests that include difficult-to-treat chronic sinusitis, revision sinus surgery and minimally invasive surgery for tumors of the nose and sinuses.

 

Ronda Alexander, MD

Ronda E. Alexander, MD , FACS, was named a Super Doctor for the second consecutive year.  An assistant professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dr. Alexander helped establish the Texas Voice Performance Institute, which she directs. Her clinical interests include evaluation of hoarseness, spasmodic dysphonia, vocal tremor, vocal cord paralysis, extra-esophageal reflux and swallowing disorders. She is specially trained to manage the unique needs of professional voice users.  She also has interests in neuromuscular disorders of the head and neck, including tension and migraine headache.

Named to the Super Doctor Rising Stars list for 2016 are Tang Ho, MD , Ron Karni, MD , Amber Luong, MD , PhD, FACS, and Ibrahim "Trey" Alava, MD.

Tang Ho, MD

Dr. Tang Ho is chief of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and an assistant professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.  He is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.  His clinical interests include aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries of the face, including facial rejuvenation procedures (facelift, brow lift, Botox® injection, injectable fillers), rhinoplasty, facial reanimation procedures for patients with facial paralysis, reconstructive surgery of skin cancer defects, and complex microvascular facial reconstruction.

 

Ron Karni, MD

Dr. Ron Karni, who specializes in transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and thyroid/parathyroid surgery, is chief of the division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and an associate professor in the Department.  His practice focuses on the management of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, including throat cancer, oral cancer, larynx cancer, locally advanced skin cancer, salivary gland tumors and thyroid/parathyroid disease.  He also leads a multidisciplinary ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration clinic for thyroid nodules and neck masses, as well as a survivorship clinic for head and neck cancer patients.

 

Amber Luong, MD, PhD

Dr. Amber Luong is an associate professor and research director in the Department and also directs a laboratory at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases.  Her primary research interest focuses on understanding the role of the innate immune response in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis, with a particular interest in the role of environmental fungi in initiating these innate immune responses.  Dr. Luong's clinical interest parallels her research interest in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis as well as the medical and surgical management of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, sinonasal tumors, CSF leak repairs, and endoscopic orbital and dacryocystorhinostomy surgery.

 

Dr. Trey Alava is an assistant professor of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery. His clinical interests include innovations in treatment of subglottic stenosis, endocrine head and neck surgery, skin cancers of the head and neck and all aspects of general otolaryngology.  Dr. Alava's research interests revolve around patient-centered outcomes and health care disparities in the underserved.

Dr. Alava, Dr. Citardi, Dr. Ho, and Dr. Karni were also named to Houstonia magazine's 2016 listing of Top Doctors in Houston. Joining them on the list for the second consecutive year are Soham Roy, MD , FACS, FAAP, and Sancak Yuksel, MD MD . Physicians named to the 2016 list were selected based on nominations solicited from nearly 16,000 medical professionals practicing in eight counties in the Greater Houston area.

Soham Roy, MD

Dr. Soham Roy serves as director of pediatric otolaryngology at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and is a professor of otorhinolaryngology at McGovern Medical School. An internationally renowned speaker and author, Dr. Roy is a recognized expert in operating room safety issues and serves as a consultant in the development of innovative and safer surgical devices. He has become a recognized thought leader on the subject of operating room fires and lectures around the world about fire prevention during surgery.

 

 

Sancak Yuksel, MD

Dr. Sancak Yuksel is an associate professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. His clinical interests include pediatric ear diseases, cochlear implantation, newborn and pediatric swallowing and airway problems, and congenital head and neck lesions. He is also an expert in pediatric and adult complex ear and hearing problems and sialendoscopy, minimally invasive endoscopic management of salivary gland stones.

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2016 International Presentations

Martin J. Citardi, MD , FACS
Professor and Chair of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth

Martin J. Citardi, MD

Dr. Citardi lectured on "Surgical Navigation: Past, Present and Future" and "Endoscopic Management of CSF Rhinorrhea" at the Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Rhinosinus and Cranial Base Course 2016, sponsored by Sun Yat-sen University Otorhinolaryngology Hospital and Institute in Guangzhou, China, March 21-24.  In May, he was a prosector and lecturer on "Maximizing Chronic Rhinosinusitis Care with In-office Procedures" and panelist on "In-office Procedures and Balloon Sinuplasty" at the Seventh Singapore Allergy and Rhinology Course/Third SARC FESS Workshop, sponsored by the Singapore Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Singapore Medical Association. The meeting was held in Singapore on May 5-8.  In addition, Dr. Citardi was a prosector and lecturer at the 2nd International Symposium on Navigated Sinus and Skull Base Surgery sponsored by Academus Academy Services in Havana, Cuba, June 11-12. He spoke on "An Integrated Approach to Frontal Sinus Surgery" and "Inverted Papilloma."

 

Tang Ho, MD , M.Sc., FACS
Chief of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth

Tang Ho, MD

Dr. Ho was a visiting professor at West China Medical Center and Chengdu Osteology Hospital in Chengdu, China, in March 2016, where he conducted workshops and exchanged experiences on reconstruction following head and neck cancer surgery.  On behalf of the Department, he hopes to establish future collaborative relationships with the goal of improving the patient experience and outcomes. Dr. Ho is fluent in Mandarin.

 

 

 

Amber Luong, MD , PhD, FACS
Associate Professor and Research Director of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth

Amber Luong, MD, PhD

Dr. Luong presented invited lectures on four topics at the 2016 Middle East Otolaryngology Annual Conference held May 24-26 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: "Novel Means of Diagnosing and Treating Allergic and Non-allergic Irritant Rhinitis," "What is Appropriate Medical Therapy for Non-operated CRS," "In-office Rhinology Procedures" and "From Impactful Research to Innovation in CRS."  She was also a panelist discussing "Local Treatment: What Works?" at the European Rhinologic Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, July 3-7.

 

 

 

Soham Roy, MD , FACS, FAAP
Professor and Vice Chair of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology
Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

Soham Roy, MD

Dr. Roy presented an invited lecture entitled "Supraglottoplasty for All Cases of Laryngomalacia? The Debate" and a peer-reviewed abstract on "Coblation for Glottic Webs" at the European Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, the largest gathering of pediatric otolaryngologists in the world. T he meeting was held June 18-21 in Lisbon, Portugal.

 

 

 

 

William C. Yao, MD
Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth

Dr. Yao presented an invited lecture on "Orbital Surgery in the Endoscopic Age" at the University of Kyoto Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in Kyoto, Japan, in March 2016.

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ORL Department Announces Faculty Promotions

Soham Roy, MD

In recognition of his exemplary track record of clinical care, teaching and research, Soham Roy, MD, FACS, FAAP, has been promoted from associate professor to professor of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery with tenure.  Dr. Roy received his undergraduate degree with highest distinction from Stanford University, received a full scholarship for medical education at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and subsequently completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Miami. He went on to complete a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2002 prior to joining the faculty at the University of Miami, where he was named Professor of the Year in 2003.   Dr. Roy serves as director of pediatric otolaryngology at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics. An internationally recognized speaker and author, Dr. Roy has given hundreds of lectures and published numerous scientific articles, book chapters and national research presentations. He serves on specialty committees and is an annual course instructor at the meeting of the AAO-HNS. He has received multiple awards for teaching, clinical care and original scientific research, and received the Honor Award from the AAO-HNS in 2008 for his contributions in research and teaching. He is a recognized expert in operating room safety issues and serves as a consultant in the development of innovative and safer surgical devices. Dr. Roy has become a recognized thought leader on the subject of operating room fires and lectures around the world about fire prevention during surgery.

Ron Karni, MD

Ron J. Karni, MD, who specializes in transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and thyroid/parathyroid surgery and is chief of the division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, has been promoted to associate professor. He received his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine and completed residency training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.  Dr. Karni is the author of publications on the novel treatment of occult primary oropharyngeal cancer (the unknown primary) and practical tools to integrate evidence-based methods into the daily practice of medicine.  His current research focus includes de-escalation treatment strategies for throat cancer, morphoproteomic analysis of head and neck cancer, and human papillomavirus-related malignancies of the head and neck.  Dr. Karni is co-principal investigator of a CPRIT grant studying new treatments for head and neck lymphedema using near-infrared fluorescent technology. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.  Dr. Karni's practice focuses on the management of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, including throat cancer, oral cancer, larynx cancer, locally advanced skin cancer, salivary gland tumors and thyroid/parathyroid disease.  He also leads a multidisciplinary ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration clinic for thyroid nodules and neck masses, as well as a survivorship clinic for head and neck cancer patients.

Sancak Yuksel, MD

Sancak Yuksel, MD, has been promoted to associate professor of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery.  Dr. Yuksel received his medical degree at the Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey. He completed his otorhinolaryngology residency at the Istanbul University Cerrahpasa School of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. After residency, he pursued advanced training in head and neck and skull base surgery as a fellow in the same Department.  Dr. Yuksel served as a research fellow in the Basic Science Laboratory at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and worked in numerous National Institutes of Health-funded projects focused on the middle ear and Eustachian tube pathophysiology. He completed a two-year clinical fellowship in the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and also served as an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.   Dr. Yuksel is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. His clinical interests include complex pediatric and adult ear diseases, the Cochlear™ Baha® system and cochlear implantation, complex lateral skull base surgery, sialendoscopy, newborn and pediatric swallowing and airway problems and congenital head and neck lesions

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Dr. Yuksel and Dr. Ho Receive Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards

Sancak Yuksel, MD, an otorhinolaryngologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and an associate professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at McGovern Medical School, has been recognized with the medical school's Dean's Teaching Excellence Award for the fourth time.  Recognized for the first time this year was Tang Ho, MD , M.Sc., FACS, who is chief of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and an assistant professor in the Department.

The Dean's Teaching Excellence Award is an annual recognition presented to faculty and volunteers for outstanding teaching performance. Those chosen to receive the award have exhibited outstanding teaching, incited intellectual curiosity in their students, engaged them in the learning process, helped them develop lifelong skills or otherwise served with distinction.

"Sharing my knowledge hones my medical skills," Dr. Yuksel says. "I feel privileged to be in a position to make a lasting impact on our residents' careers and the lives of their future patients."

"It's a special pleasure to train residents," Dr. Ho says. "As faculty we are privileged to have the opportunity to teach our residents and learn from them at the same time."

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Resident Wins Award for Research at Houston Society of Otolaryngology Meeting

A CORE research grant from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation led to groundbreaking work in the lab, resulting in multiple manuscripts about chronic rhinosinusitis and first prize for the best resident research presentation at the May, 2016 meeting of the Houston Society of Otolaryngology.  Recipient of the grant and principal investigator of the study is Matthew Tyler, MD , a fourth-year resident in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School.  Dr. Tyler won the award for his presentation "Large Scale Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Distinct Patterns in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Subtypes."

"The research is aimed at discovering a more sophisticated classification scheme for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis," Dr. Tyler says. "Currently CRS is classified based on clinical criteria that lacks prognostic information about the disease course and does little to guide effective treatment. Ultimately we're searching for good prognostic information that will lead to better disease management."  Working with his research mentor Amber Luong, MD , PhD, FACS, Dr. Tyler profiled an entire genome – about 32,000 gene transcripts in 150 patients with various types of chronic rhinosinusitis – the largest profiling project ever completed in patients with CRS.

"Dr. Tyler was able to capitalize on a very large microarray we have, and in his presentation wove cutting-edge research into a clinical story that resonated with the audience," says Dr. Luong, an associate professor and research director in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology who also directs a laboratory at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases. "He had some basic science experience before coming into residency and spent time in my lab doing experiments. His hope is to go into an academic rhinologic practice and he's setting the stage for that."

Each year a selection committee from the Houston Society of Otolaryngology chooses the top three or four research manuscripts submitted by residents from the academic medical community in Houston, which includes McGovern Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Judges select a winner based on research data, scientific merit and presentation style.

The national Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts (CORE) grants program is a collaboration of several societies, foundations and industry supporters focused on providing support for research in the field of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. CORE resident research grants are highly competitive.

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Dr. Byrd Recognized by Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital for Quality and Patient Safety

The Performance Improvement Quality Review (PIQR) Committee at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital has commended otolaryngologist Michael Byrd, MD , for "recognizing a good catch." Dr. Byrd, an assistant professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School, saw something other practitioners missed and correctly diagnosed a stroke. The patient recovered and was released home.

The hospital's PIQR Committee, a multidisciplinary group of physicians representing all service lines, meets once or twice a month to evaluate the practice of medical staff members and ensure that all Memorial Hermann quality standards are met. The "good catch" recognition was added to the meeting agenda earlier this year.

"Patient safety has always been a priority for physicians, even before today's emphasis on transparency in outcomes," Dr. Byrd says. "The importance of keeping patients safe has been taught in medical schools for centuries. I'm honored to have been recognized by the PIQR Committee but I also have to say that I was just doing my job."

Dr. Byrd provides general ENT services for adults, adolescents and children at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. He has a subspecialty interest in conditions that contribute to sleep disorders, including common snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

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Dr. Conderman Elected Houston Society of Otolaryngology Officer

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Christian Conderman, MD , who joined the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 2015, was elected secretary-treasurer of the Houston Society of Otolaryngology at the organization's May meeting. Dr. Conderman was recruited to Memorial Hermann and UTHealth to expand the maxillofacial trauma program at the Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital Emergency Department and build a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery service at the hospital. He holds a concurrent appointment as assistant professor at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School.

Dr. Conderman received his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Following graduation, he completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center and a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship with renowned facial plastic surgeon Russell Kridel, MD , at McGovern Medical School.

Dr. Conderman is the coauthor of chapters on upper-lid blepharoplasty in Synopsis of Aesthetic Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, as well as rib-grafting for rhinoplasty in Master Techniques in Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. He recently coauthored a chapter on liposuction of the face and neck in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In addition, he is the coauthor of research published in The Laryngoscope and other peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include clinical outcomes in functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty, correction of secondary defects following trauma reconstruction and analysis of face-lifting techniques.

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Texas Hill Country ENT Symposium Recap

More than 60 physicians participated in the biennial Texas Hill Country ENT Symposium, sponsored by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School. The two-day continuing medical education meeting was held last April at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Lost Pines, Texas.

The CME event focused on new information that can be applied at the point of care in outpatient otolaryngology offices, and new technologies that offer better outcomes, cost savings and convenience as solutions for common otolaryngologic clinic problems. Course content was divided into seven modules: sinus, head and neck, patient experience, facial plastics, sleep, pediatric ENT and general safety.

"This is our most popular continuing medical education meeting," says Martin J. Citardi, MD , FACS, chief of otorhinolaryngology at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and professor and chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at McGovern Medical School. "It's a relaxed meeting in an atmosphere that encourages dialogue. The content is practical and aimed at clinicians. The hotel does a fine job, and April is always a nice time of year in the Texas Hill Country."

Presenters, who are faculty at McGovern Medical School, discussed endoscopic management of ophthalmic conditions, in-office procedures for recurrent nasal polyps, in-office balloon and navigation technology for chronic rhinosinusitis, challenging cases in rhinology, integrating ultrasound into a practice, decision-making in early larynx cancer, HPV-associated cancer, the healthcare quality movement, case studies in facial plastic surgery, treatment options in nasal obstruction, local flaps and grafts, home versus in-lab polysomnography, current trends in management of tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, evaluation and management of pediatric stridor, otitis media, and mitigating fire risk in the OR.

The next Texas Hill Country ENT Symposium is scheduled for April 2018. Watch for more information at http://ift.tt/2hMWLgI.

http://ift.tt/2hN46Na

Altered expression of apoptosis-regulating miRNAs in salivary gland tumors suggests their involvement in salivary gland tumorigenesis

Abstract

Salivary gland tumors comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions with different histological features and diverse clinical pathophysiology. They account for about 3% of all head and neck tumors. Apoptosis plays an important role during morphogenesis of glandular structures, including that of the salivary gland. Recent studies have demonstrated that several microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the control of apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of apoptosis-related miRNAs (miR-15a, miR-16, miR-17-5p, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-29, and miR-34) and their target mRNAs in 25 pleomorphic adenomas, 23 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 10 non-neoplastic salivary gland samples by real-time RT-PCR. We observed upregulation of miR-15a, miR-16, miR-17-5p, miR-21, miR-29, and miR-34a in pleomorphic adenomas. The expression of miR-21 and miR-34a was upregulated in 91 and 74% of mucoepidermoid carcinomas, respectively. Downregulation of miR-20a was observed in 75% of pleomorphic adenomas and in 57% of mucoepidermoid carcinomas. APAF1, BAX, BCL2, BID, CASP2, CASP8, DIABLO , and TP53 transcripts were upregulated in both tumor types. BAD transcripts were upregulated in pleomorphic adenomas. CASP3 and CASP6 transcripts were upregulated in mucoepidermoid carcinomas. BCL2, CASP2, CASP6, and CASP8 proteins were mostly absent in mucoepidermoid carcinomas but expressed in few cells in pleomorphic adenomas. Our study provides evidence of alterations in the expression of apoptosis-regulating miRNAs in salivary gland tumors, suggesting possible involvement of these microRNAs in salivary gland tumorigenesis.

http://ift.tt/2hDGvLz

Genotype Analyses in the Japanese and Belarusian Populations Reveal Independent Effects of rs965513 and rs1867277 but Do Not Support the Role of FOXE1 Polyalanine Tract Length in Conferring Risk for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hqI427

Measurement and Variation in Estimation of Quality of Life Effects of Patients Undergoing Treatment for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hDqRzR

Measurement and Variation in Estimation of Quality of Life Effects of Patients Undergoing Treatment for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hDqRzR

Multivariate Analysis of Thyrotropin in Preterm Newborns Based on Adequacy of Weight for Gestational Age

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hAk90D

Multivariate Analysis of Thyrotropin in Preterm Newborns Based on Adequacy of Weight for Gestational Age

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hAk90D

Anti-Thyrotropin Autoantibodies in Patients with Macro-Thyrotropin and Long-Term Changes in Macro-Thyrotropin and Serum Thyrotropin Levels

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hDeMuD

Anti-Thyrotropin Autoantibodies in Patients with Macro-Thyrotropin and Long-Term Changes in Macro-Thyrotropin and Serum Thyrotropin Levels

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hDeMuD

Genotype Analyses in the Japanese and Belarusian Populations Reveal Independent Effects of rs965513 and rs1867277 but Do Not Support the Role of FOXE1 Polyalanine Tract Length in Conferring Risk for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hqI427

Cell Cycle M-Phase Genes Are Highly Upregulated in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hqEZPe

Cell Cycle M-Phase Genes Are Highly Upregulated in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hqEZPe

No Effect of the Thr92Ala Polymorphism of Deiodinase-2 on Thyroid Hormone Parameters, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Cognitive Functioning in a Large Population-Based Cohort Study

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hBP9Lj

No Effect of the Thr92Ala Polymorphism of Deiodinase-2 on Thyroid Hormone Parameters, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Cognitive Functioning in a Large Population-Based Cohort Study

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.


http://ift.tt/2hBP9Lj

Aberrant default mode network homogeneity in patients with first-episode treatment-naive melancholic depression

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2016
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Xilong Cui, Wenbin Guo, Yi Wang, Tian-xiao Yang, Xin-hua Yang, Yefei Wang, Jingbo Gong, Changlian Tan, Guangrong Xie
BackgroundMelancholic depression is a relatively homogenous subtype of major depressive disorders (MDD). The condition has several endogenous symptoms and represents strong biological components. However, its specific neurobiological mechanisms remain unknown. Previous neuroimaging findings indicated that default mode network (DMN) is closely related to MDD. The present study examined the network homogeneity (NH) of the DMN in patients with melancholic MDD.MethodsA total of 33 first-episode, treatment-naive melancholic MDD patients and 32 healthy controls underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. The data were analyzed using the NH method.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, patients with melancholic MDD showed low NH values in the right middle temporal gyrus and temporal pole (MTG/TP). The abnormal NH of this region and clinical characteristics were not correlated.ConclusionAbnormal NH pattern of DMN exists in patients with melancholic MDD. This feature may be part of the pathophysiological basis of this disorder.



http://ift.tt/2gRqh3d

Photoinactivation of single and mixed biofilms of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species using Phorodithazine®

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2016
Source:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s): Juliana Cabrini Carmello, Fernanda Alves, Ewerton Garcia de Oliveira Mima, Janaina Habib Jorge, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato, Ana Cláudia Pavarina
This study evaluated the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) mediated by Photodithazine^® (PDZ) formulated in hydrogel, in the inactivation of mono and duo-species biofilms of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. Standardized suspensions of each strain were prepared and after biofilm formation, mono-species were treated with 150 and 175mg/L of PDZ for 20minutes (pre-irradiation time), and exposed to LED light at a dose of 37.5J/cm² (660nm). The duo-species biofilms (C. albicans+C. glabrata and C. albicans+C. tropicalis) were treated with 150mg/L of PDZ and light. Additional samples were treated with PDZ or light only, and the control did not receive any treatment. Next, microbiological evaluation was performed by spreading the cells on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and CHROMagar Candida for colony forming units (CFU/mL). Moreover, the total biomass of biofilm was verified using the crystal violet staining assay (CV). The data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc (α=0.05). The use of PDZ 150mg/L promoted a reduction of 1.0, 1.2, 1.5 log10 in the viability of C. glabrata, C. albicans and C. tropicalis, respectively. The same concentration reduced in 1.0 log10 the viability of each species grown as duo-species biofilms. The crystal violet assay showed that the use of 150mg/L reduced 24.4%, 39.2% and 43.7% of the total biomass of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata, respectively. aPDT did not reduce the total biomass to the duo-species biofilms. Thus, PDZ-mediated aPDT was more effective in the inactivation of mono-species biofilms of Candida spp. compared with duo-species biofilm.



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Comparison of clinical and radiographic status around immediately-loaded versus conventional loaded implants placed in patients with type 2 diabetes: 12 and 24-month follow-up results

Abstract

Background

There are no studies that have compared the clinical and radiographic status around immediately-loaded (IL) and conventional loaded (CL) implants placed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective

The aim was to compare the clinical and radiographic status around IL and CL implants placed in T2DM patients.

Methods

One hundred and eight diabetic patients (55 with IL implants [Group-1] and 53 with CL implants [Group-2]) were included in this cross-sectional study. All implants were placed in healed sites in the maxillary and mandibular premolar and molar regions and supported single restorations. All patients underwent full mouth mechanical debridement biannually. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, clinical (bleeding on probing [BOP] and probing depth [PD]≥4mm) and radiographic (crestal bone loss [CBL]) peri-implant parameters were measured for both groups at 12 and 24-month follow-up. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U-Test (P<0.05).

Results

The mean age and duration of T2DM in groups 1 and 2 were 50.6±2.2 and 51.8±1.7 years, and 9.2±2.4 and 8.5±0.4 years, respectively. At 12 and 24-month follow-up, the mean HbA1c levels in groups 1 and 2 were 5.4% (4.8-5.5%) and 5.1% (4.7-5.4%) and 5.1% (4.7%-5.2%) and 4.9% (4.5%-5.2%), respectively. At 12 and 24-month follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in peri-implant BOP, PD and CBL in both groups.

Conclusion

It was concluded that clinical and radiographic status is comparable around IL and CL implants placed in patients with T2DM. The contribution of careful case selection, oral hygiene maintenance and glycemic control is emphasized.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Antrodia salmonea induces G2 cell-cycle arrest in human triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells and suppresses tumor growth in athymic nude mice

Publication date: 20 January 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 196
Author(s): Chia-Ting Chang, You-Cheng Hseu, Varadharajan Thiyagarajan, Hui-Chi Huang, Li-Sung Hsu, Pei-Jane Huang, Jer-Yuh Liu, Jiunn-Wang Liao, Hsin-Ling Yang
Ethnopharmacological relevanceAntrodia salmonea (AS), is a well-known folk medicinal mushroom in Taiwan, has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects.Materials and methodsIn the present study, we examined the effects of AS on cell-cycle arrest in vitro in MDA-MB-231 cells and on tumor regression in vivo using an athymic nude mice model.ResultsAS (0–200μg/mL) treatment significantly induced G2 cell-cycle arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells by reducing the levels of cyclin B1, cyclin A, cyclin E, and CDC2 proteins. In addition, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) pretreatment prevented AS induced G2 cell-cycle arrest, indicating that ROS accumulation and subsequent cell cycle arrest might be a major mechanism of AS-induced cytotoxicity. Further, AS treatment decreased COX-2 expression and induced PARP cleavage was significantly reversed by NAC pretreatment in MDA-MB-231 cells. The in vivo study results revealed that AS treatment was effective in terms of delaying the tumor incidence and reducing the tumor growth in MDA-MB-231-xenografted nude mice. TUNEL assay, immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting confirmed that AS significantly modulated the xenografted tumor progression as demonstrated by induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and cell-cycle arrest.ConclusionOur data strongly suggest that Antrodia salmonea could be an anti-cancer agent for human breast cancer.

Graphical abstract

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A traditional Chinese formula composed of Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Da Chuanxiong Formula) suppresses inflammatory response in LPS -induced RAW 264.7 cells through inhibition of NF-κB pathway

Publication date: 20 January 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 196
Author(s): Zhi-Ke Liu, Chun-Fai Ng, Hoi-Ting Shiu, Hing-Lok Wong, Chun-Wai Wong, Kai-Kai Li, Jin-Fang Zhang, Ping-Kuen Lam, Wai-Sang Poon, Clara Bik-San Lau, Ping-Chung Leung, Chun-Hay Ko
Ethnopharmacological relevanceDa Chuanxiong Formula (DCXF) which origins from Jin Dynasty is a famous classical 2-herb Chinese medicinal prescription. It is composed of dried rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, CR) and Gastrodia elata (Gastrodiae Rhizoma, GR) at the ratio of 4:1 (w/w). It has been used to treat headache which is caused by wind pathogen and blood stasis for thousands of years in China.Aim of studyThe present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.Materials and methodsThe anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was evaluated using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the effect of DCXF on NF-κB activation was measured by western blot assay.ResultsTreatment with DCXF significantly suppressed the productions of NO and PGE2 through inhibitions of iNOS and COX-2 expressions in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DCXF significantly decreased IκBα phosphorylation, inhibited p65 expression and reduced p-p65 level. These results suggested the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was associated with the reduction of inflammatory mediators through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.ConclusionsThese results indicated that DCXF inhibited inflammation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells through inactivation of NF-κB pathway.

Graphical abstract

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Clinical efficacy of Rong-Yang-Jyh-Gan-Tang on patients with chronic hepatitis C: A double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled crossover study

Publication date: 20 January 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 196
Author(s): Fang-Pey Chen, Ching-Mao Chang, Ta-Peng Wu, Jen-Lin Yang, Yen-Ying Kung, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Chien-Wei Su, Keng-Hsin Lan, Shu-Chiung Chiang, Shinn-Jang Hwang
Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used by the Chinese population for treatment of chronic hepatitis. However, the efficacy of TCM for patients with chronic hepatitis has not been confirmed, mostly due to the lack of available scientific parameters such as serum viral load to evaluate treatment response.Aim of the studyWe evaluated the efficacy of Rong-Yang-Jyh-Gan-Tang (RYJGT, composed of Long-Dan-Xie-Gan-Tang, Jia-Wei-Xia-Yao-San, Dan-Shen, and Hou-Po) on patients with chronic hepatitis C.Materials and methodsThirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C who had no response to or had contraindications to interferon-ribavirin therapy were randomly allocated to receive RYJGT 15g/day or placebo for 12 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, patients were crossed over to receive placebo or RYJGT for another 12 weeks. Evaluation parameters included liver biochemistries, serum HCVRNA, side effects of RYJGT/placebo, and TCM symptoms.ResultsOf the patients who had 12-week RYJGT treatment, 51.7% had decreased serum HCVRNA levels, whereas only 25.8% patients had decreased levels in the placebo group (p=0.036). TCM patterns of "Damp-Heat" and "Liver Qi Depression" had significantly improved after RYJGT treatment in comparison with the placebo. Logistic analyses showed that RYJGT treatment, and pre-treatment values of TCM symptoms of "Damp-Heat" and "Liver Qi Depression", were statistically significant factors in predicting the decrease in serum HCVRNA.ConclusionChronic hepatitis C patients who received a 12-week RYJGT treatment had significantly higher HCVRNA decrease ratio, and improved TCM symptoms of "Damp-Heat" and "Liver Qi Depression", than those who received the placebo. Our results require further larger scale clinical trials.

Graphical abstract

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Predicting mortality of patients with cirrhosis admitted to medical intensive care unit: An experience of a single tertiary center

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2016
Source:Arab Journal of Gastroenterology
Author(s): Abdel-Naser Elzouki, Shireen Suliman, Rania Alhasan, Ali Abdullah, Muftah Othman, Ahmad Badi
Background and study aimsPrognosis for patients with cirrhosis admitted to a medical intensive care unit (MICU) is poor and no previous studies have been published from Qatar or other countries in the region to investigate this issue. The objective of this study was to assess the predictors for in-hospital mortality and admission of cirrhotic patients to MICU in a single tertiary hospital in Qatar.Patients and methodsAll adult cirrhotic MICU patients hospitalized from 2007 through 2012 to Hamad General Hospital-Qatar were included. We compared them to cirrhotic patients admitted to medical wards during same period of time. All data were recorded and analyzed with respect to demographic parameters, clinical features and laboratory as well as radiology characteristics on day one of admission to MICU. Cirrhosis diagnosis was established either with a liver biopsy or the combination of physical, laboratory and radiologic findings. Predictors of mortality were defined by logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe cohort comprised 109 cirrhotic MICU patients (86.2% males), and their mean age±SD was 51.6±11.5. MICU-cirrhotic patients had longer hospital stays than medical wards-cirrhotic patients (p=0.01). Admission with severe hepatic encephalopathy, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and SOFA (Sepsis Related Organ Failure Assessment) score were the independent predicting factors for MICU admission. Mortality was higher for the MICU-cirrhotic group than medical wards group (27 (24.8%) deaths vs. 12 (5.3%) deaths, respectively, p=0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, older age>60years (p=0.04), APACH-II score (p=0.001) and MELD score (p=0.02) were independent predicting factors for overall mortality.ConclusionSevere hepatic encephalopathy, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and SOFA score predict MICU admission of cirrhotic patients. Among MICU cirrhotic patients, older age, APACH-II score and MELD score predict mortality.



http://ift.tt/2gPYwtE

Neural Progenitor Cells in Cerebral Cortex of Epilepsy Patients do not Originate from Astrocytes Expressing GLAST

Adult neurogenesis in human brain is known to occur in the hippocampus, the subventricular zone, and the striatum. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were reported in the cortex of epilepsy patients; however, their identity is not known. Since astrocytes were proposed as the source of neural progenitors in both healthy and diseased brain, we tested the hypothesis that NPCs in the epileptic cortex originate from reactive, alternatively, de-differentiated astrocytes that express glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST). We assessed the capacity to form neurospheres and the differentiation potential of cells dissociated from fresh cortical tissue from patients who underwent surgical treatment for pharmacologically intractable epilepsy. Neurospheres were generated from 57% of cases (8/14). Upon differentiation, the neurosphere cells gave rise to neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Sorting of dissociated cells showed that only cells negative for GLAST formed neurospheres. In conclusion, we show that cells with neural stem cell properties are present in brain cortex of epilepsy patients, and that these cells are not GLAST-positive astrocytes.

http://ift.tt/2hBDXOK

Developing shared understandings of recovery and care: a qualitative study of women with eating disorders who resist therapeutic care

Abstract

Background

This paper explores the differing perspectives of recovery and care of people with disordered eating. We consider the views of those who have not sought help for their disordered eating, or who have been given a diagnosis but have not engaged with health care services. Our aim is to demonstrate the importance of the cultural context of care and how this might shape people's perspectives of recovery and openness to receiving professional care.

Method

This study utilised a mixed methods approach of ethnographic fieldwork and psychological evaluation with 28 women from Adelaide, South Australia. Semi-structured interviews, observations, field notes and the Eating Disorder Examination were the primary forms of data collection. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results & Discussion

Participants in our study described how their disordered eating afforded them safety and were consistent with cultural values concerning healthy eating and gendered bodies. Disordered eating was viewed as a form of self-care, in which people protect and 'take care' of themselves. These subjectively experienced understandings of care underlie eating disorder behaviours and provide an obstacle in seeking any form of treatment that might lead to recovery.

Conclusion

A shared understanding between patients and health professionals about the function of the eating disorder may avoid conflict and provide a pathway to treatment. These results suggest the construction of care by patients should not be taken for granted in therapeutic guidelines. A discussion considering how disordered eating practices are embedded in a matrix of care, health, eating and body practices may enhance the therapeutic relationship.

http://ift.tt/2hqz7Wc

Defective adgra2 (gpr124) splicing and function in zebrafish ouchless mutants [CORRESPONDENCE]

Naguissa Bostaille, Anne Gauquier, Didier Y. R. Stainier, David W. Raible, and Benoit Vanhollebeke

A hitherto unidentified N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutation affects dorsal root ganglia (DRG) formation in ouchless mutant zebrafish larvae. In contrast to previous findings assigning the ouchless phenotypes to downregulated sorbs3 transcript levels, this work re-attributes the phenotypes to an essential splice site mutation affecting adgra2 (gpr124) splicing and function. Accordingly, ouchless mutants fail to complement previously characterized adgra2 mutants and exhibit highly penetrant cerebrovascular defects. The aberrantly spliced adgra2 transcript found in ouchless mutants encodes a receptor lacking a single leucine-rich repeat (LRR) within its N-terminus.

http://ift.tt/2hBwFu6