1,721,000 research outputs found

    Transoral laser microsurgery or total laryngectomy for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: Retrospective analysis of 199 cases

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    Background. Surgical treatment options for local recurrences of laryngeal cancer can be either organ-preserving surgery or total laryngectomy. The purpose of this study was to present our evaluation of the treatment with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in comparison to laryngectomy. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of 199 consecutive patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer at 1 tertiary referral center. Results. The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and local control rates were 64.8%, 79.6%, and 57.5%, respectively, for 93 patients with early tumors treated by TLM, 28.9%, 41.7%, and 43.7%, respectively, for 52 patients with advanced tumors treated by TLM as well as 39.4%, 44.6%, and 68.8%, respectively, for 54 patients with advanced tumors treated by total laryngectomy. Five-year larynx-preservation rate was 77.7% for early as well as 68.4% for advanced tumors treated by TLM. Conclusion. TLM is an option in early and in selected cases of advanced locally recurrent laryngeal cancer. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

    Etanercept Prevents Decrease of Cochlear Blood Flow Dose-Dependently Caused by Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

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    Objectives: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a mediator of inflammation and microcirculation in the cochlea. This study aimed to quantify the effect of a local increase of TNF-alpha and study the effect of its interaction with etanercept on cochlear microcirculation. Methods: Cochlear lateral wall vessels were exposed surgically and assessed by intravital microscopy in guinea pigs in vivo. First, 24 animals were randomly distributed into 4 groups of 6 each. Exposed vessels were superfused repeatedly either with 1 of 3 different concentrations of TNF-alpha (5.0, 0.5, and 0.05 ng/mL) or with placebo (0.9% saline solution). Second, 12 animals were randomly distributed into 2 groups of 6 each. Vessels were pretreated with etanercept (1.0 mu g/mL) or placebo (0.9% saline solution), and then treated by repeated superfusion with TNF-alpha (5.0 ng/mL). Results: TNF-alpha was shown to be effective in decreasing cochlear blood flow at a dose of 5.0 ng/mL (p < 0.01, analysis of variance on ranks). Lower concentrations or placebo treatment did not lead to significant changes. After pretreatment with etanercept, TNF-alpha at a dose of 5.0 ng/mL no longer led to a change in cochlear blood flow. Conclusions: The decreasing effect that TNF-alpha has on cochlear blood flow is dose-dependent. Etanercept abrogates this effect

    From the Bottlecap to the Bottleneck: Frequent Esophageal Impaction of Bottlecaps Among Young Males in a Small University Town

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    There have been few reports of ingestion of bottlecaps worldwide. However, all of these seemed to be unlikely accidental ingestions with a comic side effect. In contrast to this, the authors of this study found an accumulation of bottlecap ingestions in a small university town. Hence, we conducted a study to investigate the nature of these ingestions. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary referral center in a small German university town (Göttingen). All patients that were admitted for esophageal foreign bodies were screened for accidental ingestion of bottlecaps and included in the study at hand. Overall, there were 14 cases of bottlecap ingestion within 12 years. Patients were exclusively male, average age was 23.0 ± 4.2 years, ranging from 18.3 to 35.6 years. In 13 out of 14 cases, association to a fraternity was found. Young men, particularly those belonging to a fraternity, should be beware of bottlecap ingestion when consuming beer in risky rituals in small university towns. Alternatively, competitive beer drinking may generally be avoided

    Betahistine metabolites, Aminoethylpyridine, and Hydroxyethylpyridine increase cochlear blood flow in guinea pigs in vivo

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    Objective: Betahistine is a histamine-like drug that is used in the treatment of Meniere's disease. It is commonly believed that betahistine increases cochlear blood flow and thus decreases the endolymphatic hydrops that is the cause of Meniere's. Despite common clinical use, there is little understanding of the kinetics or effects of its metabolites. This study investigated the effect of the betahistine metabolites aminoethylpyridine, hydroxyethylpyridine, and pyridylacetic acid on cochlear microcirculation. Design: Guinea pigs were randomly assigned to one of the groups: placebo, betahistine, or equimolar amounts of aminoethylpyridine, hydroxyethylpyridine, or pyridylacetic acid. Cochlear blood flow and mean arterial pressure were recorded for three minutes before and 15 minutes after treatment. Study sample: Thirty Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs assigned to one of five groups with six guinea pigs per group. Results: Betahistine, aminoethylpyridine, and hydroxyethylpyridine caused a significant increase in cochlear blood flow in comparison to placebo. The effect seen under aminoethylpyridin was greatest. The group treated with pyridylacetic acid showed no significant effect on cochlear blood flow. Conclusion: Aminoethylpyridine and hydroxyethylpyridine are, like betahistine, able to increase cochlear blood flow significantly. The effect of aminoethylpyridine was greatest. Pyridylacetic acid had no effect on cochlear microcirculation

    Two-Photon Microscopy Allows Imaging and Characterization of Cochlear Microvasculature In Vivo

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    Impairment of cochlear blood flow has been discussed as factor in the pathophysiology of various inner ear disorders. However, the microscopic study of cochlear microcirculation is limited due to small scale and anatomical constraints. Here, two-photon fluorescence microscopy is applied to visualize cochlear microvessels. Guinea pigs were injected with Fluorescein isothiocyanateor Texas red-dextrane as plasma marker. Intravital microscopy was performed in four animals and explanted cochleae from four animals were studied. The vascular architecture of the cochlea was visualized up to a depth of 90.0 +/- 22.7 mu m. Imaging yielded a mean contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 3.3 +/- 1.7. Mean diameter in vivo was 16.5 +/- 6.0 mu m for arterioles and 8.0 +/- 2.4 mu m for capillaries. In explanted cochleae, the diameter of radiating arterioles and capillaries was measured with 12.2 +/- 1.6 mu m and 6.6 +/- 1.0 mu m, respectively. The difference between capillaries and arterioles was statistically significant in both experimental setups (P < 0.001 and P = 0.022, two-way ANOVA). Measured vessel diameters in vivo and ex vivo were in agreement with published data. We conclude that two-photon fluorescence microscopy allows the investigation of cochlear microvessels and is potentially a valuable tool for inner ear research

    Clinical features of sarcoidosis patients presenting with head and neck manifestations - a two-center retrospective study and proposal of a diagnostic algorithm for the otorhinolaryngologist

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    Background and Aims: We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients presenting with sarcoidosis of the head and neck as the initial manifestation and to provide recommendations for the diagnostic work-up for the practicing otorhinolaryngologist.Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study at two university medical centers in Germany. Patients with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of sarcoidosis treated in the otorhinolaryngology departments were analyzed.Results: We identified 62 patients (2003-2016). In total, 85.4% (n = 53) of patients received the initial diagnosis of sarcoidosis during their ENT treatment. Sarcoidosis was detected in the lymph nodes in 42.3% (n = 30) of the patients; 57.7% had extra-lymphatic manifestations. Fifteen patients (24.2%) showed pulmonary involvement. 30.6% (n = 19) were treated with oral glucocorticoids (GC) alone, three patients with GC and methotrexate, one patient initially received a combination of GC and azathioprine, one patient rejected the recommended treatment.Conclusions: Sarcoidosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with head and neck symptoms. The most frequent presenting symptoms were cervical lymphadenopathy and affection of the paranasal sinuses. Therefore, otorhinolaryngologists should be aware of sarcoidosis and help guide referral strategies as they may be the first physicians treating these patients

    Histaminergic H3-Heteroreceptors as a Potential Mediator of Betahistine-Induced Increase in Cochlear Blood Flow

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    OBJECTIVE Betahistine is a histamine-like drug that is considered beneficial in Ménière's disease by increasing cochlear blood flow. Acting as an agonist at the histamine H1-receptor and as an inverse agonist at the H3-receptor, these receptors as well as the adrenergic \textgreeka2-receptor were investigated for betahistine effects on cochlear blood flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 54 Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were randomly assigned to one of nine groups treated with a selection of H1-, H3- or \textgreeka2-selective agonists and antagonists together with betahistine. Cochlear blood flow and mean arterial pressure were recorded for 3 min before and 15 min after infusion. RESULTS Blockage of the H3- or \textgreeka2-receptors caused a suppression of betahistine-mediated typical changes in cochlear blood flow or blood pressure. Activation of H3-receptors caused a drop in cochlear blood flow and blood pressure. H1-receptors showed no involvement in betahistine-mediated changes of cochlear blood flow. CONCLUSION Betahistine most likely affects cochlear blood flow through histaminergic H3-heteroreceptors
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