Consumer Trend of Using Ready-to-Use Salted Napa Cabbage at Home: Current Consumer Behaviors, Beliefs, and Opinions about the Main Ingredient of Kimchi.

ABSTRACT: Salted napa cabbage is the most important ingredient of kimchi. Currently, people have started to prepare ready-to-use salted napa cabbage at home. This study focused on this trend by investigating consumers' beliefs, opinions, and actual use of the products by conducting a telephone survey (895 female consumers) and face-to-face interviews (n = 514) in 2016 and a telephone survey (n = 200) in 2021. Most respondents (93 and 91% in 2016 and 2021, respectively) answered that convenience was the main reason for using salted napa cabbage. Regarding consumption behavior, 22 and 16% of the respondents in each year used salted napa cabbage after storing it for more than 24 h. In particular, 85 and 91% of consumers stored the product at room temperature, and 60 and 58% used it without washing, which could affect the quality of the food, as microorganisms could multiply during the storage. Inappropriate handling increased by age group, especially in 2021 (P < 0.05). In the query on satisfaction after using the products, 85 and 80% of respondents were satisfied because the product was convenient (54%) and hygienic (17%). Conversely, the respondents who were not satisfied with the products did not like the degree of salting and unhygienic status of the products. The majority (93 and 80%) of consumers preferred buying salted napa cabbage again because of its convenience. Although consumers thought that hygiene and quality were important factors, many respondents (83 and 72%) were not aware of foodborne illnesses associated with kimchi. Nevertheless, consumers intended to pay more for safe, salted napa cabbage (72 and 76%). The results of this study provide useful and credible data for understanding the factors affecting consumers' consumption and general beliefs and opinions on the use of salted napa cabbage, especially for food safety management.

[Cranial suture ultrasound for reducing radiation exposure in diagnosis of craniosynostosis in young children]. / Ul'trazvukovoe issledovanie shvov cherepa kak mera snizheniya luchevoi nagruzki v diagnostike kraniosinostozov u detei rannego vozrasta.

Currently, there are no standards for examining patients with suspected craniosynostosis. CT of the brain with 3D skull reconstruction is a common approach to diagnose craniosynostosis in many hospitals. This technique in pediatric patients is associated with a high dose of ionizing radiation and prompts searching for other diagnostic methods. OBJECTIVE: To generalize an experience of cranial suture ultrasound and compare diagnostic capabilities of various ultrasound devices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of cranial suture ultrasound in 49 patients under the age of 14 months with a suspected craniosynostosis. All patients underwent expert-class ultrasound. Of these, 10 patients underwent middle-class ultrasound. Age of these patients ranged from 2 to 10 months. RESULTS: According to ultrasound data, we have found 48 synostotic sutures in 42 patients. There were 2 inaccurate results among these 48 sutures. In both cases, expert-class ultrasound confirmed partial closure of cranial sutures while 3D CT revealed their complete closure. Sensitivity and specificity of technique were 95.8% and 100%, respectively. Both expert- and middle-class ultrasound revealed synostotic sutures in 10 children under 1 year old. CONCLUSION: Our data have shown that ultrasound of cranial sutures may be a first-line imaging technique. This method has high sensitivity and specificity in pediatric patients. Moreover, middle-class ultrasound devices may be used for diagnosis.

Dynamic interactions of lactic acid bacteria in Korean sourdough during back-slopping process.

AIMS: This study aimed to clarify the cause of quality reduction in Korean sourdough after successive back-slopping. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the dynamic changes in lactic acid bacteria during the back-slopping process using genetic fingerprinting techniques. During the initial propagation phases, the dominant lactic acid bacteria were Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis (<5 log CFU per g sourdough), Latilactobacillus curvatus (9·5 log CFU per g sourdough) and Levilactobacillus brevis (6·5 log CFU per g sourdough). However, after the 11th propagation, F. sanfranciscensis became more prominent (>9·0 log CFU per g sourdough), whereas L. curvatus and L. brevis rapidly decreased. Monitoring these bacteria in the co-culture system revealed that acid-tolerant F. sanfranciscensis rapidly utilized maltose (1·65 g l-1  h-1 ) and produced large amounts of lactic acid, whereas L. brevis and L. curvatus consumed maltose slowly and L. curvatus was poorly tolerant to lactic acid. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that competition exists between the lactic acid bacteria in sourdough during the back-slopping process, and microbial succession by acid-tolerant species results in quality reduction of sourdough. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study uncovered the cause of microbial changes during the propagation of Korean sourdough and proposed a strategy to develop starters to produce high-quality bakery products.

[Intracranial meningiomas in children]. / Vnutricherepnye meningiomy detskogo vozrasta.

Meningiomas are rare in children and distinguished from the tumors in adults by clinical and biological aspects. Moreover, some histological forms and localizations are even casuistic in adults. There were 178 patients younger 18 years old with brain tumors. All patients underwent surgery at the pediatric department for 5-year period. Meningiomas were diagnosed in 5 cases that accounted for 2.8% of the total number of brain tumors in children. The authors reported children with intracranial meningiomas and discussed certain features of the course of disease in these patients.

[Neuroendoscopic interventions using an Nd-YAG laser for multilevel hydrocephalus: treatment results for 10 patients]. / Neiroéndoskopicheskie vmeshatel'stva s ispol'zovaniem Nd-YAG-lazera pri mnogourovnevoi gidrotsefalii: rezul'taty lecheniia 10 patsientov.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment or multilevel hydrocephalus is a complex problem. Neuroendoscopic interventions, make it possible to combine minimal invasiveness with the possibility of fenestration of several cysts during one procedure and thereby eliminate multi-level occlusion. We present our the experience of using a neodymium YAG laser (Nd-YAG laser) as an additional tool to improve the treatment results of patients with non-communicating hydrocephalus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 10 patients aged from 5 months to 8 years who underwent endoscopic interventions with the use of rigid endoscope with frameless navigation. A surgical laser with a radiation wavelength of 1.064 µm was used as the main tool for fenestrating the walls of the cysts. RESULTS: 13 endoscopic laser interventions were performed in 10 patients with multilevel hydrocephalus. In 3 children, the two-stage treatment was chosen in due to the impossibility of simultaneous fenestration of all cysts. The interval between procedures was 1 month in two cases and 11 months in one case. We managed to compensate for cerebrospinal fluid disturbances in each patient, positive dynamics in the condition was noted. The duration of postoperative stay averaged 8 days (from 4 to 13 days). There were no deaths in the study group. All patients were discharged in good condition. Average follow-up duration was 14 months (from 8 to 25 months). During the observation, the condition of the patients remained stable; there was no need for repeated operations. CONCLUSION: Combined use of bypass operations, endoscopic techniques and neural navigation may improve the results of treatment of patients with multilevel hydrocephalus. Data presented in this article demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of the clinical use of laser radiation as an additional tool for interventions in patients with this condition.

[Endoscopic treatment of nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis in dizygotic twins. A case report and literature review]. / Éndoskopicheskoe lechenie nesindromal'nogo sagittal'nogo kraniosinostoza u dizigotnykh bliznetsov (dvoinia). Klinicheskii sluchai i obzor literatury.

The article presents a rare clinical case of isolated sagittal craniosynostosis in dichorionic diamniotic twins. The review addresses issues of epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis of craniosynostosis in this group of patients.

Synergistic cranberry juice combinations with natural-borne antimicrobials for the eradication of uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilm within a short time.

Urinary tract infections (UTI), one of the most common diseases in humans, are caused primarily by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Cranberry juice (CB) is a widely known prophylaxis for UTI, but the treatment of CB alone could not effectively eradicate preformed UPEC biofilms. The aim of this study was to develop enforced CB composites within a short time by adding a small quantity of natural borne antimicrobials. UPEC biofilms (initial: 6·0 log CFU per cm2 ), formed on silicone coupons in artificial urine medium, were exposed to CB (4-8%), caprylic acid (CAR; 0·025-0·05%) and thymol (TM; 0·025-0·05%) at 37°C for 1 min. Individual treatment of each compound did not show the significant antibacterial effect on UPEC biofilms (P > 0·05). Otherwise, the survivor counts of biofilms were synergistically reduced with CB containing any of the antimicrobials. For example combined treatment with CB (8%) + CAR (0·05%) + TM (0·05%) resulted in a 6 log reduction in UPEC populations in the biofilm (no detectable bacteria remained) with 4·6 log of synergistic bactericidal effect. The confocal laser scanning microscope images indicated that any composites including TM might result in biofilm detachment from the surface. The present method is cost-effective and more acceptable to consumers as it is based on the synergistic interaction of natural borne antimicrobials. The results of this study could be widely applicable in the functional food, medical and healthcare field. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Anti-biofilm effect of cranberry juice (CB) has been focused mainly on inhibiting biofilm formation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC); however, combined treatment with natural borne antimicrobials derived from coconut oil (caprylic acid) and oregano essential oil (thymol) could synergistically enhance its eradicating activity against biofilms. This study developed novel CB composites showing marked anti-biofilm effects (complete eradication of UPEC biofilms within just 1 min).

Plasmid curing resulted in improved heterologous gene expression in Leuconostoc citreum EFEL2700.

Leuconostoc citreum EFEL2700 isolated from kimchi was used as a host strain for genetic and metabolic engineering in our previous studies, but the cells of EFEL2700 contained a cryptic plasmid (P-cells). Thus, we created plasmid-free cells (F-cells) using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In this study, we compared the microbial characteristics of P- and F-cells in terms of growth rate, biochemical properties, transformation efficiency, plasmid copy number and protein expression level. When the growth rate was measured in MRS medium at 30°C, no significant difference (P > 0·01) was observed. Biochemical properties, tested using an API 50CHL kit, showed no differences. Transformation efficiency of F-cells, measured using pCB4270, was higher (1·3 × 104 CFU per µg DNA) than that of P-cells (5·0 × 103 CFU per µg DNA). Copy number after transformation of pCBBgl was 4-fold higher for F-cells than for P-cells. When ß-glucosidase activity was assayed in the above experiment, F-cells showed 3·4-fold higher values than P-cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that plasmid curing in L. citreum EFEL2700 improves its characteristics as a gene expression host. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Leuconostoc citreum EFEL2700 (P-cell) isolated from kimchi is a useful food-grade host for expressing heterologous genes. The presence of a cryptic plasmid is thought to limit efficient gene expression. In this study, we compared the microbial and genetic changes after plasmid curing in this strain. The plasmid-free strain showed improved levels of transformation efficiency, copy number and heterologous gene expression without alterations in phenotypes such as the growth rates and biochemical properties. The resulting strain of L. citreum EFEL2701 (F-cell) can be used as an efficient host for genetic engineering.

Nonlinear association between bone mineral density and all-cause mortality: the Dong-gu study.

There was a U-shaped association between hip BMD and all-cause mortality, with the lowest mortality in the 90th percentile in males. However, there was an inverse linear relationship in females. In contrast, the association between lumbar spine BMD and mortality was less evident in males, with no association in females. INTRODUCTION: Bone mineral density (BMD) is reported inversely associated with mortality. Although some previous studies provided evidence for nonlinear associations, these were not adequately assessed in most previous works. METHODS: We evaluated the nonlinear relationship between BMD and mortality in Asians. Our study involved 8629 participants in the Dong-gu study from 2007 to 2010. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) according to BMD categories after adjusting for potential confounders. During a follow-up of 6.7 ± 1.4 years, 712 participants died. RESULTS: There was a U-shaped association between hip BMD and all-cause mortality, with the lowest mortality in the 90th percentile in males. However, there was an inverse linear relationship in females. In males, compared with the 75th to 95th percentile group, the < 2.5th percentile group had a 3.89 (95% CI 2.41-6.28)-fold higher risk and the 2.5th to 5th percentile group had a 2.51 (95% CI 1.25-5.04)-fold higher risk. The HR was 2.51 (95% CI 1.25, 5.04) in the > 97.5th percentile group. In females, compared with that in the 75th to 95th percentile group, the HR was 2.33 (95% CI 1.24, 4.39) in the < 2.5th percentile group. In contrast, the association between lumbar spine BMD and mortality was less evident in males, with no association in females. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study shows that the association between BMD and mortality varies by gender and that high and low BMD are predictors of all-cause mortality in males.

Molecular-based identification and detection of Salmonella in food production systems: current perspectives.

Salmonella remains a prominent cause of foodborne illnesses and can originate from a wide range of food products. Given the continued presence of pathogenic Salmonella in food production systems, there is a consistent need to improve identification and detection methods that can identify this pathogen at all stages in food systems. Methods for subtyping have evolved over the years, and the introduction of whole genome sequencing and advancements in PCR technologies have greatly improved the resolution for differentiating strains within a particular serovar. This, in turn, has led to the continued improvement in Salmonella detection technologies for utilization in food production systems. In this review, the focus will be on recent advancements in these technologies, as well as potential issues associated with the application of these tools in food production. In addition, the recent and emerging research developments on Salmonella detection and identification methodologies and their potential application in food production systems will be discussed.

A cost-effective cell- and matrix-based minimally invasive single-stage chondroregenerative technique developed with validated vertical translation methodology.

Introduction The morbidity and significant health economic impact associated with the chondral lesion has led to a large number of strategies for therapeutic neochondrogenesis. The challenge has been to develop techniques that are cost effective single-stage procedures with minimal surgical trauma that have undergone rigorous preclinical scrutiny and robust reproducible assessment of effectiveness. A biological repair requires the generation of a cellular and matrix composite with appropriate signalling for chondrogenic differentiation. Methods and results A technique was developed that allowed chondrogenic primary (uncultured) cells from bone marrow aspirate concentrate, combined with a composite hydrophilic and fibrillar matrix to be applied arthroscopically to a site of a chondral lesion. The construct was tested in vitro and in animal experiments before clinical trials. Clinical trials involved 60 patients in a prospective study. Symptomatic International Cartilage Repair Society grade 3 and 4a lesions were mapped and treated. Pre- and postoperative clinical assessments showed statistically significant improved outcomes; Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (mean 52.8 to > 76.4; P < 0.05) International Knee Documentation Committee (mean 39 to > 79 P < 0.05) and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (64.5 to >89.2 P < 0.05). Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated morphologically (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue, average MOCART score 72) and qualitatively; the regenerate was comparable to native cartilage. Conclusions This technique is effective, affordable, requires no complex tools and delivers a single-stage treatment that is potentially accessible to any centre capable of performing arthroscopic surgery. Good clinical results were found to be sustained at five years of follow-up with a regenerate that appears hyaline like using multiple magnetic resonance measures.

Development and clinical application of an evidence-based pharmaceutical care service algorithm in acute coronary syndrome.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Drug therapies are critical for preventing secondary complications in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a pharmaceutical care service (PCS) algorithm for ACS and confirm that it is applicable through a prospective clinical trial. METHODS: The ACS-PCS algorithm was developed according to extant evidence-based treatment and pharmaceutical care guidelines. Quality assurance was conducted through two methods: literature comparison and expert panel evaluation. The literature comparison was used to compare the content of the algorithm with the referenced guidelines. Expert evaluations were conducted by nine experts for 75 questionnaire items. A trial was conducted to confirm its effectiveness. Seventy-nine patients were assigned to either the pharmacist-included multidisciplinary team care (MTC) group or the usual care (UC) group. The endpoints of the trial were the prescription rate of two important drugs, readmission, emergency room (ER) visit and mortality. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The main frame of the algorithm was structured with three tasks: medication reconciliation, medication optimization and transition of care. The contents and context of the algorithm were compliant with class I recommendations and the main service items from the evidence-based guidelines. Opinions from the expert panel were mostly positive. There were significant differences in beta-blocker prescription rates in the overall period (P = .013) and ER visits (four cases, 9.76%, P = .016) in the MTC group compared to the UC group, respectively. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: We developed a PCS algorithm for ACS based on the contents of evidence-based drug therapy and the core concept of pharmacist services.

Can persistent organic pollutants distinguish between two opposite metabolic phenotypes in lean Koreans?

AIMS: This study investigated the association of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), an emerging new risk factor for type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, with the presence of opposite phenotypes of glucose and lipid metabolism among normal-weight Koreans of similar body composition. METHODS: Fifty subjects, randomly selected from an ongoing community-based cohort study, from two opposite phenotype groups - metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUHNW) and metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) - were matched for waist circumference, visceral fat mass and demographic variables, then compared for serum concentrations of POPs. RESULTS: Most POPs (10 out of 13 compounds) were present in higher serum concentrations in the MUHNW than in the MHNW. In particular, serum concentrations of all compounds of the organochlorine pesticide class were 2.2 to 4.7 times higher in cases than in controls. Compared with the lowest tertile of summary measures of POPs, Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for the second and third tertiles were 7.4 (1.9-29.4) and 10.4 (2.6-41.2), respectively. Adjusting for possible confounders did not change the results. CONCLUSION: Taken altogether, these findings from the present and previous studies suggest that increased serum POP concentrations may play an important role in the development of unhealthy metabolic phenotypes in lean people.

[Factors of endoscopic third ventriculostomy efficacy in infants with obstructive hydrocephalus under one year of age]. / Faktory éffektivnosti éndoskopicheskoi ventrikulostomii dna III zheludochka u detei do odnogo goda s okkliuzionnoi gidrotsefaliei.

Endoscopic surgery for obstructive hydrocephalus in children is an alternative to shunts. Currently, the efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in infants up to one year of age is increasingly discussed among neurosurgeons. To increase the efficacy of ETV, many surgeons raise the question: what factors may affect the efficacy of this procedure in the younger age group? OBJECTIVE: To study the factors affecting the efficacy of ETV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 88 ETVs were performed in infants under one year of age in our clinic in 2012-2016. Subsequently, 43 (48.9%) children underwent CSF shunting, and one child underwent repeated ETV. The mean time until the appearance of clinical signs of stoma closure was 3.9 months (116 days). RESULTS: The procedure was most effective in the case of congenital obstructive hydrocephalus (64.5% of successful operations) and also in children over the age of 6 months (63.6% of successful operations). The efficacy in post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus was 40%. The efficacy in grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage was lowest and amounted to 25%. The total efficacy of ETV in children under one year of age in our study was 51.1%. CONCLUSION: In the case of congenital obstructive hydrocephalus, the efficacy of ETV is maximal and amounts to 64.5%. To achieve the highest efficacy of ETV in infants under one year of age, careful selection of patients at the preoperative stage is necessary, with allowance for many factors affecting treatment outcome.

[Shunt-induced craniosynostosis: topicality of the problem, choice of the approach, and features of surgical treatment]. / Shunt-indutsirovannyi kraniosinostoz: aktual'nost' problemy, vybor taktiki, osobennosti khirurgicheskogo lecheniia.

RATIONALE: Shunt-induced craniosynostosis is one of the late complications of CSF shunting surgery, which affects the patient's condition, clinical picture, and treatment approach. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the prevalence rate and clinical significance of this disease, define the indications for surgery, and choose the optimal surgical approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 59 children with shunt system dysfunction, aged 1 to 14 years, who were treated at the Department in the period from 2014 to 2016. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) age at the time of examination is older than 1 year; 2) implantation of a shunt system in the first 12 months of life. The state of cranial sutures was assessed using three-dimensional reconstruction of patient's computerized tomography images. Images obtained before or in the first months after primary implantation of a shunt system were used to exclude cases of primary craniosynostosis. RESULTS: Premature synostosis of the cranial sutures was detected in 27 (46%) cases. Of these, 3 (11%) patients with clinical symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and radiographic signs of craniocerebral disproportion underwent cranial vault remodeling surgery: two biparietal craniotomies and one fronto-parieto-occipital reconstruction. In two cases, simultaneous replacement of a valve with a programmable one was performed. There were no complications after reconstructive surgery. CONCLUSION: Shunt-associated craniosynostosis is one of the late complications of CSF shunting surgery. However, its presence is not an indication for surgery and should not be a reason for surgical aggression. Surgery for increasing the intracranial volume is indicated only for secondary craniosynostosis combined with signs of craniocerebral disproportion. In these cases, reconstructive surgery is an effective treatment option for improving the patient's condition.

Rapid and simple method by combining FTA™ card DNA extraction with two set multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains and virulence genes in food samples.

The aim of this research was to optimize two multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays that could simultaneously detect six non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) as well as the three virulence genes. We also investigated the potential of combining the FTA™ card-based DNA extraction with the multiplex PCR assays. Two multiplex PCR assays were optimized using six primer pairs for each non-O157 STEC serogroup and three primer pairs for virulence genes respectively. Each STEC strain specific primer pair only amplified 155, 238, 321, 438, 587 and 750 bp product for O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145 respectively. Three virulence genes were successfully multiplexed: 375 bp for eae, 655 bp for stx1 and 477 bp for stx2. When two multiplex PCR assays were validated with ground beef samples, distinctive bands were also successfully produced. Since the two multiplex PCR examined here can be conducted under the same PCR conditions, the six non-O157 STEC and their virulence genes could be concurrently detected with one run on the thermocycler. In addition, all bands clearly appeared to be amplified by FTA card DNA extraction in the multiplex PCR assay from the ground beef sample, suggesting that an FTA card could be a viable sampling approach for rapid and simple DNA extraction to reduce time and labour and therefore may have practical use for the food industry. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Two multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were optimized for discrimination of six non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and identification of their major virulence genes within a single reaction, simultaneously. This study also determined the successful ability of the FTA™ card as an alternative to commercial DNA extraction method for conducting multiplex STEC PCR assays. The FTA™ card combined with multiplex PCR holds promise for the food industry by offering a simple and rapid DNA sample method for reducing time, cost and labour for detection of STEC in food and environmental samples.

Postdiagnostic use of ß-blockers and other antihypertensive drugs and the risk of recurrence and mortality in head and neck cancer patients: an observational study of 10,414 person-years of follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Growing evidence indicates that norepinephrine promotes cancer growth and metastasis whereas ß-blockers decrease these risks. This study aimed to examine the clinical impact of ß-blockers and other hypertensive drugs on disease recurrence and survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed a cohort of 1274 consecutive patients who received definitive treatments for previously untreated HNSCC at our tertiary referral center between January 2001 and December 2012. Antihypertensive use was considered positive if patients were on medication from HNSCC diagnosis to at least 1 year after treatment initiation. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to determine associations between antihypertensive drugs and recurrence, survival, and second primary cancer (SPC) occurrence. RESULTS: Hypertension itself was not a significant variable of recurrence and survival and no antihypertensive drug use affected SPC occurrence (all P > 0.1). After controlling for clinical factors, calcium-channel blocker use remained an independent variable for index cancer recurrence, and ß-blocker use was significantly associated with poor cancer-specific mortality, competing mortality, and all-cause mortality (all P < 0.05). ß-blocker use significantly affected competing and all-cause mortalities in normotensive patients, and calcium-channel blocker use affected index cancer recurrence in normotensive patients (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that ß-blocker use is associated with decreased survival and calcium-channel blockers is associated with increased cancer recurrence in patients of HNSCC.