Neck involvement and disease recurrence in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the minor salivary glands: the role of surgery in primary and progressive disease.

The aim of this study was to analyse the rates of metastatic events and clinical outcomes of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the minor salivary glands and to critically evaluate the role of surgical therapy. A retrospective cohort study was designed including all patients with ACC of the oral minor salivary glands treated in the study department during the years 2010-2017. Relevant clinicopathological data were analysed to determine factors with an impact on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Forty-one patients with primary ACC of the oral cavity and the oropharynx were included. Cervical metastases were found in 14 patients (34.1%) and were shown to have a significant negative impact on OS (P=0.009) and PFS (P=0.03). Sixteen patients developed disease recurrence during follow-up (39.0%) and most patients exhibited local disease recurrence with or without regional or distant metastases (14/16, 87.5%). Local recurrence was treated successfully with surgery in five cases. We recommend surgical therapy for patients with ACC of the minor salivary glands, including elective neck dissection and microvascular reconstruction, to optimize the planning of adjuvant therapy.

Antiplasmodial activity of mono- and dimeric carbazoles.

A series of mono- and dimeric natural and structurally modified carbazoles has been tested for activity against Plasmodium falciparum. One of the monomers, the synthetic compound 1,4-diacetoxy-3-methylcarbazole (17), displays the highest activity, with an IC50 value of 1.79 micrograms/ml. It is distinctly more active than the as yet best natural compound, 1-hydroxy-3-methylcarbazole (4) (4).

Biocompatibility studies of the single-needle technique in plateletpheresis with the Fresenius AS 104 blood cell separator.

To investigate the biocompatibility of the single-needle technique of the Fresenius AS 104 blood cell separator we analyzed coagulation, complement and hemolysis parameters prior to, during and after five thrombocytaphereses. The data were compared with results of the same parameters from identical donors in the dual-needle procedure. The analysis of bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and haptoglobin showed no relevant hemolysis. However, changes of the concentrations of coagulation factors XII and XI indicated an activation of coagulation. This was confirmed by an increase of the thrombin-antithrombin III complex during apheresis. No significant change in the complement split product content of the samples obtained during apheresis was found. Complement factors, glucose, lactate, leukocytes, morphology score and thrombocytes were measured in platelet concentrates. The comparison of the platelet products showed no significant differences except for leukocyte contamination. Glucose and lactate concentrations were similar in both procedures. Levels of complement activation markers were not statistically different.