Can we do it faster? accelerated rehabilitation following thumb ulnar collateral ligament repair with suture tape augmentation.

Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) injuries are the most common thumb metacarpophalangeal joint ligamentinjury. Rehabilitation protocols traditionally permit return to sport at 12 weeks post-surgery. In this article, we propose anacellerated rehabilitation protocol permitting return to sport at 5-6 post-surgery in the recreational athlete.

Less pronounced response to exercise in healthy relatives to type 2 diabetic subjects compared with controls.

Healthy first-degree relatives with heredity of type 2 diabetes (FH+) are known to have metabolic inflexibility compared with subjects without heredity for diabetes (FH-). In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that FH+ individuals have an impaired response to exercise compared with FH-. Sixteen FH+ and 19 FH- insulin-sensitive men similar in age, peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2 peak), and body mass index completed an exercise intervention with heart rate monitored during exercise for 7 mo. Before and after the exercise intervention, the participants underwent a physical examination and tests for glucose tolerance and exercise capacity, and muscle biopsies were taken for expression analysis. The participants attended, on average, 39 training sessions during the intervention and spent 18.8 MJ on exercise. V̇o2 peak/kg increased by 14%, and the participants lost 1.2 kg of weight and 3 cm waist circumference. Given that the FH+ group expended 61% more energy during the intervention, we used regression analysis to analyze the response in the FH+ and FH- groups separately. Exercise volume had a significant effect on V̇o2 peak, weight, and waist circumference in the FH- group, but not in the FH+ group. After exercise, expression of genes involved in metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and cellular respiration increased more in the FH- compared with the FH+ group. This suggests that healthy, insulin-sensitive FH+ and FH- participants with similar age, V̇o2 peak, and body mass index may respond differently to an exercise intervention. The FH+ background might limit muscle adaptation to exercise, which may contribute to the increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in FH+ individuals.

Dissolution enhancement of albendazole through nanocrystal formulation.

Albendazole, a BCS class II drug, has poor dissolution characteristic. In order to enhance dissolution nanocrystals were prepared by antisolvent precipitation process using PVP K-30(0.05%,0.1%,0.2%,0.4%) as stabilizer. The process was optimized in terms of concentration of stabilizer(PVP K 30) in order to enhance dissolution and obtain stable particles with a small mean particle size. Nanocrystals were characterized with respect to particle size, in vitro dissolution and X-ray diffraction pattern. Decrease in particle size of nanocrystals was observed with increase in concentration of stabilizer. Dissolution of nanocrystals also improved with increase in concentration of PVP K-30. Crystalline state evaluation before and following particle size reduction was conducted through XRD to denote any possible transformation to an amorphous state during process.

First-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients have reduced expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism in skeletal muscle.

CONTEXT: First-degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes (FH+) have been shown to have decreased energy expenditure and decreased expression of mitochondrial genes in skeletal muscle. In previous studies, it has been difficult to distinguish whether mitochondrial dysfunction and differential regulation of genes are primary (genetic) or due to reduced physical activity, obesity, or other correlated factors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether mitochondrial dysfunction is a primary defect or results from an altered metabolic state. DESIGN: We compared gene expression in skeletal muscle from 24 male subjects with FH and 26 without FH matched for age, glucose tolerance, VO(2peak) (peak oxygen uptake), and body mass index using microarrays. Additionally, type fiber composition, mitochondrial DNA content, and citrate synthase activity were measured. The results were followed up in an additional cohort with measurements of in vivo metabolism. RESULTS: FH+ vs. FH- subjects showed reduced expression of mitochondrial genes (P = 2.75 × 10(-6)), particularly genes involved in fatty acid metabolism (P = 4.08 × 10(-7)), despite similar mitochondrial DNA content. Strikingly, a 70% reduced expression of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene was found in FH+ vs. FH- individuals (P = 0.0009). Down-regulation of the genes involved in fat metabolism was associated with decreased in vivo fat oxidation and increased glucose oxidation examined in an additional cohort of elderly men. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that genetically altered fatty acid metabolism predisposes to type 2 diabetes and propose a role for catecholamine-metabolizing enzymes like MAOA in the regulation of energy metabolism.

Estimation of electrode location in a rat motor cortex by laminar analysis of electrophysiology and intracortical electrical stimulation.

While the development of microelectrode arrays has enabled access to disparate regions of a cortex for neurorehabilitation, neuroprosthetic and basic neuroscience research, accurate interpretation of the signals and manipulation of the cortical neurons depend upon the anatomical placement of the electrode arrays in a layered cortex. Toward this end, this report compares two in vivo methods for identifying the placement of electrodes in a linear array spaced 100 µm apart based on in situ laminar analysis of (1) ketamine-xylazine-induced field potential oscillations in a rat motor cortex and (2) an intracortical electrical stimulation-induced movement threshold. The first method is based on finding the polarity reversal in laminar oscillations which is reported to appear at the transition between layers IV and V in laminar 'high voltage spindles' of the rat cortical column. Analysis of histological images in our dataset indicates that polarity reversal is detected 150.1 ± 104.2 µm below the start of layer V. The second method compares the intracortical microstimulation currents that elicit a physical movement for anodic versus cathodic stimulation. It is based on the hypothesis that neural elements perpendicular to the electrode surface are preferentially excited by anodic stimulation while cathodic stimulation excites those with a direction component parallel to its surface. With this method, we expect to see a change in the stimulation currents that elicits a movement at the beginning of layer V when comparing anodic versus cathodic stimulation as the upper cortical layers contain neuronal structures that are primarily parallel to the cortical surface and lower layers contain structures that are primarily perpendicular. Using this method, there was a 78.7 ± 68 µm offset in the estimate of the depth of the start of layer V. The polarity reversal method estimates the beginning of layer V within ±90 µm with 95% confidence and the intracortical stimulation method estimates it within ±69.3 µm. We propose that these methods can be used to estimate the in situ location of laminar electrodes implanted in the rat motor cortex.

Preclinical activity of P276-00, a novel small-molecule cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in the therapy of multiple myeloma.

Cyclin D dysregulation and overexpression is noted in the majority of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, suggesting its critical role in MM pathogenesis. Here, we sought to identify the effects of targeting cyclin D in MM. We first confirmed cyclin D mRNA overexpression in 42 of 64 (65%) patient plasma cells. Silencing cyclin D1 resulted in >50% apoptotic cell death suggesting its validity as a potential therapeutic target. We next evaluated P276-00, a clinical-grade small-molecule cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor as a way to target the cyclins. P276-00 resulted in dose-dependent cytotoxicity in MM cells. Cell-cycle analysis confirmed either growth arrest or caspase-dependent apoptosis; this was preceded by inhibition of Rb-1 phosphorylation with associated downregulation of a range of cyclins suggesting a regulatory role of P276-00 in cell-cycle progression through broad activity. Proliferative stimuli such as interleukin-6, insulin-like growth factor-1 and bone-marrow stromal cell adherence induced cyclins; P276-00 overcame these growth, survival and drug resistance signals. Because the cyclins are substrates of proteasome degradation, combination studies with bortezomib resulted in synergism. Finally, in vivo efficacy of P276-00 was confirmed in an MM xenograft model. These studies form the basis of an ongoing phase I study in the treatment of relapsed/refractory MM.

A variant in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Genetic and epidemiological studies suggest an association between gestational diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes. Both are polygenic multifactorial disorders characterised by beta cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. Our aim was to investigate whether common genetic variants that have previously been associated with type 2 diabetes or related phenotypes would also confer risk for gestational diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1,881 unrelated pregnant Scandinavian women (649 women with gestational diabetes mellitus, 1,232 non-diabetic control subjects) we genotyped the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2 rs7903146), adiponectin (ADIPOQ +276G > T), peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor, gamma 2 (PPARG Pro12Ala), PPARG-coactivator, 1 alpha (PPARGC1A Gly482Ser), forkhead box C2 (FOXC2 -512C > T) and beta3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3 Trp64Arg) polymorphisms using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay or RFLP. RESULTS: The CC, CT and TT genotype frequencies of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant differed significantly between women with gestational diabetes mellitus and control women (46.3, 43.6 and 10.1% vs 58.5, 35.3 and 6.2%, p = 3.7 x 10(-6), corrected p value [Pc] for multiple testing Pc = 2.2 x 10(-5)). The T-allele was associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (odds ratio 1.49 [95% CI 1.28-1.75], p = 4.9 x 10(-7) [Pc = 2.8 x 10(-6)]). Compared with wild-type CC-genotype carriers, heterozygous (CT-genotype) and homozygous (TT-genotype) carriers had a 1.6-fold (95% CI 1.26-1.93, p = 3.7 x 10(-5) [Pc = 0.0002]) and a 2.1-fold (95% CI 1.41-2.99, p = 0.0001 [Pc = 0.0008]) increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, respectively. The other polymorphisms studied were not significantly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (ADIPOQ +276G > T: 1.17 [1.01-1.36], p = 0.039 [Pc = 0.23]; PPARG Pro12Ala: 1.06 [0.87-1.29], p = 0.53; PPARGC1A Gly482Ser: 0.96 [0.83-1.10], p = 0.54; FOXC2 -512C > T: 1.01 [0.87-1.16], p = 0.94; and ADRB3 Trp64Arg: 1.22 [0.95-1.56], p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Scandinavian women.

Common variants in MODY genes increase the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Impaired beta cell function is the hallmark of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and MODY. In addition, women with MODY gene mutations often present with GDM, but it is not known whether common variants in MODY genes contribute to GDM. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We genotyped five common variants in the glucokinase (GCK, commonly known as MODY2), hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-alpha (HNF1A, commonly known as MODY3) and 4-alpha (HNF4A commonly known as MODY1) genes in 1,880 Scandinavian women (648 women with GDM and 1,232 pregnant non-diabetic control women). RESULTS: The A allele of the GCK -30G-->A polymorphism was more common in GDM women than in control subjects (odds ratio [OR] 1.28 [95% CI 1.06-1.53], p=0.008, corrected p value, p=0.035). Under a recessive model [AA vs GA+GG], the OR increased further to 2.12 (95% CI 1.21-3.72, p=0.009). The frequency of the L allele of the HNF1A I27L polymorphism was slightly higher in GDM than in controls (1.16 [95% CI 1.001-1.34], p=0.048, corrected p value, p=0.17). However, the OR increased under a dominant model (LL+IL vs II; 1.31 [95% CI 1.08-1.60], p=0.007). The rs2144908, rs2425637 and rs1885088 variants, which are located downstream of the primary beta cell promoter (P2) of HNF4A, were not associated with GDM. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The -30G-->A polymorphism of the beta-cell-specific promoter of GCK and the I27L polymorphism of HNF1A seem to increase the risk of GDM in Scandinavian women.

Magnitude of interference after diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-acellular pertussis/Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide-tetanus vaccination is related to the number of doses administered.

We compared the antibody response to Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP) after 1, 2, or 3 doses of a diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine combined with a PRP-tetanus conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine, followed by separate injections of DTaP and PRP-T vaccines for the last 1 or 2 doses. Healthy infants were recruited from pediatric practices and were immunized according to recommended schedules. A significant decrease in the mean anti-PRP (from 5.25 to 2.68 microg/mL) and anti-tetanus toxoid antibody responses (from 0.13 to 0.09 Eq/mL) was observed as the number of doses of the DTaP/PRP-T combination vaccine increased (P<.02 and P=.01, respectively). In contrast, the mean anti-diphtheria toxoid antibody response increased with increasing numbers of DTaP/PRP-T doses (P=.0001). The effects of interference were not eliminated by the completion of the primary series with 1 or 2 doses of the DTaP and PRP-T vaccines given separately.

Efficacy of hydrolytic enzymes in preventing radiation therapy-induced side effects in patients with head and neck cancers.

PURPOSE: Based on in vitro and on clinical evidence of protection against acute side effects of radiation, a prospective randomized, open study was performed to determine the efficacy of an oral proteolytic enzyme preparation in patients with head and neck cancer receiving conventional fractionated radiation therapy. METHODS: Patients with stage T3/T4 head and neck cancer were eligible. One hundred patients from two centres were entered into the study. 60Co gamma-radiation was delivered at a standard daily radiation dose of 2 Gy in 25-35 fractions over a period of 6-7 weeks. Two lateral parallel opposing fields were used with a portal area of 10 x 15 cm. Patients assigned to the test group arm additionally received enzyme tablets orally t.i.d. starting 3 days prior to radiation therapy, and continuing up to 5 days after completion of the course of radiation therapy. Patients in the control arm were not given any drug or placebo. Acute radiation side effects were described as mucositis, skin reaction, dysphagia, and were graded at each visit during and after radiation therapy, following RTOG/EORTC criteria. RESULTS: The severity (maximum extent) of acute radiation therapy side effects was significantly less in enzyme-treated patients than in control patients: mucositis (mean: 1.3 vs 2.2, P < 0.001), skin reaction (1.2 vs 2.4, P < 0.001) and dysphagia (1.4 vs 2.2, P < 0.001). The duration of these side effects as well as the sum scores of side effects were also less in the study arm. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of enzyme therapy with conventional fractionated radiation therapy was feasible and well-tolerated. There was significant protection against acute side effects of radiation therapy in the study arm. Not only was the severity of acute side effects less but the duration was shorter and the time to onset was also delayed. Prospective randomized double-blind studies would verify this role of an oral enzyme therapy as standard co-medication with radiation therapy to the head and neck region.

Differential effects of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract and a DNA repair modulator 4-aminobenzamide on liver microsomal cytochrome 4502E1-dependent aniline hydroxylation.

Previous studies from our laboratories have linked the protective abilities of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) with inactivation of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-XL, and modification of several other critical molecular targets such as DNA-damage/DNA-repair, lipid peroxidation and intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Especially, GSPE provided dramatic protection against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity, significantly increased bcl-XL expression in the liver, and antagonized both necrotic and apoptotic deaths of liver cells in vivo. However, it was not clear from this study whether anti-apoptogenic and anti-necrotic effects of GSPE were: (i) due to its interference with endonuclease activity, (ii) due to its antioxidant effect, or, (iii) due to its ability to inhibit microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme(s), such as CYP-4502E1. Since CYP-4502E1 primarily metabolizes acetaminophen in mice and rats, this study specifically focused on CYP-4502E1's catalytic activity in vitro. Overall this investigation compared the in vitro aniline hydroxylation patterns of: (i) in vivo GSPE-exposed and unexposed (control) mouse liver microsomes, (ii) induced (1% acetone in drinking water for 3 days) and uninduced rat liver microsomes in the presence and absence of GSPE in vitro, and (iii) control rat liver microsomes in the presence of an anti-APAP agent 4-aminobenzamide (4-AB) in vitro. For the in vivo assessment, male B6C3F1 mice were fed GSPE diet (ADI 100 mg/kg body wt) for 4 weeks, and liver microsomes were isolated from both control and GSPE-fed mice for aniline hydroxylation, a specific marker of CYP-4502E1 activity. Data show that hydroxylation was 40% less in microsomes from GSPE-exposed livers compared to control microsomes. Similarly, when rat liver microsomes were incubated with various concentrations of GSPE in vitro (100 and 250 microg/ml), aniline hydroxylation was inhibited to various degrees (uninduced: 40 and 60% and induced: 25 and 50%, respectively with 100 and 250 microg/ml). Influence of GSPE on hydroxylation patterns were compared with another hepatoprotective agent 4-aminobenzamide (4-AB), a well-known modulator of nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and the data shows that 4-AB did not alter aniline hydroxylation at all. Collectively, these results may suggest that GSPE has the ability to inhibit CYP-4502E1, and this is an additional cytoprotective attribute, in conjunction with its novel antioxidant and/or antiendonucleolytic potential.

Prognosticators of survival in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid has good prognosis, even in patients presenting in the late stage and with distant metastasis. In India, the incidence of papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma are in the ratio of 60∶40. A retrospective study was carried out to determine the impact of patient and tumor factors on survival, and to develop a simple rish group staging system to predict survival in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Four hundred and seventeen (417) patients undergoing primary treatment at our hospital between 197-1985, were entered to the study. There were 198 follicular carcinomas and 219 papillary carcinomas. Impact of patient and tumor variables were studied by drawing Kaplan Meier curves and comparing them by the Chi Sq Test. Age<=40 years (p=0.00001), tumor size <5cms (p=0.01), extrrathyroidal spread (p=0.001) and distant metastasis (p=0.00001) had significant impact on survival. These finding were true for a subset analysis follicular and papillary carcinomas separately. A Cox Regression Analysis was also performed and this showed the above factors to impact significantly on survival. Basing on the regression analysis we devised a simple risk group system and classified the patients as high and low risk. Low risk group patients had a significant survival advantage. Our findings show that the incidence of follicular carcinoma is significantly high in india (48%) and that 65% of our patients are in the high risk group. Incidence of contralateral lobe disease on completion thyroidectomy is as high as 53%. Hence, a more aggressive treatment policy is warranted and total thyroidectomy is the appropriate treatment of choice in our patients.

INDUCTION OF LABOUR WITH MISOPROSTOL - A PROSTAGLANDIN E1 ANALOGUE.

The purpose of our study was to compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol versus existing hospital protocol of intracervical dinoprostone and oxytocin for cervical ripening and induction of labour. 200 patients with indication for induction of labour were randomly assigned to receive either intravaginal misoprostol or dinoprostone/oxytocin combination. In first group twenty five micrograms of misoprostol was placed intravaginally every 6 hours till the patient reached active stage of labour. In second group dinoprostone gel 0.5 mg was placed in the endocervix at night and oxytocin induction was started in the early morning. The average interval from start to induction of vaginal delivery was shorter in misoprostol group (1315±811 minutes) compared to dinoprostone/oxytocin group (1512±712 minutes) (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in route of delivery. 18% of misoprostol treated patients and 23% of dinoprostone/oxytocin treated patients required Caesarean section. Complications such as uterine tachysystole were significantly higher in misoprostol group (p < 0.01) but it was not associated with increased incidence of uterine hyperstimulation. Perinatal outcome was similar in both groups.

Absence of a significant interaction between a Haemophilus influenzae conjugate vaccine combined with a diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine in the same syringe and inactivated polio vaccine.

BACKGROUND: We compared the antibody response to Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP) after three doses of a diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) combined with a PRP-tetanus conjugate (PRP-T) in infants randomized to receive oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The polio vaccine was given separately at the same visit. METHODS: Three hundred fifty-six infants from pediatric practices in suburban Chicago and New Orleans were randomized into two groups. Group A received OPV at 2 and 4 months of age; Group B received IPV at 2 and 4 months of age. Both groups received DTaP/PRP-T at 2, 4 and 6 months of age and hepatitis B vaccine at 2 and 4 months of age. A serum sample was obtained before immunization (age 2 months) and 1 month after 3 doses of DTaP/PRP-T (age 7 months). Sera were assayed for antibody responses to all relevant vaccine antigens. RESULTS: No significant vaccine antigen interference was found when polio immunization was provided by IPV or OPV for anti-PRP, diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis antibodies. OPV recipients had a significantly higher mean antibody response to serotype 1 (P = 0.03) and 2 (P = 0.0001) poliovirus. CONCLUSION: Whether polio immunization was accomplished with IPV or OPV did not significantly influence the antibody responses in sera obtained at 7 months of age for anti-PRP, anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus toxoid antibodies and antibodies to pertussis antigens, when DTaP/PRP-T was given in the primary series.

A rapid spectrofluorimetric technique for determining drug-serum protein binding suitable for high-throughput screening.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a rapid method for determining the dissociation constants with which pharmaceutical candidates and drugs bind to serum albumin and to alpha1-acid glycoprotein with the goal of deducing the extent of binding. METHODS: The quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of serum albumin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein was monitored by spectrofluorimetry and the data were used to calculate the apparent dissociation constant. Sodium warfarin was used to probe the warfarin-binding site of serum albumin and diazepam was used to probe the benzodiazepine binding site. Additionally, the binding of sodium salicylate, phenylbutazone, sulfinpyrazone, iophenoxic acid, theophylline, chloramphenicol, acetaminophen, lithium chloride and ampicillin were also investigated. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride and imipramine hydrochloride were used as probes for alpha1-acid glycoprotein. The assays were also extended to the multiwell format. The quenching curves were fitted to the quadratic binding equation to determine the dissociation constants. RESULTS: Intrinsic fluorescence measurements are an excellent predictor of the drug binding to human serum albumin and to alpha1-acid glycoprotein. These measurements detect binding to the warfarin and benzodiazepine binding sites of human serum albumin. The dissociation constants estimated using the method compare favorably to the dissociation constants previously reported by Epps et al. using extrinsic fluorescence methodology, and the results correlate well with equilibrium dialysis using drug displacement endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: These measurements can be carried out with small samples and do not require separation of the bound and unbound species. Additionally, the proposed methods eliminate membrane separations, are not compound specific and do not require analytical chromatography or mass spectrometry for quantitation. Spectrofluorimetry may prove to be a useful method for rapidly determining the protein binding of combinatorial libraries.

Evaluation of an alternative to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for flow cytometric histogram comparisons.

BACKGROUND: The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is a valid statistical test for comparing distributions that has been recommended for flow cytometric histogram analysis. However, this test is frequently found to be too sensitive for flow cytometric histogram comparisons. Here, a parametric alternative to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is proposed that is based on fitting suitable models to flow cytometric data. METHODS: Several flow cytometric histograms derived from cell surface immunophenotyping for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on K562 cells were analyzed using numerical modeling. The prediction intervals derived from the modeling were used for decision making. RESULTS: The residuals after peak fitting flow cytometric data are normally distributed and this permits the use of the prediction limit methodology. The usefulness of the approach for analyzing flow cytometry histograms is examined and the method is shown to avoid the "sensitivity" disadvantages associated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. CONCLUSIONS: The prediction limit method is a viable alternative to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov method.

Surgery in early cancer of the oral tongue (Tl-2). Wide excision versus hemiglossectomy.

Cancer of the oral tongue is a common disease. Thirty five (35%) percent of patients seen at our hospital are in Stages I&II. The choice of surgical treatment is a wide excision of the lesion (WE) or a hemiglossectomy (HG). This study was carried out to compare the local recu-rrences and survival in patients undergoing either a WE or HG for early cancer of the tongue. One hundred and twenty six (126) patients were evaluated, 40 underwent a WE and 86 HG. The local recurrence was higher in the WE group, 25% compared with 9% in the HG group; which is statistically significant (p=0.02). This was also seen in the Tl subgroup (p=0.003). Survival were better in the HG group (p=0.005), which was also seen for the Tl subgroup (p=0.004). Our study demonstrates that there is a lower incidence of local recurrences following a hemiglossectomy for Tl-2 tumours of the oral tongue with improved survivals. Our recommendation is that hemi-glossectomy should be the optimal surgery performed for early cancer of the oral tongue.