SMARCB1(INI-1)-Deficient Sinonasal Carcinoma: An Evolving Entity.

SMARCB1(INI-1)-deficient sinonasal carcinoma is a rare, poorly differentiated neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Though historically most were identified as sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, we now understand it to be a distinct entity. There is currently a general consensus supporting multimodal therapy, though the optimal sequence of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation has yet to be defined.

Tips and tricks for management of the dysfunctional maxillary sinus.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the various factors associated with the most common cause of maxillary sinus dysfunction; recalcitrant chronic maxillary sinusitis (RCMS). In addition, available medical and surgical management options are discussed along with various tips and tricks for optimal management. RECENT FINDINGS: Defects in mucociliary clearance, immunodeficiency, anatomic factors, and infectious etiologies have been implicated in dysfunction of the maxillary sinus leading to RCMS. Medical management including oral antibiotics or topical drugs have shown varying degrees of success. Endoscopic modified medial maxillectomy (EMMM) has been shown to significantly improve symptoms in patients with RCMS. SUMMARY: A dysfunctional maxillary sinus presents a clinical challenge. A thorough evaluation of any potential contributing factors must be done in addition to an assessment of the adequacy of prior surgical treatment of the maxillary sinus. Beyond the middle meatal antrostomy, EMMM can be used to effectively address RCMS. In cases that fail EMMM, removal of the condemned mucosa to encourage auto-obliteration of the sinus can be considered.

Temporal Dynamics of Nasopharyngeal and Tracheal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Cycle Thresholds in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients With Tracheostomy.

In this study of 45 patients with COVID-19 undergoing tracheostomy, nasopharyngeal and tracheal cycle threshold (Ct) values were analyzed. Ct values rose to 37.9 by the time of tracheostomy and remained >35 postoperatively, demonstrating that persistent test positivity may not be associated with persistent transmissible virus in this population.

Therapeutic efficacy of new botulinum toxin identified in CCUG 7968 strain.

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) induces muscle atrophy by cleaving synaptosomal-associated protein 25. Thus, BoNT/A has been actively utilized for the treatment of masseter and gastrocnemius hypertrophy. In this study, INI101 toxin was newly identified from the CCUG 7968 strain, and its therapeutic efficacy was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The INI101 toxin showed identical genetic sequence, amino acid sequence, and protein subunit composition to BoNT/A produced from strain Hall A. Electromyography (EMG), and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that INI101 (at 2 ~ 8 U/rat) effectively blocked the neuromuscular junction with no toxicity in a rat model. The EMG results showed INI101 toxin-induced weight loss and volume reduction of the gastrocnemius, similar to the effects of Botox® (BTX). Histological and immunofluorescence staining was consistent with this EMG result, showing that INI101 toxin caused muscle fiber reduction in the gastrocnemius. Notably, INI101 toxin diffused less into adjacent muscle tissue than BTX, indicating that INI101 toxin may reduce potential side effects due to diffusion into normal tissues. INI101 toxin isolated from the novel strain CCUG 7968 is a newly identified meaningful biopharmaceutical comparable to the conventional BoNT/A in the medical field. KEY POINTS: • Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A, INI101) was identified from the CCUG 7968 strain. • INI101 toxin showed similar safety and therapeutic efficacy comparable to conventional BoNT/A both in vitro and in vivo. • INI101 toxin is a meaningful biopharmaceutical comparable to the conventional BoNT/A in the medical field.

Association between social determinants of health and olfactory function: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDoH) include the socioeconomic, demographic, and social conditions that influence differences in health status among individuals and groups. The impact of these conditions on olfactory function remains poorly understood. In this scoping review, we systematically review the available literature to synthesize the association between SDoH and olfactory function. METHODS: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we performed systematic search queries in PubMed, Embase, and Ovid databases and categorized articles according to themes that emerged regarding SDoH. The primary outcomes included self-reported and objective measurements of smell. RESULTS: We identified 722 unique references that underwent title and abstract review by two independent reviewers, with 70 articles undergoing full-text review and 57 relevant for data extraction. Six themes emerged in our review, under which we categorized the studies and synthesized respective associations with olfactory function. These include studies exploring socioeconomic status (n = 19, 33%), education status (n = 27, 47%), occupational exposures (n = 26, 46%), racial/ethnic disparities (n = 12, 21%), and lifestyle/behavioral factors (n = 33, 58%). CONCLUSIONS: Within the context of this scoping review, olfactory dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in patients with lower socioeconomic status, exposure to environmental and occupational toxins, and of minority race/ethnicity, whereas the associations between olfactory dysfunction and education level and lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking seem to be much more elusive. This review highlights the importance of accounting for SDoH in observational studies examining olfactory outcomes. Given the increased awareness of olfactory loss, special consideration should be given to understanding olfactory dysfunction in the context of these factors.

Percutaneous and Open Tracheostomy in Patients with COVID-19: Comparison and Outcomes of an Institutional Series in New York City.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the safety, efficacy, and early results of tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 and determine whether differences exist between percutaneous and open methods. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Prolonged respiratory failure is common in symptomatic patients with COVID-19, the disease process caused by infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Tracheostomy, although posing potential risk to the operative team and other healthcare workers, may be beneficial for safe weaning of sedation and ventilator support. However, short- and long-term outcomes remain largely unknown. METHODS: A prospectively collected database of patients with COVID-19 undergoing tracheostomy at a major medical center in New York City between April 4 and April 30, 2020 was reviewed. The primary endpoint was need for continued mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included complication rates, sedation weaning, and need for intensive care unit (ICU) level of care. Patient characteristics, perioperative conditions, and outcomes between percutaneous and open groups were analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, 67 consecutive patients underwent tracheostomy, including 48 males and 19 females with a median age of 66 years [interquartile range (IQR) 52-72]. Two surgeons alternated techniques, with 35 tracheostomies performed percutaneously and 32 via an open approach. The median time from intubation to tracheostomy was 23 days (IQR 20-26). At a median follow-up of 26 days, 52 patients (78%) no longer required mechanical ventilation and 58 patients (87%) were off continuous sedation. Five patients (7.5%) died of systemic causes. There were 11 total complications (16%) in 10 patients, most of which involved minor bleeding. There were no significant differences in outcomes between percutaneous and open methods. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy under apneic conditions by either percutaneous or open technique can be safely performed in patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Tracheostomy facilitated weaning from continuous intravenous sedation and mechanical ventilation. Continued follow-up of these patients to ascertain long-term outcome data is ongoing.

Thyroidectomy Complications in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To (1) analyze postoperative thyroidectomy outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), who are prone to deleterious effects of glucose dysmetabolism, and (2) apply findings to optimize perioperative management of diabetics requiring thyroid surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database analysis. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification and Procedure Coding System (PCS) codes for patients with benign or malignant thyroid disease who underwent thyroid surgery between 2002 and 2013. An analysis of demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes was conducted between a DM vs non-DM cohort using bivariate and multivariate techniques. RESULTS: In total, 103,842 cases met inclusion criteria; 14.2% were diabetics. Diabetics had significantly higher rates of baseline comorbid chronic pulmonary disease, hypertension, obesity, and anemia. Following thyroidectomy, patients with DM were more likely to have vocal cord paresis or paralysis compared to non-DM patients (2.0% vs 1.3%; P < .001). However, when adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, there was no significant difference in this complication between the 2 groups. Diabetics had independently higher rates of cardiac, pulmonary, and urinary complications, as well as transfusion, reintubation, and in-hospital mortality. Diabetics had longer hospital stays (2.76 vs 1.97; P < .001) with higher incurred hospital charges (32,921 vs 25,198; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Although DM often confers metabolic and ischemic derangements secondary to hyperglycemia such as neuropathy, this comorbidity was not independently associated with higher rates of vocal cord paresis or paralysis following thyroid surgery. However, DM predicted other adverse outcomes, including greater cardiac, pulmonary, and urinary complications, as well as transfusion, reintubation, and in-hospital mortality.

To Pack or Not to Pack: Inpatient Management of Epistaxis in the Elderly.

BACKGROUND: Epistaxis is common in elderly patients, occasionally necessitating hospitalization for the management of severe bleeds. In this study, we aim to explore the impact of nasal packing versus nonpacking interventions (cauterization, embolization, and ligation) on outcomes and complications of epistaxis hospitalization in the elderly. METHODS: The 2008-2013 National Inpatient Sample was queried for elderly patients (≥65 years) with a primary diagnosis of epistaxis and accompanying procedure codes for anterior and posterior nasal packing or nonpacking interventions. RESULTS: A total of 8449 cases met the inclusion criteria, with 62.4% receiving only nasal packing and 37.6% receiving nonpacking interventions. On average, nonpacking interventions were associated with a 9.9% increase in length of stay and a 54.0% increase in hospital charges. Comorbidity rates did not vary between cohorts, except for diabetes mellitus, which was less common in the nonpacking cohort (26.6% vs 29.0%; P = .014). Nonpacking interventions were associated with an increased rate of blood transfusion (24.5% vs. 21.8%; P = .004), but no significant differences in rates of stroke, blindness, aspiration pneumonia, infectious pneumonia, thromboembolism, urinary/renal complications, pulmonary complications, cardiac complications, or in-hospital mortality. Comparing patients receiving ligation or embolization, no differences in length of stay, complications, or in-hospital mortality were found; however, embolization patients incurred 232.1% greater hospital charges ( P < .001). CONCLUSION: Nonpacking interventions in the elderly do not appear to be associated with increased morbidity or mortality when compared to nasal packing only but appear to be associated with increased hospital charges and length of stay. Embolization in the elderly results in greater hospital charges but no change in outcome when compared to ligation.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Perioperative Outcomes of Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery.

Background Endoscopic pituitary surgery (EPS) is increasingly being used for the treatment of pituitary lesions. Obesity is a growing epidemic in our nation associated with numerous comorbidities known to impact surgical outcomes. We present a multi-institutional database study evaluating the association between body mass index (BMI) and postsurgical outcomes of EPS. Methods Patients who underwent EPS from 2005 to 2013 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Preoperative variables, comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes, such as 30-day complications, morbidity, and mortality, were analyzed. Results A total of 789 patients were analyzed, of which 382 were obese (BMI ≥ 30) (48.4%). No difference in reoperation rate ( P = .928) or unplanned readmission rates ( P = .837) was found between the obese versus nonobese group. A higher overall complication rate was observed in the obese group compared to the nonobese counterparts ( P = .005). However, when separated into surgical complications (3.7% vs 1.5%, P = .068) and medical complications (7.6% vs 3.9%, P = .027), only medical complications, specifically pneumonia, remained significantly different. EPS on obese patients was also associated with prolonged operating time (154.8 min vs 141.0 min, P = .011). Conclusions EPS may be a safe treatment option for pituitary lesions in the obese population. Although obese patients undergoing EPS are at increased risk of medical complications and prolonged operating times, this did not influence mortality, reoperation, or readmission rate.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: An analysis of inpatient data.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Although previous studies have reported increased perioperative complications among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients undergoing any surgery requiring general anesthesia, there is a paucity of literature addressing the impact of OSA on postoperative transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) complications. The aim of this study was to analyze postoperative outcomes in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery patients with OSA. Secondarily, we examined patient characteristics and comorbidities. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. METHODS: The 2002 to 2013 National Inpatient Sample was queried for patients undergoing TSS for pituitary neoplasm. Patients with an additional diagnosis of OSA were identified, and compared to a non-OSA cohort. RESULTS: There were 17,777 patients identified; 5.0% (N = 889) had an additional diagnosis of OSA. The OSA cohort had more comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, coagulopathy, hypertension, hypothyroidism, liver disease, obesity, peripheral vascular disease, renal failure, acromegaly, and Cushing's syndrome. Postoperatively, OSA was independently associated with increased risks of tracheostomy (P = .015) and hypoxemia (P < .001), and decreased risk of cardiac complications (P = .034). OSA patients did not have increased rates of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, diabetes insipidus, reintubation, aspiration pneumonia, infectious pneumonia, thromboembolic complications, or urinary/renal complications. In-hospital mortality rates did not vary between the two cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, OSA was associated with higher rates of certain pulmonary and airway complications. OSA was not associated with increased non-pulmonary/airway complications or inpatient mortality, despite older average age and higher comorbidity rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2C. Laryngoscope, 128:1027-1032, 2018.

Do geographic differences or socioeconomic disparities affect survival in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignancy in the sinonasal tract. We present the first population-based analysis that examines geographic differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, socioeconomic factors, treatment modality, and disease-specific survival (DSS) of this entity. METHODS: All cases of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) were queried using the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry from 1973 to 2013. Patients were stratified by geographic location and characteristics such as demographics (age, gender, race, metropolitan/nonmetropolitan status, and income), stage at diagnosis, and treatment modality. Survival data were generated using Kaplan-Meier regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 6094 patients were identified; 15.3% were from the East, 16.3% from the Midwest, 19.3% from the South, and 49.1% from the West. Patients from the South were younger (p < 0.001). The South had the highest proportion of patients who were black (p < 0.001), lived in nonmetropolitan areas (p < 0.001), and presented with localized disease (p < 0.001). Southern patients also had the lowest median income (p < 0.05), and were least likely to be treated with both surgery and radiotherapy (p < 0.001). The South exhibited the lowest 20-year DSS compared to all other regions (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SNSCC patients from the South had the poorest long-term DSS, despite being most likely to present with localized disease. The South had the highest proportion of patients who were black, resided in rural or urban towns, had the lowest median income, and did not receive standard combination therapy, compared to the East, Midwest, and West.

Pediatric head and neck bone sarcomas: An analysis of 204 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the demographics, survival, and treatment efficacy of pediatric sarcomas of the facial skeleton and skull. METHODS: Retrospective study of cases from the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Pediatric patients between the ages of 0 and 18 diagnosed with a malignant sarcoma of either the mandible or the bones of skull, face, and associated joints from 1973 to 2013 were studied. RESULTS: In total, 204 patients were included in the analysis. The average age at diagnosis was 11.39 (±5.15) years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. Whites were the most commonly affected race (76.0%). Malignant mandible sarcomas accounted for 29.9% of the cohort (n = 61). The most common pathology was osteosarcoma, which accounted for 43.6% of the cohort (n = 89). Among patients with known histologic grade (n = 95), 26.0% were AJCC stage III or IV. Overall, 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 80.6%. When stratified by treatment modality, 5-year DSS was 86.0% for surgery alone, 67.9% for radiation alone, and 75.3% for surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma are the most common subtypes of pediatric head and neck bone sarcoma. Such sarcomas more commonly affect whites and males during pubertal ages. Disease-specific survival is not affected by primary site. Surgery alone is the mainstay of treatment, and demonstrates higher 5-year disease-specific survival compared to radiotherapy alone. Adjuvant radiotherapy does not seem to increase survival, but further investigation is warranted.

The Effect of Intragastric Administration of Botulinum Toxin Type A on Reducing Adiposity in a Rat Model of Obesity Using Micro-CT and Histological Examinations.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX), a long-acting inhibitor of muscular contraction in both striated and smooth muscles, is responsible for gastric motility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an endoscopic intragastric BTX injection on weight loss, body fat accumulation, and gastric emptying time. METHODS: The BTX group consisted of 15 obese rats in which 20 U of BTX were injected into the gastric antrum. The saline group consisted of 15 obese rats injected with 20 U of saline, and the control group included 10 obese rats that did not receive a surgical intervention. The gastric emptying time, biochemical parameters, and body fat volume were evaluated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histologic evaluations. RESULTS: The postoperative body weight of the BTX group was significantly lower than those of the other groups (p<0.001) at 6 weeks after the operation. The gastric emptying time (156±54 minutes) was significantly delayed in the BTX group. The BTX group showed significantly lower lipid levels than the other groups. A reduction in body fat volume was observed in the BTX group using micro-CT and histological evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: BTX application to the gastric antrum represents a potentially effective treatment for obesity and may help improve the lipid profile by increasing the gastric emptying time.

Geographic region: Does it matter in cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The head and neck are two of the most common locations for cutaneous melanoma. We present the first population-based analysis of geographic differences in anatomic subsite, clinicopathologic and demographical traits, histopathologic subtype, treatment modality, and disease-specific survival (DSS) of cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database analysis. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for cases of CHNM reported between 2000 and 2013. Patients were grouped into East, Midwest, South, and West regions of the United States. Overall incidence, demographic traits, primary tumor site, clinicopathologic traits, histopathologic subtype, treatment modality, and DSS were compared among regions. RESULTS: There were 49,365 patients with CHNM identified. The West (4.60) and the South (4.42) had significantly higher incidence (per 100,000) than the East (3.84) and Midwest (3.65) (P < .05). DSS was significantly different among regions (P < .0066). The East (5 years: 89.4%, 10 years: 84.1%) had the highest DSS rate, and the South (5 years: 87.0%, 10 years: 81.8%) had the lowest DSS rate. The Midwest (5 years: 88.4%, 10 years: 84.3%) and West (5 years: 88.3%, 10 years: 83.5%) had intermediate DSS. On multivariate analysis, the South had an elevated hazard ratio (1.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.30) when compared to the West. CONCLUSIONS: Geographic region may play a significant role in CHNM. Incidence is higher in the South and the West. Incidence, histologic subtype, treatment modality, and DSS vary among regions. DSS is lower in the South than the West, even after accounting for other major prognostic factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2763-2769, 2017.

Pediatric sinonasal malignancies: A population-based analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric Sinonasal Malignancies (PedsSNM) are rare and usually associated with a poor prognosis. We aim to investigate the epidemiology, tumor characteristics, and survival of PedsSNM using a population-based database to augment the scant literature on this topic. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for patients ≤18 years diagnosed with PedsSNM between the years of 1973 and 2013. Data on incidence, tumor characteristics, and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 210 patients with PedsSNM were identified. Demographically, 54.3% were female, 72.6% were white, and the mean age was 10.7 years. Overall incidence was 0.036 per 100,000 individuals between the years of 2000 and 2013. The nasal cavity was the most frequent primary site (37.1%) and rhabdomyosarcoma was the most frequent malignancy (50.5%). Five-, 10-, and 20-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 60.2%, 46.1%, and 20.6%, respectively. Grade IV tumors made up the largest group (37.3%), and such tumors exhibited the worst 5-, 10-, and 20-year survival (P < 0.05). Distant disease predicted the worst 5-, 10-, and 20-year survival, followed by regional, then localized disease (P < 0.01). Patients treated with surgery alone had a higher 20-year survival (P = 0.0425). No significant differences in survival were observed between race, gender, primary site, or histology. CONCLUSIONS: PedsSNM frequently presented as Grade IV tumors. The nasal cavity was the most common primary site and rhabdomyosarcoma was the most frequent histology. Patients receiving surgery alone had the highest survival; however, this may be a reflection of smaller, less aggressive tumors preferentially being treated with surgery alone.

Head and neck sweat gland adenocarcinoma: A population-based perspective of a rare entity.

OBJECTIVES: Head and neck sweat gland adenocarcinoma (HNSGA) is an extremely rare malignancy. We present the first population-based analysis regarding this entity. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective population-based analysis. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 2000 to 2013, we extracted 627 cases of HNSGA. Data were analyzed for incidence trends, demographic and clinicopathologic traits, and predictors of disease-specific survival (DSS). RESULTS: The majority HNSGA cases were white, male, and 60 to 79 years old. The incidence was 0.036 per 100,000 people. Tumors most often presented as localized disease and histological grade II/III. The skin of the face was the most common primary site (43.4%), followed by the scalp and neck (31.6%). Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year DSS were 94.6%, 89.6%, and 79.8%, respectively. Ethnicity did not affect survival, whereas a younger age at diagnosis and female sex conferred an advantage at 10 years (P = 0.0386) and 5 years (P = 0.0191), respectively. The origin of the HNSGA (apocrine vs. eccrine) did not affect outcomes. Regional and distant disease predicted worse DSS at 5, 10, and 20 years (P = 0.0026, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Compared to grade I/II disease, grade III/IV dramatically worsened 5-, 10-, and 20-year DSS (P = 0.0035, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0011, respectively). Scalp and neck HNSGA exhibited the poorest 20-year DSS compared to other primary sites (P = 0.0024). CONCLUSION: We present the largest cohort of HNSGA. Significant poor prognostic indicators include older age, higher tumor grade, greater extent of invasion, and primary site of the scalp or neck. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2757-2762, 2017.

A Population-Based Analysis of Survival for Sinonasal Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Objectives Literature detailing factors affecting survival in sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma (SNRMS) is limited due to its rarity. We analyze the demographics, potential prognostic factors, overall survival, and treatment efficacy of SNRMS. Study Design and Setting Administrative database study. Methods SNRMS was queried in the SEER database (1973-2013; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results). Data were analyzed for demographic and clinicopathologic trends. Kaplan-Meier model was utilized for assessing survival. Results A total of 286 cases of SNRMS were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 24.5 years, and the mean tumor size was 5.1 cm. Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year disease-specific survival was 35.1%, 25.4%, and 12.0%, respectively. Regional lymph node involvement was present at diagnosis in more than half of cases (54.3%) and distant metastasis in 32.2% of cases. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (54.9%) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (23.8%) were the primary histologies. Alveolar-type SNRMS was more likely than the embryonal type to metastasize to distant sites (41.7% vs 24.1%), and it possessed poorer 5-year survival (29.2% vs 45.6%). Distant metastasis decreased 5-year survival from 35.1% to 3.8%, whereas lymph node involvement did not significantly affect survival. Patients <10 years old had the highest survival rates. Primary tumor origin by subsite did not significantly affect survival. Smaller tumor sizes and earlier Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group stages were associated with improved outcomes. Surgical therapy had the highest survival rates. Conclusion SNRMS has overall poorer prognosis than all other parameningeal rhabdomyosarcomas studied. Age <10 years, smaller tumor sizes, lack of distant metastasis, localized tumors, earlier Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group stages, and embryonal histology were all associated with improved outcomes.

Simple modification of basic dyes with bulky &symmetric WCAs for improving their solubilities in organic solvents without color change.

A simple and easy solubility enhancement of basic dyes was performed with bulky and symmetric weakly coordinating anions (WCAs). The WCAs decreased the ionic character of the dyes by broadening the partial charge distribution and causing a screening effect on the ionic bonding. This new modification with WCAs has advantages in that it has no influence on the optical properties of the dyes. The solubilities of unmodified and modified dyes were tested in several organic solvents. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the dyes were measured. Color films were prepared with the dyes and their color loci were analyzed to evaluate the optical properties. By the modification with WCAs, commercial basic dyes showed sufficient solubilities for be applied to various applications while preserving their superior optical properties.

Effect of diabetes mellitus on postoperative endoscopic sinus surgery outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become the treatment of choice for a variety of nasal conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on postoperative outcomes in ESS. METHODS: Data on endoscopic sinus surgery performed from 2005 to 2013 were collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database. Two groups were created, based on the presence of a DM diagnosis, and were analyzed for preoperative variables, comorbidities, and postoperative complications using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: There were 644 patients included in the analysis, 85 of whom (13.2%) had a diagnosis of DM. Patients with DM were more likely to have higher rates of preoperative dyspnea and hypertension. After accounting for confounding factors, DM patients undergoing ESS were at higher risk of overall medical complications, pneumonia, unplanned reintubation, ventilator use of >48 hours, and mortality. However, after separating patients into outpatient and inpatient groups, DM was found to be an independent predictor of urinary tract infection in outpatients and of ventilator use >48 hours in inpatients. CONCLUSION: DM patients undergoing ESS are at increased risk for postoperative medical complications. However, DM does not appear to increase the postoperative surgical complication rate in this population. Furthermore, DM does not appear to have an impact on ESS mortality, readmission, or reoperation rates.