High micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of untreated cancer patients irrespective of gender, smoking and cancer sites.

Chromosomal instability could be one of primary causes for malignant cell transformation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the spontaneous genetic damages in circulated lymphocytes of newly diagnosed cancer patients by using cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay, with respect to the factors that might affect micronucleus frequency (i.e. age, gender, smoking habits and cancer sites). Micronuclei (MN) are small nuclei that are originated from chromosome fragments or whole chromosomes. The analyzed samples included 44 untreated cancer patients (19 females and 25 males with mean age of 60.89 years) with different cancer sites (12 patients with breast cancer, 5 with uterine cancer and 27 with cancer of pharynx). Control group included 40 healthy donors (28 females and 12 males with mean age of 43.95 years). The mean baseline MN frequency was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in cancer patients (15.18 +/- 5.05 MN/1000 BN cells ranging from 4 to 27) than the baseline frequency in healthy controls (6.45 +/- 2.75 MN/1000 BN cells, ranging from 1 to 11). There was no gender difference in baseline MN frequency in cancer patients and healthy controls. Moreover, the MN frequency did not significantly differ among cancer sites, and between smokers and non-smokers in both patient and control samples. In conclusion, untreated cancer patients may be associated with an increase of chromosomal instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes, irrespective of gender, cigarette smoking and cancer sites.

Radiation therapy with or without concurrent low-dose daily chemotherapy in locally advanced, nonmetastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively investigate the difference between conventionally fractionated (CF) and hyperfractionated (Hfx) radiation therapy (RT), with and without either daily cisplatin (CDDP) or carboplatin (CBDCA), in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) enrolled onto two consecutive prospective randomized studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Treatment consisted of CF RT (70 Gy, group 1), CF RT and either daily CDDP (6 mg/m2) or daily CBDCA (25 mg/m2; group 2), Hfx RT (77 Gy, 1.1 Gy bid; group 3), or Hfx RT and daily CDDP (group 4). RESULTS: Hfx RT plus CDDP achieved better overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) than any other group. There was an insignificant difference favoring Hfx RT over CF RT, either alone or in combination with CDDP or CBDCA, regarding both OS (P =.058 and P =.051, respectively) and LRFS (P =.088 and P =.091, respectively). No difference was seen between CF RT plus chemotherapy (CHT) and Hfx RT alone regarding either OS (P =.32) or LRFS (P =.48). Regional recurrence-free survival was similar in the four treatment groups. CF RT plus CHT and Hfx RT plus CDDP achieved better distant metastasis-free survival than CF RT and Hfx RT. High-grade toxicity was significantly more frequent in Hfx RT plus CDDP than in any other group, except in the Hfx RT group. Hfx RT led to significantly more acute toxicity and xerostomia than CF RT plus CHT. Hfx RT was more toxic than CF RT, either alone or with concurrent CHT. CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that there may be a therapeutic benefit for CF RT plus CHT over Hfx RT plus CDDP in patients with SCCHN, but this cannot be firmly established without a larger and well-planned controlled trial.

[Relation between size of the nasopharynx and occurrence of chronic otitis media]. / Odnos izmedju velicine nazofarinksa i pojave hronicnog zapaljenja srednjeg uva.

Aetiopathogenesis of chronic middle ear inflammation has not yet been sufficiently elucidated. Eustachian tube infection, causative organism virulence, immune status and biologically predisposed middle ear mucosa play the major role. The study was aimed at evaluation of the correlation between nasopharyngeal size and development of chronic middle ear inflammations. The studies were performed in 60 adults. Group A comprised the patients affected with chronic middle ear inflammation. Group B was the control group composed of healthy individuals matched with respect to their sex and age. The studies included clinical examination, audiological findings, radiological studies and craniometrical X-ray measurements. The type of chronic middle ear inflammation was defined as well as normal findings in the control group. X-ray nasopharyngeal area in the mediosagittal head plane was calculated. The results of the studies indicate that skeletal dimensions of nasopharynx were smaller in patients with chronic middle ear inflammation in comparison to those found in the control group. Nasopharyngeal morphological differences have certain influence on the shape, position and dimensions of the tube and its function. Determination of nasopharyngeal dimensions may be predictive of development of chronic middle ear inflammation.

[Cytology in the diagnosis of diseases of the nose and maxilary sinuses]. / Citologija u dijagnostici oboljenja nosa i maksilarnih sinusa.

The aim of this work is to evaluate cytologic examination of secretions of nose and maxillary sinuses in patients with naso-sinusal disorders. The material for cytologic examination is taken from 128 nasal cavities of 101 patients with inflammation or tumour diseases of nose and maxillary sinuses, and from 114 maxillary sinuses, intraoperatively, of 89 patients. The results of cytological examinations were classified in five groups: acute bacterial inflammations, chronic bacterial inflammations, allergic processes, viral infections and positive findings for malignancy. With cytological examination of secretions of the nose and maxillary sinuses we can, with great accuracy, diagnose chronic bacterial inflammation, and with some less accuracy determine allergic process, when for documentation of malignancy, cytology is not a reliable diagnostic method. Cytologic examination of secretions of the nose and maxillary sinuses are an additional method, whose goal is to indicate possible aetiologic factors and to direct further diagnostic steps.