Histologically Verified Biliary Invasion was Associated with Impaired Liver Recurrence-Free Survival in Resected Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The impact of biliary invasion on recurrence and survival, after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases, is not well known as publications are limited to small patient series. The aim was to investigate if biliary invasion in liver resected patients associated with liver relapses and recurrence-free survival. Secondary endpoints included association with other prognostic factors, disease-free survival and overall survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with histologically verified biliary invasion (n = 31, 9%) were identified among 344 patients with liver resection between January 2009 and March 2015. Controls (n = 78) were selected from the same time period and matched for, among others, size and number of colorectal cancer liver metastasis. RESULTS: Median liver recurrence-free survival was significantly shorter in patients with biliary invasion than in controls (15.3 months versus not reached; p = 0.031) and more relapses were noted in the liver (61.3% versus 33.3%; p = 0.010), respectively. In univariate analyses for liver recurrence-free survival, biliary invasion was the only significant prognostic factor; p = 0.034. There were no statistical differences in disease-free and overall survival between the groups. CONCLUSION: Biliary invasion was associated with higher liver recurrence rates and shorter liver recurrence-free survival in patients with resected colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

Voice acoustics after autologous fascia injection for vocal fold paralysis.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out to assess the impact of fascial injection on voice acoustics Preliminary results had suggested that voice, as rated by a panel of listeners, was significantly improved after autologous fascia augmentation of a paralyzed vocal fold. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study among patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis was carried out. Eighteen subjects were analyzed 9 months (mean) after the procedure. METHODS: The preoperative and postoperative samples of vowel /a/ were analyzed by Key Elemetrics (Lincoln Park, NJ). Computerized Speech Lab. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement (P<.05) in all parameters measured, including jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and maximum phonation time. No laryngeal complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: According to these preliminary results, vocal fold augmentation by an injection of autologous fascia seems a simple, inexpensive, reliable and safe method to restore voice quality after unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Histology of injected autologous fascia in the paralyzed canine vocal fold.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the histology of minced and injected autologous fascia graft in the augmentation of unilateral vocal fold paralysis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study using a canine model. METHODS: Nine dogs were operated. At first, a piece of fascia was harvested from fascia lata and minced into tiny chips with a scalpel. Cutting off a section of the recurrent nerve paralyzed the right vocal fold. The minced fascia-paste (0.1 mL) was injected using a pressure syringe into the paralyzed thyroarytenoid muscle under direct laryngoscopy. Two animals were killed at 3 days, one at 10 days, three at 6 months, and three at 12 months postinjection. Each dog underwent laryngectomy and serial coronal sections of paraffin blocks from the posterior part of the vocal folds were made. RESULTS: The dogs experienced no complications perioperatively or during follow-up. Under microscopy, muscle of the paralyzed vocal fold was atrophied in comparison to the contralateral control. There was an acute inflammatory reaction induced by the graft. This did not exist in the specimens taken at 6 and 12 months. No extensive edema, areas of necrosis, or formation of granulomas was seen at any time. Maturation of the graft was characterized by active collagen remodeling up to 12 months. At that time the graft consisted of firm, condensed fibrous tissue. Scar formation around the graft was moderate, and the subepithelial layer of the vocal fold remained undisturbed. Each graft consisted of singular foreign bodies from the polyamide mincing plate. We cannot exclude that their presence would have had an impact on the final architecture of the graft. CONCLUSION: In a canine vocal fold, the free fascia graft is well tolerated and after 12 months a well-organized, collagen rich tissue is seen on histological sections. The findings are in accordance with clinical studies applying free fascia grafts.

A note on the development of recall of spatial location.

Recall of spatial location was studied with 5, 8, 12--13, and 17--18 year old subjects. Pictures of objects were shown one at a time in one of the four quadrants of a projection screen which was either blank (NF) or divided by a cross into four quadrants (F). The presence of the frame (F) did not affect item recall, but facilitated location recall more, the younger the subjects. Intentional learning of location was superior to incidental learning in the youngest but not in older children. The results are in agreement with Bryant's (1974) analysis of perceptual development which emphasizes the use of external spatial frames of reference in the encoding of attributes of visual objects in young children.