[Survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with salvage surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy].

Objective: To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with salvage surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed, including 26 patients treated in Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital between January 2010 and December 2015. All patients were males, aged 48-83 years, of whom 8 cases were local residual after radiotherapy alone, 8 cases were local recurrence after postoperative radiotherapy, 2 cases were residual of cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy alone, 2 cases were recurrence of cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy alone, 2 cases were recurrence of cervical lymph nodes after postoperative radiotherapy and 4 cases were recurrence of tracheal stoma. The salvage operations included: local resection, local resection with neck dissection, simple neck dissection, tumor resection of tracheostomy, and additional repair according to the defect. Chi square test was used for recurrence and metastasis analysis, Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis, Log-rank test for univariate analysis, and Cox regression model for multivariate analysis. Results: The complication rate of salvage surgery was 23.1% (6/26). The recurrence rate was 65.4% (17/26) and the distant metastasis rate was 42.3% (11/26) in the 5-year follow-up after salvage surgery. Patient's age and tumor invasion extent were correlated with recurrence. Initial treatment, tumor persistence or recurrence after radiotherapy, recurrence location and tumor invasion extent were correlated with distant metastasis (all P<0.05). Overall, 3 year and 5 year survival rates were 42.3% and 23.1% respectively. Age, recurrence location, surgical margin and tumor invasion extent were related to prognosis (χ²=6.56, 10.68, 9.32, and 7.90 respectively, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical margin and tumor invasion extent were independent risk factors for prognosis (OR (95%CI) = 3.19 (1.03-9.84), 14.37 (2.46-84.08), both P<0.05). Conclusion: Salvage surgery is the first choice for patients with recurrence after radiotherapy for hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Safe surgical margin should be ensured, especially in tumors invading muscle, bone tissue or lymph node capsule.

CD34 positive cells seeded on small caliber man-made vascular grafts exhibit increased antithrombogenic property compared with unfractioned mononuclear cells.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic potential of purified CD34+ cells with that of unfractioned mononuclear cells (MNCs) for the antithrombogenic property after seeding on the small caliber man-made grafts. METHODS: Unfractioned MNCs and CD34+ cells were isolated from canine bone marrow. Differentiation of CD34 cells and unfractioned MNCs into endothelial cells were examined by CD31and vWF immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence stain, endothelial cell function were evaluated via low-density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) - DiL incorpration and in vitro angiogenesis assay. Platelet adhesion assay was performed to determine antiplatelet adhesion property of the cells in vitro. Equal number of both cells were seeded onto the luminal surface of small caliber man-made grafts and implanted to replace a segment of common carotid artery. At different time points (24 h, 72 h, and 1 week) the grafts were retrieved. HE staining and SEM exam were performed. RESULTS: CD34+ cells acquired significantly more CD31 and VWF expression, increased angiogenic potential and low-density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) incorporation compared to unfractioned MNCs under the induction of VEGF. More platelets were found to adhere to the surface of unfractioned MNCs group than to the CD34+ cell group. In vivo study demonstrated that more platelet adhesion and thrombus formation were observed in the unfractioned MNCs group rather than the CD34+ group. All the grafts in both groups were patent after implantation, except one graft seeded with unfractioned MNCs, occluded at 1 week. Statistically lower ratio of thrombi was found in the CD34+ cell seeding group at 24 h and 1 week after implantation, compared with the unfractioned MNCs one (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CD34+ cell exerted better antithrombogenic property than unfractioned MNCs after seeding onto the small caliber vessel grafts.

[Predictive study on recurrence of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps by tissue eosinophils and sinus CT].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between postoperative recurrence and clinical parameters in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and to study predicitve value of total scores of eosinophils (EOS) and sinus CT for postoperative recurrence. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 264 patients with CRSwNP who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2013 to December 2015 was performed. The patient was subjected to a visual analogue scale (VAS) score, a skin prick test, a peripheral blood cell count, a sinus CT score, and a nasal polyp EOS count. All patients underwent endoscopic surgery and were followed up for at least 2 years. The demographic characteristics of the nasal polyps recurrence group and the non-recurrence group were compared with other clinical indicators. Quantitative data were compared by t test or Mann-Whitney U test, qualitative data were compared by chi-square test, and Logistic regression analysis was used for Logistic regression analysis. The risk factors for recurrence were assessed. The best cut-off value was determined by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The predictive value of the parameters was determined by area under curve (AUC). The difference was statistically significant at P<0.05. Results: The recurrence rate of the study patients was 43.56% (115/264). Sex, olfactory VAS score, total sinus CT score, peripheral blood neutrophil ratio, peripheral blood EOS absolute value and proportion, and tissue EOS absolute value and proportion were associated with postoperative recurrence of nasal polyps (χ(2)=5.241, t=-3.146, t=-7.441, χ(2)=180.617, t=-5.313, χ(2)=100.067, t=-7.471, χ(2)=258.916, all P<0.05), and the tissue EOS ratio and total sinus CT scores have higher predictive value for recurrence of nasal polyps (AUC values were 0.793, 0.767, respectively, all P<0.001). With the EOS ratio of nasal polyps >0.032, the sensitivity of predicting recurrence was 83.48%, the specificity was 56.38%. With the total score of sinus CT>15, the sensitivity of predicting recurrence was 51.30% and the specificity was 87.25%. The combined sensitivity of predictive recurrence was 92.00% and the specificity was 49.20%. Conclusion: The percentage of EOS in nasal polyps and the total score of sinus CT in patients with CRSwNP have better predictive diagnostic value for recurrence of nasal polyps.

[Evaluation of efficacy of 1 year after completing the 2-year specific sublingual immunotherapy treatment course in allergic rhinitis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of treatment at 1 year after completing the 2-year specific sublingual immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 124 patients with AR who were allergic to dust mite and treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University since 2012 was performed. All patients achieved sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for 2 years and had a regular follow-up over 1 year. Efficacy evaluation index such as VAS score, total nasal symptom score and total medication score were compared between the time of SLIT for 2 years, and 1 year after termination of SLIT. Paired t test was used for the comparison of scores. Results: Compared with those before treatment, the VAS score, total nasal symptom score and total medication score at the time of SLIT for 2 years were significantly decreased in all patients with AR [(9.40±5.96) vs (24.78±6.36), (4.53±2.06) vs (9.51±2.02), (0.42±0.87) vs (3.02±0.41), t value was 17.627, 24.600, 5.331, respectively, all P<0.01]. Compared with 2 years SLIT treatment, VAS score and total nasal symptom score were significantly increased than 1 year after termination of immunotherapy [(12.52±6.92) vs (9.40±5.96), (5.30±2.36) vs (4.53±2.06), t=5.199, 3.744, respectively, all P<0.01], but the total medication score showed no significant difference [(0.34±0.84) vs (0.42±0.87), t=-1.043, P>0.05]. Conclusions: The symptoms after 2 years SLIT in patients with AR have been well controlled. One year after the termination of SLIT, there is a certain rebound in symptoms, 2 years SLIT may not be the ideal treatment cycle for AR.

WWOX inhibits the invasion of lung cancer cells by downregulating RUNX2.

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) is a tumor suppressor that is lost or decreased in most human tumors. The role of WWOX in human lung carcinoma invasion is still not clear. This study aimed to elucidate the potential role of WWOX in lung cancer cell invasion. WWOX mRNA levels in human lung cancers and lung cancer cell lines were assayed by quantitative real-time PCR. WWOX in lung cancer cell lines was manipulated by transfection of expression vector or small interfering RNA. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by wound healing and/or transwell migration and invasion assays. The protein levels of WWOX, E-cadherin and RUNX2 were analyzed by western blot or immunofluorescence. WWOX expression is inversely correlated to invasiveness of lung cancer. WWOX overexpression in highly invasive H1299 cells reduced cell motility and invasiveness, and inhibited the expression of RUNX2 and its target gene matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Silencing WWOX in less invasive NL9980 cells resulted in opposite effects. Overexpressing RUNX2 in H1299 or silencing RUNX2 in NL9980 cells reversed the effects of WWOX. These results suggested that WWOX inhibited the invasive phenotype of lung cancer through downregulating the expression of RUNX2.

[Evaluation of blood eosinophil in the diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the practice of peripheral blood eosinophil in the diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis(ECRS). METHODS: The correlation between eosinophil count and percentage in peripheral blood and that in topic tissue in 787 patients (the first affiliated hospital of Wenzhou medical university, from Jan. 2013 to Jun. 2016) with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) were retrospectively analysed. The optimal cutoff value of blood eosinophil count and percentage as predictors for ECRS was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and their diagnostic ability was compared. RESULTS: The positive correlation between eosinophil count and percentage in blood and that in tissue was found respectively in 787 patients with CRS (r=0.450, 0.499, 0.463, 0.465, P<0.01). Although the significant correlation between blood eosinophil count and its count and percentage in tissue was not found after blood leukocyte and tissue eosinophilic inflammation was controlled respectively (r=0.041, P=0.380; r=0.046, P=0.329 and r=0.023, P=0.618; r=0.032, P=0.499), blood eosinophil percentage still showed significant correlation with tissue eosinophil count and percentage, but reduced unequally after that(r=0.383, 0.436 and r=0.153, 0.169, P<0.01). With ROC analysis, the diagnostic ability of optimal cut off values of eosinophil count and percentage varied as the histological criteria for ECRS differed. CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophil in peripheral blood showed significant positive correlation with its tissue infiltration, which may be not strong and easily effected by individual factors.Theoretically, blood eosinophil may have a diagnostic significance as a predictor for ECRS but not practically.