Associations of IL-4, IL-4R, and IL-13 Gene Polymorphisms in Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in China: A Case-Control Study

Background: The IL-4, IL-4 receptor (IL4R), and IL-13 genes are crucial immune factors and may influence the course of various diseases. In the present study, we investigated the association between the potential functional polymorphisms in IL-4, IL-4R, and IL-13 and coal workers ’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) risk in a Chinese population. Methods: Six polymorphisms (C-590T in IL-4, Ile50Val, Ser478Pro, and Gln551Arg in IL-4R, C-1055T and Arg130Gln in IL-13) were genotyped and analyzed in a case-control study of 556 CWP and 541 control subjects. Results: Our results revealed that the IL-4 CT/CC genotypes were associated with a significantly decreased risk of CWP (odd

CT-guided iodine-125 seed permanent implantation for recurrent head and neck cancers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To investigate the feasibility, and safety of ¹²⁵I seed permanent implantation for recurrent head and neck carcinoma under CT-guidance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A retrospective study on 14 patients with recurrent head and neck cancers undergone ¹²⁵I seed implantation with different seed activities. The post-plan showed that the actuarial D90 of ¹²⁵I seeds ranged from 90 to 218 Gy (median, 157.5 Gy). The follow-up was 3 to 60 months (median, 13 months). The median local control was 18 months (95% CI, 6.1-29.9 months), and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- year local controls were 52%, 39%, 39%, and 39%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- survival rates were 65%, 39%, 39% and 39%, respectively, with a median survival time of 20 months (95% CI, 8.7-31.3 months). Of all patients, 28.6% (4/14) died of local recurrence, 7.1% (1/14) died of metastases, one patient died of hepatocirrhosis, and 8 patients are still alive to the date of data analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation is feasible and safe as a salvage or palliative treatment for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers.</p

Does unnecessary elective neck treatment affect the prognosis of N0 laryngeal cancer patients?

Among detractors of elective neck (N0) treatments, most suggest that lymphadenectomy removes a barrier to the spread of disease with deleterious immunologic consequences. To test this hypothesis we performed a retrospective comparison of the survival results of N0 laryngeal cancer patients who received unnecessary elective neck treatments (N0-) and those of N0 patients subjected to close and regular follow-up.A retrospective chart review of 749 N0 laryngeal cancer patients treated at the Institute of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence between January 1980 and January 1993 was performed. Of these, 245 (33\%) received elective neck dissection (ED), while the remaining 504 (67\%) N0 patients were subjected to close and regular follow-up (wait-and-see policy; WS).Of the 245 ED patients, 43 (17.5\%) showed an occult neck disease, while of the 504 WS subjects, 83 (17\%) developed neck metastases during follow-up. Moreover, 15 ED patients subsequently experienced a contralateral occult failure despite a unilateral negative neck specimen (N0-). Thus, ultimately 187 ED (164 of whom were treated unilaterally and 23 bilaterally) and 421 WS patients were used for survival analysis. No differences in terms of postoperative complications, local or distant failure or disease-free or overall actuarial survival were found between the two groups analyzed.These data indicate that unilateral or bilateral removal of cervical lymphatics in the absence of histologically proven lymph node metastases does not negatively affect the prognosis of N0 laryngeal cancer patients who were overtreated to the neck