Outcomes and prognostic factors in parotid gland malignancies: A 10-year single center experience.

Objectives:To describe a 10-year single center experience with parotid gland malignancies and to determine factors affecting outcomes. Study Design:Retrospective review. Methods:The institutional cancer registry was used to identify patients treated surgically for malignancies of the parotid gland between January 2005 and December 2014. Clinical and pathologic data were collected retrospectively from patient charts and analyzed for their association with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results:Two hundred patients were identified. Mean age at surgery was 57.8 years, and mean follow-up time was 52 months. One hundred two patients underwent total parotidectomy, while 77 underwent superficial parotidectomy, and 21 underwent deep lobe resection. Seventy patients (35%) required facial nerve (FN) sacrifice. Acinic cell carcinoma was the most common histologic type (22%), followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma (21.5%) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (12.5%). Twenty-nine patients (14.5%) experienced recurrences, with mean time to recurrence of 23.6 months (range: 1-82 months). Five- and 10-year OS were 81% and 73%, respectively. Five- and 10-year DFS were 80% and 73%, respectively. In univariate analyses, age > 60, histologic type, positive margins, high grade, T-stage, node positivity, perineural invasion, and FN involvement were predictors of OS and DFS. In the multivariate analysis, histology, positive margins, node positivity, and FN involvement were independent predictors of OS and DFS. Conclusions:Our single-center experience of 200 patients suggests that histology, positive margins, node positivity, and FN involvement are independently associated with outcomes in parotid malignancies. Level of Evidence:4

Examination of the effect of xenogeneic mesenchymal stem cells and conditioned medium on cartilage graft viability: a rabbit model

Background Since cartilage, unlike skin, does not contain vessels, it obtains nutrition by diffusion. This reduces graft viability, resulting in problems such as reductions in size, changes in shape, and resorption of the cartilage graft in the late post-graft period. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal cells and conditioned medium (CM) on cartilage graft viability. Methods Dissections were performed 4 months after the injection of 0.5 mL of CM or 2×106 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in 0.5 mL after grafting into a control group and two experimental groups (n=21 rabbits in total). Chondrocyte viability and type II collagen expression in the grafted areas were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical methods, respectively. Results In the MSC and CM groups, chondrocyte proliferation at the graft tissue incision margin (MSC: P<0.01, CM: P<0.0001), chondrocyte proliferation at the auricular cartilage incision margin (MSC: P<0.05, CM: P<0.0001), integration of the graft with the surrounding cartilage (MSC: P<0.001, CM: P<0.0001) and type II collagen expression levels (MSC: P=0.001, CM: P=0.0002) significantly increased. Conclusions Xenogenic injection of MSCs and CM contributed to new cartilage production without any tumoral effects or immune reactions. In particular, the cell-free nature of CM strengthened its potential for safe use. Since injections of MSC and CM can preserve cartilage graft viability, interest in this technique is expected to increase as long-term results from clinical studies on the subject become available

Genetic relationships of European, Mediterranean, and SW Asian populations using a panel of 55 AISNPs

The set of 55 ancestry informative SNPs (AISNPs) originally developed by the Kidd Lab has been studied on a large number of populations and continues to be applied to new population samples. The existing reference database of population samples allows the relationships of new population samples to be inferred on a global level. Analyses show that these autosomal markers constitute one of the better panels of AISNPs. Continuing to build this reference database enhances its value. Because more than half of the 25 ethnic groups recently studied with these AISNPs are from Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region, we present here various analyses focused on populations from these regions along with selected reference populations from nearby regions where genotype data are available. Many of these ethnic groups have not been previously studied for forensic markers. Data on populations from other world regions have also been added to the database but are not included in these focused analyses. The new population samples added to ALFRED and FROG-kb increase the total to 164 population samples that have been studied for all 55 AISNPs

Crystal structure and computational studies of N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)-4-fluoroaniline

The Schiff base compound, N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)-4-fluoroaniline, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction method. The title compound, C19H16FNO, crystallizes in triclinic, space group P-1 (no. 2), a = 10.6343(9) Å, b = 11.4720(10) Å, c = 13.8297(13) Å, α = 102.466(7)°, β = 104.763(7)°, γ = 98.972(7)°, V = 1552.7(2) Å3, Z = 4, T = 293(2) K, μ(MoKα) = 0.086 mm-1, Dcalc = 1.255 g/cm3, 24355 reflections measured (3.16° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 51°), 5779 unique (Rint = 0.0794, Rsigma = 0.0696) which were used in all calculations. The final R1 was 0.0373 (I > 2σ(I)) and wR2 was 0.0763 (all data). The title compound contains two molecules with a similar structure in the asymmetric unit cell. The packing of the crystal structure is determined by weak C–H···F and C-H···N intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The contributions of these weak interactions in the crystal structure were calculated by the Hirshfeld surfaces and examined by the intermolecular interactions within the structure. The existence, nature and percentage contribution of different intermolecular interactions H···H, C···H, N···H, and F···H were determined using Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots

Withdraw of the Ureteroscope Causes Fragmented Ureter Stones to Disperse

Introduction Ureteroscopy has improved from the first use of ureteroscope in the 1970's. Although the success rate increased in the last years, (1) new treatment techniques are being developed for impacted and large proximal ureter stones (2). Pneumatic lithotripsy has high efficiency with low complication rates (2). However, in case of steinstrasse and large (> 1 cm) ureter stones, fragmented small stones may obstruct insertion of a ureteroscope after initial lithotripsy. In order to triumph over this issue, multiple ureteroscopic passages and manipulations needed for extraction of these small stones by forceps or basket catheters. The overall incidence of stricture was found upto 14.2% when the fragments were removed with a grasping forceps or a basket (3). We present our technique to disperse small fragmented stones in order to contact non-fragmented rest stone. Materials and Methods Ureteral lithotripsy was performed with an 8-9.8F semirigid ureteroscope using a pneumatic lithotripter (Swiss LithoClast, EMS, Nyon, Switzerland). The stone was fragmented into small pieces as small as 2-3 mm. by pneumatic lithotripter. Eventually, these fragmented stones interfered with vision and the lithotripter to get in touch with the rest stone. After fragmenting distal part of the large stone, the ureteroscope was pulled back out of ureter. While pulling back, the operating channel was closed and irrigation fluid was flowing in order not to decrease pressure behind the stones. Simultaneously, a person tilted the operating table to about 30° in reverse Trendelenburg position. When the ureteroscope was out of ureteral orifice, the operating channel was opened and irrigation fluid was stopped. This maneuver aided decreasing pressure in the bladder more rapidly in addition to feeding tube. Stone dust and antegrade fluid flow were easily seen out of the ureteral orifice. Ureteroscope was re-inserted after 30-60 seconds. While reaching the rest of the stone, small stone dust was seen at first. Bigger stones were approximately 3-5 cm distal to the original place of the stone. When the non-fragmented rest stone appeared, there were no blocking fragmented stones. Insertion of the ureteroscope was easy and we could go on with the lithotripsy procedure. Conclusions In comparison to standard position, tilting and rapid decrease in pressure by pulling back the ureteroscope made gravity and negative pressure more effective

Polyethylene Glycol Modified ErVO4 Nanocrystals: Magnetic and Optical Properties

WOS: 000463891600032PubMed ID: 30961719Spindle-like ErVO4 nanocrystals were synthesized by precipitation in the presence of polyethylene glycol. Structural, optical and magnetic properties of as-prepared ErVO4 nanoparticles with and without polyethylene glycol were compared by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy. Crystal structures were tetragonal zircon type ErVO4 for both cases, and polyethylene glycol addition decreased average particle size from 70.69 to 38.78 nm, resulting more uniform particle formation. Polyethylene glycol proportion on ErVO4 surfaces was 9.8%, and its inclusion increased ErVO4 magnetization response to an external field as well as improving optical reflectivity, which is critical for nanophosphor use in biomedical fields