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Objective To investigate the predictive value of depth of invasion (DOI) of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) for cervical lymph node metastasis and prognosis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of 73 patients with T1/2 TSCC. ROC curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of DOI for predicting cervical lymph node metastasis, and logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the related factors affecting cervical lymph node metastasis of TSCC. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used for survival analysis. Results Among 73 patients, 18 patients were with lymph node metastasis and 55 patients were without lymph node metastasis. The median DOI with and without lymph node metastasis were 8.00 and 5.00 mm, respectively (P=0.003). The optimal cut-off value for DOI was 6.15 mm, with AUC 0.75 (95%CI: 64.1%~87.1%, P=0.001), sensitivity 77.8% and specificity 63.6%. DOI and pathological differentiation were independent prognostic factors for cervical lymph node metastasis in multivariate analysis. DOI, nerve invasion and pathological differentiation were independent prognostic factors of survival in Cox regression analysis. Conclusion DOI of TSCC patients has important predictive value for both cervical lymph node metastasis and prognosis. Neck lymph node dissection is recommended for patients with DOI > 6.15 mm to improve survival rate and reduce recurrence rate.

Objective To construct a prognostic model of laryngeal cancer based on pyroptosis-related lncRNAs. Methods Transcriptome expression and clinical data of patients with laryngeal cancer were downloaded from TCGA database. Differentially-expressed pyroptosis-related lncRNAs were selected using Wilcox rank sum test and Spearman correlation analysis. LncRNAs associated with patients' prognosis were further selected using univariate Cox analysis (P < 0.05), and a prognostic model was established using multivariate Cox regression. ROC curve was used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this model. Results There were a total of 483 differentially-expressed pyroptosis-related lncRNAs in laryngeal cancer tissues, compared with normal laryngeal tissues (|logFC|≥1, FDR < 0.05). Univariate Cox analysis showed that 23 differentially-expressed lncRNAs were associated with prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis finally obtained a prognostic model based on 10 lncRNAs for predicting the survival of laryngeal carcinoma patients. AUC showed that the model had a good predictive ability (AUC > 0.8). Conclusion Pyroptosis-related lncRNAs can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with laryngeal cancer.

Objective: To explore the clinical effects and short-term complications of using free jejunum graft (FJG) to reconstruct the defects by resections of pharyngeal, laryngeal or cervical esophageal cancers., Method: Fifty-eight cases of pharyngeal, laryngeal or cervical esophageal cancers were reconstructed with FJG. All cases were analyzed retrospectively., Result: The success rate of FJG transplantations was 91.4% (53/58). The incidence of post-operative short-term complication was 43.1% (25/58), which was not related to age or BMI. The most common complication was anastomotic leakage (18.9%), which was not related to per-operative radiation therapy. However, BMI > 25 cases had significantly higher incidence of anastomotic leakage than BMI ≤ 25 cases (P = 0.009). The second and third most common complications were respiratory system complications (10. 3%) and FJG necrosis (8. 6%). Para-operative death rate was 3.4% (2/58). Two-year overall survival rates of hypopharyngeal cancer and cervical esophageal cancer were 49% and 67% respectively. The group with no short-term complications had a slightly better survival rate than the group with short-term complications from the Kaplan-Meier curve, but there was no significant difference (P = 0.103)., Conclusion: FJG is ideal to reconstruct cervical digestive tract circumferential defects with a high success rate and a low mortality. However, the post-operative complication rate is high. Intensive observation, early detection and timely treatment of complications are crucial.

Objective: To discuss the management of vascular crisis of free flaps after reconstruction of head and neck defects caused by tumor resection., Methods: A total of 259 cases of free flap reconstruction performed in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed, including 89 cases of anterolateral thigh flaps, 48 cases of radial forearm flaps, 46 free fibula flaps, 5 cases of inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps, 5 cases of free latissimus dorsi flaps, one case of lateral arm flap, and one case of medial femoral flap. The surveillance frequency of free flaps was q1h on post-operative day (POD) 1, q2h on POD 2 and 3, and q4h after POD 3. Vascular crises were reviewed for analysis., Results: The incidence rate of vascular crisis was 8.1% (21/259), with 15 males and 6 females. The average age was 54.8 years old (17-68), and the average time of vascular crisis was 100.8 h post-operation (3-432). There were 7 cases of free jejunum flaps and 14 dermal free flaps. Seven of these 21 cases with vascular crisis were rescued by surgery. The success rate of salvage surgery within 72 hours from the primary operation was 54.5% (6/11), significantly higher than that of salvage surgery performed later than 72 hours from primary operation (10.0%, 1/10, P=0.043). There were 14 cases of flap necrosis, two of which died of local infection., Conclusion: Early detection of vascular crisis can effectively improve the success rate of salvage, so as to avoid the serious consequences caused by free flap necrosis.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the long-term results of prophylactic central lymph node dissection in cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and investigate the treatment method of the cervical lymph nodes for cN0 PTC., Methods: One hundred and thirty-six patients with cN0 PTC were treated by surgery at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2000 to 2006. Their clinicopathological characteristics, surgical procedures and survival outcomes were collected and analyzed., Results: The occult lymph node metastasis rate in central compartment was 61.0%. The average number of positive lymph nodes was 2.47 (1-13), in which 54 patients had 1-2 and 29 patients had ≥ 3 positive lymph nodes. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age less than 45 (P=0.001, OR 3.571, 95% CI 1.681-7.587)and extracapsular spread (ECS) (P=0.015, OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.241-7.202)were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the central compartment. The ten-year cumulative overall survival rate was 98.3% and cumulative lateral neck metastasis rate was 25.2%. Multivariate analysis with Cox regression model showed that ECS (P=0.001, OR 5.211, 95% CI1.884-14.411) and positive lymph nodes in the central compartment ≥ 3 (P=0.009, OR 4.005, 95% CI 1.419-11.307) were independent risk factors for lymph node recurrence in the lateral neck region. The distribution of recurrent lymph nodes: level IV (82.4%), level III (64.7%), level II (29.4%) and level V (11.8%)., Conclusions: Routine central lymph node dissection, at least unilateral, should be conducted for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Attention should be paid to the treatment of lateral neck region in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Selective neck dissection is suggested for cN0 PTC with ECS or positive central lymph nodes ≥ 3, or both. The range of dissection should include level III and IV at least.

Objective: Myoepithelial carcinoma (MC) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of MC of the parotid gland., Methods: The clinicopathological data of 17 cases of MC of the parotid gland treated in our hospital from 1999 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Of all the 17 patients, 9 cases received radical surgery only, 5 cases received postoperative radiotherapy, 2 cases received preoperative radiotherapy, and one case received chemotherapy. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis., Results: Among the 17 patients, 11 patients had post-operative recurrence (11/17, 64.7%), Of these 11 cases, 5 cases (45.5%) had recurrence within one year after the first operation. During the follow-up for 12-180 months (median 50 months), six cases died (two patients died of distant metastases and 4 cases died of local recurrence). The overall 1-year, 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 94.1%, 74.2% and 64.9%, and the overall 1-year, 2-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 70.6%, 48.1% and 40.1%, respectively., Conclusions: Radical surgery is the main treatment modality for myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland. For the patients with extensive lesions or after palliative surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy might be helpful. However, its therapeutic efficacy remains to be proved.

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and treatment of skull base osteosarcoma., Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients with skull base osteosarcoma, who were admitted to the CAMS Cancer Hospital from January 2005 to November 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were followed up by telephone, outpatient review and other means. Fifteen patients were followed up, 4 cases received surgery only, and 11 cases received surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was used to analyze the clinical data and Log rank method was used for verification., Results: Nine patients died among the 15 patients who were followed up for 3-103 months (mean 25.0 months): seven patients died of local recurrence, and two patients died of distant metastasis, and six patients were still alive. Four patients received surgery only, with a median survival time of 25.0 months, and 11 patients received comprehensive treatment, with a median survival time of 47.0 months (P = 0.02). Five patients received sub-total resection, with a mean survival time of 47.0 months, and 10 patients received total resection, with a mean survival time of 45.0 months (P = 0.37). The 1- and 2-year recurrence rates were 46.6% and 68.9%, respectively. The overall 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 82.4%, 61.8%, 36.0% and 36.0%, respectively, with a median survival time of 30.0 months., Conclusions: To compare the long bone and head and neck osteosarcoma with skull base osteosarcoma, the skull base osteosarcoma has a lower total resection rate, a higher recurrence rate, and a poorer prognosis. Radical surgery and comprehensive treatment are appropriate for skull base osteosarcoma.

Objective: To study the patterns of cervical lymph node metastasis of medullary thyroid carcinoma., Methods: Ninety-one patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma first treated between January 1999 and October 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Of 91 patients, 39 cases presented with clinical negative node (cN0) and 52 cases with clinical positive node (cN+). Central compartment dissection was performed in all cases. Lateral neck dissection was performed in 52 cN+ cases (71 sides). All neck dissection specimens were obtained and analyzed for lymph node (LN) involvement with respect to neck levels. The distribution of LN with metastasis was studied in cN+ patients and the following factors were used to study the predictive value of central compartment LN metastasis: sex, age, family history, tumor size, bilateral tumor, multifocality of the tumor, extracapsular spread, and remote metastasis. Univariate analysis with the χ(2) test was used to analyze the statistical correlation between central compartment LN metastasis and other clinical factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to central compartment metastasis., Results: Neck and bilateral neck metastasis rates were 73.6%, 19.8% respectively. Metastasis rates in central compartment and superior mediastinal region were 68.1% and 27.5% respectively. The central compartment metastasis rate was 33.3% in cN0 patients and 94.2% in cN+ patients. The superior mediastinal metastasis rate was 2.6% in cN0 patients and 46.2% in cN+ patients. Extracapsular spread was an independent predictive factor for central compartment metastasis (χ(2)=15.592, P=0.000, OR=12.876). The incidences of LN metastases at level II, III, IV, V were 62.9%,84.5%,83.1%,50.0% in cN+ patient, respectively. Multi-sites were involved. The possibility of lateral neck metastasis was higher when preoperative value of calcitonin was higher than 300 ng/L (66.7% vs 28.6%, χ(2)=5.771, P=0.016)., Conclusions: Cervical lymph node metastasis of medullary thyroid carcinoma is higher. Central compartment dissection is necessary in cN0 patients with extracapsular spread. Neck dissection from level II to level VII was necessary in cN+ patients. Preoperative value of calcitonin maybe can predict the lateral neck metastasis incidence.

Objective: To evaluate the factors related to level IIb lymph node(LN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Method The medical records of 63 PTC patients were reviewed. The patients underwent neck dissection (ND) between January 2011 and December 2012, who were determined with pathologically lateral cervical LN metastasis. A total of 67 ND specimens were obtained and analyzed for LN involvement with respect to neck levels. The relation of level IIb LN metastasis with clinical factors, including age and sex of patients, tumor size, location, multifocality, extracapsular spread (ECS) and stage of primary PTC, coexistence of lymphocytic thyroiditis, distribution of metastasis LN in different levels, fusion and extracapsular invasion of LN were analyzed with univariate analysis and χ(2) test. SPSS 14.0 software was used to analyze the data., Results: Of 63 patients, 41 patients revealed thyroid tumor maximum diameter more than 1 centimeter, 26 patients with tumor located in the upper 1/3 thyroid lobe, 39 patients with multiplicity of thyroid tumor and 54 patients with ECS, 54 patients with pathological T3/T4a stage, 15 patients with coexisting lymphocytic thyroiditis. Among the 67 ND specimens, 12 specimens (17.9%) showed level IIb LN metastasis and the incidences of LN metastasis at level IIa, III, IV, V, VI, IIa+III, III+IV, and IIa+III+IV were 56.7%, 86.6%, 68.7%, 22.4%, 86.6%, 52.2%, 55.2%, 37.3%, respectively. Of the 38 ND specimens with level IIa LN metastases, 10 were positive in level IIb(26.3%). But of 29 ND specimens without level IIa LN metastases, only 2 were positive in level IIb. A univariate analysis revealed that level IIa LN metastasis was a significant predictive factor for level IIb LN metastasis (χ(2) = 4.219, P = 0.040)., Conclusion: The incidence of LN metastasis to level IIb is low in PTC, which is less when level IIa is not involved.

Objective: To identify preliminarily the specific fragment SCF73's function in Verticillium dahlia virulence., Method: The specific fragment SCF73 exposed to be existed in the high-virulent V. dahliae strain VDG1 and not in the mild one VDG2. The SCF73 fragment was obtained from comparatively aligned genome sequences of the two strains and its existence was confirmed using PCR method. According to SCF73's DNA sequence, a homologous recombination plasmid was constructed to knock out the fragment. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation technique was used to initiate the mutant deltaSCF73, followed by antibiotic resistance screening, and PCR verification. The mutant's ability to secrete carbohydrate hydrolase was analyzed using pectin, cellulose and starch media and its virulence to the susceptible cotton cultivar Gossypium hirsutum cv. Junmian1 was assessed., Result: SCF73 (27.1 kb) contains 5 genes, two of them have glycosyl hydrolase activity. Although the, mutant deltaSCF73's carbohydrate hydrolase secretion was not significantly different from the control VDG1, virulence of the mutant to cotton plants decreased significantly accompanied with disease outburst delay., Conclusion: The specific fragment SCF73 plays an important role in the virulence of V. dahlia towards its cotton host plants.

Objective: To improve the early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism., Methods: A retrospective analysis was done of 5 cases of postoperative pulmonary embolism in the department of head and neck surgery from 1993 to 1999., Results: 5 patients: male 4, female 1; age ranged from 42 to 64 years. The unexplained dyspnea, chest pain, and sudden death were the most frequent symptoms. 4 patients were death suddenly because of the incorrect diagnosis and treatment. Only one patient was alive for the correct diagnosis and thrombolytic treatment., Conclusion: Postoperative pulmonary embolism is a major cause of mortality patients undergoing head and neck surgical procedure. Mortality of pulmonary embolism could be reduced by early and correct diagnosis and treatment.