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Medicine Jun 2024Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a high incidence in East and Southeast Asia, often with distant metastasis. However, leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is extremely rare and... (Review)
Review
RATIONALE
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a high incidence in East and Southeast Asia, often with distant metastasis. However, leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is extremely rare and usually has a poor prognosis. This paper reports the clinical treatment of a patient with meningeal metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in order to improve the clinician's understanding of the disease. Early diagnosis of the disease can alleviate the pain of patients and prolong their survival time.
PATIENT CONCERNS
We report the case of a 55-year-old female with a history of NPC with LM. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed temporal lobe enhancement, peripheral edema, and enhancement of the adjacent meninges. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology suggests the presence of malignant tumor cells.
DIAGNOSES
The patient was diagnosed with LM from NPC.
INTERVENTIONS
The patients were regularly given targeted therapy with nimotuzumab, immunotherapy with karyolizumab, and lumbar intrathecal methotrexate chemotherapy and supportive treatment.
OUTCOMES
The patient had survived for 3 years since the diagnosis of LM and was in good condition and still under active antitumor treatment.
LESSONS
Leptomeningeal metastasis of NPC is a rare disease. Although there is currently no unified treatment plan, the neurological symptoms can still be controlled and the quality of life can be improved through active treatment.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Meningeal Neoplasms; Meningeal Carcinomatosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38847717
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037853 -
Cell Reports. Medicine Jun 2024When applied as the standard therapeutic modality, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) improves local control and survival rates in patients with nasopharyngeal... (Review)
Review
When applied as the standard therapeutic modality, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) improves local control and survival rates in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, distant metastasis continues to be the leading cause of treatment failure. Here, we review the most recent optimization strategies for combining chemotherapy with IMRT in high-risk patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. We focus on major clinical trials on induction chemotherapy and metronomic adjuvant chemotherapy, emphasizing their efficacy in mitigating distant metastasis and prognosis. We also highlight innovations in reducing toxicity in low-risk patients, particularly through approaches of excluding chemotherapy, adopting equivalent low-toxicity drugs, or selectively exempting lymph nodes with low metastatic risk from irradiation. These approaches have provided positive treatment outcomes and significantly enhanced patients' quality of life. Finally, we provide an overview of the evolving immunotherapy landscape, with a focus on the ongoing trials and future potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced NPC treatment.
Topics: Humans; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; Treatment Outcome; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Clinical Trials as Topic; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38843843
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101594 -
Technology in Cancer Research &... 2024The purpose of this research was to compare two treatment techniques for oropharyngeal cancers: conventional linac-based static intensity-modulated radiotherapy (sIMRT)... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research was to compare two treatment techniques for oropharyngeal cancers: conventional linac-based static intensity-modulated radiotherapy (sIMRT) and helical tomotherapy (HT). The study examined several parameters, including target coverage, organs at risk, integral dose, and beam on time. Additionally, the study evaluated the doses to the parotid, temporomandibular joint, and pharyngeal constrictor muscles, which are important for swallowing.
METHOD
The present study retrospectively analyzed the data of 13 patients with oropharyngeal cancer who underwent radiotherapy between 2019 and 2021. The treatment plans for each patient were regenerated using both sIMRT and HT treatment planning systems with the sequential boost method. The techniques were evaluated and compared based on dose-volume histogram, homogeneity index, and conformity index parameters. The target coverage and organs at risk were statistically compared for two techniques. Additionally, the doses received by the healthy tissue volume were obtained for integral dose evaluation. The beam on time for each technique was assessed.
RESULTS
When considering planning target volume evaluation, there was no difference in D between the two techniques and sIMRT demonstrated higher D values compared to the HT. The HT technique had better results for all organs at risk, such as the parotid, temporomandibular joint, and pharyngeal constrictor muscle. As for integral dose, it has been shown that the sIMRT technique provides better protection compared to HT. In addition, the beam on time was also longer with the HT technique.
CONCLUSION
Both techniques may provide optimal target coverage for patients with oropharyngeal cancer. HT conferred notable advantages, especially with regard to critical structures implicated in swallowing, such as the parotid, temporomandibular joint, and pharyngeal constrictor muscle, in comparison to sIMRT.
Topics: Humans; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Parotid Gland; Radiotherapy Dosage; Organs at Risk; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; Temporomandibular Joint; Male; Retrospective Studies; Pharyngeal Muscles; Female; Aged; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38841792
DOI: 10.1177/15330338241260646 -
CoDAS 2024To analyze the correlation between swallowing, language and cognition performance and describe the sociodemographic data of elderly people without previous neurological...
PURPOSE
To analyze the correlation between swallowing, language and cognition performance and describe the sociodemographic data of elderly people without previous neurological disorders.
METHODS
Analytical cross-sectional study, with non-probabilistic sample for convenience and data collection by telecall. The aspiration screening test (Yale Swallow Protocol) was used to identify and exclude elderly people at risk of aspiration. Then, sociodemographic data were collected, and instruments were applied: activity of daily living (IADLs), risk of dysphagia (EAT-10), cognitive screening (Mini Mental State Examination - MMSE) and language (Montreal-Toulouse Language Battery - MTL-Brazil).
RESULTS
The sample consisted of 32 elderly people from the Federal District, with a mean age of 69.00±7.73 years and schooling of 10.00±5.60 years. The scores on the EAT-10, MMSE and MTL Battery instruments were altered in four, 22 and 26 elderly, respectively, indicating, in this case, risk of dysphagia, suggestion of cognitive alteration and language alteration. Regarding food, of the total sample, 13 seniors (40%) complained of needing modified food, as well as 10 of these also obtained MMSE scores suggestive of cognitive alteration. When comparing the groups with and without complaints and/or risk of dysphagia, there was no statistically significant difference in relation to sociodemographic, cognitive and language variables. Binary logistic regression models also showed no statistically significant results.
CONCLUSION
The present study, when correlating the swallowing, language and cognition findings, did not obtain statistically significant results. It was observed that the elderly with swallowing complaints also showed results suggestive of cognitive and language changes in the tests performed, but there was no statistically significant difference in relation to the elderly without complaints or swallowing changes.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Aged; Female; Male; Deglutition Disorders; Cognition; Brazil; Socioeconomic Factors; Deglutition; Aged, 80 and over; Middle Aged; Language; Activities of Daily Living; Mental Status and Dementia Tests; Geriatric Assessment; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 38836826
DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20242022319pt -
CoDAS 2024To compare the ultrasound measurement of distance from the approximation of the hyoid bone during of the maximum deglutition peak between healthy individuals and...
To compare the ultrasound measurement of distance from the approximation of the hyoid bone during of the maximum deglutition peak between healthy individuals and neurogenic dysphagic individuals and to verify the effect of food consistencies on the displacement of the hyoid bone. Prospective, controlled clinical study. Ultrasound recordings of the oropharyngeal deglutition were conducted in 10 adults diagnosed with oropharyngeal dysphagia and in 10 healthy adults, matched by sex and age group. A portable ultrasound model Micro ultrasound system with a microconvex transducer 5-10 MHz, coupled to a computer as well as the head stabilizer were used. The ultrasound images were recorded using the AAA software (Articulate Assistant Advanced) at a rate of 120 frames/second. Food consistencies level 0 (free volume and 5 mL) and level 4 (5 mL) were used, based on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDSSI). The calculation of the mean and standard deviation was used for the descriptive analysis, while the repeated measures ANOVA test was used for the inferential analysis. Results showed dysphagic individuals had lower elevation of the hyoid bone marked by a longer distance from the approximation of the hyoid bone during of the maximum deglutition peak when compared to healthy individuals, regardless of the food consistency offered. It was concluded that the ultrasound measurement of distance from the approximation of the hyoid bone during of the maximum deglutition peak showed less laryngeal elevation in individuals with neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia when compared to healthy individuals for all food consistencies offered.
Topics: Humans; Hyoid Bone; Deglutition Disorders; Male; Female; Prospective Studies; Ultrasonography; Middle Aged; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Deglutition; Aged
PubMed: 38836820
DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20242022074pt -
Technology in Cancer Research &... 2024Exploring the relationship between the hOGG1 rs1052133 polymorphism and the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Exploring the relationship between the hOGG1 rs1052133 polymorphism and the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfangdata, and VIP were used to search for studies and the NOS evaluation scale was used to evaluate the quality. All studies were grouped according to different genotypes. The Cochrane's Q test and I test were used for heterogeneity evaluations. If heterogeneity was small, the fixed effects model was used, and conversely, the random effects model was used. Publication bias was also detected. P < .05 in all results indicated statistically significant. We ultimately included 6 studies with 2021 NPC patients in the study group and 2375 healthy populations in the control group. After meta-analysis, it was found that the total OR value of the "Ser/Cys (CG) vs Ser/Ser (CC)" group was 1.00 (95% CI: 0.85-1.18) and the "Cys/Cys (GG) vs Ser/Ser (CC)" group was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.87-1.28). These results were not statistically significant (P > .05). Furthermore, the integrated total OR values of each group were not statistically significant with or without the smoking history, even in other genotype models (Allele, Dominant, Recessive, and Additive) (P > .05). There is no clear correlation between the hOGG1 rs1052133 polymorphism and the occurrence of NPC, even with or without the smoking history.
Topics: Humans; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; DNA Glycosylases; Genotype; Alleles; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Odds Ratio; Genetic Association Studies; Publication Bias; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 38836311
DOI: 10.1177/15330338241246457 -
PloS One 2024Stroke patients with dysphagia and family caregivers will experience multiple transitions during the whole process of the disease and various nursing needs will be...
BACKGROUND
Stroke patients with dysphagia and family caregivers will experience multiple transitions during the whole process of the disease and various nursing needs will be generated. There is a lack of knowledge about their experiences at different transition stages. Thus, we aimed to explore the transition experiences of patients with post stroke dysphagia and family caregivers from admission to discharge home.
METHODS
A semi-structured interview based on Meleis's transition theory was used during hospitalization and telephone follow-up interviews were conducted in the first, third, and sixth month after the diagnosis of dysphagia. Interview transcripts were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.
RESULTS
A total of 17 participants enrolled in the first face-to-face interview, 16 participants took part in the first month's telephone follow-up interview, 14 participants in the third month, and 12 participants in the sixth month. The transition experiences of patients with post stroke dysphagia and family caregivers could be summarized into three themes: (1)transition from onset to admission; (2)transition from discharge to other rehabilitation institutions; and (3)transition from discharge to home. Each theme had identified interrelated subthemes.
CONCLUSIONS
The experiences of patients with post stroke dysphagia and family caregivers during transition are a dynamic process with enormous challenges in each phase. Collaboration with health care professionals, follow-up support after discharge, and available community and social support should be integrated into transitional nursing to help patients facilitate their transition.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Male; Female; Caregivers; Stroke; Aged; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Longitudinal Studies; Patient Discharge; Stroke Rehabilitation; Aged, 80 and over; Adult
PubMed: 38833445
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304325 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024The prevalence of, and risk factors for, genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections within the young adult population are well-established; the same is not known for... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of, and risk factors for, genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections within the young adult population are well-established; the same is not known for oral HPV. This observational study aimed to determine oral HPV prevalence and abundance within a UK young adult population, and examine if sexual practices and established risk factors of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) (such as smoking and alcohol consumption) influenced HPV prevalence.
METHODS
Convenience sampling was used to recruit a small sample of 452 UK-based young adults studying at a higher education (HE) institution to the study; the study was not powered. A highly sensitive real-time PCR HPV screening method was developed for the detection of multiple HPV subtypes from oral swabs. HPV-positive samples were subsequently screened by qPCR for viral subtypes HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, HPV-18. Results were analysed by univariate and multivariate methods and stratified for gender, with lifestyle behaviour data collected via questionnaire. Socio-economic status was not captured within the questionnaire.
RESULTS
We found a high oral HPV prevalence of 22.79%, with a dominance of high-risk viral type HPV-16 (prevalence 19.12%; abundance average 1.08 × 10 copies/million cells) detected within healthy young adults. Frequent smoking (p = .05), masturbation (p = .029), and engagement in multiple sexual activities (p = .057), were found to be associated with oral HPV prevalence, and HPV-16 prevalence, whilst behaviours traditionally associated with genital HPV were not.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results strengthen the link between sexual practices and oral HPV transmission. We suggest that young adults should be considered high-risk for the contraction of oral HPV, although acknowledge that this sample of HE students may not be representative of the wider population. We show that high-risk HPV-16 is prevalent in the healthy population, as well as dominating within OPSCC; this study is one of the first to determine the dominance of oral HPV-16 prevalence and abundance within this population, presenting a clear need for greater awareness of oral HPV infections, and the risk factors for HPV-positive OPSCC within young adults.
Topics: Humans; Papillomavirus Infections; Male; Female; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Young Adult; United Kingdom; Sexual Behavior; Adult; Adolescent; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Papillomaviridae; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Human Papillomavirus Viruses
PubMed: 38831431
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18977-x -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics Jun 2024Early infant feeding and swallowing are complex motor processes involving numerous muscles in coordination, e.g. the orofacial muscles as well as the muscles of the... (Review)
Review
Early infant feeding and swallowing are complex motor processes involving numerous muscles in coordination, e.g. the orofacial muscles as well as the muscles of the pharynx, larynx and esophagus. The newborn's reflexive drinking develops into the ability to ingest pureed complementary food as infancy progresses. Finally, in the last part of the first year of life, a differentiated eating, chewing and swallowing process develops allowing the voluntary intake of different foods of the family diet. The dietary schedule for the first year of life, which describes the recommended nutrition of infants in Germany, corresponds to these milestones in eating development. Disturbances in gross motor development, sensory processing issues, and organic and behavioral problems are known to interfere with the development of eating skills. Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) in children can have a detrimental effect on food intake and pose a serious risk to growth and development. Their prevention treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach with the aim of enabling the child to eat independently in the long term.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Child, Preschool; Child Development; Feeding Behavior; Deglutition Disorders; Eating; Infant, Newborn; Deglutition; Female; Male
PubMed: 38831369
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01683-0 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jul 2024The incidence rate of human papillomavirus-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) is increasing in countries with high human development index. HPV cell-free DNA (cfDNA)...
The incidence rate of human papillomavirus-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) is increasing in countries with high human development index. HPV cell-free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from 3 to 4 mL blood plasma has been successfully used for therapy surveillance. A highly discussed application of HPV-cfDNA is early detection of HPV-OPC. This requires sensitive and specific cfDNA detection as cfDNA levels can be very low. To study the predictive power of pre-diagnostic HPV-cfDNA, archived samples from epidemiological cohorts with limited plasma volume are an important source. To establish a cfDNA detection workflow for low plasma volumes, we compared cfDNA purification methods [MagNA Pure 96 (MP96) and QIAamp ccfDNA/RNA] and digital PCR systems (Biorad QX200 and QIAGEN QIAcuity One). Final assay validation included 65 low-volume plasma samples from oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) patients with defined HPV status stored for 2-9 years. MP96 yielded a 28% higher cfDNA isolation efficiency in comparison to QIAamp. Both digital PCR systems showed comparable analytical sensitivity (6-17 copies for HPV16 and HPV33), but QIAcuity detected both types in the same assay. In the validation set, the assay had 80% sensitivity ( = 28/35) for HPV16 and HPV33 and a specificity of 97% ( = 29/30). In samples with ≥750 µL plasma, the sensitivity was 85% ( = 17/20), while in samples with <750 µL plasma, it was 73% ( = 11/15). Despite the expected drop in sensitivity with decreased plasma volume, the assay is sensitive and highly specific even in low-volume samples and thus suited for studies exploring HPV-cfDNA as an early HPV-OPC detection marker in low-volume archival material.IMPORTANCEHPV-OPC has a favorable prognosis compared to HPV-negative OPC. However, the majority of tumors is diagnosed after regional spread, thus making intensive treatment necessary. This can cause lasting morbidity with a large impact on quality of life. One potential method to decrease treatment-related morbidity is early detection of the cancer. HPV cfDNA has been successfully used for therapy surveillance and has also been detected in pre-diagnostic samples of HPV-OPC patients. These pre-diagnostic samples are only commonly available from biobanks, which usually only have small volumes of blood plasma available. Hence, we have developed a workflow optimized for small-volume archival samples. With this method, a high sensitivity can be achieved despite sample limitations, making it suitable to conduct further large-scale biobank studies of HPV-cfDNA as a prognostic biomarker for HPV-OPC.
Topics: Humans; DNA, Viral; Papillomavirus Infections; Cell-Free Nucleic Acids; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Papillomaviridae; Female; Sensitivity and Specificity; Male; Middle Aged; Aged; Human papillomavirus 16; Human Papillomavirus Viruses
PubMed: 38829114
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00024-24