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Background The C‐reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio has been recently established as a prognostic indicator in various cancer types. However, few reports regarding the prognostic value of the CRP/Alb ratio in head and neck cancer exist. This study aimed to investigate the significance of the CRP/Alb ratio in clinical outcomes after invasive surgery involving laryngectomy for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. Methods We evaluated 56 patients who underwent total laryngectomy or total pharyngolaryngectomy between 2003 and 2012. Univariate and multivariate analyses were retrospectively performed to examine the prognostic value of the CRP/Alb ratio in these patients. Results The optimal cutoff value of the CRP/Alb ratio was 0.32. Multivariate analysis showed that the CRP/Alb ratio was a significant and independent predictor of poor overall and disease‐free survival. Conclusion The CRP/Alb ratio may be a novel and useful indicator for predicting postoperative outcomes in patients with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer.

Purpose Glenoid bone loss contributes to recurrent instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair alone. With significant glenoid bone loss, better results have been reported after arthroscopic Bankart repair with glenoid arc reconstruction. However, no reports compare augmentation using bone graft with non‐augmentation for glenoid bone loss. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical results of an arthroscopic Bankart repair with or without arthroscopic bone graft augmentation. It was hypothesized that such bone graft augmentation would restore shoulder stability, and lead to excellent outcomes. Methods Of 552 patients treated for anterior glenohumeral instability with arthroscopic Bankart repair, 68 met this study's inclusion criteria of glenoid bone loss over 20% and follow‐up of at least 2 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether with bone graft augmentation for glenoid bone loss [Group A: n = 35, median age; 21 years (range 13–72 years)], or not (Group B: n = 33, median age; 21 years (range 13–50 years)]. For grafting, either autologous iliac bone or artificial bone made of hydroxyapatite was used. Rowe score, recurrence rate, and return to sport were used to assess the results. Results Mean Rowe score was 95.0 (SD 10.6) in Group A and 69.7 (SD 27.2) in Group B (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate was 2.9% (1/36) in Group A and 48.5% (16/33) in Group B (p < 0.05). Regarding contact/collision athletes, 24 were contained in Group A and 22 in Group B. Of the patients with recurrence in Group B, 13 (59.1%) were contact/collision athletes. Finally, 50% of the contact/collision sports athletes for both groups returned to their sports at the same as pre‐injury level. Of the 11 patients who returned to the same level of contact/collision sports in Group B, seven returned with residual instability. Nine athletes in Group A and 3 in Group B quit their sports for personal or social reasons. Conclusions Bone graft augmentation was beneficial when used with Arthroscopic Bankart repair for recurrent anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. Especially, for recurrent anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss in contact/collision sports athletes, bone graft augmentation should be strongly considered as beneficial. Level of evidence Level IV.

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We have improved the dynamic ratio less shift register circuit, originally designed for use in Si-LSIs, so as to be applied to LTPS TFTs on the glass substrate with stable operations. In the operation of the dynamic circuit, the conditions arising from two major obstacles, drain avalanche hot carrier effect and massive bias current, which degrade the transistors in the long term operation, can be avoided. By adopting this improved circuit, we are successfully mass-producing highly reliable LTPS-TFT LCD panels which consist only of n-type TFTs.

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