Purpose: Laryngeal carcinomas always resist to radiotherapy. Hypoxia is an important factor in radioresistance of laryngeal carcinoma. Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) is considered to be a possible intrinsic marker of hypoxia in malignant tumors. We speculated that the inhibition of GLUT-1 expression might improve the radiosensitivity of laryngeal carcinoma. Methods: We assessed the effect of GLUT-1 expression on radioresistance of laryngeal carcinoma and the effect of GLUT-1 expressions by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) on the radiosensitivity of laryngeal carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Results: After transfection of GLUT-1 AS-ODNs: MTS assay showed the survival rates of radiation groups were reduced with the prolongation of culture time (p<0.05); Cell survival rates were significantly reduced along with the increasing of radiation dose (p<0.05). There was significant difference in the expression of GLUT-1mRNA and protein in the same X-ray dose between before and after X-ray radiation (p<0.05). In vivo, the expressions of GLUT-1 mRNA and protein after 8Gy radiation plus transfection of GLUT-1 AS-ODNs were significant decreased compared to 8Gy radiation alone (p<0.001). Conclusion: Radioresistance of laryngeal carcinoma may be associated with increased expression of GLUT-1 mRNA and protein. GLUT-1 AS-ODNs may enhance the radiosensitivity of laryngeal carcinoma mainly by inhibiting the expression of GLUT-1.

In the present study, we investigated the role of GLUT-1 and PI3K/Akt signaling in radioresistance of laryngeal carcinoma xenografts. Volume, weight, radiosensitization, and the rate of inhibition of tumor growth in the xenografts were evaluated in different groups. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of GLUT-1, p-Akt, and PI3K in the xenografts were measured. Treatment with LY294002, wortmannin, wortmannin plus GLUT-1 AS-ODN, and LY294002 plus GLUT-1 AS-ODN after X-ray irradiation significantly reduced the size and weight of the tumors, rate of tumor growth, and apoptosis in tumors compared to that observed in the 10-Gy group (p<0.05). In addition, mRNA and protein expression of GLUT-1, p-Akt, and PI3K was downregulated. The E/O values of LY294002, LY294002 plus GLUT-1 AS-ODN, wortmannin, and wortmannin plus GLUT-1 AS-ODN were 2.7, 1.1, 1.8, and 1.8, respectively. Taken together, these data indicate that GLUT-1 AS-ODN as well as the inhibitors of PI3K/Akt signaling may act as radiosensitizers of laryngeal carcinoma in vivo.

Although our study was inconclusive due to the small sample size, our results suggest that FDG PET/CT may be an effective diagnostic workup in the cervical metastasis of carcinoma from an unknown primary tumor (UPT). In the present study, SUV(max) of PET/CT in the cervical lymph node may serve as a prognostic factor of cervical metastasis of carcinoma from a UPT based on the limited number of patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with the recurrence of adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs). We examined the recurrence values of clinicopathological variables and GLUT-1, p-Akt and PI3K expression in 42 patients with ACC. Of the 42 patients, 17 developed recurrence following initial surgery. The positive rates of GLUT-1, PI3K and p-Akt protein expression in ACC were 38.1, 38.1 and 50.0%, respectively. The expression of GLUT-1, p-Akt or PI3K protein in ACC was higher than that in inflammatory lesions or benign tumors. Our study demonstrated that T stage, a positive resection margin, perineural invasion, surgery without postoperative radiotherapy and the expression of GLUT-1, PI3K and p-Akt were factors predictive of recurrence by univariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, perineural invasion, a positive resection margin and p-Akt were significant predictors of recurrence. Initial surgery is very significant in the recurrence of ACC. Overexpression of GLUT-1, PI3K and p-Akt may also play a role in its development and recurrence.

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ObjectivesThe etiology of Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) is contentious. In this study, we used computed tomography (CT) to examine tonsillar IMT and further analyzed the etiology of this entity.MethodologyWe presented CT features of left tonsillar IMT and reviewed the English-language literature published between 1984 and 2011.ResultsTo our knowledge, there are only six published cases of tonsillar IMT including the present case. Two patients were asymptomatic at initial presentation. Two patients were taking immunosuppressants, and one was pregnant and in an immunomodulated state. CT of our patient revealed a 2.6 × 1.8 cm irregular soft tissue mass between the left tonsil and the base of the tongue. It did not invade surrounding structures and was not enhanced on contrast-enhanced imaging.ConclusionsTonsillar IMT may be a benign tumor. We suggest that preoperative recognition of tonsillar IMT by CT may be important to avoid unnecessary expanded surgery.

Background: The mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) in the dentate gyrus is a common pathological change of epilepsy. Previous studies suggested that it is associated with drug-resistant epilepsy, and mossy cells control spontaneous seizures and spatial memory. Methods: We investigated the correlations among cognitive impairment, MFS, seizure frequency and drug resistance in a rat model of epilepsy induced by lithium–pilocarpine. Phenytoin and phenobarbital were used to screen drug resistance. Cognitive function and MFS were detected through the novel object recognition (NOR) test, Morris water maze (MWM) test and Timm staining. Results: The results showed that object memory and spatial memory functions were both significantly impaired in rats with epilepsy, and only spatial memory impairment was more severe in rats with drug-resistant epilepsy. More frequent spontaneous seizures and more obvious MFS were observed in the drug-resistant rats. The seizure frequency was significantly associated with the MWM performance but not with the NOR performance in rats with epilepsy. The degree of MFS was significantly associated with seizure frequency and spatial memory function. Conclusion: Taken together, these correlations among drug resistance, seizure frequency, spatial memory impairment and MFS suggested the possibility of a common pathological mechanism. More studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanism behind these correlations and the detailed role of MFS in epilepsy. The mechanism of mossy cell change may be an important target for the treatment of seizures, drug resistance and cognitive dysfunction in patients with epilepsy.

Objectives:To observe the ultra-structural changes of the brain tissue in a patient with motor neuron disease. Methods:A stereotactic brain biopsy of the local lesions was performed based on the abnormal signals on magnetic resonance images, and the brain tissues were underwent light and electronic microscopic examination.Results: Extensive extra-cellular edema and neuron necrosis were found in the internal capsule and thalamus. Metachromatic substances were found in the cyto-plasma and were characterized by electronic dense granules, arranged in flat plate layers or in flat lines. Disorganized and degenerating mitochondria were observed in astrocytes and neurons.Conclusions: Ultra-structural observation of the brain tissues might be helpful in understanding the central neuropathological changes in a patient with MND. Characteristic metachromatic substances might be found in the cyto-plasma. Neurons in the brain of a patient with MND might undergo a process of degeneration.