Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Vermey

Publications and source records attributed to A Vermey.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effect of selective elimination of the oral flora on mucositis in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Recently it has been reported that chlorhexidine 0.1% rinsing was not successful in eradication of gram-negative bacilli in patients who have head and neck cancer. These bacilli could play a role in irradiation mucositis. This study reports the effect of lozenges containing 2 mg polymyxin E, 1.8 mg tobramycin, and 10 mg amphotericin B qid on the oropharyngeal flora in 15 irradiated head and neck cancer patients. The results were compared with those of a previous study in two groups of 15 patients comparing chlorhexidine rinsing with placebo. In all patients using lozenges, eradication of gram-negative bacilli and yeasts was achieved within 3 weeks. A significant increase of enterococci was found. Mucositis was significantly reduced compared with the previous two groups. All patients showed erythema only, whereas 80% of both the placebo and chlorhexidine rinsing patients suffered from severe mucositis, with signs of pseudomembranes developing from the third week of conventional irradiation protocol. The effect of selective elimination of gram-negative bacilli from the oropharynx and the prevention of severe mucositis may be explained by the eradication of these bacteria and/or neutralization of salivary endotoxin, released by gram-negative bacilli, mediating the inflammatory processes.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of results of temporal bone resection.

The results of 16 cases of temporal bone resection were evaluated. The resections, 12 of which were total and 4 partial, had mostly been performed for squamous cell carcinoma invading the temporal bone. Five patients in whom the intervention was considered radical and not followed by irradiation, were alive and well 9 years or more later. The significance of postoperative radiotherapy was demonstrated in 3 patients who were alive and in good health 9 years or more later, although histological examination of resection margins showed residual tumour. Eight patients died 10 months to 5 1/3 years after operation, 6 of whom from recurrence, one from radiation necrosis of the temporal lobe of the brain, and one from cerebrovascular occlusion. Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma was found significantly more among the patients who died from recurrence than among those still living.

Adult↗

Carbon dioxide laser surgery of oral leukoplakia.

Oral leukoplakia is a precancerous lesion of the oral mucosa. The risk of malignant transformation depends on the clinical and histologic classification and the location of the lesion. For a nonhomogeneous leukoplakia, this risk is 23.4% to 38.0%. In the presence of epithelial dysplasia, the possibility of malignant transformation is 36.3% to 43.0%. Leukoplakia is limited to the epithelium, so a selective removal of this part of the mucosa seems to be the best preventive treatment. Carbon dioxide laser surgery accomplishes a superficial removal by evaporation. A total of 70 patients with 103 oral leukoplakias were treated with carbon dioxide laser evaporation. This resulted in an excellent wound healing with virtually no scarring. The patients were followed up during a period of up to 12 years (mean 5.3 years), showing a cure rate of 90%.

Adult↗

Chlorhexidine inactivation by saliva.

Chlorhexidine mouth rinsing is commonly used for oral flora reduction. Indigenous microorganisms (viridans streptococci) are significantly suppressed, while "hospital-acquired" gram-negative bacilli are not affected in vivo. To explain the discrepancies between good in vitro and poor in vivo activity of chlorhexidine, minimum bactericidal concentration values for 120 isolates were studied by means of a standard dilution method in fresh whole saliva, broth, and glucose 5%. Both saliva and broth significantly reduced the bactericidal activity of chlorhexidine against all microorganisms tested as compared to glucose 5% (p less than 0.01). Minimum bactericidal concentrations for indigenous flora were significantly lower than the values obtained for the "hospital-acquired" microorganisms (p less than 0.05). These observations of chlorhexidine inactivation by saliva may explain why chlorhexidine mouth rinsing is of limited value in decontaminating the oral cavity.

Analysis of Variance↗

Successful surgical treatment of parathyroid carcinoma in two haemodialysis patients.

Parathyroid carcinoma is rare, occurring in less than 2-3% of the patients with clinical features of primary hyperparathyroidism. In haemodialysis patients parathyroid carcinoma has only once been described, although secondary hyperparathyroidism in these patients is common. We discuss two female haemodialysis patients with parathyroid carcinoma. Both were treated surgically: in one patient only local excision of the malignancy was performed; the other patient underwent a modified neck dissection on the side of the tumour as well. Physical, biochemical and radiological evaluation for 4-7 years after operation gave no evidence of recurrence of the malignancy.

Adenoma↗

Mucositis prevention by selective elimination of oral flora in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Mucositis induced by irradiation is the reactive inflammatory-like process of the oropharyngeal mucous membranes following irradiation. Bacteria colonizing the oral tissues are thought to contribute to this inflammatory process. The eradication of Gram-negative bacilli (selective elimination of oral flora) in fifteen comparably irradiated head and neck cancer patients was found to be associated with a significant reduction in mucositis compared with two groups of 15 patients receiving either placebo or chlorhexidine rinsing. Criteria used were the extent of local mucositis signs (mucositis score), as well as generalized side-effects such as the need of nasogastric tube feedings following severe feeding problems. Mucositis signs were confined to erythema only in all selectively decontaminated patients. No pseudomembranes were observed and artificial feeding was completely prevented. These promising results need further confirmation in larger (multicenter) studies.

Adult↗

[Prevention of oral mucositis in head and neck irradiation].

Head-neck irradiation is associated with oral complications. During the irradiation period patients are most burdened by mucositis. Changes of the oral flora with colonisation with the more pathogenic aerobic Gram-negative bacilli seems crucial in the development and severity of mucositis. Prevention of mucositis is reported to be successful during selective oral flora elimination.

Gram-Negative Bacteria↗

Effect of chlorhexidine rinsing on the oropharyngeal ecology in patients with head and neck cancer who have irradiation mucositis.

Oral flora is thought to contribute to irradiation mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Neglect of oral hygienic care may also contribute to mucositis. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine 0.1% mouthrinses on oral flora and irradiation mucositis. This study included 30 patients with head and neck cancer who had comparable irradiation portals. One group (N = 15) rinsed four times daily with chlorhexidine 0.1%, the other group (N = 15) with a placebo. The oral flora was cultured (oral washing technique) twice before and three times per week during the period of radiotherapy. On the same days, the severity of mucositis was determined. The colonization index of viridans streptococci was significantly reduced only after 5 weeks of chlorhexidine 0.1% treatment. The colonization patterns of Candida species, Streptococcus faecalis, staphylococci, and Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Acinetobacter species were not influenced by 5 weeks of use of chlorhexidine rinses when compared with the placebo. No differences were seen between the two study groups in the development and severity of mucositis. In conclusion, suppression of oral flora and a lowering of the severity of mucositis by means of disinfecting mouthrinses were not successful.

Adult↗

Scoring irradiation mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.

Irradiation mucositis is defined as an inflammatory-like process of the oropharyngeal mucosa following therapeutic irradiation of patients who have head and neck cancer. Clinically, it is a serious side effect because severe mucositis can cause generalized problems (weight loss, nasogastric tube feedings) and interferes with the well-being of the patient seriously. Grading mucositis is important for the evaluation of preventive and therapeutic measures. The object of this study was to develop a scoring method based on local mucositis signs only. Four clinical local signs of mucositis were used in this score: white discoloration, erythema, pseudomembranes and ulceration. Mucositis of the oral cavity was calculated during conventional irradiation protocol for 8 distinguishable areas using the 4 signs and their extent. A prospective evaluation of this method in 15 irradiated head and neck cancer patients displayed an S-curve reflecting a symptomless first irradiation week, followed by a rapid and steady increase of white discoloration, erythema and pseudomembranes during the second and third week. Oral candidiasis, generalized symptoms such as weight loss and the highest mucositis scores were seen after 3 weeks irradiation. The novel mucositis scoring method may be of value in studying the effect of hygiene programs, topical application of disinfectants or antibiotics on oral mucositis.

Adult↗

[Treatment of oral cancer].

Patients with oral cancer are usually treated in cancer units. Surgery and radiotherapy are the most important treatment modalities, as has been discussed in this review article. The prognosis of small cancers, that have not yet produced metastatic lymph nodes is excellent. Therefore, early diagnosis is of vital importance.

Humans↗

Malignant hemangiopericytoma in three kindred members of one family.

Three cases of malignant hemangiopericytoma in one family are reported. To our knowledge familial occurrence of malignant hemangiopericytoma has not been described before. Two of these lesions occurred in the head and neck region and one case presented as an intraabdominal tumor. Consanguinity of the parents seems to be likely, suggesting an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance in our family, whereas the similarity in age of onset in these three patients was apparent.

Adult↗

Early and delayed thallium 201 imaging. Diagnosis of patients with cold thyroid nodules.

To investigate the utility of thallium 201 (Tl-201) thyroid scintigraphy for the detection of thyroid malignancies, early and delayed Tl-201 scintigraphy was done in 70 consecutive patients with a clinically solitary cold (Iodine 123 [I-123]) nodule. Early Tl-201 scintigraphy had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 7% in predicting malignancy. With a combination of early and delayed Tl-201 scintigraphy, sensitivity ranged from 17 to 25% and specificity from 95 to 100%. Early and and delayed Tl-201 scintigraphy are only of limited value for the detection of thyroid cancer.

Adolescent↗

Malignant struma ovarii treated by ovariectomy, thyroidectomy, and 131I administration.

A 36-year-old woman presented with an intraperitoneally disseminated malignant struma ovarii, diagnosed by histopathology and 131I scintigraphy. The serum thyroglobulin level was elevated, and immunoperoxidase staining for thyroglobulin was positive for disease both in the tumor cells lining the follicles and in the colloid. The patient was treated successfully by a bilateral ovariectomy followed by a total thyroidectomy and administration of radioactive iodine. The clinical behavior and the presence of thyroglobulin in both serum and tumor tissue demonstrate the similarity between neoplastic thyroid tissue in the ovary and in the thyroid gland.

Adult↗

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis: Langerhans cells, immunologic effect of retinoid treatment and cytogenetics.

A case study is presented of a 44-year-old negroid male with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), cutaneous carcinomas, and impaired cell-mediated immunity (CMI), infected with human papillomavirus type 8 and 17. Analysis was made of (a) T6+ and HLA-DR+ Langerhans cells (LCs) by immunoperoxidase staining in lesional and clinically normal skin before and during retinoid treatment, (b) the effect of retinoid treatment on CMI in vivo and in vitro, and (c) cytogenetic aspects related to chromosomal instability. The results showed the virtual absence of T6+ and HLA-DR+ LCs in koilocytic areas of epidermis involved with EV. Light-exposed, clinically normal skin also demonstrated microscopic EV lesions largely devoid of T6+ and HLA-DR+ LCs. Retinoid treatment with etretinate (Ro 10-9359) appeared both to increase the CMI response in vitro to T-cell mitogens and to influence the in situ pattern of T6+ and HLA-DR+ LCs. The cytogenetic study did not show evidence of spontaneous or UV-induced chromosomal instability.

Adult↗