Objectives: . The prognostic value of the pretreatment albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in head and neck cancer (HNC) remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the predictive role of AAPR for survival outcomes in patients with HNC. Methods: . A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published up to July 30, 2024. We included studies on AAPR and survival outcomes in HNC patients. Results: . Eight studies comprising 1,737 HNC patients were analyzed using random-effects models. Lower AAPR values were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08), progression-free survival (HR, 2.00), and disease-free survival (HR, 2.18). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results, with no significant publication bias detected. Conclusion . Our findings suggest that pretreatment AAPR could serve as a valuable and cost-effective prognostic indicator in HNC, potentially aiding clinicians in risk stratification and treatment decision-making. However, additional validation studies are warranted to confirm its clinical applicability.

Objective: To determine incidence rates of uterine clear cell carcinoma among non-White US subpopulations. Methods: Data from the United States Cancer Statistics and National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016 were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 488,811 women were diagnosed with uterine cancer from 2004–2016.Of these, 73.3% were endometrioid, 6.6% were serous, 5.3% were carcinosarcoma, 1.4% were clear cell, and 13.4% were other. Blacks had the highest incidence rate of uterine clear cell compared with Whites, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and American Indian/Alaska Natives (0.59 vs. 0.31, 0.29, and 0.24, respectively). Overall mean age at diagnosis was 68.6 years, with the youngest age in Asian/Pacific Islanders compared to Whites, Blacks, and American Indian/Alaska Natives (65.9 vs. 68.7, 68.6, and 66.3 years, respectively). Analysis of the Asian subpopulation revealed significantly younger age at diagnosis in Vietnamese women (55.8 years) compared with 72.4 years in Japanese, 68.6 years in Pacific Islander, 66.6 years in Indian/Pakistani, 65.9 years in Filipino, 65.8 years in Chinese, 65.2 years in Korean, and 63.7 years in other Asians. Conclusions Black women are two times more likely to be diagnosed with uterine clear cell carcinoma compared with other races. Asians present at younger ages, with Vietnamese women most likely to be diagnosed at the youngest age.

OBJECTIVE: Several clinical studies were performed on multi-segment intramedullary primary spinal cord tumors. However, no clinical study focused on the relationship between different vertebral segments intramedullary tumors involvement and neurological functions, as well as prognosis of the patients. This prospective study was performed to compare clinical analysis on neurological functions and prognosis of the patients with intramedullary spinal cord primary tumors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed in a single medical center, Neurosurgical Department, Peking University Third Hospital. Between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 30, 2015, 135 patients underwent microsurgery for intramedullary primary spinal cord tumors. The intramedullary tumor length occupying 3 or more vertebral body levels was considered as multiple segments intramedullary primary spinal cord tumor, and occupying one or two vertebral body levels considered as seldom segments. Preoperative and postoperative functions were assessed using IJOA (improved Japanese orthopaedic association) scoring system, and analyzed using the appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: Among the 135 patients, 52 cases had seldom segments intramedullary primary spinal cord tumors, and 83 cases had multiple segments. In the seldom group, 32 (62%) patients presented with normal urine and stool function, 8 (15%) patients with severe dysfunction, 7 (14%) with slight dysfunction, and 5 (9%) with incontinence, and 30 (58%) patients demonstrated various degrees of limbs weakness. The preoperative IJOA scores of the patients were 16.9±2.4. The postoperative IJOA scores at the end of 3 months were 16.6±2.3. The current IJOA scores until the end of the follow-up were 17.5±4.4. In the multiple group, 37 (45%) patients presented with normal urine and stool functions, 26 (31%) patients with slight dysfunction, 11 (13%) with severe dysfunction, and 9 (11%) with incontinence, and 62 (75%) patients demonstrated various degrees of limbs weakness. The preoperative IJOA scores of the patients were 15.6±3.4. The postoperative IJOA scores at the end of 3 months were 15.5±3.8. The current IJOA scores until the end of the follow-up were 16.9±5.8. The difference of presenting urine and stool dysfunction (Z=-1.35, P=0.18) was not statistically significant between the different patient groups. However, the difference of presenting limbs weakness (Z=-2.06, P=0.04) was statistically significant between the two groups. Most patients with multiple segment intramedullary tumors suffered from various limbs weakness. The difference of the preoperative IJOA score (P=0.02) and the postoperative early IJOA score (P=0.004) of the patients was statistically significant between the seldom and multiple segments groups. Preoperative and early postoperative neurological function of the patients was better with seldom segments tumor than with multiple segments tumor. Most patients with multi-segment intramedullary tumors experienced various limbs weakness. However, the difference of long-term neurological function (P=0.12) between the seldom and multiple segments groups was not statistically significant. The neurological function of the patients with multiple segments intramedullary tumor was remarkably improved after physical therapy. CONCLUSION Perioperative neurological function of the patients with seldom segments primary tumor was superior to that of the patients with multiple segments primary tumor, especially for limb strength. The neurological function of the patients with multiple segments intramedullary primary tumor was remarkably improved after physical therapy during long-term follow-up.
Humans ; Microsurgery ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; Treatment Outcome