Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011168 (dysphagia)
 15,644 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Oral cancer is an important health issue. The WHO predicts a continuing worldwide increase in the number of patients with oral cancer, extending this trend well into the next several decades. In the US the projected number of new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer will exceed 31,000 per year. Mortality due to cancers in this region exceeds the annual death rate is the US caused by either cutaneous melanoma or cervical cancer. Significant agents involved in the etiology of oral cancer in Western countries include sunlight exposure, smoking and alcohol consumption. Use of the areca or betel nut in many cultures is a major etiological factor outside of the USA. Other etiologic factors associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma, but far less significant statistically, include syphilis and sideropenic dysphagia. Recently, strong evidence for an etiological relationship between human papilloma virus and a subset of head and neck cancers has been noted. It is generally accepted that most sporadic tumors are the result of a multi-step process of accumulated genetic alterations. These alterations affect epithelial cell behavior by way of loss of chromosomal heterozygosity which in turn leads to a series of events progressing to the ultimate stage of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The corresponding genetic alterations are reflected in clinical and microscopic pathology from hyperplasia through invasiveness. A wide range of mucosal alternations fall within the rubric of leukoplakia. Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia represents a relatively new type of leukoplakia that is separate from the more common or less innocuous form of this condition. Erythroplakia is particularly relevant considering its almost certain relationship with dysplasia or invasive carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma will develop from antecedent dysplastic oral mucosal lesions if an early diagnosis has not been made and treatment given. Early diagnosis within stages I and II correspond to a vastly improved 5-year survival rate when compared with more advanced stage III and IV lesions. Surgical management of this disease remains the mainstay of treatment. Other therapies include radiation and chemotherapy options that may be used adjunctively and palliatively. Following treatment, it is important to understand the significant risks of second primary cancers developing within the upper aerodigestive tract as a result of field cancerization. The most important message is that early detection of the asymptomatic early stage oral cancer translates in general terms to satisfactory clinical outcome and cure in most patients.
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PMID:Oral cancer. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment. 1170 51

Precancerous conditions are defined as a generalized state associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer. For the oral and perioral region, sideropenic dysphagia, oral lichen planus (OLP), oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), syphilis, discoid lupus erythematosus, xeroderma pigmentosum as well as epidermolysis bullosa play a role as precancerous conditions. The number of published cases of oral or perioral malignant transformation for some of these diseases is small. In addition, carcinomas of the tongue and the oral cavity associated with syphilis are of historical interest, although publications in the 1990s still reported positive serology of syphilis and carcinomas of the tongue. OLP is still controversially discussed as to its premalignant nature. Transformation rates have been reported between 0% and 5.6%. Recent prospective studies have revealed that possibly oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) are more likely to form the basis of malignant transformation as compared to the classic OLP. The differentiation between OLP and OLR is difficult both from clinical and histopathological aspects. The second most important precancerous condition is oral submucous fibrosis, which is caused by betel quid chewing. OSF is most prevalent in South and Southeast Asia. The transformation rate is as high as 7.6% making OSF one of the most important precancerous conditions of the oral region.
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PMID:[Oral precancerous conditions--an overview]. 1296 Oct 69

Three male Caucasian patients with ALS were admitted to the hospital due to progressive dysphagia and dysarthria. During two 21-day courses of penicillin G and hydrocortisone, these patients' dysphagia and dysarthria resolved. The patient's other ALS-associated symptoms also improved, including respiratory function, coordination, walking, and muscle strength. This is the first report of a treatment with a protocol for treating dysphagia, dysarthria, respiratory depression and other ALS-related symptoms. Furthermore, the observations are consistent with the recent hypothesis that the successful treatment of ALS symptoms with this treatment course in six patients with syphilitic ALS was not directly due to the treatment of syphilis; but that the administered penicillin G and/or hydrocortisone treated these patients' ALS symptoms due the off-target pharmacological activity of penicillin G and/or hydrocortisone. This report therefore underscores the need to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment course in a clinical trial.
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PMID:Treatment with penicillin G and hydrocortisone reduces ALS-associated symptoms: a case series of three patients. 2844 87