Recent evidence indicates the involvement of calpains (CAPNs), a family of cysteine proteases, in cancer development and progression, as well as the insufficient response to cancer therapies. The contribution of CAPNs and regulatory calpastatin (CAST) and ERK1/2 kinases to aggressiveness, disease course, and outcome in laryngeal cancer remains elusive. This study was aimed to evaluate the CAPN1/2-CAST-ERK1/2 enzyme system mRNA/protein level and to investigate whether they can promote the dynamic of tumor growth and prognosis. The mRNA expression of marker genes was determined in 106 laryngeal cancer (SCLC) cases and 73 non-cancerous adjacent mucosa (NCLM) controls using quantitative real-time PCR. The level of corresponding proteins was analyzed by Western Blot. SLUG expression, as indicator of pathological advancement was determined using IHC staining. Significant increases of CAPN1/2-CAST-ERK1/2 levels of mRNA/protein were noted in SCLC compared to NCLM (p < 0.05). As a result, a higher level of CAPN1 and ERK1 genes was related to larger tumor size, more aggressive and deeper growth according to TFG scale and SLUG level (p < 0.05). There were also relationships of CAPN1/2 and ERK1 with incidences of local/nodal recurrences (p < 0.05). An inverse association for CAPN1/2, CAST, and ERK1/2 transcripts was determined with regard to overall survival (p < 0.05). In addition, a higher CAPN1 and phospho-ERK1 protein level was related to higher grade and stage (p < 0.05) and was found to promote worse prognosis. This is the first study to show that activity of CAPN1/2- CAST-ERK1/2 axis may be an indicator of tumor phenotype and unfavorable outcome in SCLC.

Introduction: There are many reasons for an increase in volume of the salivary glands, including inflammatory changes due to infection, autoimmune and allergic reactions, endocrine disorder, tumor, or injury.Aim: Presentation of a rare case of a pneumoparotid.Case report: A 54-year-old patient was admitted to the department for diagnosis of a nodular swelling in the area of the left parotid gland. The swelling had appeared about 3 weeks earlier, initially with pain, and had gradually increased in size. He denied head or neck injury, problems with chewing or swallowing food, or a dry mouth. Laryngological examination revealed swelling of the cheek in the left preauricular area, palpably soft, oval-shaped (about 20 x 15 mm), slightly painful when pressed, non-fluctuant, and with no associated skin changes. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy and contrast CT scan of the neck revealed a pneumoparotid on the left side. After decompression of the pneumoparotid, conservative treatment (a pressure dressing) was applied in an outpatient mode. Due to lack of therapeutic effect, the patient was qualified for surgical excision of the left pneumoparotid.Conclusions: A pneumoparotid of the salivary glands is a rare pathology affecting the parotid glands and is associated with an increase in intraoral pressure. Treatment is primarily avoidance of the triggering factor and pressure dressings, but sometimes surgery is necessary. The pathology in most cases does not cause permanent damage to the salivary glands and the effects of treatment are good.

Introduction: The aim of the paper was the comparative analysis of the diagnostic value of the Video Head Impulse Testing (VHIT) Ulmer I and Dix-Hallpike Test in patients with balance system disorders in out-patient practice and expertise preparation. Material and methods: The examination was performed in 63 patients aged 20-79, including 28 women aged 20-72 and 35 men aged 23-79, divided into two groups: Group I (study group) – 33 patients with mixed cause vertigo (on the basis of the Fitzgerald-Hallpike caloric test during the VNG examination), and Group II (reference group) – 30 healthy patients. After the ENT interview and physical examination, exclusion of pathological lesions in the external acoustic meatus and middle ear, each patient was subjected to a Fitzgerald-Hallpike caloric test during VNG examination, as well as a VHIT test and Dix-Hallpike test, with the evaluation of eyeball reaction during head rotation. Results: In the group of patients with mixed-cause vertigo (Group I), the Fitzgerald-Hallpike caloric test showed unilateral labyrinth deficiencies in 90.9% of the patients (with the average value of 41.8%) and relative directional preponderance with the average value of 19.0%, while in 9.1% of the patients, the detected values of labyrinth excitability were normal. In the examination of patients with vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was diagnosed in 9.1% of cases. This diagnosis was based on the positive response to the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre and indicative of damage to the posterior semicircular canal in the VHIT test (without signs of deficiency in the VNG examination). Conclusion: The VHIT test and Dix-Hallpike test enable quick and precise detection of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in out-patient practice and expertise preparation.