Impact of Sarcopenia on Treatment Outcomes and Toxicity in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

: Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by muscle mass loss, is prevalent in up to 68% of rectal cancer patients and has been described as a negative prognostic factor, impacting overall survival and tumor response. While there are extensive data on rectal cancer globally, only a handful of studies have evaluated the role of sarcopenia in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between sarcopenia, overall response rate, and toxicity in patients who underwent total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) for LARC.

B7H3 Immune Checkpoint Overexpression Is Associated with Decreased Complete Response Rates to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Background And Objectives: Rectal cancer accounts for approximately one-third of colorectal cancers, with over 340,000 deaths globally in 2022. Despite advancements in treatment, the five-year overall survival for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remains at 74%, with significant morbidity. B7H3 (CD276), an immune checkpoint protein, plays a role in tumor progression and resistance to therapy, and correlates with poor prognosis in various cancers, including colorectal cancer.

Reconnecting Anisometropic Amblyopic Eyes to the Cortex: VEP-Based Auditory Biofeedback.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a visual rehabilitation method for anisometropic amblyopia that uses visual evoked potential (VEP) parameters and sound biofeedback to increase objectiveness.

Design: an observational, case-controlled trial.

Setting: Ophthalmology Clinic, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Dynamics and predictors of hematologic toxicity during cranio-spinal irradiation.

Background: Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) is a complex radiotherapy (RT) technique required for treating specific brain tumors and some hematologic malignancies. With large volumes of hematogenous bone marrow (BM) being irradiated, CSI could cause acute hematologic toxicity, leading to treatment interruptions or severe complications. We report on the dynamics and dose/volume predictors of hematologic toxicity during CSI.

CT Angiography-Guided Needle Insertion for Interstitial Brachytherapy in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer.

CT angiography might be a suitable procedure to avoid arterial puncture in combined intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for cervical cancer curatively treated with combined chemoradiation and brachytherapy boost. Data in the literature about this technique are scarce. We introduced this method and collected brachytherapy data from patients treated in our department between May 2021 and April 2024.