Multi-institutional Development and Validation of Contouring Guidelines for Para-aortic Elective Nodal Irradiation in Prostate Cancer Based on Patterns of Involvement on Targeted Molecular Imaging Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

Purpose: Molecular imaging better identifies anatomic regions of metastatic spread of prostate cancer compared with conventional imaging, resulting in para-aortic (PA) nodal metastases being increasingly identified. Consequently, some radiation oncologists electively treat the PA lymph node region in patients with gross or high risk of PA nodal involvement. The anatomic locations of at-risk PA lymph nodes for prostate cancer are unknown.

Combining payment for crop damages and reward for productivity to address wildlife conflict.

Conflict caused by wild herbivores damaging crops is an almost universal problem in conservation. We designed and implemented a game-theory-based system for supporting farmers whose crops were being heavily damaged by wild herbivores. In this community-operated system, farmers self-report their production, which is endorsed by neighboring farmers.

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using an autograft or allograft for patellar dislocation: a systematic review.

Purposes: The purpose of this study is to review the use of an allograft or autograft in medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: Various electronic databases were searched for relevant articles published from January 2000 to September 2017 that evaluated clinical outcomes of MPFL reconstruction using an autograft or allograft. Data search, extraction, analysis, and quality assessments were performed based on Cochrane Collaboration guidelines.

Cardioprotective potential of (Spinach) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Context: is rich in antioxidant phyto-constituents, termed as the natural antioxidant mixture (NAO).

Objective: This study investigates the cardioprotective effect of an antioxidant-rich extract of (NAOE) and its phytoconstituent rutin in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Methods: Rats were treated with NAOE (400 and 800 mg/kg), rutin (50 mg/kg) and the reference drug gemfibrozil (50 mg/kg) daily for 30 days and were administered ISO (85 mg/kg, s.

Distal Femoral Varus Osteotomy for Valgus Arthritis of the Knees: Systematic Review of Open versus Closed Wedge Osteotomy.

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes between open and closed wedge distal femoral varus osteotomy (DFO).

Methods: A literature search of online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library database) was made in addition to manual search of major orthopedic journals. Data were searched from the time period of January 1990 to October 2016.

Utilization Pattern of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Geriatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Introduction: Geriatric population is on the rise throughout the world, hence the quality and the safety of prescribing in the elderly is a global healthcare concern. It is important for the healthcare providers to be aware of the limitations in prescribing certain drugs to the elderly. This study was an attempt to shed light on the utilization pattern of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) in elderly patients admitted in the medicine wards in a tertiary care hospital in Goa.

Is Bone Grafting Necessary in Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy? A Meta-Analysis of Radiological Outcomes.

Purpose: Bone grafting in opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the radiological outcomes of OWHTO with bone graft (autogenous, allogenous, and synthetic bone graft) and those without bone graft.

Materials And Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Register of Studies databases were searched using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria for radiological studies involving OWHTO with bone graft and without bone graft groups.

Total knee arthroplasty after failed high tibial osteotomy: a systematic review of open versus closed wedge osteotomy.

Purpose: Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) has become increasingly popular as an alternative to lateral closing wedge osteotomy for the treatment of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity. The present systematic review was conducted to provide an objective analysis of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes following previous knee osteotomy (medial opening wedge vs. lateral closing wedge).

Clinical Outcome of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With and Without Remnant Preservation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze clinical outcomes in patients who underwent posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR) with and without remnant preservation.

Methods: A search of the literature was performed with the established medical databases Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Register. Two authors screened the selected articles for title, abstract, and full text in accordance with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Diabetic Tongue - Could it be a Diagnostic Criterion?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common disease which usually manifests in the form of polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, blurry vision, frequent skin infections, and slow healing of skin lesions. Taste disturbances like ageusia, hypogeusia and dysgeusia have been associated with DM. The early diagnosis of DM based on these symptoms is very important to start treatment early and thereby prevent complications.

Tunnel volume enlargement after posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: comparison of achilles allograft with mixed autograft/allograft--a prospective computed tomography study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare femoral and tibial tunnel volume enlargement (TVE) after arthroscopic posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction by remnant bundle preservation using Achilles allograft or mixed graft.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients undergoing primary arthroscopic single-bundle PCL reconstruction were initially included. Fifty-six of these patients underwent follow-up for a minimum of 1 year postoperatively and were divided into 2 groups: group A received Achilles allograft (n = 27), and group B received mixed graft (n = 29).

Low-kilovoltage, single-dose intraoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer: results and impact on a multidisciplinary breast cancer program.

Background: The Intrabeam (Carl Zeiss) brachytherapy device (IB) is an electronic brachytherapy device that can be used to deliver low energy x-rays (50 kV) to a lumpectomy cavity at the time of lumpectomy for breast cancer. Reported experience with IB for breast cancer in the United States has been extremely limited. Here we describe our experience and analyze the impact of IB on our multidisciplinary breast cancer program.

SU-E-T-515: Comparison of Two Dose-Specification Methods for the Treatment of Uterine Cervix Cancer with HDR Brachytherapy Using a Tandem and Ring Applicator.

Purpose: To compare the dose to the high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV)-D90 and dose-limiting structures with the dose prescription to point A (Manchester system) using conventional methods to image-guided treatment planning with dose optimization and a dose prescription to D90 of the HRCTV.

Methods: CT-MR-fused image sets for 16 patients (stage IA2-IIIB) with uterine cervix cancer were obtained for each of 5 fractions of HDR brachytherapy using tandem and ring applicators to generate 2 sets of plans. In the first set, the dose was prescribed to point A with a standard dwell weight pattern reflecting the Manchester system loading pattern.

Severe dry eye syndrome after radiotherapy for head-and-neck tumors.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of severe dry eye syndrome (DES) after external beam radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer and its dependence on the parameters relevant to external beam radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: The present retrospective study included 78 patients treated for primary extracranial head-and-neck tumors between 1965 and 2000, whose lacrimal apparatus/entire globe was exposed to fractionated external beam radiotherapy. The dose received by the major lacrimal gland was used for analysis.

A comparison of dose-response characteristics of four NTCP models using outcomes of radiation-induced optic neuropathy and retinopathy.

Background: Biological models are used to relate the outcome of radiation therapy to dose distribution. As use of biological models in treatment planning expands, uncertainties associated with the use of specific models for predicting outcomes should be understood and quantified. In particular, the question to what extent model predictions are data-driven or dependent on the choice of the model has to be explored.

Estimating normal tissue toxicity in radiosurgery of the CNS: application and limitations of QUANTEC.

Minimizing radiation-induced normal tissue damage in the central nervous system (CNS) is a key objective and primary impetus for stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy. The recently published Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) study provides updated dose/volume/ outcome data on normal tissue tolerance for sixteen anatomic sites, including the CNS. Most of the data used to develop the relationship between dose, volume and normal tissue toxicity derived from large field, conventionally fractionated regimens, and quantitative dose/volume/outcome data at high doses per fraction to limited volumes is much sparser.

Radiation therapy and hearing loss.

A review of literature on the development of sensorineural hearing loss after high-dose radiation therapy for head-and-neck tumors and stereotactic radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of vestibular schwannoma is presented. Because of the small volume of the cochlea a dose-volume analysis is not feasible. Instead, the current literature on the effect of the mean dose received by the cochlea and other treatment- and patient-related factors on outcome are evaluated.

Radiation effects on the auditory and vestibular systems.

Definitive or postoperative radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used for the management of intracranial and extracranial head and neck tumors. Because of the variability of tumor location and dimensions, sparing of nontarget normal tissue and organs may not be possible. Treatment modalities that deliver the highest doses of radiation to the auditory system include stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for the treatment of vestibular schwannomas (VS), and fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of head and neck malignancies.

Hypopituitarism after radiotherapy for extracranial head and neck cancers in pediatric patients.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of postradiation therapy (postRT) hypopituitarism (hp-pit) in pediatric patients treated for extracranial head and neck tumors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 30 pediatric patients treated with RT for extracranial head and neck tumors between 1970 and 2000. RT doses to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis were estimated by re-evaluating the treatment plans.

Hypopituitarism after radiotherapy for extracranial head and neck cancers.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of radiotherapy-induced primary and secondary hypopituitarism.

Methods: Three hundred twelve patients treated with radiotherapy for extracranial head and neck tumors between 1964 and 2000 were evaluated. Radiotherapy doses to the hypothalamus and pituitary were estimated by reconstructing treatment plans.

A dose comparison study between XVI and OBI CBCT systems.

The purpose of this study is to establish a comprehensive set of dose measurements data obtained from the X-ray Volumetric Imager (XVI, Elekta Oncology Systems) and the On-Board Imager (OBI, Varian Medical Systems) cone-beam CT (CBCT) systems. To this end, two uniform-density cylindrical acrylic phantoms with diameters of 18 cm (head phantom) and 30 cm (body phantom) were used for all measurements. Both phantoms included ion chamber placement holes in the center and at periphery (2 cm below surface).

Primary and central hypothyroidism after radiotherapy for head-and-neck tumors.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of radiotherapy (RT)-induced central and primary hypothyroidism regarding total dose, fractionation, and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the data from 312 patients treated with RT for extracranial head-and-neck tumors between 1964 and 2000. The cervical lymph nodes were irradiated in 197 patients.

Ototoxicity after radiotherapy for head and neck tumors.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of radiation-induced ototoxicity according to the total dose delivered to specific parts of the auditory system, fractionation, and chemotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Records of 325 patients treated for primary extracranial head and neck tumors with curative intent who received radiotherapy between 1964 and 2000 (median follow-up, 5.4 years) were retrospectively reviewed.

Does altered fractionation influence the risk of radiation-induced optic neuropathy?

Purpose: To analyze the parameters that influence the risk of radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RION) after radiotherapy for head-and-neck tumors.

Methods And Materials: Between 1964 and 2000, 273 patients with tumors of the nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and hard palate adenoid cystic carcinomas were treated with curative intent and had radiation fields that included the optic nerves and/or chiasm. Patients were followed for at least 1 year after radiotherapy.

Preventing radiation retinopathy with hyperfractionation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with the development of radiation retinopathy in a large series of patients with head-and-neck cancer. In particular, we addressed whether the use of hyperfractionated radiation therapy was effective in reducing the risk of retinopathy.

Methods And Materials: One hundred eighty-six patients received a significant dose to the retina as part of curative radiotherapy.