Evaluation of the retentive force of a b-type Ti-6Mo-4Sn alloy wire clasp.

The retentive force of a wire clasp composed of a b-type Ti-6Mo-4Sn alloy (b-Ti alloy) with a low Young modulus was evaluated using a piezoelectric transducer to determine the appropriate undercut for removable partial dentures. There were no significant differences in retentive force between a b-Ti alloy wire with a 0.50-mm undercut and a cobalt-chromium alloy (Co-Cr alloy) wire with a 0.

Treatment and prognosis of brain metastases from gynecological cancers.

Brain metastases from gynecological cancers were retrospectively investigated in 18 patients who were treated between 1985 and 2006. Six patients received surgical resection followed by radiotherapy, and 12 patients received only radiotherapy. The median survival for all patients was 4.

Treatment and prognosis of brain metastases from breast cancer.

Background: To analyze retrospectively the results of treatments for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: The records of 65 breast cancer patients with brain metastases who were treated between 1985 and 2005 were reviewed. For brain metastases, 11 patients (17%) were treated with surgical resection followed by radiotherapy, and the remaining 54 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone.

Radiation enterocolitis requiring surgery in patients with gynecological malignancies.

Purpose: To identify the characteristics, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of radiation enterocolitis requiring surgery in patients with gynecologic malignancies.

Methods And Materials: The records of 1,349 patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. The majority of the patients (88%) were treated with 50 Gy or 50.

Self-expandable metallic stent placement for patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma: investigation of the influence of prior radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of self-expandable metallic stent placement for patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: We obtained data from 19 patients with advanced or recurrent esophageal carcinoma between 1996 and 2000. In all patients, a self-expandable metallic stent was placed under fluoroscopic guidance.

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy and multi-agent chemotherapy (procarbazine, ACNU and vincristine) for high-grade gliomas: a prospective study.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and toxicity of hyperfractionated radiotherapy and multi-agent chemotherapy, including procarbazine, nimustine (ACNU) and vincristine, in adults with high-grade gliomas.

Materials And Methods: Radiotherapy was administered using two fractions per day of 1.2 Gy to a total dose of 72 Gy.

Risk factor of radiation pneumonitis: assessment with velocity-encoded cine magnetic resonance imaging of pulmonary artery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pulmonary arterial flow obtained as a function of time from velocity-encoded cine (VEC) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be used to predict radiation pneumonitis.

Methods: Before receiving radical radiotherapy, 19 patients with primary lung cancer and 21 with primary esophageal cancer underwent VEC MR imaging to determine their pulmonary arterial flow. The right and left pulmonary arterial flow profiles were digitized, and from these data, acceleration time, maximal change in flow rate during ejection, acceleration volume, and the ratio of maximal change in flow rate during ejection to acceleration volume were measured.

Combination external beam radiotherapy and high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy for uterine cervical cancer: analysis of dose and fractionation schedule.

Purpose: To determine an appropriate dose and fractionation schedule for a combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) for uterine cervical cancer.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients with uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with EBRT and HDR-ICBT were analyzed. Twenty-five patients were classified as early disease (nonbulky Stage I/II, less than 4-cm diameter) and 63 patients as advanced disease (greater than 4 cm diameter or Stage IIIB) according to the American Brachytherapy Society definition.

Prospective trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation with chemotherapy for high-grade gliomas.

Twenty-one patients with high-grade gliomas were enrolled in a prospective trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO). Radiotherapy was administered in daily 2-Gy fractions up to a total dose of 60 Gy, and each fraction was delivered immediately after HBO. The current study indicated that radiotherapy immediately after HBO with chemotherapy was feasible for high-grade gliomas.

Treatment and prognosis of thymic carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 40 cases.

Background: Thymic carcinomas are rare neoplasms, and information regarding the results of treatment and possible prognostic factors in patients with these tumors is limited.

Methods: The records of 40 patients with histologically confirmed thymic carcinoma who were treated between 1984 and 1998 were reviewed. Twenty-seven patients were treated with surgical resection followed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, and the remaining 13 patients were treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.

Postoperative radiotherapy for patients with completely resected thymoma: a multi-institutional, retrospective review of 103 patients.

Background: Optimal management of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with completely resected thymoma remains controversial. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of postoperative mediastinal irradiation in patients with completely resected thymoma.

Methods: The records of 103 patients with completely resected thymoma who received postoperative mediastinal irradiation during the period between 1979 and 1998 were reviewed.

Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma: natural history, prognostic factors, and outcome.

Background: Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma are extremely rare, and information regarding the natural history, results of treatment, and possible prognostic factors in these patients is limited.

Methods: The records of 36 patients with brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma who were treated between 1986 and 2000 were reviewed. For brain metastases, 12 patients (33%) were treated with surgical resection followed by radiation therapy (S+RT), and the remaining 24 patients were treated with radiation therapy alone.