Understanding the Benefit of Magnetic Resonance-guided Adaptive Radiotherapy in Rectal Cancer Patients: a Single-centre Study.

Aims: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery is the mainstay of treatment for patients with rectal cancer. Standard clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins of 10 mm are used to accommodate inter- and intrafraction motion of target. Treating on magnetic resonance-integrated linear accelerators (MR-linacs) allows for online manual recontouring and adaptation (MRgART) enabling the reduction of PTV margins.

Does sweat volume influence the sweat test result?

Objective: Low volume sweat samples are considered unreliable for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, based on the assertion that sweat conductivity and chloride are reduced at lower sweating rates. We aimed to re-evaluate the relationship between sweat volume and test results.

Design: We reviewed all sweat tests performed in our institution to assess the relationship between sweat volume and conductivity, and between sweat volume and sweat chloride.

Exocrine pancreatic function testing in patients with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic sufficiency: a correlation study.

Objectives: Most patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have pancreatic insufficiency; however, 15% of the patients are pancreatic sufficient (PS). Several laboratory tests have been developed to distinguish between pancreatic insufficiency and PS. The gold standard to determine pancreatic function apart from direct pancreatic stimulation test is the 72-hour fecal fat excretion, expressed as coefficient of fat absorption (CFA).

Vitamins A and E and pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Increased levels of oxidative stress result in pulmonary damage contributing to the development of chronic lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal effect of serum vitamin A and E levels on the incidence of pulmonary exacerbations in pancreatic insufficient (PI) and pancreatic sufficient (PS) patients with CF.

Materials And Methods: Patient records were retrospectively examined over a 3-year period and serum vitamin A and E levels were retrieved.

Carbohydrate malabsorption and the effect of dietary restriction on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and functional bowel complaints.

Background: Carbohydrate malabsorption of lactose, fructose and sorbitol has already been described in normal volunteers and in patients with functional bowel complaints including irritable bowel syndrome. Elimination of the offending sugar(s) should result in clinical improvement.

Objective: To examine the importance of carbohydrate malabsorption in outpatients previously diagnosed as having functional bowel disorders, and to estimate the degree of clinical improvement following dietary restriction of the malabsorbed sugar(s).