Publications by authors named "Heikki Hakkarainen"
Background: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are frequently encountered by patients during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment and are associated with better treatment outcomes. The sequencing of radiotherapy (RT) and ICIs is widely used in current clinical practice, but its effect on survival has remained unclear.
Methods: In a real-world multicenter study including 521 patients who received ICI treatment for metastatic or locally advanced cancer, RT schedules and timing, irAEs, time to progression, overall survival, and treatment responses were retrospectively reviewed.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how respiratory movement affects the planned radiation dose in patients receiving whole-breast irradiation (WBI) using hypofractionated techniques, specifically comparing the impact of different fractionation schedules.
- Ten patients were analyzed using phase-triggered 4D-CT images to create VMAT treatment plans, assessing variations in dose resulting from respiratory motion, while 3D-CRT plans served as a reference.
- Findings indicated that respiratory motion caused minor reductions in target volume coverage and dose uniformity, but these changes were not clinically significant, with margins of up to 5 mm deemed adequate to compensate for breathing movements.
Objective: This study determined the efficacy of antidepressant medication for the treatment of depression in the "old-old."
Method: This randomized 8-week medication trial compared citalopram, 10-40 mg/day, to placebo in the treatment of patients 75 and older with unipolar depression.
Results: A total of 174 patients who were 58% women with a mean age of 79.