Functional Outcomes and Successful Predictors of Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections (LTFESIs) for Lumbar Radiculopathy Under Fluoroscopic Guidance: A Prospective Study.

Background: Lumbar radiculopathy, a common and debilitating condition, often necessitates a multimodal approach for effective management. Lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection (LTFESI) has emerged as a valuable therapeutic option when conservative measures fall short. Recent interest in long-acting and non-particulate steroids prompts a critical examination of their impact on LTFESI outcomes.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) randomized trial of palliative treatment of incurable locally advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CHT) in limited resource setting.

Background: To optimize palliation in incurable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a prospective randomized study (NCT00864331) comparing protracted palliative radiotherapy (RT) course with chemotherapy (CHT) followed by short-course palliative RT.

Methods And Materials: Treatment-naive patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage IIIA/IIIB, received either 39Gy in 13 fractions as RT alone (arm A, n=31) or 2-3 platinum-based CHT cycles followed by 10Gy in a single fraction or 16Gy in 2 fractions separated by one week (arm B, n=34). Primary outcome was overall survival.

Saturated absorption spectroscopy of acetylene gas inside large-core photonic bandgap fiber.

Saturated absorption spectroscopy is performed on the acetylene nu(1) + nu(3) band near 1532 nm inside photonic bandgap fibers of small (approximately 10 microm) and large (approximately 20 microm) core diameters. The observed linewidths are narrower in the 20 microm fiber and vary from 20 to 40 MHz depending on pressure and power. Variations in the background light transmission, attributed by others to surface modes, are significantly reduced in the 20 microm fiber.