Peer Review in Radiation Oncology: Where Does the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye Region Stand?

Purpose: This study aims to assess the status of radiation oncology peer review procedures across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region.

Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among radiotherapy centers in the MENAT region in March 2024. It assessed peer review practices, departmental demographics, perceived importance of peer review, and potential barriers.

The Evolving Role of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Where Do We Stand?

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a precise and conformal radiation therapy (RT) that aims to deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor whilst sparing surrounding normal tissue, making it an attractive option for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who are not suitable for the traditional long course of RT with comprehensive RT target volume. Definitive SBRT for HNC has been investigated in different settings, including early stage glottis cancer, and as an alternative to brachytherapy boost after external beam RT. It is also used as a primary treatment option for elderly or medically unfit patients.

Evaluation of the effect of acetazolamide versus mannitol on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, a pilot study.

Background Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity still occurs despite the intensive hydration approach adapted to prevent its occurrence. Objective Evaluation of the effect of acetazolamide (ACTZ) on minimizing cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity compared to mannitol when added to hydration regimen. Setting Nasser Institute Cancer Center (NICC), Cairo, Egypt.

Priapism as a result of chronic myeloid leukemia: case report, pathology, and review of the literature.

Introduction: Priapism is rare-presenting feature in male patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Several hypotheses for pathogenesis have been described. Management has been controversial; some authors described resolution following priapism-specific interventions, and others recommended addition of CML-specific therapy or even CML-specific therapy alone.

Comparison of anisotropic aperture based intensity modulated radiotherapy with 3D-conformal radiotherapy for the treatment of large lung tumors.

Purpose/objective(s): IMRT allows dose escalation for large lung tumors, but respiratory motion may compromise delivery. A treatment plan that modulates fluence predominantly in the transversal direction and leaves the fluence identical in the direction of the breathing motion may reduce this problem.

Materials/methods: Planning-CT-datasets of 20 patients with Stage I-IV non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) formed the basis of this study.

Anal canal carcinoma treatment results: the experience of a single institution.

Background And Objectives: Prior to the mid-1980s, the treatment of choice for anal cancer was abdominoperineal resection. Currently, combined chemoradiation is the standard of care. Or objective was to analyze results of treatment for anal canal carcinoma treated with combined chemoradiation.

Serotonin-induced region-specific responses of the arcuate and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei.

The arcuate nucleus (ARC) modulates both satiety and hunger signals at the lateral and medial sites, respectively, though these competing responses may be both mediated by serotonin (5-HT). We sought to determine region-specific effects of 5-HT on ARC neurons. Electrical activities in rat hypothalamic slices were simultaneously recorded with an extracellular multielectrode array.

[Is cardiotoxicity still an issue after breast-conserving surgery and could it be reduced by multifield IMRT?].

Background: Postoperative radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery effectively reduces local relapses. A survival benefit after breast conservation, however, has only been proven recently which was in part due to excessive cardiac mortality of patients who had been treated with radiotherapy in the past.

Material And Methods: The literature on postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer was reviewed with regard to cardiac toxicity as the basis for hypothesis generation.

Potential effect of robust and simple IMRT approach for left-sided breast cancer on cardiac mortality.

Purpose: Three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning has reduced the cardiac dose in postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer; however, the overall cardiac toxicity is still an issue because of more aggressive adjuvant treatment. Toxicity models have suggested that a reduction of the heart volume treated to high doses might be particularly advantageous. We compared aperture-based multifield intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans to 3D-planned tangent fields using dose-volume histograms, cardiac toxicity risk, and the robustness to positioning errors.

Persistent sucrose stimulation of ovine fetal ingestion: lack of adaptation responses.

Objective: Sweet taste responsiveness is reduced in adult rats and humans following continued oral sucrose. We have previously demonstrated that sublingual sucrose stimulates near term ovine fetal swallowing, suggesting intact taste responsiveness. We sought to determine if prolonged oral sucrose infusion to the near term ovine fetus will evoke adaptation, as manifested by reduced swallowing stimulation.

N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor mediates spontaneous and angiotensin II-stimulated ovine fetal swallowing.

Background: In adult rats, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have been implicated in the central control of body fluid homeostasis, as intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of NMDA receptor antagonists suppresses stimulated drinking behavior. Fetal swallowing occurs at a significantly higher rate as compared to adult drinking, contributing to amniotic fluid volume regulation and fetal gastrointestinal development. The aim of present study was to determine the role of central NMDA receptors in the modulation of fetal swallowing activity.

Central angiotensin II AT1 receptors mediate fetal swallowing and pressor responses in the near-term ovine fetus.

Swallowed volumes in the fetus are greater than adult values (per body weight) and serve to regulate amniotic fluid volume. Central ANG II stimulates swallowing, and nonspecific ANG II receptor antagonists inhibit both spontaneous and ANG II-stimulated swallowing. In the adult rat, AT1 receptors mediate both stimulated drinking and pressor activities, while the role of AT2 receptors is controversial.

Neuropeptide Y administered into cerebral ventricles stimulates sucrose ingestion in the near-term ovine fetus.

Objective: In adults, nutrient intake is controlled by opposing actions of appetite stimulants (eg, neuropeptide Y [NPY]) and suppressors (eg, leptin). Because NPY may exert a preferential role in mediating adult carbohydrate intake, we sought to determine the effect of central NPY on near-term fetal carbohydrate ingestion.

Study Design: Five pregnant ewes and fetuses were prepared with fetal vascular, sublingual, and intracerebroventricular catheters, electrocorticogram, and esophageal electromyogram electrodes and studied at 131+/-2 days' gestation.

Unopposed orexic pathways in the developing fetus.

Fetal swallowing has important roles in fetal gastrointestinal development, and perhaps fetal somatic growth and maturation. Ingestive behavioral responses must develop in utero to provide for acquisition of water and food intake during the neonatal period. At birth, the rat, ovine and human fetus have developed mechanisms to acquire food via intact mechanisms of taste, suckling and swallowing.

Effect of oral sucrose on ingestive behavior in the near-term ovine fetus.

Background: Dipsogen-mediated ingestion matures acutely in late gestation because the preterm fetus may demonstrate absent responses to putative dipsogens. Although central appetite-mediated ingestive behavior is functional near term, it is unknown whether peripheral mechanisms for stimulation of appetite also are functional. In the adult, sweet taste stimulates and potentiates ingestive behavior.

Neuronal NO modulates spontaneous and ANG II-stimulated fetal swallowing behavior in the near-term ovine fetus.

Spontaneous fetal swallowing occurs at a markedly higher rate compared with spontaneous adult drinking activity. This high rate of fetal swallowing is critical for amniotic fluid volume regulation. Central NO is critical for maintaining the normal rate of fetal swallowing, as nonselective inhibition of NO (with central N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) suppresses spontaneous and angiotensin II (ANG II)-stimulated swallowing.