Radiation-induced bowel complications: laparoscopic versus open staging of gynecologic malignancy.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the type of surgical approach used to stage gynecologic malignancies influences the risk of developing nonrectal radiation-induced intestinal injury (NRRIII) in patients who subsequently receive adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods: A prospectively entered database was queried for all women with either primary or recurrent gynecologic malignancy who underwent external-beam radiation therapy ± brachytherapy and who had prior abdominopelvic surgery at our institution. Univariate and multivariate analysis of variables potentially affecting the risk of developing significant bowel toxicity (defined as grade 2 or more according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring) were performed.

Biological effective dose evaluation in gynaecological brachytherapy: LDR and HDR treatments, dependence on radiobiological parameters, and treatment optimisation.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the biological efficacy of different high-dose-rate (HDR) and low-dose-rate (LDR) treatments of gynaecological lesions, to identify the causes of possible nonuniformity and to optimise treatment through customised calculation.

Materials And Methods: The study considered 110 patients treated between 2001 and 2006 with external beam radiation therapy and/or brachytherapy with either LDR (afterloader Selectron, (137)Cs) or HDR (afterloader microSelectron Classic, (192)Ir). The treatments were compared in terms of biologically effective dose (BED) to the tumour and to the rectum (linear-quadratic model) by using statistical tests for comparisons between independent samples.

[Current indications for thyroidectomy].

Thyroid surgery, one of the most common interventions in endocrine surgery, is practiced by many specialists who perform this procedure exclusively. It accounts for the bulk of work even in reference centers that treat rare endocrine tumors (e.g.

Pain perception, blood pressure levels, and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in patients followed for differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a longitudinal study in hypothyroidism and during hormone treatment.

Background: Elevated blood pressure levels that are associated with hypalgesia and hypothyroidism have major influences on the cardiovascular system. The potential modulation of pain sensitivity by thyroid hormones is largely undetermined. Moreover, a few experimental studies show that peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs), which may be altered in hypothyroidism, seem to be related with pain perception.

Changes in autonomic modulation to the heart and intracellular catecholamines. A longitudinal study in differentiated thyroid carcinoma during short-term hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone replacement.

Background: The effects of thyroid deprivation on the autonomic modulation to the heart remain controversial.

Methods: In this study in patients followed for thyroid carcinoma, we investigated (1) heart rate variability parameters and the baroreflex gain and (2) intracellular catecholamine levels in circulating lymphocytes during short-term hypothyroidism (phase 1) and after reinstitution of TSH-suppressive thyroid hormone replacement (phase 2).

Results: The RR interval value (p < 0.