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.

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.