Northern Latitude but Not Season Is Associated with Increased Rates of Hospitalizations Related to Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results of a Multi-Year Analysis of a National Cohort.

Background And Aims: There is growing evidence that the incidence and severity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be geographically and seasonally related. Why these associations are observed remains unclear. We assessed the impact of geographic location, season, and exposure to ultraviolet light on disease severity by measuring national hospital IBD-related discharge rates.

Measurements of Hepatic Metastasis on MR Imaging:: Assessment of Interobserver and Intersequence Variability.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate interobserver and intersequence variability in the measurement of hepatic metastasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with an institutional review board-approved waiver of informed consent and was in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. We searched medical records at our institution for patients with histologically proven metastases to the liver who had undergone MRI from January 2008 to June 2010.

Effects of extended pleurectomy and decortication on quality of life and pulmonary function in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Maximal cytoreductive surgeries--extrapleural pneumonectomy and extended pleurectomy and decortication (EPD)--are effective surgical treatments in selected patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Extended pleurectomy and decortication results in equivalent survival yet better health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were studied for the effects of EPD on HRQoL and pulmonary function.

Corneal abrasion in hysterectomy and prostatectomy: role of laparoscopic and robotic assistance.

Background: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is most commonly performed laparoscopically with a robot (robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, R/PROST). Hysterectomy, which may be open hysterectomy (O/HYST) or laparoscopic hysterectomy (L/HYST), has been increasingly frequently done via robot (R/HYST). Small case series suggest increased corneal abrasions (CAs) with less invasive techniques.

The impact of hormonal therapy on sexual quality of life in men receiving intensity modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: Sexual function is an important concern in men receiving intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer. Our aim was to study the impact of IMRT and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on sexual function over time and to report the effectiveness of sexual medications or aids.

Methods And Materials: A total of 179 men, median age 69, received definitive IMRT for prostate cancer and completed 2 surveys (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 and a sexual medicines/devices survey) for at least 2 time points.

Late toxicity and quality of life after definitive treatment of prostate cancer: redefining optimal rectal sparing constraints for intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

The objective of this study was to assess late toxicity and quality of life (QOL) for patients receiving definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) with regard to normal tissue sparing objectives. Three hundred and seventy-two consecutive men treated with definitive IMRT for prostate adenocarcinoma. Toxicity was graded by CTC v3.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy: Early results show no decline in urinary continence, gastrointestinal, or sexual quality of life.

Purpose: Although postprostatectomy radiation therapy (PPRT) has been shown to improve cause-specific survival in select high-risk men, its use may be tempered by the concern for toxicity. Limited data exist regarding the nature of how it may adversely affect quality of life in the era of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods And Materials: Between 2007 and 2010, 78 consecutive men received PPRT.

Phase II study of the oral MEK inhibitor selumetinib in advanced acute myelogenous leukemia: a University of Chicago phase II consortium trial.

Purpose: The clinical relevance of targeting the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, activated in 70% to 80% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), is unknown.

Experimental Design: Selumetinib is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of MAP-ERK kinase (MEK)-1/2. Forty-seven patients with relapsed/refractory AML or 60 years old or more with untreated AML were enrolled on a phase II study.

Empiric antibiotics for an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level: a randomised, prospective, controlled multi-institutional trial.

Objective: To determine the impact of empiric antibiotics on men with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.

Subjects/patients And Methods: Men of any age with a PSA level of >2.5 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination undergoing their first prostate biopsy were recruited from five medical centres.

Pediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns regarding special education and individualized education programs.

Objective: The medical community has called upon pediatricians to be knowledgeable about an individualized education program (IEP). We sought to: 1) evaluate pediatricians' knowledge and attitudes regarding special education; 2) examine the relationship between perceived responsibilities and practice patterns; and 3) identify barriers that impact pediatricians' ability to provide comprehensive care to children with educational difficulties.

Methods: Surveys were mailed to a national sample of 1000 randomly selected general pediatricians and pediatric residents from October 2010 to February 2011.

A randomized pilot phase I study of modified carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) peptide (CAP1-6D)/montanide/GM-CSF-vaccine in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: CEA is expressed in >90% of pancreatic cancers (PC) and may be an appropriate immunotherapy target. CEA is poorly immunogenic due to immune tolerance; CAP1-6D, an altered peptide ligand can help bypass tolerance. We conducted a pilot randomized phase I trial in PC patients to determine the peptide dose required to induce an optimal CD8(+) T cell response.

Immune reconstitution after combined haploidentical and umbilical cord blood transplant.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells are frequently employed for allogeneic stem cell transplant, but delayed myeloid and lymphoid immune reconstitution leads to increased risk of infections. We recently reported the clinical results of 45 patients enrolled on a pilot study combining UCB with a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical donor with reduced-intensity conditioning who showed rapid neutrophil and platelet recovery. We report here preliminary immune reconstitution data of these patients.

Cediranib in patients with malignant mesothelioma: a phase II trial of the University of Chicago Phase II Consortium.

Introduction: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive disease with limited therapeutic options. In preclinical models, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates MM proliferation. In MM patients, higher plasma VEGF levels correlate inversely with survival.

Influence of related donor age on outcomes after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Background Aims: The rising use of allogeneic transplantation in older recipients necessitates considering older related donors. The effect of related donor age for peripheral blood stem cell allografts (PBSC) on graft maintenance and outcomes, independent of CD34(+)cell dose, has not been well-characterized.

Methods: HLA-related donors (98% siblings) underwent a uniform filgrastim-based mobilization regimen aiming to collect and infuse 5 × 10(6) CD34(+) cells/recipient kg.

A phase II study of lapatinib in recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose: This study sought to determine the efficacy and safety profile of lapatinib in patients with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Experimental Design: This phase II multiinstitutional study enrolled patients with recurrent/metastatic SCCHN into two cohorts: those without (arm A) and those with (arm B) before exposure to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. All subjects were treated with lapatinib 1,500 mg daily.

Chemoradiation for patients with large-volume laryngeal cancers.

Background: Patients with T4 laryngeal cancers, including those with large-volume (cartilage or tongue-base invasion) lesions, are often excluded from organ-preservation trials due to expectations of inferior outcome in terms of survival and function. We hypothesize that such patients indeed have acceptable survival and function when treated with organ-preservation strategies.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of a cohort of patients with T4 laryngeal cancer was carried out.

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor gefitinib added to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Assess efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, added to, and in maintenance after, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced head and neck cancer (LA-HNC) and correlate outcomes with EGFR gene copy number alterations.

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage III to IV LA-HNC received two cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by split-course CCRT with fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, twice daily radiotherapy (FHX), and gefitinib (250 mg daily) followed by continued gefitinib for 2 years total. The primary end point was complete response (CR) rate after CCRT.

Statin use and risk of prostate cancer recurrence in men treated with radiation therapy.

Purpose: There has been growing interest in the potential anticancer activity of statins based on preclinical evidence of their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and radiosensitizing properties. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether statin use is associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: In total, 691 men with prostate adenocarcinoma treated with curative-intent RT between 1988 and 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.

Chemoradiation for patients with advanced oral cavity cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: Patients with advanced oral cavity cancer (OCC) typically have not been enrolled in clinical trials utilizing contemporary multimodality strategies. There exist dogmatic expectations of inferior outcome in OCC patients secondary to ineffectiveness of treatment and unacceptable toxicity. The purpose of this study was to analyze survival, swallowing function, and incidence of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of patients with stage III/IV OCC who have undergone primary concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

A randomized phase 1 study of testosterone replacement for patients with low-risk castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Even in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the androgen pathway remains biologically relevant. In preclinical models, androgen therapy for CRPC leads to growth arrest, apoptosis, and tumor shrinkage.

Objective: This study sought to determine the toxicity and feasibility of a testosterone therapy in early CRPC.

Amifostine induces antioxidant enzymatic activities in normal tissues and a transplantable tumor that can affect radiation response.

Purpose: To determine whether amifostine can induce elevated manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) in murine tissues and a transplantable SA-NH tumor, resulting in a delayed tumor cell radioprotective effect.

Methods And Materials: SA-NH tumor-bearing C3H mice were treated with a single 400 mg/kg or three daily 50 mg/kg doses of amifostine administered intraperitoneally. At selected time intervals after the last injection, the heart, liver, lung, pancreas, small intestine, spleen, and SA-NH tumor were removed and analyzed for SOD2, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymatic activity.