Predictors of a placebo response in patients with hand osteoarthritis: post-hoc analysis of two randomized controlled trials.

Background: Placebo can have a significant therapeutic effect in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). This aim of the study is to identify factors associated with a clinically meaningful placebo response in patients with hand OA.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of GCSB-5 or diacerein as treatments for hand OA analyzed the efficacy of a placebo.

Primary gastric choriocarcinoma: two case reports and review of the literatures.

Primary gastric choriocarcinoma (PGC) is a rare tumor, and its pathogenesis is still uncertain. Most PGCs have been reported to possess an adenocarcinoma component of variable extent, and pure PGC is especially rare. The diagnosis of PGC is confirmed by exhibition of choriocarcinomatous components on biopsy and exhibition of beta-hCG positive cell on immunohistochemical stain and elevation of the serum beta-hCG.

Treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer with CyberKnife, image-guided robotic stereotactic radiosurgery.

The object of our study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent radiosurgery using the CyberKnife, a newly developed technology to deliver radiation from multiple angles with a real-time target tracking system. A retrospective analysis of eight patients with stage I NSCLC who were treated with curative intent using the CyberKnife between 2002 and 2007 at a cancer center in Korea was performed. Among eight patients (seven men and one woman), three patients were ineligible for surgery due to poor lung function while four patients refused surgical treatment.

Esophageal and laryngeal cancer incidentally found on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography during the staging workup for lung cancer.

During staging workup for lung cancer of a 74-year-old man, 2 more incidental tumors were found on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). The 3 sites with cancer in this patient involved organs in which field cancerization has often been described, suggesting that triple primary tumors were more probable than metastasis. After treating them separately, complete response was achieved and sustained for > 2 years.

Gastrointestinal metastasis of lung cancer with special emphasis on a long-term survivor after operation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of gastrointestinal metastasis from lung cancer, with special emphasis on a long-term survivor after surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 2000 and 2007 at a tertiary referral center for cancer.

Results: Gastrointestinal metastases were detected in 10 (0.