A Comparison of the Toxicities in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancers Treated With Concomitant Boost Radiotherapy Versus Conventional Chemoradiation.

Purpose: To compare the objective and patient-reported toxicities of concomitant boost radiotherapy (CBRT) and concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers.

Methods And Material: In this prospective study, 46 patients with histologically proven stage III-IVA head and neck cancer were randomly assigned to receive either concurrent chemoradiation to a dose of 66 Gy in 33 fractions over 6.5 weeks with concurrent cisplatin (40 mg/m2 IV weekly; control arm) or accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost radiotherapy (study arm) to a dose of 67.

A prospective randomized trial comparing accelerated concurrent chemoradiotherapy with conventional concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma cervix (IIA-IVA).

Introduction: Cervical cancer ranks fourth in women worldwide. The management requires a multidisciplinary approach. Concomitant chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin, followed by brachytherapy, is the standard approach.

A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Long-Course Conventional Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy with Short-Course Radiotherapy Followed by Consolidation Chemotherapy with Delayed Surgery in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

 Polish and Australian randomized studies compared short-course radiotherapy (RT) with immediate surgery and long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with delayed surgery. In these studies, similar long-term survival and local control have been reported for both these approaches, but pathological complete response (pCR) is not better with short-course RT. Moreover, studies have shown better tumor downstaging with delayed surgery.

Knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and methods for its early detection among the primary health-care workers in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Background: Breast cancer is an increasing health problem in India. Screening for early detection should lead to a reduction in mortality from the disease. Majority of the population, especially in rural areas, contact health-care system through primary health-care workers.

Comparison of iso-effective and cost-effective high-dose-rate brachytherapy treatment schedules in cervical cancer - regional cancer center experience.

Purpose: The study is to evaluate the difference between outcomes of two high-dose-rate fractionation schedules in the treatment of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) of cervical cancer.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 163 cervical cancer patients was completed. All patients received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to whole pelvis with concurrent weekly chemotherapy, followed by ICBT with either 7 Gy per fraction in three fractions (arm A) or 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions (arm B).

DCE-MRI and parametric imaging in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast carcinoma: a preliminary report.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is recommended in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) enables evaluation of the tumour neovasculature that occurs prior to any volume change, which helps identify early treatment failures and allows prompt implementation of second-line therapy.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective study in 14 patients with histopathologically proven breast cancer.

Oral health knowledge and practices among primary healthcare workers in Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Context: Primary healthcare workers being grassroot workers in rural areas can be effective in oral health promotion in these areas.

Aim: To assess oral health knowledge and practices among primary healthcare workers in Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh.

Setting And Design: A cross-sectional study.

Green Tobacco Sickness: A Brief Review.

Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is the condition that mainly affects the tobacco harvesters. The condition is prevalent in Asian and South American tobacco harvesters. The present review was conducted to discuss the etiology, epidemiology, symptoms, and prevention of GTS.

Breast cancer risk factor evaluation in a Western Himalayan state: A case-control study and comparison with the Western World.

Context: Breast cancer incidence is increasing rapidly in India. The lifestyle, built, genetic makeup, reproductive and breastfeeding patterns are quite different in Indian females when compared to the Western population. Generalizing the Western data to the population residing in the Himalayan region would breed inaccuracies.

Association between oral health status and oral health-related quality of life among the prison inmate population of kanda model jail, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The prison population is a challenging one with many health problems including oral health. In a country such as India, the information regarding the oral health status in prisoners is scant. So, a cross-sectional study was carried out among a 311 prison inmate population of Kanda model jail, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, to assess the dental caries levels, periodontal health status, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Oral Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices: A Survey of Undergraduate Medical Students in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Background: Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer among Indian males and the third most common cancer among Indian females. Early detection of oral cancers makes them more amenable to treatment and allows the greatest chance of cure. Lack of awareness among the health care providers is the most significant factor in delaying diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.

Knowledge, attitude and practices about oral cancers among dental students in H.P Government Dental College, Shimla-Himachal Pradesh.

Aim: The aim was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among undergraduate dental students about oral cancer.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among undergraduate dental students between the 3rd and 5th years in H.P Government Dental College, Shimla.

Relationship between oral health status and oral health related quality of life in adults attending H.P Government Dental College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh--India.

Objectives: To describe Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in adults attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Public health Dentistry, H.P Government Dental College, Shimla, and to assess the relationship between clinical measures of oral health status and oral health related quality of life.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out for a period of three months on 351 subjects reporting to the OPD of Public health Dentistry, H.

Knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS of students in H.P. Government Dental College and Hospital, Shimla, India.

The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS among dental students in H.P. Government Dental College, Shimla, India.

Knowledge of, attitude towards, and prevalence of tobacco use among dental students in Himachal Pradesh State, India.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of tobacco use and knowledge of and attitude towards cessation counselling among dental students in Himachal Pradesh State, India.

Method: The present study was conducted with the 219 third-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students in the five dental colleges of Himachal Pradesh during the month of March 2012. The Global Health Professional Students Survey (GHPSS) questionnaire, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Canadian Public Health Association, was used in this study.

Knowledge of risk factors and early detection methods and practices towards breast cancer among nurses in Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Background: Breast cancer is an increasing health problem in India. Screening for early detection should lead to a reduction in mortality from the disease. It is known that motivation by nurses influences uptake of screening methods by women.