Precision assessment of bowel motion quantification using 3D cine-MRI for radiotherapy.

. The bowel is an important organ at risk for toxicity during pelvic and abdominal radiotherapy. Identifying regions of high and low bowel motion with MRI during radiotherapy may help to understand the development of bowel toxicity, but the acquisition time of MRI is rather long.

Comparison of the clinical performance of a hybrid Alba 4D and the AMC-4 locoregional hyperthermia systems.

Objective: The in-house developed 70 MHz AMC-4 locoregional hyperthermia system has been in clinical use since 1984. This device was recently commercialized as the Alba 4D (Medlogix, Rome, Italy), with a similar geometrical 4-waveguide design. At the time of this study a hybrid Alba 4D was installed at our center, which incorporated elements of the AMC-4.

[A child with a sternal tumour].

A one-year-old boy came to the doctor with a sternal swelling. Physical examination showed a parasternal tumour with a blue hue. After ultrasound SELSTOC (self-limiting sternal tumour of childhood) was diagnosed.

PORTEC-4a: international randomized trial of molecular profile-based adjuvant treatment for women with high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer.

Background: Vaginal brachytherapy is currently recommended as adjuvant treatment in patients with high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer to maximize local control and has only mild side effects and no or limited impact on quality of life. However, there is still considerable overtreatment and also some undertreatment, which may be reduced by tailoring adjuvant treatment to the patients' risk of recurrence based on molecular tumor characteristics.

Primary Objectives: To compare the rates of vaginal recurrence in women with high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer, treated after surgery with molecular-integrated risk profile-based recommendations for either observation, vaginal brachytherapy or external pelvic beam radiotherapy or with standard adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy STUDY HYPOTHESIS: Adjuvant treatment based on a molecular-integrated risk profile provides similar local control and recurrence-free survival as current standard adjuvant brachytherapy in patients with high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer, while sparing many patients the morbidity of adjuvant treatment and reducing healthcare costs.

Feasibility of on-line temperature-based hyperthermia treatment planning to improve tumour temperatures during locoregional hyperthermia.

Background: The effectiveness of hyperthermia is strongly dependent on the achieved tumour temperatures. Phased-array systems allow flexible power steering to realise good tumour heating while avoiding excessive heating in normal tissue, but the limited quantitative accuracy of pre-treatment planning complicates realising optimal tumour heating. On-line hyperthermia treatment planning could help to improve the heating quality.

Socioeconomic status as an independent risk factor for severe late bowel toxicity after primary radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of and risk factors for severe late bowel toxicity after curative radiotherapy in women treated for locally advanced cervical cancer.

Methods: Included were 515 women treated for locally advanced cervical cancer with primary radiotherapy with curative intent from 1992 to 2013. Bowel toxicity was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

Gender and Age Differences in Trauma and PTSD Among Dutch Treatment-Seeking Police Officers.

Little is known about how age and gender are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and traumatic experiences in treatment-seeking police offers. In this study, we examined 967 diagnostic files of police officers seeking treatment for PTSD. Six hundred twelve (63%) of the referred police officers were diagnosed with PTSD (n = 560) or partial PTSD (n = 52).

In vivo electric conductivity of cervical cancer patients based on B₁⁺ maps at 3T MRI.

The in vivo electric conductivity (σ) values of tissue are essential for accurate electromagnetic simulations and specific absorption rate (SAR) assessment for applications such as thermal dose computations in hyperthermia. Currently used σ-values are mostly based on ex vivo measurements. In this study the conductivity of human muscle, bladder content and cervical tumors is acquired non-invasively in vivo using MRI.

Return to work: Police personnel and PTSD.

Objective: This study i) describes the number of police personnel with PTSD who are working and those who are on sick leave before and after an out-patient-clinic treatment program and ii) examines which factors are related to return to work.

Participants: Police personnel treated for PTSD (n=121).

Methods: In this retrospective study all police officers had an intake interview before and an outtake interview following a 16-week treatment for PTSD.

Gene copy number reduction in the azoospermia factor c (AZFc) region and its effect on total motile sperm count.

The azoospermia factor c (AZFc) region harbors multi-copy genes that are expressed in the testis. Deletions of the AZFc region lead to reduced copy numbers of these genes. Four (partial) AZFc deletions have been described of which the b2/b4 and gr/gr deletions affect semen quality.

A comprehensive gene mutation screen in men with asthenozoospermia.

Objective: To find novel genetic causes of asthenozoospermia by comprehensively screening known candidate genes derived from mouse models.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: A fertility center based in an academic hospital.

Y chromosome gr/gr deletions are a risk factor for low semen quality.

Background: Subfertility affects one in eight couples. In up to 50% of cases, the male partner has low semen quality. Four Y chromosome deletions, i.

CAG repeat length variation in the polymerase gamma (POLG) gene: effect on semen quality.

Several case-control studies have investigated the effect of CAG repeat length variation in the POLG gene on male fertility and semen quality. Some described an association between the homozygous not10 CAG-repeat genotype and male subfertility and/or reduced semen quality, whereas others did not. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the not10/not10 variant is associated with spermatogenic failure.

Mutations in the testis-specific NALP14 gene in men suffering from spermatogenic failure.

Background: Because of the common use of ICSI and the potential genetic aetiology of spermatogenic failure, concern has been raised about transmitting genetic disorders to ICSI offspring. However, to date, in only approximately 15% of all cases of spermatogenic failure, an underlying genetic cause can be identified. We have previously established an association between spermatogenic failure and chromosomal region 11p15.

Mutations in the chromosome pairing gene FKBP6 are not a common cause of non-obstructive azoospermia.

Although it is generally thought that spermatogenic failure has a genetic background, to date only a limited percentage of men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) are diagnosed with a genetic defect. The only common and well-established genetic causes of NOA in humans are numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities and Y-chromosome deletions. In addition, some infrequent mutations have been identified in the ubiquitin-specific protease 9, Y-linked (USP9Y) and the synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) gene that cause azoospermia.

Mutations in the human BOULE gene are not a major cause of impaired spermatogenesis.

Mutation screening of the BOULE gene in 156 men with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia revealed no relevant mutations; thus, mutations in BOULE can be eliminated as a major cause of impaired spermatogenesis.

[Fever, coughing and/or wheezing in young children: consider the possibility of foreign body aspiration].

Three children, 2 girls aged 1.5 and 3 years and a 2-year-old boy, experienced coughing, wheezing and/or fever for several days or weeks. The first girl was treated for asthma, the other two children for pneumonia.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-T (HNRNP G-T) mutations in men with impaired spermatogenesis.

The genetic cause of male subfertility due to impaired spermatogenesis is unknown in the majority of cases, but the general assumption is that it is a complex disorder. The aim of this study was to determine whether mutations occur in the HNRNP G-T gene in men with idiopathic impaired spermatogenesis. The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-T (HNRNP G-T) gene is located in chromosomal region 11p15 that has been shown to be associated with impaired spermatogenesis.

Familial clustering of impaired spermatogenesis: no evidence for a common genetic inheritance pattern.

Background: The aetiology of impaired spermatogenesis is unknown in the majority of cases. Evidence of a contribution of genetic factors is still scarce. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess whether male factor subfertility due to impaired spermatogenesis has a familial component and to test different genetic models of inheritance.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the sphenoid sinus: a case report.

The presentation of a neuroendocrine carcinoma in the paranasal sinuses is extremely rare. Until now only 25 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 65-year-old male with an atypical carcinoid of the sphenoid sinus which seemed to be associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1).

The hinged-door composite septal flap as structural support and lining of nasal reconstruction by a forehead flap.

In this paper we describe four patients who underwent extensive nasal surgery for carcinoma in the nasal vestibule. Two patients underwent salvage surgery after radiotherapy, whereas the other two patients were treated with primary surgery. In all cases the nasal defect was reconstructed using a composite hinged-door septal flap for structural support and internal lining combined with a paramedian forehead flap which supplied the skin coverage.

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by nasal decongestants.

The nasal decongestants oxymetazoline and xylometazoline are frequently used in the topical treatment of rhinitis and sinusitis. As nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play a role in inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, the aim of this study was to examine the in vitro effects of these compounds on the activity and the expression of NO producing enzymes, including the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) and the constitutive isoform of NO synthase (cNOS). Experiments concerning the effects of both compounds on enzymatic activity and enzyme induction of iNOS were performed in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced rat alveolar macrophage cell line (NR8383) using the Griess assay and the 3H-citrulline assay respectively.