Toxicity in patients receiving radiotherapy for ultracentral stage I non-small cell lung cancer: A secondary analysis of the LUSTRE randomized trial.

Background And Purpose: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) carries potentially higher risks for ultracentral (UC) NSCLC with limited prospective data to guide decision making. We conducted a secondary analysis from a randomized trial of SBRT and conventionally hypofractionated radiation (CRT) to assess these risks.

Materials And Methods: Patients (n = 233) with medically inoperable stage I NSCLC were recruited from 2014 to 2020.

Evaluation of a National Radiation Oncology Research and Mentorship Program.

Purpose: The Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology Annual Scientific Meeting Medical Student Research and Mentorship Award was established in 2020 to support medical students pursuing radiation oncology (RO) research and RO as a career. This study is an evaluation of the effect of this national research and mentorship award on medical students, resident mentors, and research supervisors over 3 iterations.

Methods And Materials: Three separate surveys were created for medical student mentees, RO resident mentors, and attending research supervisors.

Use of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence During Total Thyroidectomy to Identify Parathyroid Glands and Prevent Hypoparathyroidism.

Introduction: Total thyroidectomy is associated with a high rate of transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism. During surgery, indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescein angiography can be used to detect and preserve well-vascularized parathyroid glands. This technique has been introduced as an intraoperative support to prevent postoperative hypoparathyroidism.

Asymmetric by Design: Heteroleptic Coordination Compounds with Redox-Active Dithiolene and 1,2,4,5-Tetrakis(isopropylthio)benzene Ligands.

The 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(alkylthio)benzenes are redox-active organosulfur molecules that support oxidation to a stable radical cation. Their utility as ligands for the assembly of multimetal complexes with tailored functionality/property is unexamined. Here, 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(isopropylthio)benzene (tptbz, ) is shown to bind PdCl at either one end, leaving the other open, or at both ends to form centrosymmetric [ClPd(tptbz)PdCl], .

A Qualitative Analysis of Medical Student Reflections Following Participation in a Canadian Radiation Oncology Studentship.

Exposure to radiation oncology in medical school curricula is limited; thus, mentorship and research opportunities like the Dr. Pamela Catton Summer Studentship Program attempt to bridge this gap and stimulate interest in the specialty. In 2021, the studentship was redesigned as virtual research, mentorship, and case-based discussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supply and Demand for Radiation Oncologists in Canada: Workforce Planning Projections From 2020 to 2040.

Purpose: The number of Canadians diagnosed with cancer, and subsequent demand for radiation therapy, are expected to increase over time. This study aimed to update our needs-based workforce planning model to ensure appropriate staffing levels in the future.

Methods And Materials: The supply of radiation oncologists, by age group, sex, and full-time equivalent status, was projected from 2020 to 2040 using a recursive-aging, input-output model developed with seeding parameters derived from national sources.

Relationships between serum levels of vitamins and papillary thyroid cancer: a single center case-control study.

Background: Vitamins are involved in various human physiological and biochemical mechanisms due to their antioxidant properties and their ability to enhance the immune response. Deficiency of some serum vitamins has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of developing cancer, including thyroid cancer. However, medical literature dealing with cholecalciferol supplementation was not able to show the potential of this intervention in cancer prevention.

Assessing the characteristics of different-sized particles in the first flush of roof runoff.

The first flush occurs during urban runoff events. In this study, we aimed to assess the characteristics of different-sized particles in the first flush of roof runoff, and runoff was collected from an asphalt roof (AR), metal roof (MR), and cement roof (CR) for analysis. There were no clear patterns in the particle size distributions in the runoff from the three roofs and were affected by several factors.

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery (PTES) compared with MIS-TLIF for surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disease in elderly patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PTES for surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disease (LDD) including lumbar disc herniation, lateral recess stenosis, intervertebral foraminal stenosis and central spinal canal stenosis in elderly patients compared with MIS-TLIF.

Methods: From November 2016 to December 2018, 84 elderly patients (>70 years old) of single-level LDD with neurologic symptoms underwent the surgical treatment. 45 patients were treated using PTES under local anesthesia in group 1 and 39 patients treated using MIS-TLIF in group 2.

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery (PTES) for Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disease in Patients with Underlying Diseases: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 196 Cases.

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative outcomes, safety and feasibility of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery (PTES) for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease (LDD) in the patients with underlying diseases.

Methods: From June 2017 to April 2019, PTES was performed to treat 226 patients of single-level LDD. According to clinical background, the patients were divided into two groups.

Bis[1,2-bis-(4--butyl-phen-yl)ethyl-ene-1,2-di-thiol-ato(1-)]nickel(II) pentane 0.25-solvate.

The title compound, [Ni(CHS)], , is a square-planar -symmetric compound that occurs on a general position in non-centrosymmetric tetra-gonal 422 (No. 92) with ¼ eq of -pentane (CH) as co-crystallite. Intra-ligand bond lengths show the di-thiol-ene ligands to be in their half-oxidized radical monoanionic form.

The transition in practice to reduce bolus use in post-mastectomy radiotherapy: A dosimetric study of skin and subcutaneous tissue.

To inform clinical practice for women receiving post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT), this study demonstrates the dosimetric impact of removing daily bolus on skin and subcutaneous tissue. Two planning strategies were used: clinical field-based (n = 30) and volume-based planning (n = 10). The clinical field-based plans were created with bolus and recalculated without bolus for comparison.

3D Transoral Endoscopic Thyroid.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy with vestibular approach (TOETVA) is a feasible new surgical procedure that does not require visible incisions. We describe our experience with three-dimensional (3D) TOETVA. We recruited 98 patients who were willing to undergo 3D TOETVA.

How to predict the culprit segment in percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia for surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases? Radiologic images or clinical symptoms.

Objective: Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery (PTES) is a novel, minimally invasive technique used to treat lumbar degenerative diseases (LDDs). PTES under local anesthesia was performed to treat the culprit segment of LDDs predicted by radiologic images or clinical symptoms, and the efficacy, security, and feasibility were evaluated.

Methods: Eighty-seven cases of LDDs with nerve root symptoms, which were not consistent with lumbar degenerative levels and degrees on MRI and CT, were treated with PTES under local anesthesia in a day surgery ward from January 2015 to December 2019.

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery combined with mini-incision OLIF and anterolateral screws rod fixation vs. MIS-TLIF for surgical treatment of single-level lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Objective: Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) has been used to treat lumbar spine spondylolisthesis. However, it usually needs posterior pedicle screws fixation for biomechanical stability and possible posterior direct decompression for relieving neurologic symptoms. We use percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery (PTES) combined with mini-incision OLIF and anterolateral screws rod fixation for surgical treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Contralateral bridge fixation of freehand minimally invasive pedicle screws combined with unilateral MIS-TLIF vs. open TLIF in the treatment of multi-segmental lumbar degenerative diseases: A five years retrospective study and finite element analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, feasibility and biomechanical stability of contralateral bridge fixation of freehand minimally invasive pedicle screws (Freehand MIPS) combined with unilateral minimally invasive surgery-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) (smile-face surgery) and open TLIF for the treatment of multi-segmental lumbar degenerative diseases (LDDs).

Methods: From January 2013 to January 2016, clinical data of multi-segmental (2- or 3-level) LDDs receiving smile-face surgery or open TLIF were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The back and leg pain VAS and ODI were used to assess clinical outcomes preoperatively and postoperatively.

Heterotrimetallic Assemblies with 1,2,4,5-Tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene Bridges: Constructs for Controlling the Separation and Spatial Orientation of Redox-Active Metallodithiolene Groups.

Metallodithiolene complexes of the type [(RCS)M(η-tpbz)] [R = CN, Ph, or -anisyl; M = Ni, Pd, or Pt; tpbz = 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene] chelate transition metals ions to form trimetallic arrays [[(RCS)M(tpbz)]M'], where M' is square planar Pt, tetrahedral Cu, Ag, or Au, or octahedral {ReBr(CO)}/{Re(CO)}. Forcing conditions (190 °C reflux in decalin, 72 h) are demanded for the Re compounds. With third-row metals at the nexus, the compounds are stable to air.

Influence of urban runoff pollutant first flush strength on bioretention pollutant removal performance.

Bioretention is commonly used for runoff pollution control. The first flush strength of pollutants can affect bioretention performance. To examine the influence of the first flush strength on bioretention performance, bioretention columns filled with garden soil as the main media were established.

An intriguing tetranuclear Rh-based polyoxometalate for the reduction of nitroarene and oxidation of aniline.

An organic-inorganic hybrid polyoxometalate NaH [NaRh(CHN)Cl](CHN)[AsWORh(CHNS)]·HO (1) containing 5.66 Rh atoms is prepared; to our knowledge, it owns the largest number of Rh atoms in the Rh-POM family. Compound 1 demonstrates good catalytic performance in the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline and the oxidation of aniline to azobenzene under mild conditions.

Exploring the Perceived Educational Impact of COVID-19 on Postgraduate Training in Oncology.

This study sought to report the degree to which postgraduate trainees in radiation oncology perceive their education has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was administered from June to July 2020 to trainee members of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO) (n = 203). Thirty-four trainees responded with a 17% response rate.

Conventional Total Thyroidectomy Using a Novel Single Retractor: Technical Note for Apollo®.

Despite the increasingly innovative techniques developed in thyroid surgery to offer patients minimally invasive and scarless interventions, conventional open procedures still account for most of the interventions performed in this field. The surgical incision length has been significantly reduced, from 6-9 cm to 3 cm, and therefore patients perceive the scar to be highly acceptable. In this technical note, we present the use of a new single retractor (APOLLO®; AFS MEDICAL GmbH, Teesdorf, Austria) for conventional open thyroidectomies with intraoperative neuromonitoring.

Employment Outcomes for Canadian Radiation Oncology Graduates: 2020 Assessment and Longitudinal Trends.

Purpose: Canadian radiation oncology (RO) trainees have experienced employment challenges after residency training. The present study was conducted to evaluate current employment trends and perform comparisons to prior reported assessments.

Methods And Materials: A survey was administered to all 13 Canadian RO program directors requesting the employment status and location of their graduates during the past 3 years, and their perceptions on graduates' employment challenges.

Pediatric intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroid surgery: A review from the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section and the International Neural Monitoring Study Group.

Children are more likely to experience recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury during thyroid surgery. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) may assist in nerve identification and surgical decision making. A literature review of pediatric IONM was performed and used to inform a monitoring technique guide and expert opinion statements.

Acute Care Use by Breast Cancer Patients on Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Alberta: Demonstrating the Importance of Measurement to Improving Quality.

Breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy are at increased risk of acute care use. The incidence of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations (H) have been characterized in other provinces but never in Alberta. We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using administrative data of women with stage I-III breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.