Glucocorticoids decrease body weight and food intake and inhibit appetite regulatory peptide expression in the hypothalamus of rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on appetite and gene expression of the hypothalamic appetite regulatory peptides, neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related protein (AGRP) and cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), in non-obese and obese rats. Both non-obese and obese rats were randomly assigned to three groups: normal saline, low- and high-dose GC groups (NSG, LDG and HDG, respectively), which received an intraperitoneal injection with normal saline (0.2 ml/100 g) or hydrocortisone sodium succinate at 5 and 15 mg/kg, respectively, for 20 days.

[Preliminary results of radiosurgery for uveal melanoma].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for uveal melanoma.

Methods: From Jan, 1996 to March, 2004, 16 patients with uveal melanoma were treated with SRS, two by one session (35 Gy, 25 Gy) and fourteen by fractionated SRS (30-55 Gy/2-4F/4-16D). The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 100 months (median: 66 months).

Influence of number of metastatic lymph nodes on survival of curative resected thoracic esophageal cancer patients and value of radiotherapy: report of 549 cases.

Purpose: To analyze the significance of the number of metastatic lymph nodes on survival with and without the addition of prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy (RT) after radical resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: A total of 549 thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer patients who had undergone radical resection were randomized by the envelope method into a surgery-alone group (S, n = 275) and a surgery plus RT group (S+R, n = 274). We performed a retrospective review of all patients according to the extent of metastasis.

Value of radiotherapy after radical surgery for esophageal carcinoma: a report of 495 patients.

Background: Despite three decades of debate, no conclusion has been reached concerning the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy for resected esophageal carcinoma. From 1986 through 1997, a prospective randomized study was carried out with 495 patients in an attempt to define the value of this therapeutic modality.

Methods: A total of 495 patients with esophageal cancer who had undergone radical resection were randomized by the envelope method into a surgery-alone group (S) of 275 patients and a surgery plus radiotherapy group (S + R) of 220 patients.