Portfolio of prospective clinical trials including brachytherapy: an analysis of the ClinicalTrials.gov database.

Background: To evaluate the current status of prospective interventional clinical trials that includes brachytherapy (BT) procedures.

Methods: The records of 175,538 (100 %) clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov were downloaded on September 2014 and a database was established.

Surgery for Stage IIIA Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer: Lack of Predictive and Prognostic Factors Identifying Any Subgroup of Patients Benefiting From It.

Although a trimodality regimen for patients with stage IIIA/pN2 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been variably used owing to limited evidence for its benefits, it remains unknown whether any patient subgroup actually receives benefit from such an approach. To explore this question, the published data were reviewed from 1990 to 2015 to identify the possible predictors and prognosticators in this setting. Overall survival was the endpoint of our study.

[THE IMPACT OF EARLY DETECTION OF PRIMARY DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS BASED ON THE TREATMENT OUTCOME IN PATIENTS AT PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN].

Retrospective research (2007-2012) was conducted on 500 patients with drug-resistant primary tuberculosis treated by DOTS-plus PS SLE Azerbaijan. The aim of the study was to establish a new strategy of identifying TB within the penitentiary system, aimed at early determination of the disease and soonest commencement of treatment of the patients with second generation medications. Results of the study as well as the analysis of multivariable indicators have confirmed that passive identification (ORa=1.

Effect of radiotherapy delay in overall treatment time on local control and survival in head and neck cancer: Review of the literature.

Treatment delays in completing radiotherapy (RT) for many neoplasms are a major problem affecting treatment outcome, as increasingly shown in the literature. Overall treatment time (OTT) could be a critical predictor of local tumor control and/or survival. In an attempt to establish a protocol for managing delays during RT, especially for heavily overloaded units, we have extensively reviewed the available literature on head and neck cancer.

International Atomic Energy Agency Randomized Phase III Study of Radiation Therapy in Elderly and/or Frail Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Purpose: The optimal radiotherapy regimen for elderly and/or frail patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma remains to be established. This study compared two radiotherapy regimens on the outcome of these patients.

Patients And Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, 98 patients (frail = age ≥ 50 years and Karnofsky performance status [KPS] of 50% to 70%; elderly and frail = age ≥ 65 years and KPS of 50% to 70%; elderly = age ≥ 65 years and KPS of 80% to 100%) were prospectively randomly assigned to two arms in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by age (< and ≥ 65 years old), KPS, and extent of surgical resection.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) randomized trial of palliative treatment of incurable locally advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CHT) in limited resource setting.

Background: To optimize palliation in incurable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a prospective randomized study (NCT00864331) comparing protracted palliative radiotherapy (RT) course with chemotherapy (CHT) followed by short-course palliative RT.

Methods And Materials: Treatment-naive patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage IIIA/IIIB, received either 39Gy in 13 fractions as RT alone (arm A, n=31) or 2-3 platinum-based CHT cycles followed by 10Gy in a single fraction or 16Gy in 2 fractions separated by one week (arm B, n=34). Primary outcome was overall survival.

A Review of the Place and Role of Radiotherapy in Thymoma.

Thymomas, tumors that arise from the epithelial cells of the thymus gland, are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum despite their overall rarity. They are not classified together with malignancies although it is recognized that they can be invasive and persistent even after attempted treatment. Because of their rarity, optimal treatment protocols remain a challenging topic.

Frequency and characteristics of pleural effusions in pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the fourth cause of pleural effusions, after pneumonia, neoinfiltrates and tuberculosis. Several questions are yet unanswered: are the pleural effusions in PE exudates or transudates, what is their size, are they unilateral or bilateral, are they only haemorrhagic, etc. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency, side, size, biochemical and cytological characteristics of pleural effusions in PE.

Linkage analysis and detection of somatic, postzygous RB1 mutations in Serbian retinoblastoma patients.

Purpose: The etiology of retinoblastoma (RB) is mutational inactivation of two RB1 alleles, the prototype of tumor suppressor gene. The aim of this research was to reveal sporadic, postzygous RB1 gene mutations, in particular loss of heterozygosity (LOH), from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples in RB patients, as well as tracking RB1 allele inheritance in 10 RB families.

Methods: The mutational studies were carried out in the peripheral blood lymphocytes' DNA of 4 bilateral and 12 unilateral RB patients and DNAs from tumors from 3 bilateral and 10 unilateral patients.

[The spirometry figures of bronchoobstructive syndrome in concomitant intestinal parasitosis].

The aim of research is to study of the spirometry figures of bronchoobstructive syndrome in concomitant intestinal parasitosis. There are 81 patients aged from 5 to 61 years (male 43, female 38) were examined. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1 group - patients treated only with bronchodilator therapy (14 patients with protozoa, 14 - with helminth, 12 - with combination of parasitosis); 2 group - patients treated with bronchodilator therapy in common with anti-parasitic therapy (14 patients with protozoa, 17 - with helminth, 10 - with combination of parasitosis).

Tuberculosis incidence in elderly in Serbia: key trends in socioeconomic transition.

Aim: To examine tuberculosis incidence rates among the elderly in Central Serbia in 1992-2006 period, which was characterized by socioeconomic crisis and migration of population.

Methods: We analyzed all reported active tuberculosis cases in a 15-year period, especially among patients aged > or =65, according to the Annual Reports of the Institute of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis in Belgrade and Central Tuberculosis Register. Population estimates with extrapolations were based on 1991 and 2002 census data.

Specific synovitis of a knee as the first manifestation of miliary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is declared global emergency. Miliary TB is a treatable, potentially lethal form of TB resulting from massive lympho-hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Impaired cell-mediated immunity underlies the disease's development.

[Endobronchial chemotherapy by direct injection of cytotoxic drugs into the tumor in lung cancer].

Intratumoral injection of one or several conventional cytotoxic drugs directly into the tumoral tissue through a flexible bronchoscope by means of an ordinary needle-catheter which is called "endobronchial intratumoral chemotherapy (EITC)" is a therapeutic paradigm of bronchoscopic interventional procedure. The achievement of intratumoral chemotherapy should never be considered merely an ablation technique of endobronchial tumor bulk alike the other endoscopic ablative procedures; but, it exerts most importantly an additional chemotherapeutic specific effect on malignant cells through the action of cytotoxic drug. Owing to its specific effect it has a similarity to brachytherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic respiratory diseases--from goals to outcomes.

This paper is a review of current approaches on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in chronic pulmonary diseases. Pulmonary rehabilitation is the most accepted method of non-pharmacological treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, neuromuscular degenerative disease and post-tuberculosis lung sequelae. Throughout its components, especially oxygen therapy, it is the most important intervention in chronic respiratory failure in order to improve exercise tolerance, lung function and self-management.

Female genital tuberculosis--a disease seen again in Europe.

Background: Dramatic worsening of epidemiological situation with tuberculosis (TB) in the world has made extra-pulmonary tuberculosis actual again. Female genital TB is very rare, but each case still remains a serious medical problem.

Case Report: A 23-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative woman with two-month duration amenorrhea underwent surgery due to lower abdominal mass simulating a left ovary carcinoma, suggested by ultrasound examinations.

Clinical features of lung cancer in patients with connective tissue diseases: a 10-year hospital based study.

Background: Connective tissue diseases (CTD) might be associated with various malignancies, and one of the most frequent is lung cancer (LC). Despite our understanding of pathogenesis, this association remains still unclear. The aim of the present study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with CTD who developed LC.