Response rate and toxicity of Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU in comparison with cisplatin / 5FU induction chemotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction: Response to chemotherapy is a reliable marker for radiation sensitivity in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We compared the response rate and toxicity after two cycles of chemotherapy using Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU or Cisplatin / 5FU among these patients

Materials and Methods: We randomly assigned 16 to 75 years old patients with stage III or IV non-metastatic locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to receive either DCF or CF every 3 weeks for two cycles. All patients who received at least one and two cycles of chemotherapy were considered for toxicity and response evaluation respectively

Results: Seventy patients underwent randomization, 36 and 34 patients were assigned to Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU and Cisplatin / 5FU groups respectively. Three and 8 patients were excluded after randomization and before receiving any chemotherapy in Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU and Cisplatin / 5FU groups respectively. Finally 30 and 25 in Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU group and 25 and 23 patients in Cisplatin / 5FU group were evaluated for toxicity and response respectively. Response rate [complete and partial response] was%83 [35% complete and 48% partial response] and%84[16% complete and 68% partial response] in Cisplatin / 5FU and Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU groups respectively [P= 0.28]. There was no differences in complete response rate between two groups [P=0.18]. Neutropenia, phlebitis and mucositis were more common in Cisplatin / 5FU group without statistically significant difference. Constipation was significantly more common in Cisplatin / 5FU group [P= 0.008]. Diarrhea, alopecia and febrile neutropenia were significantly more common in Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU group [P= 0.006, 0.01 and 0.03 respectivly]

Conclusion: We could not find any significant differences between response to Docetaxel / Cisplatin /5FU and Cisplatin /5FU combination chemotherapy among Iranian patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, for better evaluation, larger studies with better designs are being conducted in our center

[Evaluation of illumination intensity and ultraviolet radiation at Kerman Medical University Libraries]

Adequate lighting in work environments can increase productivity and concentration and reduced fatigue. Light and illumination studies have been done mainly in industrial environments, and public or administrative environments were less under consideration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultraviolet radiation and illumination level at Kerman Medical Sciences University libraries. In this study, the total, natural and artificial amount of illumination was measured at two different times, at the center of the designated stations in 14 study halls and the height of 30 inches by Hagner [Model EC[1]] luxmeter. Also, ultraviolet radiation [UVB and UVA] was measured by Hanger [Model S4] equipped with UVB and UVA detectors. The results of ultraviolet radiation and illumination level measurements were compared with standard by Excel. The overall, natural and artificial illumination level, in 28.57%, 100% and 71.42% study halls was less than the National and IESNA standard [300 lux]. The School of Nursing has the highest amount of UVB and UVA radiation in both total and natural light measurements. The Shahid Bahonar Hospital, men's section had the highest amount of UVB and UVA radiation in artificial light measurements. Initiatives such as proper alignment of bulbs, periodic dusting and cleaning, regular replacing of burnt bulbs, using study desks with the appropriate level of brightness, placing lamps at appropriate heights, and using bulbs with less UV radiation can improve the lighting situation in libraries

[ relationship between diabetes and hearing impairment]

This study was carried out in 2003-2004 in Kermanshah Diabetes Research Center to assess the effect of diabetes on hearing. This is a case-control study. 82 diabetic cases [26 types I and 56 type 2 cases] were studied along with 82 controls matched both in age and sex. Cases were selected randomly, their range of age was 15 to 55 years and their duration of diabetes was more than 3 years. After completing questionnaires, all cases and controls undergone autoscopic examination. Those with other ear disease with hearing impairment were omitted. Audiometery including; pure tone audiometery, speech audiometery, and impedance audiometrey with well tone AD19 formed was done on 164 [diabetic and control] persons. Data was analyzed using t-test. Audiometric findings with different frequencies in the two groups revealed that there was a significant relationship between diabetes and hearing impairment [p<0.001]. This relationship was more significant in high frequencie, older age and type 2 diabetes, but there were no relationship between control of blood sugar [HbA1c], duration of diabetes, sex, microvascular and macrovasculur complications with hearing loss in diabetic patients. These finding demonstrate that diabetes can cause mild to moderate hearing impairment especially in high frequencies. The mechanism of this effect is unknown

[Comparative efficacy of addermint [mentha spicata], phenylbutazone and dam cream in cattle acute mastitis]

Mastitis as a widely spread health problem does not only cause the largest economic disease-related losses in dairy farms, but also is responsible for the extended use of antibiotics in these enterprises. As this disease is considered multifactorial, development of new infection depends both on the presence of mastitis pathogens and a series of additional factors that act concomitantly. Therefore, for treatment and prevention of mastitis, determination of these factors is necessary. Antibiotic therapy is the common choice to control acute mastitis, but it is necessary to look for new options like immune modulators to better work out this problem and support the treatments. The current study was to evaluate the use of softener cream with Mentha spicata [Addermint[R]] therapy as a supportive treatment in management of acute mastitis in Holstein cattle. In a large dairy farm, 120 clinical cases [Class II acute Mastitis] were divided into three groups [A, B and C]. All of the animals had received an antibacterial therapy including 50ml of oxytetracycline 5% IV and one tube of Tetranebalone[R] intramamary infusion every 12 hours. Addermint[R], Phenylbutazone or Dam cream[R] liniments were used on external skin of udders in A, B and C groups every 8 hours, respectively. Milk samples were taken from each cow prior to the treatment and were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar media. The genuses of isolated bacteria were determined microscopically and by results of biochemical reactions. Daily inspection of milk and udder were recorded. The withdrawal time of treated cows was 3 days and recurrent cases were recorded for the following 30 days. The results of this study showed that, E. coli had the highest incidence in positive cultures [n=46] followed by Staphylococcus spp. [n=19] in 72.5% of positive cultures. No bacterium was isolated in 27.5% of cultures. Bacillus spp. [n=12], Streptococcus spp. [n=3], Klebsiella spp. [n=4] and Corynebacterium spp. [n=3] were isolated in 10%, 2.5%, 3.5% and 2.5% of cultures, respectively. The recovery times were 26.7, 26.9 and 44.9 hrs. In A, B and C groups, respectively. The recurrence percentiles were 32.5%, 42.5% and 45% in A, B and C groups, respectively. Our results showed that softener cream [Adder mint] usage is more effective than phenylbutazone and Dam cream in supporting the antibiotic treatment. It reduced the treatment period, withdrawal time and recurrence, dramatically

[Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in psychiatric outpatient clinic]

This project was conducted to appraise the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. This was a descriptive-retrospective study. Out of 4000 patients of Tehran Psychiatric Institute's Clinic during the years of 1996-2000, a total of 648 cases diagnosed based on DSM-IV criteria were selected systematic randomly. The cases were further evaluated via a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive-statistical methods.35.6% of patients had the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders.The diagnoses of simultaneous disorders on axis I, according to diagnostic categories,included mood and anxiety disorders [34.6%] and mood and substance-related disorders [6.9%]. The comorbidities according to disorders within each of diagnostic categories included major depressive and obsessive-compulsive disorders [16.0%], major depressive and dysthymic disorders [7.8%], dysthymic and obsessive-compulsive disorders [5.6%], and finally obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia [3.9%]. The diagnosis of simultaneous disorders on axis II, according to clusters A, B, and C, included A and C [0.4%]. The particular comorbidities according to disorders within each of the clusters A, B, or C included histrionic with borderline [0.9%] and paranoid with obsessive-compulsive [0.4%]. The simultaneous diagnoses on axis I and II included mood disorders with personality disorders in general [7.8%] and mood disorders with cluster B of personality disorders in particular [14.7%], anxiety disorder with personality disorders in general [12.6%] and anxiety disorder with cluster C of personality disorders in particular [8.7%],major depressive disorder with cluster B of personality disorders [4.3%], and finally obsessive-compulsive disorder with cluster C of personality disorders [3.9%]. The level of comorbidity detected in this project is less than other studies