ABSTRACT
Background: Thymomas are rare epithelial tumors arising from thymus gland. This study aims at investigating the clinical presentation, prognostic factors and treatment outcome of forty five patients with thymoma and thymic carcinoma
Methods: Forty-five patients being histologically diagnosed with thymoma or thymic carcinoma that were treated and followed-up at a tertiary academic hospital during January 1987 and December 2008 were selected for the present study. Twelve patients were solely treated with surgery, 14 with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, 12 with sequential combined treatment of surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy and 7 with non-surgical approach including radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Tumors were classified based on the new World Health Organization [WHO] histological classification
Results: T here were 18 women and 27 men with a median age of 43 years. Twelve patients [26.7%] had stage I, 7 [17.8%] had stage II, 23 [51%] had stage III and 2 [4.5%] had stage IV disease. Tumors types were categorized as type A [n=4], type AB [n=10], type B1 [n=9], type B2 [n=10], type B3 [n=5] and type C [n=7]. In univariate analysis for overall survival, disease stage [P=0.001], tumor size [P=0.017] and the extent of surgical resection [P<0.001] were prognostic factors. Regarding the multivariate analysis, only the extent of the surgical resection [P<0.001] was the independent prognostic factor and nonsurgical treatment had a negative influence on the survival. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 70.8% and 62.9%, respectively
Conclusion: Complete surgical resection is the most important prognostic factor in patients with thymic epithelial tumors
ABSTRACT
Background: This two-arm, randomized clinical study aimed to compare efficacy between topical Alpha ointment and topical hydrocortisone cream [1%] in the healing of radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients
Methods: The inclusion criteria comprised newly pathologically proven, locally advanced breast cancer [treated with modified radical mastectomy followed by sequential adjuvant treatments, including chest wall radiotherapy [45-50.4 Gy]] and grade 2 and/or 3 chest wall dermatitis. The exclusion criteria were comprised of any underlying disease or medications interfering with the wound healing process, previous history of chest wall radiotherapy, and concurrent use of chemotherapy. Sixty eligible patients were randomly assigned to use either topical Alpha ointment [study arm, n=30] or topical hydrocortisone cream [1%] [control arm, n=30] immediately after receiving a total dose of 45-50 Gy chest wall radiotherapy
Results: The mean radiation dose was 49.1 Gy in the control arm and 48.8 Gy in the study arm. The mean dermatitis area was 13.54 cm[2] in the control arm and 17.02 cm[2] in the study arm. Topical Alpha ointment was more effective on the healing of radiation-induced dermatitis than was topical hydrocortisone cream [1%] [P=0.001]. This effect was significant in the second week [P=0.007]. In addition, Alpha ointment decreased the patients' complaints such as pain [P<0.001], pruritus [P=0.009], and discharge [P=0.010] effectively and meaningfully
Conclusion: Topical Alpha ointment was more effective on the healing of radiation-induced dermatitis than was topical hydrocortisone cream [1%] in our patients with breast cancer
ABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence of high blood pressure in a representative sample of children and adolescents from Tehran, Iran, and also to compare our results with those reported by the Second Task Force. This cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2004 to September 2005. Individuals between 13 and 18 years of age were selected randomly from the list of schools [grade 6 through 12] in various locations throughout Tehran. All measurements were performed at public and high schools. The size of the sample was defined based on the expected prevalence of hypertension for the age group. After randomization, data were collected through a questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured twice. Weight and height were also measured. High blood pressure was defined as systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure over the 95th percentile in both measures. The final sample included 6038 [3280 boys 2758 girls] apparently healthy students. In all students who had a systolic or diastolic blood pressure equal or more than the 95th percentile, blood pressure was measured after 1 and 2 weeks [second and third rescreening]. Blood pressure was elevated in 287 students in the initial screening [4.7%], with a decrease to 1.0% and 0.8% when this group was screened a second and third time respectively. According to the 1987 Task Force Report in United States, systolic hypertension was found in 2.8% and diastolic hypertension in 3.4% in screening. In rescreening, both systolic and diastolic hypertension had fallen to 0.7%. In the third screening systolic hypertension had fallen to 0.6% and diastolic hypertension to 0.5%. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 0.8% in the present study. No statistically significant difference was noted between the prevalence of elevated blood pressure between genders. Additionally, these results confirm the importance of the Task Force recommendation that multiple BP measurements should be obtained before making a diagnosis of hypertension