Hypofractionated simultaneous integrated boost [sib] versus conventional fractionation in localized prostate cancer: a randomized pilot study

Radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy has comparable results in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. High dose external irradiation entails a prolonged 7-8 weeks of treatment with significant inconvenience to elderly patients. Hypofractionated regimen in prostate cancer depends on the distinctive radiobiological properties of prostate cancer cells; their relative low alpha beta ratio compared to that for late-reacting rectal tissue allows for significant dose escalation per fraction without expected increase in late normal tissue reaction. Between July 2012 and December 2013, twenty patients were blindly randomized into two groups. The planning target volume in the study group received 65Gy to 67.5Gy/25 fractions over 5 weeks. The patients in the control arm received 74Gy to 78Gy in 2Gy/fraction. Cost-benefit was evaluated for both regimens. Both groups were comparable regarding risk factors, with no significant statistical differences. Four patients in the study group developed grade 2 urinary toxicity and one patient had grade 3 during treatment, At six months no patient had urinary symptoms, In the control arm 4 patients have grade 2 toxicity during treatment which disappeared at six months, The two groups showed no statistical difference in the mean quality of life. Serum PSA reached a nadir value of 0.02 and 0.04 in the study and control groups respectively at 3 month post-treatment. The cost of treatment for the study group was 25000 L.E, per patient compared to 40000 L.E. in the control group. The hypofractionated group consumed 31138 MU compared to 45611 MU for the control group with ap-valueof 0.015. Hypofractionated IMRT with concomitant boost for localized cancer prostate is a feasible option with lesser cost and comparable toxicities. Longer follow-up is required to assess the late effects before recommending it as a standard of care

Effect of diazinon and / or praziquantel on selected protein aspects in healthy and Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

The effect of 1/20 LD50 diazinon given orally to healthy and Schistosomiasis mansoni infected mice for 5-9 successive days and 17 weeks coupled with a therapeutic dose [2x500 mg/kg b. Wt.] of praziquantel two weeks before sacrificing. The results showed insignificant differences obtained from total proteins, albumin, globulins and albumin/globulin ratio. However, significant differences were revealed from alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2 and gamma-globulins in addition to plasma ceruloplasmin. Diazinon changed the levels of alpha 2, beta 1 and gamma-globulins, while diazinon coupled with schistosomiasis affected the levels of most of the studies parameters

Biochemical changes after subchronic and chronic interaction of Schistosoma mansoni infection in Swiss albino mice with two specific compounds

The effects of diazinon [DZN] and/or praziquantel [PZQ] on the levels of plasma triiodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4], activities of brain acetylcholinesterase [AchE] and liver alanine aminotransferase [ALT] in addition to blood reduced glutathione [GSH] in healthy and Schistosoma mansoni [Sm] infected mice were investigated after 9 and 17 weeks of either infection or intoxication with DZN. Triiodothyronine showed significant differences among the different treatments. The group of mice treated with PZQ showed the highest levels of T3 at both time intervals. Thyroxine level showed significant differences between the two time intervals. The lowest levels of T4 were observed in the infected-PZQ grown at week 17. The maximum inhibition of brain AchE activity was noticed in DZN-PZQ treated group after 9 and 17 weeks

Schistosoma mansoni: IgG reactivity to soluble adult worm antigen preparation [swap] in sera of immunized mice with irradiated attenuated and virulent cercariae

The aim of this work was to identify the antigens, that elicit a greater or unique immune response in the immunized host against Schistosoma mansoni [Egyptian strain] infection. Moreover, the difference in immune response to this antigen between mice immunized with radiation-attenuated cercaria or immunized with virulent cercaria were investigated. Immunoblotting technique was used to monitor the fine specificity of host IgG to SDS-PAGE separated SWAP in the sera of different test groups immunized with either radiation-attenuated cercaria or low doses of virulent cercaria compared with non-immunized group

Unexpected malignancy in perimenopausal versus postmenopausal uterine bleeding

In this study, a total of 600 cases of irregular uterine bleeding in the age group 40-60 years were chosen. Full dilatation and endometrial curettings was done in every patient and the biopsy obtained was subjected to histopathological examination. Out of the 600 patients studied, 515 [85.8%] were perimenopausal and 85 [14.2%] were postmenopausal. The incidence of malignancy was 6.5%. The highest incidence was coporal malignancy with a peak at the age group 55-59 years followed by cervical malignancy with a peak at the age group 40-49 years. The incidence of malignancy in age group 40-44 was 2% and it increased tremendously with age representing 68.4% of cases of uterine bleeding at the age group 55-59 and 87.5% at the age of 60. Premalignant lesions represented 81.5% of cases. Cystic hyperplasia and simple hyperplasia with or without atypia represented 56.7% and affected mostly women of the age group 40-44 years. Disorders of pregnancy represented 7.8% of cases, while atrophic endometritis accounted for 4.2% of causes of uterine bleeding. Thus, the relatively high incidence of malignancy in peri and postmenopausal bleeding justified the employment of dilatation and full curettings as a definite diagnostic method to exclude malignancy