retrospective comparative study of concomitant chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant temozolomide versus radiotherapy alone in newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme - an experience at Radium institute, Patna medical college and hospital, India

Introduction: Glioblastoma Multiforme [WHO grade IV glioma] still remains a dreadful diagnosis in oncology with the median survival ranging between 12 to 17 months, despite the recent advances in its management[11,12] It is the most common malignant primary tumour in adults[13]. The standard of care is Maximal Safe Resection followed by Concomitant ChemoRadiotherapy

Methods: During the period 2006 to 2010 at Radium Institute, Patna Medical College and Hospital [PMCH] in India, a study was conducted on 37 newly diagnosed GBM cases in which the control-arm [c-arm] received Conventional Radiotherapy [60Gy/30 number] only whereas the study arm [s-arm] received Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy followed by Adjuvant Temozolomide

Results: The median survival was 15.4 months in the s-arm as compared to 12.4 months in the c-arm. The OS showed a significant improvement with p-value of 0.05 and PFS also showed a benefit with a p-value of 0.005

Conclusion: The results were encouraging with improvement in OS as well as PFS in the s-arm and were at par with the other similar studies conducted in different parts of the world

Role of taxanes in the treatment of advanced NHL patients: a randomized study of 87 cases

NHL is a highly chemo-sensitive as well as radiosensitive disease. From May 2005 to June 2010, 87 patients were randomised into 2 arms. The control arm received the standard CHOP regimen + IFRT, whereas the study arm received Paclitaxel, 135/m2 additionally. The results showed a better Overall Response [87% vs 78%] in the study arm. The Syr and Syr overall survival were significantly better in the study arm [89% vs 77%,p- value <0.05; 83% vs 67%, p-value <0.05]. However, the incidence and severity of the side effects, haematological and non- haematological were enhanced but manageable in the study arm

Isolated tuberculosis of the rib

Osteomyelitis of the rib is not an uncommon condition. Among the common causes of osteomyelitis the of rib is tuberculosis. In a majority of such cases, the tuberculous infection is associated with an underlying tuberculous focus either in the pleura or in the lungs. In this report we are presenting an unusual case of isolated tuberculosis of a solitary rib, in a young female without any underlying tuberculous focus either in pleura or the lung. To the best of our knowledge this is the first such case reported in Oman

History of diabetes in the pre-insulin era

Diabetes has been known to the physicians for over 2500 years. Understanding the pathophysiology and management of the disease has come only in the last 75 years. Until about 100 years ago, diabetes was considered an incurable disease with inevitable death as the end result; in the same category as AIDS in the present era. This essay details the trials and tribulations of physicians of the bygone days