Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: Ramathibodi experience.

A retrospective study of the preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer performed at Ramathibodi Hospital. The median age of twelve patients was 52 years. The tumor locations (upper-, mid-, lower rectum) were 25%, 50% and 25%, respectively. Eleven patients had clinical stage 111 disease. All received concurrent 5-FU-based chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (if resectable) and chemotherapy. The most common toxicity of preoperative treatment was gr. 1-2 diarrhea (58.3%). The response rate was 41.7%. Five patients (41.7%) underwent sphincter-sparing surgery. Four patients underwent AP resection. Twenty-five percent achieved pathological complete response. Pathological downstaging occurred in 33.3%. The remaining three patients had unresectable disease. With the median follow up of 13 months, five patients had progressive disease and one has expired. The local failure rate was 16.7%. The one-year recurrence-free survival was 75%. The authors conclude that preoperative chemoradiotherapy is an effective treatment with favorable outcome in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Clinical study of the Ginko biloba--Troxerutin-Heptaminol Hce in the treatment of acute hemorrhoidal attacks.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy, compliance and safety of Ginko biloba--Troxerutin-Heptaminol Hce in the treatment of patients with acute hemorrhoidal attacks in Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a prospective clinical study on hospital outpatients, the authors studied the effect of Ginko biloba--Troxerutin-Heptaminol Hce for a week in adults (18-70 years old) with acute hemorrhoidal attacks. RESULT: Twenty-two patients, with a mean age of 41.7 years were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.2. Most patients (77%) had grade 1 and 2 hemorrhoids with an average duration of attacks of 3 days. On intention to treat analysis, bleeding, pain, tenesmus and discharge were significantly improved. Treatment was well accepted and safe. CONCLUSION: In the short-term, Ginko biloba--Troxerutin-Heptaminol Hce is effective, acceptable and safe in the treatment of patients with acute hemorrhoidal attacks.