Effect of coenzyme Qio on radiation-induced fatigue in rats

Background: Fatigue is a common side effect in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy [RT]. Radiation-induced fatigue affects the quality of life, but there is no definitive treatment option, in this study, the weight-loaded forced swim test was performed to assess the effect of coenzyme QIO [CoQIO] on radiation-induced fatigue

Materials and Methods: A total of 60 rats were divided randomly and equally into four groups: No swim, No RT, RT + placebo, or RT + CoQIO. The No swim, No RT, and RT + placebo groups received 1 ml of soybean oil daily for 14 days. The RT + CoQIO group received 100 mg/kg of CoQIO in soybean oil at the same times. Both RT groups were irradiated with 10 Gy on the 14th day of treatment. The swim test with sinkers weighing 10% of body weight was performed 24 h later in all animals except the No swim group

Results: The level of blood urea nitrogen [BUN] was significantly lower in the No swim than the other groups. The BUN level of the No RT group was significantly decreased compared with the RT + placebo group, but it did not differ from the RT + CoQIO group. Swimming times to complete exhaustion were significantly longer in the No RT and RT + CoQIO groups compared to the RT + placebo group [99.4, 105.9, and 75.7 s, respectively] [P<0.001]

Conclusion: Supplementation with CoQIO can prevent the decrease in endurance capacity caused by radiation

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast: 55 cases / 한국유방암학회지

BACKGROUND: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast has been considered a relative rare form of breast cancer because its diagnosis was difficult but the widespread use of screening mammography has made it easy to detect breast disease and there has been a marked increase in the incidence of DCIS. But the exact diagnosis and treatment are controversial. METHOD: We reviewed the clinical record of 55 patients with DCIS treated at the Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, between September 1994 and December 1997. If there was microinvasion noted, it was excluded from this study. RESULTS: The incidence of DCIS was 11.5% of all breast cancer (55 out of 477) with increasing tendency from 1995 to 1997. DCIS was most prevalent in woman who were in their fifth decades and the mean age was 47 years old. Chief complaints were palpable breast masses in 22 (40%), mammorgaphic abnormalities in 21 (38%), abnormal nipple discharge in 7 (13%), and others in 5 cases (9%). The most common mammographic finding was microcalcifications in 41(84%), but the mass density and architectural distortion were also noted in small percentage. Diagnostic methods for preperative pathology were fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytoloty in 15 (27%), localization and excisional biopsy in 16 (29.1%), excisional biopsy in 11 (20%), incisional biopsy in 5 (9%), stereotactic core biopsy in 3 (5.5%), US guided biopsy in 2 (3.6%) and ABBI (advanced breast biopsy instrumentation) biopsy in 3 (5.5%). If the chief complant was palpable masses, FNA was a diagnostic choice. On the other hand, if the problem was mammographic abnormalities, localization and excisional biopsy was preferred. The surgical procedures were modified radical mastectomy in 17 (31%), total mastectomy in 21 (38%) lumpectomy with axillary lymph node dissection in 7 (13%) and lumpectomy only in 10 (18%). If preoperative histology revealed the tumor of comedo type, mastectomy was preferred but in case of non-comedo type, conservative surgery was preferred. Conservative surgery was followed by radiation therapy. Cancers were subclassified according to their histologic subtypes in 51 cases and comedo was the most common type (42%). Prevalent size of the masses were less than 2 cm and the biggest one was 9 cm. There were one case (2%) of lymph node metastasis. It was comedo type and the size of cancer was 9 cm. CONCLUSION: The widespread use of screening mammography and variable diagnostic method will increase the chance to detect the incidence of DCIS and conservative surgery will be performed more frequently in selected group of patients.