Accuracy of apex locator.

An evaluation of the accuracy of the "Root ZX" apex locator was conducted on 20 single-rooted teeth that had been extracted because of severe disease or orthodontic treatment. After the pulp chamber had been accessed and the tooth length determined using the Root ZX apparatus, the file was fixed to the tooth with light-cured composite resin. After extraction, the tooth was longitudinally ground with a diamond bur until the file was visible. The distance between the file tip and the apical foramen was measured under a microscope (x 100). The results showed that the tip of the instrument reached the apical foramen in all teeth.

Serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) in patients with cervical carcinoma: preliminary report.

Tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) was measured by TPS ELISA in the sera of 88 patients with FIGO stage II and III cervical cancer and 93 healthy Thai women as the control group. The mean serum TPS levels were 63.1 U/L in the control group, and 166.4 and 363.2 U/L in stage II and III cervical cancer respectively. The mean of the control group and stage II patients were not significantly different while the mean of stage III patients was significantly different from those two groups (p < 0.0005). With the cut-off value of 90 U/L, the rates of TPS elevation were 22/35 (65.7%) in stage II and 42/53 (79.2%) in stage III patients. As for the pathology, squamous cell carcinoma showed a statistical difference from adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma of P = 0.001. For squamous cell carcinoma, there was no difference between the keratinized and non-keratinized type (P = 0.451). TPS is not sensitive in stage II. However, it might be useful for predicting prognosis if the elevation is significantly high, and distant metastases or local recurrence should be investigated.

Randomized trial radiotherapy with and without concomitant 13-cis-retinoic acid plus interferon-alpha for locally advanced cervical cancer: a preliminary report.

Locally advanced cervical cancer could be treated with Interferon-alpha plus retinoic acid concomitant with standard radiotherapy. It showed some response in local control. The pattern of relapse and the survival of the patients should be observed in the follow-up period for the conclusion.

Neoadjuvant carboplatin & 5 fluorouracil combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer: primary report.

We studied the effect of neoadjuvant carboplatin/5-FU combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of 53 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in Siriraj Hospital. Carboplatin 350-450 mg/m2 I.V. on day 1, and 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2/d on days 1-4, were administered either on an in- or out-patient basis. We obtained a response rate of 85 per cent, with 13 per cent complete response after 2-3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After the completion of subsequent radiotherapy, the response rate increased to 94 per cent, with 40 per cent CR. After the additional 2-3 cycles of postradiation chemotherapy, the final overall response rate was 96 per cent, with 77 per cent CR. Only 4 per cent of patients had grade 3 GI toxicity and 25 per cent of patients had grade 2, 3 myelosuppression. All patients tolerated the treatment very well. Long-term study for the duration time of response and survival are being collected.

Megestrol acetate as the supportive treatment of Thai patients with advanced cancer.

We studied the effect of the standard oral dose (160 mg/d) of megestrol acetate on the weight gain of 115 advanced cancer patients. All were underweight and were receiving only supportive or symptomatic care. The median treatment time was 74 weeks (range: 4 weeks to 2 years). The mean body weight gain of all patients was 4.84 kg (range: -3 to 18 kg) regardless of the disease status. Weight gain was dependent on the length of treatment time. The performance status after therapy also shifted to the better status with significant statistical difference. All patients felt an increase of appetite and also had an improved sense of well-being. No serious side-effects of the treatment were noted in this study.

Mitoxantrone as single agent in the treatment of advanced breast cancer: clinical experience at Siriraj Hospital.

A total of 35 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with mitoxantrone, 14 mg/m2 I.V. every 3 weeks. Of these, 27 patients or 78 lesions could be evaluated for response and all 35 patients for toxicity. The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 35 per cent (or CR + PR + SD = 82%), ten lesions achieved a complete response and 17 lesions a partial response. The duration of response varied from a minimum of 2 months to more than 11 months (median = 4 months). Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity with moderate to severe degree in 19 patients. The most frequent severe degree in 19 patients. The most frequent non-hematologic toxicity was mild grade of nausea and vomiting (67%). No cardiotoxicity was noted in this study after the maximum cumulative dose of mitoxantrone 157.5 mg.