The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible predictors of thyroid disorders after neck radiotherapy, with a focus on radiation dose-volume factors.

There is growing recognition for the consequences of rectal cancer treatment to maintain an adequate functional sphincter in the long-term rather than preserving the anal sphincter itself. This study aims to evaluate long-term effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by sphincter-preserving resection on anal sphincter function in relation to quality of life (QoL) among locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Twenty-nine patients treated with nCRT followed by low anterior resection surgery were included in this study. Data on patient demographics, tumor location and symptoms of urgency and fecal soiling were recorded and evaluated with respect to Wexner Fecal Incontinence Scoring Scale, European Organization for Research and Cancer (EORTC) cancer-specific (EORTC QLQ-C30) and colorectal cancer-specific (EORTC QLQ-CR38) questionnaires and anorectal manometrical findings. Correlation of manometrical findings with Wexner Scale, EORTC QLQ-CR38 scores and EORTC QLQ-C30 scores was also evaluated. Median follow-up was 45.6 months (ranged 7.5–98 months. Higher scores for incontinence for gas (p = 0.001), liquid (p = 0.048) and solid (p = 0.019) stool, need to wear pad (p = 0.001) and alteration in life style (p = 0.004) in Wexner scale, while lower scores for future perspective (p = 0.010) and higher scores for defecation problems (p = 0.001) in EORTC QLQ-CR38 were noted in patients with than without urgency. Manometrical findings of resting pressure (mmHg) was positively correlated with body image (r = 0.435, p = 0.030) and sexual functioning (r = 0.479, p = 0.011) items of functional scale, while rectal sensory threshold (RST) volume (mL) was positively correlated with defecation problems (r = 0.424, p = 0.031) items of symptom scale in EORTC QLQ-CR38 and negatively correlated with social function domain (r = −0.479, p = 0.024) in EORTC QLQ-C30. RST volume was also positively correlated with Wexner scores including incontinence for liquid stool (r = 0.459, p = 0.024), need to wear pad (r = 0.466, p = 0.022) and alteration in lifestyle (r = 0.425, p = 0.038). The high risk of developing functional anal impairment as well as the systematic registration of not only oncological but also functional and QoL related outcomes seem important in rectal cancer patients in the long-term disease follow-up.

The aim of this study was to compare three screening tools for malnutrition in patients with head and neck cancers or central nervous system tumors (CNS) who are undergoing radiochemotherapy. The study evaluated 124 adult cancer patients. The Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) were chosen to assess the risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of patients at nutritional risk was 31% with SGA, 31% with MNA and 23% with NRS-2002 in all patients. The agreement between SGA and MNA was substantial (κ = 0.886, P < 0.001); the agreement between SGA and NRS-2002 was moderate (κ = 0.713, P < 0.001); and the agreement between MNA and NRS-2002 was also moderate (κ = 0.795, P < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, SGA and MNA substantially (κ = 0.973, P < 0.001), SGA and NRS-2002 moderately (κ = 0.722, P < 0.001), and MNA and NRS-2002 moderately (κ = 0.747, P < 0.001) agreed in head and neck cancer patients. In CNS tumor patients, SGA and MNA slightly (κ = 0.390, P = 0.005), SGA and NRS-2002 fairly (κ = 0.457, P =0.001), and MNA and NRS-2002 substantially (κ = 0.878, P < 0.001) agreed. The best agreement in tools was observed between SGA with MNA in all patients. Further studies in different tumor groups will enhance our understanding of current tools for malnutrition detection of radiotherapy patient.

To assess the outcomes, symptom palliation and survival rates in patients who received repeat whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT).

PurposeThe present study was conducted to characterize the possible therapeutic effects of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 against oxidative damage in the ileum and colon of irradiated rats.Methods and materialsSprague-Dawley rats of both sexes received either a single dose of GLP-1 (0.1 nmol/kg, intraperitoneally, ip; n = 6) 10 min before abdominal irradiation (IR) or two consecutive doses of GLP-2 (7 nmol/kg, ip; n = 6) at 30 and 10 min before IR, while another group was administered vehicle (n = 6) 10 min before IR. Control rats (n = 6) received vehicle treatment without IR. On the fourth day of IR, samples from ileum and colon were removed for histological analysis, for the determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as DNA fragmentation ratio, an index of apoptosis.ResultsIR-induced oxidative injury in the colonic tissue of vehicle-treated rats, evidenced by elevated MDA levels and MPO activity, as well as depleted colonic GSH levels, was reversed by GLP-2, while GLP-1 reduced IR-induced elevations in colonic MDA levels. IR-induced injury with elevated ileal MDA levels was reduced by GLP-1, while replenishment in GSH was observed in GLP-2-treated rats.ConclusionCurrent findings suggest that GLP-1 and GLP-2 appear to have protective roles in the irradiation-induced oxidative damage of the gut by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and subsequent activation of inflammatory mediators that induce lipid peroxidation