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Purpose: Here, we present the results from a retrospective analysis, with the purpose of evaluating the safety and feasibility of nivolumab and radiotherapy (RT) concomitant association in metastatic kidney and lung cancer patients. Materials and methods: From August 2015 until September 2017, we retrospectively observed 20 patients with metastatic lung and renal cell carcinoma who had been initiated therapy with nivolumab and underwent concomitant RT. RT was administered either as an ablative therapy in the oligometastatic/oligoprogressive setting or as palliative-only treatment for symptomatic patients. Data on progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS), treatment response and adverse events were collected and reported. Comparison between palliative-only and ablative treatments was performed. Results: PFS and OS were 7 and 12.5 months in the entire population, respectively. Oligoprogressive patients treated with ablative intent, compared to patients undergoing RT with palliative-only intent, had statistically longer PFS (11.5 vs 5.2 months, HR 0.42, CI 0.18–0.98, p 0.03) and OS (17.9 vs 10.31 months, HR 0.41 CI 0.16–1.02, p 0.04). Considering only patients treated with ablative intent, 87.5% showed response to treatment, and complete response was reported in 37.5% of cases. Adverse G2–G3 related to combination treatment were reported as follows: 1 gastrointestinal (nausea), 4 breakthrough pain. Conclusions: Our data showed significant advantage for oligoprogressive patients treated with RT during nivolumab therapy. No safety alert emerged. These results underline the potential synergistic effects of RT and Immune therapy combination. Our analysis prompts further prospective studies exploring the benefit of integrated treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To characterize chest radiographic interpretations in a large population of patients who have received a diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism and to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of chest radiographic abnormalities for right ventricular hypokinesis that has been diagnosed by echocardiography.Design: A prospective observational study at 52 hospitals in seven countries.Patients: A total of 2,454 consecutive patients who had received a diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism between January 1995 and November 1996.Results: Chest radiographs were available for 2,322 patients (95%). The most common chest radiographic interpretations were cardiac enlargement (27%), normal (24%), pleural effusion (23%), elevated hemidiaphragm (20%), pulmonary artery enlargement (19%), atelectasis (18%), and parenchymal pulmonary infiltrates (17%). The results of chest radiographs were abnormal for 509 of 655 patients (78%) who had undergone a major surgical procedure within 2 months of the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: normal results for chest radiograph often accompanied pulmonary embolism after genitourinary procedures (37%), orthopedic surgery (29%), or gynecologic surgery (28%), whereas they rarely accompanied pulmonary emboli associated with thoracic procedures (4%). Chest radiographs were interpreted to show cardiac enlargement for 149 of 309 patients with right ventricular hypokinesis that was detected by echocardiography (sensitivity, 0.48) and for 178 of 485 patients without right ventricular hypokinesis (specificity, 0.63). Chest radiographs were interpreted to show pulmonary artery enlargement for 118 of 309 patients with right ventricular hypokinesis (sensitivity, 0.38) and for 117 of 483 patients without right ventricular hypokinesis (specificity, 0.76).Conclusions: Cardiomegaly is the most common chest radiographic abnormality associated with acute pulmonary embolism. Neither pulmonary artery enlargement nor cardiomegaly appears sensitive or specific for the echocardiographic finding of right ventricular hypokinesis, an important predictor of mortality associated with acute pulmonary embolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on two experiments which investigated the precipitation phenomenon that occurs in clinical practice between two medicinal drugs, ketorolac thrometamine and morphine hydrochloride, used for treatment of cancer pain. Advantages of the use of continuous subcutaneous infusion for the therapeutic efficacy of medicinal drugs and for patients; Methodology; Results and discussion.

Deals with a study which examined the use of periduroscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Background on the periduroscope; Methodology; Results and discussion.