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As training theory and practice may not sufficiently recognize the role and impact of sex and gender, this study aims to understand to what extent current corporate training practices fulfill expectations of gender equity and inclusion. This qualitative case study is based on three international training programs, in the Netherlands, the USA, and the UK, respectively, designed by a multinational corporation. The methods include an extensive training document analysis and semi‐structured interviews with training participants, organizers, and trainers. The thematic and gender subtext analyses highlight how the discourse of sex/gender‐blindness in training not only risks maintaining the status quo of under‐representation of women but can also produce sex/gender inequity. The results indicate that training organizers and providers may not feel equipped to recognize and address the role of sex/gender. Future training research, theory, and practice should acknowledge and reflect on the impact of sex/gender, and sex/gender equity should be integrated into program design and delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background For esophageal cancer patients, radical esophagolymphadenectomy is the cornerstone of multimodality treatment with curative intent. Transthoracic esophagectomy is the preferred surgical approach worldwide allowing for en-bloc resection of the tumor with the surrounding lymph nodes. However, the percentage of cardiopulmonary complications associated with the transthoracic approach is high (50 to 70%). Recent studies have shown that robot-assisted minimally invasive thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy (RATE) is at least equivalent to the open transthoracic approach for esophageal cancer in terms of short-term oncological outcomes. RATE was accompanied with reduced blood loss, shorter ICU stay and improved lymph node retrieval compared with open esophagectomy, and the pulmonary complication rate, hospital stay and perioperative mortality were comparable. The objective is to evaluate the efficacy, risks, quality of life and cost-effectiveness of RATE as an alternative to open transthoracic esophagectomy for treatment of esophageal cancer. Methods/design This is an investigator-initiated and investigator-driven monocenter randomized controlled parallel-group, superiority trial. All adult patients (age ≥18 and ≤80 years) with histologically proven, surgically resectable (cT1-4a, N0-3, M0) esophageal carcinoma of the intrathoracic esophagus and with European Clinical Oncology Group performance status 0, 1 or 2 will be assessed for eligibility and included after obtaining informed consent. Patients (n = 112) with resectable esophageal cancer are randomized in the outpatient department to either RATE (n = 56) or open three-stage transthoracic esophageal resection (n = 56). The primary outcome of this study is the percentage of overall complications (grade 2 and higher) as stated by the modified Clavien–Dindo classification of surgical complications. Discussion This is the first randomized controlled trial designed to compare RATE with open transthoracic esophagectomy as surgical treatment for resectable esophageal cancer. If our hypothesis is proven correct, RATE will result in a lower percentage of postoperative complications, lower blood loss, and shorter hospital stay, but with at least similar oncologic outcomes and better postoperative quality of life compared with open transthoracic esophagectomy. The study started in January 2012. Follow-up will be 5 years. Short-term results will be analyzed and published after discharge of the last randomized patient. Trial registration Dutch trial register: NTR3291 ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01544790

The article presents a study that compares the effectiveness of vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) and pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in the prevention of vaginal recurrence after intermediate-risk endometrial carcinoma surgery. It states that the study is an open-label, non-inferiority, and randomized trial that was undertaken in 19 Dutch radiation oncology centers in which 427 patients with stage I or IIA endometrial carcinoma went through EBRT and VBT. The results showed that the rates of acute grade 1-2 gastrointestinal toxicity is lower in VBT group than the EBRT group. It concludes that VBT offers effective vaginal control with less gastrointestinal toxic effects.