Search

Background We sought to compare the prognostic significance of different preoperative complete blood count cell ratios in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 890 patients with OSCC who were treated with surgery and PORT. The following preoperative complete blood count cell ratios were collected: neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR). Overall survival (OS), local control, regional control, and distant control (DC) served as the main outcomes of interest. Results The results of multivariate analysis in the entire study cohort revealed that a low NLR was the only independently favorable marker of both OS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.794, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.656–0.961, bootstrap p = 0.028) and DC (adjusted HR: 0.659, 95% CI: 0.478–0.909, bootstrap p = 0.015). Both LMR and PLR were not retained in the model as independent predictors. Subgroup analyses in high‐risk patients (i.e., those bearing T4 disease, N3 disease, or poor differentiation) revealed that a high NLR was a significant adverse risk factor for both OS and DC (all p, This relatively large cohort reports a comparative result: pretreatment high neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was an independent unfavorable risk factor for both overall survival and distant metastasis in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were not significant.

BackgroundWe sought to investigate the prognostic impact of missed RT sessions in patients who had undergone surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).MethodsThe study sample consisted of 905 patients with surgically treated OCSCC who fulfilled criteria of RT course ≤8 weeks. The study participants were divided into three groups based on the characteristics of missed RT, as follows: 1) early missed RT, 2) late missed RT, and 3) RT as scheduled.ResultsThe 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in the early missed RT, late missed RT, and RT as scheduled groups were 53.0, 58.1, and 64.5%, respectively (p = 0.046). In multivariate analysis, early missed RT was independently associated with both OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.486; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.122–1.966;p = 0.006) and the occurrence of distant metastasis (HR = 1.644; 95% CI: 1.047–2.583;p = 0.031).ConclusionEarly missed RT was independently associated with a higher occurrence of distant metastasis and less favorable OS in patients who had undergone surgery for OCSCC.

Objective: Localized prostate cancer can be treated with several radiotherapeutic approaches. Proton therapy (PT) can precisely target tumors, thus sparing normal tissues and reducing side-effects without sacrificing cancer control. However, PT is a costly treatment compared with conventional photon radiotherapy, which may undermine its overall efficacy. In this review, we summarize current data on the dosimetric rationale, clinical benefits, and cost of PT for prostate cancer. Methods: An extensive literature review of PT for prostate cancer was performed with emphasis on studies investigating dosimetric advantage, clinical outcomes, cost-effective strategies, and novel technology trends. Results: PT is safe, and its efficacy is comparable to that of standard photon-based therapy or brachytherapy. Data on gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and sexual function toxicity profiles are conflicting; however, PT is associated with a low risk of second cancer and has no effects on testosterone levels. Regarding cost-effectiveness, PT is suboptimal, although evolving trends in radiation delivery and construction of PT centers may help reduce the cost. Conclusion: PT has several advantages over conventional photon radiotherapy, and novel approaches may increase its efficacy and safety. Large prospective randomized trials comparing photon therapy with proton-based treatments are ongoing and may provide data on the differences in efficacy, toxicity profile, and quality of life between proton- and photon-based treatments for prostate cancer in the modern era. Advances in knowledge: PT provides excellent physical advantages and has a superior dose profile compared with X-ray radiotherapy. Further evidence from clinical trials and research studies will clarify the role of PT in the treatment of prostate cancer, and facilitate the implementation of PT in a more accessible, affordable, efficient, and safe way.

We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of combined pretreatment lymphocyte counts (LCs) and body mass index (BMI) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiation therapy (RT). Nine hundred and twelve patients with HNC who were treated with RT were retrospectively reviewed. Survival was analyzed by stratifying the patients according to pretreatment LCs and BMI. Patients with low pretreatment LCs and BMI were characterized by a more advanced T stage, fewer nasopharyngeal subsites, less smoking and drinking, and fewer comorbidities. Patients with low pretreatment LCs and BMI had a significantly poorer overall and distant metastasis‐free survival than those with high pretreatment LCs and BMI. No significant differences were observed in terms of local or regional recurrence‐free survival. Combined pretreatment LCs and BMI may be more effective at predicting overall and distant metastasis‐free survival in patients with HNC treated with RT.

PURPOSE Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the most dismal prognosis pediatric brain tumor. Six weeks radiation therapy (RT) remains the mainstay of treatment. The aim of the current study was to compare the results of firstly reported repeated low dose RT (rLRT) with conventional RT (CRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: This retrospective review included 24 children with DIPG, aged 3 -18 years, underwent CRT (52- 60.0 Gy in 1.8- 2.0 Gy, n = 16) or rLRT (18 - 30 Gy in 1.5–2.0 Gy per cycle for 1–3 cycles, n = 8). All children had typical symptoms and MRI features of DIPG, or biopsy-proven DIPG. RESULTS The median overall survival (OS) was 12.6 months in rLRT group and 11.4 months in CRT group (p =0.347), progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.6 months in rLRT group and 6.5 months in CRT group (p = 0.821), no significant survival difference was observed between two groups. Temporary discontinuation or tapering of steroids rate was significantly higher in rLRT group (100% vs 60%, p = 0.028). Although not statistically significant, mean non-hospitalized days were longer in the rLRT group, 403 days versus 305 days in the CRT group, as were mean cumulative progression-free days, 276 days versus 163 days and 1-year free from CSF diversion rate was higher, 100% versus 64.9%. CONCLUSIONS For patients with newly diagnosed DIPG, repeated low dose RT, given over 3 to 4 weeks per cycle for 1 to 3 cycles, offers comparable survival outcome with less disease burden compared with conventional RT.

This study aimed to examine the repeated-sprint ability (RSA) in soccer players after 3 days of static stretching. Twenty soccer players (age: 16.8 ± 0.4 years) participated in 2 series of experiments with within-subject repeated-measure design (control series [CON]: 13-minute aerobic warm-up; and static-stretching series [SS]: 10-minute aerobic warm-up and 3-minute static stretching). Each series consisted of 5 days, and RSA (9 × 30 m separated by 25-second passive recovery) was tested on days 1 and 5. Static stretching was performed for 3 consecutive days from days 2-4, before and after intermittent aerobic endurance exercise on each day. The same warm-up protocol was used before and after all RSA tests and exercises within 1 series. No significant difference between CON and SS was observed (p > 0.05) in RSA for overall (all sprints), early phase (first to third sprints), middle phase (fourth to sixth sprints), and final phase (seventh to ninth sprints). Short-term static stretching had trivial effects (Cohen's d < 0.35) on overall and split RSA phases (early, middle, and final). The present study showed that performing static stretching for 3 consecutive days and before repeated-sprint test did not negatively affect RSA. However, it is premature to recommend that static stretching could be included in in-season daily warm-up routine because some movements such as jump and single sprint were more sensitive to static stretching.

For a coal producer to remain competitive, coal has to be produced which satisfies the market specifications at the maximum possible coal recovery and minimum cost. To reach this goal requires an accurate knowledge of the in situ reserve. This knowledge includes a good estimation of both the in situ coal quality and the probable fluctuation of the in situ coal quality during production. Based on this knowledge, an optimum mine planning and scheduling strategy aimed at maximising the preparation plant recovery can be investigated. Geostatistical kriging provides one of the best approaches for estimation of in situ coal quality and geostatistical conditional simulation provides a promising way to characterize fluctuations in the in situ coal quality. The aim of this project is to investigate and develop a practical procedure for applying geostatistics to the in situ coal quality prediction and simulation using coal washability data. The term coal quahty used in this project refers only to yield and ash. The coal washability data can be expressed by two basic relationships: the instantaneous ash vs relative density relationship and the yield vs relative density relationship. For the coal seams or individual coal plies studied, the first relationship is relatively constant over a significant area. Consequently, it is only necessary to study the second relationship geostatistically. There are significant correlations between the incremental yields at different separating densities. These correlations of the coal washability data have been reproduced in the models by constructing them in a multivariate way. Another characteristic of the coal washability data is that the sum of the incremental yields and the associated sink is 100. A quadratic programming approach was employed to force the originally constructed multivariate models to have this characteristic. As a result, the procedures for constructing two coal quality models: a prediction model and a simulation model have been successfully formulated. A mine scheduling exercise has also been conducted based on the models developed. Geostatistical analysis was undertaken on a commercial software package. All additional computer programs needed for carrying out the procedures have been specially written. Consequently, the procedures developed in this project are readily generalized to other mines. One merit of the models developed is that they can be used as inputs to a coal preparation plant simulator. This allows mine planning and scheduling to be carried out by taking into account the imperfect separation of a coal washing plant and hence, the prediction of plant yields. The simulation model also allows the scale of the fluctuations in the plant feed for a given mine operating configuration to be predicted. Data from the Newlands Coal Pty. Ltd., a member of the M.I.M Holdings Limited Group of Companies have been used for procedure development. The resultant procedures have, in addition, been successfully applied to data from the German Creek mine of Capricorn Coal Management Pty Ltd.