1,721,032 research outputs found
The Association of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy: Breast Cancer
No full textPostoperative treatment of early-stage breast cancer often includes radio- and chemo- therapy and, more recently, trastuzumab. Optimal timing, i.e. sequential or concomitant, of radiotherapy and systemic therapies to maximize efficacy and cosmetic outcome and minimize toxicity, is still controversial. This review analyzes the effects of different sequences after surgery as reported in phase III randomized studies and the most significant retrospective studies. Few randomized clinical trials investigated the optimal therapeutic sequence as most were designed to evaluate the efficacy of different chemotherapy schemes and schedules. Since end-points did not usually include the optimal timing of the two modalities, single participant centers were often free to decide whether radiotherapy should be administered or not, and what fields and schedules to use.
Concomitant or sequential chemo- and radio-therapy were not associated with major differences in outcome. Concurrent administration is reserved for patients treated with CMF; it is not recommended when antracycline or taxanes are used, because of the increased risk of cutaneous, esophageal, cardiac and pulmonary toxicity. Although concurrent trastuzumab and radiotherapy seem feasible, trastuzumab induces cardiac damage. Even though it seems reversible, follow-ups in diverse studies were too short to assess the late side effects of concomitant trastuzumab and radiotherapy
Supraclavicular and infraclavicular lymph node delineation in breast cancer patients: a proposal deriving from a comparative study
No full textAims and background: Current advances in radiotherapy for breast cancer require knowledge of the anatomy of irradiated areas to minimize geographic miss and spare organs at risk. This study aimed at defining a contouring approach for supraclavicular (SC) and infraclavicular (IC) nodes after mastectomy or conservative surgery in patients with breast cancer. Methods and study design: In 15 patients, SC and IC nodes were contoured on computed tomography slices according to Madu et al and Dijkema et al. After analyzing relapse sites, as reported by Reed et al, our approach was defined. The 3 methods were compared in all patients, quantifying differences in contours by percentage overlap (PO). Results: In our approach, SC node delineation is similar to Madu et al in the ventral and medial landmarks, but includes the lateral SC nodes described by Dijkema et al. The lateral landmarks are the scalenus anterior and medius muscle lateral border and the clavicle. Dorsal boundaries are the scalenus anterior and medius muscle ventral and lateral surfaces and the subclavian artery ventral border. In IC node delineation, major differences emerged in cranial and dorsal limits which, in our approach, are the pectoralis minor muscle upper edge and the subclavian axillary artery ventral side. Our mean and median volumes and POs were between the other 2 methods. Conclusions: This study contributes to standardizing draining node contouring, so as to reduce variability and minimize geographic miss
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Platelet function after single 153Sm-EDTMP therapy in prostate cancer.
No full textAim. Aim of the study was to assess whether [153Sm] EDTMP therapy at a low-dose is associated with platelet activation. Methods. In 29 patients suffering from metastatic prostate cancer platelet count and various platelet function parameters have been monitored for 2 months after a single (the first) application of 1.1 GBq mCi [153Sm]EDTMP. Results. After 3 days insignificant signs of platelet activation (increase in malondialdehyde, adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation, decreased platelet sensitivity) occur, normalizing rapidly. At the nadir of platelet count (3-4 weeks) platelet aggregation response in non-count adjusted samples is somewhat lower, while activity per cell (count adjusted samples) is unchanged. Platelet proteins do not change at all. Insignificant activation of platelet function at day 3 is interpreted as an indicator of mild oxidation injury, late aggregation response changes in non-adjusted samples seem only to reflect temporarily decreased number of circulating platelets. Samarium-153-EDTMP therapy at doses (1.1 GBq) used in the Vienna-protocol is not associated with a significantly altered functional behavior of platelets. Conclusion. We conclude that a single dose of 1.1 GBq 153Sm-EDTMP does not significantly affect in vivo and ex vivo platelet function
Computed tomography to localize excision cavity in patients receiving partial breast irradiation with interstitial high-dose rate brachitherapy.
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