Efficacy of Preoperative Radiation Therapy for Resectable Rectal Adenocarcinoma When Combined With Oral Tegafur-Uracil Modulated With Leucovorin

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative radiation therapy for resectable rectal adenocarcinoma (T3-T4) when delivered in combination with chemotherapy (oral tegafur-uracil modulated with leucovorin). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients (23 males; mean age, 62 years.) with histologically proven rectal adenocarcinoma with primary tumor clinical classification T3-T4 (resectable) and N0 or N1-N2, according to TNM staging system, took part in the present clinical trial. After tumor and metastasis resectability confirmation, radiation therapy was administered by delivering a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions for 5 weeks. Chemotherapy treatment was initiated on the same day as radiotherapy and consisted of intravenous infusion of 6S-steroisomer of leucovorin 250 mg/m2/day in 2 hours on Day 1, followed by oral 350 or 300 mg/m2/day of tegafur (a 5-fluorouracil prodrug) plus uracil on Days 1 to 14 divided into 2 daily doses, and oral 6S-steroisomer of leucovorin 7.5 mg/12 hours on Days 2 to 14, with a total of 102 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (i.e., mean of 2.7 courses per patient). Six additional courses of tegafur-uracil were given postoperatively to all 38 patients but 1 who refused. RESULTS: As a result of preoperative chemoradiation treatment, 4 (10.5 percent) complete responses, 20 (52.6 percent) partial responses, and 14 (36.8 percent) patients with disease stabilization were observed. No patients had preoperative disease progression. Histologically proven downstaging was observed in 23 (60 percent) patients. On initial evaluation, only 39 percent of patients were considered as being good candidates for sphincter-preserving surgery; however, on preoperative chemoradiation completion this figure increased up to 60 percent. For the 23 patients eventually undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery, postoperative sphincter function assessment showed excellent function in 15 (65 percent) patients, good in 5 (22 percent), fair in 2 (9 percent), and poor in 1(4 percent). With a median follow-up of 37 (range, 10–62) months, local failure was found in 3 (8 percent) patients and distant failure in 2 (5 percent). Three-year actuarial disease-free survival and 3-year overall survival rates were 83 and 90 percent, respectively. Local control rate was 92 percent. Toxicity and postoperative complication rates were reasonable. CONCLUSIONS: Our neoadjuvant radiation therapy protocol is efficient for the preoperative treatment of resectable rectal adenocarcinoma when combined with chemotherapy (oral tegafur-uracil modulated with leucovorin). However, this protocol needs to be tested in a phase-III clinical trial with a larger sample size.     

Early Adolescent Patterns of Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Eight Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States

Background: Though alcohol and tobacco are the most commonly used substances among adolescents, little is known about the patterning of early adolescent substance use in Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. Objectives: This study examined past month patterns of substances use and its gender difference among adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional samples among adolescents aged 13–16?years who completed the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) from eight ASEAN countries were included in the analysis (n?=?40,212). Results: Prevalence of past month any tobacco use was relatively high in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines (11–15%), but prevalence of dual cigarette and other forms of tobacco use was about 2–5% in the five countries. Past month alcohol consumption prevalence was also high in Thailand, Viet Nam, and the Philippines (16–24%), compared to the rest countries (1.4–8.2%). Moreover, prevalence of the concurrent alcohol and tobacco use was higher in Thailand and the Philippines (7 and 10%, respectively), particularly in boys (13 and 15%, respectively). Conclusions/importance: Almost 30–40% of the boys and 10–20% of girls in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam are engaged in at least one of the two risk behaviors, and the concurrent alcohol and tobacco use was also relatively high among boys in those countries (5–15%). This study may provide some valuable insights on alcohol and tobacco policy in the region and requires to begin prevention and treatment programs in ASEAN member states.     

The effects of strength,aerobic, and concurrent exercise on skeletal muscle damage in rats

Introduction: In this study we examined oxidative stress and skeletal muscle damage resulting from acute strength, aerobic, or concurrent exercise in rats. Methods: The animals were divided into control (C), strength (SE), aerobic (AE), and combined (CE) exercise groups. They were euthanized at 3 different time‐points (6, 24, and 48 h) after acute exercise. Results: SE exercise rats had increased dichlorofluorescein oxidation at 6 h post‐exercise and decreased superoxide dismutase activity at all time‐points. Glutathione peroxidase activity and sulfhydryl levels were increased in the AE group at 48 h post‐exercise. Serum lactate dehydrogenase activity was increased in the SE and CE groups at 24 h and in the AE group at 48 h. Echo intensity was elevated at 24 h for all groups. Conclusions: Forty‐eight hours was sufficient for complete recovery from oxidative stress and muscle damage in the SE and CE groups, but not in the AE group. Muscle Nerve 50 : 79–86, 2014