Evaluation of vinorelbine in persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

PURPOSE: Vinorelbine is being explored by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) for its possible use in advanced or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The objective of this Phase II trial was to evaluate a days 1 and 8 every-21-days schedule and determine its activity in patients who had failed standard chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients with measurable disease and satisfactory baseline bone marrow, liver, and kidney functions were treated with vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) given on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. A two-stage sampling design was used, proceeding to a second stage accrual if sufficient activity was documented in the first 25 patients. RESULTS: The study did proceed to the second stage and accrued 44 patients. There were six objective responses (one complete, five partial) for a response rate of 13.7% (95% confidence interval: 5.2-27.4%). There were three patients with response in extra-pelvic sites (including the complete response) and three with response in the pelvis. The overall frequency of grades 3 and 4 neutropenia was 41%, whereas neuropathy was reported in 27% and was severe in three. Treatment-related pain, very severe in two instances, was also reported in 27%. CONCLUSION: Vinorelbine has moderate activity in a pretreated population with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Accordingly, vinorelbine in this days 1 and 8 schedule is being studied further in combination with cisplatin by the GOG.     

Down's syndrome and paternal age in Norway

There is strong evidence for an effect of maternal age on the risk of Down's syndrome. An effect of paternal age has been suspected, but so far neither confirmed nor completely excluded. Large population-based data that allow detailed adjustment for maternal age are needed for a definitive analysis of the paternal age effect. We used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway recorded from 1967 to 1998. A total of 1738852 children were included in the analysis. A total of 10.3 per 10000 newborns had Down's syndrome. The data were fitted to logistic regression models with careful control for maternal age, birth calendar year and place of birth. When maternal age was adjusted for using categories of 5-year intervals, residual confounding still resulted in a strong effect of paternal age. However, when the shape of the effect of maternal age was well captured by the model, the estimated effect of paternal age was weak (1.11-fold increased risk per 10 years of paternal age, 95% CI of odds ratio 0.99, 1.22) and not statistically significant.     

Extreme long-term outcome of operatively versus conservatively treated patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

European Spine Journal - We report on outcomes of surgically versus (vs) non-surgically treated patients with moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) after minimum of 29 years. AIS...