Introducing a means of quantifying community reputation: the print media as a data source

A community's reputation may have implications for self-esteem, morale, or other health outcomes of residents. In this study, we introduce a means of quantifying the reputation of communities in Calgary, Canada based on their portrayal in the daily citywide newspaper. Publication dates were selected from an 8.5-year period using constructed week sampling. For communities designated as high or low in well-being, sampled references were rated as positive, negative, or neutral in topic, by two independent raters who were blind to community identity. Findings suggest that the print media represent a convenient and discriminating data source for characterising some aspects of community reputation.     

Yeast metabolic products, yeast antigens and yeasts as possible triggers for irritable bowel syndrome

Many patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are disillusioned by the lack of efficacy of treatments and suffer from numerous symptoms not covered by the Rome criteria for IBS, as the current empirical treatment regimens fail to address these persistent debilitating 'IBS associated symptoms'. These symptoms are similar to other symptom complexes like chronic fatigue and the so-called 'candida syndrome', and many seek help from alternative medicine. The possible role of Candida and yeasts in non-immune compromised individuals is disputed and is the subject of this review. Even if the involvement of yeasts in the aetiology of IBS still remains unclear, there is increasing evidence for yeasts being able to cause IBS-symptoms in sensitized patients via Candida products, antigens and cross-antigens. But more research is needed before antifungal treatment can be recommended as a first line treatment for IBS.     

Single high dose intraoperative electrons for advanced stage pancreatic cancer: phase I pilot study

Phase I toxicity studies with intraoperative radiotherapy proved to be a feasible adjunct to surgery for unresectable malignancies of the pancreas at Howard University Hospital. There have been minimal side effects or complications related to the combination of limited surgical decompression and intraoperative radiotherapy alone. The procedure has now become a standard operation for the surgical radiotherapeutic team as well as the other support members, including anesthesiology, nursing and housekeeping. The toxic effects of intraoperative radiotherapy on normal tissues is being assessed on a dose volume basis. Doses of 2000–2500 rad in a single exposure to include the pancreas, regional nodes and duodenum are acceptable if the total treatment volume is less than or equal to 100 cm³ The tumoricidal effects on the cancer are demonstratable when one reviews the pathological specimens that illustrate massive tumor necrosis and fibros replacement, but in all cases reviewed, viable cancer was noted. Intraoperative radiotherapy, therefore, represents a significant “boost” dose for resectable, partially resectable or non-resectable tumors when added to conventional external beam irradiation and/or chemotherapy. Preliminary clinical data and minimal toxicity justifies further investigation.     

Multifocal follicular carcinoma of thyroid following radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease

A 21-year-old white male developed multifocal follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland 17 years after receiving neck irradiation (3000 rad) for Hodgkin''s disease. The tumour was unique in that follicular carcinoma has not previously been reported as having a multifocal origin, even after high dose radiotherapy.