The Application of Number Needed to Treat (NNT) to Clinical Problems in Radiotherapy

The goals of this report are: 1) to review the number needed to treat (NNT) concept, which, although well established in many sectors of medicine, is still relatively new to the radiotherapy community; 2) to discuss several clinical radiotherapy examples illustrating the inherent advantages of the NNT approach; and 3) to discuss potential future roles of the NNT concept within radiotherapy.     

Report from the 1st Japanese Urological Association-Japanese Society of Medical Oncology joint conference, 2006: ''A step towards better collaboration between urologists and medical oncologists''

The 1st Japanese Urological Association-Japanese Society of Medical Oncology Joint Conference, titled 'A step towards better collaboration between urologists and medical oncologists', was held to coincide with the 44th Meeting of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology, Tokyo, in October 2006. The main theme of the conference addressed the need for a subspecialty of medical oncologist within urology to keep abreast of advances in medical oncology. Urologists should become more involved in the postoperative management of urologic cancer. Consensus on the optimal way to move forward in the treatment of urological cancer is needed. The conference featured eight lectures surveying the present status of uro-oncology in Europe, the USA, Korea, Singapore, and Japan; the relationship between surgical oncologists and medical oncologists; global trends and international clinical trials in uro-oncology; and the future of urologic oncology. These were followed by a general discussion titled 'Achieving better collaboration between the surgical oncologist and the medical oncologist.' This report presents a roundup of the 1st Japanese Urological Association-Japanese Society of Medical Oncology Joint Conference.     

医学美学与美容医学的整体学科研究

回顾医学美学与美容医学形成独立的学科系统的十多年来的发展历程，认为这个新兴学科在“整体学科”方面还存在一些学术问题有待人们进一步探讨。并认为，所谓“整体学科研究”是遵循该学科发展的内在规律所进行的各项研究的总和，是该学科发展的灵魂。学者们的任务在于：通过“整体学科研究”寻求其学科内在规律，经一代代同道有志者坚持不懈的努力，达到学科完善的目的。     

白松片对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠行为学及血浆CORT、ACTH的影响

目的：观察白松片对慢性应激抑郁大鼠模型行为学和血浆CORT、ACTH含量的影响。方法：SD雄性大鼠28只随机分为空白对照组、模型对照组、氟西汀对照组及白松片试验组，选用慢性轻度不可预见性应激加孤养造模，观察各组大鼠敞箱实验和液体消耗等行为学指标变化，采用放射免疫方法检测大鼠血浆皮质醇(CORT)和促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)含量。结果：慢性应激抑郁大鼠体重增加缓慢，敞箱实验中的水平运动、垂直运动得分、清洁动作次数显著减少，中央格停留时间显著延长；糖水消耗明显下降，纯水消耗显著增多，而且其血浆皮质醇和促肾上腺皮质激素含量增加。氟西汀和白松片均显著改善慢性应激抑郁大鼠模型的行为学和神经内分泌变化。结论：慢性轻度不可预见性应激可使大鼠行为及神经内分泌发生异常改变，引起抑郁状态，白松片对此具有一定拮抗作用。     

Lymphoma arising in an adenolymphoma

A malignant lymphoma that originated in association with an adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumor) of the parotid salivary gland is reported. The occurrence of lymphomas in salivary glands is discussed briefly.     

Intimal changes associated with arterial spasm induced by periarterial application of calcium chloride

Arterial spasm was induced by application of calcium chloride to the adventitial surface of the rabbit common carotid artery in vivo. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was applied to the contralateral vessel as control. Vessels were fixed in situ by intravascular perfusion after 15 min, 1 hr, or 24 hr and prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With SEM, the luminal surface at the site of calcium application showed severe longitudinal folding accompanied by endothelial desquamation with extensive platelet deposition on exposed subendothelium. The luminal cross-sectional area was reduced by 53 +/- 19.5% after 15 min and by 44 +/- 12% after 1 hr as compared with the contralateral control. Furthermore, the luminal area at the site of calcium application was found to be reduced by 42 +/- 8% after 1 hr when compared with segments of the same vessel distal to the site of calcium application. Blood flow rate, as measured by electromagnetic flow probe, was not reduced. Vessels examined after 24 hr showed a significant increase in luminal cross-sectional area as compared with contralateral control vessels (136 +/- 70%). Control vessels (NaCl) showed no significant change in luminal cross-sectional area and no endothelial desquamation or platelet deposition after 15 min, 1 hr, or 24 hr. Examination of histologic sections showed calcium precipitation within the attached thrombus after 15 min with calcium deposits also adherent to the adjacent luminal aspect of the internal elastic lamina (IEL). By 24 hr, this precipitation extended throughout the media. Marked deposition of leukocytes was seen after 24 hr which showed a preferential attachment for areas of endothelial damage and discontinuity of IEL.     

Does hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E protect tropical populations from allergic disease?

The Waorani Indians of eastern Ecuador have the highest blood concentration of IgE reported in a human population. Evidence obtained by medical history, physical examination, and immediate hypersensitivity skin tests suggests that pollen allergy and other atopic diseases are rare among the Waorani. A similar association between parasite-induced hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E and a low prevalence of conventional atopic disease has been reported in numerous other tropical populations. Saturation of mast cell IgE receptors with antibodies directed to the parasite and/or other antigens and competitive inhibition of passive binding of pollen allergen-specific IgE is one hypothetical cause of this association. We have tested this interesting conjecture by passively sensitizing the skin of Waorani Indians with serum containing pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Waorani Indians with hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E can be adoptively sensitized with human ragweed or rye grass hyperimmune IgE antisera. This suggests that the cutaneous mast cells of healthy Waorani have active IgE receptors. The high circulating plasma concentrations of IgE in the Waorani do not prevent adoptive cutaneous sensitization with pollen-specific IgE antibodies.     

Translocation (6;9)(p23;q34) in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: Three new cases

Several recent reports have described cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with a unique chromosome translocation, t(6;9)(p23;q34). We have studied three additional patients who have acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and t(6;9)(p23;q34). Our findings provide additional support for the suggestion that this translocation is yet another distinct cytogenetic abnormality associated with myeloproliferative disorders.