Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

Hypofractionated radiation therapy for invasive breast cancer: From moderate to extreme protocols

Adjuvant irradiation is the standard treatment after breast conservative surgery. Normofractionated regimen with an overall treatment time of 5 to 6 weeks is often considered as a limiting factor for irradiation compliance. In order to answer this issue, moderate and more recently extreme hypofractionated protocols appeared. We report here oncological outcomes and toxicity of hypofractionated breast irradiation. After defining the frame of moderate and extreme hypofractionated breast irradiations based on overall treatment time, patient selection criteria were listed. According to their levels of proof, the results of moderate and extreme hypofractionated breast irradiation were analysed. Overall treatment time for moderate hypofractionated breast irradiation ranged from 3 to 4 weeks, while for extreme hypofractionated breast irradiation, it was less than 1 week. For moderate hypofractionated breast irradiation, whole breast irradiation was currently performed with or without lymph node irradiation. Moderate hypofractionated breast irradiation has proven to be as safe and as efficient as normofractionated breast irradiation with level IA evidence. For extreme hypofractionated breast irradiation, phase III randomized trials confirmed that accelerated partial breast irradiation was non-inferior in terms of local control compared to normofractionated whole breast irradiation (with external beam radiation therapy and multicatheter brachytherapy), with similar acute and late toxicity. While the use of intraoperative breast irradiation remains under debate, new very accelerated partial breast irradiation (overall treatment time not exceeding 2 days) protocols emerged with encouraging results. Accelerated partial breast irradiation is warranted for extreme hypofractionated breast irradiation and is indicated for low-risk breast cancers. Moderate and extreme hypofractionated breast irradiation regimens are validated and can be routinely proposed according to patient selection criteria.     

Chest wall pain following lung stereotactic body radiation therapy using 48 Gy in three fractions: A search for predictors

Purpose

Chest wall pain is an uncommon but bothersome late complication following lung stereotactic body radiation therapy. Despite numerous studies investigating predictors of chest wall pain, no clear consensus has been established for a chest wall constraint. The aim of our study was to investigate factors related to chest wall pain in a homogeneous group of patients treated at our institution.

Bismuth Sodium Titanate Based Materials for Piezoelectric Actuators

The ban of lead in many electronic products and the expectation that, sooner or later, this ban will include the currently exempt piezoelectric ceramics based on Lead-Zirconate-Titanate has motivated many research groups to look for lead-free substitutes. After a short overview on different classes of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with large strain, this review will focus on Bismuth-Sodium-Titanate and its solid solutions. These compounds exhibit extraordinarily high strain, due to a field induced phase transition, which makes them attractive for actuator applications. The structural features of these materials and the origin of the field-induced strain will be revised. Technologies for texturing, which increases the useable strain, will be introduced. Finally, the features that are relevant for the application of these materials in a multilayer design will be summarized.     

Modifier le comportement alimentaire : mission impossibles ?

Is it possible to modify intake behaviors for body weight control purposes? Over the last 40 years, dozens of international, peer-reviewed articles have described behavior modification approaches aiming at body weight reduction. The present article first presents a historical account of behavioral methods and their results. From the early therapies exclusively addressing behaviors (excluding restrictive diets) until the recent cognitive-behavioral treatments, published studies have reported modest weight losses associated with numerous metabolic, nutritional and psychological benefits whose maintenance, beyond the treatment duration, appear reasonably good. Recent studies specifically address the conditions of long-term maintenance. The main elements of behavioral-cognitive treatments are described briefly. Finally, the particular problems associated with these approaches in the French context are underlined.     

Les stratégies psychothérapeutiques

Psychological support is an essential concern in the management of alcohol misuses. Motivation and readiness to change are key factors of the evolution. They have to be in the centre of the patient-doctor relation. Regular evaluation is a part of a step by step therapeutic strategy.     

晕可宁颗粒对急、慢性梅尼埃病模型的影响

目的　探讨晕可宁颗粒的主要药效学 ,为临床提供药效学资料及治疗学基础。方法　采用三氯甲烷破坏豚鼠一侧膜迷路感受器模型 ,探讨受试药对眼震颤、摆头及旋转的影响 ;采用内淋巴囊和内淋巴管阻塞手术复制豚鼠膜迷路实验性膜迷路积水模型 ,研究内耳组织平均中阶面积 (SMA)增加率及形态学的变化。结果　抑眩宁阳性对照组、晕可宁颗粒 (8、16g/kg)模型给药组豚鼠眼球震颤次数减少 ,差异有显著意义 (P <0 .0 5 )。成功复制了不同程度膜迷路积水豚鼠模型 ,表现为前庭膜重度膨出 ,前庭阶缩小 ,膜蜗管增大 ,SMA增加率变大 ,差异有显著意义 (P <0 .0 1) ;晕可宁颗粒灌胃后可减轻豚鼠实验性膜迷路积水的程度 ,差异有显著意义 (P <0 .0 1) ;但与空白对照组比较SMA增加率差异无显著意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　晕可宁颗粒可以减轻内淋巴囊积水程度 ,对梅尼埃病症状有对抗治疗作用。