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Gil Lederman on Common Uses of Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Malignant primary tumors including astrocytomas and glioblastomas as well as metastatic cancers to the brain are frequently treated. Primary tumors commence in the brain, while metastases have spread to the brain through the bloodstream. These cancerous conditions have been - and are - extensively studied by our radiosurgery group. With close collaboration of medical oncology, studies combining special radiation-enhancing well-tolerated chemotherapeutic agents - such as Taxol - have been regularly evaluated and continue to show survival benefit compared to standard treatment or standard single shot radiosurgery for those with newly diagnosed as well as recurrent small or large primary brain tumors - like glioblastomas, astrocytomas and other aggressive cancers. With Taxol and fractionated radiosurgery given concurrently, the survival rates are superior even for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme patients.

A greater benefit is seen adding our immunotherapy program after fractionated radiosurgery. Our data for the treatment of recurrent high-grade primary brain tumors like glioblastomas is appealing – using fractionated radiosurgery followed by immunotherapy. Fractionation benefits are numerous. For malignant tumors, there is protection of the healthy surrounding tissue while maintaining - or improving - efficacy of treatment. In fact, studies of malignant primary brain tumors such as glioblastomas show improved survival rates compared to single-fraction radiosurgery. Furthermore, there is a much less need for subsequent operation or intervention when our techniques are implemented compared to single fraction radiosurgery.

Brain metastases means the cancer started elsewhere in the body and spread via the bloodstream to the brain. Our work shows benefit from fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery for those with single or multiple metastases - even when not successfully treated by prior surgery or radiation. Fractionated radiosurgery allows treatment of larger cancers or those in the most delicate parts of the brain (like the brainstem area or by delicate cranial and optic nerves) - with a greater degree of safety than other methods of standard radiosurgery. For many patients with brain metastases, radiosurgery may replace the need for whole brain radiation. Whole brain radiation radiates the normal healthy tissues. Many patients choose radiosurgery for newly diagnosed tumors specifically to avoid standard therapy and unnecessary side effects. Other patients select radiosurgery for brain metastases that have remained or grown despite standard radiation or surgery. Most patients are treated in four separate sessions each lasting about 30 minutes. We have extensive experience treating brain metastases – and find it best to discuss each situation based upon the clinical facts and the patient’s desires – after the Informed Consent process.

Radiation-enhancers are highly effective in head and neck cancers. Taxol is not particularly effective by itself, but is used in sensitizing the tumor - or making the cancer more susceptible - to the effects of fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery. When treated with unique approaches pioneered by our physicians, cancers of the Head and Neck area have high response rates. These cancers include the nasopharynx, maxillary sinus and other primary sites within this crucial area of the body. Many come to us after standard radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery failed to work.
The most common benign tumors treated by our expert physicians include meningiomas and acoustic neuromas as well as pituitary tumors. Other neuromas and schwannomas are treated with a high degree of confidence. This article discusses the benefits in brief.

Please visit our before and after visual Body Radiosurgery gallery. For more information about non-invasive cancer treatment , please visit http://www.rsny.org/ or email Dr. Gil Lederman at Gil.Lederman@RSNY.ORG

Balneotherapy is the treatment of diseases by bathing. This therapy includes cold or hot water, massage through moving water, stimulation or relaxation.

Along with bathing, the therapist also uses modalities like physical therapy, hydrotherapy, massage, mud therapy, physical exercises, steam baths, inhalation of water vapor and drinking mineral water as a part of the treatment for both health and preservation.

More here

This is an interesting site for those of you studying Virology.

Derek Wong wrote:

“This site contains notes on various aspects of virology. It is designed as a study aid for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Besides general information on virology and individual viruses, this site also contains suggested answers to some likely examination questions in virology as well as some ready-to-use slide sets. My name is Derek Wong and I am a medical virologist working in Hong Kong. I worked in the laboratory that detected the first ever human avian influenza infection in May 1997 and was involved during the avian influenza crisis later that year, and the SARS crisis in 2003. Previously I have worked in the U.K. I have an M.Sc degree in virology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as well as membership of the Royal College of Pathologists MRCPath(UK). I am extensively involved in teaching virology to medical students and laboratory technologists. I would like to dedicate this site to my mother Elaine Li Yee Ling.”

Visit Wong’s Virology for more information.

Crowns And Bridging

A root canal is a dental procedure that all of us are familiar with. Root canals are something we all dread, although when someone else is getting the procedure most of us find it to be somewhat amusing. When someone asks for a root canal on the other hand, most of us, including dentists, find it to be very absurd to say the least.

Although many aren’t aware of this, root canals have been around for many generations. Many years ago, ancient civilizations used this method to save teeth that would have been lost otherwise. These civilizations offered root canals to those such as queens, kings, pharaohs, and the rich. The teeth from peasants were normally extracted then sold to aristocrats.

Many years ago, doctors believed that worms were the reason for tooth decay. They also believed that there were many ways to kill the worms, including rinsing the mouth in one’s own urine both day and night. Although this is sick to say the least, this remedy was discarded in 1728, proven to be non effective and replaced by other more suitable treatment. As time passed, doctors proved that the best way to stop the pain was to clean and remove the nerve and pulp of the tooth.

Root canals are a very common procedure these days, as they help to save the tooth by removing the dead or dying pulp. The pulp exists inside of the tooth, and can spread to abscess if it isn’t taken care of. The tissue in the pulp is kept alive by the blood vessels that come from the tip of the root and travel along the root canal into the tooth.

Decay is the main reason for pulp in the tooth dying. Once the decay has reached the pulp, it will keep eating away until the pulp has died. Once it dies, the toxins from the decay will be released into the root tip and make it’s way into the jawbone. If not taken care of properly, the jawbone can become infected, which can lead to death in rare cases.

To fix this problem, the dentist will need to perform a root canal. During the procedure, he will numb the area then drill a hole into the tooth. Using various tools and equipment, he will go down inside of the tooth and scrape away the nerves and dead pulp. This is a very effective procedure, although very time consuming as well. In most cases, a root canal can take several hours, although it is the only way to stop the dying pulp and save the tooth. Even though it may take a long time - it is more than worth it when it saves your tooth from being extracted.

More than a third of people at risk of bowel cancer have never heard of the government-funded test to help detect it early, a survey has found.

New research shows knowledge of bowel cancer is alarmingly low among 50 to 75 year olds, those most at likely to develop the condition.

A survey of older Victorians found almost a quarter could not name a single sign or symptom of bowel cancer.

And 35 per cent of the 1,400 people questioned had not heard of the potentially life-saving bowel cancer screening test, called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), which detects levels of blood in the faeces.

“Bowel cancer kills around 80 Australians each week, and is the most common internal cancer affecting both men and women in Australia,” said Alison Peipers, chair of the Cancer Council’s national bowel cancer committee.

“We know nearly all cases can be cured if found early enough, yet our research shows a worrying level of ignorance about symptoms and prevention among those 50 and over, when the risk of bowel cancer is greatest.”

The two-yearly FOBT test has been offered free to people turning 55 and 65 since mid-2006, but only less than a quarter of those who had heard of it reported that their doctor had mentioned it.

“GPs are perfectly placed to educate their patients about bowel cancer, including what it is, what the symptoms are and how it can be prevented through screening and a healthy lifestyle,” Ms Peipers said.

“However, our research reveals an alarming number of GPs are not broaching the topic with patients who are at risk.”

The national screening program is being rolled out from (July 1) to include all Australians turning 50,55 or 65 before December 31, 2010.

Eligible Australians will be sent their test kit in the mail.

The Council said it welcomed the rollout but it urged the Labor government to honour its pre-election pledge to screen every Australian over 50.

Ms Peipers said such a program had the potential to save 30 lives a week.

Professor David Hill, director of Cancer Council Victoria, said the clearest signs of bowel cancer were blood in the bowel motion, diarrhoea, constipation and lower abdominal pain.

The strongest predictor was obesity, with a waistline measuring over 100cm for men or over 85cm for women putting a person most at risk.

“People who exceed these measurements should look at implementing lifestyle changes to help reduce their cancer risk,” Prof Hill said.

Source

Ahh, here we go:

Family risk. It’s more likely if someone in the family has it. Having a first degree relative with it – for example a mother, father, sister, brother or child – increases the risk of getting bowel cancer by a factor of three. The more relatives with the condition, the higher the risk. In a very small percentage of cases the risk is very high and directly inherited from parent to child – these are people with genetic bowel cancer syndromes. It’s worth noting though, that in about 80 per cent of cases there’s no history of bowel cancer in the family.