By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1p8MsQ4
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Bone Metastases and Use of Single-Fraction Radiation Therapy
Michael Chin Worcester
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A new study shows that single-fraction is just as effective as multiple-fraction radiation therapy to ease the pain of bone metastases. The International Journal of Radiation Oncology states that switching from multiple-fraction radiation therapy to single-fraction radiation therapy can not only be cost effective, but it could also improve patient’s quality of life.
Most frequently occurring in patients with lung, breast, and prostate cancers, bone metastases are a typical manifestation as the disease spreads throughout the body. About two thirds of patients with the above mentioned cancers develop bone metastases to the pelvis, spine, or other extremities.
The study between these two different types of radiation therapy has been an on going debate in recent radiation oncology news. The study between SFRT and MFRT has taken place in British Colombia because of their publicly financed health care system. In British Colombia, there are no financial incentives for doctors to choose one therapy over the other. Also, the BC Cancer Agency provides all of the therapy at no additional cost to their patients.
From 2007 to 2011, patients who received radiation therapy for bone metastases were picked out from the CAIS, which is British Colombia’s Cancer Agency Information System. There were 8,601 patients who received 16,898 different forms of radiation therapy for their bone metastases. Categories were split into two different sections: patients who received single-fraction radiation therapy, and patients who received multiple-fraction radiation therapy.
SFRT was used in about half of the radiation therapies and mostly to treat bone metastases in the ribs and extremities. The use of SFRT is close to fifty percent in Europe and in Canada. In the United States SFRT is used a lot less. The range of SFRT use in the United States ranges from 3 to 13 percent. Considering that preliminary research shows SFRT to be just as effective as MFRT, there is no reason not to settle with SFRT. The costs are less, the side effects are less for patients, and it is much more convenient for patients.
To read more about this study, check out the recent article in science codex here.
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Movement in the Russian Martial Art of Systema
Michael Chin Worcester
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As a martial art developed by the Russian military, Systema focuses on relaxation and breathing techniques in addition to hand-to-hand and weapon combat. On the Russian Martial Art website, Vladimir Vasiliev describes the secret of systema and its unique method of combat.
His first piece of advice is to always be on the move. It is a lot more difficult to attack a person moving around than a person standing still. Constantly moving around adds another level of complexity that an attacker has to deal with. This is also the case for multiple attackers. When an opponent is relaxed and spontaneous, the attacker not only has to think about how to attack but also where to attack. Vladimir describes this kind of fighting as “chess-like,” in that every move is calculated to confuse the opponent or use a group of attackers against themselves.
The difference between the relaxed movements that Vladimir is speaking about and the more typical jerky, tension-filled movements is a major aspect of the art of systema. When an opponent fights with jerky motions that are basically just position changes with small stops, it becomes a lot easier to guess their next move. In systema, fighters are trained to fight in completely relaxed and smooth, both in body and mind. This is done through exercises in consistent combative breathing techniques and internal control.
Systema focuses a lot on the mind as well as the body. Vladimir says that when someone is fighting with tension, they are really taking power away from themselves. Fighting with tension is an illusion of power when really they are fighting with fear. Tension and fear are negative emotions that take away from the true reality of power. Power, flexibility, speed, and accuracy are qualities that humans contain a large reserve of but need the proper training to successfully unleash these qualities.
For more on the secret of movement in systema, visit Vladimir’s article on the Russian Martial Art website here.
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Mini Bell Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese
By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1ocbTjO
Why We Should Know the Price of Medical Tests
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1o9xjyW
Monday, August 4, 2014
Patient at Mount Sinai Has Ebola-Like Symptoms, Hospital Says
By DENISE GRADY and MARC SANTORA from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1mgpSQT
Tunisian Grilled Peppers and Tomatoes with Couscous
By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1om1Wv9
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Partial Breast Radiation Therapy With Proton Beam: 5-Year Results With Cosmetic Outcomes
Michael Chin Worcester
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We updated our previous report of a phase 2 trial using proton beam radiation therapy to deliver partial breast irradiation (PBI) in patients with early stage breast cancer.
from International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics http://ift.tt/1s4PFBi
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Constituent Components of Out-of-Field Scatter Dose for 18-MV Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Versus 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy: A Comparison With 6-MV and Implications for Carcinogenesis
Michael Chin Worcester
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To characterize and compare the components of out-of-field dose for 18-MV intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) versus 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and their 6-MV counterparts and consider implications for second cancer induction.
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Predictors of Individual Tumor Local Control After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastases
Michael Chin Worcester
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To evaluate local control rates and predictors of individual tumor local control for brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
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Novel Human Radiation Exposure Biomarker Panel Applicable for Population Triage
Michael Chin Worcester
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To identify a panel of radiation-responsive plasma proteins that could be used in a point-of-care biologic dosimeter to detect clinically significant levels of ionizing radiation exposure.
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Dosimetric Inhomogeneity Predicts for Long-Term Breast Pain After Breast-Conserving Therapy
Michael Chin Worcester
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The objective of this cross-sectional study was to characterize long-term breast pain in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery and radiation (BCT) and to identify predictors of this pain.
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Picking Nursing Home Shouldn't Be Trial and Error
By JANE E. BRODY from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1ANVoiS
Friday, August 1, 2014
Many Problems Lead to Thoughts of Suicide, Study Finds
By JUDITH GRAHAM from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1tDg2QJ
Effort to Develop Ebola Vaccine to Test on Humans Is Put on Fast Track
By RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health http://ift.tt/1sc8ORD
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