New cases of invasive cancer in the United States occur among nearly 1.5 million people annually. In 2007, more than 1,500 people died per day with this diagnosis. Cancer is responsible for nearly one in every four deaths reported in the country. Enormous amounts of money and research have been, and are being spent, in an attempt to improve these numbers. While prevention and early detection remain the key to long-term success, treatment in the neo-adjuvant, adjuvant and metastatic settings still centre around two main treatment modalities – radiation therapy and chemotherapy. This article will review the advances that have been made in both areas that are making these treatments more precise and convenient, as well as less toxic, for the patient. In the field of radiation therapy this involves the development of new therapy planning and delivery systems, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and positron emission and computed tomography, PET-CT. Chemotherapy has also evolved with the development of targeted chemotherapy for the treatment of specific malignancies as well as improved supportive care agents which allow for the administration of dose-dense chemotherapy when appropriate.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial*

Introduction: Heavy metals and other contaminants in food have been a concern to food industries, consumers and governing authorities. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of heavy metals and other elements in edible bird nests (EBNs). Methods: Raw and processed (commercial) EBNs were used in the study. Raw EBNs were collected directly from five house farms in Peninsular Malaysia - Kuala Sanglang (Kedah), Pantai Remis (Perak), Kluang (Johor), Kota Bharu (Kelantan) and Kajang (Selangor). Processed EBNs were purchased from five Chinese traditional medicinal shops located in Peninsular Malaysia. The levels of 32 elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and findings of the study were compared to the maximum regulatory limits set by the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) for EBNs. Results: Of the seven elements with maximum regulatory limits (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Sn, Cu, Fe), one raw EBN was detected with mercury level of 70.180 ppb which was above the SIRIM permissible limit of 50 ppb. All the EBNs had iron levels above the SIRIM permissible limit of 30 ppb. The levels of the other 25 elements with no maximum regulatory limits (Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Co, Cr, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn, Ag, Ba, Be, Bi, B, Li, Ni, Sb, Sr, Ti, U, V, Al, Zr) were also determined. Conclusion: The data obtained for the 25 elements with no permissible limits can serve as baseline data for further studies to establish their maximum regulatory limits.

Subcutaneous metastasis of rectal adenocarcinoma is an infrequent event as it occurs in less than 4% of all patients with rectal malignancy. When present, it signifies an advanced disease and carries poor prognosis. We hereby, present the case of a 51-year-old woman with subcutaneous lesion that turned out to be rectal adenocarcinoma metastases. She was then managed as an advanced case.

Femoral vein tunnelled catheter is susceptible to various complication, Advocating early arteriovenous fistula creation in chronic renal impairment patients should be emphasised.

Transposed brachio-basilic fistula could be created for successful use for dialysis especially in patients who has exhausted other option of native fistulas.

The cost of maintaining autogenous arteriovenous fistula is less expensive than artificial access because of lower surgical morbidity, mortality, incidence of infection and good patency rate. However when autogenous AVF was occluded by thrombosis, the salvaging procedure for re-vascularisation did not show satisfactory results. The National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiatives suggests that choosing the method of salvage procedure depends on the ability of each institute. Here we present a 38year old man came with failure of left brachio-cephalic fistula thrombosis due to cannulation site infection and thrombosis. Proximal neo vein to vein anastomosis was performed. 3weeks post intervention, wound was well-healed and patient was able to continue hemodialysis without venous hypertension in the forearm.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts and fractions from Stachys sieboldii Miq., and to examine its effect on the cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) production and genomic DNA oxidation in HT-1080 cells.Methods: The ROS generation induced by H2O2 was measured by the dichlorofluorescein-diacetate assay. GSH levels were measured using a fluorescent method with mBBr. Genomic DNA oxidative damage was measured with levels of oxidative DNA induced by the reaction of ferritin with H2O2.Results: Then-hexane, 85％ aqueous methanol andn-butanol fractions (0.05 mg/mL concentrations) inhibited H2O2-induced ROS generation by 63％, 35％ and 45％, respectively. GSH levels were significantly increased in both acetone+methylene chloride and methanol extracts (P<0.05). Supplementation of cells withn-hexane significantly increased GSH levels at concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL (P<0.05). Both the acetone+methylene chloride and methanol extracts, as well as all fractions significantly inhibited oxidative DNA damage (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that cellular oxidation was inhibited by then-hexane fraction and this fraction may contain valuable active compounds.

The primary procedural components of deviated nose correction are as follows: osteotomy to correct bony deviation, septal deviation correction, manipulation of the dorsal septum to correct upper lateral cartilage deviation, and correction of functional problems (manipulation for correction of internal valve collapse and hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate). The correction of tip and nostril asymmetry cannot be overemphasized, because if tip and nostril asymmetry is not corrected, patients are unlikely to provide favorable evaluations from an aesthetic standpoint. Tip asymmetry, deviated columella, and resulting nostril asymmetry are primarily caused by lower lateral cartilage problems, which include deviation of the medial crura, discrepancy in the height of the medial crura, and asymmetry or deformity of the lateral crura. However, caudal and dorsal septal deviation, which is a more important etiology, should also be corrected. A columellar strut graft, correction of any discrepancy in the height of the medial crura, or lateral crural correction is needed to correct lower lateral cartilage deformation depending on the type. In order to correct caudal septal deviation, caudal septal shortening, repositioning, or the cut-and-suture technique are used. Surgery to correct dorsal septal deviation is performed by combining a scoring and splinting graft, a spreader graft, and/or the clocking suture technique. Moreover, when correcting a deviated nose, correction of asymmetry of the alar rim and alar base should not be overlooked to achieve tip and nostril symmetry.