Results of hypofractionated whole brain radiotherapy (2x8 Gy) for patients with brain metastases from lung cancer

WOS: 000292578200006PubMed ID: 21766491Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic response rates, toxicity and tolerability of 2x8 Gy whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in lung cancer patients with brain metastases (BM). Methods: WBRT was delivered to 126 lung cancer patients with BM during 2002-2006. External beam RT was delivered with a fraction dose of 8 Gy on the same day of each consecutive week Tumor and symptom response and toxicity were recorded at every follow-up. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) and the new Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) were used for analysis of overall survival (OS). Results: Twenty-three patients had small cell (SCLC) and 103 had non small cell lung cancer Pretreatment median Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was 70 (range 20-90). Clinical response rates were as follows: complete 31%; good partial 30.2%; partial 21.4%; stable 7.9%; and progressive 5.6%. Median palliation and survival duration was 57 and 80 days, respectively. Two- and 6-month survival rates (SR) were 59.5% and 25.4%, respectively. According to recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) 6-month SR for groups 1, 2 and 3 were 61.5, 41.6 and 33.9%, respectively (p=0.002). Six-month SR for the new Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) were: GPA 0-1, 7%; GPA 1.5-2.5, 34.2%; GPA 3, 25%; and GPA 3.5-4.0, 66.6% (p=0.0003). Conclusion: 2x8 Gy WBRT was found to be feasible. However the late morbidity of this schedule is unknown so its use could be restricted to patients with poor performance status, with a short life expectancy and/or social problems, unlikely to tolerate more protracted radiotherapy regimens

Economic analysis of agricultural enterprises in Turkey according to their level of success Análise econômica de empresas agrícolas na Turquia de acordo com seu nível de sucesso

In this study, agricultural enterprises in Turhal, Tokat were grouped based on their degree of success, their structural characteristics have been identified and their outcomes of activities discussed. The objective of the study was to determine the aspects that render successful agricultural enterprises different from other agricultural enterprises. The point to be achieved through the study is to assist agricultural enterprises with a more effective utilization of existing means in order to help them to develop. Data has been collected from 71 agricultural enterprises, which have been determined by Neyman's Method that is a stratified sampling method, via questionnaires. The Criterion of Agricultural Income Per Enterprise Land Decar has been applied for the classification of the enterprises according to their level of success. When the agricultural income was sufficiently examined in the enterprises, moderate successful and unsuccessful enterprises cannot obtain agricultural income to meet family labor force cost. Their agricultural level is quite below the sum of the family labour wage equivalent and the real interest of the equivalent capital. Therefore, the agricultural income of the examined enterprises is considered insufficient. The rate of the net product to the active capital is 3.45% in successful enterprises, 0.57% in those with moderate success, and for the unsuccessful ones, it has a negative value of -2.22%. This ratio for successful enterprises is close to 5%. Accordingly, the successful enterprises work more efficiently in comparison to the other enterprise groups.<br>Neste estudo, empresas agrícolas de Turhal, Tokat foram agrupadas com base em seu grau de sucesso, suas características foram identificadas e seus resultados de atividades discutidos. O objetivo do estudo é determinar os aspectos que diferenciam empresas agrícolas de sucesso das demais. O ponto a ser alcançado pelo estudo é assistir as empresas agrícolas com um uso mais efetivo. O ponto a ser alcançado pelo estudo é assistir as empresas agrícolas com um uso mais efetivo dos meios existentes, para ajudar a desenvolvê-las. Foram utilizados dados de 71 empresas selecionadas pelo método estratificado de Neyman, através de questionários. O "Criterion of Agricultural Income Per Interprise Land Decar" foi aplicado para a classificação em relação ao nível de sucesso. Quando a renda agrícola foi suficientemente examinada, as empresas de sucesso moderado e as sem sucesso não podem obter renda agrícola suficiente para atender ao custo do trabalho familiar. Seu nível agrícola está muito abaixo da soma dos salários familiares e do juro real do capital equivalente. Por isso, a renda agrícola das empresas examinadas é considerada insuficiente. A relação entre o produto líquido e o capital ativo é 3,45% nas empresas de sucesso, 0,57% nas de moderado sucesso e -2,22% nas sem sucesso. Nesta relação, o limite do juro normal é de 5% para empresas de sucesso. Assim, empresas de sucesso trabalham mais eficientemente em comparação a outros grupos empresarias