Estimation of the α/β ratio for lower lip cancer treated with interstitial HDR brachytherapy

BackgroundA standard linear-quadratic (LQ) model is now routinely used for clinical data analysis and the prediction of the clinical effect of radiotherapy. The typical α/β values suggested in the literature range from 10 to 20Gy for most tumours and early responding normal tissues, and from 2 to 5Gy for late responding tissues.AimThe estimation of α/β ratio values for planoepithelial lower lip cancer.Materials/MethodsThe clinical material is based on the records of 25 patients undergoing radical treatment with interstitial brachytherapy: 19 patients were administered brachytherapy exclusively and 6 patients were treated postoperatively. The following stage arrangement was applied: T1 in 15 pts, T2 in 9 pts, N0 in 24 pts and N1 only in one T2 patient. Radiotherapy was based on HDR brachytherapy using the interstitial technique. Patients with positive margins after surgery were qualified for postoperative brachytherapy. The dose was either specified at the reference 80% isodose according to the Paris System or points calculated 3-5 mm from the macroscopic tumour. The average total dose was 38.3Gy, the number of fractions being 7 and the fraction dose 5.3Gy. The overall treatment time was 12 days. The average follow-up period was 30 months. A standard probit regression in conjunction with a linear-quadratic model was used.ResultsThe estimated value of the α/β ratio for lip cancer was 12Gy (±3.72*10−10 95% CI).ConclusionsThe estimated α/β ratio is consistent with α/β ratios published for squamous cell head and neck cancers

Review paper. Neuropsychological dimension of schizophrenia - evaluation possibilities and therapeutic implications

Introduction: In the last decades, researchers' attention has been focused on cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. Numerous studies indicate the existence of neurodegenerative deficits in schizophrenia including, but not limited to, motor functions, learning and memory, executive functions, attention, language, spatial skills and general intelligence

Delirium in the course of dependence upon gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) - a case report

Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) is an organic chemical compound of the lactones group, undergoing biotransformation into gamma-hydroxybutyrate after the intake (GHB). Because of the easy access, low price and fast psychotropic effect, GBL is becoming increasingly popular substance having intoxicating effect. Taking of GBL causes dose-dependent euphoric, sedative, hypnotic effects. Its use can quickly lead to physical dependence with severe course of withdrawal syndromes. Withdrawal symptoms resemble those occurring in the course of addiction to alcohol or benzodiazepines. In some patients, delirium develops during substance withdrawal. There are described severe, life-threatening complications in the course of delirium in GBL-dependent patients. The management of withdrawal syndromes and delirium mainly involves administration of benzodiazepines. In this paper, we present a case of delirium in 24-year-old man addicted to GBL hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. Delirium in this patient went without complications and was successfully managed with diazepam and lorazepam

Kleptomania in a 15-year-old boy with ADHD – a case report

Aim: The aim of the study was 1) to report the case of a 15-year-old boy who developed kleptomania symptoms during methylphenidate treatment and 2) to review the available therapeutic options for kleptomania based on a literature search of Medline and Google Scholar databases (2000–2018)

Assessment of Changes over Time of Lipid Profile, C-Reactive Protein Level and Body Mass Index in Teenagers and Young Adults on Different Diets Belonging to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Numerous scientific studies on patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest a significant role of inflammation processes or lipid disorders in this spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. Unfortunately, there is a lack of assessments of changes over time regarding level of lipids and inflammatory markers in people diagnosed with ASD using different diets. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and body mass index (BMI) in individuals diagnosed with ASD and healthy controls. Variables were assessed at two time points (2015/17 and 2017/20) for each subject. Methods: After applying the selection criteria, for the first assessment period, 96 participants were qualified (the group consisted of 59 males with ASD and 37 healthy volunteers, i.e., age-matched control group—CG). The final assessment included 93 participants (57 from ASD group and 36 from CG). Subjects were on low-fat diet (LFD), gluten–casein-free diet (GF–CF) and regular diet (RD), respectively. All members of CG were on regular diet. A fasting lipid profile and hs-CRP level were analyzed. BMI and percentiles were calculated. Eating habits were checked by analyzing data from questionnaires. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used separately for every assessment. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the medians of variables in the scheme of pairwise comparisons between control and ASD groups on different diets for separate assessment, while differences over time between variables were tested by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Statistically significant differences between BMI, CRP, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL-C and TC/HDL ratio were found in ASD group in comparison to healthy volunteers (increased BMI, CRP and TC/HDL and decreased HDL-C for all types of diets, increased TG in the group of LFD and RD individual and increased non-HDL-C in the group of GF–CF and RD individuals) during the first assessment period. The second assessment over time also showed increased levels of TC, non HDL-C and TC/HDL and decreased level of HDL-C for all ASD individuals regardless of diets used, while BMI and CRP increased only for individuals on LFD and RD. No statistically significant correlations between age of participants and other variables comparing with CG were found. Conclusions: Our studies suggest that targeted, individualized nutritional pattern and periodic screening for lipid and immune disorders would be beneficial for teenagers and adults diagnosed with ASD

Research into the Association of Cadmium and Manganese Excretion with Thyroid Function and Behavioral Areas in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thyroid dysfunction and toxic metal exposure have been linked to the increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, the relationship between those factors remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the serum level of hormones, namely thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and urinary cadmium (U-Cd) and urinary manganese (U-Mn), in patients with ASD. The study group consisted of 129 adolescents with ASD, and the control group consisted of 86 healthy persons. Ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (IC-UV/ViS) was used to quantitatively determine Cd and Mn in all 24-h urine samples. These results indicate that severity of certain symptoms in autism is associated with thyroid function. Correlation analysis between Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) results and the content of both U-Mn and U-Cd as well as fT3, fT4 and TSH values in ASD patients showed significantly positive correlation of CARS7 (visual reaction) with fT3 and fT4 and a negative correlation with TSH for the whole study group. In the group of adolescents over 14 years of age, it was also observed that CARS10 (anxiety reaction) negatively correlates with serum TSH levels, and among younger individuals, CARS9 (near receptor responsiveness, taste, smell) positively correlates with TSH

“Pulling hair out of the head” - the importance of traumatic family events in the development and maintenance of trichotillomania symptoms - case report

Introduction: Trichotillomania is a mental disorder characterized by a repetitive and compulsive hair pulling, classified in ICD-10 to a group of habit and impulse disorders, and in the DSM-5 to the group of obsessive-compulsive disorders

Self-harm - an overview of the tools used to assess non-suicidal self-harming behaviors

Introduction: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is the deliberate injury to one’s own body intended to cause mental or physical harm to oneself. In view of the growing scale of the NSSI, especially among young people without identifying any other psychiatric disorders, the disorder was included in both DSM-5 and ICD10 as independent diagnostic entity. Many etiopathogenetic hypotheses and research tools assessing various aspects of NSSI have been developed