Protective effects of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate on the liver of rats exposed to gamma radiation

The aim of this study is to investigate whether vitamin E (as DL-alpha -tocopherol acetate) and selenium (as sodium selenate) exert a protective effect against radiation damage

The characteristics and risk factors for common psychiatric disorders in patients with cancer seeking help for mental health

Background Although the adverse effects of cancer diagnoses and treatments on mental health are known, about less than 10% of patients are estimated to be referred to seek help. The primary purpose of this study was to obtain the baseline information on patients with cancer seeking help for mental health who presented for the first time to the psycho-oncology outpatient clinic, and to identify risk factors that may provide clues healthcare practitioners in recognizing those needing psychological help in oncology practice. Methods We reviewed the charts of 566 patients with cancer who were referred to the psycho-oncology outpatient clinic over a two-year period. The study includes the socio-demographic data, illness characteristics, psychiatric characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, and treatment recommendations for these patients. Results The incidence of diagnoses of psychiatric disorders was 97.5%. The distributions of psychiatric diagnoses were as follows: any kind of adjustment disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, organic brain syndrome, personality disorders, delusional disorder, and insomnia. Recurrence of cancer, other chronic medical illnesses, a history of psychiatric disorders, poor social support, and low income comprised the common significant risk factors for adjustment disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. These risk factors were also seen to be significant in the regression analysis in terms of sex. Conclusion This study identifies the distribution of psychiatric disorders, the risk factors for specific psychiatric disorders, and draws attention to the fact that there are serious delays in patients seeking psychiatric help and in the referrals of oncologists for psychological assessment. Identifying risk factors and raising oncologists' awareness toward risk factors could help more patients gain access to mental health care much earlier

Protective Effects of Vitamin E and Selenium Administration on Small Intestinal Damage Prior to Abdominal Radiation

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether vitamin E and selenium have a protective effect against small intestinal damage induced by radiation. Radiotherapy has a quite important role in cancer therapy. Yet the most important problem is cytotoxicity, which occurs in the applied tissues, depending on the radiation underwent. Pre-treatment with antioxidants has been known to have a useful effect against radiation damage. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. Group I: control group, Group II: Only single-dose administration of 1000 cGy radiation, Group Vitamin E and selenium were administered, followed by the administration of abdominal radiation. Light and electron microscopic examinations have revealed that administration of radiation caused degenerative changes on small intestinal tissue. Treatment with vitamin E and selenium seemed to reverse these effects. Biochemically, blood glutathione levels in the radiation group were found to decrease. Vitamin E and selenium were found to increase blood glutathione levels. These results indicate that antioxidant treatment prior to irradiation may have protected the small intestine against radiation-induced damage. Dietary vitamin E and selenium have a potentially protective effect on the small intestine of patients subjected to abdominal radiotherapy

Plastic surgery in irradiated areas: Analysis of 200 consecutive cases

Reconstructive surgery in previously irradiated areas is more difficult than in non-irradiated casts. A retrospective analysis of the outcome of 200 previously irradiated patients who had skin graft or flap reconstruction performed by the same surgeon is presented, and the most suitable surgical technique in irradiated areas is discussed. One hundred and fifty-six patients had skin and oral cavity cancer, and were operated on after local recurrence. Twenty patients had breast cancer; 15 were operated on for local recurrence and five for breast reconstruction. Twenty-four patients had soft tissue sarcomas. Eighty-five patients had a skin graft (group 1), 35 had a skin flap (group 2), 10 had a fascia/muscle flap plus skin graft and 70 had a myocutaneous flap (group 3). Analysis of complications revealed statistically significant differences in terms of incomplete graft/flap necrosis between groups 1 and 2 (P<0.001) and groups 1 and 3 (P<0.001), and in terms of infection between groups 1 and 3 (P<0.01). We conclude that the method of reconstruction is determined by the characteristics of the defect such as size and localization: the quality, fractionation, total dose, and energy of radiation used; skin and subcutaneous tissue changes due to radiation; and operation time. However, it is reasonable to choose fascia/muscle or myocutaneous flaps for reconstruction in previously irradiated areas. These methods are more resistant to bacterial inoculation, more prone to clean residual infection, and provide better vascularized tissue and volume replacement for contour defects