This study evaluates treatment outcomes and possible prognostic factors of inoperable cervical cancer patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR BRT). Between 1993 and 2000, 183 patients with cervical cancer were treated at our institute. Radiotherapy was the sole treatment modality until January 1997; after the announcement of National Cancer Institute in 1999, 40 mg/m(2) of cisplatin (49%) was routinely applied every week. Median age was 54 years (32-92 years). Most patients (88%) had advanced-stage disease (IIB-IIIB). With a median follow-up time of 45 months (6-121 months), the 5-year overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates were 55%, 71%, 51%, and 77%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that age, tumor size, lymph node status, and concomitant cisplatin were prognostic factors for OS. The DFS rates were lower in young age group. Patients with tumor greater than 4 cm and age greater than 40 were at greater risk for local recurrence. Distant metastases were more frequent in patients with adenocarcinoma. Concurrent cisplatin use increases DMFS rates (91% vs 78%; P= 0.05). In multivariate analysis, extensive stage, parametrial infiltration, young age, adenocarcinoma histopathology, and lymph node metastasis were negative prognostic factors for OS while concomitant cisplatin increases OS. Likewise, patients with extensive stage, adenocarcinoma, and without concurrent cisplatin administration had more risk for distant metastasis. There was no treatment-related mortality. Grade 3-4 morbidity rates were seen only in eight patients (4%). The combination of EBRT and HDR BRT together with concomitant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced carcinoma of cervix is safe and well tolerated with acceptable morbidity.

Aims and background The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with metastatic ovarian tumors from extragenital primary sites. Methods The medical records of 75 patients were reviewed retrospectively for age at diagnosis, presenting symptoms, preoperative tumor marker levels, preoperative diagnostic workup, operative technique, intraoperative evaluation, frozen-section and pathology results, laterality of metastasis, and primary tumor site. The specific impact of metastasis from colorectal and gastric primary sites on laterality, gross features and dimensions of ovarian mass, volume of ascites and tumor marker levels was investigated. Results Primary sites were stomach (37.3%), colorectal region (28%), lymphoma (12%), breast (6.7%), biliary system (2.7%), appendix (1.3%) and small intestine (1.3%). It was not possible to identify the primary tumor site in 8 (10.7%) patients. Bilateral metastasis was found in 86.4% patients; 42.7% of the metastatic ovarian tumors were Krukenberg tumors; 50.7% of the ovarian masses were solid. Frozen section was confirmed by postoperative pathological results in 98% of the patients. The mean preoperative serum levels of tumor markers were 298.7 U/mL, 178 U/mL and 113.3 U/mL for CA 125, CA 19-9 and CA 15-3, respectively. CA 125 levels were above 35 U/mL in 81.3% of the patients. The presence of ascites was more frequent in ovarian tumors originating from colorectal and gastric primaries. Conclusions Surgery is essential for the diagnosis of the primary tumor and necessary for relief of symptoms. The identification of the primary site is required to plan adequate treatment.

To evaluate the effect of perioperative duloxetine on pain management in patients recovering from laparoscopic hysterectomy. Design: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Setting: A university hospital. Patients: Of 100 patients enrolled, 80 were randomized 1:1 to receive perioperative duloxetine (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40). Interventions: Patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions from November 2017 through March 2018 received 2 doses of 60 mg duloxetine or placebo 2 hours before and 24 hours after surgery. Measurements and Main Results: The Quality of Recovery (QoR)-40 questionnaire was completed by participants after discharge. Study and control groups were compared in terms of questionnaire scores, opioid analgesic use, and hospital length of stay. The baseline characteristics of the groups were comparable; median total QoR-40 scores were 111 of 200 and 112 of 200 for duloxetine and the placebo group, respectively; the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = .91). Although the physical independence subcomponent of the recovery questionnaire was improved in favor of duloxetine, none of the subcomponents reached statistical difference between groups. The groups did not differ in terms of postoperative narcotic analgesic use and hospital length of stay (p >.05). Conclusion: Perioperative duloxetine did not reduce pain, need for narcotic analgesia, or hospital length of stay following laparoscopic hysterectomy.

The present study demonstrated that lycopene, which was administered prior to renal I/R injury, prevented renal damage through biochemical and histopathological parameters.