A microlymphocytotoxicity test determined serologically the frequency of HLA antigens in 32 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and in 234 healthy control subjects. The results demonstrated significantly increased frequencies of A3 and B8. The relative risk was estimated to be 9.6 and 4.6 for the A3 and B8 antigens, respectively. Study of the gametic association revealed weak positive linkage disequilibrium and biological association. The results are discussed, and it is concluded that the aberrant genetic make-up of the patients makes them more susceptible to develop the syndrome after exposure to the environmental factor(s).

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma has the worst prognosis of all gastrointestinal solid tumors. Only 15-20% of cases present at a resectable stage and the rate of local recurrence is high. Aim: To assess tolerability and efficacy of adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) for pancreatic carcinoma compared to chemotherapy (CTH) alone. Methods: This was a prospective study with historical control group. The intervention group involved patients who underwent a 3-phases protocol following Whipple surgery. In the first phase, weekly gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1 gm/m 2 for 3 weeks. The second was a CRT phase whereas capecitabine (800 mg/m 2 ) used twice daily for 5-6 weeks concurrent with 3 dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Finally, the maintenance phase in which gemcitabine administered at a dose of 1 gm/m 2 weekly for 3 weeks with 1 week rest for 3 cycles. The historical group included patients who received gemcitabine only within the preceding 2 years. Results: From 50 patients with pancreatic cancer in the intervention group, 41 completed the treatment protocol versus 40 patients in the control group. The estimated median disease-free survival was 15 months in the CRT group versus 10 months in the CTH group, and the estimated mean was 19.4 versus 13.2 (p = 0.041). The estimated median overall survival was not reached in both treatment arms. The estimated mean overall survival was 27.9 months in the CRT group compared to 19.2 months in the CTH group (p = 0.023). The relapse rate was 29% in the CRT group versus 65% in the CTH group (p= 0.001). CRT was associated with more toxicity which was tolerated with no interruption of treatment. Conclusions: Adjuvant gemcitabine before and after capecitabine concurrent with 3D conformal radiotherapy was tolerated with better survival and local control in pancreatic cancer patients.

Background: Oral mucositis is a major problem affecting all head and neck cancer (HNC) patients received radiotherapy. Till now, available treatment is just symptomatic with limited effects. Preventive strategies may be better to avoid this complication. Animal models studies have illustrated that anti-cancer treatment toxicity display prominent daily variations; therefore, undesirable side effects could be significantly reduced by administration of radiotherapy at specific times when they are better tolerated. Aim: To compare “soreness quality score” (SQS) between 2 groups of head and neck cancer patients received radiotherapy at different daily time. Methods: 2 groups of head neck cancer patients treated at Mansoura university hospital; each group included 80 cases. Group A received radiotherapy at early morning between 6 and 8 am, while Group B received radiotherapy in the afternoon between 1 and 3 pm. Oral mucositis survey was self-reported weekly during and at the end of treatment by using “soreness quality score” (SQS). Results: For group A, mild mucositis (score 1 and 2) was recorded in 53 cases (66%) and severe mucositis was recorded in 27 cases (34%). For group B, mild mucositis was recorded in 29 cases (36%) and severe mucositis was recorded in 51 cases (64%). There was statistically significant difference (0.003) between both groups as regards development of severe oral mucositis. Conclusion: Better toxicity profile as regards oral mucositis could be obtained by giving radiotherapy for (HNC) patients at early morning compared to late afternoon. Further studies are worthwhile to confirm our findings.

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