2D versus 3D radiographic assessment of asymptomatic persistent endodontic lesions.

Aim: This prospective cohort study aimed to study lesion size, proximity to anatomical structures and detection of missed canals using 2D digital periapical (PA) radiographs and 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographic imaging, amongst a cohort of asymptomatic persistent endodontic lesions (APEL), and to develop a radiographic protocol for these asymptomatic lesions.

Methodology: APEL persisting ≥4 years after endodontic treatment were recruited with informed consent. PA radiographs taken at different angles (KaVo Kerr, Brea, CA) and a limited field-of-view CBCT scan (KaVo Kerr, Brea, CA) of 0.

High-resolution dynamically downscaled projections of future extreme temperatures, heatwaves and exposure in Southeast Asia.

Extreme heat and heatwaves driven by global warming pose escalating risks globally, particularly in Southeast Asia (SEA), home to 680 million people, with a high concentration in urban areas. This study made use of CMIP6-based convection-permitting dynamically downscaled simulations at 8 km resolution over SEA under the three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.

Immunotherapy for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Practical Guide of Current Controversies.

The role of immunotherapy as systemic therapy for nonmetastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved rapidly over the last decade. There are several well-conducted phase 3 clinical trials evaluating immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant, perioperative, adjuvant and nonoperative setting. In this narrative review, we summarize the data from these studies and discuss ongoing controversies in applying these data to clinical practice.

A phase III, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of preoperative versus postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with surgically resectable brain metastases.

Background: Postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a standard management option for patients with resected brain metastases. Preoperative SRS may have certain advantages compared to postoperative SRS, including less uncertainty in delineation of the intact tumor compared to the postoperative resection cavity, reduced rate of leptomeningeal dissemination postoperatively, and a lower risk of radiation necrosis. The recently published ASCO-SNO-ASTRO consensus statement provides no recommendation for the preferred sequencing of radiotherapy and surgery for patients receiving both treatments for their brain metastases.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Oligoprogression in Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Patients Receiving Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy: A Phase 2 Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Despite the paucity of prospective evidence, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is increasingly being considered in the setting of oligoprogression to delay the need to change systemic therapy.

Objective: To determine the local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS), cumulative incidence of changing systemic therapy, and overall survival (OS) after SRT to oligoprogressive metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) lesions in patients who are on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A prospective multicenter study was performed to evaluate the use of SRT in oligoprogressive mRCC patients.

Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Glioblastoma Patients.

Background Patients with cancer are at increased risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) with a particularly high prevalence in patients with glioblastoma (GB). We designed this current study to determine the incidence of symptomatic VTE in patients with GB undergoing first-line chemoradiotherapy and to develop a clinical score to help physicians identify those who are at the highest risk of VTE. Methods A retrospective study cohort included patients diagnosed with GBM treated with radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy between 2005 and 2010 in Southern Alberta.

Atypical Meningioma: Referral Patterns, Treatment and Adherence to Guidelines.

Objective: To determine the referral rate to radiation oncologist (RO), use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and the impact of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) on patients with atypical meningioma (AM).

Methods: A retrospective review of meningioma patients (n=526) treated between 2003 and 2013 was undertaken. Patients' characteristics, extent of surgical resection (EOR), RO referral, PORT, date and treatment of first recurrence were collected for all patients >18 years with a new diagnosis of AM after surgical resection (n=83).

Factors Associated With the Use of Radiation Therapy in Patients With Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Alberta, Canada: A Population-based Study.

Background: Cancer care in Alberta, Canada is publicly funded and provides patients with access to health care facilities and providers. The distribution of patients and health services across Alberta presents challenges to the delivery of cancer care, especially radiation therapy. In this study, we examined the association between patient and health system factors, the use of radiation therapy and survival outcomes in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Survival was Significantly Better with Surgical/Medical/Radiation Co-interventions in a Single-Institution Practice Audit of Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

Purpose: To audit outcomes after introducing frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases, including co-interventions: neurosurgery, systemic therapy, and whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). We report median overall survival (MS), local failure, and distant brain failure. We hypothesized patients treated with SRS would have clinically meaningful improved MS compared with historic institutional values.

Population based analysis ependymoma patients in Alberta from 1975 to 2007.

Background: Ependymomas are rare tumors of the central nervous system whose management is controversial. This population-based study of adults and children with ependymoma aims to (1) identify clinical and treatment-related factors that impact survival and (2) determine if postoperative radiotherapy (RT) can improve survival of patients with subtotal resection (STR) to levels similar to patients who had gross total resection (GTR).

Methods: This retrospective population-based study evaluated 158 patients with ependymoma diagnosed between 1975-2007 in Alberta, Canada.

The effect of contouring variability on dosimetric parameters for brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Purpose: To quantify the effect of contouring variation on stereotactic radiosurgery plan quality metrics for brain metastases.

Methods And Materials: Fourteen metastases, each contoured by 8 physicians, formed the basis of this study. A template-based dynamic conformal 5-arc dose distribution was developed for each of the 112 contours, and each dose distribution was applied to the 7 other contours in each patient set.

Tumor regression and positional changes in non-small cell lung cancer during radical radiotherapy.

Introduction: We have used respiratory-correlated cone beam computed tomography (rcCBCT) imaging to study the volumetric and positional changes that occur throughout the course of radical radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Tumor volumes and centers of mass were recorded and analyzed on weekly serial rcCBCT images of NSCLC patients treated with radical radiotherapy to a dose ≥45 Gy with concurrent chemotherapy.

Results: Sixty patients with locally advanced NSCLC were included; in 31 patients, the primary tumor was peripheral and thus suitable for contouring.

The tethered infinitesimal tori and spheres algorithm: a versatile calculator for axisymmetric problems in equilibrium membrane mechanics.

Constrained minimization of energy functionals is a central part, and usually the difficult part, of solving problems in the equilibrium mechanics of biological and biomimetic membranes. The inherent difficulties of the conventional variational-calculus approach prevents the numerical calculation involved from being made routine in the analyses of experimental results. We have developed a simulated annealing-based computational technique for routinizing the task of constrained minimization of energy functionals governing whole, or small patches of whole, fluid membranes with axisymmetry, spherical topology, and no domains of inhomogeneity.

Camphor-related self-inflicted keratoconjunctivitis complicating delusions of parasitosis.

Purpose: To report a case of camphor-related self-inflicted keratoconjunctivitis secondary to delusions of parasitosis.

Methods: A 61-year-old man with delusions of parasitosis suffered from camphor-related self-inflicted ocular trauma that manifested with corneal epithelial defects and secondary anterior chamber reaction. Two episodes of exacerbation of the ocular conditions related to the use of camphor occurred.

Sequels, complications and management of a chemical burn associated with cement splash.

We present a case of successful superficial keratectomy and amniotic membrane grafting to re-establish ocular surface from denuded stroma and significant limbal ischemia caused by a cement splash. We fully documented a case report about the sequels, complications and management strategies of a chemical burn to the eyes associated with a cement splash. Slit lamp examination, visual acuity test as well as all common cultures and stains were performed to measure the outcome.

Toxic keratopathy-related corneal dehydration after laser in situ keratomileusis.

A 33-year-old woman had progressive blurred vision 2 weeks after uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis surgery. Initial satisfactory uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was complicated by postoperative dry eye and drug toxicity. Slitlamp biomicroscopy revealed diffuse punctate epithelial keratitis and inferior corneal epithelial defect with rolled-up epithelium on the flaps and the inferior unoperated cornea in both eyes.

Alterations of the sense of "humanness" in right hemisphere predominant frontotemporal dementia patients.

Objective: To evaluate the sense of "humanness" in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients with right hemispheric involvement.

Background: Early in the course, FTD is often asymmetric, and those with predominant right frontotemporal disease have disproportionate disturbances in social behavior and empathy. A disruption in a sense of humanness may underlie these behavioral disturbances.

Secondary pigmentary glaucoma associated with piggyback intraocular lens implantation.

A 51 year-old man developed bilateral pigmentary glaucoma with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) and signs of pigmentary dispersion syndrome after piggyback intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Cataract surgery had been performed with in-the-bag implantation of poly(methyl methacrylate) IOLs in both eyes. Increasing myopia was subsequently corrected with implantation of an AcrySofIOL (Alcon Laboratories) in the ciliary sulcus of each eye.

Hypersexuality after right pallidotomy for Parkinson's disease.

The authors describe hypersexuality following atypical right pallidotomy for intractable Parkinson's Disease (PD). This patient and literature review suggest important roles for the pallidum in sexual behavior and dopamine in sexual arousal.

Fatal and non-fatal machine-related injuries suffered by children in Alberta, Canada, 1990-1997.

Background: Children raised on farms are exposed to many hazardous types of machinery. The objective of this study was to describe the magnitude of non-fatal and fatal farm machinery injuries in Alberta children and adolescents (0-17 years) for the years 1990-1997. To date, there have been no published studies of pediatric farm injuries in Western Canada.

Seizures in elderly patients with dementia: epidemiology and management.

Epileptic seizures occur in patients with dementia at a higher prevalence than among healthy elderly individuals. The incidence of seizures among patients with dementia varies with the aetiology of the dementing illness. In patients with Alzheimer's disease (the most common form of dementia), approximately 10-22% have at least one unprovoked seizure.