Late Bowel Symptoms in Long-Term Survivors of Prostate Cancer Following Radiotherapy.

Background: Despite advances in radiotherapy planning, some long-term prostate cancer survivors experience persistent symptoms. Although overall quality of life appears comparable between patients treated with definitive and salvage radiotherapy and aligns with normative data, prostate-specific deficits-particularly bowel symptoms-may persist.

Methods: This study assessed prostate-specific quality of life using the EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaire in 141 patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer (T1-4 N0 M0) treated with external radiotherapy between 2011 and 2021.

Competing Risks and Their Impact on Treatment Efficacy Assessment in Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases: A Retrospective Study.

Background And Aims: The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method and competing risk analysis are two statistical approaches for analyzing time-to-event data. These methods differ in their treatment of competing events, such as deaths occurring before the event of interest, which can impact the interpretation of treatment efficacy in oncology.

Methods: This retrospective study included 73 patients who underwent fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (six fractions of 5 Gy) for brain metastases at the University Hospital Regensburg between January 2017 and December 2021.

No impairment of quality of life after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

There are concerns that radiotherapy for prostate cancer influences health-related quality of life in the long term. Furthermore, it is unclear whether postoperative radiotherapy is associated with a different quality of life due to a higher treatment burden compared to patients having received definitive radiotherapy for prostate cancer. This study enrolled 247 patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer who received external radiotherapy between 2011 and 2021.

Is Whole-Brain Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases an Overestimated Therapy? A Retrospective Study of Real-World Data Using Landmark Analyses.

Background: The role of whole-brain radiotherapy for patients with brain metastases is changing as immunotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies advance. However, whole-brain radiotherapy continues to be part of the multimodal concept.

Methods: This retrospective study included 285 patients who received whole-brain radiotherapy for brain metastases, using a median dose of 30 Gy.

Secondary solid malignancies in long-term survivors after total body irradiation.

Background: Total body irradiation (TBI)-based allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative treatment for selected patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Yet, secondary malignancies contribute to long-term morbidity and mortality with TBI potentially influencing these risks.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the cumulative incidences of secondary solid malignancies and precancerous lesions of 89 consecutive AML patients after TBI-based conditioning before 1st allo-HSCT between 2000 and 2016.

Beta cells deficient for counteract autoimmunity by shaping natural killer cell activity.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) arises from autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Recent advancements in the technology of generating pancreatic beta cells from human pluripotent stem cells (SC-beta cells) have facilitated the exploration of cell replacement therapies for treating T1D. However, the persistent threat of autoimmunity poses a significant challenge to the survival of transplanted SC-beta cells.

Secondary solid malignancies and precancerous lesions after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using non-total body irradiation-based conditioning in acute myeloid leukemia.

Introduction: Long-term survivors have an increased risk of developing secondary solid malignancies (SSMs) after allogeneic-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) potentially modulating these risks.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the cumulative incidences of SSMs after chemotherapy-based conditioning for allo-HSCT patients with acute myeloid leukemia (n = 266) transplanted at the University Hospital Regensburg between 1999 and 2016.

Results: The median follow-up was 11.

Beta Cells Deficient for Counteract Autoimmunity by Shaping Natural Killer Cell Activity.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) arises from autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Recent advancements in the technology of generating pancreatic beta cells from human pluripotent stem cells (SC-beta cells) have facilitated the exploration of cell replacement therapies for treating T1D. However, the persistent threat of autoimmunity poses a significant challenge to the survival of transplanted SC-beta cells.

Stereotactic radiosurgery of brain metastases: a retrospective study.

Background: Single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established standard for radiation therapy of brain metastases although recent developments indicate that multi-fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) results in lower radiation necrosis especially for larger metastases, and the same or even better local control in comparison to SRS.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with 111 brain metastases received SRS with a single dose of 18 Gy between September 2014 and December 2021. The dose prescription was either 18 Gy given to the enclosing 80% isodose with a normalization to Dmax = 100% of 22.

Head and neck oncology management in the time of COVID-19: results of a head and neck cancer center.

Purpose: Given the concerns about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care, we analyzed the treatment quality of the head and neck cancer center Regensburg before and throughout 2 years of the pandemic. We included data of 3 years to reflect the extended pandemic period as new developments continued to influence its course.

Methods: This retrospective review included all patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2019, 2020, and 2021 who had not started treatment elsewhere prior to being referred to the head and neck cancer center.

Analysis of long-term mortality after total body irradiation-based and melphalan-based chemotherapy conditioning for acute myeloid leukemia.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative treatment option for selected patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Yet, the influence of total body irradiation (TBI)-based conditioning as compared to non-TBI-based conditioning on long-term mortality is unclear. We retrospectively evaluated outcomes after TBI-based (n = 91) and non-TBI-based conditioning (melphalan-based, n = 248) for 1st allo-HSCT patients transplanted at the University Hospital Regensburg between 1999 and 2020.

Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of brain metastases: results of a retrospective study.

Background: Lasting local control of brain metastases following stereotactic radiotherapy is becoming increasingly relevant since systemic treatment constantly improves the prognosis of patients with extracranial metastases.

Methods: 73 patients with 103 brain metastases received hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in 6 fractions of 5 Gy between January 2017 and December 2021 at the University Hospital Regensburg, Germany. The study retrospectively evaluated local progression free survival (LPFS), overall survival (OS) and distant brain progression free survival (DPFS) of patients without prior radiotherapy of the brain.

Impact of chronic graft-versus-host disease on quality of life and cognitive function of long-term transplant survivors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with total body irradiation.

Background: Total body irradiation (TBI)-based-conditioning before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is standard of care in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but can cause long-term morbidity. Data on the impact of chronic Graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) on cognitive function (CF) and quality of life (QoL) of long-term transplant survivors are sparse.

Methods: We analyzed patient-reported outcomes focusing on progression-free AML patients and 1st allo-HSCT applying a standardized TBI-technique with an average dose rate of 4 cGy/min to the total body and lung shielding in case of doses > 8 Gy.

Noninvasive treatment of two deeply invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the midface located close to the orbits with intensity-modulated arc therapy: A case report.

Definitive radiotherapy is a curative and noninvasive treatment modality for cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the midface when surgery has an impact on function and cosmetics. Volumetric modulated arc therapy provides optimal dose coverage for complex-shaped tumors without compromising adjacent organs at risk.

Dramatic radiotherapy response of a giant T4 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp with extensive bone destruction: a case report.

Background: Patients with large cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp are a treatment challenge. We report a case of dramatic radiotherapy response of a patient with a giant cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp with extensive skull destruction and suspected infiltration of the dura mater and superior sagittal sinus. This case is the first report of this kind in the literature that shows that large bone defects can heal with the resolution of tumor and inflammation by secondary intention without surgical reconstruction.

Delineation of the Feline Hippocampal Formation: A Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Images With Anatomic Slices.

The hippocampal formation (HF) is a relevant brain structure that is involved in several neurological and psychiatric diseases. In cats, structural changes of the HF are associated with epilepsy. The knowledge of a detailed anatomy of this brain region may lead to the accurate diagnosis and development of better therapies.

Multidrug-resistant bacteria in geriatric clinics, nursing homes, and ambulant care--prevalence and risk factors.

Colonization/infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, is an increasing problem not only in hospitals but also in long-term care facilities. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence as well as the risk factors of colonization/infection with MRSA, VRE, and ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae in geriatric clinics, nursing homes, and ambulant care in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 288 patients from 2 geriatric clinics (n=46), 8 nursing homes (n=178), and 2 ambulant care facilities (n=64) as well as 64 staff members were screened for MDRB in the time period from October 2006 to May 2007.