Efficacy of sesame oil versus placebo in the management of acute radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

AIM

Considering the anti-inflammatory and positive effects of sesame oil in treating skin diseases, the present research aimed to study its therapeutic effects on acute radiotherapy dermatitis in such patients.

METHODS

Forty women with breast cancer during radiotherapy (for 5 weeks) were randomly grouped into two categories: sesame oil (20 patients) and placebo (20 patients). After each radiotherapy session, they were asked to use 3cc of the ointment on the treating field and continue the treatment until the end. They were examined weekly according to the staging criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the first 3 weeks. In the fourth week, dermatitis grade 0 was 35%, grade 1 was 65%, and grade 2 was 0% in the intervention (case) group, while in the control group, they were 10%, 75%, and 15%, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.046). Also, in the fifth week in the case group, dermatitis grade 0 was 25%, grade 1 was 70%, and grade 2 was 5%, while in the control group, they were 0%, 80%, and 20%, respectively. This difference was also statistically significant (p = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings, sesame oil, as a cheap and available herbal treatment, may be utilized in treating acute dermatitis caused by radiotherapy. However, an investigation with a larger sample size in several centers should be conducted to examine sesame oil effects in treating acute radio dermatitis more comprehensively.

Association of body mass index with 30-day outcomes following groin hernia repair

PURPOSE

Although groin hernia repairs are relatively safe, efforts to identify factors associated with greater morbidity and resource utilization following these operations are warranted. An emphasis on obesity has limited studies from a comprehensive evaluation of the association between body mass index (BMI) and outcomes following groin hernia repair. Thus, we aimed to ascertain the association between BMI class with 30-day outcomes following these operations.

METHODS

The 2014-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify adults undergoing non-recurrent groin hernia repair. Patient BMI was used to stratify patients into six groups: underweight, normal, overweight, and obesity classes I-III. Association of BMI with major adverse events (MAE), wound complication, and prolonged length of stay (pLOS) as well as 30-day readmission and reoperation were evaluated using multivariable regressions.

RESULTS

Of the 163,373 adults who underwent groin hernia repair, the majority of patients were considered overweight (44.4%). Underweight patients more commonly underwent emergent operations and femoral hernia repair compared to others. After adjustment of intergoup differences, obesity class III was associated with greater odds of an MAE (AOR 1.50), wound complication (AOR 4.30), pLOS (AOR 1.40), and 30-day readmission (AOR 1.50) and reoperation (AOR 1.75, all p < 0.05). Underweight BMI portended greater odds of pLOS and unplanned readmission.

CONCLUSION

Consideration of BMI in patients requiring groin hernia repair could help inform perioperative expectations. Preoperative optimization and deployment of a minimally invasive approach when feasible may further reduce morbidity in patients at the extremes of the BMI spectrum.

Pulmonary artery obstruction index, pulmonary artery diameter and right ventricle strain as prognostic CT findings in patient with acute pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine predictors of pulmonary hypertension and signs of right heart dysfunction caused by pulmonary embolism (PE) that may lead to early detection of high-risk patients. So the predictive value of pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI), measured by pulmonary CT angiography (PCTA) in the acute setting, in predicting the patients susceptible to PE cardiac complications was evaluated. Also two other PCTA indices, pulmonary artery diameter (PAD), and right ventricle (RV) strain, in these patients were investigated and their predictive value for cardiac complications on follow up echocardiography were demonstrated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the study 120 patients with a definite diagnosis of PE were included. The PAOI, PAD and RV strain were measured using PCTA at the time of the initial diagnosis. Transthoracic echocardiography was done 6 months after the diagnosis of PE and RV echocardiographic indices were measured. Pearson correlation was used to investigate correlation between PAOI, PAD, RV strain and signs of right heart dysfunction.

RESULTS

PAOI was strongly correlated with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) (r=0.83), RV systolic pressure (r=0.78) and RV wall thickness (r=0.61) in long-term follow up echocardiography. A higher rate of RV dysfunction and RV dilation was detected among the patients with higher PAOI (P<0.001). PAOI≥18 was strongly predictive for development of RV dysfunction. Also developments of pulmonary hypertension, RV systolic hypertension, RV dilation, RV dysfunction, and RV hypertrophy were significantly more common among patients with higher PAD and RV strain (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PAOI, PAD and RV strain are sensitive and specific PCTA indices that can predict the development of long-term complications such as pulmonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction, at the time of initial PE diagnosis.

A case report of a mammary myofibroblastoma in a male and literature review of radiologic and pathologic features of breast myofibroblastoma

We reported a 65-year-old male with a benign mammary myofibroblastoma. This report shows that not all masses of male breast are malignant. To differentiate benign masses from malignant neoplasms, careful preoperative diagnosis should be performed. Preoperative diagnosis of the tumor prevents placing a huge financial and mental burdens on patients.

Intraluminal bezoar caused obstruction and pancreatitis: A case report

Acute pancreatitis from bezoar-induced obstruction is rare. We present an uncommon case report of a man with manifestations of Rapunzel syndrome with no known history of mental disorders. Surgical removal of the bezoar through gastrostomy and enterotomy in the absence of a psychiatric undertone will undoubtedly prevent a relapse.

Large small cell carcinoma of anorectal canal

Neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1), also known as Von Recklinghausen disease, is an autosomal dominant disorder with incidence of one per 4000. Neurofibromas are benign, heterogeneous, peripheral nerve sheath tumors coming up from the connective tissue of peripheral nerve sheaths, particularly the endoneurium. Visceral involvement in disseminated neurofibromatosis is considered rare. Neurofibroma occurs most frequently in the stomach and jejunum, but colon and anorectal canal may also be involved. Gastrointestinal neurofibromas may lead to bleeding, obstruction, intussusception, protein-losing enteropathy and bowel perforation. We encountered a case of diffusely involving the anorectal area by huge neurofibroma, which resulted in pelvic pain with watery diarrhea and urgency.

Solution structure of 3-oxo-delta5-steroid isomerase

The three-dimensional structure of the enzyme 3-oxo-delta5-steroid isomerase (E.C. 5.3.3.1), a 28-kilodalton symmetrical dimer, was solved by multidimensional heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The two independently folded monomers pack together by means of extensive hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Each monomer comprises three alpha helices and a six-strand mixed beta-pleated sheet arranged to form a deep hydrophobic cavity. Catalytically important residues Tyr14 (general acid) and Asp38 (general base) are located near the bottom of the cavity and positioned as expected from mechanistic hypotheses. An unexpected acid group (Asp99) is also located in the active site adjacent to Tyr14, and kinetic and binding studies of the Asp99 to Ala mutant demonstrate that Asp99 contributes to catalysis by stabilizing the intermediate.

Synthesis and biochemical studies of 7 alpha-substituted androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-diones as enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors of aromatase

Several 7 alpha-thiosubstituted derivatives of androstenedione have demonstrated effective inhibition of aromatase, the cytochrome P450 enzyme complex responsible for the biosynthesis of estrogens. Introduction of an additional double bond in the A ring resulted in 7 alpha-(4'-amino)phenylthioandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (7 alpha-APTADD), a potent inhibitor that inactivated aromatase by an enzyme-catalyzed process. Additional 7 alpha-thiosubstituted androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione derivatives were designed to further examine enzyme-catalyzed inactivation. Two halogenated and one unsubstituted 7 alpha-phenylthioandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-diones were synthesized via an acid-catalyzed conjugate Michael addition of substituted thiophenols with androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione. Two 7 alpha-naphthylthioandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-diones were synthesized via either acid-catalyzed or based-catalyzed conjugate Michael addition of substituted thionaphthols with androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione. These agents were evaluated for aromatase inhibitory activity in the human placental microsomal preparation. Under initial velocity assay conditions of low product formation, the inhibitors demonstrated potent inhibition of aromatase, with apparent Ki's ranging from 12 to 27 nM. Furthermore, these compounds produced time-dependent, first-order inactivation of aromatase in the presence of NADPH, whereas no aromatase inactivation was observed in the absence of NADPH. This enzyme-activated irreversible inhibition, also referred to as mechanism-based inhibition, can be prevented by the substrate androstenedione. Thus, the apparent Ki values for these inhibitors are consistent with earlier studies on 7 alpha-substituted competitive inhibitors that indicate bulky substituents can be accommodated at the 7 alpha-position.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Steroidal inhibitors as chemical probes of the active site of aromatase

Androstenedione analogs containing 7 alpha-substituents have proven to be potent inhibitors of aromatase in human placental microsomes, in MCF-7 mammary cell cultures, and in JAr choriocarcinoma cells. Recent investigations have focused on the use of mechanism-based inhibitors, such as 7 alpha-substituted 1,4-androstadienediones, to biochemically probe the active site of aromatase. Inhibition kinetics were determined under initial velocity conditions using purified human placental cytochrome P450arom protein in a reconstituted system. Derivatives of 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione and 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione exhibited high affinity in the purified enzyme system. 7 alpha-(4'-Amino)phenylthio-1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione, abbreviated 7 alpha-APTADD, demonstrated rapid time-dependent, first-order inactivation of reconstituted aromatase activity only in the presence of NADPH. The apparent Kinact for 7 alpha-APTADD is 11.8 nM, the first-order rate of inactivation is 2.72 x 10(-3) sec-1, and the half-time of inactivation at infinite inhibitor concentration is 4.25 min. The values for the rate constant and half-time of inactivation are similar to those observed in the placental microsomal assay system. Further studies were performed with radioiodinated 7 alpha-(4'-iodo)phenylthio-1,4-androstadienedione, 7 alpha-IPTADD, and the reconstituted aromatase system. Incubations with [125I] 7 alpha-IPTADD were followed by protein precipitation, solvent extraction, and column chromatography. Analysis of the isolated cytochrome P450arom by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated the presence of only one radioactive band, which corresponded to the protein staining band for cytochrome P450arom. HPLC radiochromatographic analysis of the isolated cytochrome P450aroM confirmed the presence of only one radioactive peak coeluting with the u.v. peak for cytochrome P450arom. Peptide mapping analysis by reverse-phase HPLC of digested inhibitor-cytochrome P450arom complex demonstrates that the radioactive inhibitor is covalently bound to a lipophilic fragment. In summary, these inhibitors produced enzyme-catalyzed inactivation of reconstituted aromatase activity, and radioiodinated 7 alpha-IP-TADD binds covalently to the cytochrome P450arom.