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AIM OF THE STUDY: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression and serum vitamin D scores in oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer have not been widely analyzed. The role of vitamin D supplementation in advanced oral cancer for improving quality of life (QOL) is also a matter of research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Vitamin D receptor expression and vitamin D scores were analyzed in normal oral mucosa (n = 95), leukoplakia (n = 23) and oral cancer (n = 87). 45 patients with advanced oral cancer subjected to chemoradiation were evaluated for the effect of vitamin D supplementation on most observable QOL parameters such as oral mucositis, swallowing performance and overall QOL. RESULTS: Vitamin D receptor expression was increased in oral neoplastic lesions. Vitamin D scores were significantly lower in cases compared to healthy controls (p = 0.002). Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the therapy-related toxicities in advanced cancer, thus reducing morbidity and improving QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D receptor expression is increased in premalignant lesions and oral cancer. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are prevalent in patients with oral neoplastic lesions. Vitamin D supplementation has a role in reducing treatment-related toxicities, especially in advanced cancer.
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BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is associated with advanced presentation in developing countries like India due to various socio-economic factors. The presence of BC molecular subtypes such as the triple-negative (TN) subtype adds to this menace. Androgen receptor (AR) is emerging as a new biological marker. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of AR with relation to different BC subtypes, and its role in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: 116 cases of invasive BC (infiltrating ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified) were evaluated. AR expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors, established prognostic markers, BC subtypes and it ability for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: AR was expressed in 56% of the cases. AR expression was significantly associated with early stage (p < 0.03), low axillary burden (p < 0.04), estrogen receptor (p = 0.002), progesterone receptor (p = 0.001) expression and luminal A molecular subtype. No significant association was observed with age, tumor size and HER2/neu status. One-third of TNBC cases expressed AR. Higher AR expression corelated to good clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: AR can be utilized as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy especially in developing countries such as India where the load of advanced disease is high.
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In inguinal hernia surgery, quality of life (QOL) has emerged as a striking issue. Evidence suggests better QOL of patients operated with laparoscopic procedure as compared with open anterior hernia repairs. However data are scarce with relation to open posterior repair in terms of QOL issues. A prospective randomized single-blind study from November 2014 to October 2015 including all patients who underwent elective primary endoscopic [totally extraperitoneal (TEP)] or open Stoppa inguinal hernia repair was undertaken. Mean operating time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and QOL using short form-36 and Carolinas equation of QOL were analyzed. Physical functioning, mental health, bodily pain, and general health showed advantages of TEP over Stoppa repair in first month of postoperative period. Postoperative prediction of hernia discomfort after 1 year was found to be significantly more in Stoppa repair. Complications were slightly higher with open repair. To conclude TEP is associated with significant increased operative time, better QOL in early postoperative period, and less predicted discomfort after 1 year of surgery.