RRx-001 Radioprotection: Enhancement of Survival and Hematopoietic Recovery in Gamma-Irradiated Mice.

The present studies evaluate the in vivo prophylactic radioprotective effects of 1-bromoacetyl-3, 3-dinitroazetidine (RRx-001), a phase III anticancer agent that inhibits c-myc and downregulates CD-47, after total body irradiation (TBI), in lethally and sublethally irradiated CD2F1 male mice. A single dose of RRx-001 was administered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection 24 h prior to a lethal or sublethal radiation dose. When irradiated with 9.35 Gy, the dose lethal to 70% of untreated mice at 30 days (LD70/30), only 33% of mice receiving RRx-001 (10 mg/kg) 24 h prior to total body irradiation (TBI) died by day 30, compared to 67% in vehicle-treated mice. The same pretreatment dose of RRx-001 resulted in a significant dose reduction factor of 1.07. In sublethally TBI mice, bone marrow cellularity was increased at day 14 in the RRx-001-treated mice compared to irradiated vehicle-treated animals. In addition, significantly higher numbers of lymphocytes, platelets, percent hematocrit and percent reticulocytes were observed on days 7 and/or 14 in RRx-001-treated mice. These experiments provide proof of principle that systemic administration of RRx-001 prior to TBI significantly improves overall survival and bone marrow regeneration.

Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery, a Feasible Alternative to the Frame-Based Technique for the Treatment of Refractory Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) causes severe facial pain. Several treatment options exist for classic TN refractory to medical therapy, including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Most studies in the medical literature used a frame-based SRS technique. Improvements in linear accelerator-based treatment systems and image guidance have led to the use of frameless SRS as a safe and feasible alternative to the frame-based technique for the treatment of refractory TN. We present a case of refractory TN successfully treated with frameless SRS.

Gallbladder Carcinoma, the Difficulty of Early Detection: A Case Report.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is an uncommon malignancy with a high mortality rate. Detecting gallbladder carcinoma in its early stages can be difficult, despite improvements in ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Most diagnoses of GBC are made at advanced stages, with the majority being found incidentally during surgery for cholelithiasis. The presented case demonstrates the difficulty of diagnosing GBC preoperatively in its early stages.