[Concomitant radiotherapy-chemotherapy for unresectable cancers of the head and neck: a retrospective analysis of 130 patients]. / Radiothérapie-chimiothérapie concomitante des cancers non opérables de la tête et du cou. Etude rétrospective sur 130 patients.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed retrospectively the files of 130 patients with unresectable cancer of the head and neck who were given concomitant radiotherapy-chemotherapy between January 1993 and February 2000. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The series included 41 patients with grade III cancer, 64 grade IVA, and 25 grade IVB. Treatment combined radiotherapy (70.2 Gy centered on the tumor with 50.4 Gy on the lymph nodes) and chemotherapy using three cycles of cisplatinium combined with 5-fluorouracil in continuous infusion for 120 hr. RESULTS: Local control was achieved in 51% of the patients at two years and 48% at five years. Overall survival was 45% at two years and 33% at five years, all grades included. CONCLUSION: Univariate analysis of prognostic factors points out the importance of the nutritional status before and during treatment.

[Sensory illusions in hang-gliding]. / Illusion sensorielles en vol libre.

Sensory illusions in hang-gliding and para-gliding. Hang-gliding and para-gliding are at the moment booming sports. Sensory illusions are physiological phenomena sharing the wrong perception of the pilote's real position in space. These phenomena are very familiar to aeroplane pilotes, they can also be noticed on certain conditions with hang-gliding pilotes. There are many and various sensory illusions, but only illusions of vestibular origin will be dealt with in this article. Vestibular physiology is reminded with the working principle of a semicircular canal. Physiology and laws of physics explain several sensory illusions, especially when the pilote loses his visual landmarks: flying through a cloud, coriolis effect. Also some specific stages of hang-gliding foster those phenomena: spiraling downwards, self-rotation, following an asymetric closing of the parachute, spin on oneself. Therefore a previous briefing for the pilotes seems necessary.