The effect of Mediterranean diet on nutritional status, muscle mass and strength, and inflammatory factors in patients with colorectal cancer-induced cachexia: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Current dietary strategies to manage cancer cachexia and the relevant outcomes did not provide a comprehensive solution. This study will evaluate the effect of a Mediterranean diet on inflammatory markers, nutritional status, muscle mass, and strength among patients with cancer cachexia (CC). METHODS: This will be a randomized clinical trial involving men and women diagnosed with localized or advanced colorectal cancer-induced cachexia. In total, 40 patients with CC will be recruited based on inclusion criteria and then these patients will be randomly allocated to receive either a Mediterranean diet (n = 20) or only routine nutritional advice (n = 20) for 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be nutritional status, muscle mass and strength, and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Moreover, we will consider serum albumin and total protein levels, complete blood count (CBC), and quality of life as the secondary outcomes. All outcomes will be measured at the beginning and end (the eighth week) of the study. We will assess participants' adherence to the prescribed diets by using a 1-day food record in the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth weeks of the study. DISCUSSION: Along with adequate calorie and protein intake in cancer cachexia, reducing inflammatory cytokines might be a useful strategy for maintaining nutritional status and body composition. Mediterranean diet has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, and by its components, it might help patients with cachexia to have a better nutritional status and quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( www.irct.ir ) RCT20211027052884N1. Prospectively registered on November 09, 2021.

Physical fitness in patients with bipolar disorder compared with a population-based sample.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate physical fitness and body composition in a sample including hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder and to compare them with a population-based sample. METHODS: In this comparative observational study, 40 bipolar patients and 40 healthy subjects in Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2019 were assessed. The physical fitness items such as body mass index (BMI), body fat, push-up test, curl-up test, VO2 peak, and sit and reach test were compared across the groups. Young Mania Rating Scale for assessing the severity of bipolar disease and WHODAS2.0 for the estimation of global performance were done in the case group. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrate that sit and reach test, body mass index (BMI), and body fat percent were similar across the studied groups. The push-up test, curl-up test, and VO2 peak (P = .001) were significantly lower in the case group. In the case group, only the push-up test was associated with the severity of bipolar disorder and decreased performance. CONCLUSION: Lower push-up and curl-up can indicate an increase in both back and neck pains in these patients. Low VO2 peak in these patients increases the risk of heart disease and mortality rates in bipolar patients. The push-up test can be used as a screen test to estimate the severity of the bipolar disorder.

Successful radiotherapy of de novo hypopharyngeal cancer in a Fanconi anemia patient with previous esophageal cancer.

Definitive radiotherapy was effectively used for treatment of de novo hypopharyngeal SCC in a previous esophageal cancer patient with a history of Fanconi anemia, resulting in a complete clinical response.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the tongue.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma usually originates from lung. Few data exist in the literature regarding neuroendocrine carcinoma of the tongue. Patient data including history, surgical procedure, histology, and radiology investigations were collected and summarized. A 40-year-old woman was referred after partial glossectomy. Squamous mucosa with neoplasm and cells with round nuclei and light cytoplasm was reported in the tongue biopsy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was positive for cytokeratin, neuron specific enolase, synaptophysin and chromogranin and negative for leukocyte common antigen. This case showed a high proliferative activity (Ki-67 labeling index were 60%). These IHC findings were in favor of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. After surgery, she received chemotherapy and chemoradiation. The diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors in the present case is based on immunohistochemical markers and cellular shapes. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy is a critical element of therapy for head and neck high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas, our patient received this treatment after surgery.

The potential effectiveness of nanoparticles as radio sensitizers for radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Application of nanoparticles as radio sensitizer is a promising field to improve efficiency of radiotherapy. METHODS: This study was conducted to review nano radio sensitizers. PubMed, Ovid Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, ISI web of knowledge, and Springer databases were searched from 2000 to May 2013 to identify relevant studies. Search was restricted to English language. RESULTS: We included any study that evaluated nanoparticles, volunteer of radio enhancement at radiotherapy on animals or cell lines. Nanoparticles can increase radio sensitivity of tumor cells. This effect was shown in vivo and in vitro, at kilovltage or megavoltage energies, in 24 reviewed studies. Focus of studies was on gold nanoparticles. Radio sensitizing effects of nanoparticles depend on nanoparticles' size, type, concentration, intracellular localization, used irradiation energy and tested cell line. CONCLUSION: Literature suggests potency of nanoparticles for increasing cell radio sensitivity. Reviewed results are promising and warrant future clinical trials.