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Introduction: Cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia (VT), stand as a significant threat to health, often leading to mortality and sudden cardiac death. While conventional treatments for VT exhibit efficacy, cases of refractory VT pose challenges. Stereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) offers a novel approach, delivering precise high‐dose radiation to well‐defined targets with minimal collateral damage. This study explores the potential of STAR as an alternative therapy, especially for high‐risk patients or those with refractory VT. Methods: This research reviews ongoing studies and preliminary investigations into the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of STAR. The method involves targeted radiation delivery, assessing reductions in VT recurrence and the early safety profile in refractory VT patients. However, given STAR's early stage and limited clinical evidence, cautious interpretation is advised. Results: Preliminary findings indicate a reduction in VT recurrence with STAR, suggesting promise as a therapeutic option. Early safety profiles are encouraging, but definitive statements on efficacy and safety require further investigation. Positive initial outcomes underscore the need for additional data and long‐term studies. Conclusion: Stereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation is recently emerging as a promising treatment for refractory VT. While early results are encouraging, careful interpretation is needed, due to STAR's early stages. Ongoing investigations are critical for a comprehensive understanding of its long‐term efficacy and tolerability. This review provides fundamental insights into STAR's background, principles, pre‐treatment procedures, clinical implications, and toxicity, setting the stage for future research in this evolving therapeutic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article aims to study the effect of Low‐Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on arm lymphedema in patients who have breast cancer. Methods and Materials: Twenty‐three patients were selected in a nonrandomized phase‐2 clinical trial. After measuring the circumference of the affected and unaffected limbs at 6‐points, the volume of the limbs, the degree of mental symptoms on visual analog scale by the patient upon entering the study, and performing an ultrasound on the patient's axilla to locate the fibrotic areas, a low‐level laser device at a therapeutic dose of 2 J/cm2 was used to treat the patients three times a week for 4 weeks, and after an 8‐week gap, for another similar period. Measurement of circumference and volume of affected and unaffected limbs and mental symptoms were carried out at the end of the 4th week, the beginning of the 12th week, and the end of the 16th week, and the obtained results were compared with those before the treatment. Results: We noted that the average reductions in the circumference and volume of the affected limb, as compared with the unaffected limb, were about 16% and 21.7%, respectively, and improvement in the patient's mental symptoms was about 32%. Another notable observation was the great enthusiasm of most patients to continue their treatment, particularly from the second cycle onward. Conclusions: LLLT can, at least in association with current standard methods, be used for arm lymphedema to introduce further reductions in pain and volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Clinical trials investigating the effects of addition of oxaliplatin to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancers (LARCs) have brought controversial results for pathologic complete response as an endpoint. This randomized clinical trial investigated downstaging as a short-term surrogate for progression-free survival (PFS). Methods Patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) defined T3, T4 or N+ histologically proven adenocarcinoma of rectum within 15 cm from anal verge were randomly assigned to receive 50-50.4 Gy external beam radiation in 25-28 fractions and concurrent capecitabine 825 mg/m2 twice daily 5 days a week with or without oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2 weekly as neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (Capox and Cap group, respectively). T downstage was defined as at least one stage regression in pathologic report after surgery comparing to MRI image before the preoperative treatment. Adverse effects of treatment were recorded on a weekly basis according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 4. Results Sixty-three patients were randomly assigned to Cap ( n = 31) and Capox ( n = 32) groups. There was no grade 4 toxicity. The only grade 3 toxicity that occurred more in Capox group was diarrhea (22% vs 0%; P = 0.006). Histopathologic stage of 52 patients (27 patients in Cap and 25 patients in Capox groups) was compared to their preoperative stage defined by MRI. There was a greater rate of T downstage in Capox group (59% vs 42%; P = 0.037). Eleven patients in Capox group (34%) achieved pathologic complete response, comparing to four in Cap group (13%); P = 0.072. Conclusion The addition of oxalipatin to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in LARC led to higher rate of tumor downstaging. Longer follow-up is needed to evaluate PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This retrospective analysis aims to report results from patients with cervical cancer treated by external beam radiation (EBR) with telecobalt and medium-dose-rate (MDR) brachytherapy and to establish the magnitude of brachytherapy dose reduction. Methods: Between June 2003 and September 2005, 77 patients with histological diagnosis of cervical carcinoma were treated with cobalt for external beam radiation, followed by one or two insertions of MDR with a dose rate from 220 ± 10 cGy/h. Median dose of EBR at whole pelvis was 50 Gy and the planned MDR schedule consisted of 1 or 2 insertions with 10–12 Gy to point A. Results: 77 patients were followed for median of 15 months (range: 1–33 months). Local control was achieved in 63 patients 81.8%. Local failure and overall failure rates were 11.7% and 19.5%, respectively. Overall incidence of rectal and bladder complication was 9.0% (7/77) and 7.8% (6/77), respectively. Conclusion: Results of this series suggest that use of telecobalt for EBR together with MDR brachytherapy with a dose reduction around 20% in comparison with low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy can be an acceptable technique, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]