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Background: Electroacupuncture and exercise therapy have been used to treat knee osteoarthritis, but evidence for adding cupping to this treatment is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of cupping and acupuncture combined with exercise on knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: This randomized control trial was done on 56 patients with knee osteoarthritis. We had two groups: a control and an intervention group. Both groups received electroacupuncture and exercise therapy programs. The intervention group received cupping after electroacupuncture plus exercise therapy. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measured patient outcomes before and after treatment. Results: All patients' VAS and WOMAC scores decreased in these two groups after treatment. The difference between VAS and WOMAC scores and pain and knee function was significant compared to the intervention group with the control group (p<0.05). The difference in knee stiffness was not significant comparing the intervention group with the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Adding cupping therapy following electroacupuncture and exercise therapy significantly decreased pain and improved function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The current systematic study has reviewed the therapeutic potential of gold nanoparticles as nano radiosensitizers for cancer radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: This study was done to review nano radiosensitizers. PubMed, Ovid Medline, Science Direct, SCOPUS, ISI web of knowledge, Springer databases were searched from 2000 to September 2013 to identify appropriate studies. Any study that assessed nanoparticles, candidate of radio enhancement at radiotherapy on animals or cell lines was included by two independent reviewers. Results: Gold nanoparticles can enhance radiosenstivity of tumor cells. This effect is shown in vivo and in vitro, at kilovoltage or megavoltage energies, in 15 reviewed studies. Emphasis of studies was on gold nanoparticles. Radiosensitization of nanoparticles depend on nanoparticles' size, type, concentration, intracellular localization, used irradiation energy and tested cell line. Conclusion: Study outcomes have showed that gold nanoparticles have been beneficial at cancer radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third common cancer world wide and the forth in Iran. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer. In this study we evaluate the efficacy a cox-2 inhibitor on pathologic response, sphincter preservation and acute toxicity during neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Methods: Thirty-six patients that have adenocarcinoma of rectum was enrolled (up to 15 cm of anal verge). The patients were undergone Endometrial Ultrasound (EUS), abdomino-pelvic and chest CT for staging. Then received neoadjuvant concurrent chemo radiation (xeloda 825 mg/m2 bid in combination with celecoxib 100 mg qid and 50-50.4Gy/25-28f). Surgery was done 4-8 weeks after chemoradiation. During the chemoradiation the patients was observed for the probable complication one year. Tumor regression grade was reported. Results: From 36 surgery patients, Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) was done in 30 patients. Pathologic complete response was seen in eight of 30 patients (26.7%). Tumor regression grade was calculated in three and five grade system: in three grade system 17 patients had grade 1 (60.7%), eight patients had grade 2 (28.6%) and three patients had grade 3 (10.7%). In five grade system of tumor regression eight patients had grade 1 (28.6%), nine patients had grade 2 (32.1%), eight patients grade 3 (28.6%), three patients had grade 4 (10.7%). T down staging was 43.3%. N downstaging was 30.8%. No patient had skin reaction or cardio-vascular complication. Conclusion: Based on our study results, Celecoxib in combination with neoadjuvant chemoradiation is safe and is associated with low complications. This combination can promote pathologic complete response, TRG and T and N downstaging in Rectal adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]