Cyberknife: A double edged sword?

The Cyberknife represents a new, frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system which efficiently incorporates advance robotics with computerized image reconstruction to allow highly conformal image guided radiation delivery. This review focus is on the pros and cons of this new radiotherapy tool, its current indications, safety profile and future directions. A literature search of Medline, Pubmed, Biomed, Medscape and Cancer lit database were referred to retrieve relevant data/information. The authors conclude that the use of this system offers an invaluable solution to the treatment of selective tumours/lesions located close to critical structures, salvage of recurrent and metastatic lesions and potential of treatment of selective early stage malignancies like the carcinoma prostate and lung. However, it is still too premature, with insufficient follow up data to advocate it as the treatment of choice in any set up. There are several radiobiological issues that also remain in the greyzone.     

In infertile women,cells from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia trachomatis</Emphasis> infected site release higher levels of interferon-gamma,interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha upon heat shock protein stimulation than fertile women

Background  

The magnitude of reproductive morbidity associated with sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infection is enormous. Association of antibodies to chlamydial heat shock proteins (cHSP) 60 and 10 with various disease sequelae such as infertility or ectopic pregnancy has been reported. Cell-mediated immunity is essential in resolution and in protection to Chlamydia as well as is involved in the immunopathogenesis of chlamydial diseases. To date only peripheral cell mediated immune responses have been evaluated for cHSP60. These studies suggest cHSPs as important factors involved in immunopathological condition associated with infection. Hence study of specific cytokine responses of mononuclear cells from the infectious site to cHSP60 and cHSP10 may elucidate their actual role in the cause of immunopathogenesis and the disease outcome.