Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of ototopical ciprofloxacin (0.3%; CIP) with framycetin (0.5%), gramicidin, dexamethasone (FGD) eardrops (5 drops twice daily for 9 days) together with povidone‐iodine (0.5%) ear cleaning as treatments for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in Aboriginal children. Design and participants: Aboriginal community‐controlled, community‐based, multicentre, double‐blind, randomised controlled trial in eight Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across northern Australia, involving 147 Aboriginal children with CSOM. Main outcome measures: Resolution of otorrhoea (clinical cure), proportion of children with healed perforated tympanic membrane (TM) and improved hearing, 10–21 days after starting treatment. Results: 111 children aged 1–14 years (CIP, 55; FGD, 56) completed treatment. CSOM cures occurred in 64% (CIP, 76.4%; FGD, 51.8%), with a significantly higher rate in the ciprofloxacin group (P = 0.009, absolute difference of 24.6% [95% CI, 15.8%–33.4%]). TM perforation size and the level of hearing impairment did not change. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacterial pathogen (in 47.6%), while respiratory pathogens were rare (in 5.7%). Conclusions: Twice‐daily ear cleaning and topical ciprofloxacin is effective at community‐level in achieving cure for CSOM. Healthcare providers to Aboriginal children with CSOM should be given special access to provide ototopical ciprofloxacin as first‐line treatment.

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and side effects of dose escalation in hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hfSRT) for intrapulmonary tumors with the Novalis™ system (BrainLAB AG, Heimstetten, Germany).Patients and Methods:From 07/2003 to 01/2005, 21 patients/39 tumors were treated with 5 × 7 Gy (n = 21; total dose 35 Gy) or 5 × 8 Gy (n = 18; total dose 40 Gy). There were three cases of primary lung cancer, the remainder were metastases. Median gross tumor volume (GTV) and planning target volume (PTV) were 2.89 cm3 (range, 0.15–67.94 cm3) and 25.75 cm3 (range, 7.18–124.04 cm3), respectively.Results:Rates of complete remission, partial remission, no change, and progressive disease were 51%, 33%, 3%, and 13%, respectively. No grade 4 toxicity occurred, nearly all patients had grade 1 initially. One grade 3 toxicity, i.e., dyspnea, was documented for a period of 6 months after therapy. Radiosurgery quality assurance guidelines could be met.Conclusion:hfSRT of primary and secondary lung tumors using a schedule of five fractions at 7–8 Gy each was well tolerated. Further dose escalation is planned.

SIMRT enables dose escalation to tumors located close to critical organs. Inverse planning for micro-multileaf collimator stereotactic irradiation is practicable in the daily routine irradiation program. SIMRT needs special verification and still, the following parameters have to be standardized: IMRT dose specification, dose maxima, length of radiation delivery time.

RTOG radiosurgery guidelines were best met by the DCA rather than IMSRS approach for the treatment of small skull-base lesions. The IMSRS approach will increase the time for planning, dose delivery and integral dose to the brain. Thus, IMSRT techniques are recommended for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy to larger volumes rather than for radiosurgery in small skull-base lesions.

Radiotherapy was identified as safe and effective for pharmacoresistant epilepsy since a very good reduction of seizure frequency was observed. It is no substitute for regular use of antiepileptic drugs, but means an appropriate alternative for patients with contraindication against neurosurgery or insufficient seizure reduction after neurosurgery.