CA-125/CEA ratio as a prognostic factor in type II endometrial cancer: a single institute experience

Objective: Type II (non-endometrioid) endometrial cancer is less common with an incidence of 10%-20%. It has an aggressive clinical course with heterogeneous clinic pathological features. The aim of this study is to evaluate prognostic factors and survival outcomes in type II endometrial cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients aged over 18 years with diagnosis of Stage IA-IVB type II endometrial cancer were included to the study. Between 2013 and 2019, a total of 76 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Median overall survival (OS) was 25 months while median disease-free survival (DFS) was 22 months. Median DFS was 25 months (95% CI: 14.71-35.28) in patients with negative lymph nodes while it was 10 months (95% CI: 6.88-13.11) in patients with positive lymph nodes (p=0.017). Median OS was 28 months (95% CI: 23.05-32.95) in patients with a ratio of CA-125/CEA<25 while it was 16 months (95% CI: 5.19-26.80) in those with a ratio of CA-125/CEA≥25 (p=0.02). Patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (ECOG PS) <2 at the time of diagnosis had a significantly longer OS than ECOG PS≥2 [median 29 months (95% CI: 22.99-35.94) vs. 15 months (95% CI: 0.33-29.66); p=0.024]. In multivariate Cox regression analysis CA-125/CEA (HR:1.70, 95% CI: 1.01-2.83, p=0.042) was independent risk factor for OS. Conclusions: CA-125/CEA ratio may have prognostic significance in type 2 endometrial cancer, but it needs to be supported by randomized clinical trials

Biofortification and Localization of Zinc in Wheat Grain

Zinc (Zn) deficiency associated with low dietary intake is a well-documented public health problem, resulting in serious health and socioeconomic problems. Field experiments were conducted with wheat to test the role of both soil and foliar application of ZnSO4 in Zn concentration of whole grain and grain fractions (e.g., bran, embryo and endosperm) in 3 locations. Foliar application of ZnSO4 was realized at different growth stages (e.g., stem elongation, boot, milk, dough stages) to study the effect of timing of foliar Zn application on grain Zn concentration. The rate of foliar Zn application at each growth stage was 4 kg of ZnSO4 3 7H2O ha-1. Laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MS was used to follow the localization of Zn within grain. Soil Zn application at a rate of 50 kg of ZnSO4 3 7H2O ha-1 was effective in increasing grain Zn concentration in the Zn-deficient location, but not in the locations without soil Zn deficiency. In all locations, foliar application of Zn significantly increased Zn concentration in whole grain and in each grain fraction, particularly in the case of high soil N fertilization. In Zn-deficient location, grain Zn concentration increased from 11 mg kg-1 to 22 mg kg-1 with foliar Zn application and to 27 mg kg-1 with a combined application of ZnSO4 to soil and foliar. In locations without soil Zn deficiency, combination of high N application with two times foliar Zn application (e.g., at the booting and milk stages) increased grain Zn concentration, on average, from 28 mg kg-1 to 58 mg kg-1. Both ICP-OES and LA-ICP-MS data showed that the increase in Zn concentration of whole grain and grain fractions was pronounced when Zn was sprayed at the late growth stage (e.g., milk and dough). LA-ICP-MS data also indicated that Zn was transported into endosperm through the crease phloem. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the timing of foliar Zn application is of great importance in increasing grain Zn in wheat, especially in the endosperm part that is the predominant grain fraction consumed in many countries. Providing a large pool of Zn in vegetative tissues during the grain filling (e.g., via foliar Zn spray) is an important practice to increase grain Zn and contribute to human nutritio

Microcantilever based LoC system for coagulation measurements

In this paper, a microcantilever-based system enabling multiple coagulation tests on the same disposable cartridge is demonstrated. The system consists of independent cartridge and reader unit. The actuation of the nickel cantilevers is conducted remotely with an external electro-coil and remote optical read-out is utilized for sensing. Both Prothrombin Time (PT) and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) tests can be conducted on the same cartridge. The system’s repeatability and accuracy is investigated with standard control plasma samples. The results are concordant with the manufacturer’s datasheet. The architecture of the system and the repeatable results makes the system suitable for Point-of-Care applications.TÜBİTA

Microcantilever based LoC system for coagulation measurements

In this paper, a microcantilever-based system enabling multiple coagulation tests on the same disposable cartridge is demonstrated. The system consists of independent cartridge and reader unit. The actuation of the nickel cantilevers is conducted remotely with an external electro-coil and remote optical read-out is utilized for sensing. Both Prothrombin Time (PT) and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) tests can be conducted on the same cartridge. The system’s repeatability and accuracy is investigated with standard control plasma samples. The results are concordant with the manufacturer’s datasheet. The architecture of the system and the repeatable results makes the system suitable for Point-of-Care applications.TÜBİTA