A CONDUCTING COMPOSITE OF POLYPYRROLE .1. SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION

A conducting composite of polypyrrole was prepared via electrochemical methods. A polyamide was used as the insulating matrix polymer. The characterization of the composite was done by FT-IR, SEM, TGA, DSC and pyrolysis studies. Conductivity and solubility studies together with spectroscopic methods reveal that H bonding exists between the two polymers and a possible grafting to a certain extent

Biosorption of Cr(VI) by free and immobilized Pediastrum boryanum biomass: equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies

15th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment (ISTA) -- JUL 03-08, 2011 -- City Univ Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PEOPLES R CHINAWOS: 000306790200053PubMed ID: 22374187The biosorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution has been studied using free and immobilized Pediastrum boryanum cells in a batch system. The algal cells were immobilized in alginate and alginate-gelatin beads via entrapment, and their algal cell free counterparts were used as control systems during biosorption studies of Cr(VI). The changes in the functional groups of the biosorbents formulations were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra. The effect of pH, equilibrium time, initial concentration of metal ions, and temperature on the biosorption of Cr(VI) ion was investigated. The maximum Cr(VI) biosorption capacities were found to be 17.3, 6.73, 14.0, 23.8, and 29.6 mg/g for the free algal cells, and alginate, alginate-gelatin, alginate-cells, and alginate-gelatin-cells at pH 2.0, which are corresponding to an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 400 mg/L. The biosorption of Cr(VI) on all the tested biosorbents (P. boryanum cells, alginate, alginate-gelatin, and alginate-cells, alginate-gelatin-cells) followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The thermodynamic studies indicated that the biosorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature under studied conditions. For all the tested biosorbents, biosorption kinetic was best described by the pseudo-second-order model.PROCORE-France/Hong Kong Joint Res Scheme, Croucher Fdn, KC Wong Educ Fd

The role of cardiac biomarkers as predictors of trastuzumab cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer

Aim: Identification of patient with increased risk of cardiotoxicity would allow not only prevention and early diagnosis of chemotherapy related cardiotoxicity but also administration of optimal dose and duration of chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Fifty-two women with HER2+ breast cancer treated with trastuzumab were included in this study. Patients were prospectively followed with routine cardiac evaluation. Before and after administration of trastuzumab blood samples for NT-proBNP were also taken. Results: The median age was 48.5 year (range: 26–74). Hypertension and obesity were two most common co-morbidities. The median duration application of trastuzumab was 52 weeks. During median 14.5 (3–33) months follow-up cardiac adverse events occurred in 5 (9.6%) patients and 2 out of 5 was grade III–IV heart failure. Both patients had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and no symptom of heart failure before trastuzumab but older than 65 years old and had diabetes mellitus and obesity. High level of NT-proBNP (> 300 ng/ml) was observed in both patients and heart failure recovery was not observed. There was statistically significant difference regarding body mass index (p = 0.004) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.002) between patients with and without cardiotoxicity. Conclusion: Although, cardiac biomarkers still cannot replace routine cardiac monitoring, natriuretic peptides may provide additional tool for detection of patients with high risk of cardiotoxicity and early detection of cardiotoxicity. Key Words: breast cancer, trastuzumab, heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, natriuretic peptides

Cisplatin plus oral etoposide (EoP) combination is more effective than paclitaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer pretreated with anthracyclines: a randomised phase III trial of Turkish Oncology Group

Our objective was to determine whether oral etoposide and cisplatin combination (EoP) is superior to paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients pretreated with anthracyclines. From December 1997 to August 2003, 201 patients were randomised, 100 to EoP and 101 to paclitaxel arms. Four patients in each arm were ineligible. The doses of etoposide and cisplatin were 50 mg p.o. twice a day for 7 days and 70 mg m−2 intravenously (i.v.) on day 1, respectively, and it was 175 mg m−2 on day 1 for paclitaxel. Both treatments were repeated every 3 weeks. A median of four cycles of study treatment was given in both arms. The response rate obtained in the EoP arm was significantly higher (36.3 vs 22.2%; P=0.038). Median response duration was longer for the EoP arm (7 vs 4 months) (P=0.132). Also, time to progression was significantly in favour of the EoP arm (5.5 vs 3.9 months; P=0.003). Median overall survival was again significantly longer in the EoP arm (14 vs 9.5 months; P=0.039). Toxicity profile of both groups was similar. Two patients in each arm were lost due to febrile neutropenia. The observed activity and acceptable toxicity of EoP endorses the employment of this combination in the treatment of ABC following anthracyclines

COMBINED IR AND MASS-SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF EVOLVED GASES DURING PYROLYSIS OF POLYMERS

Gas Phase IR and Mass Spectroscopic techniques are combined for the analysis of gaseous pyrolysis products of polybutadiene sulfone prepared by Co-60 gamma radiation. It is shown that the combination of the two techniques, for evolved gas analysis, leads to a more definitive product identification

Tanycytic Ependymoma of The Spinal Cord: Case Report

Tanycytic ependymoma is a rare fibrillary variant of ependymoma with preferentially located along the length of spinal cord. This report documents a 41-year-old woman underwent surgical treatment for a cervical intramedullary tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging showed intramedullary cystic lesion, in the cervical spine. Histologically the tumor was consisted of markedly elongated spindle-shaped cells, which were immunopositive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and EMA. Although only a few in number, detection of ependymal rosettes led the diagnosis as a tanycytic ependymoma. Since a complete resection was performed at surgery, no further treatment was proposed. It is important for both management and prognosis, to distinguish pathologically tanycytic ependymoma from pilocytic astrocytoma and schwannoma

Tanycytic Ependymoma of The Spinal Cord: Case Report

Tanycytic ependymoma is a rare fibrillary variant of ependymoma with preferentially located along the length of spinal cord. This report documents a 41-year-old woman underwent surgical treatment for a cervical intramedullary tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging showed intramedullary cystic lesion, in the cervical spine. Histologically the tumor was consisted of markedly elongated spindle-shaped cells, which were immunopositive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and EMA. Although only a few in number, detection of ependymal rosettes led the diagnosis as a tanycytic ependymoma. Since a complete resection was performed at surgery, no further treatment was proposed. It is important for both management and prognosis, to distinguish pathologically tanycytic ependymoma from pilocytic astrocytoma and schwannoma

Intracranial Chondrosarcoma in a 22-Years Old Woman: Report of A Case

Background: Intracranial chondroid tumors are consist of less than 0.16% of all primary brain neoplasms. They are classified as mesenchymal, classic and myxoid according to their cytoarchitecture. They usually arise at the skull base from the cartilaginous synchondroses and the pluripotent mesenchymal cells of the overlying dura mater.Case: We present a 22-year old female patient, who had history of seizures for 10 years and recent increase in the frequency of the seizures. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a well-demarcated, parasagittal left frontal mass, which compressed to the lateral ventricle. It was hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images and making an edema on the surrounding tissue. Gross total resection of the firm mass was performed with clear margins. The tumor was composed of lobules of mature-appearing hyaline cartilage. The tumor cellularity was increased, each lacuna contained one or two atypical chondrocytes which had two or more nuclei per cell. Neoplastic chondrocytes had plump and hyperchromatic nuclei. Mitotic rate was low and no atypical mitotic figures were noted. Neoplastic chondrocytes showed nuclear staining for S-100 protein, but not for pancytokeratin. Histopathologic examination revealed a classic low grade chondrosarcoma.Conclusion: Intracranial chondrosarcomas are rare malign tumors. We report a patient with a grade I intracranial chondrosarcoma of the classical subtype without any neurologic problem after complete surgical excision. She did not received any adjuvant therapy and 28 months follow-up showed no recurrence. So it seems that, especially in the low grade chondrosarcoma, radical neurosurgical resection is the first line of treatment, and if necessary adjuvant therapy can be planned

Intracranial Chondrosarcoma in a 22-Years Old Woman: Report of A Case

Background: Intracranial chondroid tumors are consist of less than 0.16% of all primary brain neoplasms. They are classified as mesenchymal, classic and myxoid according to their cytoarchitecture. They usually arise at the skull base from the cartilaginous synchondroses and the pluripotent mesenchymal cells of the overlying dura mater.Case: We present a 22-year old female patient, who had history of seizures for 10 years and recent increase in the frequency of the seizures. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a well-demarcated, parasagittal left frontal mass, which compressed to the lateral ventricle. It was hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images and making an edema on the surrounding tissue. Gross total resection of the firm mass was performed with clear margins. The tumor was composed of lobules of mature-appearing hyaline cartilage. The tumor cellularity was increased, each lacuna contained one or two atypical chondrocytes which had two or more nuclei per cell. Neoplastic chondrocytes had plump and hyperchromatic nuclei. Mitotic rate was low and no atypical mitotic figures were noted. Neoplastic chondrocytes showed nuclear staining for S-100 protein, but not for pancytokeratin. Histopathologic examination revealed a classic low grade chondrosarcoma.Conclusion: Intracranial chondrosarcomas are rare malign tumors. We report a patient with a grade I intracranial chondrosarcoma of the classical subtype without any neurologic problem after complete surgical excision. She did not received any adjuvant therapy and 28 months follow-up showed no recurrence. So it seems that, especially in the low grade chondrosarcoma, radical neurosurgical resection is the first line of treatment, and if necessary adjuvant therapy can be planned