High pressure synthesis of FeO-ZnO solid solutions with rock salt structure: in situ X-ray diffraction studies

X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation has been used for the first time to study chemical interaction in the FeO-ZnO system at 4.8 GPa and temperatures up to 1300 K. Above 750 K, the chemical reaction between FeO and ZnO has been observed that resulted in the formation of rock salt (rs) Fe1-xZnxO solid solutions (0.3 \leq x \leq 0.85). The lattice parameters of these solid solutions have been in situ measured as a function of temperature under pressure, and corresponding thermal expansion coefficients have been calculated.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl

Real-world use of blinatumomab in adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in clinical practice : results from the NEUF study

Altres ajuts: Amgen (Europe) GmbHThis retrospective observational study (NEUF) included adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL) who had received blinatumomab for the treatment of minimal residual disease-positive (MRD+) or relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell ALL via an expanded access program (EAP). Patients were eligible if blinatumomab was initiated via the EAP between January 2014 and June 2017. Patients were followed from blinatumomab initiation until death, entry into a clinical trial, the end of follow-up, or the end of the study period (December 31, 2017), whichever occurred first. Of the 249 adult patients included, 109 were MRD+ (83 Philadelphia chromosome-negative [Ph−] and 26 Philadelphia chromosome-positive [Ph+]) and 140 had a diagnosis of R/R B-cell ALL (106 Ph− and 34 Ph+). In the MRD+ group, within the first cycle of blinatumomab treatment, 93% (n = 49/53) of Ph− and 64% (n = 7/11) of Ph+ patients with evaluable MRD achieved an MRD response (MRD <0.01%). Median overall survival (OS) was not reached over a median follow-up time of 18.5 months (Ph−, 18.8 [range: 5.1-34.8] months; Ph+, 16.5 [range: 1.8-31.6] months). In the R/R group, within two cycles of blinatumomab, 51% of Ph− and 41% of Ph+ patients achieved complete hematologic remission (CR/CRh/CRi), and 83% of Ph− and 67% of Ph+ MRD-evaluable patients in CR/CRh/CRi achieved an MRD response. Median (95% confidence interval) OS was 12.2 (7.3-24.2) months in the R/R Ph− subgroup and 16.3 (5.3-not estimated) months in the R/R Ph+ subgroup. This large, real-world data set of adults with B-cell ALL treated with blinatumomab confirms efficacy outcomes from published studies

Results of multidisciplinary survey in the Laptev Sea in August-September, 2015

Data on oceanographic conditions and species composition of plankton, benthic and demersal fish and invertebrates are presented, obtained in the complex survey over the external shelf of the Laptev Sea in August-September 2015. The zooplankton abundance was low, with only local increases up to 400 mg/m3. Species diversity of fish and nekton invertebrates in the bottom trawl catches was low, too: 26 fish species and 2 species of cephalopods. Mean biomass of fish was estimated as 4.3 t/km2 (in total 132. 103 t within the surveyed area of 30,500 km2). All fish species were distributed sparse. Arctic cod was the most abundant and occurred over the whole surveyed area, with large-sized fish dominating at the bottom and medium-sized (9-15 cm) fish - in the pelagic layer, other commercial species were greenland halibut and deepwater redfish caught on the continental slope. Bottom invertebrates in trawl catches were presented by 6 species of shrimp and 12 taxonomic groups of different rank, with predominance of starfish, brittle stars and sponges; gastropods were represented by 11 species, with Neptunea heros dominating by mass (42 %). Macrobenthos in samples of the bottom sampler was presented by 20 taxonomic groups, with predominance of polychaetes, bivalves and sipunculoids

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Biological Earth observation with animal sensors

Space-based tracking technology using low-cost miniature tags is now delivering data on fine-scale animal movement at near-global scale. Linked with remotely sensed environmental data, this offers a biological lens on habitat integrity and connectivity for conservation and human health; a global network of animal sentinels of environmen-tal change

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries