113 research outputs found
Brain metastases at the time of presentation of non-small cell lung cancer: a multi-centric AERIO analysis of prognostic factors
A multi-centre retrospective study involving 4 French university institutions has been conducted in order to identify routine pre-therapeutic prognostic factors of survival in patients with previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer and brain metastases at the time of presentation. A total of 231 patients were recorded regarding their clinical, radiological and biological characteristics at presentation. The accrual period was January 1991 to December 1998. Prognosis was analysed using both univariate and multivariate (Cox model) statistics. The median survival of the whole population was 28 weeks. Univariate analysis (log-rank), showed that patients affected by one of the following characteristics proved to have a shorter survival in comparison with the opposite status of each variable: male gender, age over 63 years, poor performance status, neurological symptoms, serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level higher than 12.5âng mlâ1, high serum alkaline phosphatase level, high serum LDH level and serum sodium level below 132âmmol lâ1. In the Cox's model, the following variables were independent determinants of a poor outcome: male gender: hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.29 (1.26â4.16), poor performance status: 1.73 (1.15â2.62), age: 1.02 (1.003â1.043), a high serum NSE level: 1.72 (1.11â2.68), neurological symptoms: 1.63 (1.05â2.54), and a low serum sodium level: 2.99 (1.17â7.62). Apart from 4 prognostic factors shared in common with other stage IV NSCLC patients, whatever the metastatic site (namely sex, age, gender, performance status and serum sodium level) this study discloses 2 determinants specifically resulting from brain metastasis: i.e. the presence of neurological symptoms and a high serum NSE level. The latter factor could be in relationship with the extent of normal brain tissue damage caused by the tumour as has been demonstrated after strokes. Additionally, the observation of a high NSE level as a prognostic determinant in NSCLC might reflect tumour heterogeneity and understimated neuroendocrine differentiation. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaignhttp://www.bjcancer.co
Immunohistochemical subtypes predict the clinical outcome in high-risk node-negative breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant FEC regimen: results of a single-center retrospective study
Prognostic factors for disease-free survival in patients treated before 2005 September: multivariate analysis. (DOCX 15ĂÂ kb
Elastic and vibrational properties of alpha and beta-PbO
The structure, electronic and dynamic properties of the two layered alpha
(litharge) and beta (massicot) phases of PbO have been studied by density
functional methods. The role of London dispersion interactions as leading
component of the total interaction energy between layers has been addressed by
using the Grimme's approach, in which new parameters for Pb and O atoms have
been developed. Both gradient corrected and hybrid functionals have been
adopted using Gaussian-type basis sets of polarized triple zeta quality for O
atoms and small core pseudo-potential for the Pb atoms. Basis set superposition
error (BSSE) has been accounted for by the Boys-Bernardi correction to compute
the interlayer separation. Cross check with calculations adopting plane waves
that are BSSE free have also been performed for both structures and vibrational
frequencies. With the new set of proposed Grimme's type parameters structures
and dynamical parameters for both PbO phases are in good agreement with
experimental data.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Comparação de métodos de inoculação de Ralstonia solanacearum Raça 2 em cultivares de banana.
Edição dos resumos do 32Âș Congresso Brasileiro de Fitopatologia, 1999. Resumo 80
Avaliação da resistĂȘncia de diploides de banana Ă Ralstonia solanacearum Raça 2.
Edição dos resumos do 32Âș Congresso Brasileiro de Fitopatologia, 1999. Resumo 79
Topical Analgesia with Lidocaine Plus Diclofenac Decreases Pain in Benign Anorectal Surgery: Randomized, Double-blind, and Controlled Clinical Trial
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a topical formulation containing lidocaine plus diclofenac (CLIFE1) compared to CLIFE2 (lidocaine), to decrease pain in benign anorectal surgery (BARS) to date not evaluated. Background: More than 50% of patients undergoing BARS, especially hemorrhoidectomy, suffer from moderate and severe postoperative pain. This remains an unresolved problem that could be addressed with the new CLIFE1 topical treatment. Methods: A multicenter, randomized double-blind, active-controlled parallel-group superiority trial, was conducted in two Spanish hospitals. Patients undergoing BARS (hemorrhoids, anal fistula and anal fissure) were randomized at the end of surgery at a 1:1 ratio to receive first dose either CLIFE1 (n=60) or CLIFE2 (n=60) anorectal topical treatment, and after every 12 hours for the first three postoperative days and once a day from the fourth to sixth. The primary outcome was average of pain decrease after topical treatment, measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) by the patients themselves, the evening in the surgery day and four times daily for the first three postoperative days. Results: The results of 120 patients included out of 150 selected undergoing BARS show a decrease in pain after CLIFE1 topical treatment (7.47±13.2) greater than with CLIFE2 (4.38±6.75), difference -3.21 (95% CI) -5.75; -0.676; p=0.008), decreasing significantly postoperative pain (℠9 mm, VAS) in 35% of patients undergoing benign anorectal surgery, compared to 18.33 % treated with lidocaine. Conclusions: The CLIFE1 topical treatment shows better analgesic efficacy than CLIFE2 in BARS
Introduction of Zr in nanometric periodic Mg/Co multilayers
We study the introduction of a third material, namely Zr, within a nanometric
periodic Mg/Co structure designed to work as optical component in the extreme
UV (EUV) spectral range. Mg/Co, Mg/Zr/Co, Mg/Co/Zr and Mg/Zr/Co/Zr multilayers
are designed, then characterized in terms of structural quality and optical
performances through X-ray and EUV reflectometry measurements respectively. For
the Mg/Co/Zr structure, the reflectance value is equal to 50% at 25.1 nm and
45deg of grazing incidence and reaches 51.3% upon annealing at 200deg C.
Measured EUV reflectivity values of tri-layered systems are discussed in terms
of material order within a period and compared to the predictions of the
theoretical model of Larruquert. Possible applications are pointed out.Comment: 19 page
X-ray standing wave and reflectometric characterization of multilayer structures
Microstructural characterization of synthetic periodic multilayers by x-ray
standing waves have been presented. It has been shown that the analysis of
multilayers by combined x-ray reflectometry (XRR) and x-ray standing wave (XSW)
techniques can overcome the deficiencies of the individual techniques in
microstructural analysis. While interface roughnesses are more accurately
determined by the XRR technique, layer composition is more accurately
determined by the XSW technique where an element is directly identified by its
characteristic emission. These aspects have been explained with an example of a
20 period Pt/C multilayer. The composition of the C-layers due to Pt
dissolution in the C-layers, PtC, has been determined by the XSW
technique. In the XSW analysis when the whole amount of Pt present in the
C-layers is assumed to be within the broadened interface, it l eads to larger
interface roughness values, inconsistent with those determined by the XRR
technique. Constraining the interface roughness values to those determined by
the XRR technique, requires an additional amount of dissolved Pt in the
C-layers to expl ain the Pt fluorescence yield excited by the standing wave
field. This analysis provides the average composition PtC of the
C-layers .Comment: 12 pages RevTex, 10 eps figures embedde
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