Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) using irinotecan-loaded beads for the treatment of unresectable metastases to the liver in patients with colorectal cancer: an interim report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Following failure of standard systemic chemotherapy, the role of hepatic transarterial therapy for colorectal hepatic metastasis continues to evolve as the experience with this technique matures. The aim of this study to gain a better understanding of the value of drug eluting bead therapy when administered to patients with unresectable colorectal hepatic metastasis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was an open-label, multi-center, single arm study, of unresectable colorectal hepatic metastasis patients who had failed standard therapy from 10/2006-10/2008. Patients received repeat embolizations with Irinotecan loaded beads(max 100 mg per embolization) per treating physician's discretion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-five patients underwent 99 treatments using Irinotecan drug eluting beads. The median number of total treatments per patient was 2(range of 1-5). Median length of hospital stay was 23 hours(range 23 hours - 10 days). There were 30(30%) sessions associated with adverse reactions during or after the treatment. The median disease free and overall survival from the time of first treatment was 247 days and 343 days. Six patients(10%) were downstaged from their original disease status. Of these, four were treated with surgery and two with RFA.</p> <p>Neither number of liver lesions, size of liver lesions or extent of liver replacement(<= 25% vs >25%) were predictors of overall survival. Only the presence of extrahepatic disease(p = 0,001), extent of prior chemotherapy (failed 1^stand 2^ndline vs > 2 line failure)(p = 0,007) were predictors of overall survival in multivariate analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Chemoembolization using Irinotecan loaded beads was safe and effective in the treatment of patients as demonstrated by a minimal complication rate and acceptable tumor response.</p

A high accuracy reactive power and reactive energy meter

NRC publication: Ye

A high accuracy reactive power and energy meter insensitive to frequency variations

NRC publication: Ye

Improvements of reactive power and energy measurements insensitive to frequency variations

NRC publication: Ye

A high performance frequency insensitive quadrature phase shifter and its application in reactive power measurements

NRC publication: Ye

A uniform sampling of periodic signals using successive conversions

NRC publication: Ye

Third-order transport coefficient tensor of charged-particle swarms in electric and magnetic fields

Third-order transport coefficient tensor of charged-particle swarms in neutral gases in the presence of spatially uniform electric and magnetic fields is considered using a multiterm solution of Boltzmann's equation and Monte Carlo simulation technique. The structure of the third-order transport coefficient tensor and symmetries along its individual components in varying configurations of electric and magnetic fields are addressed using a group projector technique and through symmetry considerations of the Boltzmann equation. In addition, we focus upon the physical interpretation of the third-order transport coefficient tensor by considering the extended diffusion equation which incorporates the contribution of the third-order transport coefficients to the density profile of charged particles. Numerical calculations are carried out for electron and ion swarms for a range of model gases with the aim of establishing accurate benchmarks for third-order transport coefficients. The effects of ion to neutral-particle mass ratio are also examined. The errors of the two-term approximation for solving the Boltzmann equation and limitations of previous treatments of the high-order charged-particle transport properties are also highlighted

Classification methodology for spare parts management combining maintenance and logistics perspectives

Spare parts management is a function of maintenance management that aims to support maintenance activities, giving real-time information on the available quantities of each spare part and adopting the inventory policies that ensure their availability when required, minimizing costs. The classification of spare parts is crucial to control the vast number of parts that have different characteristics and specificities. Spare parts management involves mainly two areas, maintenance and logistics. Therefore, the integration of both input information is recommended to make decisions. This paper presents a multi-criteria classification methodology combining maintenance and logistics perspectives that intends to differentiate and group spare parts to, subsequently, define the most appropriate stock management policy for each group. The methodology was developed based on a case study carried out in a multinational manufacturing company and is intended to be included in its computerized maintenance management system to support decision-making.This work was supported by European Structural and Investment Funds in the FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project no 002814; Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-002814]