Platinum-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab first-line for Asian patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Results of an open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of cisplatin-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab as first-line treatment in Chinese and Korean patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Methods Patients (n = 68) received cetuximab weekly plus 3-week cycles of cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy for up to 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was overall response rate. Results The overall response rate was 55.9%, including 2 complete responses (CRs). Median overall survival (OS) was 12.6 months and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.6 months. Grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were reported in 41 (60.3%) patients. The safety profile was in line with previous clinical experience. The pharmacokinetic profile was in line with that observed with cetuximab in white and Japanese patients. Conclusion The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic findings from this study support the use of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab in Chinese and Korean patients with recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01177956). © 2014 The Authors Head & Neck Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1081–1087, 201

Untersuchung der thermischen Stabilität organischer Wärmeträgerfluide

Eine praxistaugliche Methode zur Entnahme von Ölproben aus dem Kollektor-Kreislauf solarthermischer Kraftwerke wurde entwickelt, um unverfälschte Messungen der enthaltenen Gase durchführen zu können. Die Proben wurden aus den SEGS-Anlagen in Kramer Junction, USA, mit dieser Methode entnommen und der in der Probe enthaltene Wasserstoff wurde im DLR Köln mittels Gaschromatographie direkt bestimmt. Um den in der Ölphase gelösten Wasserstoff zu ermitteln, wurde der Henry-Koeffizient für Wasserstoff im Thermoöl bei der Messtemperatur ermittelt. Die Kombination von Beprobungs- und Messmethode gestattet es erstmals, alle im Heizkreislauf enthaltenen Stoffe direkt und zuverlässig zu erfassen

Bestimmung der Wasserstoffkonzentration im organischen Wärmeträger von solarthermischen Parabolrinnenkraftwerken

Eine praxistaugliche Methode zur kontaminationsfreien Entnahme von Ölproben aus dem Kollektor-Kreislauf solarthermischer Kraftwerke und eine empfindliche gaschromatographische Analyse wurden entwickelt, um unverfälschte Messungen der im Wärmeträger enthaltenen Gase durchführen zu können. Im Rahmen einer Messkampagne konnten mehr als 30 Proben aus den SEGS-Anlagen in Kramer Junction, USA, entnommen und vor Ort (at-line) untersucht werden. Der im Ölkreislauf enthaltene Wasserstoff wurde dadurch erstmals zeitnah zur Proben¬entnahme quantitativ erfasst

Kinetic Investigations of the Mechanism of the Rate-Determing Step of the Na+, K+ -ATPase Pump Cycle

The kinetics of the E2->E1 conformational change of unphosphorylated Na+ ,K+ -ATPase from rabbit kidney were investigated via the stopped-flow technique using the fluorescent label RH421 (pH 7.4, 24°C). The enzyme was preequilibrated in a solution containing 25 mM histidine and 0.1 mM EDTA to initially stabilize the E2 conformation. On mixing enzyme with NaCl alone, tris-ATP alone, or NaCl and tris-ATP simultaneously, a fluorescence decrease was observed

Mechanism of the rate-determining step of the Na+,K+-ATPase pump cycle

The kinetics of the E2 E1 conformational change of unphosphorylated Na+,K+-ATPase from rabbit kidney and shark rectal gland were investigated via the stopped-flow technique using the fluorescent label RH421 (pH 7.4, 24 C). The enzyme was pre-equilibrated in a solution containing 25 mM histidine and 0.1 mM EDTA to stabilize initially the E2 conformation. When rabbit kidney enzyme was mixed with NaCl alone, tris ATP alone or NaCl, and tris ATP simultaneously, a fluorescence decrease was observed. The reciprocal relaxation time, 1/r of the fluorescent transient was found to increase with increasing NaCl concentration and reached a saturating value in the presence of 1 mM tris ATP of 54 ± 3 s-1 in the case of rabbit kidney enzyme. The experimental behavior could be described by a binding of Na+ to the enzyme in the E2 state with a dissociation constant of 31 ± 7 mM, which induces a subsequent rate-limiting conformational change to the E1 state. Similar behavior, but with a decreased saturating value of 1/, was found when NaCl was replaced by choline chloride. Analogous experiments performed with enzyme from shark rectal gland showed similar effects, but with a significantly lower amplitude of the fluorescence change and a higher saturating value of 1/ for both the NaCl and choline chloride titrations. The results suggest that Na+ ions or salt in general play a regulatory role, similar to that of ATP, in enhancing the rate of the rate-limiting E2 E1 conformational transition by interaction with the E2 state