Application of the dynamic characterization of metals in automotive industry

This paper presents the experimental methodology used by R&D EMEA – Global Materials Labs Department to test metals at high strain rate of 500 s−1. The implementation of dynamic results in commercial FEM Software LS – DYNA for crash simulation are presented. The effects of the strain rate on the tensile properties of metals, used in automotive field, are evaluated using results obtained from a direct tension split Hopkinson bar, built in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland DynaMat Lab. Finally the complete mechanical characterization of the Magnesium alloy AZ31B is presented, from static up to dynamic tests, showing its applications in FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), problems and future developments

Application of the dynamic characterization of metals in automotive industry

This paper presents the experimental methodology used by R&D EMEA – Global Materials Labs Department to test metals at high strain rate of 500 s−1. The implementation of dynamic results in commercial FEM Software LS – DYNA for crash simulation are presented. The effects of the strain rate on the tensile properties of metals, used in automotive field, are evaluated using results obtained from a direct tension split Hopkinson bar, built in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland DynaMat Lab. Finally the complete mechanical characterization of the Magnesium alloy AZ31B is presented, from static up to dynamic tests, showing its applications in FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), problems and future developments

Gene expression profiling of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Determining the transcriptional profile of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may allow the acquisition of clinically relevant information while overcoming tumor heterogeneity-related biases associated with use of tissue samples for biomarker assessment. However, such molecular characterization is challenging because CTCs are rare and outnumbered by blood cells. METHODS: Here, we describe a technical protocol to measure the expression of >29 000 genes in CTCs captured from whole blood with magnetic beads linked with antibodies against epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and the carcinoma-associated mucin, MUC1, designed to be used for CTC characterization in clinical samples. Low numbers of cells (5-200) from the MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines were spiked in healthy donor blood samples and isolated with the AdnaTest EMT-1/Stem CellSelect kit. Gene expression profiles (GEPs) were obtained with the WG-DASL HT assay and compared with GEPs obtained from RNA isolated from cultured cell lines and unspiked samples. RESULTS: GEPs from samples containing 25 or more spiked cells correlated (r = 0.95) with cognate 100-ng RNA input samples, clustered separately from blood control samples, and allowed MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 cells to be distinguished. GEPs with comparable technical quality were also obtained in a preliminary series of clinical samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our approach allows technically reliable GEPs to be obtained from isolated CTCs for the acquisition of biologically useful information. It is reproducible and suitable for application in prospective studies to assess the clinical utility of CTC GEPs, provided that >25 CTCs can be isolated

Weekly docetaxel versus CMF as adjuvant chemotherapy for older women with early breast cancer: Final results of the randomized phase III ELDA trial

Background: Evidence on adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer is poor. We tested whether weekly docetaxel is more effective than standard chemotherapy. Patients and methods: We carried out a multicenter, randomized phase III study. Women aged 65-79, operated for breast cancer, with average to high risk of recurrence, were allocated 1 : 1 to CMF (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, methotrexate 40 mg/m2, fluorouracil 600 mg/m2, days 1, 8) or docetaxel (35 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15) every 4 weeks, for four or six cycles according to hormone receptor status. Primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). A geriatric assessment was carried out. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed with EORTC C-30 and BR-23 questionnaires. Results: From July 2003 to April 2011, 302 patients were randomized and 299 (152 allocated CMF and 147 docetaxel) were eligible. After 70-month median follow-up, 109 DFS events were observed. Unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of DFS for docetaxel versus CMF was 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-1.76, P = 0.32]; DFS estimate at 5 years was 0.69 with CMF and 0.65 with docetaxel. HR of death was 1.34 (95% CI 0.80-2.22, P = 0.26). There was no interaction between treatment arms and geriatric scales measuring patients' ability or comorbidities. Hematological toxicity, mucositis and nausea were worse with CMF; allergy, fatigue, hair loss, onychopathy, dysgeusia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, neuropathy, cardiac and skin toxicity were worse with docetaxel. One death was attributed to CMF and two to docetaxel. Increasing age, impairment in instrumental daily living activities, number of comorbidities and docetaxel treatment were independently associated with severe nonhematological toxicity. QoL was worse with docetaxel for nausea-vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, body image, future perspective, treatment side-effects and hair loss items. Conclusions: Weekly docetaxel is not more effective than standard CMF as adjuvant treatment of older women with breast cancer and worsens QoL and toxicity. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00331097

Weekly docetaxel versus CMF as adjuvant chemotherapy for older women with early breast cancer: final results of the randomized phase III ELDA trial

Background: Evidence on adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer is poor. We tested whether weekly docetaxel is more effective than standard chemotherapy. Patients and methods: We carried out a multicenter, randomized phase III study. Women aged 65–79, operated for breast cancer, with average to high risk of recurrence, were allocated 1 : 1 to CMF (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m², methotrexate 40 mg/m², fluorouracil 600 mg/m², days 1, 8) or docetaxel (35 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15) every 4 weeks, for four or six cycles according to hormone receptor status. Primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). A geriatric assessment was carried out. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed with EORTC C-30 and BR-23 questionnaires. Results: From July 2003 to April 2011, 302 patients were randomized and 299 (152 allocated CMF and 147 docetaxel) were eligible. After 70-month median follow-up, 109 DFS events were observed. Unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of DFS for docetaxel versus CMF was 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83–1.76, P = 0.32]; DFS estimate at 5 years was 0.69 with CMF and 0.65 with docetaxel. HR of death was 1.34 (95% CI 0.80–2.22, P = 0.26). There was no interaction between treatment arms and geriatric scales measuring patients’ ability or comorbidities. Hematological toxicity, mucositis and nausea were worse with CMF; allergy, fatigue, hair loss, onychopathy, dysgeusia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, neuropathy, cardiac and skin toxicity were worse with docetaxel. One death was attributed to CMF and two to docetaxel. Increasing age, impairment in instrumental daily living activities, number of comorbidities and docetaxel treatment were independently associated with severe nonhematological toxicity. QoL was worse with docetaxel for nausea-vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, body image, future perspective, treatment side-effects and hair loss items. Conclusions: Weekly docetaxel is not more effective than standard CMF as adjuvant treatment of older women with breast cancer and worsens QoL and toxicity. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00331097