Oscillations of a gas pocket on a liquid-covered solid surface

The dynamic response of a gas bubble entrapped in a cavity on the surface of a submerged solid subject to an acoustic field is investigated in the linear approximation. We derive semi-analytical expressions for the resonance frequency, damping and interface shape of the bubble. For the liquid phase, we consider two limit cases: potential flow and unsteady Stokes flow. The oscillation frequency and interface shape are found to depend on two dimensionless parameters: the ratio of the gas stiffness to the surface tension stiffness, and the Ohnesorge number, representing the relative importance of viscous forces. We perform a parametric study and show, among others, that an increase in the gas pressure or a decrease in the surface tension leads to an increase in the resonance frequency until an asymptotic value is reached

Changes in the Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Chenin blanc Wines During Bottle Ageing

The effect of bottle ageing on the antioxidant activity of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Chenin blanc wines, using the 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothialozine-sulphonic acid) radical cation (ABTS•+) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH0) scavenging assays, was determined. Storage at 0°C, 15°C or 30°C for a period of 12 months resulted in a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in both the total antioxidant activity (TAAAnTs and TAAoPPH) and the total phenol content of the wines. The antioxidant potency of the total phenols of most of the wines, which is a ratio of antioxidant activity to the total phenol content, also decreased. The total anthocyanins in the red wines decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) over 12 months except for storage at 0°C, while the flavanol content of the Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines increased up to nine months storage with a subsequent decrease to 12 months. The flavonol content of all the wines decreased, while only minor changes in their hydroxycinnamate content were observed during the storage period. Understanding the complexity of these reactions may provide clues for stabilising especially red wines to preserve the antioxidant activity without losing the beneficial effects of colouring and flavour development during bottle ageing

Muscle action potential scans and ultrasound imaging in neurofibromatosis type 2

INTRODUCTION: The neuropathy in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is difficult to quantify and follow up. In this study we compared 3 methods that may help assess motor axon pathology in NF2 patients. METHODS: Nerve conduction studies in median nerves were supplemented by deriving motor unit number estimates (MUNEs) from compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scans and by high-resolution ultrasound (US) peripheral nerve imaging. RESULTS: CMAP amplitudes and nerve conduction velocity were normal in the vast majority of affected individuals, but CMAP scan MUNE revealed denervation and reinnervation in many peripheral nerves. In addition, nerve US imaging enabled monitoring of the size and number of schwannoma-like fascicular enlargements in median nerve trunks. CONCLUSION: In contrast to conventional nerve conduction studies, CMAP scan MUNE in combination with US nerve imaging can quantify the NF2-associated neuropathy and may help to monitor disease progression and drug treatments

Association of ABCB1, 5-HT3B receptor and CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms with ondansetron and metoclopramide antiemetic response in Indonesian cancer patients treated with highly emetogenic chemotherapy.

Our study shows that in Indonesian cancer patients treated with highly cytostatic emetogenic, carriership of the CTG haplotype of the ABCB1 gene is related to an increased risk of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Pexidartinib: first approved systemic therapy for patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor

Pexidartinib is an orally administered small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Phase III ENLIVEN study results provided clinical evidence for US FDA approval for treatment of adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery. Recommended dosage is 400 mg orally twice daily on an empty stomach. Long-term follow-up in pooled analyses showed increased response rates compared with those observed in ENLIVEN. Patients on pexidartinib also experience meaningful improvements in range of motion. Side effects associated with pexidartinib are generally manageable; however, there is a risk of potentially life-threatening mixed or cholestatic hepatotoxicity and pexidartinib has a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program to ensure appropriate monitoring.Experimentele farmacotherapi

Comprehensive analysis of published phase I/II clinical trials between 1990-2010 in osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma confirms limited outcomes and need for translational investment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High grade primary bone sarcomas are rare cancers that affect mostly children and young adults. Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are the most common histological subtypes in this age group, with current multimodality treatment strategies achieving 55-70% overall survival. As there remains an urgent need to develop new therapeutic interventions, we have reviewed published phase I/II trials that have been reported for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma in the last twenty years.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We conducted a literature search for clinical trials between 1990 and 2010, either for trials enrolling bone sarcoma patients as part of a general sarcoma indication or trials specifically in osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. We identified 42 clinical trials that fulfilled our search criteria for general sarcoma that enrolled these patient groups, and eight and twenty specific trials for Ewing and osteosarcoma patients, respectively. For the phase I trials which enrolled different tumour types our results were incomplete, because the sarcoma patients were not mentioned in the PubMed abstract. A total of 3,736 sarcoma patients were included in these trials over this period, 1,114 for osteosarcoma and 1,263 for Ewing sarcoma. As a proportion of the worldwide disease burden over this period, these numbers reflect a very small percentage of the potential patient recruitment, approximately 0.6% for Ewing sarcoma and 0.2% for osteosarcoma. However, these data show an increase in recent activity overall and suggest there is still much room for improvement in the current trial development structures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lack of resources and commercial investment will inevitably limit opportunity to develop sufficiently rapid improvements in clinical outcomes. International collaboration exists in many well founded co-operative groups for phase III trials, but progress may be more effective if there were also more investment of molecular and translational research into disease focused phase I/II clinical trials. Examples of new models for early translational and early phase trial collaboration include the European based EuroBoNeT network, the Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration network (SARC) and the new European collaborative translational trial network, EuroSarc.</p

Benefits and pitfalls of scientific research during undergraduate medical education

Objective: The integration of scientific research into medical education is a widely discussed topic. Most research training programs are offered on a voluntary basis. In Germany, it is mandatory to complete a doctoral thesis to obtain the academic title “doctor”. The reasons why students start a dissertation project and the influence of this project on their undergraduate studies and later career choices are not well known

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as a potential target for molecular imaging and treatment in bone and soft tissue sarcomas

Bone and soft tissue sarcomas are a group of rare malignant tumours with major histological and anatomical varie-ties. In a metastatic setting, sarcomas have a poor prognosis due to limited response rates to chemotherapy. Radioli-gand therapy targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) may offer a new perspective. PSMA is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein which is present in all prostatic tissue and overexpressed in prostate cancer. Despite the name, PSMA is not prostate-specific. PSMA expression is also found in a multitude of non-prostatic diseases including a subgroup of sarcomas, mostly in its neovascular endothelial cells. On PET/CT imaging, multiple sarcomas have also shown intense PSMA-tracer accumulation. PSMA expression and PSMA-tracer uptake seem to be highest in patients with aggressive and advanced sarcomas, who are also in highest need of new therapeutic options. Although these results provide a good rationale for the future use of PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy in a selection of sarcoma patients, more research is needed to gain insight into optimal patient selection methods, PSMA-targeting antibodies and tracers, administered doses of radioligand therapy, and their efficacy and tolerability. In this review, mRNA expression of the FOLH1 gene which encodes PSMA, PSMA immunohistochemistry, PSMA-targeted imaging and PSMA-targeted therapy in sarcomas will be discussed.</p