Esters of petroselinic acid containing Trachyspermum copticum seed oil: Potential industrial lubricant base stocks

126-134Trachyspermum copticum seed oil contains volatile oil rich in thymol, which is distilled out and used for medicinal and aromatic formulations. The seed powder after removal of the volatiles loses its importance. However, the fixed oil being rich in unsaturation with petroselinic acid (18:1, Δ6; 68.3%) and linoleic acid (18:2; 25.3%) is used for preparing biolubricant base stocks. Methyl, isopropyl and 2-ethyl hexyl esters of the oil have been converted to epoxides, followed by in situ hydroxylation and acylation using hexanoic and butyric anhydrides. The acylated products have been evaluated for lubricant properties, and are found to exhibit density (0.91-0.97 g/cc); viscosity of 23.5-27.3 cSt at 40°C and 4.85-5.33 cSt at 100°C. The values are comparable to jatropha acylated products. The products exhibited good copper corrosion resistance value of ‘1a’ and high flash points of 230-242°C. The acylated esters with good weld load behavior, and lower wear and pour point values and viscosity indices, 128.84-138.94, can be potential base stocks belonging to group III category lubricants with ISO VG Grade about 22. These products can be further explored for the preparation of hydraulic, metal working and other industrial fluid formulations

Impact of Splenectomy on Thrombocytopenia, Chemotherapy, and Survival in Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (PDAC) or endocrine tumors (PET) often develop splenic vein thrombosis, hypersplenism, and thrombocytopenia which limits the administration of chemotherapy. From 2001 to 2009, 15 patients with recurrent or unresectable PDAC or PET underwent splenectomy for hypersplenism and thrombocytopenia. The clinical variables of this group of patients were analyzed. The overall survival of patients with PDAC was compared to historical controls. Of the 15 total patients, 13 (87%) had PDAC and 2 (13%) had PET. All tumors were either locally advanced (n = 6, 40%) or metastatic (n = 9, 60%). The platelet counts significantly increased after splenectomy (p < 0.01). All patients were able to resume chemotherapy within a median of 11.5 days (range 6–27). The patients with PDAC had a median survival of 20 months (range 4–67) from the time of diagnosis and 10.6 months (range 0.6–39.8) from the time of splenectomy. Splenectomy for patients with unresectable PDAC or PET who developed hypersplenism and thrombocytopenia that limited the administration of chemotherapy, significantly increased platelet counts, and led to resumption of treatment in all patients. Patients with PDAC had better disease-specific survival as compared to historical controls

Prognostic factors in solitary plasmacytoma of the bone: a multicenter Rare Cancer Network study

BACKGROUND: Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) of the bone is a rare plasma-cell neoplasm. There are no conclusive data in the literature on the optimal radiation therapy (RT) dose in SP. Therefore, in this large retrospective study, we wanted to assess the outcome, prognostic factors, and the optimal RT dose in patients with SP. METHODS: Data from 206 patients with bone SP without evidence of multiple myeloma (MM) were collected. Histopathological diagnosis was obtained for all patients. The majority (n = 169) of the patients received RT alone; 32 chemotherapy and RT, and 5 surgery. Median follow-up was 54 months (7–245). RESULTS: Five-year overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and local control was 70%, 46%, and 88%; respectively. Median time to MM development was 21 months (2–135) with a 5-year probability of 51%. In multivariate analyses, favorable factors were younger age and tumor size < 5 cm for survival; younger age for DFS; anatomic localization (vertebra vs. other) for local control. Older age was the only predictor for MM. There was no dose-response relationship for doses 30 Gy or higher, even for larger tumors. CONCLUSION: Younger patients, especially those with vertebral localization have the best outcome when treated with moderate-dose RT. Progression to MM remains the main problem. Further investigation should focus on adjuvant chemotherapy and/or novel therapeutic agents

Quality of life after postmastectomy radiotherapy in patients with intermediate-risk breast cancer (SUPREMO): 2-year follow-up results of a randomised controlled trial

Background Postmastectomy radiotherapy in patients with four or more positive axillary nodes reduces breast cancer mortality, but its role in patients with one to three involved nodes is controversial. We assessed the effects of postmastectomy radiotherapy on quality of life (QOL) in women with intermediate-risk breast cancer. Methods SUPREMO is an open-label, international, parallel-group, randomised, controlled trial. Women aged 18 years or older with intermediate-risk breast cancer (defined as pT1–2N1; pT3N0; or pT2N0 if also grade III or with lymphovascular invasion) who had undergone mastectomy and, if node positive, axillary surgery, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive chest wall radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions or a radiobiologically equivalent dose of 45 Gy in 20 fractions or 40 Gy in 15 fractions) or no radiotherapy. Randomisation was done with permuted blocks of varying block length, and stratified by centre, without masking of patients or investigators. The primary endpoint is 10-year overall survival. Here, we present 2-year results of QOL (a prespecified secondary endpoint). The QOL substudy, open to all UK patients, consists of questionnaires (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23, Body Image Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], and EQ-5D-3L) completed before randomisation, and at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years. The prespecified primary outcomes within this QOL substudy were global QOL, fatigue, physical function, chest wall symptoms, shoulder and arm symptoms, body image, and anxiety and depression. Data were analysed by intention to treat, using repeated mixed-effects methods. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN61145589. Findings Between Aug 4, 2006, and April 29, 2013, 1688 patients were enrolled internationally and randomly assigned to receive chest wall radiotherapy (n=853) or not (n=835). 989 (79%) of 1258 patients from 111 UK centres consented to participate in the QOL substudy (487 in the radiotherapy group and 502 in the no radiotherapy group), of whom 947 (96%) returned the baseline questionnaires and were included in the analysis (radiotherapy, n=471; no radiotherapy, n=476). At up to 2 years, chest wall symptoms were worse in the radiotherapy group than in the no radiotherapy group (mean score 14·1 [SD 15·8] in the radiotherapy group vs 11·6 [14·6] in the no radiotherapy group; effect estimate 2·17, 95% CI 0·40–3·94; p=0·016); however, there was an improvement in both groups between years 1 and 2 (visit effect −1·34, 95% CI −2·36 to −0·31; p=0·010). No differences were seen between treatment groups in arm and shoulder symptoms, body image, fatigue, overall QOL, physical function, or anxiety or depression scores. Interpretation Postmastectomy radiotherapy led to more local (chest wall) symptoms up to 2 years postrandomisation compared with no radiotherapy, but the difference between groups was small. These data will inform shared decision making while we await survival (trial primary endpoint) results. Funding Medical Research Council, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Cancer Australia, Dutch Cancer Society, Trustees of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

Corrosion Behavior of PM Processed Ti-Ca-P Bioceramic Composites in Hank's Balanced Salt Solution Using Potentiodynamic Studies

Ti-Ca-P bioceramic composites for load bearing implants developed by a new powder metallurgy processing technique were studied for their electrochemical corrosion properties. For determining corrosion behavior of such composites having in situ formed bioactive Ca-P phases, potentiodynamic and studies were conducted in simulated body fluid namely Hank's balanced salt solution. Potentiodynamic polarization tests showed no evidence of pitting corrosion. Corrosion potentials (-0.27 to -0.53 V) and corrosion rates (0.17-4.46 mills per year) of Ti-Ca-P bioceramic composite samples were superior to earlier reported results for coated Ti implants due to the formation of passive layer of bone-like calcium phosphate on the sample surface

ORIGINAL ARTICLE - Oligodendroglioma : Clinical Profile and Treatment Results

Oligodendrogliomas are rare glial tumors with a long natural history. Radical surgery, postoperative radiotherapy, chemotherapy and observation have been suggested as part of primary management. This series reports the presentation and outcome in 34 patients with histologically verified pure oligodendrogliomas treated between 1983 and 1993. All patients were treated at the time of initial diagnosis with surgery, with or without additional radiotherapy. The overall survival and progression free survival rates at five years were 69.8% and 55% respectively. There was no tumor or treatment related factor influencing survival significantly