Supplementary Material for: Low Expression of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 in Cancer Tissue Predicts a Poor Prognosis for Patients with Stage III Rectal Cancers

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. It works as a tumor suppressor in the normal colon, but acts as a cancer promoter during the late stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. High expression of TGF-β is known to be associated with advanced stages, tumor recurrence and decreased survival of patients. We investigated the expression of TGF-β and its signaling axis molecules and evaluated their prognostic significance in patients with stage III rectal cancers. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Tissues from 201 cases of stage III rectal cancer were subjected to immunohistochemistry for TGF-β1, type II TGF-β receptor, Smad3, Smad4 and Smad7 proteins. The immunoactivities of these molecules were evaluated and the results were compared with clinicopathological variables including patient survival. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Low expression of TGF-β1 protein was correlated with a decreased disease-free survival in univariate Kaplan-Meier (p = 0.003) and multivariate Cox regression (HR 9.188 and 95% CI 1.256-67.198, p = 0.029) analyses. The loss of Smad4 protein expression was associated with a reduction in disease-free survival in the univariate analysis, but this finding was not significant after the multivariate analysis. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Low expression of TGF-β1 protein is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with stage III rectal cancers

Phenytoin loading doses in adult critical care patients: does current practice achieve adequate drug levels?

Phenytoin is regularly employed in the critically ill for prophylaxis against or treatment of seizure disorders. No prior studies have examined current dosing practices in an Australasian intensive care unit (ICU) setting. The aims of this study were to: a) describe the adequacy of contemporary dosing in respect to free and total serum phenytoin concentrations; b) identify factors associated with therapeutic drug concentrations; and c) examine the accuracy of predictive equations that estimate free concentrations in this setting. All patients receiving a loading dose of phenytoin in a tertiary-level ICU were eligible for enrolment; 53 patients were enrolled in the study. Serum samples to determine free and total phenytoin concentrations (measured by high performance liquid chromatography) were then drawn prior to the following dose. Free concentrations below the recommended target

Heat-transfer coefficient and in-cavity pressure at the casting-die interface during high-pressure die casting of the magnesium alloy AZ91D

The present article deals with the application of a new measurement method to determine the heat-transfer coefficient (HTC) and the heat flux density at the casting-die interface during high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and solidification of the magnesium AZ91D alloy. The main measurements during the trial included velocity and the position of the piston that delivers the metal into the die, the pressure in the die cavity and at the tip of the piston, the alloy surface temperature, and the die temperature at different depths from the surface of the die. The temperature data were analyzed using an inverse method to determine the HTC at the casting-die interface during solidification. This article examines in detail the influence of the piston velocity and in-cavity pressure on heat transfer at the casting-die interface during casting and solidification of the magnesium AZ91D alloy