Effect of Sc Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Melt-Spun Al-10Ni Alloys

In the present work, rapidly solidified Al-10Ni-XSc (X = 0, 1 and 2) alloys were fabricated by melt spinning under Ar atmosphere. The Effects of Sc on the microstructural and thermal properties and microhardness values were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a Vickers microhardness tester. Experimental results revealed that the addition of 2 wt. % Sc to melt-spun Al-10Ni alloys changed their brittle nature and hindered formation of cracks. The addition of Sc to melt-spun Al-10Ni alloys also changed the morphology of Al3 Ni intermetallics from an acicular/needle – like to a rounded particle-like structure and led to reduction in their size. Formation of the metastable Al9 Ni2 phase was observed due to the higher constitutional undercooling caused by Sc addition. A considerable improvement in microhardness value (from 95. 9 to 230. 1 HV) was observed with the addition of Sc

Effect of Different Production Methods on the Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Hypereutectic Al-Si Alloys

In this study, the effects of different production methods like melt spinning, high-energy ball milling, and combined melt spinning and high-energy ball milling on the mechanical and microstructural properties of hypereutectic Al-20Si-5Fe alloys were investigated. While microstructural and spectroscopic analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry, mechanical properties were measured using a depth-sensing indentation instrument with a Berkovich tip. Microstructural and spectroscopic analyses demonstrate that high-energy ball milling process applied on the melt-spun Al-20-Si-5Fe alloy for 10 minutes brings about a reduction in the size of silicon particles and intermetallic compounds. However, further increase in milling time does not yield any significant reduction in size. High-energy ball milling for 10 minutes on the starting powders is not enough to form any intermetallic phase. According to the depth-sensing indentation experiments, high-energy milling of melt-spun Al-20Si-5Fe alloys shows an incremental behavior in terms of hardness values. For the Al-20Si-5Fe alloys investigated in this study, the production technique remarkably influences their elastic–plastic response to the indentation process in terms of both magnitude and shape of P-h curves. © 2014, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.110M517The authors would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for funding the project (Project number 110M517)

Discrepancy between Gleason scores of biopsy and radical prostatectomy specimens

Objective: The grade of the prostate cancer is an important factor in defining prognosis and deciding on treatment. In this study, we compared the Gleason score determined by 18-gauge core needle biopsies with both the Gleason score and pathological staging of the radical prostatectomy specimens. Patients and Methods: Between July 1992 and September 1998, we performed 144 radical retropubic prostatectomies for clinically localized prostatic carcinoma, after a negative frozen section in bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy in all cases. Ten patients with pathologic stage T1a and T1b were excluded. The final study group consisted of 134 patients, all of whom had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma by transrectal needle biopsies with an 18-gauge automated spring-loaded biopsy gun. No patients received neoadjuvant therapy, including androgen deprivation and radiation therapy. All patients had a designated Gleason score on the needle biopsy and prostatectomy specimens. Results: We found that grading error was greatest with well-differentiated (Gleason score 2-4) tumors. The accuracy was 15% for Gleason score 2-4 on needle biopsy. Of the 113 evaluable patients with Gleason score 5-7 on needle biopsy, 110 (97%) were graded correctly. All of the Gleason score 8-10 on needle biopsy was graded correctly. But only 1 patient in our series had Gleason score 8 on needle biopsy. Twenty-seven (25%) of 110 patients with a biopsy grade of Gleason score <7 had the cancer upgraded to 7. Of patients with both Gleason score <7 in the needle biopsy and Gleason score 7 in the prostatectomy specimen, only 3 (11%) had tumor confined to the prostate. Conclusion: The potential for grading error is greatest with well-differentiated tumors and of patients with both Gleason scores <7 in the needle biopsy and Gleason score 7 in the prostatectomy specimen, only 11% had tumor confined to the prostate. This effects treatment policy, especially for watchful waiting criteria. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

structure in non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension

Objective - Both left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance (IR) have often been demonstrated in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Insulin may exert a direct growth-promoting effect on cardiomyocytes.The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between left ventricular structure, function and IR in patients with EH.Methods - We enrolled 73 patients (21 men, mean age 51.7 +/- 9.2 years) with untreated hypertension (BP > 140 and/or 90 mm Hg, fasting glycaemia < 110 mg/dl) and 64 healthy subjects without diabetes mellitus and hypertension (21 men, mean age 48.9 +/- 10.6 years) constituted the control group. In all subjects, transthoracic echocardiography was performed and blood samples were taken. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was calculated by the formula: HOMA-index = fasting blood glucose (mg/dl) * immunoreactive insulin (mu U/ml) /405 for the assessment of IR. Hypertensive patients were divided in two groups by mean HOMA index values. Each subject was examined for LV end-diastolic diameter, septal and posterior wall thickness, LV mass index (LVMI), fractional shortening (FS), mitral inflow velocity pattern, atrial filling fraction (AFF), left ventricular outflow velocity pattern and the total ejection isovolume index (TEI index).Results - The HOMA index (p < 0.001), LVMI (p < 0.001), AFF (p < 0.0001), peak A velocity (p < 0.028), septal (p < 0.0001) and posterior (p < 0.0001) wall thickness were significantly higher and FS (p < 0.001), E/A ratio (p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in hypertensive patients than healthy controls. LVMI (p < 0.01) and septal wall thickness (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in those hypertensive patients with a higher HOMA index. The HOMA-index was univariately related to the TEI index (r = 0.27, p = 0.01) and septal wall thickness (IVS) (r = 0.29, p = 0.01) by Pearson correlation analysis in hypertensive patients. LVMI, FS and mitral inflow velocity pattern were not related to the HOMA index. The TEI index (R-2 = 0.20, p = 0.0001) and IVS (R-2 = 0.12, p = 0.002) were significantly related to the HOMA-index as an independent variable by stepwise regression analysis.Conclusions -These results demonstrated that hypertensive patients had both abnormal cardiac structure and function and higher IR index. In our study group, the effect of hypertension on cardiac structure and function was correlated with IR. Our results suggested that IR might be an important factor causing left ventricular dysfunction and wall thickness in non-diabetic patients with EH.C1 Pamukkale Univ, Sch Med, Denizli, Turkey.Mevki Mil Hosp, Dept Cardiol, Ankara, Turkey

Relation of insulin resistance and left ventricular function and structure in non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Both left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance (IR) have often been demonstrated in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Insulin may exert a direct growth-promoting effect on cardiomyocytes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between left ventricular structure, function and IR in patients with EH. METHODS: We enrolled 73 patients (21 men, mean age 51.7 +/- 9.2 years) with untreated hypertension (BP > 140 and/or 90 mm Hg, fasting glycaemia < 110 mg/dl) and 64 healthy subjects without diabetes mellitus and hypertension (21 men, mean age 48.9 +/- 10.6 years) constituted the control group. In all subjects, transthoracic echocardiography was performed and blood samples were taken. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was calculated by the formula: HOMA-index = fasting blood glucose (mg/dl) * immunoreactive insulin (microU/ml)/405 for the assessment of IR. Hypertensive patients were divided in two groups by mean HOMA index values. Each subject was examined for LV end-diastolic diameter, septal and posterior wall thickness, LV mass index (LVMI), fractional shortening (FS), mitral inflow velocity pattern, atrial filling fraction (AFF), left ventricular outflow velocity pattern and the total ejection isovolume index (TEI index). RESULTS: The HOMA index (p < 0.001), LVMI (p < 0.001), AFF (p < 0.0001), peak A velocity (p < 0.028), septal (p < 0.0001) and posterior (p < 0.0001) wall thickness were significantly higher and FS (p < 0.001), E/A ratio (p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in hypertensive patients than healthy controls. LVMI (p < 0.01) and septal wall thickness (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in those hypertensive patients with a higher HOMA index. The HOMA-index was univariately related to the TEI index (r = 0.27, p = 0.01) and septal wall thickness (IVS) (r = 0.29, p = 0.01) by Pearson correlation analysis in hypertensive patients. LVMI, FS and mitral inflow velocity pattern were not related to the HOMA index. The TEI index (R2 = 0.20, p = 0.0001) and IVS (R2 = 0.12, p = 0.002) were significantly related to the HOMA-index as an independent variable by stepwise regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that hypertensive patients had both abnormal cardiac structure and function and higher IR index. In our study group, the effect of hypertension on cardiac structure and function was correlated with IR. Our results suggested that IR might be an important factor causing left ventricular dysfunction and wall thickness in non-diabetic patients with EH

Lymph nodal involvement by renal angiomyolipoma

Angiomyolipoma of the kidney is a clonal neoplasm, apparently part of a family of neoplasms derived from perivascular epithelial cells. A 40-year-old woman presented with right flank pain and an otherwise non-significant medical history. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed an 18 cm solid mass in the mid-portion of the right kidney and multiple perihilar lymph nodes. presumptive diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma. Right radical nephrectomy and a perihilar lymph node dissection was performed through a Chevron incision for the anticipated diagnosis of renal adenocarcinoma. The renal tumor was diagnosed as angiomyolipoma and a component was identified pathologically in a dissected lymph node. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence in the follow-up period of eight years. The consensus from other studies suggests that this phenomenon is a manifestation of the multicentric nature of angiomyolipoma, rather than due to metastasis. Genetic studies may resolve this question in the future

INDIRECT COSTS IN HEART FAILURE IN TURKEY: A DELPHI PANEL BASED ANALYSIS IN RELATION TO NYHA CLASSES

[No Abstract Available

Prognostic factors associated with the response to sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Objectiv

Prognostic factors associated with the response to sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prognostic clinicopathologic factors associated with overall survival (os) and progression-free survival (pfs) in the once-daily continuous administration of first-line sunitinib in a consecutive cohort of Turkish patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (rcc). METHODS: The study enrolled 77 Turkish patients with metastatic rcc who received sunitinib in a continuous once-daily dosing regimen between April 2006 and April 2011. Univariate analyses were performed using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 18.5 months. In univariate analyses, poor pfs and os were associated with 4 of the 5 factors in the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc) score: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher, low hemoglobin, high corrected serum calcium, and high lactate dehydrogenase. In addition to those factors, hypoalbuminemia, more than 2 metastatic sites, liver metastasis, non–clear cell histology, and the presence of sarcomatoid features on pathology were also associated with poor pfs; and male sex, hypoalbuminemia, prior radiotherapy, more than 2 metastatic sites, lung metastasis, nuclear grade of 3 or 4 for the primary tumour, and the presence of sarcomatoid features were also associated with poorer os. The application of the mskcc model distinctly separated the pfs and os curves (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified prognostic factors for pfs and os with the use sunitinib as first-line metastatic rcc therapy and confirmed that the mskcc model still appears to be valid for predicting survival in metastatic rcc in the era of molecular targeted therapy