Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of cimetidine in gastric cancer

Cimetidine is thought to inhibit suppressor T-lymphocyte function and preliminary evidence from a randomized trial indicated that it might prolong survival for patients with operable and inoperable gastric cancer. The British Stomach Cancer Group conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining the effects of cimetidine (400 mg or 800 mg twice a day) on the survival of patients with early (stages I, II and III: n = 229) and advanced (stages IVa and IVb: n = 201) gastric cancer. The primary end point was death. A total of 442 patients were randomized by 59 consultants in 39 hospitals between February 1990 and March 1995. Log-rank survival analysis was used to assess differences between the groups. Three hundred and forty patients died during the study: 166 (49%) in the cimetidine treatment groups and 174 (51%) in the placebo groups. Median survival for patients receiving cimetidine was 13 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 9–16 months) and 11 months in the placebo arm (95% CI 9–14 months). There was no significant difference in survival between the two treatment groups (P = 0.42) or between different doses of cimetidine tablets (P = 0.46). Five-year survival of those patients randomized to cimetidine was 21% compared to 18% for those patients randomized to placebo. Cimetidine at a dose of 400 mg or 800 mg twice a day does not have a significant influence on the survival of patients with gastric cancer compared to placebo. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Genetics University of Toronto Thrombophilia Study in Women (GUTTSI): genetic and other risk factors for venous thromboembolism in women

BACKGROUND: Women may be at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) as compared with men. We studied the effects of genetic and biochemical markers of thrombophilia in women, in conjunction with other established risk factors for VTE. METHOD: The present retrospective case-control study was conducted in a thrombosis treatment programme at a large Toronto hospital. The cases were 129 women aged 16-79 years with objectively confirmed VTE. Age-matched control individuals were women who were free of venous thrombosis. Neither cases nor control individuals had known cardiovascular disease. Participants were interviewed regarding personal risk factors for VTE, including smoking, history of malignancy, pregnancy, and oestrogen or oral contraceptive use. Blood specimens were analyzed for common single nucleotide polymorphisms of prothrombin, factor V and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR; C677T, A1298C and T1317C), and the A66G polymorphism for methionine synthase reductase (MTRR).Fasting plasma homocysteine was also analyzed. RESULTS: Women with VTE were significantly more likely than female control individuals to carry the prothrombin polymorphism and the factor V polymorphism, or to have fasting hyperhomocysteinaemia. Homozygosity for the C677T MTHFR gene was not a significant risk factor for VTE, or were the A1298C or T1317C MTHFR homozygous variants. Also, the A66G MTRR homozygous state did not confer an increased risk for VTE. CONCLUSION: Prothrombin and factor V polymorphisms increased the risk for VTE in women, independent from other established risk factors. Although hyperhomocysteinaemia also heightens this risk, common polymorphisms in two genes that are responsible for homocysteine remethylation do not. These findings are consistent with previous studies that included both men and women

Rofecoxib and cardiovascular adverse events in adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer

Background Selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors may retard the progression of cancer, but they have enhanced thrombotic potential. We report on cardiovascular adverse events in patients receiving rofecoxib to reduce rates of recurrence of colorectal cancer. Methods All serious adverse events that were cardiovascular thrombotic events were reviewed in 2434 patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer participating in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of rofecoxib, 25 mg daily, started after potentially curative tumor resection and chemotherapy or radiotherapy as indicated. The trial was terminated prematurely owing to worldwide withdrawal of rofecoxib. To examine possible persistent risks, we examined cardiovascular thrombotic events reported up to 24 months after the trial was closed. Results The median duration of active treatment was 7.4 months. The 1167 patients receiving rofecoxib and the 1160 patients receiving placebo were well matched, with a median follow-up period of 33.0 months (interquartile range, 27.6 to 40.1) and 33.4 months (27.7 to 40.4), respectively. Of the 23 confirmed cardiovascular thrombotic events, 16 occurred in the rofecoxib group during or within 14 days after the treatment period, with an estimated relative risk of 2.66 (from the Cox proportional-hazards model; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 6.86; P = 0.04). Analysis of the Antiplatelet Trialists’ Collaboration end point (the combined incidence of death from cardiovascular, hemorrhagic, and unknown causes; of nonfatal myocardial infarction; and of nonfatal ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke) gave an unadjusted relative risk of 1.60 (95% CI, 0.57 to 4.51; P = 0.37). Fourteen more cardiovascular thrombotic events, six in the rofecoxib group, were reported within the 2 years after trial closure, with an overall unadjusted relative risk of 1.50 (95% CI, 0.76 to 2.94; P = 0.24). Four patients in the rofecoxib group and two in the placebo group died from thrombotic causes during or within 14 days after the treatment period, and during the follow-up period, one patient in the rofecoxib group and five patients in the placebo group died from cardiovascular causes. Conclusions Rofecoxib therapy was associated with an increased frequency of adverse cardiovascular events among patients with a median study treatment of 7.4 months’ duration. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN98278138.

A model for hysteretic magnetic properties under the application of noncoaxial stress and field

Although descriptions of the effect of stress on spontaneous magnetization within a single domain already exist, there remains no adequate mathematical model for the effects of noncoaxial magnetic field and stress on bulk magnetization in a multidomained specimen. This article addresses the problem and provides a phenomenological theory that applies to the case of bulk isotropic materials. The magnetomechanical hysteresis model of Sablik and Jiles is thus extended to treat magnetic properties in the case of noncoaxial stress and magnetic field in an isotropic, polycrystalline medium. In the modeling, noncollinearity between magnetization and magnetic field is taken into account. The effect of roll‐axis anisotropy is also considered. Both magnetic and magnetostrictive hysteresis are describable by the extended model. Emphasis in this article is on describing properties like coercivity, remanence,hysteresis loss, maximum flux density, and maximum differential permeability as a function of stress for various angular orientations between field and stress axis. The model predictions are compared with experimental results

Producción de vaquillonas pesadas en condiciones de pastoreo y su impacto en la terneza de la carne

Históricamente, en el mercado argentino la vaquillona de más de 320 kg de peso vivo (PV) ha sido incluida en la categoría de “vacas”, lo cual disminuye sensiblemente el precio que el productor obtenía por ese animal. Dado que dentro de un amplio rango de edades la terneza se encuentra negativamente asociada con la edad del animal, esta modalidad de comercialización se habría implementado para evitar comercializar vacas como vaquillonas. Sin embargo, Shackelford et al. (1995) concluyen que la magnitud de la diferencias de terneza en el músculo longissimus encontradas entre vaquillonas (15-18 meses de edad) y vacas de dos años de edad difí- cilmente justifiquen un menor valor de mercado de las últimas respecto a las vaquillonas. En Argentina, a partir de diciembre de 2005 entró en vigencia la disposición de la Oficina de Nacional de Control Comercial Agropecuario (ONCCA) 5701/2005, a través de la cual se crearon distintas categorías de peso vivo de vaquillonas especiales y buenas (300 a 340, 341 a 380, y 381 a 420 kg PV), y una categoría de vaquillonas regulares. Esta nueva categorización permitiría diferenciar las vaquillonas de las vacas. Sin embargo, las vaquillonas de más de 320 kg PV siguieron siendo penalizadas en el mercado con un menor precio. Según la base de datos del Mercado de Liniers S.A. (http://www.mercado deliniers.com.ar/), el precio medio durante el año 2006 en ese Mercado para las vaquillonas de 300 a 340 kg PV fue de $2.50 por kg PV y para las de 381 a 420 kg PV de$2,17. Esta reducción en el precio de vaquillonas por aumento de peso fue 80% mayor que en los novillitos por similar cambio de peso ($2,60 a$2,46 por kg). Esto se reflejó en que durante el 2006, sólo el 6% del total de vaquillonas comercializadas correspondió a vaquillonas pesadas, mientras que los novillitos pesados representaron el 27% del total de novillitos. En la literatura hay evidencias que indican que las diferencias en terneza generadas por variaciones en la edad o por el sexo no justificarían tales desviaciones en los precios. En un sistema de producción pastoril con una ganancia diaria de peso vivo media de 500 g, producir una vaquillona pesada en vez de una liviana demandaría aproximadamente 5 meses más. Si bien Wulf et al. (1996) observaron que lag fuerza de corte (dureza) de distintos cortes de carne de novillos en el rango de 15 a 18 meses de edad terminados en dietas a base de concentrados se correlacionaba positivamente con la edad, el coeficiente de correlación fue relativamente bajo (r=0.18). Sin embargo, dado que en este trabajo los animales fueron faenados a medida que alcanzaban los 400 kg de peso vivo o 1 cm de espesor de grasa dorsal, habría un efecto confundido de la edad y la tasa de ganancia de peso sobre la terneza (Perry and Thompson, 2005). Por otra parte, Field et al. (1996) no observaron diferencias en la terneza del músculo longissimus dorsi de vaquillonas faenadas a 31, 33 y 35 meses de edad luego de 100 d de alimentación con concentrados. Lawrence et al. (2001) al evaluar el efecto de la edad (determinada por el número de incisivos permanentes: 0, 2, 4, 6, y 8), el sexo (vaquillonas vs. novillos) y su interacción sobre la terneza del músculo longissimus dorsi tampoco encontraron diferencias significativas. Si bien en el trabajo de Zinn et al., (1970) el sexo (vaquillonas vs. novillos) no afectó la terneza de tres músculos (Triceps brachii, longissimus dorsi y Semimenbranosus) de animales terminados con dietas concentradas, Choat et al. (2006) reportan que, con 7 d de maduración, la terneza del músculo longissimus dorsi fue menor en vaquillonas que en novillos. Sin embargo, dicha diferencia desapareció al incrementar el tiempo de maduración de la carne. El presente trabajo busca definir elementos biológicos que ayuden a establecer el valor de la carne producida de forma más objetiva. Así el primer objetivo del presente trabajo fue el de comparar la fuerza de corte (terneza) de los músculos longissimus y gluteus medius de vaquillonas pesadas con la de los mismos músculos de vaquillonas livianas, novillitos pesados, o vacas de refugo. El segundo objetivo fue el de determinar si posibles diferencias en la fuerza de corte del producto obtenido con las distintas categorías o con distintos músculos pueden ser eliminadas con un mayor tiempo de maduración.Fil: Lucero Borja, J. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Pouzo, Laura Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Langman, L.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Carduza, F.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Corva, P.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Santini, Francisco Jose. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pavan, E.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Color Reflection Invariance and Monopole Condensation in QCD

We review the quantum instability of the Savvidy-Nielsen-Olesen (SNO) vacuum of the one-loop effective action of SU(2) QCD, and point out a critical defect in the calculation of the functional determinant of the gluon loop in the SNO effective action. We prove that the gauge invariance, in particular the color reflection invariance, exclude the unstable tachyonic modes from the gluon loop integral. This guarantees the stability of the magnetic condensation in QCD.Comment: 28 pages, 3 figures, JHEP styl

Something in the atmosphere? Michael Chekhov, Deirdre Hurst Du Prey, and a web of practices between acting and dance

This article contextualises principles of Chekhov’s technique within convergent developments in dance by bringing into focus the interesting web of connections between Chekhov’s female colleagues — specifically his associate Deirdre Hurst Du Prey — and key pioneers in the field of dance and dance-mime, including Mary Wigman, Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Margaret Barr. Their cross-connections broaden our view on the canon of embodied theatre practice, and also open up reflection on how overlaps between acting- and dance principles may be useful for contemporary embodied theatre practice and its efforts to work across these currently (in the Western conservatoire context) quite segregated disciplines

The Self Model and the Conception of Biological Identity in Immunology

The self/non-self model, first proposed by F.M. Burnet, has dominated immunology for sixty years now. According to this model, any foreign element will trigger an immune reaction in an organism, whereas endogenous elements will not, in normal circumstances, induce an immune reaction. In this paper we show that the self/non-self model is no longer an appropriate explanation of experimental data in immunology, and that this inadequacy may be rooted in an excessively strong metaphysical conception of biological identity. We suggest that another hypothesis, one based on the notion of continuity, gives a better account of immune phenomena. Finally, we underscore the mapping between this metaphysical deflation from self to continuity in immunology and the philosophical debate between substantialism and empiricism about identity

Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus in women: a case–control study

Oesophageal cancer rates in women in the UK are more than 3 times higher than in most other European populations. A population-based matched case–control study of histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus in women was carried out in 4 regions in England and Scotland. Interviews were carried out in hospital or at home and topics included: smoking; alcohol; tea and coffee consumption; medical and obstetric history; and diet. Response rates were 62% for cases and 65% for first-chosen controls. There were 159 case–control pairs. Significant results were found for: eating salads (odds ratio (OR) 0.42, 95% CI 0.20–0.92 in the highest quartile of consumption) and a light (as distinct from no) breakfast (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07 – 0.48) were protective; quantity of tea was a risk factor and there was a significant positive trend with temperature at which hot drinks were consumed (P = 0.03). Alcohol consumption was unrelated to risk, but there was a significant trend with years of smoking (P = 0.015). A protective effect of aspirin consumption was confined to the English centres (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01–0.56). Comparison with a parallel study of adenocarcinoma indicated a common protective effect of a healthy diet but otherwise distinct risk factors. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co