Combined versus single locoregional therapy in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

AbstractIntroductionSurgical and locoregional therapies are different options in HCC treatment, several locoregional techniques are used.PurposeThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and combined therapy, in HCC management.Materials and methodsThe study was conducted at our University Hospital, from August 2011 to February 2013. It included 60 patients with HCC (40 males and 20 females, age ranged between 45 and 70years). Patients were classified into 3 groups, group 1 treated with TACE, group 2 with RFA, and group 3 with both techniques. Response was assessed by triphasic CT and alpha fetoprotein. Patients were classified into good and poor responders after one and six months and one year. Patients’ survival and incidence of recurrence were recorded.ResultsThe percentage of good responders was greater with combined therapy than with TACE and RFA (90%, 70%, and 60% respectively). The overall survival was 75% and the recurrence free survival was 60% in TACE, 90%, and 45% in RFA and 95% and 90% in combined therapy respectively.ConclusionCombined therapy is superior regarding good response, overall survival, and free recurrence survival than either TACE or RFA alone

CFD and statistical approach to optimize the average air velocity and air volume fraction in an inert-particles spouted-bed reactor (IPSBR) system

Inert-particles spouted bed reactor (IPSBR) is characterized by intense mixing generated by the circular motion of the inert particles. The operating parameters play an important role in the performance of the IPSBR system, and therefore, parameter optimization is critical for the design and scale-up of this gas-liquid contact system. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides detailed modeling of the system hydrodynamics, enabling the determination of the operating conditions that optimize the performance of this contact system. The present work optimizes the main IPSBR operating parameters, which include a feed-gas velocity in the range 0.5-1.5 m/s, orifice diameter in the range 0.001-0.005 m, gas head in the range 0.15-0.35 m, mixing-particle diameter in the range 0.009-0.0225 m, and mixing-particle to reactor volume fraction in the range 2.0-10.0 vol % (which represents 0.01-0.1 kg of mixing particles loading). The effects of these parameters on the average air velocity and average air volume fraction in the upper, middle, and conical regions of the reactor were studied. The specific distance for each region has been measured from the orifice point to be 50 mm for the conical region, 350 mm for the middle region and 550 mm for the upper rejoin. The selected factors were optimized to obtain the minimum air velocity distribution (maximum gas residence time) and the maximum air volume fraction (maximum interfacial area concentration) because these conditions will increase the gas holdup, the gas-liquid contact area, and the mass transfer coefficient among phases. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum operating conditions. The regression analysis showed an excellent fit of the experimental data to a second-order polynomial model. The interaction between the process variables was evaluated using the obtained three-dimensional surface plots. The analysis revealed that under the optimized parameters of a feed-gas velocity of 1.5 m/s, orifice diameter of 0.001 m, gas head of 0.164 m, mixing-particle diameter of 0.0225 m, and mixing-particle loading of 0.02 kg, the minimum average air velocity and highest air volume fraction were observed throughout the reactor.This work was supported by the ADNOC Refining Research Center , Abu Dhabi, UAE.Scopu

Effects of lindane on the electrocardiogram of eel, Anguilla anguilla L

Electrocardiogram were measured in eel exposed to lindane. The character of the ECG′s obtained points out to a considerable damage in the cardiac muscle. The most important diagnostic feature of these ECG′s changes are, disturbances in the ionic equilibrium, myocardiac infarction and ventricular extrasystole

Influence of body size on swimming performance of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The influence of body size on fish swimming performance was investigated. There was a positive correlation between body size and swimming speed. On the contrary, the relations between body size and time of fatigue, fish travel, physical effort were reverse. The reasons for the differences and the assumptions involved are discussed

Effects of water temperature on the ECG; heart rate and respiratory rate of the eel Anguilla anguilla L

Studies on the effects of water temperature upon the ECG, heart rate and respiratory rate of the eel were corried out. The results prove that the ambient temperature of the eel significantly affects the circulatory and respiratory performances of the eel

Cardiovascular and respiratory changes in eel, Anguilla anguilla L. during exposure to lethal doses of lindane at different water temperatures

Heart rate and ventilation frequency were monitored in ell exposed to lethal doses of lindane at different water temperatures. A simultaneous bradycardia and hyperventilation followed by a decrease in the ventilation rate occured after exposure to lindane. It is concluded that lindane kills fish by internal hypoxia induced by damage to the gills

Influence of body size on swimming performance of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The influence of body size on fish swimming performance was investigated. There was a positive correlation between body size and swimming speed. On the contrary, the relations between body size and time of fatigue, fish travel, physical effort were reverse. The reasons for the differences and the assumptions involved are discussed

Effects of water temperature on the ECG; heart rate and respiratory rate of the eel Anguilla anguilla L

Studies on the effects of water temperature upon the ECG, heart rate and respiratory rate of the eel were corried out. The results prove that the ambient temperature of the eel significantly affects the circulatory and respiratory performances of the eel

Effects of lindane on swimming performance of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The influence of lindane on swimming performance of carp was investigated. Lindane was found to significantly effect fish swimming performance. It is suggested that lindane may influence the exchange of respiratory gases or the metabolic pathways involved in the mobilization of energy

Effects of water temperature and ph on swimming performance of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Further studies on swimming performance of carp have been made in relation to temperature and pH. Under acclimation condition, swimming performance was temperature-independent. In contrast thermal stress significantly affected fish performance, particularly at the low temperature. On the other hand, fish transferred directly to acidic conditions exhibited a sharply decline in performance, while at alkaline condition these changes were moderate