Pelvic lymphadenectomy as a component of interval cytoreduction for ovarian cancer: is there a benefit? A pilot study

Background: Management strategy in ovarian cancer includes a combination of cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. Interval cytoreductive surgery has been shown to be oncologically non-inferior to primary cytoreduction with the additional benefit of reduced morbidity. Lymphadenectomy as a component of cytoreductive surgery has been controversial with an unproven therapeutic benefit.Methods: Records of patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian cancer and treated with interval cytoreduction were evaluated. Disease related, pathological and treatment data collected for analysis.Results: The study included 32 patients with a mean age of 56 years (41-76). Serous papillary tumors (42%) were the predominate histology and the majority were in stage III disease (84%). Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 93%. The mean nodal harvest was 9.8 nodes with left pelvic dissection yielding slightly more nodes than the right (4.5 vs 5.2). Nodal positivity was observed in just one patient (3%). A total of 314 were nodes examined with only 2 (0.6%) yielding persistent disease. The nodal positivity yield tested as a categorical variable by the binomial test returned P=0.0001.Conclusions: It is possible to omit pelvic nodal dissection during interval cytoreduction in otherwise optimally cytoreduced patients particularly when imaging and intraoperative assessment are not suggestive of pelvic nodal metastasis

An Oxidopyrylium Cyclization/Ring-Opening Route to Polysubstituted α‑Hydroxytropolones

α-Hydroxytropolones are a class of molecules with therapeutic potential against several human diseases. However, structure–activity relationship studies on these molecules have been limited due to a scarcity of efficient synthetic methods to access them. It is demonstrated herein that α-hydroxytropolones can be generated through a BCl₃-mediated ring-opening/aromatization/demethylation process on 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octenes. Used in conjunction with an improved method based on established oxidopyrylium dipolar cycloadditions, several polysubstituted α-hydroxytropolones can be accessed in three steps from readily available α-hydroxy-γ-pyrones

Neo Banking System in India - A Digital India Programme Initiative

ABSTRACT The rise of the neobanking sector in India resulted from the digitalization of the traditional banking structure, which provided customers with an innovative digital banking experience. Neobanks still face a lack of identity in the sector and security factors in their early stages. The chapter aims to identify an investor’s perspective on new banking and the factors leading to such a perspective while analyzing the prospects of neobanking in the Indian banking sector. The law mandates neobanks to tie up with a traditional bank to offer their banking services. Also, lack of physical presence creates hesitancy among the investors to deposit their money in neobanks. It aims to identify the association between the demographic variables of the Investors and their perception of neobanking services and to understand the investors’ perception of the neobanking sector. Data collected from 276 respondents indicated that more than half of the respondents were aware of neobanks, and a significant portion of them was willing to invest. The chapter intends to highlight the acceptance and growing adaptiveness amongst the investors. The chapter would help convey insightful information for future research exploring the neobanking sector through its analysis. Keywords: Banking, Digitalization, FinTech, Neobank, Virtual Ban

Hypercoagulability in pediatric autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell collection – Is it the time to reconsider screening? – A case report

Peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cell harvest by apheresis in pediatric patients, a double-edged sword, has advantages and disadvantages over conventional bone marrow transplantation. The effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization on hemostasis in literature is very scarce. A 3-year-old female child with metastatic neuroblastoma planned for autologous transplant. Following G-CSF mobilization (75 mg; 4 days), the procedure was performed with all default parameters in Spectra Optia with an acid citrate dextrose (ACD) flow rate 1:12, assuming 3-total blood volume (TBV) to be processed with 150 ml of expected collection with target yield of 6 × 106 CD34 cells/kg. Despite normal coagulation laboratory parameters, it was abandoned for reasons such as low-flow alarms and thrombi in the kit tubings. In the subsequent procedures, the ACD to whole blood ratio was decreased to 1:16, and used bolus of heparin was followed by continuous heparin infusion throughout the procedure. Despite using heparin anticoagulation, a long thrombus was aspirated at needleless port. The procedure was completed with continuous low-flow alarms. A cumulative dose of 5.67 × 106 CD34 cells/kg was achieved over four procedures, but the cause of hypercoagulability was unknown. All the coagulation parameters were within normal limits before and after the procedure. The exact cause for hypercoagulability remains elusive. There are no studies or case reports in the pediatric population on hypercoagulability following apheresis procedure after G-CSF mobilization, but evidence is available for adults, with lack of explanation. It can also be due to low draw flow from the patient side or embolization of thrombi developed in the anticoagulant unprimed site in the kit tubings. More extensive studies are required to explain the mechanism of hypercoagulability during apheresis procedures in the pediatric population

Comparative Assessment of Farmer’s Brinjal Variety in Different Agro-Climatic Conditions

In order to evaluate the performance and suitability of the long brinjal variety ‘Niranjan Bhata’ developed by an innovative farmer of Chhattisgarh in different agro-climatic conditions of the country, the comparative field experiment conducted under Gandhinagar, Gujarat condition was accommodated in a randomized complete block design comprising five replications of four treatments, i.e. Niranjan Bhata, Pusa Shamla as National Check (NC) and two Local Check (LC) during June - March 2016. The plant height of Niranjan Bhata (115.50 cm) was recorded at par with LC-1 (118.33 cm). However, the maximum fruit length (45.80 cm) was recorded in Niranjan Bhata (45.80 cm). The significant highest fruit yield was produced by Niranjan Bhata (31.40 t/ha). Farmer managed trials (FMTs) were also carried out in five states between 2017-18 and 2020-21 at 68 locations (loc.) during the Kharif season. The test variety ‘Niranjan Bhata’ reported superior performance in Chhattisgarh with the highest plant height (161.17 cm), fruit length (59.67 cm), and marketable fruit yield (9.81 kg/plant). The variety also outperformed with similar characters in Gujarat and Maharashtra states over checks. As per the growers' feedback, the variety was found to be high-yielding. The long fruits containing lesser seeds and soft pulp having good market preference too. Thus the evaluation of variety with the farmers’ participation was found most suitable approach which assured the varietal preference and its suitability for large-scale dissemination

Developing young adolescents’ self-regulation by means of formative assessment: A theoretical perspective

Fostering self-regulated learning (SRL) has become increasingly important at various educational levels. Most studies on SRL have been conducted in higher education. The present literature study aims toward understanding self-regulation processes of students in primary and secondary education. We explored the development of young students’ self-regulation from a theoretical perspective. In addition, effective characteristics for an intervention to develop young students’ self-regulation were examined, as well as the possibilities of implementing formative assessments in primary education to develop self-regulation. The results show that SRL can be supported in both primary and secondary education. However, at both school levels, differences were found, regarding the theoretical background of the training and the type of instructed strategy. Studies so far suggest avenues toward formative assessment, which seems to be a unifying theory of instruction that improves the learning process by developing self-regulation among students. But gaps in knowledge about the impact of formative assessments on the development of SRL strategies among primary school students require further exploration