The prognostic value of the post-treatment serum CA 125 level in patients with advanced endometrial cancer

Objectives: The goal of this analysis was to assess the prognostic value of the post-treatment serum CA 125 level in each member of a group of advanced endometrial cancer (aEC) patients in comparison to other clinical and pathological parameters. Material and methods: Records of 266 patients treated at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Cracow Branch between the years 2006 and 2018 were included in the study. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 138 months. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were set as the endpoints. The tests chi-squared, Fisher, log-rank, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Cox proportional hazard ratio were used for statistical analyses. Results: In the analysed group, there was a significant association between an elevated serum CA 125 level following adjuvant treatment and shorter PFS and OS. After setting a cut-off value for CA 125 there was a statistically significant correlation between the marker and PFS and OS. Multivariate analysis indicated that the post-treatment serum CA 125 level is an independent prognostic factor of the course of aEC. Conclusions: The post-treatment serum CA 125 level correlates significantly with both PFS and OS in each patient with aEC. The marker is an independent prognostic factor in this group. A low post-treatment level of the marker is a strong indicator of good 5-year survival, with 82% of patients reaching 5-year OS

(Photo)physical properties of new molecular glasses end-capped with thiophene rings composed of diimide and imine units

New symmetrical arylene bisimide derivatives formed by using electron-donating-electron-accepting systems were synthesized. They consist of a phthalic diimide or naphthalenediimide core and imine linkages and are end-capped with thiophene, bithiophene, and (ethylenedioxy)thiophene units. Moreover, polymers were obtained from a new diamine, N,N′-bis(5- aminonaphthalenyl)naphthalene-1,4,5,8-dicarboximide and 2,5- thiophenedicarboxaldehyde or 2,2′-bithiophene-5,5′-dicarboxaldehyde. The prepared azomethine diimides exhibited glass-forming properties. The obtained compounds emitted blue light with the emission maximum at 470 nm. The value of the absorption coefficient was determined as a function of the photon energy using spectroscopic ellipsometry. All compounds are electrochemically active and undergo reversible electrochemical reduction and irreversible oxidation processes as was found in cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies. They exhibited a low electrochemically (DPV) calculated energy band gap (Eg) from 1.14 to 1.70 eV. The highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels and Eg were additionally calculated theoretically by density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. The photovoltaic properties of two model compounds as the active layer in organic solar cells in the configuration indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/active layer/Al under an illumination of 1.3 mW/cm2 were studied. The device comprising poly(3-hexylthiophene) with the compound end-capped with bithiophene rings showed the highest value of Voc (above 1 V). The conversion efficiency of the fabricated solar cell was in the range of 0.69-0.90%

Passive UHF RFID-enabled sensor system for detection of product's exposure to elevated temperature

Temperature change is one of key factors which should be taken into account in logistics during transportation or storage of many types of goods. In this study, a passive UHF RFID-enabled sensor system for elevated temperature (above 58°C) detection has been demonstrated. This system consists of an RFID reader and disposable temperature sensor comprising an UHF antenna, chip and temperature sensitive unit. The UHF antenna was designed and simulated in an IE3D software. The properties of the system were examined depending on the temperature level, type of package which contains the studied objects and the type of antenna substrate

Synthesis and characterization of bioresorbable L-lactide/ glycolide/butylene succinate terpolymers with shape memory behavior

W pracy przedstawiono wstępne wyniki badań nad otrzymywaniem i charakterystyką nowych bioresorbowalnych terpolimerów laktydu/glikolidu/bursztynianu butylu. Łańcuchy otrzymanych terpolimerów zawierały alifatyczne mikrobloki estrowe - bursztynianu butylenu i laktydylu, zapewniające temu materiałowi własność zapamiętywania kształtu. Scharakteryzowano własności i składy otrzymanych materiałów, oceniono parametry zapamiętywania kształtu. Na podstawie przedstawionych wyników wstępnych badań można oba materiały określić, jako perspektywiczne w zastosowaniach biomedycznych i wydaje się celowym kontynuacja badań nad ich syntezą, charakterystyką i aplikacją.The paper presents the preliminary results on the synthesis and characterization of new bioresorbable terpolymers of lactide/glycolide/butyl succinate. The chains of obtained terpolymers were built of butylene succinate and lactydyl microblocks, which endow this material with shape memory behavior. The method of synthesis, the properties and composition of the obtained terpolymers, and shape memory parameters are described in the article. On the basis of the results of preliminary studies, the obtained material appears applicable for biomedical applications, and it seems advisable to continue research on their synthesis, characterization and application

New functional aliphatic polycarbonates – materials for advanced biomedical applications

The aim of this study is to develop a new method of synthesis of functional (co)polycarbonates by ring -opening polymerization of ethyl 5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxane-5-carboxylate (MTC-Et), benzyl 5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxane-5-carboxylate (MTC-Bz) and their copolymerization with 1,3-trimethylene carbonate (TMC) with potential application in the formation of bioresorbable scaffolds for living cells and drug delivery, systems for achieving controlled drug release. (Co)polymerizations were conducted in bulk, in the presence of low toxic lanthanum acetylacetonate - La(acac)3xH2O as catalyst. All synthesized materials were obtained at 120°C. The results are very promising. A series of (co) polymers were obtained with high conversion and relatively high molecular weights. The composition of the comonomers and their sequence lengths were determined by means 1H NMR and 13C NMR measurements. Higher reactivity during the investigated copolymerizations presented carbonates with pending ethyl or benzyl group than 1,3-trimethylene carbonate. The thermal properties obtained (co)polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry

The shoulder height estimation in dogs based on the internal dimension of cranial cavity using mathematical formula

The investigations were carried out on 91 dogs of various breeds. Using the mathematical formula H-estmd = 1.016 xD - 31.2 (H-estmd, estimated value of the shoulder height; D, internal dimension of the cranial cavity Ethmoideum-Basion) the shoulder height was calculated. Evaluated results were compared with the shoulder height values measured by authors and coming from papers. The results proved the high accuracy of the implemented mathematical formula