Central nervous system relapse in patients with breast cancer is associated with advanced stages, with the presence of circulating occult tumor cells and with the HER2/neu status

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with breast cancer treated with a taxane-based chemotherapy regimen and to determine predictive factors for CNS relapse. METHODS: The medical files of patients with early breast cancer (n = 253) or advanced stage breast cancer (n = 239) as well of those with other solid tumors (n = 336) treated with or without a taxane-based chemotherapy regimen during a 42-month period were reviewed. HER2/neu overexpression was identified by immunohistochemistry, whereas cytokeratin 19 (CK-19) mRNA-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood were identified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The incidence of CNS relapse was similar in patients suffering from breast cancer or other solid tumors (10.4% and 11.4%, respectively; P = 0.517). The incidence of CNS relapse was significantly higher in breast cancer patients with advanced disease (P = 0.041), visceral disease and bone disease (P = 0.036), in those who were treated with a taxane-containing regimen (P = 0.024), in those with HER2/neu-overexpressing tumors (P = 0.022) and, finally, in those with detectable CK-19 mRNA-positive CTCs (P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis revealed that the stage of disease (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.007–0.23; P = 0.0001), the HER2/neu status (odds ratio, 29.4; 95% confidence interval, 7.51–101.21; P = 0.0001) and the presence of CK-19 mRNA-positive CTCs (odds ratio, 8.31; 95% confidence interval, 3.97–12.84; P = 0.001) were independent predictive factors for CNS relapse. CONCLUSION: CNS relapses are common among breast cancer patients treated with a taxane-based chemotherapy regimen, patients with HER2/neu-positive tumor and patients with CK-19 mRNA-positive CTCs

Women in the Stone Sector: Challenges and Opportunities from an Educational Point of View

In the era of Industry 4.0, gender discrimination still exists especially in be male-dominated workplaces, such as the stone sector. Combating gender discrimination in the stone sector is a demanding task that calls for integrated planning and targeted interventions. This paper presents the results of the “WinSTONE” Erasmus+ project, aiming at the development of suitable training tools for the integration of women in the stone industry. Based on the main challenges, as well as on the emerging opportunities for women in the sector, a training methodology is being developed to deal with the actual needs

Χαρακτηρισμός του Υποδοχέα της ιντερλευκίνης-2 σε μη -Τ λευχαιμικές σειρές

Η οξεία μη-Τ Λεμφοβλαστική Λευχαιμία, όπως αναφέραμε και σε προηγούμενο κεφάλαιο, είναι μια κακοήθης νεοπλασία προβαθμίδων των Β κυττάρων, που έχασαν την ικανότητα διαφοροποίησης. Πιστεύεται ότι το προπρο-Β κύτταρο, το οποίο έχει ξεκινήσει τη διαφοροποίηση του, βρίσκεται ξαφνικά κάτω από την επήρεια ενός αγνώστου λευχαιμογόνου παράγοντα, ο οποίος το αναγκάζει αφ΄ενός μεν να σταματήσει την περαιτέρω διαφοροποίηση του και αφ΄ετέρου να μην υπακούει στους φυσιολογικούς μηχανισμούς, που ρυθμίζουν τον πολλαπλασιασμό τους. Έτσι, το προ-Β κύτταρο, αρχίζει να πολλαπλασιάζεται ανεξέλεγκτα, για να δώσει ένα μεγάλο αριθμό λευχαιμικών κυττάρων. Προκειμένου να μελετήσουμε εάν ο πολλαπλασιασμός των νεοπλασματικών κυττάρων ασθενών με προ-Β Λεμφοβλαστική Λευχαιμία εξαρτάται από τη δράση ορισμένων λεμφοκινών και ιδιαίτερα από το σύστημα IL-2/IL-2R, διερευνήσαμε την έκφραση και τη λειτουργικότητα των δύο αλύσεων του υποδοχέα της IL-2(IL-2R) σε κύτταρα ασθενών με προ-B Λεμφοβλαστική Λευχαιμία, σε κύτταρα της Reh-6 προ-Β Λευχαιμικής σειράς και σε κύτταρα της λευχαιμικής σειράς ΝΟΙ-90. Η λειτουργικότητα των υποδοχέων της ΙL-2 μελετήθηκε με πειράματα ισορροπίας της δέσμευσης της ραδιοσημασμένης ΙL-2 στην κυτταρική μεμβράνη. Διερευνήσαμε τη δράση ορισμένων μιτογόνων και αναστολέων του πολλαπλασιασμού. Πιο συγκεκριμένα μελετήσαμε τη δράση του ΡΜΑ (Phorbol Myristate Acetate), όσον αφορά την έκφραση των αλύσεων του υποδοχέα της ΙL-2 στη μεμβράνη και σε μοριακό επίπεδο με σκοπό να καταλάβουμε καλύτερα το ρόλο του συστήματος ΙL-2/IL-2R στον πολλαπλασιασμό των προ-Β κυττάρων. Μελετήσαμε επίσης, η έκφραση του mRNA των δύο αλύσεων του υποδοχέα της ΙL-2. Η συγγένεια των υποδοχέων της ΙL-2 ελέγχθηκε με πειράματα συνδέσεις ραδιοσημασμένης με 125Ι, ανασυνδυασμένης ΙL-2 και ανάλυση κατά Scatchard. Η δομή του υποδοχέα μελετήθηκε με cross-linking της σημασμένης ΙL-2 στα κύτταρα, ηλεκτροφόρηση σε πήκτωμα πολυακρυλαμίδης και αυτοραδιογραφία. Η ειδικότητα των αντιδράσεων ελέγχθηκε με την αναστολή τους χρησιμοποιώντας τόσο ψυχρή ΙL-2 όσο και μονοκλωνικά αντισώματα, έναντι των ενεργών θέσεων των ΙL-2Rα και ΙL-2Rβ

Clays from Neogene Achlada lignite deposits in Florina basin (Western Macedonia, N. Greece): A prospective resource for the ceramics industry

The mineralogical composition and the resulting behavior upon firing of samples from the intercalated clay seams of the Achlada lignite-bearing sequence (west Macedonia, N. Greece) were examined. The resulting data sets were interpreted in order to evaluate the possible use of the studied clays in the production of structural ceramics. The mineralogical composition of the studied clays was accomplished by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric (TG), differential thermo-gravimetric (DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. The clay minerals prevail in all samples, with illite being the dominant phase and kaolinite and chlorite comprising the rest of the clay components. No smectite was found that would negatively affect the produced ceramics. Other mineral phases identified were mainly quartz and feldspars and subordinated siderite. The classification of the clays using appropriate ternary diagrams suggests their possible use in the production of red-stoneware products in ceramic industry. Casting molds were fired at various high temperatures (up to 1300 degrees C). The mineralogical composition was examined by comparative XRD and FT-IR studies. The results suggested that the formation of both vitrified mass and new crystalline phases, such as Al-Si-spinels and hematite (alpha/a-Fe2O3), starts at similar to 1000 degrees C. The presence of vitrified mass becomes stronger with increasing firing temperature (similar to 1100 degrees C), enclosing as the neo-formed phases as the residues of quartz and feldspars. At similar to 1200 degrees C mullite [3Al(2)O(3*)2SiO(2)] began to form which contributes to the resistance of the ceramic product. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

On the Origin of Bastnaesite-(La,Nd,Y) in the Nissi (Patitira) Bauxite Laterite Deposit, Lokris, Greece

A detailed geochemical study and a thorough mineralogical description of the rare-earth elements (REE)-minerals and associated minerals were carried out in two vertical profiles of approximately 4 m length, from the Nissi (Patitira) bauxite laterite deposit, Lokris, Greece, characterized by the presence of goethite in small sizes resembling bacterial cell coated by goethite and a significant REE enrichment. The enrichment of the REE concentrated in bastnaesite-group minerals, the intergrowths between REE-minerals and Al–Ni–silicates with significant sulfur contents and their association with goethite microtextures interpreted as bacteriomorphic, indicate REE remobilization along with iron bio-leaching and re-precipitation on karstified limestone. In addition to the previous-reported hydroxylbastnaesites, a (La,Nd,Y)(CO3)F member of the bastnaesite-group associated with Al–Ni–silicates were identified, the stability of which may reflect the dependence on the source rocks and the local variations of pH-Eh. Interaction between downward percolating water and carbonate rocks seems to be a very effective mechanism for REE fluorocarbonates deposition under alkaline and reducing conditions

Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Metamorphic Petrology and Tectonics

Raman spectroscopy is widely applied in metamorphic petrology and offers many opportunities for geological and tectonic research. Minimal sample preparation preserves sample integrity and microtextural information, while use with confocal microscopes allows spatial resolution down to the micrometer level. Raman spectroscopy clearly distinguishes mineral polymorphs, providing crucial constraints on metamorphic conditions, particularly ultrahigh-pressure conditions. Raman spectroscopy can also be used to monitor the structure of carbonaceous material in metamorphic rocks. Changes in structure are temperature-sensitive, so Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material is widely used for thermometry. Raman spectroscopy can also detect and quantify strain in micro-inclusions, offering new barometers that can be applied to understand metamorphic and tectonic processes without any assumptions about chemical equilibrium