Use of an orthovoltage X-ray treatment unit as a radiation research system in a small-animal cancer model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We explore the use of a clinical orthovoltage X-ray treatment unit as a small-animal radiation therapy system in a tumoral model of cervical cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with 5 × 10⁶HeLa cells in both lower limbs. When tumor volume approximated 200 mm³treatment was initiated. Animals received four 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal cycles (1/week) of cisplatin and/or 6.25 mg/kg of gemcitabine, concomitant with radiotherapy. Tumors were exposed to 2.5 Gy/day nominal surface doses (20 days) of 150 kV X-rays. Lead collimators with circular apertures (0.5 to 1.5 cm diameter) were manufactured and mounted on the applicator cone to restrict the X-ray beam onto tumors. X-ray penetration and conformality were evaluated by measuring dose at the surface and behind the tumor lobe by using HS GafChromic film. Relative changes in tumor volume (RTV) and a clonogenic assay were used to evaluate the therapeutic response of the tumor, and relative weight loss was used to assess toxicity of the treatments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No measurable dose was delivered outside of the collimator apertures. The analysis suggests that dose inhomogeneities in the tumor reach up to ± 11.5% around the mean tumor dose value, which was estimated as 2.2 Gy/day. Evaluation of the RTV showed a significant reduction of the tumor volume as consequence of the chemoradiotherapy treatment; results also show that toxicity was well tolerated by the animals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results and procedures described in the present work have shown the usefulness and convenience of the orthovoltage X-ray system for animal model radiotherapy protocols.</p

Spatiotemporal variation of the epifaunal assemblages associated to Sargassum muticum on the NW Atlantic coast of Morocco

Epifaunal assemblages inhabiting the non-indigenous macroalga Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt were investigated on two physically distinct intertidal rocky (S1) and sandy (S2) sites along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The objective of this study was to test whether the habitat-forming marine alga S. muticum invasive in these sites supported different epifaunal assemblages under different environmental conditions and through time. The gastropods Steromphala umbilicalis, S. pennanti, and Rissoa parva and the isopod Dynamene bidentata were the most contributive species to the dissimilarity of epifaunal assemblage structure between both sites throughout seasons. SIMPER analysis showed a dissimilarity of 58.3-78.5% in the associated species composition of S. muticum between study sites with respect to sampling season. Species diversity and total abundance were significantly higher at the rocky site compared to the sandy site. PERMANOVA analyses showed significant differences of associated epifaunal assemblage structure for the season and site interaction. Accordingly, site and season were determinant factors conditioning the role of habitat in structuring epifaunal assemblages.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A phase II randomized trial comparing radiotherapy with concurrent weekly cisplatin or weekly paclitaxel in patients with advanced cervical cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose/Objective</p> <p>This is a prospective comparison of weekly cisplatin to weekly paclitaxel as concurrent chemotherapy with standard radiotherapy for locally advanced cervical carcinoma.</p> <p>Materials/Methods</p> <p>Between May 2000 and May 2004, 31 women with FIGO stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer or with postsurgical pelvic recurrence were enrolled into this phase II study and randomized to receive on a weekly basis either 40 mg/m²Cisplatin (group I; 16 patients) or 50 mg/m²paclitaxel (group II; 15 patients) concurrently with radiotherapy. Median total dose to point A was 74 Gy (range: 66-92 Gy) for group I and 66 Gy (range: 40-98 Gy) for group II. Median follow-up time was 46 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patient and tumor characteristics were similar in both groups. The mean number of chemotherapy cycles was also comparable with 87% and 80% of patients receiving at least 4 doses in groups I and II, respectively. Seven patients (44%) of group I and 8 patients (53%) of group II developed tumor recurrence. The Median Survival time was not reached for Group I and 53 months for group II. The proportion of patients surviving at 2 and 5 years was 78% and 54% for group I and 73% and 43% for group II respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This small prospective study shows that weekly paclitaxel does not provide any clinical advantage over weekly cisplatin for concurrent chemoradiation for advanced carcinoma of the cervix.</p

Sodium restriction in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Sodium restriction is recommended for patients with heart failure (HF) despite the lack of solid clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials. Whether or not sodium restrictions provide beneficial cardiac effects is not known. Methods: The present study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of stable HF patients with ejection fraction ≤ 40%. Patients were allocated to sodium restriction (2 g of sodium/day) vs. control (3 g of sodium/day). The primary outcome was change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at 20 weeks. Secondary outcomes included quality of life and adverse safety events (HF readmission, blood pressure or electrolyte abnormalities). Results: Seventy patients were enrolled. Median baseline sodium consumption was 3268 (2225–4537) mg/day. Adherence to the intervention based on 24-hour urinary sodium was 32%. NT-proBNP and quality of life did not significantly change between groups (p &gt; 0.05 for both). Adverse safety events were not significantly different between the arms (p &gt; 0.6 for all). In the per protocol analysis, patients who achieved a sodium intake &lt; 2500 mg/day at the  intervention conclusion showed improvements in NT-proBNP levels (between-group difference: –55%, 95% confidence interval –27 to –73%; p = 0.002) and quality of life (between-group difference –11 ± 5 points; p = 0.04). Blood pressure decreased in patients with lower sodium intake (between-group difference –9 ± 5 mmHg; p = 0.05) without significant differences in symptomatic hypotension or other safety events (p &gt; 0.3 for all). Conclusions: Adherence assessed by 24-hour natriuresis and by the nutritionist was poor. The group allocated to sodium restriction did not show improvement in NT-proBNP. However, patients who achieved a sodium intake &lt; 2500 mg/day appeared to have improvements in NT-proBNP and quality of life without any adverse safety signals. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03351283

Evaluación del efecto bio-estimulante de Agro-Mos®, Trichozam y Bellis 38 WG sobre el daño de Xanthomonas campestris y Pseudomonas syringae en chile pimiento

29 p.Los agroquímicos son efectivos para controlar enfermedades, sin embargo, causan contaminación ambiental y riesgos en la salud del consumidor. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de bio-estimulantes sobre: el crecimiento radicular, control de Xanthomonas campestris y Pseudomonas syringae, y el efecto que tienen sobre el rendimiento en chile pimiento. Se realizaron aplicaciones de Agro-Mos (1 L/ha y 2 L/ha), Bellis 38 WG (0.8 kg/ha) y Trichozam (0.5 kg/ha) en plántulas y se evaluaron las raíces después de 15 días despues de aplicados los tratamientos con WinRHIZO®. En campo se realizaron seis aplicaciones de Agro-Mos (1 L/ha y 2 L/ha), Bellis 38 WG (0.8 kg/ha), Trichozam (0.5 kg/ha) cada 15 días, se realizaron mediciones semanales de porcentaje de incidencia y severidad de las enfermedades mediante la toma de fotografías de 10 hojas por unidad experimental que se analizaron por medio del software Assess 2.0®. Los datos fueron transformados para determinar el área bajo la curva de progresión de la enfermedad. Se realizaron cuatro cosechas con las cuales se determinó rendimiento comercial y no comercial. Se encontró que aplicaciones Agro-Mos (1 L/ha y 2 L/ha) no tienen efecto en el crecimiento radicular de plántulas en comparación con el testigo. Las aplicaciones de Agro- Mos (1 L/ha), Trichozam (0.5 kg/ha) y Bellis 38 WG (0.5 kg/ha) generaron la menor severidad de Xanthomonas campestris y Pseudomonas syringae en el área bajo la curva en comparación con Agro-Mos (2 L/ha) y el testigo. Los rendimientos obtenidos en todos los tratamientos fueron estadísticamente iguales

IRS-2 Deficiency impairs NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation.

Peer Reviewe

Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter, Phase III Study Comparing Oral Paclitaxel Plus Encequidar Versus Intravenous Paclitaxel in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

PurposeIntravenous paclitaxel (IVpac) is complicated by neuropathy and requires premedication to prevent hypersensitivity-type reactions. Paclitaxel is poorly absorbed orally; encequidar (E), a novel P-glycoprotein pump inhibitor, allows oral absorption.MethodsA phase III open-label study comparing oral paclitaxel plus E (oPac + E) 205 mg/m2 paclitaxel plus 15 mg E methanesulfonate monohydrate 3 consecutive days per week versus IVpac 175 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks was performed. Women with metastatic breast cancer and adequate organ function, at least 1 year from last taxane, were randomly assigned 2:1 to oPac + E versus IVpac. The primary end point was confirmed radiographic response using RECIST 1.1, assessed by blinded independent central review. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsFour hundred two patients from Latin America were enrolled (265 oPac + E, 137 IVpac); demographics and prior therapies were balanced. The confirmed response (intent-to-treat) was 36% for oPac + E versus 23% for IVpac (P = .01). The PFS was 8.4 versus 7.4 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.768; 95.5% CI, 0.584 to 1.01; P = .046), and the OS was 22.7 versus 16.5 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.794; 95.5% CI, 0.607 to 1.037; P = .08). Grade 3-4 adverse reactions were 55% with oPac + E and 53% with IVpac. oPac + E had lower incidence and severity of neuropathy (2% v 15% &gt; grade 2) and alopecia (49% v 62% all grades) than IVpac but more nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and neutropenic complications, particularly in patients with elevated liver enzymes. On-study deaths (8% oPac + E v 9% IVpac) were treatment-related in 3% and 0%, respectively.ConclusionoPac + E increased the confirmed tumor response versus IVpac, with trends in PFS and OS. Neuropathy was less frequent and severe with oPac + E; neutropenic serious infections were increased. Elevated liver enzymes at baseline predispose oPac + E patients to early neutropenia and serious infections (funded by Athenex, Inc; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02594371)