Gemcitabine and docetaxel in relapsed and unresectable high-grade osteosarcoma and spindle cell sarcoma of bone

BACKGROUND: Few new compounds are available for relapsed osteosarcoma. We retrospectively evaluated the activity of gemcitabine (G) plus docetaxel (D) in patients with relapsed high-grade osteosarcoma and high-grade spindle cell sarcoma of bone (HGS). METHODS: Patients receiving G 900 mg/m(2) d 1, 8; D 75 mg/m(2) d 8, every 21 days were eligible. Primary end-point: progression-free survival (PFS) at 4 months; secondary end-point: overall survival (OS) and response rate. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were included, with a median age of 17 years (8–71), 26 (51 %) were pediatric patients. GD line of treatment: 2nd in 14 patients, ≥3rd in 37. 25 (49 %) patients had metastases limited to lungs, 26 (51 %) multiple sites. Histology: 40 (78 %) osteosarcoma, 11 (22 %) HGS. Eight (16 %) patients achieved surgical complete response (sCR2) after GD. Four-month PFS rate was 46 %, and significantly better for patients with ECOG 0 (ECOG 0: 54 % vs ECOG 1: 43 % vs ECOG 2: 0 %; p = 0.003), for patients undergoing metastasectomy after GD (sCR2 75 % vs no-sCR2 40 %, p = 0.02) and for osteosarcoma (osteosarcoma 56 % vs HGS 18 %; p = 0.05), with no differences according to age, line of treatment, and pattern of metastases. Forty-six cases had RECIST measurable disease: 6 (13 %) patients had a partial response (PR), 20 (43 %) had stable disease (SD) and 20 (43 %) had progressive disease (PD). The 1-year OS was 30 %: 67 % for PR, 54 % for SD and 20 % for PD (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: GD is an active treatment for relapsed high-grade osteosarcoma, especially for ECOG 0 patients, and should be included in the therapeutic armamentarium of metastatic osteosarcoma

Productivity in China's high technology industry:regional heterogeneity and R&D

This paper analyzes the impact of Research and Development (R&D) on the productivity of China's high technology industry. In order to capture important differences in the effect of R&D on output that arise from geographic and socioeconomic differences across three major regions in China, we use a novel semiparametric approach that allows us to model heterogeneities across provinces and time. Using a unique provincial level panel dataset spanning the period 2000–2007, we find that the impact of R&D on output varies substantially in terms of magnitude and significance across different regions. Results show that the eastern region benefits the most from R&D investments, however it benefits the least from technical progress, while the western region benefits the least from R&D investments, but enjoys the highest benefits from technical progress. The central region benefits from R&D investments more than the western region and benefits from technical progress more than the eastern region. Our results suggest that R&D investments would significantly increase output in both the eastern and central regions, however technical progress in the central region may further compound the effects of R&D on output within the region

Effect of the acceptor moiety on the electrochemical and electrochromic properties of Donor Acceptor Donor polymer films

The aim of this work is to synthesize EC polymers having green or blue colour in the neutral state and transparent oxidized state by using the D A D approach. Two different monomers, diphenylthienopyrazine M1 and diphenylquinoxaline M2 are synthesized. The monomers are successfully electropolymerized to P1 and P2, respectively, by cyclic voltammetry on ITO substrates. The effect of the acceptor moiety on the electrochemical and electrochromic properties of the polymer films is investigated. Both polymers exhibit the characteristic redox couple due to their oxidation reduction at 0.95 V 0.62 V for P1 and at 1.05 V 0.35 V for P2; their doping dedoping reaction is reversible. The two polymers have different optical properties; namely, the phenyl ring in the acceptor unit P2 caused hypsochromic shift. The acceptor moiety affects mainly the LUMO level; specifically, the LUMO level shifted to less negative values by replacing thiophene with phenyl. The electrochromic properties of the polymer films are strongly affected by the acceptor moiety. Polymer P1 changes its colour from green neutral state , to grey intermediate oxidised state , to transparent grey sky blue oxidized state and to lemon green reduced state . Correspondingly, P2 starts from royal blue neutral state , going to blue purple, grey blue and light grey intermediate oxidised states and then to green oxidized state ; additionally, it became also oil green and light blue reduced states . Both polymers are multi coloured and were good candidates for application in electrochromic device

Synthesis and characterization of electrochromic films based on 2,5-Bis (2-(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thienyl)pyridine

2,5-bis(2-(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thienyl)pyridine was synthesized by Stille coupling. This monomer having D-A-D structure was successfully electropolymerized by cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical, optical, electrochromic, nanomechanical properties of the films, as well as their stability and morphology were studied. The polymer films exhibit a multi coloured behaviour, i.e. their colour changed upon oxidation form red (in the neutral state) to purple and sky blue (doped state). In the reduced state are pale blue. Based on the nanomechanical properties, the films synthesized under low number of scans (2 or 5 scans) are well adhered on the ITO electrodes, whereas a higher number of scans (20 scans) results to a thicker, more elastic and more soft film. The poly(2,5-bis(2-(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thienyl)pyridine) films synthesized under few scans are proposed for application in mulicoloured electrochromic devices, since they are well adhered on the ITO, they reversible switch their colour from red to sky blue and they are stable during the potential switch