Duration of androgen deprivation therapy with maximum androgen blockade for localized prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a treatment option not only for advanced but also for localized prostate cancer. However, the appropriate duration for primary ADT for localized prostate cancer has not been defined and few studies have addressed this issue. In this study, we aimed to determine the appropriate duration of ADT for localized prostate cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty-eight consecutive patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent a prostatectomy following neoadjuvant ADT were retrospectively reviewed. Factors associated with pT0, which is regarded as serious cancer cell damage or elimination, were investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 68 males, 24 (35.3%) were classified as pT0. The median duration of neoadjuvant ADT in the pT0 and non-pT0 groups was 9 months and 7.5 months, respectively (p = 0.022). The duration of neoadjuvant ADT from when PSA reached < 0.2 ng/ml to surgery was longer in the pT0 group than that in the non-pT0 group (median 5 months against 3 months, p = 0.011). pT0 was achieved in 5 of 6 patients (83.3%) who received ADT for ≥10 months after PSA reached < 0.2 ng/ml. No other clinical characteristics predicted conversion to pT0.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Continuous ADT for ≥10 months after PSA reached < 0.2 ng/ml induced serious prostate cancer cell damage in most patients (> 80%) and may be sufficient to treat localized prostate cancer.</p

Investigation on viscosity and non-isothermal crystallization behavior of P-bearing steelmaking slags with varying TiO2 content

The viscous flow and crystallization behavior of CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-FetO-P2O5-TiO2 steelmaking slags have been investigated over a wide range of temperatures under Ar (High purity, >99.999 pct) atmosphere, and the relationship between viscosity and structure was determined. The results indicated that the viscosity of the slags slightly decreased with increasing TiO2 content. The constructed nonisothermal continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams revealed that the addition of TiO2 lowered the crystallization temperature. This can mainly be ascribed to that addition of TiO2 promotes the formation of [TiO6]-octahedra units and, consequently, the formation of MgFe2O4-Mg2TiO4 solid solution. Moreover, the decreasing viscosity has a significant effect on enhancing the diffusion of ion units, such as Ca2+ and [TiO4]-tetrahedra, from bulk melts to the crystal–melt interface. The crystallization of CaTiO3 and CaSiTiO5 was consequently accelerated, which can improve the phosphorus content in P-enriched phase (n2CaO·SiO2-3CaO·P2O5). Finally, the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was characterized and the activation energy for the primary crystal growth was derived such that the activation energy increases from −265.93 to −185.41 KJ·mol−1 with the addition of TiO2 content, suggesting that TiO2 lowered the tendency for the slags to crystallize

Using active ultrasonics to measure wheel-rail contact during a running-in period

Flange climb derailment is most likely to occur during the wheel-rail running-in phase, such as just after the railway vehicle wheels have been re-profiled or during morning rush hour. It is thought that the underlying cause is an increase in traction due to changes in the contact between wheel and rail. However, the mechanism of this increase in traction remains a subject of continuing controversy. Active ultrasonic measurements have been effectively used to measure wheel-rail contact conditions, particularly the contact stiffness. In this study, the ultrasonic method is used to characterise the wheel-rail contact during running-in whilst the surface roughness of the wheel reduces due to cyclic loading against the rail. An array of sensors was mounted behind the wheel flange so as to reflect ultrasound directly from the contact. An initial investigation was carried out to understand the measurement resolution of this ultrasonic array transducer. A static measurement was then performed by traversing the ultrasonic array transducer across the wheel when statically loaded against the rail. Following this, the same array transducer was fixed to the wheel and dynamic measurements were carried out. These measurements were cyclic to investigate the effect on changing surface topography. From this, the relationship between the slip and the contact stiffness was investigated. It was found that an increase of contact stiffness was measurement after slip motion was recognized. Both the static and dynamic measurements showed a difference in the wheel-rail contact conditions. In the case of the rolling condition, the peak position of the contact stiffness in the contact area shifted from the centre of the contact to the exit side. From the cyclic rolling tests, it was observed that the change in surface topography resulted in an increase in interfacial contact stiffness. This phenomenon indicates that there is an increase in real area of contact between the wheel flange and the rail gauge corner during running-in

Post hoc analyses of East Asian patients from the randomized placebo-controlled PREVAIL trial of enzalutamide in patients with chemotherapy-naïve, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

10.1097/MD.0000000000007223Medicine (United States)9627e7223MEDI