Protides and nitrates in A. Tricolor L. fertilized with NPK

Se evaluó la incidencia de la fertilización de nitrógeno (N), fósforo (P) y potasio (K) sobre el contenido de prótido crudo (Pr.C.) y acumulación de nitratos (NO3 -) en hojas de Amaranthus tricolor L. El ensayo, realizado en el invernáculo de la Facultad de Agronomía (UNLPam, Santa Rosa, Argentina), se efectuó en macetas utilizando un suelo con baja fertilidad. Las dosis de fertilizantes agregados -en kg/ha- fueron: 50 y 100 para N; 60 y 90, para P y 120, para K. Se practicaron todas las combinaciones posibles, originando 18 tratamientos, incluido el testigo. Para el análisis estadístico se empleó ANOVA triple y los tests de Tukey y Tukey- Kramer. Las variables analizadas fueron % Pr.C., base seca (b.s.) y contenido de NO3 -,expresado en % NO3 - (b.s.) y NO3 - mg/kg fresco. ¬ Para % Pr.C. se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas (p < 0.01) para las distintas dosis de N y diferencias significativas (p < 0.05) para la interacción PxK. ¬ Para NO3 - expresado como % (b.s.) y mg/kg fresco se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas para el factor N, significativas para P y no significativas para K. ¬ Las diferencias fueron altamente significativas para % (b.s.) en las interacciones dobles NxP y PxK y significativas, para NxK , así como diferencias significativas para todas las interacciones dobles en mg/kg fresco. ¬No se encontró significancia en la interacción triple.It was evaluated the incidence of fertilization of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on the crude protide content (% C.Pr.) and NO3 - accumulation in Amaranth tricolor L. leaves. The assay was carried out in the green house of the Facultad de Agronomía (UNLPam, Santa Rosa, Argentina) in pots using a soil with low fertility. The doses of fertilizers added -in kg/ha- were N: 50 y 100; P: 60 y 90 and K: 120. All possible combinations were tested, giving 18 treatments including the control. Triple ANOVA and Tukey and Tukey-Kramer tests were used. The analyzed variables were % C.Pr., dry basis (d.b.), NO3 - content expressed as % NO3 - (d.b.) and NO3 - mg/kg fresh weight. ¬ Highly significant differences (p < 0.01) for different doses of N and significant differences (p < 0.05 ) for N x P interaction were found. ¬ When NO3 - is expressed as % (d.b.) and mg/kg fresh weight, highly significant differences for N factor and significant differences for P and no difference for K were found. ¬ Highly significant differences for % (d.b.) in the double interactions NxP and PxK. ¬ Significant differences for NxK and for all double interactions for data expressed as mg/kg fresh were found. ¬ No significance for triple interaction was found.Fil: Sánchez, Teresa.Fil: Martín de Troiani, Rosa

Application of nitrates and chlorides in Amaranthus tricolor L. : effect on the production of green matter, dry matter, nitrates and chlorides contents.

Se evaluó la incidencia del agregado de cloruros (Cl-) adicionado como NaCl, y de nitrógeno (N) como KNO3, sobre la producción de materia verde (MV), materia seca (MS) y contenido de nitratos (NO3 -) y Cl- en la parte aérea cosechada de Amaranthus tricolor L. El ensayo se realizó en el invernáculo de la Facultad de Agronomía, UNLPam., Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina, en macetas que contenían 5 kg de suelo. Las dosis de fertilizante agregado en kg ha-1 fueron: 50 y 100 de N y 100, 200 y 300 de Cl-. Se realizaron todas las combinaciones posibles originando 12 tratamientos, incluido el testigo. Para el análisis estadístico se empleó ANOVA doble y los tests de Tukey y Tukey-Kramer. No se encontraron diferencias significativas para MS para ningún agregado. Tampoco se encontraron diferencias significativas en la producción de MV entre las dosis de N (N50 y N100) pero sí entre éstas y el testigo. No hubo diferencias entre las dosis de Cl- aplicadas para esta variable. Los NO3 - mostraron diferencias significativas frente a las distintas dosis de N, como así también entre las medias de los tratamientos con el agregado de Cl- y la no incorporación de éstos. Los valores promedio de NO3 - variaron entre 0,51 y 3,56% base seca (bs) y 445,4 y 2916,1 mg kg-1 fresco. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el % Cl- (bs) frente a las diferentes dosis de NaCl adicionado. Bajo las condiciones del ensayo, los valores promedio de NO3 - se encuentran dentro de los límites establecidos por la Comunidad Económica Europea.The incidence of the addition of chlorides (Cl-) added as NaCl, and nitrogen (N) as KNO3, on the production of green matter (GM), dry matter (DM) and nitrate (NO3 -) and Cl- contents, was evaluated in the harvested aerial parts of Amaranthus tricolor L. The assay was carried out in the green house of Facultad de Agronomía, UNLPam., Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina, in pots containing 5 kg of soil. The fertilizer rates in kg ha-1 were: 50 and 100 of N and 100, 200 and 300 of Cl-. All possible combinations were taken into account, resulting in 12 treatments including the control. Double ANOVA with Tukey and Tukey-Kramer tests were used. No significance for DM percentage was found for none of the treatments. No significance for production of GM between different rates of N (N50 and N100) was found, but significant differences between both rates of N and control were found. No significance between rates of Cl- was found. Nitrate contents showed significant differences between rates of N, and also between the averages of the treatments with the addition of Cl- and without addition of these. The average values of NO3 - varied between 0.51 and 3.56% dry basis (db) and ranged from 445.5 to 2916.1 mg kg-1 fresh weight. Significant differences in the % of Cl- (db) were found at different rates of added NaCl. Under the conditions of the assay, the average values of NO3 - found are within the limits established by the Economic European Community.Fil: Sánchez, Teresa.Fil: Martín de Troiani, Rosa.Fil: Antón de Ferramola, Laura

Fertilization effects on amaranth : semiarid Pampa region (Argentina)

El objetivo fue evaluar la producción y la calidad de biomasa de Amaranthus mantegazzianus Pass. cv. Don Juan, en condiciones de secano, con fertilización de NPK y agregado de urea al momento de los cortes para obtención de materia verde y posterior producción de grano. Se sembró en el Campo Experimental de la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Argentina, el 18/11/ 2004 en parcelas con cinco surcos distanciados 0.35 m. Se establecieron dos tratamientos: un testigo sin fertilizar y otro fertilizado con NPK (19-19-19) 50 kg ha-1 como fertilizante base y urea (100 kg ha-1) al momento del corte, en un diseño en bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Las condiciones ambientales adversas solamente permitieron la realización de un corte e imposibilitaron la obtención de grano. Se midió: producción de biomasa, porcentaje de materia seca, tamaño promedio de hojas (largo x ancho), ancho promedio del tallo, largo promedio del pecíolo, número de hojas por planta cortada. Se calculó la relación lámina de la hoja/largo de pecíolo. Se determinó el contenido de proteína cruda y minerales. La fertilización realizada aumenta la relación lámina de la hoja/pecíolo. Las variables medidas y el contenido de nutrientes no presentaron diferencias significativas entre las plantas fertilizadas y sin fertilizar.The objective of this study was to evaluate biomass production and quality of Amaranthus mantegazzianus Pass. cv. Don Juan with NKP and urea fertilization applied at biomass harvest cuttings and subsequent grain yield. The crop was seeded November 18th 2004 at the experimental fields of the University of La Pampa in plots with 5 rows at a distance of 0.35 m. Two treatments: one without fertilization and the other with application of NKP (19-19-19) at the rate of 50 kg ha-1 was used and urea (46-0-0) was applied at a rate of 100 kg ha-1 at biomass harvest. A completely randomized block design with four replicates was used. Severe drought during the experiment caused that only one biomass harvest was feasible and grain production failed. Biomass production, dry matter, average leaf size (height by width), stem width, petiole length, and number of leaves per cut plant were measure. Leaf/ petiole ratio was calculated and crude protein and mineral content of dry matter was determined. Results indicated that fertilization increased leaf/petiole ratio. Other variables related to plant structure did not show significant differences between fertilized and control treatments, and no effect on protein and mineral contents could be found.Fil: Martín de Troiani, Rosa.Fil: Sánchez, Teresa.Fil: Antón de Ferramola, Laura

Panitumumab: the evidence of its therapeutic potential in metastatic colorectal cancer care

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common malignant disease. Of newly diagnosed patients, 40% have metastatic disease at diagnosis, and approximately 25% of patients with localized disease at diagnosis will ultimately develop metastatic disease. The benefits of systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer over best supportive care have been established. Panitumumab (ABX-EGF) is the first fully human monoclonal antibody developed for use in colorectal cancer that targets the extracellular domains of epidermal growth factor receptor

Amaranth’s response to two planting distances and population density

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el comportamiento de tres genotipos de amaranto, Amaranthus sp.; con la fina­lidad­de utilizarlos en cosecha mecánica. Estos fueron­ sembrados en la Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional La Pampa en surcos separados a 0,25 y 0,50 m y densidades de 100 x 10 3 , 200 x 10 3 y 400 x 10 3 plantas ha-1. Se midió la altura de las plantas y la radiación fotosinté- ticamente activa a los 30 días después de la siembra (DDS) en la antesis y madurez­fisiológica, así como, el índice de cosecha (IC) y rendimiento de semilla. Estadísti­camente el diseño fue de bloques al azar con 4 réplicas x 3 genotipos x 3 densidades x 2 distancias. No hubo diferencias significativas (P= 0,01) en el IC y rendimiento­en grano (kg ha-1) en los tres genotipos, entre distancias en surcos y densidades­. La inter­cepción solar (IS) a los 30 DDS (51,2%) solo difirió significa­tivamente (P= 0,01) en A. cruentus var. Don Guiem, para la distancia de 0,25 m y 100.000 plantas ha -1 . Las plantas en la madurez no presentaron diferencias para los distintos tratamientos. Las densidades a campo oscilaron entre 50-90 x 10 3 , 90-150 x 10 3 y 150-270 x 10 3 plantas ha -1 , explicando la falta de significancia entre tratamientos.Field studies were conducted to evaluate the behavior of amaranths, Amaranthus sp.; with the purpose of being able to use them in the mechanical crop. Three amaranths were sowed in the Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional La Pampa in furrows separated to 0,25 and 0,50 m and densities of 100 x 103 ; 200 x 103 and 400 x 103 plants ha-1. The height of plants, photosyntetically active radiation (30 days of the sowing, anthesis and physiological maturity),), harvest index of crop and seed yield were measured. Experimental design was totally randomized blocks: 4 replications x 3 genotypes x 3 densities x 2 distances. There were no significant differences(P= 0,01) in the harvest index of crop and grain yield (expressed in kg ha-1), in the 3 genotypes between distances in furrows and densities. The solar interception at 30 days of the sowing (51,2%), only difered significantly (P= 0,01) in A. cruentus var. Don Guiem for the distance of 0,25 m and 100.000 plants ha-1. At maturity there were not significant different treatments. The densities in the field ranged between 50-90 x 103 , 90-150 x 103 and 150-270 x 103 plants ha-1 which would explain the lack ofsignificance between treatments.Fil: Repollo, Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Martín de Troiani, Rosa. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Nollemeyer, Elke. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Teresa. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Reinaudi, Nilda. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentin

Holistic Approach to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Adverse Events

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) block inhibitory molecules, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), or its ligand, programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) and enhance antitumor T-cell activity. ICIs provide clinical benefits in a percentage of patients with advanced cancers, but they are usually associated with a remarkable spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) (e.g., rash, colitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis, endocrine, cardiac and musculoskeletal dysfunctions). Particularly patients on combination therapy (e.g., anti-CTLA-4 plus anti-PD-1/PD-L1) experience some form of irAEs. Different mechanisms have been postulated to explain these adverse events. Host factors such as genotype, gut microbiome and pre-existing autoimmune disorders may affect the risk of adverse events. Fatal ICI-related irAEs are due to myocarditis, colitis or pneumonitis. irAEs usually occur within the first months after ICI initiation but can develop as early as after the first dose to years after ICI initiation. Most irAEs resolve pharmacologically, but some appear to be persistent. Glucocorticoids represent the mainstay of management of irAEs, but other immunosuppressive drugs can be used to mitigate refractory irAEs. In the absence of specific trials, several guidelines, based on data from retrospective studies and expert consensus, have been published to guide the management of ICI-related irAEs

Laparoscopic treatment of abdominal unicentric castleman's disease: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology that most commonly presents as a mediastinal nodal mass. It is exceptionally uncommon for Castleman's disease to present in the mesentery and, only 53 cases have ever been described in the literature. Standard treatment for this lymphoproliferative disorder involving a single node is a complete "en bloc" surgical resection which has proven to be a curative approach in almost all cases without recurrence after 20 years of follow up. All 53 reported cases of mesenteric Castleman's disease, except one, were treated with laparotomy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a case of mesenteric Castleman's disease localized in the mesentery which is the second reported case if its kind and was treated by a laparoscopic-assisted procedure. Our female patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged in the 5th post-operative day. No signs of recurrence were present as evidenced by physical examination and total body CT scan 24 months after the operation. We compare our case with the other reported cases in which Castleman's disease presented as an isolated mass in the abdomen. CONCLUSION: Although a rare disease, Unicentric Castleman's disease should always be considered when a solid asymptomatic abdominal mass is occasionally presented. The laparoscopic approach (LA) allows for the achievement of better results than open surgery, including a reduction in postoperative pain and length of hospital stay. In cases of masses of an uncertain nature, LA must be considered the last diagnostic tool and the first treatment one

Biomarker-Guided Anti-Egfr Rechallenge Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Anticossos monoclonals anti-EGFR; Càncer colorectal metastàticAnticuerpos monoclonales anti-EGFR; Cáncer colorrectal metastásicoAnti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies; Metastatic colorectal cancerThe prognosis of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who progressed to the first and the second lines of treatment is poor. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are needed. During the last years, emerging evidence suggests that retreatment with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in the third line of mCRC patients, that have previously obtained clinical benefit by first-line therapy with anti-EGFR MAbs plus chemotherapy, could lead to prolonged survival. The rationale beyond this “rechallenge” strategy is that, after disease progression to first line EGFR-based therapy, a treatment break from anti-EGFR drugs results in RAS mutant cancer cell decay, restoring the sensitivity of cancer cells to cetuximab and panitumumab. In fact, rechallenge treatment with anti-EGFR drugs has shown promising clinical activity, particularly in patients with plasma RAS and BRAF wild type circulating tumor DNA, as defined by liquid biopsy analysis at baseline treatment. The aim of this review is to analyze the current knowledge on rechallenge and to investigate the role of novel biomarkers that can guide the appropriate selection of patients that could benefit from this therapeutic strategy. Finally, we discuss on-going trials and future perspectives.Regione Campania (I-Cure Research Project, Grant number: Cup 21C17000030007), Gruppo Oncologico dell’Italia Meridionale (GOIM)

Multiple Acquired Mutations Captured by Liquid Biopsy in the EGFR Addicted Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Clinical Practice Points • Metastatic colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide. • Primary and acquired resistance mechanisms to anti-EGFR treatment are a challenging topic with several clinical implications. • Primary resistance is defined by the presence of activating mutations in BRAF and RAS genes before treatment initiation, while acquired resistance refers to the selection of pre-existing mutant clones or de novo acquisition of mutations under the pressure of anti EGFR treatment. • Testing mutations in RAS and BRAF genes as predictive biomarkers is mandatory. • Liquid biopsy has acquired growing importance and showed to be reliable when compared to tissue NGS. • Liquid biopsy offers a full overview of the genetic landscape of the disease, overcoming spatial and temporal heterogeneity, when compared to tissue biopsy. • Liquid biopsy can be used to capture the changes in biology of cancer cells under the selective pressure of targeted agents over time. • Using complementary techniques allows to increase the diagnostic power and the biological significance of the results

NAB-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): From clinical trials to clinical practice

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. In a randomized phase III trial, combination of Nab-paclitaxel (Nab-P) plus gemcitabine showed superior activity and efficacy in first-line treatment compared with gemcitabine alone. METHODS: Nab-P is not dispensed in Italy; however, we obtained this drug from our Ethics Committee for compassionate use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of this Nab-P and gemcitabine combination in a cohort of patients treated outside clinical trials. From January 2012 to May 2014, we included 41 patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving combination of 125 mg/m(2) Nab-P and 1 g/m(2) gemcitabine on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle, as first-line treatment. Median age of patients was 67 (range 41-77) years, and 11 patients were aged ≥70 years. RESULTS: Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group performance status was 0 or 1 in 32 patients (78 %) and 2 in nine patients (22 %). Primary tumor was located in the pancreatic head or body/tail in 24 (58.5 %) and 17 (41.5 %) patients, respectively, and nine patients had received biliary stent implantation before starting chemotherapy. Median carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level was 469 U/l (range 17.4-61546 U/l) and 29 patients (70.7 %) had referred pain at the time of diagnosis. Patients received a median six cycles (range 1-14) of treatment. Overall response rate was 36.6 %; median progression-free survival was 6.7 months [(95 % confidence interval (CI) 5.966-8.034), and median overall survival was 10 months (95 % CI 7.864-12.136). Treatment was well tolerated. No grade 4 toxicity was reported. Grade 3 toxicity included neutropenia in 10 patients (24.3 %), thrombocytopenia in five (12 %), anemia in three (7.3 %), diarrhea in four (9.7 %), nausea and vomiting in two (4.9 %), and fatigue in six (14.6 %). Finally, pain control was achieved in 24 of 29 patients (82.3 %) with a performance status improvement of 10 % according to the Karnofsky scale. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that combination of gemcitabine plus Nab-P is effective both in terms of overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival, with a good safety profile.Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. In a randomized phase III trial, combination of Nab-paclitaxel (Nab-P) plus gemcitabine showed superior activity and efficacy in first-line treatment compared with gemcitabine alone. Methods: Nab-P is not dispensed in Italy; however, we obtained this drug from our Ethics Committee for compassionate use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of this Nab-P and gemcitabine combination in a cohort of patients treated outside clinical trials. From January 2012 to May 2014, we included 41 patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving combination of 125 mg/m2 Nab-P and 1 g/m2 gemcitabine on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle, as first-line treatment. Median age of patients was 67 (range 41-77) years, and 11 patients were aged ≥70 years. Results: Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group performance status was 0 or 1 in 32 patients (78 %) and 2 in nine patients (22 %). Primary tumor was located in the pancreatic head or body/tail in 24 (58.5 %) and 17 (41.5 %) patients, respectively, and nine patients had received biliary stent implantation before starting chemotherapy. Median carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level was 469 U/l (range 17.4-61546 U/l) and 29 patients (70.7 %) had referred pain at the time of diagnosis. Patients received a median six cycles (range 1-14) of treatment. Overall response rate was 36.6 %; median progression-free survival was 6.7 months [(95 % confidence interval (CI) 5.966-8.034), and median overall survival was 10 months (95 % CI 7.864-12.136). Treatment was well tolerated. No grade 4 toxicity was reported. Grade 3 toxicity included neutropenia in 10 patients (24.3 %), thrombocytopenia in five (12 %), anemia in three (7.3 %), diarrhea in four (9.7 %), nausea and vomiting in two (4.9 %), and fatigue in six (14.6 %). Finally, pain control was achieved in 24 of 29 patients (82.3 %) with a performance status improvement of 10 % according to the Karnofsky scale. Conclusions: Our results confirm that combination of gemcitabine plus Nab-P is effective both in terms of overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival, with a good safety profile