Patients with squamous cell versus adeno(squamous) carcinoma of the cervix, what factors determine the prognosis?

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix FIGO stages IB to IV (n = 306) were compared to patients with adeno(squamous) carcinoma (n = 70). There was no difference between the mean ages of the groups. In the patients who underwent radical surgical treatment, whether or not in combination with radiotherapy (n = 209), stepwise regression analysis showed that a positive lymph node status was the most unfavorable prognostic factor, followed by the histologic type (adeno(squamous) carcinoma) and the tumor diameter (> 3 cm). Vascular-space invasion had no additional prognostic value. Patient's age did not affect the prognosis. Distant metastases were not found to be more prevalent in the patients with adeno(squamous) carcinoma. In patients with adeno(squamous) carcinoma and positive lymph nodes, it is worth considering more intensive locoregional treatment than is usually prescribed for these patients and/or adjunctive chemotherapy, because there is a high risk of tumor recurrence

The influence of sand particle properties on abrasive wear

For machines operating in a sandy environment such as a desert, the mechanism of abrasion is a main factor leading to excessive wear. Sand particles may enter a machine and become entrapped between moving surfaces. This leads to abrasive wear and, ultimately, failure of the system. In order to prevent failure, knowledge of the abrasive wear process is required, quantified by the wear rate. With this knowledge, maintenance can be planned and performed, thereby reducing downtime and failure of machinery. Sand was selected from several locations around the world, with variations in e.g. particle size, shape and hardness. The wear behaviour was investigated by performing dry sand-rubber wheel tests with the varieties of sand on St-52 samples. The sand particles were sieved to determine their size range. Using a confocal microscope the particle shape was characterized and mechanical properties such as hardness were determined by performing nano-indentations. To establish the sands composition and verify its hardness, EDS analyses were carried out. The experimental results show a significant difference in the wear behaviour of the sand varieties tested. The results provide input for a future quantitative model based on [1], describing the wear of systems operating in abrasive environments