DCE-MRI and parametric imaging in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast carcinoma : a preliminary report

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is recommended in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) enables evaluation of the tumour neovasculature that occurs prior to any volume change, which helps identify early treatment failures and allows prompt implementation of second-line therapy. Material and methods: We conducted a prospective study in 14 patients with histopathologically proven breast cancer. DCE-MRI data were acquired using multisection, T1-weighted, 3D vibe sequences with fat suppression before, during, and after IV bolus injection (0.1 mmol/kg body weight, Gadoversetamide, Optimark). Post-processing of dynamic contrast perfusion data was done with the vendor's Tissue 4D software to generate various dynamic contrast parameters, i.e. Ktrans, Kep, Ve, initial area under the time signal curve (IAUC), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and enhancement curve. Patients underwent MRI examinations at baseline, and then after two cycles, and finally at completion of chemotherapy. Results: Based on Sataloff criteria for pathological responses, four patients out of 14 were responders, and 10 were non-responders. At the 2nd MRI examination, IAUC was significantly smaller in responders than in non-responders (p = 0.023). When the results of the first and second MRI examinations were compared, Kep decreased from baseline to the second MRI (p = 0.03) in non-responders and in responders (p = 0.04). This change was statistically significant in both groups. The ADC values increased significantly in responders from baseline to the third MRI (p = 0.012). Conclusions: In our study, IAUC and ADC were the only parameters that reliably differentiated responders from non-responders after two and three cycles of chemotherapy

農業水利施設の地震解析に向けたSpace-Time有限要素法の開発

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(農学)甲第21374号農博第2298号新制||農||1066(附属図書館)学位論文||H30||N5147(農学部図書室)京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻(主査)教授 村上 章, 教授 藤原 正幸, 教授 渦岡 良介学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Agricultural ScienceKyoto UniversityDFA

New N-alkylamides from Anacyclus pyrethrum

The roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum DC (Asteraceae) are frequently used in traditional medicine e.g. as aphrodisiac [1]. Depending on the extraction method and solvent, different yields of N-alkylamide constituents can be found, possibly resulting in alterations in biological effects and toxicity. Therefore, analytical profiling of the bio-active N-alkylamides in these plant preparations is an inevitable quality parameter, with liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) as recommended technique for comprehensive analysis of alkylamides in plant extracts [2-4].An N-alkylamide profiling from an ethanolic Anacyclus pyrethrum root extract was performed using a gradient reversed phase HPLC/ESI-MS method on an embedded polar column. MS1 and MS2 fragmentation data were used for identification purposes, while UV was used for quantification. Thirteen N-alkylamides (five N-isobutylamides, three N-methyl isobutylamides, four tyramides and one 2-phenylethylamide) were detected. Five of are novel compounds, which have never been identified in Anacyclus pyrethrum or other plants: Acknowledgements: Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen) (no. 091257) and the All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi, India. References: 1. Sharma, V., Thakur, M., Chauhan, N., Dixit, V. 2010 Planta Med 76:1214-1214. 2. Sharma, V., Boonen, J., Chauhan, N., Thakur, M. De Spiegeleer, B., Dixit, V. 2011 Phytomedicine, In press. 3. Kartal, M., Kan, Y., Gulpinar, A. R. 2007 Planta Med 73:253. 4. Boonen, J., Baert, B., Burvenich, C., Blondeel, P., De Saeger, S., De Spiegeleer, B. 2010 J Pharmaceut Biomed 53:243-249

An emerging protagonist: Sodium Glucose Co-transporters (SGLTs) as a burgeoning target for the treatment of diabetes mellitus

Contemporary therapies to rationalize the hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) generally involve insulin-dependent mechanisms and lose their effectiveness as pancreatic b-cell function decreases to a greater extent. The kidney emerges out as a novel and potential target to trim down the T2DM. The filtered glucose is reabsorbed principally through the sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2), a low affinity transport system, which is present at the luminal surface cells that cover the first segment of proximal tubules. Competitive inhibition of SGLT2 therefore represents an innovative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hyperglycaemia and/or obesity in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes by enhancing glucose and energy loss through the urine. Selective inhibitors of SGLT2 reduce glucose reabsorption, causing excess glucose to be eliminated in the urine; this decreases plasma glucose. SGLT2 inhibitors are coupled with osmotic dieresis and loss of weight which aid in reducing blood pressure. The observation that individuals with familial renal glycosuria maintain normal long-term kidney function provides some encouragement that this mode of action will not adversely affect renal function. This novel mechanism of targeting the kidney for the treatment of T2DM is reasonably valuable and is independent of insulin and clutch with the low risk of hypoglycemia

Rizobacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal: potencial para la agricultura sostenible

With growing world population, there is an exponential increase in demand for food. The use of chemical fertilizers to improve crop productivity is associated with considerable health risks, environmental hazards, and costs. In this scenario, biofertilizers or microbial fertilizers appear to be an important alternative strategy. Therefore, this manuscript was proposed document the importance of biofertilizers and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as candidates for it production. The various underlying mechanisms promoting the growth of plants, different types and comparison with chemical fertilizers are compiled in this review and the potential for developing a sustainable agriculture.Con la creciente población mundial, hay un aumento exponencial de la demanda de alimentos. El uso de fertilizantes químicos para mejorar la productividad de los cultivos está asociado con considerables riesgos para la salud, peligros ambientales y costos. En este escenario, los biofertilizantes o fertilizantes microbianos parecen ser una estrategia alternativa importante. Por lo tanto, este manuscrito fue propuesto para documentar la importancia de los biofertilizantes y las rizobacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal (PGPR) como candidatos para su producción. En esta revisión se compilan los diversos mecanismos subyacentes que promueven el crecimiento de plantas, los diferentes tipos y la comparación con los fertilizantes químicos y el potencial para desarrollar una agricultura sostenible

Advancement in Plant Tissue Culture-Based Research for Sustainable Exploitation of Well-Known Medicinal Herb Bacopa Monnieri

The current review focuses on the plant Bacopa monnieri, one of prominent medical herbs in Indian ayurvedic system. The plant is well known for its cognitive and memory enhancing capabilities. The plant contains many useful alkaloids and secondary metabolites. Studies have shown that it has various promising pharmacological properties which have the potential to treat many illnesses and disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism also in for renal disease, water retention, blood cleaning etc. This leads to the over exploitation of the plant which puts a stress on the naturally available stock of the plant, therefore, it becomes a necessity to find optimum methods for mass production of the plant and its important secondary metabolites. This review attempts to compile and to discuss the advancements in methods and techniques including type of culture vessels, plant growth regulators (PGRs), effect of stress, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) interactions; for in vitro propagation of Bacopa monnieri and the enhanced production of its important bioactive (bacoside) for its sustainable exploitation.

MULTI-MODALITY AYURVEDA REGIME IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TUBAL BLOCKAGE: A CASE REPORT

Introduction: Fertility and conception have been a concern through the ages. Inability to conceive even after one year of unprotected intercourse is said infertility. One of the common causes is tubal blockage which constitutes 30% of total infertility cases. This condition is dealt with Assisted reproductive techniques or invasive procedures like tubal reconstructive surgery which are not accessible to majority of population. So Ayurveda treatment may prove as boon to such patients. A case of tubal blockage which was treated by a multi modality Ayurveda regime has been presented in this paper.Case Presentation: A 32-year-old female patient complained of unable to conceive for the last 4 years. Patient had history of 2 ectopic pregnancies in 2013 and 2014 for which she underwent left tube salpingectomy and right tube salpingostomy respectively. Her HSG findings revealed right tubal blockage. A Multi-modality Ayurveda regime including Virechana (Purgation therapy), Anuvasana Basti (Fat rich enema), Aasthapana Basti (Decoction rich enema) and Uttar Basti (Intrauterine medication) were planned for duration of 4 months. Post treatment HSG reveals patent right fallopian tube.Conclusion: Therefore this Multi-modality Ayurveda regime including Virechana (Purgation therapy), Anuvasana Basti (Fat rich enema), Aasthapana Basti (Decoction rich enema) and Uttar Basti (Intrauterine medication)has shown good result in tubal blockage. This treatment is safer and cost effective as compare to available invasive management of tubal blockage with no complications observed so far

Assessing the moderating role of the extent of implementation of lean methods in predicting productivity improvement

Purpose: The argument of implementing the lean method to part or whole of an operation is explored by examining the moderating impact of varying levels of the extent of implementation of four different lean methods, along with their functionalities, in predicting productivity improvement. Design: As the focus of understanding the efficacy of lean principles is shifting from process to industry level, this study tried to generalize the approach by gathering data from 132 large Indian auto component manufacturers. This involves an assessing/monitoring approach rather than measurement. Findings: Results highlighted the interdependence or individuality of the extent of implementation of lean methods and their functionalities. Findings revealed a significant moderating effect in improving productivity to a greater extent of 50%. Research implications: Adopting an assessment approach to a measurement study provides a noteworthy contribution to bridging theory and practical consequences. The findings can be appropriately extrapolated to medium and small enterprises forming a critical connection in the entire automobile manufacturing ecosystem. Practical implications: The study showed that even if a lean method is applied to a certain extent of operations the chances of PI are significant. This is important for decision-makers as they confront problems of optimum resource allocation. Social implications: Productivity improvement, reduced cost and generalization of results would enable the auto-component industry to become more competitive. Originality: The examination of the moderation effect of a lean principle implementation extent, along with that of its functionalities to predict the improvement in productivity from its existing level, is a major outcome of this study

Microstructure and mechanical behavior of similar and dissimilar AA2024 and AA7039 friction stir welds

In this work, similar and dissimilar friction stir welds of AA2024 and AA7039 were formed using optimized process parameters and truncated threaded tool. Characterization of weld joints for mechanical and microstructural properties was performed by tensile test, micro hardness test, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry. The tensile strength of similar joints was higher than dissimilar joints despite lower microhardness of former. Fracture of FSW joints was found to be started by the fracture of strengthening precipitate θ or η or both in the region of tensile fracture. Dissimilar joints and similar joints of AA7039 exhibited ductile fracture mode while similar joints of AA2024 showed brittle fracture mode