The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background and aim. Lung cancer is one of the most common tumours and the cause of cancer-related deaths in European countries. In the past few years, a significant morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been noticed in this group of patients. Cigarette smoking is the strongest risk factor for both conditions. The palliative care of lung cancer patients is often based solely on the tumour symptoms' management, whereas some patients would benefit from the combined treatment including the treatment for COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of COPD in advanced (TNM = IIIB and IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Material and methods. The study was a retrospective analysis. One hundred four patients (28 women and 76 men, aged from 47 to 74 years, mean: 63.2 years) with advanced NSCLC were included in the study. Results. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (according to GOLD criteria) was diagnosed in 26 cases (25%), including 1 mild, 17 moderate and 8 with severe or very severe disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was significantly more frequent in squamous cell lung carcinoma in comparison to other types (p = 0.009). Conclusions. Coexistence of lung cancer and COPD is frequent. Therefore, it is important to consider the treatment for COPD in palliative care of advanced lung cancer patients.Background and aim. Lung cancer is one of the most common tumours and the cause of cancer-related deaths in European countries. In the past few years, a significant morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been noticed in this group of patients. Cigarette smoking is the strongest risk factor for both conditions. The palliative care of lung cancer patients is often based solely on the tumour symptoms' management, whereas some patients would benefit from the combined treatment including the treatment for COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of COPD in advanced (TNM = IIIB and IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Material and methods. The study was a retrospective analysis. One hundred four patients (28 women and 76 men, aged from 47 to 74 years, mean: 63.2 years) with advanced NSCLC were included in the study. Results. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (according to GOLD criteria) was diagnosed in 26 cases (25%), including 1 mild, 17 moderate and 8 with severe or very severe disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was significantly more frequent in squamous cell lung carcinoma in comparison to other types (p = 0.009). Conclusions. Coexistence of lung cancer and COPD is frequent. Therefore, it is important to consider the treatment for COPD in palliative care of advanced lung cancer patients

A Proposed Molecular Mechanism of High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Prevention and Treatment of Preeclampsia

A randomized prospective clinical study performed on a group of 74 pregnant women (43 presenting with severe preeclampsia) proved that urinary levels of 15-F2t-isoprostane were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients relative to the control (3.05 vs. 2.00 ng/mg creatinine). Surprisingly enough, plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in both study groups were below the clinical reference range with no significant difference between the groups. In vitro study performed on isolated placental mitochondria and placental cell line showed that suicidal self-oxidation of cytochrome P450scc may lead to structural disintegration of heme, potentially contributing to enhancement of oxidative stress phenomena in the course of preeclampsia. As placental cytochrome P450scc pleiotropic activity is implicated in the metabolism of free radical mediated arachidonic acid derivatives as well as multiple Vitamin D3 hydroxylations and progesterone synthesis, we propose that Vitamin D3 might act as a competitive inhibitor of placental cytochrome P450scc preventing the production of lipid peroxides or excess progesterone synthesis, both of which may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia. The proposed molecular mechanism is in accord with the preliminary clinical observations on the surprisingly high efficacy of high-dose Vitamin D3 supplementation in prevention and treatment of preeclampsia

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 1 - Executive Summary

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 4 - Detectors

This report, Volume IV of the International Linear Collider Reference Design Report, describes the detectors which will record and measure the charged and neutral particles produced in the ILC's high energy e+e- collisions. The physics of the ILC, and the environment of the machine-detector interface, pose new challenges for detector design. Several conceptual designs for the detector promise the needed performance, and ongoing detector R&D is addressing the outstanding technological issues. Two such detectors, operating in push-pull mode, perfectly instrument the ILC interaction region, and access the full potential of ILC physics.This report, Volume IV of the International Linear Collider Reference Design Report, describes the detectors which will record and measure the charged and neutral particles produced in the ILC's high energy e+e- collisions. The physics of the ILC, and the environment of the machine-detector interface, pose new challenges for detector design. Several conceptual designs for the detector promise the needed performance, and ongoing detector R&D is addressing the outstanding technological issues. Two such detectors, operating in push-pull mode, perfectly instrument the ILC interaction region, and access the full potential of ILC physics

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 3 - Accelerator

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2 s^-1. The complex includes a polarized electron source, an undulator-based positron source, two 6.7 km circumference damping rings, two-stage bunch compressors, two 11 km long main linacs and a 4.5 km long beam delivery system. This report is Volume III (Accelerator) of the four volume Reference Design Report, which describes the design and cost of the ILC.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2 s^-1. The complex includes a polarized electron source, an undulator-based positron source, two 6.7 km circumference damping rings, two-stage bunch compressors, two 11 km long main linacs and a 4.5 km long beam delivery system. This report is Volume III (Accelerator) of the four volume Reference Design Report, which describes the design and cost of the ILC

International Linear Collider Reference Design Report Volume 2: PHYSICS AT THE ILC

This article reviews the physics case for the ILC. Baseline running at 500 GeV as well as possible upgrades and options are discussed. The opportunities on Standard Model physics, Higgs physics, Supersymmetry and alternative theories beyond the Standard Model are described.This article reviews the physics case for the ILC. Baseline running at 500 GeV as well as possible upgrades and options are discussed. The opportunities on Standard Model physics, Higgs physics, Supersymmetry and alternative theories beyond the Standard Model are described