Viability of Low Molecular Weight Lignin in Developing Thiol-Ene Polymer Electrolytes with Balanced Thermomechanical and Conductive Properties.

Polymer electrolytes with high aromatic content are prepared through thiol-ene polymerization with functionalized, low molecular weight fractions of softwood pine Kraft lignin, and wheat straw/Sarkanda grass soda lignin. Differing solubility, functionality, and aromatic content of the lignin fractions vary the glass transition temperatures of the resulting polymers and the suitability for electrolyte applications. The softwood pine Kraft lignin is used as a precursor for a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with room temperature conductivity of 72 × 10-7 S cm-1 , while the wheat straw/Sarkanda grass soda lignin is utilized in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with room temperature conductivity values in the range of 5 × 10-5 - 7 × 10-5 S cm-1 . The lignin-based GPE displays similar conductivity but improved thermal stability to a comparable, recently reported GPE containing an allylated, monophenolic, lignin-derived, vanillin-derived monomer. The lignin-based SPEs exhibit excellent cationic transport with ion transference values up to 0.90. The promising conductivity and ion transference results reveal the potential for use of functionalized, low molecular weight wheat straw/Sarkanda grass soda lignin in SPE applications as a way to improve thermal stability, electrochemical performance, and incorporate an abundant, sustainable resource in a high performance application.

Indocyanine green for sentinel lymph node detection in early breast cancer: Prospective evaluation of detection rate and toxicity-The FLUOBREAST trial.

INTRODUCTION: Detection of sentinel lymph node in early breast cancer is commonly based on the combination of patent blue dye and a radioisotope 99m Technetium. Each of these two tracers has advantages and disadvantages leading to the development of the use of indocyanine green. METHODS: We conducted a prospective clinical trial to compare the detection rate of indocyanine green with 99mTe. Each patient undergoing a sentinel lymph node biopsy for an early breast cancer received both indocyanine green and radioisotopes. The trial was registered: FLUOBREAST EudraCT N 2015-000698-11, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02875626. RESULTS: Among a total of 88 patients, 77 were assessable for a total of 205 nodes. Detection rates were 93% for the isotope and 96% for the indocyanine green. The combined detection rate was 99%. The overall concordance rate per patient was 91%. The median number of excised sentinel nodes was 2.3 for each tracer and 2.7 for the combined method (P = .21). All the macrometastatic nodes were detected by both indocyanine green and radioisotopes. The median time between incision of the axilla and removal of the last node was 14 minutes. There was neither allergy nor radio-sensitization linked with the use of indocyanine green. CONCLUSIONS: Indocyanine green delivers a high detection rate and sensitivity for the sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer, with short operative time and a normal number of excised sentinel lymph nodes. Allergy is extremely rare and there is no toxicity. Indocyanine green could be an alternative to radioisotopes to provide an accurate staging of the axilla. Its routine use should be approved.

Exclusive concurrent radiochemotherapy for advanced head and neck cancers with 'fractionated' 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin.

Concurrent radiochemotherapy (CRC) is a standard treatment in patients with inoperable locoregionally advanced ear-nose-throat (ENT) cancer. We report the safety and efficacy of CRC with daily fractionated 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin ('F' 5FU-CDDP) in a monocentric retrospective cohort. From January 2006 to August 2012, all patients with unresectable (or inoperable) nonmetastatic locoregionally advanced ENT cancer treated curatively by means of radiotherapy (normal fractionated 70 Gy to the macroscopic tumor and prophylactic 50 Gy) with three courses (week 1-week 4-week 7) of 'F' 5FU-CDDP regimen (800 mg/m/day of 5-fluorouracil and 20 mg/m/day of CDDP from day 1 to day 4) were included. Seventy patients underwent CRC (86% men, median age 58 years old, 100% squamous cell carcinoma, 97% stage III/IV). Fifty-six patients received the three complete courses of chemotherapy with cumulative doses of CDDP of 217 mg/m/patient (dose intensity ratio of 90.5%). After a median follow-up period of 30.7 months, median overall and disease-free survivals were 34.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) (21.6-56.8)] and 50.2 months [95% CI (17.4-NA)] with 71% [95% CI (57.5-81)] and 67% [95% CI (51.8-78.5)] for locoregional control at 2 and 5 years, respectively. In all, 58.5% of grade 3 or higher mucositis and 24% of radioepithelitis were observed, but only 11.5, 3, and 1.5% of grade 3 or higher neutropenia, nephrotoxicity, and neurotoxicity were observed, respectively. No deaths from toxicity occurred. CRC with three courses of 'F' 5FU-CDDP appears effective and could be an alternative to standard CRC treatment. Randomized studies are required to be able to use this treatment regimen routinely.

Rationale and design of the multicenter randomized trial investigating the effects of levosimendan pretreatment in patients with low ejection fraction (≤40 %) undergoing CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (LICORN study).

BACKGROUND: Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 40 % are at high risk of developing postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Despite actual treatments (inotropic agents and/or mechanical assist devices), the mortality rate of such patients remains very high (13 to 24 %). The LICORN trial aims at assessing the efficacy of a preoperative infusion of levosimendan in reducing postoperative LCOS in patients with poor LVEF undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS/DESIGN: LICORN study is a multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in parallel groups. 340 patients with LVEF ≤40 %, undergoing CABG will be recruited from 13 French hospitals. The study drug will be started after anaesthesia induction and infused over 24 h (0.1 µg/kg/min). The primary outcome (postoperative LCOS) is evaluated using a composite criterion composed of: 1) need for inotropic agents beyond 24 h following discontinuation of the study drug; 2) need for post-operative mechanical assist devices or failure to wean from these techniques when inserted pre-operatively; 3) need for renal replacement therapy. Secondary outcomes include: 1) mortality at Day 28 and Day 180; 2) each item of the composite criterion of the primary outcome; 3) the number of "ventilator-free" days and "out of intensive care unit" days at Day 28. DISCUSSION: The usefulness of levosimendan in the perioperative period has not yet been documented with a high level of evidence. The LICORN study is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the clinical value of preoperative levosimendan in high risk cardiac surgical patients undergoing CABG. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02184819 (ClinicalTrials.gov).