Thermogravimetric characteristics and kinetics of scrap tyre and Juglans regia shell co-pyrolysis.

The degradation kinetics of Juglans regia shell, scrap tyre and their blends were investigated using a thermogravimetric analysis method. Experiments were performed under dynamic conditions and a nitrogen atmosphere in the range 293 to 973 K at different heating rates. During pyrolysis of J. regia shell three mass loss zones were specified as removal of water, decomposition of hemicelluloses and cellulose, and decomposition of lignin. The degradation curves of scrap tyre showed merely one stage which was due to decomposition of styrene butadiene rubber. The kinetic parameters were calculated using both Arrhenius and Coats-Redfern methods. By adopting the Arrhenius method, the average value of activation energies of J. regia shell, scrap tyre and their 1 : 1 blends were found to be 69.22, 71.48 and 47.03 kJ mol(-1), respectively. Additionally, by using the Coats-Redfern method, the average value of activation energies of J. regia shell, scrap tyre and their 1 : 1 blend were determined as 99.85, 78.72 and 63.81 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The addition of J. regia shell to scrap tyre caused a reduction in the activation energies. The difference of weight loss was measured to examine interactions between raw materials. The maximum difference between experimental and theoretical mass loss was 5% at about 648 K with a heating rate of 20 K min(-1). These results indicated a significant synergistic effect was available during co-pyrolysis of J. regia shell and scrap tyre in the high temperature region.

Effects of cisplatin and panobinostat on human mesothelial (Met-5A) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MSTO-211H) cells.

New therapeutic approaches are still needed for effective malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment. The use of classical chemotherapy agents in combination with newly developed molecules may shed light on new therapeutic approaches. We aimed to determine the efficacy of panobinostat, alone and in combination with cisplatin, on cell survival and mRNA expression of FOXO3A, CCND1, and CASP9 genes in both mesothelioma and healthy mesothelial cell lines. Cells were treated with 1-100 µM cisplatin and 25-1000 nM panobinostat. Methylthiazol tetrazolium assays were performed to determine cell viability. mRNA expression levels of genes were analyzed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cisplatin and panobinostat exposure of the cells for 24 h resulted in decreased cell survival. The combined treatment was found to be more effective. No significant changes were observed with respect to CCND1 expression after exposure to agents alone or in combination. However, agents in combination resulted in upregulation of FOXO3A and CASP9 in MSTO-211H cells. Gene expression levels were not affected by any agents in healthy cells. Use of cisplatin in combination with new chemotherapeutic agents may reduce the toxic effects of cisplatin in normal cells and result in more effective removal of tumor cells.

Long term experience in high grade glial tumors with temozolomide.

PURPOSE: Temozolomide is used concurrently with radiotherapy (RT) and as consolidation therapy in high grade gliomas (HGGs). In the present study we present our experience of long-term efficacy and toxicity of temozolomide in HGGs. METHODS: After surgery, temozolomide was administered at 75 mg/m(2) daily concurrently with RT, followed by 6 courses of consolidation therapy (150-200 mg/m(2) for 5 days every 28 days). RESULTS: A total of 172 patients with either glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (n= 142; 82.6%) or anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) (n= 30; 17.4%) were studied. The objective response rate (ORR) was 42.5%, including 12 (7%) complete responses (CRs) and 61 (35.5%) partial responses (PRs). In the GBM group, median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9 and 16 months, respectively. In the AA group, median PFS and OS were 16 and 24 months, respectively. Three-year OS was 18.2% for GBM, and 39.4% for AA. In elderly patients (14.5%), median PFS and OS were 8 and 11 months respectively for both HGGs. Serious toxicities were mainly hematologic. CONCLUSION: Temozolomide is an effective agent in HGGs with favorable outcome and low toxicity profile even in advanced age.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha and carbonic anhydrase IX overexpression are associated with poor survival in breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Hypoxia is common in many solid tumors such as breast, head-neck, and soft tissue malignancies. Hypoxia causes overexpression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) which are associated with unfavorable prognosis in breast cancer. In our study, we evaluated HIF-1α and CA IX expression in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Between June 1996 and June 2008, 111 women with breast cancer were evaluated. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status and Her2/ neu expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. Her-2/neu expression was also assessed by FISH method when needed. Two groups were created: ER and PR positive, Her-2/neu negative (group 1, n=56); and ER and PR negative, Her-2/neu positive (group 2, n=55). HIF-1α and CA IX expressions were investigated in both groups and results were compared. In addition, we investigated the association between HIF-1α and CA IX expressions with stage, grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, menopause status and survival. RESULTS: Median patient age in group 1 was 52 years (range 34-77), and in group 2 47 years (range 27-83). HIF-1α expression was detected in 26 (46.4%) of group 1 and in 46 (83.6%) of group 2 patients (p=0.0001). CA IX expression was detected in 25 (46.4%) of group 1 and in 37 (67.3%) of group 2 patients (p7equals;0.0137rpar;. In group 1, median disease free survival (DFS) was 97 months and in group 2 46 months (p=0.0308). In group 1, median overall survival (OS) was 108 months and in group 2 75 months (p=0.0339). CONCLUSION: HIF-1α and CA IX overexpressions are observed more often in ER and PR negative, Her-2/neu positive breast cancer and are associated with poor survival.

Efficacy and toxicity of preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel and epirubicin in locally advanced invasive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel plus epirubicin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support in locally advanced breast cancer patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 39 patients with locally advanced breast cancer. All of them received neoadjuvant epirubicin 75 mg/m(2) plus docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks with G-CSF support. Responding patients were subjected to breast-conserving or modified radical mastectomy. RESULTS: Four (10.3%) patients achieved clinical complete response (cCR) and 25 (64.1%) clinical partial response (cPR). Pathologic complete response (pCR) was observed in 4 patients with cCR. Ten (25.6%) patients achieved stable disease (SD), while no patient had progressive disease (PD). Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 6 (15.3%) and 4 cases (10.3%), respectively. Febrile neutropenia was observed in 2 (5.1%) cases and anemia in 7 (17.9%) cases. Grade 1/2 mucositis was observed in 12 (30.7%) patients and grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy in 7 (17.9%) patients. Dose reduction was necessary in 4 patients with grade 4 neutropenia. The median disease-free survival was 60 months (95% CI: 41-79 months). Median overall survival was not reached. Five-year overall survival was 64.2%. CONCLUSION: The combination of docetaxel plus epirubicin was active and tolerable in neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced breast cancer.

Primary pure small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder that responded to carboplatin plus etoposide: a case report and review of the literature.

Primary pure small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCCB) is an extremely rare tumor and accounts for less than 1% of all malignant tumors of the urinary bladder. This tumor exhibits more aggressive behavior than bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Unfortunately, optimal treatment strategy for this malignancy is still unknown. We present a patient with metastatic primary pure SCCB (stage IV) who responded to carboplatin plus etoposide combination chemotherapy and discuss the relevant current literature.

Xelox (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy of unresectable liver metastases in colorectal cancer patients.

Complete resection of liver metastasis may provide long term survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Increased number of studies on successful resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with initially unresectable liver metastasis has been reported. We evaluated retrospectively the results of 35 patients with unresectable liver only metastases from colorectal cancer treated with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin combination (XELOX). Treatment consisted of IV oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 day 1 and oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 day twice daily on days 1 to 14 followed by 7 days of rest repeated every 3 weeks. After chemotherapy, 13 (37, 2 %) patients showed partial clinical response. Among them, 7 patients were considered suitable for surgery but 2 patients refused the surgery. While one of 5 patients had unresectable disease at surgery, the remaining 4 patients (11, 4 %) had a complete resection. There was one postoperative mortality due to sepsis within 2 months after surgery. Our data suggests that XELOX regimen seems to be useful in unresectable liver only metastases from colorectal cancer because of its activity, feasibility and tolerability. Further studies of XELOX in combination with bevacizumab and/ or cetuximab are warranted in this setting.

Intrasellar plasmacytoma: an unusual presentation of multiple myeloma.

INTRODUCTION: Plasmacytomas are unusual causes of a sellar mass. Occasionally, they can be misdiagnosed as a nonfunctioning adenoma because of radiological and clinical similarities. LITERATURE REVIEW: We reviewed the pertinent literature and discuss here in the light of an illustrative case of our own. DISCUSSION: A 70-year-old woman presented with a recurrent hypophysial mass. Initial diagnosis of a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma was later overruled by a repeat biopsy, which showed a plasmacytoma. The tumor stained positively for CD138 and kappa light chain. Further studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. The patient was successfully treated with radiotherapy followed by systemic chemotherapy. Because they have different therapeutic implications, extramedullary plasmacytomas involving pituitary gland should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a nonfunctioning pituitary mass.

A Significant Association in Paediatric Emergency Department, Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis and Ulcerative Colitis: Review of Literature

ABSTRACT Objective: To discuss cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT), an important mortality and morbidity factor, developing in the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) in childhood age, in the light of the literature. Methods: A search of PubMed and Google Scholar database was conducted on April 2014. This study retrospectively investigates the cases diagnosed with UC with complication of CSVT below 18 years of age between years 1971 and 2014. The cases were analysed with respect to age, gender, disease duration and treatment, potential risk factors, clinical findings, location of thrombosis, thrombolytic therapeutical applications, and clinical progressions. Results: Twenty-four paediatric patients aged 5 and 18 years were included in the study. Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis had developed during active disease period in 23 (95.8%) patients. The most common complaints were headache (79.1%) and emesis (29.1%). The most frequently detected risk factors for CSVT were anaemia (58.3%) and thrombocytosis (45.8%). Inherited thrombotic disorders were encountered in 10 (41.6%) of the cases. The most common location sites for CSVT were the transverse (33.3%) and the sigmoid (33.3%) sinuses. It had been discovered that 19 (79.2%) of the cases were healed completely without a sequelae, whereas neurological sequelae remained in three (12.5%) of the cases and two (8.3%) of the cases died. Conclusion: In the presence of a prior diagnosis of UC and emergency presentation with emesis, headache, mood changes and particularly seizure, the presence of CSVT should certainly be considered.

Effects of folk medicinal plant extract Ankaferd Blood Stopper(®) in vital primary molar pulpotomy.

AIM: To compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of two vital pulpotomy agents: formocresol (FC) and Ankaferd Blood Stopper(®) (ABS), in primary molars during a 12-month follow-up period. STUDY DESIGN: A randomised, single-blind study design was used in a sample of 30 healthy 6-9 year old children with 60 carious primary molars without clinical or radiographic evidence of pulp degeneration. METHODS: The pulpotomy agents were assigned as follows: Group 1 was 1:5 diluted Buckley's formocresol (FC) and Group 2 was ABS. Clinical and radiographic follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months used the following criteria: pain, swelling, sinus tract, mobility, internal root resorption, and furcation and/or periapical bone destruction. STATISTICS: The data were analysed using Chi-square tests. RESULTS: The clinical and radiographic evaluation at 3 months revealed total success rates of 100% in the FC and ABS groups. Success rates in FC and ABS groups at 6 months were 96.7% and 93.3% respectively. At the 12-month follow-ups, the total success rates in the FC, and ABS groups were 89.3% and 85.7%, respectively. When the groups were compared according to the time intervals, no significant differences were observed between the 3, 6, and 12 month values. The success rates of the materials decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: FC and ABS were found successful as pulp dressings in primary molars. ABS appears to be an alternative pulpotomy agent but periodical follow-ups must be considered to evaluate long term success rates.