Small-Cell Neuroendocrine Tumor of Larynx: A Rare Presentation.

Here we report a 60 year aged male presented with complaints of right neck swelling of 3 months duration, swelling was initially small in size and gradually increasing. On examination right level II, hard mobile lymph node was palpable measuring 4 × 4 cm in size, oral cavity and oropharynx was normal. Computed tomography of face neck showed moderately enhancing soft tissue mass of 2 × 3 cm in the supra glottis and left level II cervical lymphadenopathy of size 5 × 5 cm with infiltrating into left sternomastoid muscle. Direct laryngoscopy revealed an ulcero proliferative growth in the supra glottis extending into vallaculla biopsy from the growth showed small round cells with scant amount of cytoplasm with hyperchromatic nucleus, atypical mitosis and at places rosettoid arrangement was seen. Immunohistochemistry with pancytokeratin, CD 56 and synaptophysin were positive, LCA was negative and Ki 67 was >70 %, features consisted with neuroendocrine carcinoma small cell type. Computed tomography of chest, abdomen and pelvis was normal. Finally it was labeled as localized neuro endocrine carcinoma small cell type of larynx (supraglottis). This patient treated with external beam radiotherapy 70 Gy in 35 fractions @ 2 Gy per fraction over 7 weeks along with concurrent chemotherapy with weekly cisplatin followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Etoposide for six cycles.

Solid phase bioremediation of pendimethalin in contaminated soil and evaluation of leaching potential.

Substrate leaching experiments were performed to study the relative leaching potential of pendimethalin in various types of soil matrices. Pendimethalin leaching showed up to a depth of 30 cm in all the studied soil matrices, irrespective of pH conditions used. The leaching potential of pendimethalin was assessed at various pH conditions. Comparatively higher leaching potential was observed in basic conditions compared to the neutral and acid conditions of soil. Soil phase bioremediation of pendimethalin was also performed on all the soil matrices. Among the studied variations, bioremediation experiments performed in presence of sunlight showed higher efficiency. Bioaugmentation along with sunlight showed higher remediation efficiency in all the studied soil matrices. Biostimulation did not respond positively on the progress of bioremediation.

Adsorptive removal of phthalate ester (Di-ethyl phthalate) from aqueous phase by activated carbon: a kinetic study.

Adsorptive studies were carried out on Di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) removal from aqueous phase onto activated carbon. Batch sorption studies were performed and the results revealed that activated carbon demonstrated ability to adsorb DEP. Influence of varying experimental conditions such as DEP concentration, pH of aqueous solution, and dosage of adsorbent were investigated on the adsorption process. Sorption interaction of DEP onto activated carbon obeyed the pseudo second order rate equation. Experimental data showed good fit with both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. DEP sorption was found to be dependent on the aqueous phase pH and the uptake was observed to be greater at acidic pH.

Comparison Between Concurrent EBRT and ICA with Conventional EBRT Followed by ICA in Cervical Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: In carcinoma of cervix, if overall treatment time (OTT) is prolonged beyond 6 weeks, then the total dose required to achieve a given probability of tumor control is to be increased by 0.6 Gy for each day of prolongation, to control the accelerative repopulation of the cells, i.e., 1 % loss of tumor control, and to avoid increased treatment delays and drop outs due to the prolonged gap between EBRT and intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate local disease control and early complications of concomitant HDR-ICBT with EBRT and thereby decrease the OTT in I B-III B stage carcinoma cervix. METHODS: Fifty patients of carcinoma cervix (FIGO-I B/III B) were randomly divided into two groups: the study group treated with concomitant EBRT and HDR-ICBT (EBRT = 50-50.4 Gy/25-28 Fr, HDR 7 Gy in 3 Fr during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th weeks), EBRT and weekly cisplatin were not given on the day of HDR-ICBT; and the control group treated with EBRT followed by HDR-ICBT and weekly cisplatin. Acute reactions and local disease response were compared after treatment and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Medians of OTTs were 42 and 63 days in the study and the control groups, respectively. Dysuria and diarrhoea incidences were more in the study but manageable. At the completion of the treatment, there were 92 and 80 % complete responses; 4 and 4 % partial responses; and 4 and 16 % stable diseases in the study group and the control group, respectively. DFSs (disease free survivals) at 6-month follow-up were, respectively, 96 and 84 %, and most of the stable diseases were observed in stage III B. CONCLUSIONS: Response was better in the study group but statistically insignificant, acute reactions were manageable, and there was decrease in drop outs due to completion of treatment at a stretch, but larger number of patients and longer follow-up are required to arrive at concrete conclusions.