Growth of broken crystals tracked in 4D using X-ray computed tomography and its influence on impurity incorporation.

Crystallization is a commonly used unit operation for separation and purification. During processing, crystals may break due to mechanical stress, e.g., intentionally by milling or unintentionally through collision with stirrers. This study investigates the growth of broken crystals in three dimensions using X-ray micro-computed tomography. The results show that damaged regions of crystals grow faster than faceted regions, and crystals become faceted through growth. Initially, this happens on a microscale, producing faceted but concave regions on the crystal surface. Eventually, crystals become convex. Shape-healing through growth incorporates inclusions in the crystals. These findings have important implications for designing and optimizing crystallization processes in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, as purity is often a critical quality criterion adversely affected by inclusions. In addition, the kinetics in crystallization processes are likely to be strongly affected by the growth of non-faceted and concave crystals.

Predictive preoperative clinical score for patients with liver-only oligometastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) in the oligometastatic stage improves survival and is a potentially curative treatment. Thus, predictive scores that reliably identify those patients who especially benefit from surgery are essential. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multicenter analysis, 512 patients had undergone surgery for liver metastases from CRC. We investigated distinct cancer-specific risk factors that are routinely available in clinical practice and developed a predictive preoperative score using a training cohort (TC), which was thereafter tested in a validation cohort (VC). RESULTS: Inflammatory response to the tumor, a right-sided primary tumor, multiple liver metastases, and node-positive primary tumor were significant adverse variables for overall survival (OS). Patients were stratified in five groups according to the cumulative score given by the presence of these risk factors. Median OS for patients without risk factors was 133.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 81.2-not reached (nr)] in the TC and was not reached in the VC. OS decreased significantly for each subsequent group with increasing number of risk factors. Median OS was significantly shorter (P < 0.0001) for patients presenting all four risk factors: 14.3 months (95% CI 10.5 months-nr) in the TC and 16.6 months (95% CI 14.6 months-nr) in the VC. CONCLUSIONS: Including easily obtainable variables, this preoperative score identifies oligometastatic CRC patients with prolonged survival rates that may be cured, and harbors potential to be implemented in daily clinical practice.

[Internet use after prostate cancer : Search for information and trust in disease-related information in long-term survivors]. / Internetnutzung nach Prostatakrebs : Informationssuche und Vertrauen in erkrankungsrelevante Informationen bei Langzeitüberlebenden.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The internet provides numerous sources of information about prostate cancer (PCa). The present study investigated internet use among long-term PCa survivors, trust in online PCa-related information, and associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on the German national research project Familial Prostate Cancer long-term PCa survivors were asked about their internet use in 2017. Associations with sociodemographic (age at survey, children, intimate relationship, education) and disease-related parameters (time since diagnosis, PCa family history, progress) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: In all, 4636 long-term PCa survivors were included in the analysis (mean age 76.9 years; standard deviation 6.6 years). Mean follow-up was 14.0 years. Of long-term PCa survivors, 62.1% were using the internet. Among non-users 23.5% expressed strong concerns, among users only 2.8%. Furthermore, 47.2% of internet users sought information about PCa, 18.0% of them indicated difficulties while searching for information. More than half of the users found the online information inappropriate. Lower age, shorter time since diagnosis, progress, and a more frequent internet use were associated with search for information. Only one-third fully trusted online information. Trust in online information was associated with high age, higher educational level, and frequent search for online information. Many survivors stressed that they were primarily trusting their treating urologist. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of long-term PCa survivors are using the internet. A significant proportion expressed difficulties finding proper and reliable information. Urologists should be familiar with online resources on PCa in order to offer advice to patients and to recommend adequate information on the internet.