Luminescence Studies on Dy3+ Doped Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate (CABS) Glasses for White Light Emission and Applications in w-LEDs.

Dy3+ doped calcium aluminum borosilicate (CABS) glasses have been synthesized via quick melt quench technique. CABS: xDy3+ glasses (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mol%) were subjected to various morphological and photoluminescence studies. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were conducted to study the structural and bonding nature of the undoped glass. The excitation spectra of Dy3+ doped CABS glasses under 574 nm emission show many sharp peaks amongst which the transition from 6H15/2 → 6P7/2 (351 nm) had the highest intensity. Under 351 nm excitation, glasses exhibit sharp peaks in the blue, yellow and red regions corresponding to the transitions 4F9/2 → 6H15/2, 6H13/2, 6H11/2 and 6H9/2 respectively. The dipole-dipole nature of the interaction between the Dy3+ ions is confirmed via Dexter theory and Inokuti-Hirayama (I-H) model. CIE coordinates estimated from the emission profiles of these glasses under 351 nm excitation fall in the white region. Considering that these glasses exhibit sharp visible emission under UV excitation, have stable yellow to blue (Y/B) ratios and fast decays with intense energy transfers, we propose to utilise these glasses for white light generation and other white light LED (w-LED) and solid-state lighting (SSL) applications.

Thermally stable Sm3+ -doped alkali zinc alumino borosilicate (AZABS) glass for warm white light generation and w-LED applications.

Samarium ion (Sm3+ )-doped alkali zinc alumino borosilicate (AZABS) glass was synthesized via quick melt quench technique. Various spectroscopic studies like optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) emission, PL excitation, temperature-dependent PL and PL decay kinetics were performed on the as prepared glass system. Under 402 nm excitation, three sharp bands at wavelengths 563, 599 and 645 nm corresponding to transitions 4 G5/2 → 6 H5/2 , 6 H7/2 and 6 H9/2 , respectively, can be seen in the PL emission spectra. The 0.25 mol% Sm3+ glass has the highest intensity for these emissions. The lanthanide interaction in the glass matrix is dipole-dipole in nature as was proven from Dexter's analysis. The direct bandgap of 0.25 mol% Sm3+ -doped AZABS glass was calculated to be 2.88 eV. The lifetimes of the as prepared glass range from 1.93 ms for the lowest concentration of Sm3+ to 0.75 ms for the highest. From temperature dependent PL studies, the activation energy for 0.25 mol% Sm3+ -doped AZABS glass was found to be 0.19 eV which shows high thermal stability of this glass. We propose to utilize these Sm3+ -doped AZABS glasses for white-light emitting diodes (w-LEDs) and solid-state lighting (SSL) applications.

Assessment of Sirtuin 3 and Sirtuin 4 Level in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontitis: A Clinical Study.

AIM: Periodontitis is considered as infection in periodontal supporting structure leading to tooth mobility and ulcerated periodontal pockets. The present study was conducted to assess Sirtuin 3 (SIRT 3) and SIRT 4 level in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted on 60 subjects. Subjects were divided into four groups, groups I to IV. Each group comprised of 15 subjects. In all subjects, fasting blood glucose level was assessed. Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured. The SIRT 3 and SIRT 4 were estimated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: In group I, mean age was 44.13 ± 1.35 years, in group II, it was 43.53 ± 1.45 years, in group III it was 43.93 ± 1.22 years, and in group IV, it was 44.47 ± 0.74 years. The mean BOP score was significantly higher in group IV (5.74 ± 0.30) compared with group I (1.92 ± 0.44), group II (2.25 ± 0.22), and group III (5.31 ± 0.54). A statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference was observed in mean PI score in group I (2.25 ± 0.23), group II (2.26 ± 0.13), group III (4.37 ± 0.60), and group IV (3.25 ± 0.16). Mean GI score was significantly higher in group IV (8.89 ± 0.89) as compared with group I (0.78 ± 0.23), group II (0.95 ± 0.18), and group III (8.69 ± 1.13). A statistically significant difference was seen in mean CAL in group III (5.66 ± 0.64) and group IV (6.37 ± 0.30). Mean fasting blood sugar (mg/dL) in group I was 80.40 ± 13.05, in group II, it was 160.40 ± 27.20, in group III, it was 77.00 ± 12.78, and in group IV, it was 264.20 ± 53.17. The nonsignificant mean expression of SIRT 3 was seen in group I (29.20 ± 3.14), group II (29.19 ± 2.18), group III (28.89 ± 2.77), and group IV (29.59 ± 5.82). In group I, the mean level of SIRT 4 was 28.93 ± 12.55, in group II, it was 28.82 ± 9.14, in group III, it was 28.88 ± 6.03, and in group IV, it was 29.05 ± 10.68. CONCLUSION: Association of DM and periodontitis is well known. The SIRT 3 and SIRT 4 are useful indicators of glycemic level in patients with DM. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The SIRT 3 and SIRT 4 in DM show variation in their level. Early assessment may be proved beneficial in patients who are not responding to other drugs.

Relapsed Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma and Brentuximab Vedotin-Bendamustine Combination Therapy as a Bridge to Transplantation: Real-World Evidence From a Middle-Income Setting and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Despite high cure rates with standard treatment, 30% patients with Hodgkin lymphoma develop relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease. Salvage therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is considered standard of care. Brentuximab Vedotin (Bv) in combination with Bendamustine (B) has been tested in the salvage setting with promising results. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: We conducted a single centre retrospective chart review of patients who received BBv salvage therapy to determine its activity and safety in patients with R/R classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Between May 2011- December 2019, 179 patients were diagnosed with R/R HL. RESULTS: Thirty patients received BBv [median age: 30 (15-59) years, females (n=15)]. Primary refractory disease in 19 patients (63%), and 26 patients (87%) had advanced stage at treatment. Most patients received BBv after 2 prior lines of therapy [n=16 (53%)]. The median number of cycles of BBv were 3 (1-6). The number of BBv cycles delivered as outpatient was 63%. The most common Grade III/IV hematological adverse event was neutropenia [n=21, (70%)], while grade III/IV non-hematological toxicities included infections in 4 (13%), neuropathy in 4(13%), skin rash in 2 (7%), GI toxicities in 3 (10%) and liver dysfunction in 2 (7%) patients. The ORR and CR rates were 79% and 62%, respectively. Seventeen patients (57%) underwent an autologous HCT and 8 (26%) underwent an Allogeneic HCT (all haploidentical). The median follow up time from BBv administration was 12 months. Six patients died: 2 = disease progression, and 4 = non-relapse causes (Infection and sepsis = 2, GVHD=2). In addition to this, one patient progressed soon after HCT and another patient relapsed 22 months post HCT. Three year Overall survival (OS) and Event free survival (EFS) probability post-BBv treatment was 75% and 58%, respectively. OS and EFS analysis based on response (viz., CMR) to BBv demonstrated that patients in CMR had better survival probability [93% (p=0.0022) 3yr-OS and 72% (p=0.038) 3yr-EFS probability]. CONCLUSIONS: BBv is an active and well-tolerated salvage treatment for patients with R/R HL, even in refractory and advanced settings. In middle-income settings, cost constraints and access determine patient uptake of this regimen.

Strong structural phase sensitive rare-earth photoluminescence color flips in KLaF4:RE3+ (RE3+ = Eu3+, Er3+/Yb3+) nanocrystals.

Systematic and strong rare-earth photoluminescence (PL) color flips that are highly sensitive to structural phase transformation in KLaF4:RE3+ (RE3+ = Eu3+, Er3+/Yb3+) nanocrystals are demonstrated. Room-temperature wet chemical synthesis at various reaction times involves a systematic conversion from cubic (α, space group Fm3[combining macron]m) to hexagonal (ß, space group P6[combining macron]2m) polymorph nanocrystals of 4 to 8 nm sizes. The unusual down-conversion photoluminescence (DC-PL) asymmetric ratio of the hypersensitive transition (5D0→7F2, Red) to that of nearly invariant transition (5D0→7F1, Orange) (R/O from 1.2 to 3.0) of KLaF4:Eu3+ is substantially affected by the site-selective occupancy and local symmetry around the Eu3+ ions, according to crystal packing transformation. The NIR excited up-conversion photoluminescence (UC-PL) of Er3+ ions produces a strong color flip from green (2H11/2 and 4S3/2) to red (4F9/2) dominated emissions based on their cubic or hexagonal crystal packing. The site occupancy and phonon energies strongly influence various nonlinear energy transfer mechanisms within RE3+ ion energies and the results are explained accordingly. The present study substantially reveals the local host effects and these two distinct polymorph nanoparticles can be potentially utilized for color-specific studies related to applications such as color-specific biological in vitro and in vivo imaging and other optoelectronic device applications.

Prognostic role of microRNA 182 and microRNA 18a in locally advanced triple negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The study assessed the epigenetic regulation and the role of microRNA (miR) expression in locally advanced triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) and comparison with the clinico-pathological variables and survival. METHODS: Fifty patients of locally advanced TNBC during the period 2011-2013 were included. Expression level of test microRNA (miR-182 and miR-18a) was determined using Taqman quantitative Real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) from formalin fixed paraffin embedded biopsy blocks. Clinical and demographic information and survival data was retrieved from the Hospital medical records. RESULTS: An improved clinical complete response (cCR) was observed in patients with age ≥ 45 years (80%), premenopausal status (70%), tumor size < 6 cms (80%), nodal status N0-N1 (95%) and grade II-III tumor (80%). A statistically significant correlation was observed on comparison of cCR with menopausal status (p-value 0.020), T category (p-value 0.018) and the clinical nodal status (p-value 0.003). pCR also correlated with clinical nodal status (p-value 0.008). Epigenetically, miR-18a under expression (< 8.84) was most commonly associated with tumor size < 6 cms (76.7%), clinical nodal status N0-N1 (90%), cCR (60%) and pCR (53.3%). A similar trend was observed with miR-182. Statistical significance was observed with T category (p-values 0.003 and 0.004), clinical nodal status (p-values 0.001 and 0.001), clinical response (p-values 0.002 and 0.002) and pathological response (p-values 0.007 and 0.006) with respect to miR-18a and miR-182, respectively. Also, the menopausal status significantly correlated with the miR-182 expression (p-value 0.009). miR-182 overexpression (≥ 6.32) was not observed in any of the postmenopausal patients. A univariate cox proportional hazard regression model also showed statistical interactions (p-values <0.004). CONCLUSION: miR-182 and miR-18a overexpression correlates with worse clinical and pathological tumor characteristics in locally advanced TNBC and hence could be used to predict the outcomes and prognosis in these patients.

Association of periodontitis with pre term low birth weight - A review.

Prematurity is one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The association between periodontitis and premature delivery and low weight at birth has been suggested in many literature. Pregnancy totally depends on physiological immune tolerance of a women. During pregnancy shifts in the microbial composition of the subgingival dental plaque biofilm promotes the formation of more hazardous and destructive microbial community. In women suffering with periodontitis, the infected periodontal tissues may act as source of bacteria and their products can reach to the foetus-placenta unit through circulation. This helps the bacterial agents and their products to activate inflammatory signalling pathways locally and in extra-oral sites, including the placenta-foetal unit, which may not only induce preterm labor but also restrict the intrauterine growth. Number of literature has shown about the effectiveness of providing periodontal treatment in preventing gestational complications by controlling the infection and inflammation in periodontitis patients during pregnancy. In this review we aimed to throw the light on the current data of association between pregnancy and periodontitis, pathogenic mechanisms underlying this association, evidence of this association and effect of providing periodontal treatment as a safety precaution to the mothers.

Role of Maintenance Gemcitabine in Advanced Carcinoma Gallbladder.

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of gemcitabine maintenance on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic gallbladder cancer (GBC). Materials and Methods Sixty patients with unresectable or metastatic GBC having ongoing response to treatment with initial six cycles of gemcitabine and a platinum-based doublet chemotherapy were prospectively randomized on day 21 of the 6th cycle in 1:1 fashion to receive either maintenance gemcitabine 1 g/m 2 intravenously on day 1 and day 8 of three weekly cycle or observation. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons by the log-rank test. A p -value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Of 60 patients, a total of 56 were available for final analysis. The median PFS was 4.7 months (3.1-6.3) in gemcitabine arm and 2.6 months (2.4-2.8) in observation arm, hazard ratio (HR) 0.196 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-0.39), p < 0.001. Median overall survival in gemcitabine arm was 12.4 months (9.15-15.6) as opposed to 9.9 months (8.29-11.5) in observation arm, HR 0.76 (95% CI: 0.43-1.35), p = 0.354. The grade 3 or 4 side effects in maintenance arm were transaminitis (17.9%), thrombocytopenia (17.8%), neutropenia (14.2%), and febrile neutropenia (7.1%). Conclusions Maintenance gemcitabine therapy in unresectable/metastatic GBC patients responding to first-line gemcitabine and platinum treatment contributes to increase PFS with minimal and manageable side effects.

Efficacy and tolerability of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy in recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck at a cancer center in Northern India.

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) account for approximately 30-33% of all cancer and the median survival for recurrent and metastatic(R/M) SCCHN remains less than 1 year despite modern advances in therapy. Chemotherapy, usually single agent remains the backbone of therapy in these patients. EGFR antibodies are being used in (R/M) SCCHN. Nimotuzumab is one such agent that has anti-EGFR action similar to other agents without similar skin toxicity. METHODS: Prospective, interventional, non-randomized study done at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre. A total 124 patients were enrolled and divided into Arm A (Chemotherapy + Nimotuzumab) and Arm B (Chemotherapy) in a ratio of 1:1 i.e., 62 in each arm. They were evaluated and treated as per protocol after a written informed consent. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS software. Quantitative variables were compared using Unpaired t-test/Mann-Whitney Test. Qualitative variables were compared using Chi-Square test /Fisher's exact test. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the PFS, with log rank test for comparison between the groups. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The most frequent primary location of tumor was oral cavity (n=38, 69%) and (n=33, 56.9%) in both arms. The overall response rate in Arm A was 38.2% and 19% in Arm B (p= 0.023). The disease control rate in Arm A was 74.5% and 43.1% Arm B (p= 0.0007). The median PFS in Arm A was 5.2 months whereas it was 3.2 months in Arm B (p= 0.009). CONCLUSION: In this study, the combination of Nimotuzumab plus platinum/taxane based chemotherapy was active and well tolerated in Indian patients in R/M SCCHN. Addition of Nimotuzumab to chemotherapy had a response rate of 38.2% and median PFS of 5.2 months are strong arguments for clinically testing this combination.

Medical renal disease in tumor nephrectomies: The silent killer.

In tumor nephrectomy specimens, the evaluation of the normal renal parenchyma is often overlooked. A patient with both end-stage renal diseases (ESRDs) with a renal cell carcinoma is more likely to die of the ESRD rather than cancer. At the time of nephrectomy, a pathologist has a large amount of tissue available to him to comment upon the presence of disease in the nonneoplastic kidney. Hence, this study was undertaken with the idea of characterizing disease in the nonneoplastic kidney at the time of tumor nephrectomy. A two-year retrospective study was carried out on all tumor nephrectomies and partial nephrectomies. Glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular compartments were evaluated for abnormalities. Twenty-four cases were included in the study. A total of 17 cases showed abnormalities in the nonneoplastic renal parenchyma. In the glomeruli, two cases showed IgA nephropathy, one case showed segmental sclerosis, and one case showed the presence of cellular crescents. A single case showed diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy were noted in seven cases. Fifteen cases showed intimal sclerosis and medial hypertrophy and six cases showed nodular hyalinosis. Tumor nephrectomy specimens may very often show the presence of various nonneoplastic diseases. Hypertensive and diabetic renal disease are the major contributors, although primary glomerular diseases may also be present. At the time of the evaluation of a renal tumor on nephrectomy specimen, the status of the nonneoplastic kidney may become as an important predictor of clinical outcome as the tumor itself.

Gemcitabine with carboplatin for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A study from North India Cancer Centre.

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine plus cisplatin has been established as a standard chemotherapy regimen for advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs) based on the phase III UK ABC-02 study, which included all types of biliary cancers. There is very limited data regarding the effectiveness of known chemotherapeutic regimens especially in IHCC. METHODS: Records of 63 patients diagnosis of IHCC who received Gemcitabine and Carboplatin (G-C Regimen) chemotherapy as a first line were retrospectively reviewed. The primary aim of this study was to assess the response rate of gemcitabine carboplatin-based chemotherapy as a first line therapy in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). The secondary objectives were to assess toxicity, progression free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: There were 38 men and 25 women in our study with a median age of 56.75 years (range 31-78 years). Of the 38+25= 63 patients, 21 patients (33.8%) progressed, 5 patients (8.06%) had complete response, 25 patients (40.3%) had partial response, 12 patients (19.3%) had stable disease. Overall response rate was 48.36% and tumor control rate was 67.6%. Progression free survival was 5.3 months and overall survival of 10.3 months was seen. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Most common nonhematological toxicity was fatigue. CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin has activity against advanced IHCC. Our results are comparable with other gemcitabine carboplatin studies as well as gemcitabine cisplatin-based studies.