Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy versus Surgery for Lung Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: Single-Institution Results.

BACKGROUND: Surgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are two of the options available as local treatments for pulmonary oligometastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). We hypothesized that SBRT would have, at least, a similar local control rate to surgery. METHODS: We identified an initial cohort of 100 patients with CRC who received SBRT or surgery for lung metastases. This was then narrowed down to 75 patients: those who underwent surgery (n = 50) or SBRT (n = 25) as their first local thoracic treatment between 1 January 2004 and 29 December 2017. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate lung-progression-free survival (L-PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The 1 and 2-year L-PFS was 85% and 70% in the surgical group and 87% and 71% in the SBRT group, respectively (p = 0.809). No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of OS. The biologically effective dose (BED), age and initial CRC stage did not have a significant effect on local control or survival. No grade 3 or above acute- or late-toxicity events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: These results add retrospective evidence that SBRT and surgery have similar results in terms of OS and local control in patients with lung oligometastases from CRC.

Mild to moderate overweight in dogs: is there an impact on routine hematological and biochemical profiles, echocardiographic parameters and cardiac autonomic modulation?

Obesity is considered the most common nutritional disease of dogs. Even though overt obesity is more likely to impair health, even moderately overweight dogs are at greater risk for requiring medication for chronic health problems earlier in life. Although the number of overweight dogs far exceeds the number of obese ones, most of the studies published so far focused on derangements in a mixed overweight/obese population (Body condition score - BCS ≥7/9) rather than in separated groups. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mild to moderate obesity on routine hematological and biochemical profile and cardiovascular parameters in dogs. Nine healthy lean (BCS =4-5/9) and 24 overweight dogs (BCS = 6-7/9) were enrolled. Complete blood count, serum biochemistry analyses, echocardiographic parameters, and cardiac autonomic function by heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. In our study population, although total protein, globulin and phosphorus concentrations were increased in overweight compared to lean dogs, all complete blood count and biochemical parameters were within reference ranges for both groups. Parameters usually increased in obese dogs, like triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations, were within reference ranges in our overweight population. There were no significant changes in echocardiographic parameters, but HRV had a significant decrease in high frequency (HF) power (P = 0.02), suggesting a depression in parasympathetic activity. Our findings show that mild to moderate overweight dogs do not show the hematological and echocardiographic alterations already reported for mixed overweight/obese populations but might have impaired cardiac autonomic modulation. Although not enough to make conclusions, our data raise the question of whether research studies should place overweight and obese dogs in the same category.

Tratamiento de las excretas de cerdo mediante un reactor anaeróbico SCFBR a nivel de banco / Treatment of pig excreta using an SCFBR anaerobic reactor

Un nuevo reactor anaeróbico denominado Sludge Central Fixed Bed Reactor (SCFBR) fue construido y evaluado para tratar los residuos líquidos de las granjas porcícolas. El SCFBR está constituido por tres zonas principales. Una zona inferior de lodos, seguida por un módulo empacado ubicado en forma concéntrica y, en la parte superior, una zona de separación sólido, líquido y gas. El reactor de 28,5 1 de volumen de reacción fue evaluado durante 210 días para tres cargas orgánicas de 0,548, 0,421 y 1,239 g DQO/ 1 día. El SCFBR fue alimentado inicialmente en forma discontinua con tiempos de retención hidráulicos (TRH) de 10 y 10,7 días. Posteriormente el TRH fue dis-minuido a 3,87 días con una alimentación en continuo. Para las tres cargas orgánicas de 0,548, 0,421 y 1,239 g DQO/1 día se obtuvieron remociones en la demanda quí-mica de oxígeno (DQO) de 68por cien, 81por cien y 73por cien y en los sólidos volátiles (SV), de 53,5por cien, 55,8por cien y 50,1por cien, respec-tivamente. El SCFBR presentó un buen desempeño, re-presentado en las eficiencias de remoción y en la estabili-dad observada. Se presenta una microfotografía tomada de una muestra de lodo de la zona inferior del SCFBR, observándose una gran presencia de microorganismos del género Methanosaeta (Methanothrix).