Effect of photon flux density and temperature on the production of halogenated monoterpenes by Plocamium cartilagineum (Plocamiaceae, Rhodophyta)

The effect of different photon flux densities (PFD) and temperatures on the relative growth rate (RGR) and the concentration of three halogenated monoterpenes in samples of Plocamium cartilagineum L.( Dixon), a marine alga (Rhodophyceae), were studied. The highest RGR (22.8 +/- 0.04 d(-1)) was obtained at 15 degreebC and 41 ,mol m(-2) s)(-1) of PFD and the lowest (18.0 +/- 0.12 d(-1)) was obtained at 18 degrees C and 120 micromol m(-2) s(-1). The different temperatures and light used in assays did not affect significantly the production of organic compounds. The production of mertensene and violacene was not affected significantly. However, compound 1 reached the highest concentration at 15 degrees C and 65 micromol m(-2) s(-1)). The relationship between growth and production of monoterpenes of P. cartilagineum and the effect of temperature and the PFD were analyzed.     

Intraoperative electron radiation therapy after salvage surgery in gynecological cancers and retroperitoneal sarcomas: outcomes and adverse effects

BackgroundSalvage surgery is considered an option for isolated recurrences of retroperitoneal and pelvic tumors, in patients who have undergone previous radiotherapy. In order to increase local control intra operative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) can be used in these patients to administer additional radiation dose. We evaluated the outcomes and adverse effects in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma and gynecologic tumors after salvage surgery and IOERT.Materials and methodsTwenty patients were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-three IOERT treatments were performed after surgery. Six (30%) were sarcoma and 14 (70%) were gynecological carcinoma. Administered dose depended on previous dose received with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and proximity to critical structures. The toxicities were scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0.ResultsThe median age of the patients was 51 years (range 34–70). After a median follow-up of 32 months (range 1–68), in the sarcoma group the local control rate was 66.6%; while in the gynecological group the local control rate was 64.3%. In relation to late toxicity, one patient had a Grade 2 vesicovaginal fistula, and one patient presented Grade 4 enterocolitis and enteric intestinal fistula.ConclusionsIOERT could have a role in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas in primary tumors after EBRT, as it may suggest a benefit in local control or recurrences after surgical resection in those at high risk of microscopic residual disease. The addition of IOERT to salvage resection for isolated recurrence of gynecologic cancers suggest favorable local control in cases with concern for residual microscopic disease.     

Tropane alkaloids from Schizanthus hookeri

Tropine, a pair of diastereoisomeric hygrolines and two new tropane alkaloids; 3α-senecioyloxytropan-6β-ol and 6β-angeloyloxytropan-3α-ol, were isolated from roots of Schizanthus hookeri.     

Mantle defensive response of marine pulmonate Trimusculusperuvianus

The marine pulmonate Trimusculusperuvianus (Sowerby, 1835) which is found in caves or narrow crevices along the Chilean coast was studied to determine a possible chemical defense against the intertidal key predator Heliasterhelianthus. T.peruvianus releases a white secretion through the extended mantle animal covers, to contact with the tube feet of starfish. This behaviour significantly decreases predation of gastropod and it has not been described previously for members of the Trimusculidae family.     

Whole abdominal radiotherapy in ovarian cancer

Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and toxicity after adjuvant whole abdominal radiotherapy (WART) in patients with ovarian cancer.

Material and methods

Ten patients with optimal cytoreduced ovarian cancer, with a mean age of 58 years (40–70) and stage Ic: 4, stage II: 2, stage III: 4, were treated with WART and adjuvant chemotherapy (9/10). The total radiation dose was 22.5 Gy in the whole abdomen and 42–45 Gy in the pelvis.

Results

The mean follow-up was 8 years. The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival (DFS) was 60%, and the overall survival (OS) was 70%. Four patients had disease recurrence. The sites of recurrence were the abdomen in 2 patients and distant metastases in the other 2 patients (liver and brain metastasis). Gastrointestinal toxicity was as follows: acute 3/10 grades I and II, and late toxicity: 2/10 grades I and II, and only 1 patient developed small bowel obstruction (SBO) that required surgery.

Conclusions

Whole abdominal radiotherapy after surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy achieves high locoregional disease control with an acceptable risk of acute toxicity.     

Coliform concentration reduction and related performance evaluation of a down-flow anaerobic fixed bed reactor treating low-strength saline wastewater

Low-strength saline wastewater may be generated by tourist facilities, industries and communities located in coastal areas. Sea salts, mostly chlorides, when present in wastewaters at high concentrations, can cause inhibition on biological treatment processes. In this study, a laboratory down-flow anaerobic fixed bed reactor (DFAFBR) was used for treating saline wastewater. This wastewater was simulated by dilution of piggery manure in a synthetic saline water to obtain a final total COD concentration in the range of 1100-2900 mg/l and a salt concentration of 15 g/l. The DFAFBR was operated at hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 96, 48, 24 and 12 h. The results showed that at sea salts concentrations in the range from 5 to 15 g/l, total coliform concentration reduction efficiencies higher than 97% were achieved. A decrease in the total and faecal coliform concentration reduction efficiencies from 99.5% to 90.5% and 92.5%, respectively, was observed when the HRT decreased from 96 to 12 h. Enumeration of coliform bacteria isolated from the biofilm in different zones of the reactor showed that more than 94% of the total amount was removed in the upper zone. A HRT of 24 h was required to obtain total COD, organic-N, total-P and faecal coliform concentration reduction efficiencies higher than 72%, 51%, 39% and 98%, respectively. A concentration of 8.4 g/l for chlorides, 1.25 g/l for sulphates and 4.6 g/l for sodium did not affect the process performance.     

The effect of lymphadenectomy and radiotherapy on recurrence and survival in endometrial carcinoma. Experience in a population reference centre

Aim

To evaluate the effect of lymphadenectomy and/or radiotherapy on recurrence and survival patterns in endometrial carcinoma (EC) in a radiotherapy reference centre population.

Material and Methods

A retrospective population-based review was conducted on 261 patients with stages I–III EC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Both recurrence and survival were analysed according to patient age, FIGO stage, tumour size, myometrial invasion, tumour grade, lymphadenectomy, external beam irradiation (EBI), and brachytherapy (BT).

Results

Median age: 64.8 years. Median follow-up: 151 months. The following treatments were administered: surgery, 97.32%; lymph-node dissection, 54.4%; radiotherapy, 162 patients (62%) (EBI and BT: 64.1%, BT alone: 30.2%, EBI alone: 5.6%).Twenty-six patients (9.96%) suffered loco-regional recurrence, whilst 27 (10.34%) suffered distant failure. The 5-year overall survival (OS) for all stages was 80.1%. The 5-year disease free survival (DFS) was 92.1% for all patients. The 10-year DFS was 89.9%.The independent significant prognostic factors for a good outcome identified through the multivariate analysis were: age <75 years (p = 0.001); tumour size ≤2 cm (p = 0.003); myometrial invasion ≤50% (p = 0.011); lymphadenectomy (p = 0.02); EBI (p = 0.001); and BT (p = 0.031).Toxicity occurred in 114 of the 162 patients who received radiotherapy (70.5%). The toxicity was mainly acute, and late in only 28.3% (n = 45) of cases. The majority experienced G1-2 toxicity, and only 3% of patients experienced G3 late toxicity (5/162).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that age <75 years, tumour size ≤2 cm, myometrial invasion ≤50%, lymphadenectomy, EBI, and BT, are predictors of a good outcome in EC.     

Correlation between clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of local response after standard treatment in cervical cancer

Background

The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between gynecological examination and magnetic resonance (MRI) findings for the assessment of local response in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy/chemotherapy (RT/ChT).

Patients and methods

This study is a retrospective review of 75 consecutive cervical cancer patients from April 2004 to November 2009 treated with RT/ChT. Clinical and radiological data were subsequently analyzed. Patient''s median age was 51 with a FIGO stage from Ib to IVb. Individualized RT/ChT was administered with a median dose of 45 Gy. Sixty-three patients received a complementary brachytherapy. Seventy-one patients received chemotherapy on a weekly basis. Gynecological exam was performed 3 months and 6 months after treatment and these findings were compared to MRI results at the same time.

Statistic analysis

We used the Spearman''s Rho test to determine the correlation level between the clinical and radiological methods.

Results

A correlation of 0.68 (60%) was observed between the clinical and MRI findings at 3 months with a further increase of up to 0.86 (82.6%) at 6 months. In the few cases with a poor correlation, the subsequent assessment and the natural history of the disease showed a greater value of the clinical exam as compared with the MRI findings.

Conclusions

Physical exam remains an essential tool to evaluate the local response to RT/ChT for cervical cancer. The optimal clinical radiological correlation found at 6 months after treatment suggests that the combination of gynecological examination and MRI are probably adequate in patient monitoring.     

Diterpenoids from Baccharis tola

Erythroxylol-A, oleanolic acid, erythroxylol-A oxide, scopolatine, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone and two new diterpenes, ent-beyer-14-en-18-ol and 19-hydroxy-13-epimanoyl oxide, were isolated from B. tola.     

Global radiation oncology waybill

Background/aim

Radiation oncology covers many different fields of knowledge and skills. Indeed, this medical specialty links physics, biology, research, and formation as well as surgical and clinical procedures and even rehabilitation and aesthetics. The current socio-economic situation and professional competences affect the development and future or this specialty. The aim of this article was to analyze and highlight the underlying pillars and foundations of radiation oncology, indicating the steps implicated in the future developments or competences of each.

Methods

This study has collected data from the literature and includes highlights from discussions carried out during the XVII Congress of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR) held in Vigo in June, 2013. Most of the aspects and domains of radiation oncology were analyzed, achieving recommendations for the many skills and knowledge related to physics, biology, research, and formation as well as surgical and clinical procedures and even supportive care and management.

Results

Considering the data from the literature and the discussions of the XVII SEOR Meeting, the “waybill” for the forthcoming years has been described in this article including all the aspects related to the needs of radiation oncology.

Conclusions

Professional competences affect the development and future of this specialty. All the types of radio-modulation are competences of radiation oncologists. On the other hand, the pillars of Radiation Oncology are based on experience and research in every area of Radiation Oncology.