In recent years, reaction of inexpensive and abundantly available alcohols (C-OH) with unactivated nucleophilic coupling partners (C-H), leading to the construction of the C-C bond, has emerged as ...one of the vital strategies since it is an atom-economical and environmentally benign approach with water as the by-product. Various transition metal-catalyzed or metal-free approaches for the direct dehydrative coupling employing the C-OH bond (including
in situ
activation) have recently been devised. This
review article
aims to highlight advances in such waste-free C-C bond forming dehydrative strategies.
This review highlights an environmentally benign dehydrative approach involving coupling of inexpensive and abundantly available alcohols (C-OH) with unactivated nucleophiles (C-H) for the construction of the C-C bond.
We analysed trends in incidence for in situ and invasive melanoma in some European countries during the period 1995–2012, stratifying for lesion thickness.
Individual anonymised data from ...population-based European cancer registries (CRs) were collected and combined in a common database, including information on age, sex, year of diagnosis, histological type, tumour location, behaviour (invasive, in situ) and lesion thickness. Mortality data were retrieved from the publicly available World Health Organization database.
Our database covered a population of over 117 million inhabitants and included about 415,000 skin lesions, recorded by 18 European CRs (7 of them with national coverage). During the 1995–2012 period, we observed a statistically significant increase in incidence for both invasive (average annual percent change (AAPC) 4.0% men; 3.0% women) and in situ (AAPC 7.7% men; 6.2% women) cases.
The increase in invasive lesions seemed mainly driven by thin melanomas (AAPC 10% men; 8.3% women). The incidence of thick melanomas also increased, although more slowly in recent years. Correction for lesions of unknown thickness enhanced the differences between thin and thick cases and flattened the trends. Incidence trends varied considerably across registries, but only Netherlands presented a marked increase above the boundaries of a funnel plot that weighted estimates by their precision. Mortality from invasive melanoma has continued to increase in Norway, Iceland (but only for elder people), the Netherlands and Slovenia.
•This study is the most recent analysis of melanoma trends in Europe by lesion thickness.•We analysed about 415,000 cases incident between 1995 and 2012 from 13 European countries.•Results showed that the incidence of invasive melanoma continues to increase, mainly due to thin lesions.•There was a large variation in trends among countries, with the greatest increase in the Netherlands.•Mortality from invasive melanoma continued to increase in some countries.
To determine whether Gleason scores were concordant between prostate biopsies (bGS) and the definitive resection specimen (pGS) excised with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP); to identify ...clinical and pathological factors that might predict upgrading; and to evaluate how upgrading affected outcome. Between 2009 and 2016, 25 Belgian centers participated in collecting prospective data for patients that underwent RARP. We analyzed the concordance rate between the bGS and the pGS in 8021 patients with kappa statistics, and we compared concordance rates from different centers. We assessed the effect of several clinical and pathological factors on the concordance rate with logistic regression analysis. The concordance rate for the entire population was 62.9%. Upgrading from bGS to pGS occurred in 27.3% of patients. The number of biopsies was significantly associated with concordance. Older age (>60 y), a higher clinical T stage (≥cT2), a higher PSA value at the time of biopsy (>10 ng/ml), and more time between the biopsy and the radical prostatectomy were significantly associated with a higher risk of upgrading. Positive margins and PSA relapse occurred more frequently in upgraded patients. Center size did not significantly affect the concordance rate (
p
= 0.40).This prospective, nationwide analysis demonstrated a Gleason score concordance rate of 62.9%. Upgrading was most frequently observed in the non-concordant group. We identified clinical and pathological factors associated with (non)-concordance. Upgrading was associated with a worse oncological outcome. Center volume was not associated with pathological accuracy.
Background
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a multifactorial disease, with both environmental and genetic factors involved. The incidence of CM has risen rapidly during the last decades, making it a ...growing public health problem.
Objectives
The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare incidence and survival data of CM between two neighbouring countries, Belgium (BE) and the Netherlands (NL).
Methods
Data were collected by the Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) and the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) from 1 January 2004 until 31 December 2016. Mucosal melanoma, in situ CM and melanoma in children from 0 to 14 years were excluded. Age‐standardized incidence rates were calculated using the World Standard Population (WSR) per 100 000 persons. Five‐year relative survival ratios were calculated using the Ederer II methodology.
Results
Total number of CM was higher in NL (63 789) compared with BE (27 679). The WSR was 1.5 times higher in NL compared with BE (27.7 vs. 18.6/100 000/year). The WSR of stage IV tumours was higher in BE than in NL (0.3 vs. 0.2/100 000/year). Five‐year relative survival of stage IV tumours was higher in BE compared with NL (27.2% vs. 13.7%).
Conclusions
Incidence of CM was higher in NL, indicating a higher risk of CM diagnosis. Stage IV tumours were relatively more frequent in BE for both sexes, while relative survival of stage IV tumours was higher in BE. As geographical location and latitude of both neighbouring countries are almost identical, other factors like differences in behaviour, follow‐up and/or treatment may explain these differences.
Nitrogen containing compounds are of great importance because of their interesting and diverse biological activities. The construction of the C-N bond is of significant importance as it opens avenues ...for the introduction of nitrogen in organic molecules. Despite significant advancements in this field, the construction of the C-N bond is still a major challenge for organic chemists, due to the involvement of harsh reaction conditions or the use of expensive catalysts in many cases. Thus, it is a challenge to develop alternative, milder and cheaper methodologies for the construction of C-N bonds. Herein, we have selected some prime literature reports that may serve this purpose.
This tutorial review highlights the currently used methods for the construction of C-N bonds using various transition metal catalyst and metal-free reactions under mild reaction conditions.
Background
There are few reports on the oncological quality of resection and outcome after laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer in everyday surgical practice.
...Methods
Between January 2006 and October 2011, data for patients with mid or low rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent elective TME were recorded in the PROCARE database. A multivariable model and the propensity score as a co‐variable in Cox or logistic regression models were used for adjustment of differences in patient mix and non‐random assignment of surgical approach.
Results
Data for 2660 patients from 82 hospitals were recorded. Implementation of laparoscopic TME was highly variable. The oncological quality of resection was similar in the laparoscopic and the open group: incomplete mesorectal excision in 13·2 and 11·4 per cent respectively, circumferential resection margin positivity in 18·1 per cent, and a median of 11 lymph nodes examined per specimen in both groups. The hazard ratio for survival after laparoscopic versus open TME was 1·05 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·88 to 1·24) after correction for differences in patient mix, and 1·06 (0·89 to 1·25) after correction for the propensity score. The definitive colostomy rate was similar in the two groups: 31·0 per cent after open and 31·4 per cent after laparoscopic TME. Postoperative morbidity was lower and length of stay was shorter after laparoscopic TME compared with open TME. Survival was not negatively affected by converted laparoscopic resection, whereas postoperative morbidity, mortality and length of stay after converted laparoscopy were comparable with those after open TME.
Conclusion
Oncological outcome is comparable after laparoscopic and open TME in everyday surgical practice.
Oncological safety confirmed
Abstract Cancer registries must provide complete and reliable incidence information with the shortest possible delay for use in studies such as comparability, clustering, cancer in the elderly and ...adequacy of cancer surveillance. Methods of varying complexity are available to registries for monitoring completeness and timeliness. We wished to know which methods are currently in use among cancer registries, and to compare the results of our findings to those of a survey carried out in 2006. Methods In the framework of the EUROCOURSE project, and to prepare cancer registries for participation in the ERA-net scheme, we launched a survey on the methods used to assess completeness, and also on the timeliness and methods of dissemination of results by registries. We sent the questionnaire to all general registries (GCRs) and specialised registries (SCRs) active in Europe and within the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR). Results With a response rate of 66% among GCRs and 59% among SCRs, we obtained data for analysis from 116 registries with a population coverage of ∼280 million. The most common methods used were comparison of trends (79%) and mortality/incidence ratios (more than 60%). More complex methods were used less commonly: capture–recapture by 30%, flow method by 18% and death certificate notification (DCN) methods with the Ajiki formula by 9%. The median latency for completion of ascertainment of incidence was 18 months. Additional time required for dissemination was of the order of 3–6 months, depending on the method: print or electronic. One fifth (21%) did not publish results for their own registry but only as a contribution to larger national or international data repositories and publications; this introduced a further delay in the availability of data. Conclusions Cancer registries should improve the practice of measuring their completeness regularly and should move from traditional to more quantitative methods. This could also have implications in the timeliness of data publication.
Background
The EUropean REgistration of Cancer CAre (EURECCA) consortium aims to investigate differences in treatment and to improve cancer care through Europe. The purpose of this study was to ...compare neo- and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) and outcome after tumor resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma stage I and II in the EURECCA Pancreas consortium.
Methods
The eight, collaborating national, regional, and single-center partners shared their anonymized dataset. Patients diagnosed in 2012–2013 who underwent tumor resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma stage I and II were investigated with respect to treatment and survival and compared using uni- and multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses. All comparisons were performed separately per registry type: national, regional, and single-center registries.
Results
In total, 2052 patients were included. Stage II was present in the majority of patients. The use of neo-ACT was limited in most registries (range 2.8–15.5%) and was only different between Belgium and The Netherlands after adjustment for potential confounders. The use of ACT was different between the registries (range 40.5–70.0%), even after adjustment for potential confounders. Ninety-day mortality was also different between the registries (range 0.9–13.6%). In multivariable analyses for overall survival, differences were observed between the national and regional registries. Furthermore, patients in ascending age groups and patients with stage II showed a significant worse overall survival.
Conclusions
This study provides a clear insight in clinical practice in the EURECCA Pancreas consortium. The differences observed in (neo-)ACT and outcome give us the chance to further investigate the
best practices
and improve outcome of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Abstract Background PROCARE, a Belgian multidisciplinary project on rectal cancer, started in 2006 with participation on a voluntary basis. Completeness and bias of registration in PROCARE were ...assessed. Methods Data from 6353 patients with rectal cancer were extracted from the population based Belgian Cancer Registry for the period 2006–2008. Registration bias was studied by comparing patient, tumour and treatment characteristics of cases registered and non-registered in PROCARE. Relative survival (RS) of patient subgroups was analysed. Results PROCARE included 37% of all Belgian rectal cancer patients. Registration was highly variable between participating centres which recorded on average 56% of their patients. Significant differences in patient, tumour and treatment related characteristics were observed between registered and non-registered patients. The 5-year RS was 77% (95% confidence interval (CI): 74–80%) for registered patients and 56% (95% CI: 53–59%) for non-registered patients. After adjustment for patient, tumour characteristics and volume of centre, the relative excess risk of dying (RER) between registered and non-registered patients was 2.15 (95% CI: 1.85–2.50, p < 0.001). The 5-year RS of patients treated in centres that never participated in the project was 59% (95% CI: 55–63%) and, after adjustment, the RER was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.00–1.35, p < 0.050) compared to patients of the participating centres. Conclusion Registration of PROCARE patient data was incomplete, biased and variable between centres. Participation on a voluntary basis should be avoided for further projects. Quality assurance on a centre level requires compulsory and complete registration with a minimal but relevant data set for all patients treated in all centres.
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