In this study we present photometric and spectroscopic variation analysis and an orbital period study of a low-mass interacting system OO Aql. Simultaneous solution of the light and radial velocity ...curves provides us with the determination of a new set of stellar physical parameters for the primary and the secondary companion, M sub(1) = 1.05(2) M sub(middot in circle), M sub(2) = 0.89(2) M sub(middot in circle), R sub(1) = 1.38(2) R sub(middot in circle), R sub(2) = 1.28(2) R sub(middot in circle), log(L sub(1)/L sub(middot in circle)) = 0.258, and log (L sub(2)/L sub(middot in circle)) = 0.117, and the separation of the components was determined to be a = 3.333(16) R sub(middot in circle). Newly obtained parameters yield the distance of the system as 136(8) pc. Analyses of the mid-eclipse times indicate a period increase of (P/P) = 4 x 10 super(7) yr that can be interpreted in terms of the mass transfer (dM/dt) = 5 x 10 super(-8) M sub(middot in circle) yr super(-1) from the less massive component to the more massive component. Our new solution confirmed that OO Aql is a multiple system in the form of AB + C + D. We found initial astrophysical parameters for the component of the system and its current age to be 8.6 Gyr using a non-conservative stellar evolution model (EV-TWIN code).
Scanty and inconsistent studies are available on the relation between dietary fiber intake and pancreatic cancer. A case–control study was carried out in northern Italy to further investigate the ...role of various types of dietary fibers in the etiology of pancreatic cancer.
Cases were 326 patients with incident pancreatic cancer, excluding neuroendocrine tumors, admitted to major teaching and general hospitals during 1991–2008. Controls were 652 patients admitted for acute, nonneoplastic conditions to the same hospital network of cases. Information was elicited using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for intake quintiles of different types of fiber after allowance for total energy intake and other potential confounding factors.
Total fiber intake was inversely related to risk of pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.4 for highest versus lowest quintile of intake; 95% CI 0.2–0.7). An inverse association emerged between pancreatic cancer and both soluble (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.7) and total insoluble fiber (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.8), particularly cellulose (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.3–0.7) and lignin (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.9). Fruit fiber intake was inversely associated with pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.8), whereas grain fiber was not (OR = 1.2; 95% CI 0.7–2.0).
This study suggests that selected types of fiber and total fiber are inversely related to pancreatic cancer.
Abstract In Italy, pancreatic cancer accounts for approximately 5% of cancer-related deaths. Tobacco smoking is the major established risk factor for this cancer, whereas the role of alcohol ...consumption is open to debate. Between 1991 and 2008, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study on pancreatic cancer in northern Italy. Cases were 326 patients (median age 63 years) with incident pancreatic cancer admitted to major general hospitals. Controls were 652 patients (median age 63 years) with acute non-neoplastic conditions admitted to the same hospital network of cases. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Pancreatic cancer was associated to current smoking (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.13–2.48), and the risk rose with increasing number of cigarettes/day (OR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.14–3.66 for ⩾20 cigarettes/day). No association emerged for former smokers (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.66–1.45). Alcohol consumption was associated to increased pancreatic cancer risk, but ORs were significant only among heavy drinkers (ORs: 2.03 and 3.42 for 21–34 and ⩾35 drinks/week, respectively). Pancreatic cancer risk was 4.3-fold higher in heavy smokers (⩾20 cigarettes/day) and heavy drinkers (⩾21 drinks/week) in comparison with never smokers who drunk <7 drinks/week, which is compatible with an additive effect of these exposures. In conclusion, we found that tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking are two independent risk factors for pancreatic cancer which may be responsible for approximately one third of these cancers in our population.
Ifosfamide and anthracyclines are the only active agents in advanced soft tissue sarcomas. Doxorubicin was always used in sarcomas, whereas ifosfamide was reintroduced in the clinic after the ...discovery of mesna which prevents its typical dose-limiting toxicity: hemorrhagic cystitis. In the adjuvant setting, doxorubicin was used alone or in combination in the first-generation trials, whereas its parent compounds epirubicin and ifosfamide were employed in the second-generation adjuvant trials, which started in the early 90s. Other relevant aspects of the second-generation trials are the use of the hematopoietic growth factors and the increase of the dose intensity, the introduction of more restrictive selection criteria and the use of the two most active agents, ifosfamide and anthracyclines. Only the Italian cooperative trial has been concluded, and the results reported and updated. After a median follow-up of 89.6 months (range 56-119), the intention-to-treat analysis still reveals a difference in overall survival which, however, is not statistically significant. However, the 5-year overall survival estimate, which is a reasonable end point for the survival analysis of adjuvant treatment in soft tissue sarcomas, was 66.0 and 46.1% for the treatment and the control groups, respectively (p = 0.04).
Abstract Background The goal of this study was to determine the rational of radical surgery with intra-operative high-dose radiotherapy after chemoradiation (RT-CT) in extra cervical locally advanced ...cervical cancer (LACC) patients. Methods Between 2000 and 2007, 42 LACC (stage IIA bulky-IVA) patients were treated at the Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the C.R.O. of Aviano in a Phase II Clinical Trial. Radiotherapy was administered to the whole pelvic region (50.4 Gy in 28 fractions) in combination with cisplatin (60 mg/mq) plus 5FU (750 mg/mq for 4 days) on first and fifth week of RT. Radical surgery with Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy (IORT) was performed 6–8 weeks after the end of RT-CT treatment. Results After RT-CT, 35/42 patients (83%) underwent radical surgery and IORT treatment. At pathologic examination 8/35 (23%) patients showed complete response, while the rest (27/35) had residual disease either microscopic (17/27) or gross (10/27). The 5-year disease free survival (DFS) and the 5-year overall survival (OS) were 46% and 49% respectively. There were significant better DFS and OS when residual tumor was absent or limited to the cervix, respectively 78% versus 16% and 81% versus 20% ( p < 0.001). All recurrences occurred within 24 months from treatment. Conclusions RT-CT followed by surgery and IORT in LACC patients seems to be active in a subgroup of patients with pathological complete response to treatment or partial response with residual tumor limited to the cervix.
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