Background
Percutaneous ablation is a common treatment for colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). However, the effect of rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (RAS) mutation on outcome after ablation of ...CLMs is unclear.
Methods
Patients who underwent image‐guided percutaneous ablation of CLMs from 2004 to 2015 and had known RAS mutation status were analysed. Patients were evaluated for local tumour progression as observed on imaging of CLMs treated with ablation. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with local tumour progression‐free survival.
Results
The study included 92 patients who underwent ablation of 137 CLMs. Thirty‐six patients (39 per cent) had mutant RAS. Rates of local tumour progression were 14 per cent (8 of 56) for patients with wild‐type RAS and 39 per cent (14 of 36) for patients with mutant RAS (P = 0·007). The actuarial 3‐year local tumour progression‐free survival rate after percutaneous ablation was worse in patients with mutant RAS than in those with wild‐type RAS (35 versus 71 per cent respectively; P = 0·001). In multivariable analysis, negative predictors of local tumour progression‐free survival were a minimum ablation margin of less than 5 mm (hazard ratio (HR) 2·48, 95 per cent c.i. 1·31 to 4·72; P = 0·006) and mutant RAS (HR 3·01, 1·60 to 5·77; P = 0·001).
Conclusion
Mutant RAS is associated with an earlier and higher rate of local tumour progression in patients undergoing ablation of CLMs.
Mutant RAS poor prognostic factor
The LWA1 Radio Telescope Ellingson, S. W.; Taylor, G. B.; Craig, J. ...
IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation,
05/2013, Letnik:
61, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
LWA1 is a new radio telescope operating in the frequency range 10-88 MHz, located in central New Mexico. The telescope consists of 258 pairs of dipole-type antennas whose outputs are individually ...digitized and formed into beams. Simultaneously, signals from all dipoles can be recorded using one of the instrument's "all dipoles" modes, facilitating all-sky imaging. Notable features of the instrument include high intrinsic sensitivity (≈ 6 kJy zenith system equivalent flux density), large instantaneous bandwidth (up to 78 MHz), and four independently steerable beams utilizing digital "true time delay" beamforming. This paper summarizes the design of LWA1 and its performance as determined in commissioning experiments. We describe the method currently in use for array calibration, and report on measurements of sensitivity and beamwidth.
Context. Measuring and calibrating relations between cluster observables is critical for resource-limited studies. The mass–richness relation of clusters offers an observationally inexpensive way of ...estimating masses. Its calibration is essential for cluster and cosmological studies, especially for high-redshift clusters. Weak gravitational lensing magnification is a promising and complementary method to shear studies, that can be applied at higher redshifts. Aims. We aim to employ the weak lensing magnification method to calibrate the mass–richness relation up to a redshift of 1.4. We used the Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey (SpARCS) galaxy cluster candidates (0.2 < z < 1.4) and optical data from the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) to test whether magnification can be effectively used to constrain the mass of high-redshift clusters. Methods. Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) selected using the u-band dropout technique and their colours were used as a background sample of sources. LBG positions were cross-correlated with the centres of the sample of SpARCS clusters to estimate the magnification signal, which was optimally-weighted using an externally-calibrated LBG luminosity function. The signal was measured for cluster sub-samples, binned in both redshift and richness. Results. We measured the cross-correlation between the positions of galaxy cluster candidates and LBGs and detected a weak lensing magnification signal for all bins at a detection significance of 2.6–5.5σ. In particular, the significance of the measurement for clusters with z> 1.0 is 4.1σ; for the entire cluster sample we obtained an average M200 of 1.28 -0.21+0.23 × 1014 M⊙. Conclusions. Our measurements demonstrated the feasibility of using weak lensing magnification as a viable tool for determining the average halo masses for samples of high redshift galaxy clusters. The results also established the success of using galaxy over-densities to select massive clusters at z > 1. Additional studies are necessary for further modelling of the various systematic effects we discussed.
Longitudinal prospective case series.
To evaluate the impact of early introduction post-spinal cord injury (SCI) of twice-weekly body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on muscle and bone.
...Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, McMaster University, Canada.
Five individuals who had sustained traumatic SCI within 2-6 months participated in the study. Bone mineral densities (BMD) of proximal femur, distal femur, proximal tibia and lumbar spine were measured before and after training, as well as muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), BMD and bone geometry at mid-femur and proximal tibia. Serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured at baseline, and after 24 and 48 sessions of training.
All participants experienced increased muscle CSAs, ranging from 3.8 to 56.9%. Reductions in BMD were evident in all participants at almost all lower limb sites after training, ranging in magnitude from -1.2 to -26.7%. Lumbar spine BMD changes ranged from 0.2 to -7.4%. No consistent changes were observed in bone geometry. BWSTT did not alter the expected pattern of change in bone biochemical markers over time. The individual with the greatest improvement in ambulatory ability demonstrated the smallest reduction in lower limb BMD. Conversely, the individual who completed the fewest BWSTT sessions demonstrated the greatest reductions in BMD.
Twice-weekly BWSTT appeared to partially reverse muscle atrophy after SCI, but did not prevent bone loss. Larger, controlled trials should evaluate whether relative preservation of bone loss occurs with regular BWSTT following acute SCI.
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.
We write this Commentary as a reply to Singh et al.(S Afr J Sci. 118(3/4), Art. #13420). We found that Singh et al.'s article did not adequately cover a rounded viewpoint on the topic, and we ...highlight a different perspective, calling for a balanced review in this regard. We base our argument on two premises. First, the literature study is incomplete, which creates a misleading perception that nothing is currently being done in South Africa to transition to a low carbon economy. Second, we comment on the statements made on seismic surveys. Herewith, we request that the authors consider a corrigendum that better reflects this research space, and call for more discussion on this topic.
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are common components of many chemotherapeutic regimens for lymphoid malignancies. GC-induced apoptosis involves an intrinsic mitochondria-dependent pathway. BIM ...(BCL-2-interacting mediator of cell death), a BCL-2 homology 3-only pro-apoptotic protein, is upregulated by dexamethasone (Dex) treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells and has an essential role in Dex-induced apoptosis. It has been indicated that Dex-induced BIM is regulated mainly by transcription, however, the molecular mechanisms including responsible transcription factors are unclear. In this study, we found that Dex treatment induced transcription factor Runx2 and c-Jun in parallel with BIM induction. Dex-induced BIM and apoptosis were decreased in cells harboring dominant-negative c-Jun and were increased in cells with c-Jun overexpression. Cells harboring short hairpin RNA for Runx2 also decreased BIM induction and apoptosis. On the Bim promoter, c-Jun bound to and activated the AP-1-binding site at about -2.7 kb from the transcription start site. Treatment with RU486, a GC receptor antagonist, blocked Dex-induced Runx2, c-Jun and BIM induction, as well as apoptosis. Furthermore, pretreatment with SB203580, a p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, decreased Dex-induced Runx2, c-Jun and BIM, suggesting that p38-MAPK activation is upstream of the induction of these molecules. In conclusion, we identified the critical signaling pathway for GC-induced apoptosis, and targeting these molecules may be an alternative approach to overcome GC-resistance in leukemia treatment.
Abstract Background In patients with primary colorectal cancer (CRC) or unresectable metastatic CRC, midgut embryonic origin is associated with worse prognosis. The impact of embryonic origin on ...survival after ablation of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) is unclear. Methods We identified 74 patients with CLM who underwent percutaneous ablation during 2004–2015. Survival and recurrence after ablation of CLM from midgut origin (n = 18) and hindgut origin (n = 56) were analyzed. Prognostic value of embryonic origin was evaluated. Results Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after percutaneous ablation were worse in patients from midgut origin (3-year RFS: 5.6% vs. 24%, P = 0.004; 3-year OS: 25% vs. 70%, P 0.001). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with worse OS were midgut origin (hazard ratio HR 4.87, 95% CI 2.14–10.9, P 0.001), multiple CLM (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.02–5.39, P = 0.044), and RAS mutation (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.25–6.36, P = 0.013). At a median follow-up of 25 months, 56 patients (76%) had developed recurrence, 16 (89%) with midgut origin and 40 (71%) with hindgut origin ( P = 0.133). Recurrent disease was treated with local therapy in 20 patients (36%), 2 (13%) with midgut origin and 18 (45%) with hindgut origin ( P = 0.022). Conclusion Compared to CLM from hindgut origin tumors, CLM from midgut origin tumors were associated with worse survival after ablation, which was partly attributable to the fact that patients with hindgut origin were more frequently candidates for local therapy at recurrence.
The New Horizons spacecraft extended the range in solar phase angle coverage for Pluto's moon Charon from 1 8-the maximum observable from Earth-to 170°. This extraordinary expansion in range has ...enabled photometric modeling and a robust determination of Charon's phase integral and Bond albedo at visible wavelengths. Photometric modeling shows that Charon is similar in its photometric properties to other icy moons, except that its single particle phase function is more isotropic, suggesting the Kuiper Belt may represent a new regime for surface alteration processes. Charon's phase integral is 0.70 0.04 and its Bond albedo is 0.29 0.05.
We present the development and characterization of a high-stability, multi-material, multi-thickness tape-drive target for laser-driven acceleration at repetition rates of up to 100 Hz. The tape ...surface position was measured to be stable on the sub-micrometre scale, compatible with the high-numerical aperture focusing geometries required to achieve relativistic intensity interactions with the pulse energy available in current multi-Hz and near-future higher repetition-rate lasers (
$>$
kHz). Long-term drift was characterized at 100 Hz demonstrating suitability for operation over extended periods. The target was continuously operated at up to 5 Hz in a recent experiment for 70,000 shots without intervention by the experimental team, with the exception of tape replacement, producing the largest data-set of relativistically intense laser–solid foil measurements to date. This tape drive provides robust targetry for the generation and study of high-repetition-rate ion beams using next-generation high-power laser systems, also enabling wider applications of laser-driven proton sources.
The interaction of relativistically intense lasers with opaque targets represents a highly non-linear, multi-dimensional parameter space. This limits the utility of sequential 1D scanning of ...experimental parameters for the optimization of secondary radiation, although to-date this has been the accepted methodology due to low data acquisition rates. High repetition-rate (HRR) lasers augmented by machine learning present a valuable opportunity for efficient source optimization. Here, an automated, HRR-compatible system produced high-fidelity parameter scans, revealing the influence of laser intensity on target pre-heating and proton generation. A closed-loop Bayesian optimization of maximum proton energy, through control of the laser wavefront and target position, produced proton beams with equivalent maximum energy to manually optimized laser pulses but using only 60% of the laser energy. This demonstration of automated optimization of laser-driven proton beams is a crucial step towards deeper physical insight and the construction of future radiation sources.
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