Postoperative Adjuvant Lapatinib and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Maintenance Lapatinib Monotherapy in High-Risk Patients With Resected Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: This multicenter phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lapatinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor/ErbB2 inhibitor, administered concomitantly with chemoradiotherapy and as maintenance monotherapy in patients with high-risk surgically treated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with resected stage II to IVA SCCHN, with a surgical margin ≤ 5 mm and/or extracapsular extension, were randomly assigned to chemoradiotherapy (66 Gy total radiation dose and cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) per day administered on days 1, 22, and 43) plus placebo or lapatinib (1,500 mg per day) before and during chemoradiotherapy, followed by 12 months of maintenance monotherapy. RESULTS: Six hundred eighty-eight patients were enrolled (lapatinib, n = 346; placebo, n = 342). With a median follow-up time of 35.3 months, the study ended early because of the apparent plateauing of disease-free survival (DFS) events. Median DFS assessed by an independent review committee was 53.6 months and not reached for lapatinib and placebo, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.43). Investigator-assessed results confirmed the independent review committee assessment. No significant differences in DFS by human papillomavirus status or overall survival were observed between treatment arms. Similar numbers of patients in both treatment arms experienced adverse events (AEs), with more patients in the lapatinib arm than the placebo arm experiencing serious AEs (48% v 40%, respectively). The most commonly observed treatment-related AEs were diarrhea and rash, both predominantly in the lapatinib arm. CONCLUSION: Addition of lapatinib to chemoradiotherapy and its use as long-term maintenance therapy does not offer any efficacy benefits and had additional toxicity compared with placebo in patients with surgically treated high-risk SCCHN.

Ocorrência de Doenças em Bananeiras no Estado de Alagoas

O cultivo da banana é uma importante fonte de renda para pequenos e médios produtores no estado de Alagoas. A maioria dos plantios está localizado em região de mata e próximo a costa, com condição apropriada para a ocorrência e desenvolvimento de doenças. Este trabalho teve como objetivo fazer o levantamento das doenças da bananeira que ocorrem em áreas de plantio localizadas no estado de Alagoas. O trabalho foi conduzido durante os anos de 2006 e 2007, por meio de visitas às propriedades e coleta de materiais de plantas infectadas em 60 áreas produtoras de banana, em quatorze municípios do estado de Alagoas. As amostras coletadas foram analisadas em laboratório para identificação dos patógenos associados com as doenças. Neste levantamento muitas doenças causadas por fungos e nematóides foram observadas, tais como: sigatoca amarela (Pseudocercospora musae) (Zimm.) Deighton; mancha de Deightoniella (Deightoniella torulosa) (Syd.) Ellis e mancha de Cordana (Cordana musae Zimm), que ocorreram em todas as áreas analisadas; mancha de Chloridium (Chloridium musae Stahel), ocorrendo somente em áreas úmidas e associada a outras manchas foliares; mancha de Exosporella, que foi observada somente em Santana do Mundaú; fitonematoses causadas por Rhadophulus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus e Pratylenchus sp., detectados apenas em alguns municípios; mal-do-panamá (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense) encontrado somente em quatro áreas no Sul do Estado e Murcha bacteriana (Ralstonia solanacearum) (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. (raça 2), encontrada em três áreas. Apesar de mal-do-panamá e moko (Ralstonia solanacearum raça 2) terem sido encontradas em baixa incidência, estas doenças ainda são consideradas como principais problemas em plantações de bananeiras no estado de Alagoas.

Murcha por Ceratocystis em eucalipto: avaliação de resistência e análise epidemiológica

A cultura do eucalipto é uma das mais importantes do Brasil, constituindo-se em fonte de energia e madeira renovável, além de suportar importantes processos agroindustriais para produção de celulose, papel e essências. O eucalipto, como outras espécies vegetais, é infectado por diversos patógenos, principalmente fungos, desde o viveiro até plantios adultos. Neste trabalho, foi estudado o agente causador da murcha de Ceratocystis. Trata-se de um típico patógeno de xilema (Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis et. Halsted), cujo sintoma marcador é constatável nas secções transversais de órgãos lenhosos, na forma de estrias radiais escuras, da medula para o exterior do lenho ou da periferia do lenho para a medula ou descoloração (mancha escura) do tipo cunha em geral da periferia para a medula. Essas estrias no lenho são visíveis quando um ramo afetado é cortado transversalmente, pois o patógeno provoca a desintegração do sistema vascular. Trata-se de um fungo de rápida disseminação e que atinge plantas em diversos estágios de desenvolvimento, sendo por isso de difícil controle. Os objetivos deste estudo foram verificar a suscetibilidade de clones visando encontrar material resistente e estudar a epidemiologia da doença em campo. Para isso, utilizaram-se mudas de clones operacionais para inoculação do patógeno para avaliação de resistência; a avaliação epidemiológica foi feita de acordo com levantamentos de campo em parcela previamente instalada. Foram encontrados materiais com diversos níveis de resistência, desde altamente resistente até a altamente suscetível. Em campo, a doença apresentou distribuição espacial agregada, com tendência a agregação de focos e distribuição vertical (na linha de plantio).

Taxonomy and distribution of the green algal genus Halimeda (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) in Brazil

Halimeda is a genus of calcified coenocytic green algae with a well known ecological importance in some tropical areas. Bleached calcified segments of Halimeda may accumulate in large deposits of economic potential as is the case in the northeastern coast of Brazil. In a survey of the genus in Brazil based on recent collections and examination of abundant material deposited on Brazilian herbaria we identified seven species: Halimeda cuneata Hering, H. discoidea Decaisne, H. gracilis Harvey ex J. Agardh, H. incrassata (Ellis) Lamouroux, H. opuntia (Linnaeus) Lamouroux, H. simulans Howe and H. tuna (Ellis & Solander) Lamouroux. These species are described in detail, with emphasis on diagnostic characters. Our study has shown that the shape and size of the utricula in surface view, under scanning electron microscopy, can be utilized to discriminate some species. Fertile specimens of Halimeda cuneata and H. discoidea are reported for the first time in the region. Data on vertical and geographical distribution are presented for each species and the southern limit of the genus in the western Atlantic was extended.

Fungos anamorfos decompositores do folhedo de Caesalpinia echinata Lam.

Folhas em decomposição de Caesalpinia echinata Lam. foram coletadas, de janeiro de 2002 a abril de 2004, a maioria no Município de São Paulo, para isolamento de fungos anamorfos que decompõem esse substrato. Para análise dos fungos aplicou-se no folhedo a técnica de lavagem e incubação em câmaras-úmidas. Quarenta e seis táxons foram identificados, 43 pertencentes aos Hyphomycetes e três aos Coelomycetes. Dictyosporium zeylanicum Petch, Gyrothrix grisea Piroz., Sporidesmiumcf. filirostratum Cabello, Cazau & Aramb., S. inflatum (Berk. & Ravenel) M.B. Ellis e S. triangulare Matsush. são registrados pela primeira vez para o Brasil. Para esses táxons são apresentados descrições, ilustrações, comentários e distribuição geográfica mundial.

Does the correlation between EBNA-1 and p63 expression in breast carcinomas provide a clue to tumorigenesis in Epstein-Barr virus-related breast malignancies?

Several investigators have identified Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) particles in breast carcinomas, a fact that supports a role for EBV in mammary tumorigenesis. The possible mechanism involved in this process is not clear. The present study was carried out in an attempt to determine whether there is a relationship between latent infection with EBV and p53 and p63 expression in breast carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry developed with 3.3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride was performed in 85 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast carcinomas using anti-EBV EBNA-1, anti-p63, anti-p53, anti-estrogen receptor (ER) and anti-progesterone receptor (PR) antibodies. The cases were selected to represent each of the various histologic types: intraductal carcinoma (N = 12), grade I invasive ductal carcinoma (N = 15), grade II invasive ductal carcinoma (N = 15), grade III invasive ductal carcinoma (N = 15), tubular carcinoma (N = 8), lobular carcinoma (N = 10), and medullary carcinoma (N = 10). The ductal breast carcinomas were graded I, II and III based on the Scarff-Bloom and Richardson grading system modified by Elston and Ellis. One slide containing at least 1000 neoplastic cells was examined in each case. ER, PR, p63, p53 and EBNA-1 were positive in 60, 40, 11.8, 21.2 and 37.6% of carcinomas, respectively. There was a correlation between EBNA-1 and p63 expression (P < 0.001), but not between EBNA-1 and p53 (P = 0.10). These data suggest a possible role for p63 in the mammary tumorigenesis associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

c-erbB-2 expression and nuclear pleomorphism in canine mammary tumors

The objective of the present investigation was to study the expression of c-erbB-2 and MIB-1 and try to associate them with morphological features of the cell such as nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count and histological grade in a series of 70 canine mammary gland tumors, 22 of them benign and 48 malignant. Tumors were collected at the Veterinary Hospital of UFMG (Brazil) and the Veterinary Faculty of Porto University (Portugal). c-erbB-2 expression was determined according to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer of the HercepTest system and nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic count and histological grade according the Elston and Ellis grading system. The HercepTest is the FDA-approved in vitro diagnostic test marketed by Dako. It is a semi-quantitative immunohistochemical assay used to determine overexpression of HER2 protein (human epidermal growth factor receptor) in breast cancer tissue. MIB-1 expression was also evaluated in 28 malignant tumors. Seventeen (35.4%) of the malignant tumors were positive for c-erbB-2 expression, which was positively associated with nuclear pleomorphism (P < 0.0001), histological grade (P = 0.0017) and mitotic count (P < 0.05). Nuclear pleomorphism also showed a positive association with MIB-1 index (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that some of the biological and morphological characteristics of the tumor are associated in canine mammary gland tumors, as also reported for human breast cancer. It was also possible to show that the immunoexpression of c-erbB-2 can be a factor in mammary carcinogenesis. This fact opens the possibility of using anti-c-erbB-2 antibodies in the treatment of canine mammary tumors.

Antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro of Halimeda incrassata aqueous extracts

The aim of the present paper was to provide the evidences for the antioxidant activity in Halimeda incrassata (Ellis) Lamouroux aqueous extracts obtained after simple water extraction of the fresh algae at room temperature (23°C). Previously in the literature, only antioxidant activity associated to carotenoids fractions of seaweeds has been reported. From different species of seaweeds, Halimeda incrassata aqueous extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity on the inhibition of TBARS formed during the spontaneous lipid peroxidation of rat brain homogenates with an IC50 of 0.340mg.mL-1. Halimeda incrassata aqueous extract (0.5mg.mL-1), was also capable of decreasing the in vitro generation of hydrogen peroxide by two distinct metabolic pathways involving glutamic and malonic acids. Also, Halimeda incrassata (at doses of 50, 100 and 200mg.Kg-1) showed a neuroprotective effect in vivo on the gerbil model of bilateral carotid occlusion because of decreasing the locomotor and exploratory activity induced by ischemia. In summary, Halimeda incrassata aqueous extracts exhibit antioxidant properties in different in vitro as well as in vivo models which could be explained by the presence of several hydrosoluble compounds. Further studies on this way are necessary to elucidate the precise structure of these compounds. Low toxicity of most seaweeds to humans, but particularly of Halimeda genus may favor its use as functional food.

Recueil d'épitaphes, précédé d'un journal des principaux événements arrivés à Paris de 1557 à 1590.

Contient : 1 Journal autographe de JEHAN DE LA FOSSE, où sont notés mois par mois les principaux événements des années 1557 à 1590, arrivés en France et particulièrement à Paris, où vivait l'auteur, curé de St-Leu et de St-Barthélemy ; 2 Recueil d'épitaphes ; « Cavendish,... general Norris,... docter Story,... mylord Treasurer,... Frier Andrew,... Ellis,... earle of Essex, beheaded in the tower », Joannes Rekingale, episcopus Cicestriensis, Gulielmus de Blitz, archidiaconus Nodovicensis ; Thomas Linaerus, regis Henrici VIII medicus, Antonius Riccius Faventiae, « Mr Hofkins », Lucretia Borgia, Honorius P. M., Johannes Riberius ; Galfridus Chaucer, Corythus, filius Oenones et Paridis, Ninus, Assyriae monarcha, Pyramis, lateritia Asychis, Aegypti regis ; Bartholomaeus Platina, Petrus Pomponatius, Pompeius Magnus, Capys, Ennius, Hannibal ; Marcus Antonius Turrianus, Marcus Antonius Coccius, Marcus Antonius Casanova, Sardanapalus, Rufus, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar ; Petrus Ciaconius, Nicolaus Macchiavellus, Gulielmus Rondeletus, medicus, Anicia, foemina romana, Callicratea ; Johannes Coletus, Rembertus Dodonaeus, medicus Maximiliani II et Rodolphi imperatorum, Alcaeus poeta, Scipio Africanus ; Paracelsus, Gerardus Noviomagus et Andreas Hyperius, Didacus de Valdes, Albericus de Vere et Gulielmus, primus comes Oxoniensis, Robertus Buc ; Hieronymus Cagnolus Vercellensis, Johannes Stofflerus, mathematicus Tubingae, Remigius Bellaqueus, Pallas, Evandri filius, Zarmanochegas indus, de Bargosa ; Johannes Rivius Attbend, Petrus Bembus, Lucius P. M. Veronae, Gulielmus Norselez, decanus quondam ecclesiae S. Pauli Londini, Mathias Corvinus, rex Pannoniae ; Philippus Callimachus Cracoviae, in aede S. Trinitatis, Ludovicus Bologninus, Bononiae, Rachel, uxor Jacobi Bethleem, Aratus, Plato, Aeschylus ; Joannes Zonaras, Homerus, Menander, Epictetus ; Berengarius, archidiaconus Andegavensis, Andreas Fanzonius, Cyrus, Persarum monarcha, Midas ; Hugo S. Victoris Parisiensis, S. Bernardus, abbas claraevallensis, Petrus de Toledo, Psittacus, Musaeus poeta, Linus, thebanus poeta, Orpheus ; Petrus Lombardus, Petrus Comestor, Pallas, libertus Romae, Megista, Spartanus vates ; Aegidius de Roma, archiepiscopus Bituricensis, Johannes Gerson, Aristocrates, perfidus in Lycaei Jovis luco, Setho, sacerdos Vulcani et Aegypti rex, Rosamunda Cliffordensis, Petrus Aretinus ; Nicolaus de Lyra, Jacobus Pisaurus, Paphi episcopus, Cedwalla, rex Sussexiae ; Alphonsus Tostadus, hispanus, Abulensis episcopus, Albertus Pius de Sabaudia, princeps Carporum, Similis, praefectus praetorianorum, Jupiter, Osyris, Isis ; Aeneas Sylvius, Christophorus Colombus, Hermes, Apollo, Timon, Darius ; Robertus Gaguinus, Johannes de Sacro Busto, Darius, Hystaspis filius, Simandius, Aegypti rex, Idomeneus et Myrio, filii Deucalionis, Semiramis ; Alexander Piccolomineus, Justina, pulchra foemina, quam maritus zelotypus nefarie decollavit, Claudia, nobilis foemina Romae, Carolus Magnus, Carolus V, imperator ; Actius Plautus, Johannes Boccacius, Franciscus Ximenes, cardinalis Hispaniae, Federicus imperator, Sylla, Ricardus I, rex Anglorum ; Johannes Stadius, math. belga, C. Manlia camertina, Johannes de Mandeville, Patricius, Brigida et Columda in Hibernia, la reine d'Angleterre, femme de Jacques Ier ; Johannes Glandorp, Jodocus, medicus Romae, Urandus, sive Durandus, Johannes Jacobus Trivultius, Ludovicus VIII, rex Francorum ; Antonius quidam italus, Fin dal Finale, Battistina Senensis, puella elegantissima ; Chalonerus Dubliniae, Askew Lincolniensis, Christophorus Hatton, Robertus, comes Leicestriae ; Johannes Chidley, Walterus Ralegh, Arturus Gorges, Johannes Parkar, Maria Stafford, Charitas et Carolus Ho., Thomas Wals, Sylvanus Scorus, Johannes Horo et Edwardus Nymark, Edwardus Stanhop, Franciscus Wal ; Philippus Sydney, Franciscus Walsinghan, N. Marsonius, jurisconsultus, Christophorus H, Gulielmus, comes Penbrok, Angliae marescallus, Antonius Deny, frater Lubinus ; Fratislaus, dux Bohemiae, countess of Penbrok, Edward Spenser, Henry Abyngdon, Thomas Nash, N. Dobson ; Dr Hugh a price, Johannes Vitulus, Dr Bently, Hor. Pallavicin, Margaret Ratcliff ; Howlet, Elian, Henry Barron ; James Stuart, Thomas Sackville, Penelope d'Evreux, uxor domini Bar. Rich, pellicis comitis Devonshire, Robert Cecil, Ricardus Bancroft, archiepiscopus Cantuariensis ; Godefridus de Bulion, Balduinus, rex Jerusalem, Allicia, pulchra foemina anglica et forte meretrix, Theobaldus, comes Campaniae, qui vixit tempore regis Angliae Stephani ; Fernandus de Castro, hispanus in Anglia exulans et moriens ob fidem in Dominum Petrum, regem Castellae, Johannes Taylor de Colman street, usurarius, Petrus Miago Vallisoleti, in templo Sancti Stephani, Franciscus Duarte de Mendico, a proveedor de los exercitos y armadas del emperador Carlo V, Henricus, Walliae princeps ; Milo, comes de Anglera, pater Rolandi, a Mauris juxta ripam Ceae occisus, Hecuba, S. Edmundus, rex et martyr, Pindarus, poeta lyricus, Stesichorus, Anacreon, poeta vinosus, Leonidas, dux Lacedemoniorum ad Thermopylas occisus contra Persas, Timotheus, citharedus milesius ; Timocreon Rhodius, Laïs, meretrix Corinthia, sepulta in Thessalia, juxta Peneum fluvium, Acron, antiquissimus medicus Agrigentinus

Developmental variations in the peripheral erythrocytic system of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri

The peripheral circulating erythrocytic system of the rainbow trout, l3 almo gairdner , was examined in vitro in relation differences in the morphology and multiple hemoglobin system organization of adult and juvenile red cells. Cells were separated by velocity sedimentation under unit gravity, a procedure requiring red cell exposure to an incubation medium for periods of at least three hours. Therefore , this must provide an environment in which red cells remain in a condition approximaing normalcy. Previous studies having demonstrated commonly employed media to be ineffective in this regard , a medium was developed through modification of Cortl and saline. One of the principal additions to this me dium , norepinephrine, altered cell regulation of intracellular calcium, magnesium and chloride concentrations. Catecholamine involvement was also suggeste d in the synthes is of hemoglobin . The procedure was found to separtate cells primarily by density and, to a lesser extent, by shape. Characterization of red cells revealed two subpopulations to exist . The first comprised the bulk of the cell population, and were of greater l ength, width, volume and major:minor axis ratio than the smaller population; these were adult cells. The later, juvenile cells were of smaller overall size and were more spherical in shape . Juvenile cells also possessed fewer electrophore tpically distinguishable isomorphs than did adults with only eight of eleven hemoglobin component s typically found With maturation,hemoglobin complement with the development of three more bands. The total complement of the adult cell contained 7 cathodal bands and four anodal hemoglobin isomorphs. Bands acquired with maturation comprised the smallest percentage of the cells hemoglobin. each averaging less than one-percent of the total. Whether these additional bands are derived through degradation and reaggregation of existing components or are the product of pe gQy2 synthesis is not yet known.

The quality of life in the Master of Education program, Brock University

This study addressed the problem of the quality of life in the Brock Master of Education program. Survey and interview data were used to gain an understanding of satisfaction with the learning achieved and student life experienced. Eighty-seven percent of the study sample reported satisfaction with the program overall. Results suggested the higher the overall satisfaction with a program, the greater the likelihood learning and student life satisfaction were also more positive. Student reflections suggested satisfaction with the quality of life in the program was associated with the program's focus on the student, the use of self-directed learning, and the support of professors to meet student needs. Comparison of the Brock Master of Education survey with the Brock Pre-Service Teacher Education program showed both student groups shared a similar satisfaction with student life in the Faculty. Comparison of Master of Education programs suggested the difference between two programs, a difference which may be influenced by time in the program. The results from the three programs suggested that students beyond the first undergraduate degree favored the school domains of learning acquisition. Supplementary data on the relationship between cognitive and affective opinions suggested the more positive the affective dimension of learning, the greater the likelihood the cognitive dimensions of student life were also more positive. It was concluded that time was a chief factor influencing part-time student satisfaction with both learning and student life in the program. Part-time students, as. the majority in the survey, expressed comments about the need for clarity of communication between the organization and student to promote the effective use of limited time.