Photodynamic therapy enhances lipodoxorubcin distribution in sarcoma lung metastasis by lowering tumor interstitial fluid pressure in a rodent model

Objective: The management of sarcoma metastasis by systemic chemotherapy is often unsatisfactory. This has paradoxally been attributed to the leakiness of tumor neovessels which induce high intratumor interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and limit convection forces that are important for drug distribution. In a rodent model, we have recently shown that photodynamic (PDT) pre treatment of lung metastasis could enhance their uptake of chemotherapy. We hypothesized that PDT transiently decreases tumor IFP which enhances convection and promotes drug distribution.Methods: Sarcoma tumors were generated sub-pleurally in the lungs of 12 rats. Animals were randomized at 10 days into i. no pre-treatment (control) and ii. low dose PDT pre-treatment (0・0625 mg/kg Visudyne, 10J/cm2 and 35 mW/cm2) followed by intravenous Liposomal doxorubicin (LiporubicinTM) administration. Using the wick-in-needle technique, we determined tumor and normal tissue IFP before, during and after PDT. In parallel, the uptake of LiporubicinTM was determined by high performance liquid chromatography in tumor and lung tissues.Results: Tumor IFP was significantly higher than normal tissue IFP in all animals. PDT pre-treatment did not affect normal tissue IFP but caused a significant decrease in tumor IFP (mean decrease by 2+/− 1mmHg) which lasted an average of 30 minutes before reaching baseline values. Tumor but not normal lung tissue LiporubicinTM uptake was significantly increased by 67% with PDT pre-treatment when liporubicin was allowed to circulate for one hour.Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy pre-treatment enhances LiporubicinTM uptake in sarcoma lung metastasis by transiently decreasing tumor IFP. These PDT conditions seem to specifically modulate tumor neovessels but not normal lung vessels.

Optimization of HS-SPME/GC-MS analysis and its use in the profiling of illicit ecstasy tablets (Part 1)

A headspace solid-phase microextraction procedure (HS-SPME) was developed for the profiling of traces present in 3,4-methylenedioxymethylampethamine (MDMA). Traces were first extracted using HS-SPME and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The HS-SPME conditions were optimized using varying conditions. Optimal results were obtained when 40 mg of crushed MDMA sample was heated at 80 °C for 15 min, followed by extraction at 80 °C for 15 min with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene coated fibre. A total of 31 compounds were identified as traces related to MDMA synthesis, namely precursors, intermediates or by-products. In addition some fatty acids used as tabletting materials and caffeine used as adulterant, were also detected. The use of a restricted set of 10 target compounds was also proposed for developing a screening tool for clustering samples having close profile. 114 seizures were analyzed using an SPME auto-sampler (MultiPurpose Samples MPS2), purchased from Gerstel GMBH & Co. (Germany), and coupled to GC-MS. The data was handled using various pre-treatment methods, followed by the study of similarities between sample pairs based on the Pearson correlation. The results show that HS-SPME, coupled with the suitable statistical method is a powerful tool for distinguishing specimens coming from the same seizure and specimens coming from different seizures. This information can be used by law enforcement personnel to visualize the ecstasy distribution network as well as the clandestine tablet manufacturing.

Real-time monitoring of the silicidation process of tungsten filaments at high temperature used as catalysers for silane decomposition

The scope of this work is the systematic study of the silicidation process affecting tungsten filaments at high temperature (1900ºC) used for silane decomposition in the hot-wire chemical vapour deposition technique (HWCVD). The correlation between the electrical resistance evolution of the filaments, Rfil(t), and the different stages of the their silicidation process is exposed. Said stages correspond to: the rapid formation of two WSi2 fronts at the cold ends of the filaments and their further propagation towards the middle of the filaments; and, regarding the hot central portion of the filaments: a initial stage of silicon dissolution into the tungsten bulk, with a random duration for as-manufactured filaments, followed by the inhomogeneous nucleation of W5Si3 (which is later replaced by WSi2) and its further growth towards the filaments core. An electrical model is used to obtain real-time information about the current status of the filaments silicidation process by simply monitoring their Rfil(t) evolution during the HWCVD process. It is shown that implementing an annealing pre-treatment to the filaments leads to a clearly repetitive trend in the monitored Rfil(t) signatures. The influence of hydrogen dilution of silane on the filaments silicidation process is also discussed.

Fluorodeoxyuridine mediated cell cycle synchronization in S-phase increases the Auger radiation cell killing with 125I-iododeoxyuridine.

Aim: 125I-iododeoxyuridine is a potential Auger radiation therapy agent. Its incorporation in DNA of proliferating cells is enhanced by fluorodeoxyuridine. Here, we evaluated therapeutic activities of 125I-iododeoxyuridine in an optimized fluorodeoxyuridine pre-treatment inducing S-phase synchronization. Methods: After S-phase synchronization by fluorodeoxyuridine, cells were treated with 125I-iododeoxyuridine. Apoptosis analysis and S-phase synchronization were studied by flow cytometry. Cell survival was determined by colony-forming assay. Based on measured growth parameters, the number of decays per cell that induced killing was extrapolated. Results: Treatment experiments showed that 72 to 91% of synchronized cells were killed after 0.8 and 8 kBq/ml 125I-iododeoxyuridine incubation, respectively. In controls, only 8 to 38% of cells were killed by corresponding 125I-iododeoxyuridine activities alone and even increasing the activity to 80 kBq/ml gave only 42 % killing. Duplicated treatment cycles or repeated fluorodeoxyuridine pre-treatment allowed enhancing cell killing to >95 % at 8 kBq/ml 125I-iododeoxyuridine. About 50 and 160 decays per S-phase cells in controls and S-phase synchronization, respectively, were responsible for the observed cell killing at 0.8 kBq/ml radio-iododeoxyuridine. Conclusion: These data show the successful application of fluorodeoxyuridine that provided increased 125I-iododeoxyuridine Auger radiation cell killing efficacy through S-phase synchronization and high DNA incorporation of radio-iododeoxyuridine.

Development of Non-Petroleum Based Binders for Use in Flexible Pavements, TR-594, 2010

Most bituminous adhesives or binders that are used for pavement materials are derived primarily from fossil fuels. With petroleum oil reserves becoming depleted and the drive to establish a bio-based economy, there is a push to produce binders from alternative sources, particularly from biorenewable resources. However, until now, no research has studied the applicability of utilizing bio-oils as a bitumen replacement (100% replacement) in the pavement industry. The main objective of this research was to test various properties of bio-oils in order to determine the applicability of using bio-oils as binders in the pavement industry. The overall conclusions about the applicability of using bio-oils as bio-binders in the pavement industry can be summarized as follows: 1. Bio-oils cannot be used as bio-binders/pavement materials without any heat pre-treatment/upgrading procedure. 2. Current testing standards and specifications, especially Superpave procedures, should be modified to comply with the properties of bio-binders. 3. The temperature range of the viscous behavior for bio-oils may be lower than that of bitumen binders by about 30°–40° C. 4. The rheological properties of the unmodified bio-binders vary in comparison to bitumen binders, but the rheological properties of these modified bio-binders change significantly upon adding polymer modifiers. 5. The high-temperature performance grade for the developed bio-binders may not vary significantly from that of the bitumen binders, but the low-temperature performance grade may vary significantly

Differentiating schizoaffective and bipolar I disorder in first-episode psychotic mania.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to differentiate schizoaffective disorder (SAD) and bipolar-I-disorder (BD) in first-episode psychotic mania (FEPM). METHODS: All 134 patients from an epidemiological first-episode psychosis cohort (N=786) with FEPM and an 18-month follow-up final diagnosis of SAD (n=36) or BD (n=98) were assessed with respect to pre-treatment, baseline and outcome differences. Second, patients with baseline BD who shifted (shifted BD) or did not shift to SAD (stable BD) over the follow-up period were compared regarding pre-treatment and baseline differences. RESULTS: SAD patients displayed a significantly longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP; effect size r=0.35), a higher illness-severity at baseline (r=0.20) and more traumatic events (Cramer-V=0.19). SAD patients displayed a significantly higher non-adherence rate (Cramer-V=0.19); controlling for time in treatment and respective baseline scores, SAD patients had significantly worse illness severity (CGI-S; partial η(2)=0.12) and psychosocial functioning (GAF; partial η(2)=0.07) at 18-months, while BD patients were more likely to achieve remission of positive symptoms (OR=4.9, 95% CI=1.8-13.3; p=0.002) and to be employed/occupied (OR=7.7, 95% CI=2.4-24.4, p=0.001). The main discriminator of stable and shifted BD was a longer DUP in patients shifting from BD to SAD. CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to distinguish BD with psychotic symptoms and SAD in patients presenting with FEPM. Longer DUP is related to SAD and to a shift from BD to SAD. Compared to BD, SAD had worse outcomes and higher rates of non-adherence with medication. Despite these differences, both diagnostic groups need careful dimensional assessment and monitoring of symptoms and functioning in order to choose the right treatment.

Assessing the viability of cryopreserved coconut zygotic embryos by electrolytic conductivity and potassium leaching

The objective of this work was to adapt the application of electrolytic conductivity and potassium leaching tests to assess the viability of cryopreserved embryos of 'Anão Verde do Brasil de Jiqui' (AVeJBr) coconut. The zygotic embryos were excised, sterilized and subjected to four cryoprotectant treatments combined with three incubation times (12, 16 and 20 hours), totaling 12 treatments. The pre-treatment of mature zygotic embryos of AVeJBr coconut using a cryoprotectant with 1.75 mol L-1 of sucrose + 15% glycerol for 12 and 16 hours promoted lower embryo humidity and increased viability in electrolytic conductivity and potassium leaching tests. Samples with ten embryos are sufficient for electrolytic conductivity analysis in cryopreserved or non-cryopreserved AVeJBr coconut zygotic embryos. The 4 to 8 hour imbibition period of the embryos is promising for the electrolytic conductivity analysis of non-cryopreserved mature zygotic embryos of AVeJBr coconut.

Photodynamic therapy selectively enhances liposomal doxorubicin uptake in sarcoma tumors to rodent lungs.

BACKGROUND: In specific conditions, photodynamic therapy (PDT) can enhance the distribution of macromolecules across the endothelial barrier in solid tumors. It was recently postulated that tumor neovessels were more responsive to PDT than the normal vasculature. We hypothesized that Visudyne(R)-mediated PDT could selectively increase liposomal doxorubicin (Liporubicin) uptake in sarcoma tumors to rodent lungs while sparing the normal surrounding tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sarcoma tumors were generated subpleurally in the left lower lung lobe of 66 Fischer rats. Ten days following sarcoma implantation, tumors underwent different pre-treatment schemes: no PDT (controls), low-dose PDT (0.0625 mg/kg Visudyne(R), 10 J/cm(2) and 35 mW/cm(2)) and high-dose PDT (0.125 mg/kg Visudyne(R), 10 J/cm(2) and 35 mW/cm(2)). Liporubicin was then administered and allowed to circulate for 1, 3, or 6 hours. At the end of each treatment scheme, we assessed the uptake of Liporubicin in tumor and lung tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: In all PDT-treated groups, there was a significant enhancement of Liporubicin uptake in tumors compared to controls after 3 and 6 hours of drug circulation. In addition, Liporubicin distribution within the normal lung tissue was not affected by PDT. Thus, PDT pre-treatment significantly enhanced the ratio of tumor-to-lung drug uptake compared to controls. Finally, fluorescence microscopy revealed a well-detectable Liporubicin signaling throughout PDT-treated tumors but not in controls. CONCLUSIONS: PDT is a tumor-specific enhancer of Liporubicin distribution in sarcoma lung tumors which may find a translation in clinics.

Yhdyskuntalietteen ja biopolttoaineiden käsittelyketjujen ja polton teknistaloudellinen tarkastelu

Työn tavoitteena on kartoittaa yhdyskuntalietteen ja kierrätys- sekä biopolttoaineiden käsittelyä ja polttoa lietteenpolttolaitoksen tarpeita ajatellen. Lietteen käsittelyketjun ja kierrätys- sekä biopolttoaineketjujen tekninen tarkastelu on siis työn keskeinen tavoite. Lisäksi lasketaan polttolaitoksen suurimpia mahdollisia investointikustannuksia eri polttoainevaihtoehdoilla. Työssä tehdään muun ohella case-tarkastelua Kaakkois- Suomen alueeseen liittyen. Tavoitteena on muodostaa tarkoitukseen soveltuva polttoaineratkaisu kullekin tapauk-selle. Työn alkuosassa tutustutaan yleisesti lietteeseen sekä polttoaineen että jätteen roolissa. Tarkastelu sisältää tietoja lietteen ominaisuuksista sekä lietteenkäsittelyssä olennaisista lainsäädännöllisistä seikoista. Samoin katsastetaan hieman lietteen esikäsittelyä, mekaanista vedenerotusta, termistä kuivausta ja polttoa tarkastellaan yleisessä valossa. Lisäksi alkuosassa keskitytään eri bio- jakierrätyspolttoainevaihtoehtoihin tarkastelemalla niiden yleisyyttä polttoaineena sekä esittelemällä niiden käsittelyketjuja. Työn loppupuoliskolla kiinnitetään huomiota case tapausten avulla polttolaitoksesta saataviin tuottoihin sekä millaisen liikkumavaran eri polttoainevaihtoehdot investointien osalta sallivat. Case-tapauksissa pohditaan Kymenlaakson ja Etelä-Karjalan paikallisia lietteen-polttomahdollisuuksia yhdistettynä kierrätys- tai biopolttoaineisiin. Mekaanisesti kuivattua lietettä käsitellään kyseisissä tapauksissa vuosittain 6000 t ja 15 000 t. Lietteen polton tuottama sähkö- ja lämpöteho näyttävät riippuvan voimakkaasti lietteen kuiva-ainepitoisuudesta, eivät niinkään lietteen muista ominaisuuksista. Lisäksi joko bio- tai kierrätyspolttoaineella saadaan sähkön- ja lämmöntuotantoa nostettua huomattavasti.

Hormonal protocols for in vitro production of Zebu and taurine embryos

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of hormonal synchronization protocols, associated or not with follicular development stimulation, on the recovery of oocytes and on in vitro production of Bos indicus and B. taurus embryos, in different seasons. Ultrasound-guided follicular aspirations (n=237) were performed without pre-treatment (G1, control group) and after follicular wave synchronization (G2), or after follicular wave synchronization and follicle growth induction (G3). Bos indicus produced more oocytes and embryos than B. taurus (18.7±0.9 vs. 11.9±0.6 oocytes and 4.8±0.3 vs. 2.1±0.2 embryos). On average, oocyte and embryo yields were higher in G3 than in G2, and both were greater than in G1, which lead to a higher conversion of oocytes to embryos in these treatments. The hot or the cold season did not affect the B. indicus outcomes, whereas, in B. taurus, both oocyte recovery and embryo production were higher in the cold season. Follicular wave synchronization improves ovum pick-up and in vitro production of embryos in both cattle subspecies evaluated.

Alterations in neurofilament protein immunoreactivity in human hippocampal neurons related to normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.

The distribution of immunoreactivity for the neurofilament triplet class of intermediate filament proteins was examined in the hippocampus of young, adult and elderly control cases and compared to that of Alzheimer's disease cases. In a similar fashion to non-human mammalian species, pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region showed a very low degree of neurofilament triplet immunoreactivity in the three younger control cases examined. However, in the other control cases of 49 years of age and older, many CA1 pyramidal neurons showed elevated neurofilament immunoreactivity. In the Alzheimer's disease cases, most of the surviving CA1 neurons showed intense labeling for the neurofilament triplet proteins, with many of these neurons giving off abnormal "sprouting" processes. Double labeling demonstrated that many of these neurons contained tangle-like or granular material that was immunoreactive for abnormal forms of tau and stained with thioflavine S, indicating that these neurons are in a transitional degenerative stage. An antibody to phosphorylated neurofilament proteins labeled a subset of neurofibrillary tangles in the Alzheimer's disease cases. However, following formic acid pre-treatment, the number of neurofibrillary tangles showing phosphorylated neurofilament protein immunoreactivity increased, with double labeling confirming that all of the tau-immunoreactive neurofibrillary tangles were also immunoreactive for phosphorylated neurofilament proteins. Immunoblotting demonstrated that there was a proportionately greater amount of the neurofilament triplet subunit proteins in hippocampal tissue from Alzheimer's disease cases as compared to controls. These results indicate that there are changes in the cytoskeleton of CA1 neurons associated with age which are likely to involve an increase in the level of neurofilament proteins and may be a predisposing factor contributing towards their high degree of vulnerability in degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. The cellular factors affecting hippocampal neurons during aging may be potentiated in Alzheimer's disease to result in even higher levels of intracellular neurofilament proteins and the progressive alterations of neurofilaments and other cytoskeletal proteins that finally results in neurofibrillary tangle formation and cellular degeneration.

Local shockwave-application prevents flap necrosis

Objective: Local shockwave-application (SW) has shown to improve healing of various tissues and decrease necrosis of flaps. Though, there is no data about the optimal time-point of SW-application with regard to induction of ischemia (i.e. flap elevation) and subsequent effect on flap survival. Therefore we compared 2 shock-wave protocols in a model of persistent ischemia and investigated underlying mechanisms. Methods: 18 C57BL/6-mice equipped with a skinfold chamber containing a musculocutaneous flap were assigned to 3 experimental groups: 1. One session of 500 SWimpulses at 0·15 mJ/mm2 applied 24 hrs before (preconditioning) or 2. Applied 30 min after flap elevation (treatment). 3. Untreated flaps (control). Tissue necrosis,microhemodynamics, inflammation, apoptosis and angiogenesis were assessed by intravital epi-fluorescence microscopy over 10 days. Results: SW significantly reduced flap necrosis independent from the application time-point (preconditioning: 29 ± 7%; treatment: 25 ± 7% vs. control: 47 ± 2%; d10, p<0·05). This was associated with an early increase of functional capillary density (preconditioning: 236 ± 39 cm/cm2; treatment: 211 ± 33 cm/cm2 vs. control: 141 ± 7 cm/cm2; day1, p<0·05). Arteriolar diameter, red blood cell velocity and blood flow were comparable between the 3 experimental groups. SW-application significantly decreased the ischemiainduced inflammatory response (apoptotic cell death and leukocyte-endothelial interaction: (p<0·05)). Sprouts indicating angiogenesis were observed from day 7 only after SW-application. Conclusions: SW protects ischemically challenged musculocutaneous tissue. Interestingly, postoperative SW-application is as efficient as preoperative SWapplication. The protective effect induced by mechanical stress might be based on an early recruitment of ''sleeping capillaries'' maintaining nutritive perfusion and an anti-inflammatory effect within the ischemically jeopardized tissue. SWapplication provides a non-invasive alternative to local thermic and systemic pre-treatment of endangered tissues.

Study of the incorporation and the anti-tumour efficacy of radio-iododeoxyuridine according to the cellular cycle and in presence of synthesis inhibitor of thymidine

Résumé La iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd), une fois marqué au 123I ou au 125I, est un agent potentiel pour des thérapies par rayonnements Auger. Cependant, des limitations restreignent son incorporation dans l'ADN. Afin d'augmenter celle-ci, différents groupes ont étudié la fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd), qui favorise l'incorporation d'analogue de la thymidine, sans toutefois parvenir à une toxicité associé plus importante. Dans notre approche, 3 lignées cellulaires de glioblastomes humains et une lignée de cancer ovarien ont été utilisées. Nous avons observé, 16 à 24 h après un court pré-traitement à la FdUrd, un fort pourcentage de cellules s'accumulant en phase S. Plus qu'une accumulation, c'était une synchronisation des cellules, celles-ci restant capables d'incorporer la radio-IdIrd et repartant dans le cycle cellulaire. De plus, ces cellules accumulées après un pré-traitement à la FdUrd étaient plus radio-sensibles. Après le même intervalle de 16 à 24 h suivant la FdUrd, les 4 lignées cellulaires ont incorporé des taux plus élevés de radio-IdUrd que sans ce prétraitement. Une corrélation temporelle entre l'accumulation des cellules en phase S et la forte incorporation de radio-IdUrd a ainsi été révélée 16 à 24 h après pré-traitement à la FdUrd. Les expériences de traitement par rayonnements Auger sur les cellules accumulées en phase S ont montré une augmentation significative de l'efficacité thérapeutique de 125I-IdUrd comparé aux cellules non prétraitées à la FdUrd. Une première estimation a permis de déterminer que 100 désintégrations de 125I par cellules étant nécessaires afin d'atteindre l'efficacité thérapeutique. De plus, p53 semble jouer un rôle dans l'induction directe de mort cellulaire après des traitements par rayonnements Auger, comme indiqué par les mesures par FACS d'apoptose et de nécrose 24 et 48 h après le traitement. Concernant les expériences in vivo, nous avons observé une incorporation marquée de la radio-IdUrd dans l'ADN après un pré-traitement à la FdUrd dans un model de carcinomatose ovarienne péritonéale. Une augmentation encore plus importante a été observée après injection intra-tumorale dans des transplants sous-cutanés de glioblastomes sur des souris nues. Ces modèles pourraient être utilisés pour de plus amples études de diffusion de radio-IdUrd et de thérapie par rayonnement Auger. En conclusion, ce travail montre une première application réussie de la FdUrd afin d'accroître l'efficacité de la radio-IdUrd par traitements aux rayonnements Auger. La synchronisation des cellules en phase S combinée avec la forte incorporation de radio-IdUrd dans l'ADN différées après un pré-traitement à la FdUrd ont montré le gain thérapeutique attendu in vitro. De plus, des études in vivo sont tout indiquées après les observations encourageantes d'incorporation de radio-IdUrd dans les models de transplants sous-cutanés de glioblastomes et de tumeurs péritonéales ovariennes. Summary Iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd), labelled with 123I or 125I, could be a potential Auger radiation therapy agent. However, limitations restrict its DNA incorporation in proliferating cells. Therefore, fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd), which favours incorporation of thymidine analogues, has been studied by different groups in order to increase radio-IdUrd DNA incorporation, however therapeutic efficacy increase could not be reached. In our approach, 3 human glioblastoma cell lines with different p53 expression and one ovarian cancer line were pre-treated with various FdUrd conditions. We observed a high percentage of cells accumulating in early S phase 16 to 24 h after a short and non-toxic FdUrd pre-treatment. More than an accumulation, this was a synchronization, cells remaining able to incorporate radio-IdUrd and re-entering the cell cycle. Furthermore, the S phase accumulated cells post FdUrd pre-treatment were more radiosensitive. After the same delay of 16 to 24 h post FdUrd pre-treatment, the 4 cell lines were incorporating higher rates of radio-IdUrd compared with untreated cells. A time correlation between S phase accumulation and high radio-IdUrd incorporation was therefore revealed 16 to 24 h post FdUrd pre-treatment. Auger radiation treatment experiments performed on S phase enriched cells showed a significant increase of killing efficacy of 125I-IdUrd compared with cells not pre-treated with FdUrd. A first estimation indicates further that about 100 125I decays were required to reach killing in the targeted cells. Moreover, p53 might play a role on the direct induction of cell death pathways after Auger radiation treatments, as indicated by differential apoptosis and necrosis induction measured by FACS 24 and 48 h after treatment initiation. Concerning in vivo results, we observed a marked DNA incorporation increase of radio-IdUrd after FdUrd pre-treatment in peritoneal carcinomatosis in SCID mice. Even higher incorporation increase was observed after intra-tumoural injection of radio-IdUrd in subcutaneous glioblastoma transplants in nude mice. These tumour models might be further useful for diffusion of radio-IdUrd and Auger radiation therapy studies. In conclusion, these data show a first successful application of thymidine synthesis inhibition able to increase the efficacy of radio-IdUrd Auger radiation treatment. The S phase synchronization combined with a high percentage DNA incorporation of radio-IdUrd delayed post FdUrd pre-treatment provided the expected therapeutic gain in vitro. Further in vivo studies are indicated after the observations of encouraging radio-IdUrd uptake experiments in glioblastoma subcutaneous xenografts and in an ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis model.

Thrombocytosis as a prognostic marker in stage III and IV serous ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombocytosis is an adverse prognostic factor in many types of cancer. We investigated if pre-treatment increased platelet counts provide prognostic information specifically in patients with stage III and IV serous ovarian cancer which is the most common clinical presentation of ovarian cancer. METHODS: Platelet number on diagnosis of stage III and IV serous ovarian adenocarcinoma was evaluated in 91 patients for whom there were complete follow-up data on progression and survival. Survival and progression free survival of patients with normal platelet counts (150-350 ×10(9)/L) was compared with that of patients with thrombocytosis (>350×10(9)/L) by χ(2) and logrank tests. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 66 years-old. From the 91 patients, 52 (57.1%) had normal platelet counts (median, 273×10(9)/L; range, 153-350) at diagnosis of their disease and 39 patients (42.9%) had thrombocytosis (median, 463×10(9)/L; range, 354-631). In the group of patients with normal platelet counts, 24 of the 52 patients had died with a median survival of 43 months (range, 3-100). In the group of patients with thrombocytosis, 24 of the 39 patients had died with a median survival of 23 months (range, 4-79). In the entire group of 91 patients there was a statistically significant difference of the overall survival and progression-free survival between the two groups (logrank test P=0.02 and P=0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective analysis of stage III and IV ovarian cancer patients, thrombocytosis at the time of diagnosis had prognostic value regarding overall survival and progression-free survival.

Rasvaisten jätevesien puhdistus

Rasvaisten jätevesien puhdistus on sitä tuottaville yrityksille kallista ja hankalaa. Nykyisten päästövaatimusten saavuttaminen on perinteisillä jätevedenkäsittelymenetelmillä vaikeaa tai lähes mahdotonta, riippuen käsiteltävän jäteveden ominaisuuksista. Rasvaisen jäteveden käsittelyssä on käytetty mm. laskeutusta, flotaatiota, hydrosykloneja, pisaroitusta, suodatusta sekä biologista käsittelyä. Lisäksi happohydrolyysiä voidaan soveltaa edellä mainittujen menetelmien esikäsittelynä. Useita näitä erotusmenetelmiä voidaan myös tehostaa kemikaalien lisäyksellä. Työn kirjallisuusosassa on käsitelty rasvaisten jätevesien ja emulsioiden kalvosuodatusta ja kalvojen käyttöä pisaroituselementtinä. Tavanomaisessa kalvosuodatuksessa tarkoituksena on erottaa kalvoa läpäisemätön rasvajae ja permeoituva vesijae toisistaan, kun taas pisaroittamisen tarkoituksena on saada dispergoituneen faasin pisarakoko kasvamaan joko kalvon pinnalla tai sen huokosissa. Pisarakoon kasvaessa emulsion stabiilisuus heikkenee ja faasit voidaan helpommin erottaa toisistaan. Työn kokeellisessa osassa tavoitteena oli tutkia kalvosuodatuksen ja erilaisten kalvojen toimivuutta esteröintilaitoksen rasvaisten jätevesien käsittelyssä. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin MW- (GE Osmonics), C30F- (Nadir Filtration), Teflon Typar- (Tetratex) sekä JX-kalvoa (Osmonics Desal). Haastetta työhön syntyi tutkittujen jätevesien ominaisuuksien suuresta vaihtelusta sitä tuottavan laitoksen panostyylisestä toiminnasta johtuen. Lisäksi tutkittiin, onko syöttöliuoksen pH-säädöllä ja laskeutuksella ennen suodatusta merkittävää etua itse kalvosuodatusprosessiin. Kalvotekniikkaa voidaan tämän tutkimuksen perusteella soveltaa myös esteröintilaitoksen rasvaisten jätevesien suodatukseen, ja erityistä etua saadaan jäteveden pH-säädöllä (pH 3) ja laskeutuksella ennen varsinaista suodatusta. Tällaiseen käsittelyyn soveltuu tutkituista kalvoista parhaiten hydrofiilinen regeneroidusta selluloosasta valmistettu C30F-kalvo, jonka etuna on vähäinen foulaantuminen muihin tutkittuihin kalvoihin verrattuna.