Modelling the performance of self-compacting SIFCON of cement slurries containing limestone powder using genetic programming technique

The paper explores the potential of applicability of Genetic programming approach (GP), adopted in this investigation, to model the combined effects of five independent variables to predict the mini-slump, the plate cohesion meter, the induced bleeding test, the J-fiber penetration value, and the compressive strength at 7 and 28 days of self-compacting slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON). The variables investigated were the proportions of limestone powder (LSP) and sand, the dosage rates of superplasticiser (SP) and viscosity modifying agent (VMA), and water-to-binder ratio (W/B). Twenty eight mixtures were made with 10-50% LSP as replacement of cement, 0.02-0.06% VMA by mass of cement, 0.6-1.2% SP and 50-150% sand (% mass of binder) and 0.42-0.48 W/B. The proposed genetic models of the self-compacting SIFCON offer useful modelling approach regarding the mix optimisation in predicting the fluidity, the cohesion, the bleeding, the penetration, and the compressive strength.

Filling Ability and Plastic Settlement of Self-Compacting Concrete

The use of self-compacting concrete (SCC) facilitates the placing of concrete by eliminating the need for compaction by vibration. Given the highly flowable nature of such concrete, care is required to ensure excellent filling ability and adequate stability. This is especially important in deep structural members and wall elements where concrete can block the flow, segregate and exhibit bleeding and settlement which can result in local defects that can reduce mechanical properties, durability and quality of surface finish. This paper shows results of an investigation of fresh properties of self-compacting concrete, such as filling ability measured by slump flow and flow time (measured by Orimet) and plastic fresh settlement measured in a column. The SCC mixes incorporated various combinations of fine inorganic powders and admixtures. The slump flow of all SCCs was greater than 580 mm and the time in which the slumping concrete reached 500 rnm was less than 3 s. The flow time was less than 5 s. The results on SCCs were compared to a control mix. The compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of SCCs were also measured. The effects of water/powder ratio, slump and nature of the sand on the fresh settlement were also evaluated. The volume of coarse aggregate and the dosage of superphsticizer were kept constant. It can be concluded that the settlement of fresh self-compacting concrete increased with the increase in water/powder ratio and slump. The nature of sand influenced the maximum settlement.

Enteral feeding methods for nutritional management in patients with head and neck cancers being treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

Background: This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 3, 2010.
For many patients with head and neck cancer, oral nutrition will not provide adequate nourishment during treatment with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy due to the acute toxicity of treatment, obstruction caused by the tumour, or both. The optimal method of enteral feeding for this patient group has yet to be established.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of different enteral feeding methods used in the nutritional management of patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy using the clinical outcomes, nutritional status, quality of life and rates of complications.

Search methods: Our extensive search included the Cochrane ENT Group Trials Register, CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED and ISI Web of Science. The date of the most recent search was 13 February 2012.

Selection criteria:Randomised controlled trials comparing one method of enteral feeding with another, e.g. nasogastric (NG) or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding, for adult patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy.

Data collection and analysis:Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data using standardised forms. We contacted study authors for additional information.

Main results: One randomised controlled trial met the criteria for inclusion in this review. No further studies were identified when we updated the searches in 2012.
Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer, being treated with chemoradiotherapy, were randomised to PEG or NG feeding. In total only 33 patients were eligible for analysis as the trial was terminated early due to poor accrual. A high degree of bias was identified in the study.
Weight loss was greater for the NG group at six weeks post-treatment than for the PEG group (P = 0.001). At six months post-treatment, however, there was no significant difference in weight loss between the two groups. Anthropometric measurements recorded six weeks post-treatment demonstrated lower triceps skin fold thickness for the NG group compared to the PEG group (P = 0.03). No statistically significant difference was found between the two different enteral feeding techniques in relation to complication rates or patient satisfaction. The duration of PEG feeding was significantly longer than for the NG group (P = 0.0006). In addition, the study calculated the cost of PEG feeding to be 10 times greater than that of NG, though this was not found to be significant. There was no difference in the treatment received by the two groups. However, four PEG fed patients and two NG fed patients required unscheduled treatment breaks of a median of two and six days respectively.
We identified no studies of enteral feeding involving any form of radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG) feeding or comparing prophylactic PEG versus PEG for inclusion in the review.

Authors' conclusions: There is not sufficient evidence to determine the optimal method of enteral feeding for patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy. Further trials of the two methods of enteral feeding, incorporating larger sample sizes, are required.

Metabolic and structural properties of human obestatin {1-23} and two fragment peptides

Obestatin is a peptide produced in the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach and co-localizes with ghrelin on the periphery of pancreatic islets. Several studies demonstrate that obestatin reduces food and water intake, decreases body weight gain, inhibits gastrointestinal motility, and modulates glucose-induced insulin secretion. In this study we evaluated the acute metabolic effects of human obestatin {1-23} and fragment peptides {1-10} or {11-23} in high-fat fed mice, and then investigated their solution structure by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling. Obestatins {1-23} and {11-23} significantly reduced food intake (86% and 90% respectively) and lowered glucose responses to feeding, whilst leaving insulin responses unchanged. No metabolic changes could be detected following the administration of obestatin (1-10). In aqueous solution none of the obestatin peptides possessed secondary structural features. However, in a 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE-d(3))-H2O solvent mixture, the structure of obestatin {1-23} was characterized by an a-helix followed by a single turn helix conformation between residues Pro(4) and Gln(15) and His(19) and Ala(22) respectively. Obestatin {1-10} showed no structural components whereas {11-23} contained an a-helix between residues Val(14) and Ser(20) in a mixed solvent. These studies are the first to elucidate the structure of human obestatin and provide clear evidence that the observed a-helical structures are critical for in vivo activity. Future structure/function studies may facilitate the design of novel therapeutic agents based on the obestatin peptide structure. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A phase I study of the Heat Shock Protein 90 inhibitor alvespimycin (17-DMAG) given intravenously to patients with advanced, solid tumours.

PURPOSE: A phase I study to define toxicity and recommend a phase II dose of the HSP90 inhibitor alvespimycin (17-DMAG; 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin). Secondary endpoints included evaluation of pharmacokinetic profile, tumor response, and definition of a biologically effective dose (BED). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced solid cancers were treated with weekly, intravenous (i.v.) 17-DMAG. An accelerated titration dose escalation design was used. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was the highest dose at which = 1/6 patients experienced dose limiting toxicity (DLT). Dose de-escalation from the MTD was planned with mandatory, sequential tumor biopsies to determine a BED. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assays were validated prior to patient accrual. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients received 17-DMAG (range 2.5-106 mg/m(2)). At 106 mg/m(2) of 17-DMAG 2/4 patients experienced DLT, including one treatment-related death. No DLT occurred at 80 mg/m(2). Common adverse events were gastrointestinal, liver function changes, and ocular. Area under the curve and mean peak concentration increased proportionally with 17-DMAG doses 80 mg/m(2) or less. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells significant (P

Exonic STK11 deletions are not a rare cause of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Background: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare, autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome characterised by oro-facial pigmentation and hamartomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract. A causal germline mutation in STK11 can be identified in 30% to 80% of PJS patients.

The addition of cetuximab to oxaliplatin-based first-line combination chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer: results of the MRC COIN trial.

Background: In the Medical Research Council (MRC) COIN trial, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted antibody cetuximab was added to standard chemotherapy in first-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer with the aim of assessing effect on overall survival.
Methods: In this randomised controlled trial, patients who were fit for but had not received previous chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy (arm A), the same combination plus cetuximab (arm B), or intermittent chemotherapy (arm C). The choice of fluoropyrimidine therapy (capecitabine or infused fluouroracil plus leucovorin) was decided before randomisation. Randomisation was done centrally (via telephone) by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit using minimisation. Treatment allocation was not masked. The comparison of arms A and C is described in a companion paper. Here, we present the comparison of arm A and B, for which the primary outcome was overall survival in patients with KRAS wild-type tumours. Analysis was by intention to treat. Further analyses with respect to NRAS, BRAF, and EGFR status were done. The trial is registered, ISRCTN27286448.
Findings: 1630 patients were randomly assigned to treatment groups (815 to standard therapy and 815 to addition of cetuximab). Tumour samples from 1316 (81%) patients were used for somatic molecular analyses; 565 (43%) had KRAS mutations. In patients with KRAS wild-type tumours (arm A, n=367; arm B, n=362), overall survival did not differ between treatment groups (median survival 17·9 months [IQR 10·3—29·2] in the control group vs 17·0 months [9·4—30·1] in the cetuximab group; HR 1·04, 95% CI 0·87—1·23, p=0·67). Similarly, there was no effect on progression-free survival (8·6 months [IQR 5·0—12·5] in the control group vs 8·6 months [5·1—13·8] in the cetuximab group; HR 0·96, 0·82—1·12, p=0·60). Overall response rate increased from 57% (n=209) with chemotherapy alone to 64% (n=232) with addition of cetuximab (p=0·049). Grade 3 and higher skin and gastrointestinal toxic effects were increased with cetuximab (14 vs 114 and 67 vs 97 patients in the control group vs the cetuximab group with KRAS wild-type tumours, respectively). Overall survival differs by somatic mutation status irrespective of treatment received: BRAF mutant, 8·8 months (IQR 4·5—27·4); KRAS mutant, 14·4 months (8·5—24·0); all wild-type, 20·1 months (11·5—31·7).
Interpretation: This trial has not confirmed a benefit of addition of cetuximab to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Cetuximab increases response rate, with no evidence of benefit in progression-free or overall survival in KRAS wild-type patients or even in patients selected by additional mutational analysis of their tumours. The use of cetuximab in combination with oxaliplatin and capecitabine in first-line chemotherapy in patients with widespread metastases cannot be recommended.

Novel interactions between UFH and TFPI in children

The impact of age upon therapeutic response to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in children is proposed to reflect quantitative and potentially qualitative differences in coagulation proteins across childhood. This study explores the UFH-dependent tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) release in children compared to previously published data in adults. Children <16 years of age undergoing cardiac angiography formed the population for this prospective cohort study. TFPI release was measured prior to (baseline) and at 15, 30, 45 and 120 min post-UFH dose. This study demonstrated that, whilst the immediate release of TFPI post-UFH was similar in children compared to adults, TFPI release in children remained increased and consistent for a significantly longer period post-UFH administration compared to adults. Plasma TFPI levels in children did not demonstrate an UFH concentration –dependent reduction, as has been previously reported in adults. The prolonged TFPI-mediated anticoagulant levels observed in children administered UFH may contribute to the increased rate of major bleeding reported in children compared to adults. Furthermore, we postulate that this sustained UFH-dependent increase in TFPI levels in children may influence the binding of UFH to competitive plasma proteins, such as those involved in the immunological response to UFH associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

A unique homologue of the eukaryotic protein-modifier ubiquitin present in the bacterium Bacteroides fragilis, a predominant resident of the human gastro-intestinal tract

In the complete genome sequences of Bacteroides fragilis NCTC9343 and 638R, we have discovered a gene, ubb, the product of which has 63% identity to human ubiquitin and cross-reacts with antibodies raised against bovine ubiquitin. The sequence of ubb is closest in identity (76%) to the ubiquitin gene from a Migratory Grasshopper entomopoxvirus, suggesting acquisition by inter-kingdom horizontal gene transfer. We have screened clinical isolates of B. fragilis from diverse geographical regions and found that ubb is present in some, but not all strains. The gene is transcribed and the mRNA translated in B. fragilis, but deletion of ubb did not have a detrimental effect on growth. BfUbb has a predicted signal sequence; both full length and processed forms were detected in whole cell extracts, while the processed form was found in concentrated culture supernatants. Purified recombinant BfUbb inhibited in vitro ubiquitination and was able to covalently bind the human E1 activating enzyme, suggesting it could act as a suicide substrate in vivo. B. fragilis is one of the predominant members of the normal human resident gastro-intestinal microbiota with estimates up to >1011 cells g-1 of faeces by culture. These data indicate that the gastro-intestinal tract of some individuals could contain a significant amount of aberrant ubiquitin with the potential to inappropriately activate the host immune system and/or interfere with eukaryotic ubiquitin activity. This discovery could have profound implications in relation to our understanding of human diseases such as inflammatory bowel and autoimmune diseases.

A national clinical scenario-based survey of clinicians' attitudes towards fresh frozen plasma transfusion for critically ill patients

Background: It is known that 20-30% of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is used in intensive care units (ICUs), but little is known about variations in decision making between clinicians in relation to coagulopathy management. Our aim was to describe ICU clinicians' beliefs and practice in relation to FFP treatment of non-bleeding coagulopathic critically ill patients.