Extramedullary relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy

We analyzed the incidence, presenting features, risk factors of extramedullary (EM) relapse occurring in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy by using a competing-risk method. In total, 740/ 806 (92%) patients included in three multicenter trials (APL91, APL93 trials and PETHEMA 96) achieved CR, of whom 169 (23%) relapsed, including 10 EM relapses. Nine relapses involved the central nervous system (CNS) and one the skin, of which two were isolated EM relapse. In patients with EM disease, median WBC count was 26950/mm3 (7700-162000). The 3-year cumulative incidence of EM disease at first relapse was 5.0%. Univariate analysis identified age <45 years (P=0.05), bcr3 PML-RARalpha isoform (P= 0.0003) and high WBC counts (> or = 10,000/ mm3) (P<0.0001) as risk factors for EM relapse. In multivariate analysis, only high WBC count remained significant (P= 0.001). Patients with EM relapse had a poorer outcome since median survival from EM relapse was 6.7 months as compared to 26.3 months for isolated BM relapse (P=0.04). In conclusion, EM relapse in APL occurs more frequently in patients with increased WBC counts (> or = 10,000/mm3) and carries a poor prognosis. Whether CNS prophylaxis should be systematically performed in patients with WBC > or = 10,000/mm3 at diagnosis remains to be established.

Electrolytic Recovery of Copper and Zinc from Brasses

Reclaimed metals, or secondary metals, are becoming of great im­portance in the metal industries of the world. Secondary metals are an important factor in production. The increase in the secondary production of copper is due to many factors. One of these may be its permenance, that is, the metal does not corrode very readily. Another reason for increase in production is the high price paid for it.

Exemestane Versus Anastrozole in Postmenopausal Women With Early Breast Cancer: NCIC CTG MA.27—A Randomized Controlled Phase III Trial

PURPOSE In patients with hormone-dependent postmenopausal breast cancer, standard adjuvant therapy involves 5 years of the nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors anastrozole and letrozole. The steroidal inhibitor exemestane is partially non-cross-resistant with nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors and is a mild androgen and could prove superior to anastrozole regarding efficacy and toxicity, specifically with less bone loss. PATIENTS AND METHODS We designed an open-label, randomized, phase III trial of 5 years of exemestane versus anastrozole with a two-sided test of superiority to detect a 2.4% improvement with exemestane in 5-year event-free survival (EFS). Secondary objectives included assessment of overall survival, distant disease-free survival, incidence of contralateral new primary breast cancer, and safety. RESULTS In the study, 7,576 women (median age, 64.1 years) were enrolled. At median follow-up of 4.1 years, 4-year EFS was 91% for exemestane and 91.2% for anastrozole (stratified hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.18; P = .85). Overall, distant disease-free survival and disease-specific survival were also similar. In all, 31.6% of patients discontinued treatment as a result of adverse effects, concomitant disease, or study refusal. Osteoporosis/osteopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, vaginal bleeding, and hypercholesterolemia were less frequent on exemestane, whereas mild liver function abnormalities and rare episodes of atrial fibrillation were less frequent on anastrozole. Vasomotor and musculoskeletal symptoms were similar between arms. CONCLUSION This first comparison of steroidal and nonsteroidal classes of aromatase inhibitors showed neither to be superior in terms of breast cancer outcomes as 5-year initial adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer by two-way test. Less toxicity on bone is compatible with one hypothesis behind MA.27 but requires confirmation. Exemestane should be considered another option as up-front adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Morphology and evolution of the ejecta of Hale crater in Argyre basin, Mars: Results from high resolution mapping

We use various data sets, including images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera (HiRISE), to examine the ejecta of the generally fresh-looking Hale crater that occurs in the rugged mountain terrain of Nereidum Montes in the northern rim materials of the Argyre impact structure on Mars. Our investigation reveals that the distal parts of the Hale crater ejecta and other basin deposits behave like viscous flows, which we attribute to the secondary flow of ejecta mixed with water–ice-rich basin materials. Consistent with water-enrichment of the basin materials, our mapping further reveals occasionally deformed surfaces, including highly conspicuous features such as mounds and fractured plateaus that we interpret to be a result of periglacial modification, subsequent (including possibly present-day) to the transient localized melting and fluvial erosion caused by Hale-impact-generated heating. In particular, our morphometric analysis of a well-defined valley system west of Hale crater suggests that it may have been formed through hydrologic/glacial activity prior to the Hale impact, with additional modification resulting from the impact and subsequent geologic and hydrologic phenomena including glacial and periglacial activity.

S9511: a Southwest Oncology Group phase II study of trimetrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in unresectable or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this trial was to evaluate the response rate for trimetrexate in conjunction with 5-FU and leucovorin (LV) (= TFL) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer in a phase II, cooperative group setting. METHODS: Patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach received trimetrexate 110 mg/m IV over 60 minutes day 1, followed by 5-FU 500 mg/m IV bolus and LV 200 mg/m IV over 60 minutes day 2, followed by oral LV 15 mg every 6 hours x 7 doses, all weekly for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest, continued until progression. RESULTS: Characteristics for 37 eligible patients: median age 63 (range: 23-83); male/female: 69% of 31%; performance status 0/1/2 15/20/1. The confirmed response rate was 19%, and median overall survival was 6 months. Two patients died as a result of therapy, 1 because of infection without significant neutropenia, and 1 due to perforation of a responding gastric lesion. Seventy-two percent experienced grades 3 and 4 toxicity, most commonly diarrhea, fatigue, and lymphopenia. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen achieves response rates comparable to other 5-FU-based regimens, when used in treatment of incurable gastric cancer. Toxicity appears manageable.

Effects of ground semen collection on weight bearing on hindquarters, libido, and semen parameters in stallions

Collection of semen on the ground from the standing stallion represents an alternative method to dummy mount semen collection and is of increasing popularity for sport stallions, males suffering from health problems, or in studs without a dummy or suitable mare at disposal. Our aim was to collect and compare spermatological and physiological data associated with traditional and ground semen collection. Twelve of 23 Franches-Montagnes stallions were selected to carry out semen collection on a dummy and while standing in a crossed experimental protocol. Semen quantity and quality parameters, weight bearing on hindquarters, and behavioral and libido data were recorded. Ground versus dummy mount semen collection was accompanied by lower seminal volume (15.9 ± 14.6 vs. 22.0 ± 13.3 mL; P < 0.01) and lower total sperm count (4.913 ± 2.721 × 10(9) vs. 6.544 ± 2.856 × 10(9) sperm; P < 0.001). No significant differences were found concerning sperm motility and viability. Time to ejaculation was longer, and the number of attempts to ejaculation was higher (P = 0.053) in the standing position compared with the mount on the dummy. A higher (P < 0.01) amount of tail flagging was manifested by the stallions during ejaculation on the dummy compared to when standing. There was no difference in weight bearing on hindquarters when comparing dummy collection (51.2 ± 2.5%) and standing collection (48.9 ± 5.5%). Ground semen collection can be considered as a viable option for stallions that cannot mount a dummy or a mare. However, it requires training and may be not easily accepted by all stallions. Owners should be advised that ground semen collection is associated with significantly lower sperm numbers than with dummy mount semen collection.

Characterization of OSIRIS NAC filters for the interpretation of multispectral data of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Context. We interpret multicolor data from OSIRIS NAC for the remote-sensing exploration of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Aims. We determine the most meaningful definition of color maps for the characterization of surface variegation with filters available on OSIRIS NAC. Methods. We analyzed laboratory spectra of selected minerals and olivine-pyroxene mixtures seen through OSIRIS NAC filters, with spectral methods existing in the literature: reflectance ratios, minimum band wavelength, spectral slopes, band tilt, band curvature, and visible tilt. Results. We emphasize the importance of reflectance ratios and particularly the relation of visible tilt vs. band tilt. This technique provides a reliable diagnostic of the presence of silicates. Color maps constructed by red-green-blue colors defined with the green, orange, red, IR, and Fe2O3 filters let us define regions that may significantly differ in composition.

Benthic foraminiferal carbon isotopic records and the development of abyssal circulation at DSDP Sites 9-77, 12-119, 30-289, 82-563 and 94-608

The North Atlantic at present is ventilated by overflow of the Denmark Strait, Iceland-Faeroe Ridge, Faeroe Bank Channel, and Wyville-Thompson Ridge. The evolution of Cenozoic abyssal circulation of this region was related to tectonic opening and subsidence of these sills. We used d13C records of the benthic foraminifer Cibicidoides to decipher the timing of tectonically controlled changes in bottom-water circulation in the eastern basins (Biscay and Iberian) of the northern North Atlantic. Records from Site 608 (Kings Trough, northeastern North Atlantic) show that from about 24 to 15 Ma (early to early middle Miocene), d13C values in the Kings Trough area were depleted relative to western North Atlantic values and were more similar to Pacific d13C values. This reflects less ventilation of the Kings Trough region as compared to the well-oxygenated western North Atlantic. Comparison of Oligocene d13C records from Site 119 (Bay of Biscay) with western North Atlantic records suggests that the eastern basin was also relatively isolated prior to 24 Ma. At about 15 Ma, d13C values at Site 608 attained values similar to the western North Atlantic, indicating increased eastern basin ventilation in the middle Miocene. This increased advection into the eastern basin predated a major d18O increase which occurred at about 14.6 Ma. Subsidence estimates of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge indicate that the deepening of the Iceland-Faeroe Ridge was coincident with the marked change in eastern basin deep-water ventilation.

Stable Water Isotopologue data collected during HCCT-2010

Cloud samples for the isotopic analysis were collected in the framework of the Hill Cap Cloud Thuringia 2010 (HCCT-2010) campaign on Schmücke (50° 39'N/ 10° 46'E, 937 m a.s.l.; Germany) in September and October 2010 with a three-stage Caltech Active Strand Cloudwater Collector (CASCC) during 13 different cloud events with a temporal resolution of 1 to 3 hours. In a first step, we ensured that no additional fractionation occurred during sampling with the CASCC. The d values of the three sizes classes of the CASCC (4 µm to 16 µm, 16 µm to 22 µm and >22 µm) did not differ significantly, revealing that the cloud droplets of different sizes quickly equilibrate their delta value with the one of the surrounding vapor. delta values in the cloud droplets varied from -77 per mil to -15 per mil in d2H and from -12.1 per mil to -3.9 per mil in d18O and were fitted by d2H =7.8*d18O +13*10**-3. delta values decreased with temperature as well as towards the end of the campaign, representing a seasonal trend which is known from d values in precipitation. The deuterium excess of the cloud samples was generally higher than the Local Meteoric Water Line of the closest GNIP (Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation) station. Rain decreases its deuterium excess during falling through an unsaturated air column, while the cloud droplets conserve the deuterium excess of the initial evaporation and thus have been found to be a good indicator for the airmass source region: higher deuterium excess was measured for polar air masses and lower deuterium excess for Mediterranean air masses. Changes in d values during one cloud event were up to 3.6 per mil (d2H) and 0.23 per mil (d18O), except for frontal passages, which were associated with increases of ~6 per mil per hour (d2H) and ~0.6 per mil per hour (d18O). Using a box model, we showed that the influence of condensation only was able to explain the variation in the isotope signal of two cloud passages. Consequently, we deduced that the water vapor "feeding" the cloud advected the measured changes. A trajectory analysis and moisture source diagnostic revealed that it is very likely that the variations were either related to rain out along the trajectories or to meteorological changes in the moisture source region. This was the first study using stable water isotopologues in cloud water manifesting their potential in the context of atmospheric water vapor circulation.