Quantitative tumor volume vs. TNM staging: the impact on prognosis in head and neck cancer

To evaluate the prognostic value of tumor volume [TV] by clinical method [CM] and Computerized Tomography [CT] scan in head and neck [H and N] cancer. Total 25 patients' [pts] pretreatment tumor volume [PT TV] was assessed clinically by cuboid volume method. Afterwards contrast enhanced computerized tomography [CECT] images of the pts were transferred to workstation by DICOM software. The computerized tomography tumor volume [CT TV] was obtained on Radworks 6.0, using mouse control cursor. After assessment, the patients were given 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy by conventional method on Co-60 Theratron 780 C. After 1 month of treatment, TV was again measured. Statistical analysis was done on MSTAT statistical analysis software. Two-tailed student t test, chi square test and test for two proportions for significance had been used. Large variations in tumor volume were found both in intra as well as inter T-stages. As the tumor size increases with T stages, the differences in measurement of TV by both methods decreases. CT TV results pre as well as post-treatment were more consistent than clinical method. The use of TV as a prognostic factor by CT scan seems to be more useful parameter than the CM. TV should be included in the TNM [tumor, node, and metastasis] classification after setting the strict guidelines for tumor delineation, to solve the discrepancy of treatment outcome in the same clinical stage

Saraca indica leaf powder for decontamination of Pb: removal, recovery, adsorbent characterization and equilibrium modeling

The present study explores the effectiveness of Saraca indica leaf powder, a surplus low value agricultural waste, in removing Pb ions from aqueous solution. The influence of pH, biomass dosage, contact time, particle size and metal concentration on the removal process were investigated. Batch studies indicated that maximum biosorption capacity for Pb was 95.37% at the pH 6.5. The sorption process followed the first order rate kinetics. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted best to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Morphological changes observed in scanning electron micrographs of untreated and metal treated biomass confirmed the phenomenon of biosorption. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of native and exhausted leaf powder confirmed lead biomass interactions responsible for sorption. Acid regeneration was tried for several cycles with a view to recover the sorbed metal ion and also to restore the sorbent to its original state. The findings showed that Saraca indica leaf powder can easily be envisaged as a new, vibrant, low cost biosorbent for metal clean up operations