Metronomic capecitabine as extended adjuvant chemotherapy in women with triple negative breast cancer

PURPOSE: High interest in triple-negative breast cancers is not surprising as this category of patients benefits neither from hormonal therapies nor from anti HER2 treatments. Blockade of angiogenesis by metronomic chemotherapy as well as other antiangiogenics might improve outcomes in this group of patients. This study aims to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of metronomic capecitabine as extended adjuvant treatment for women with triple-negative breast cancer. Methods: This is a prospective phase II study that included 41 patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and who were indicated for adjuvant chemotherapy. They received capecitabine 500 mg PO twice daily and continuously for six months after finishing six cycles of adjuvant FEC100 +/- postoperative radiotherapy. Results: Forty-one patients were enrolled in this study between June 2010 and December 2013. Median age was 50 years ranging from 27 to 67 years. Treatment was well tolerated. Adverse effects were grade 1 palmar– plantar erythrodysesthesia in 13 patients [31.7%]; grade 1 diarrhea in five patients [12.2%]; and grade 1 vomiting in two patients [4.9%]. Estimated median follow-up duration was 34 months. Estimated mean disease-free survival [DFS] was 42.4 months [95% CI, 39.02–45.79], while median DFS was not reached. Estimated mean overall survival was 44.34 months [95% CI 41.9–46.9]. Conclusion: Extended adjuvant metronomic capecitabine is well tolerated with patient compliance. These results need to be compared in a study with control arm, larger sample, as well as longer follow-up

Determination of methomyl insecticide residues in tomato and cucumber fruits by high performance liquid chromatography: kinetic study

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detector has been developed for the determination of methomyl insecticide residues on tomato and cucumber fruits. The developed method consisted of extraction with ethyl acetate, adsorption clean up [by adsorbing mixture consisting of charcoal/celite in ratio 2: 1], followed by high performance liquid chromatographic determination using methanol: water [1: 1] as a mobile phase and UV detection at 233 nm. The range of percentage recovery was between 88.2% and 90.4% for both plant samples. [These recoveries are good for those types of extraction of pesticides traces from plant materials, refer to [1] to compare recoveries]. The method was applied to determine residues and rate of decline of methomyl from fruits of tomatoes and cucumber [open field and greenhouse treatment, with methomyl formulation [Lannate 90% SP] for 100 liter water]. The insecticide incorporated into the plants decreased rapidly with a half-life around 1 day in winter and 0.5 day in summer

Field studies on Endod Phytolacca dodecandra for the control of schistosomiasis transmitting snails in Zambia

About one million persons mainly in rural areas of Zambia have schistosomiasis infection. The high prevalence of the disease therefore draws attention to the study of Agronomy of Zambia Phytolacca and its molluscicidal properties. The aim was to select and develop the most adaptable types under local environmental conditions, hoping that this may provide a cheaper, safer and more readily available source of molluscicide than synthetic chemicals. Field tests in Zambia [1991-95] demonstrated the feasibility of using Endod [an extract from the plant Phytolacca dodecandra] for controlling the intermediate snails hosts of bilharziasis in flowing water. Five field trials were conducted in Muchinshi stream on the copperbelt province of Zambia to determine the molluscicidal potency of Zambian Endod [Nchelenge source] obtained from Ichimpe plantation. A total of 150 parts per million [ppm], 75 ppm and 37.5 ppm were applied to represent high, moderate and low concentrations, respectively. High and moderate concentrations showed the remarkable ability of Endod to destroy simultaneously the aquatic planorbid snail species which belong to the genera of Bulinus and Biomphalaria. At both concentrations of 150 ppm and 75 ppm applied in 1991 and 1992 respectively, Endod was very effective where 98% of snail population was eliminated 24 hours after the application of the material over a period of 8 hours. Snails were not brought under control at the rate of 37.5 ppm of Endod where about 35% of snail population was left alive 24 hours after the application. Endod water extract at 74 ppm was also found to be highly effective against snail intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis up to a distance of 1 kilometer. This was confirmed from the results of the caged snails where 100% snail mortality was recorded among them. It was found that snails recovered 3 months after the application. This was attributed to the new hatches of snail egg masses since Endod is not ovicidal. In 1994 and 1995, it was suggested to apply Endod twice at 75 ppm. The two applications were interspaced by one month. The second application was aimed at those snails which hatched after the first treatment. Results revealed that effective period of controlling snails was prolonged to 6 months and that Endod can be applied without endangering operators of dispenser or people living in treated area. The combination of snail control by Endod and chemotherapy by Praziquantel in one integrated programme would offer more benefits in schistosomiasis control programme

Effect of bromocriptine on some gastrointestinal smooth muscle activities in experimental animals

The action of bromocriptine [BC] was investigated on isolated smooth muscles prepared from the fundus of the rat stomach as well as the duodenum and jejunum of rabbit. BC [25-200 mug/ml] produced a dose dependent stimulant effect on the contractility of all tested preparations which could be abolished by dopaminergic antagonist on rat fundus and by ganglion blocker on the duodenum and jejunum. However, muscarinic antagonist and histaminergic blocker could not affect such response. Larger doses of BC [400, 800 mug/ml] showed an inhibitor action which could be completely blocked on isolated rat fundus by dopaminergic antagonist while combination of alpha and beta- adrenergic blockers could abolish such response on isolated duodenum and jejunum of rabbit. Involvement of dopaminergic, adrenergic and central cholinergic receptors in the production of gastrointestinal side effects of BC is more likely