Chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for resected gastric cancer: should we use selection criteria?

BACKGROUND: The management of gastric adenocarcinoma is essentially based on surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) as well as chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) have proven their effectiveness in survival outcomes compared to surgery alone. However, there is little data comparing the two adjuvant approaches. This study aimed to compare the prognosis and survival outcomes of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma operated and treated by adjuvant radio-chemotherapy or chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 80 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LGC) who received adjuvant treatment. We compared survival outcomes and patterns of recurrence of 53 patients treated by CTRT and those of 27 patients treated by CT. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 38.48 months, CTRT resulted in a significant improvement of the 5-year PFS (60.9% vs. 36%, p = 0.03) and the 5-year OS (55.9% vs. 33%, p = 0.015) compared to adjuvant CT. The 5-year OS was significantly increased by adjuvant CTRT (p = 0.046) in patients with lymph node metastasis, and particularly those with advanced pN stage (p = 0.0078) and high lymph node ratio (LNR) exceeding 25% (p = 0.012). Also, there was a significant improvement of the PFS of patients classified pN2-N3 (p = 0.022) with a high LNR (p = 0.018). CTRT was also associated with improved OS and PFS in patients with lymphovascular and perineural invasion (LVI and PNI) compared to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: There is a particular survival benefit of adding radiotherapy to chemotherapy in patients with selected criteria such as lymph node involvement, high LNR LVI, and PNI.

Chemical Composition, Characteristics Profiles and Bioactivities of Tunisian Phalaris canariensis Seeds: a Potential Source of ω-6 and ω-9 Fatty Acids.

Seeds oils of Phalaris canariensis extracted by ultrasonication and cold maceration were evaluated for their physical characteristics, total phenol contents, fatty acid and sterol compositions as well as for their antioxidant, antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase activities. The physicochemical properties of ultrasonication and cold maceration oils respectively were: acid values (4.00 and 3.25) mg KOH/g, peroxide values (5.53 and 4.41) meq O2 Kg-1, iodine values (88.83 and 95.17) g/100 g of oil, saponification values (119.21 and 98.17) mg KOH/g, phenolic content (36.40 and 53.00) mg GAE/g extract, chlorophylls (0.52 and 0.60) mg/kg oil and carotenoids contents (1.92 and 1.88) mg/kg oil. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that linoleic (52.03 and 52.2%), oleic (31.75 and 31.84%) and palmitic (11.09 and 11.34 %) acids were the major fatty acids in the two oils. Specific extinctions at 232 nm (K232) and 270 nm (K270) were (0.58 and 0.44) and (0.42 and 0.33), respectively. The DSC melting curve showed that their melting points and melting enthalpies were (-28.05°C and 76.8 J/g) and (-27.47°C and 62.3 J/g), respectively. On the other hand, the evaluation of their DPPH radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity, antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase activities showed interesting results. Thus, Phalaris canariensis seeds oils could deserve further consideration and investigation as a potentially new multi-purpose product for agro-food, medicinal and cosmetic uses.

Chemical characterization and biological activities of Simmondsia chinensis (Link) C. K. Schneid seeds oil.

The chemical composition, main physicochemical properties, and biological activities of Simmondsia chinensis (S. chinensis) seeds oil were studied. The results revealed that the physiochemical characteristics of S. chinensis seeds oil were as follows: acid values 1.15 mg KOH/g, peroxide values 8.00 meq O2 Kg-1, iodine values 80.00 g/100 g of oil and saponification values 92.00 mg KOH/g, phenolic content 50.91 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract. Gas chromatography analysis indicated that eicosenoic (55.50 %), erucic (20.43 %) and oleic (19.01 %) acids were the most abundant, saturated and unsaturated, fatty acids in the oil. Moreover, the evaluation of their antioxidant (DPPH, TAC), antibacterial, antidiabetic and acetylcholinesterase evinced interesting results. Seeds of S. chinensis constitute a substitute source for stable vegetable oil and protein with regard to nutritional and industrial applications.

[Factor V deficiency and pregnancy: a case report]. / Déficit constitutionnel en facteur V et grossesse : à propos d'un cas.

The factor V deficiency is a very rare hereditary disease of the coagulation, which is accompanied by a high hemorrhagic risk in the event of delivery and in the post-partum. We report the case of a woman having a factor V deficiency which had a pregnancy, and which gave birth by Cesarean, as replacement therapy we proposed the transfusion of 20 mL/kg of fresh frozen plasma before surgery and of 5 mL/kg by 12 h during 7 days in post-partum, this attitude allowed to avoid the hemorrhagic complications.