A new sensitive and selective detection of Ga3+ by thiophene-based 'turn-on' fluorescent chemosensor.

We designed a thiophene-based fluorescent chemosensor DHTC ((E)-2-([3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzylidene]amino)thiophene-3-carboxamide) for detecting gallium (Ga3+ ). DHTC could probe Ga3+ using fluorescence enhancement. The limit of detection for Ga3+ by DHTC was 0.39 µM. The binding mode of DHTC to Ga3+ was determined as a 1:1 ratio from analysis by Job's plot and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In addition, DHTC could selectively detect Ga3+ using test kits. The sensing process of Ga3+ by DHTC was presented using ultraviolet-visible light titration, Job's plot, ESI-MS, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance titration, and density functional theory calculation.

Highly Selective Detection of Al3+ by Carboxamide-Based Fluorescent Chemosensor.

We designed a carboxamide-based fluorescent chemosensor HTPQ ((E)-2-(((8-hydroxy-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H,5H-pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-9-yl)methylene)amino)thiophene-3-carboxamide) for detecting Al3+. HTPQ could probe Al3+ by fluorescence enhancement. Limit of detection for Al3+ toward HTPQ was 1.4 µM. Binding of HTPQ to Al3+ was determined to be a 1:1 ratio with the analysis of Job plot and ESI-mass. In addition, HTPQ was able to detect Al3+ using the test strip by fluorescent variation. The sensing process of Al3+ by HTPQ was presented by UV-vis titration, ESI-MS, Job plot, 1H NMR titration and DFT calculation.

Prognostic implication of FEV1/FVC ratio for limited-stage small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: A proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may progress rapidly to small cell lung cancer (SCLC). As the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced volume vital capacity (FVC) ratio is usually impaired in patients with COPD, and given that the FEV1 and FVC are not necessarily related to lung cancer development, we performed this study to test our hypothesis that the FEV1/FVC ratio predicts survival of patients with limited-stage (LS)-SCLC. METHODS: We assessed 74 patients with LS-SCLC treated with chemoradiotherapy. The patients were divided into two FEV1/FVC ratio groups: <0.74 (n=24) and ≥0.74 (n=50). RESULTS: The 3-year overall survival (OS) and 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were significantly lower in patients with FEV1/FVC <0.74 than in those with FEV1/FVC ≥0.74 group (35.4% vs. 61.2%, P=0.0033; and 11.7% vs. 51.8%, P=0.0072, respectively). On multivariate analysis, the low FEV1/FVC group was independently associated with OS and PFS [hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval): 2.15 (0.99-4.63), P=0.052; and 2.13 (1.04-4.39), P=0.039, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment FEV1/FVC ratio appears to be a potential prognostic factor for patients with LS-SCLC.

Can initial diagnostic PET-CT aid to localize tumor bed in breast cancer radiotherapy: feasibility study using deformable image registration.

BACKGROUND: Localization of the tumor bed of breast cancer is crucial for accurate planning of boost irradiation. Lumpectomy cavity and surgical clips provide localizing information about tumor bed. However, defining the tumor bed is often difficult because of presence of unclear lumpectomy cavity and lack of certain information such as absence of surgical clips. In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of initial diagnostic PET-CT in localization of the tumor bed using deformable image registration (DIR). METHODS: We selected twenty-five patients who had an initial diagnostic PET-CT performed and underwent breast-conserving surgery with surgical clips in tumor bed. In every individual patient, two target volumes were separately delineated on planning CT; 1) target volume based on surgical clips with a margin of 1 cm (TV(clip)) and 2) tumor volume based on 90% of maximum SUV on PET-CT registered by DIR (TV(PET)). The percent of TV(PET) in TV(clip) (V(in)) was calculated and distance between center points of two volumes (D(center)) was also measured. RESULTS: Mean D(center) between two volumes was 1.4 cm (range, 0.33-2.53). Mean V(in) was 94.8% (range, 60.9-100) and 100% in 18 out of 25 patients. When compared to the center of TV(clip), the center of TV(PET) tended to be located posteriorly (mean 0.3 cm, standard deviation 0.6), laterally (mean 0.3 cm, standard deviation 0.8) and inferiorly (mean 0.4 cm, standard deviation 0.9). CONCLUSION: Initial diagnostic PET-CT can be one of the possible references to localize the tumor bed in breast cancer radiotherapy.

Prognostic factors and treatment outcome after radiotherapy in cervical cancer patients with isolated para-aortic lymph node metastases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in cervical cancer patients with isolated para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastases. We especially tried to evaluate PALN factors such as size, site and number. METHODS: From August 1994 to December 2009, 40 cervical cancer patients with isolated PALN node metastases at initial diagnosis were selected for analysis. Patients underwent both extended field external beam and intracavitary brachytherapy. Fourteen patients received 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP) and 16 patients received weekly concurrent cisplatin. Information of PALN, such as size, site, and number, was founded before PALN radiotherapy. RESULTS: The median follow-up time after primary treatment was 28.5 months (range, 2 to 213 months). The 3-year overall and progression-free survival rate after primary treatment was 44.3% and 31.3%, respectively. In multivariate analysis including tumor stage, performance status, and chemotherapy, FP regimen concurrent chemoradiotherapy was more effective than radiotherapy alone (p=0.030). The 3-year progression-free survival rate was 41.9% and 11.1% in patients with PALN numbers of ≤1 and ≥2, respectively (p=0.008). The 3-year progression-free survival rate was 42.1% and 19.2% in patients with PALN size of <1.5 cm and ≥1.5 cm, respectively (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: The radiologic features of PALN, such as number or size, can be used to determine prognosis in PALN metastatic cervical cancer patients. Furthermore, FP regimen concurrent chemoradiotherapy was associated with better patient survival than radiotherapy alone. However, more studies are required to confirm possible different treatment outcomes between FP and weekly cisplatin regimens.