Leiomiosarcoma primario de hueso en fémur distal metastásico a clavícula: reporte de un caso / Primary leiomyosarcoma of bone in the distal femur with clavicle metastasis: a case report

El leiomiosarcoma (LMS) es un tipo de tumor de células fusiformes de muy baja incidencia, que tiene un comportamiento agresivo, con alta tasa de mortalidad, por lo que el manejo debe ser quirúrgico, con una resección amplia de la lesión. No está claro el papel de la radio ni de la quimioterapia en su manejo. Presentamos a una paciente de 28 años que consultó por dolor de 2 meses en la rodilla derecha. Radiográficamente, se caracterizó como una lesión osteolítica pura en el fémur distal. La resonancia nuclear magnética (RNM) contrastada mostró áreas hipervasculares dentro del tumor. La gammagrafía mostró un marcado aumento en la captación de radiotrazadores. Se tomó una biopsia, con un informe de patología de LMS óseo bien diferenciado. Se trató con 3 ciclos de quimioterapia neoadyuvante preoperatoria con ifosfamida 1.000 mg/m2 en los días 1 a 3, además de doxorrubicina 70 mg/m2 , y resección quirúrgica de la lesión y salvamento de la extremidad con endoprótesis de rodilla. Una vez que se resecó la lesión, la paciente recibió quimioterapia adyuvante con 4 ciclos de gencitabina 1.000 mg/m2 entre los días 1 y 8, y doxetacel 70 mg/m2 el día 1. Durante los dos meses de seguimiento, la paciente presenóa una fractura en el tercio medio de la clavícula, compatible con una lesión patológica en radiografías y tomografía por emisión de positrones (TEP). La biopsia reveló una lesión metastásica de LMS óseo que fue tratada mediante resección quirúrgica de la clavícula. Este es un caso único, dado que, durante el seguimiento, recibió tratamiento adyuvante con quimioterapia y se evaluó con una TEP, con una evolución clínica satisfactoria y sin evidencia de nuevas lesiones

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a type of spindle-cell tumor of very low incidence that tumor has an aggressive behavior, with high mortality rates; therefore, its management must be surgical, with a wide resection of the lesion. The role of radio and chemotherapy in its management is not clear. We present the case of a 28-year-old female patient who consulted for pain lasting 2 months in the right knee. Radiographically, it was characterized as a pure osteolytic lesion in the distal femur. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hypervascular areas within the tumor. The scintigraphy showed a marked increase in radiotracer uptake. A biopsy was taken, with a pathology report of well-differentiated osseous LMS. It was treated with 3 cycles of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy with ifosfamide 1,000 mg/m2 in the first 3 days, as well as doxorubicin 70 mg/m2 , and surgical resection of the lesion and limb salvage with knee endoprosthesis. Once the lesion was resected, the patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, with 4 cycles of gencitabine 1,000 mg/m2 between days 1 and 8, and doxetacel 70 mg/m2 on day 1. During the 2-month follow-up, the patient presented a fracture in the middle third of the clavicle, which was compatible with a pathological lesion on radiographs and positron-emission tomography (PET) scans. The biopsy showed a metastatic lesion of bone LMS, which was treated by surgical resection of the clavicle. This is a unique case, given that, during the follow-up, the patient underwent adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy, and was evaluated with a PET scan, with a satisfactory clinical evolution and no evidence of new lesions.

Tumor fibroblástico inguinal superficial positivo para CD34: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Inguinal superficial cd34-positive fibroblastic tumor: case report and literature review

El tumor fibroblástico superficial de tejidos blandos positivo para antígeno CD34 (CD34) es un tumor raro, de baja frecuencia, que se caracteriza histológicamente por un marcado pleomorfismo, baja actividad mitótica, e inmunoreactividad difusa para CD34. Puede tener un comportamiento similar al de un tumor mesenquimal de malignidad intermedia. Existen sólo 52 casos publicados en la literatura. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 31 años con una masa en tejidos blandos en región inguinal izquierda, de crecimiento progresivo, de varios meses de evolución dolorosa. La masa fue biopsiada y, con la sospecha de un tumor fibroblástico superficial positivo para CD34, fue posteriormente tratada con una resección ampliada de la lesión y con cobertura del defecto en la piel con un colgajo local de avance de V-Y, con una evolución satisfactoria en su seguimiento postquirúrgico. El reporte de patología confirmó la sospecha diagnóstica de un tumor con reactividad fuerte para CD34, con proteína P53 en 60% a 70%, antígeno Ki67 menor al 15%, sin pérdida de proteína nuclear INI-1, y negatividad para CD31, CD163, AE1AE3, CAM5.2, EMA, CD30, receptores de progestágenos, proteína S100, y desmina, con bordes negativos.

Superficial CD34 (CD34) antigen positive fibroblastic soft-tissue tumor is a rare, lowfrequency tumor, characterized histologically by marked pleomorphism, low mitotic activity, and diffuse immunoreactivity for CD34. It may behave like a mesenchymal tumor of intermediate malignancy. There are only 52 cases published in the literature. We present the case of a 31-year-old patient with a long progressive and painful growth of a soft-tissue lesion in the left inguinal region. The mass was biopsied and, with the suspicion of a superficial CD34-positive fibroblast tumor, it was subsequently treated with an enlarged resection of the lesion and covering the skin defect with a local V-Y advancement flap, with a satisfactory evolution in the postoperative follow-up. The pathology report confirmed the diagnostic suspicion of a tumor with strong reactivity for CD34, with P53 protein in 60% to 70%, Ki67 antigen in less than 15%, without loss of INI-1, and with negativity for CD31, CD163, AE1AE3, CAM5.2, EMA, CD30, progestin receptors, S100 protein and desmin, with negative borders.

Optical communications downlink from a low-earth orbiting 1.5U CubeSat.

In this article, we present the first demonstration of an optical communications downlink from a low-earth orbiting free-flying CubeSat. Two 1.5U vehicles, AC7-B&C, built under NASA's Optical Communications and Sensors Demonstration (OCSD) program were launched in November 2017 and subsequently placed into a 450-km, 51.6° inc. circular orbit. Pseudorandom data streams using on-off key (OOK) modulation were transmitted from AC-7B to a 40 cm aperture telescope located at sea level in El Segundo, CA. At 200 Mbps, without forward error correction (FEC), we achieved a 115-second link that was ~78% error free, with the remaining portion exhibiting an error rate below 1E-5. At the time of the engagement, the 1064-nm laser transmitter was operating at 2 W (half capacity) with a full width half maximum (FWHM) beam divergence of ~1 mrad, which was approximately double the anticipated pointing accuracy of the vehicle.

The 1997 Mars Pathfinder Spacecraft Landing Site: Spillover Deposits from an Early Mars Inland Sea.

The Martian outflow channels comprise some of the largest known channels in the Solar System. Remote-sensing investigations indicate that cataclysmic floods likely excavated the channels ~3.4 Ga. Previous studies show that, in the southern circum-Chryse region, their flooding pathways include hundreds of kilometers of channel floors with upward gradients. However, the impact of the reversed channel-floor topography on the cataclysmic floods remains uncertain. Here, we show that these channel floors occur within a vast basin, which separates the downstream reaches of numerous outflow channels from the northern plains. Consequently, floods propagating through these channels must have ponded, producing an inland sea, before reaching the northern plains as enormous spillover discharges. The resulting paleohydrological reconstruction reinterprets the 1997 Pathfinder landing site as part of a marine spillway, which connected the inland sea to a hypothesized northern plains ocean. Our flood simulation shows that the presence of the sea would have permitted the propagation of low-depth floods beyond the areas of reversed channel-floor topography. These results explain the formation at the landing site of possible fluvial features indicative of flow depths at least an order of magnitude lower than those apparent from the analyses of orbital remote-sensing observations.

10-MV SBRT FFF IRRADIATION TECHNIQUE IS ASSOCIATED TO THE LOWEST PERIPHERAL DOSE: THE OUTCOME OF 142 TREATMENT PLANS FOR THE 10 MOST COMMON TUMOUR LOCATIONS.

There is a growing interest in the combined use of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) with Flattening Filter Free (FFF) due to the high local control rates and reduced treatment times, compared to conventionally fractionated treatments. It has been suggested that they may also provide a better radiation protection to radiotherapy patients as a consequence of the expected decrease in peripheral doses. This work aims to determine this reduction in unattended out-of-field regions, where no CT information is available but an important percentage of second primary cancers occur. For that purpose, ten different cases suitable for SBRT were chosen. Thus, 142 different treatment plans including SBRT, as well as 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT (with standard fractionation) in low and high energies for Varian (FF and FFF), Siemens and Elekta machines were created. Then, photon and neutron peripheral dose in 14 organs were assessed and compared using two analytical models. For the prostate case, uncomplicated and cancer free control probability estimation was also carried out. As a general behavior, SBRT plans led to the lowest peripheral doses followed by 3D-CRT, VMAT and IMRT, in this order. Unflattened beams proved to be the most effective in reducing peripheral doses, especially for 10 MV. The obtained results suggest that FFF beams for SBRT with 10 MV represent the best compromise between dose delivery efficiency and peripheral dose reduction.

Heavy-ion induced two-neutron transfer reactions and the role of pairing / Reacciones de transferencia de dos neutrones inducidas por iones pesados y el papel del apareamiento

Abstract Heavy-ion induced two-neutron transfer reactions (18O,16O) at 84 MeV were studied on several targets up to high excitation energy of the residual nucleus thanks to the use of the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer to detect the ejectiles. The obtained results indicate of the important role played by the nuclear paring.

Resumen Se estudiaron reacciones de transferencia de dos neutrones inducidas por iones pesados (18O, 16O) a 84 MeV en varios blancos hasta una alta energía de excitación del núcleo residual gracias al uso del espectrómetro magnético MAGNEX para detectar los residuos eyectados. Los resultados obtenidos indican el importante papel desempeñado por el apareamiento nuclear.

The NUMEN project: Heavy-Ion Double Charge Exchange reactions towards 0νββ NME determination / El proyecto NUMEN: reacciones de intercambio de cargas dobles de iones pesados hacia la determinación de 0νββ NME

Abstract NUMEN proposes cross sections measurements of Heavy-Ion double charge exchange reactions as an innovative tool to access the nuclear matrix elements, entering the expression of the life time of Neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ). A key aspect of the projectis the use at INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS) of the Superconducting Cyclotron (CS) for the acceleration of the required high resolution and low emittance heavy-ion beams and of MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer for the detection of the ejectiles. The experimental measurements of double charge exchange reactions induced by heavy ions present a number of challenging aspects, since such reactions are characterized by very low cross sections. First experimental results give encouraging indication on the capability to access quantitative information towards the determination of the Nuclear Matrix Elements for 0νββ decay.

Resumen NUMEN propone mediciones de secciones eficaces de reacciones de intercambio de carga doble de iones pesados como una herramienta innovadora para acceder a los elementos de la matriz nuclear, entrando en la expresión del tiempo de vida de la desintegración beta doble sin neutrino (0νββ). Un aspecto clave del proyecto es el uso en INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS) del ciclotrón superconductor (CS) para la aceleración de los haces de iones pesados de alta resolución y baja emitancia requeridos y del espectrómetro magnético de gran aceptación MAGNEX para la detección de los residuos eyectados. Las mediciones experimentales de reacciones de intercambio de carga doble inducidas por iones pesados presentan una serie de aspectos desafiantes, ya que tales reacciones se caracterizan por secciones eficaces muy bajas. Los primeros resultados experimentales dan una indicación alentadora sobre la capacidad de acceder a información cuantitativa para la determinación de los Elementos de la Matriz Nuclear para la descomposición de 0νββ.

Characterization of radon levels in soil and groundwater in the North Maladeta Fault area (Central Pyrenees) and their effects on indoor radon concentration in a thermal spa.

Radon levels in the soil and groundwater in the North Maladeta Fault area (located in the Aran Valley sector, Central Pyrenees) are analysed from both geological and radiation protection perspectives. This area is characterized by the presence of two important normal faults: the North Maladeta fault (NMF) and the Tredós Fault (TF). Two primary aspects make this study interesting: (i) the NMF shows geomorphic evidence of neotectonic activity and (ii) the presence of a thermal spa, Banhs de Tredós, which exploits one of the several natural springs of the area and needs to be evaluated for radiation dosing from radon according to the European regulation on basic safety standards for protection against ionizing radiation. The average soil radon and thoron concentrations along a profile perpendicular to the two normal faults - 22 ±â€¯3 kBq·m-3 and 34 ±â€¯3 kBq·m-3, respectively - are not high and can be compared to the radionuclide content of the granitic rocks of the area, 25 ±â€¯4 Bq·kg-1 for 226Ra and 38 ±â€¯2 Bq·kg-1 for 224Ra. However, the hypothesis that the normal faults are still active is supported by the presence of anomalies in both the soil radon and thoron levels that are unlikely to be of local origin together with the presence of similar anomalies in CO2 fluxes and the fact that the highest groundwater radon values are located close to the normal faults. Additionally, groundwater 222Rn data have complemented the hydrochemistry data, enabling researchers to better distinguish between water pathways in the granitic and non-granitic aquifers. Indoor radon levels in the spa vary within a wide range, [7-1664] Bq·m-3 because the groundwater used in the treatment rooms is the primary source of radon in the air. Tap water radon levels inside the spa present an average value of 50 ±â€¯8 kBq·m-3, which does not exceed the level stipulated by the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) of 100 kBq·m-3 for water used for human consumption. This finding implies that even relatively low radon concentration values in water can constitute a relevant indoor radon source when the transfer from water to indoor air is efficient. The estimated effective dose range of values for a spa worker due to radon inhalation is [1-9] mSv·y-1. The use of annual averaged radon concentration values may significantly underestimate the dose in these situations; therefore, a detailed dynamic study must be performed by considering the time that the workers spend in the spa.

Correction: 3D VMAT Verification Based on Monte Carlo Log File Simulation with Experimental Feedback from Film Dosimetry.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166767.].

3D VMAT Verification Based on Monte Carlo Log File Simulation with Experimental Feedback from Film Dosimetry.

A model based on a specific phantom, called QuAArC, has been designed for the evaluation of planning and verification systems of complex radiotherapy treatments, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). This model uses the high accuracy provided by the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of log files and allows the experimental feedback from the high spatial resolution of films hosted in QuAArC. This cylindrical phantom was specifically designed to host films rolled at different radial distances able to take into account the entrance fluence and the 3D dose distribution. Ionization chamber measurements are also included in the feedback process for absolute dose considerations. In this way, automated MC simulation of treatment log files is implemented to calculate the actual delivery geometries, while the monitor units are experimentally adjusted to reconstruct the dose-volume histogram (DVH) on the patient CT. Prostate and head and neck clinical cases, previously planned with Monaco and Pinnacle treatment planning systems and verified with two different commercial systems (Delta4 and COMPASS), were selected in order to test operational feasibility of the proposed model. The proper operation of the feedback procedure was proved through the achieved high agreement between reconstructed dose distributions and the film measurements (global gamma passing rates > 90% for the 2%/2 mm criteria). The necessary discretization level of the log file for dose calculation and the potential mismatching between calculated control points and detection grid in the verification process were discussed. Besides the effect of dose calculation accuracy of the analytic algorithm implemented in treatment planning systems for a dynamic technique, it was discussed the importance of the detection density level and its location in VMAT specific phantom to obtain a more reliable DVH in the patient CT. The proposed model also showed enough robustness and efficiency to be considered as a pre-treatment VMAT verification system.

Soil radon dynamics in the Amer fault zone: An example of very high seasonal variations.

Soil radon levels of the Amer fault zone have been measured for a 4 year-period with the aim of checking seasonal fluctuations obtained in previous studies and to understand radon origin and dynamics. In this manuscript additional results are presented: updated continuous and integrated soil radon measurements, radionuclide content of soil materials and a detailed analysis of an urban profile by means of the electrical resistivity imaging technique and punctual soil radon, thoron and CO2 measurements. Integrated and continuous measurements present a wide range of values, [0.2-151.6] kBq m(-3) for radon, [4.5-39.6] kBq m(-3) for thoron and [4.0-71.2] g m(-2) day(-1) for CO2. The highest soil radon levels in the vicinity of the Amer fault (>40 kBq m(-3)) are found close to the fractured areas and present very important fluctuations repeated every year, with values in summer much higher than in winter, confirming previous studies. The highest radon values, up to 150 kBq m(-3), do not have a local origin because the mean value of radium concentration in this soil (19 ± 5 Bq kg(-1)) could not explain these values. Then soil radon migration through the fractures, influenced by atmospheric parameters, is assumed to account for such a high seasonal fluctuation. As main conclusion, in fractured areas, seasonal variations of soil radon concentration can be very important even in places where average soil radon concentration and radium content are not especially high. In these cases the migration capability of the soil is given not by intrinsic permeability but by the fracture structure. Potential risk estimation based on soil radon concentration and intrinsic permeability must be complemented with geological information in fractured systems.

Life cycle cost of a hybrid forward osmosis - low pressure reverse osmosis system for seawater desalination and wastewater recovery.

In recent years, forward osmosis (FO) hybrid membrane systems have been investigated as an alternative to conventional high-pressure membrane processes (i.e. reverse osmosis (RO)) for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment and recovery. Nevertheless, their economic advantage in comparison to conventional processes for seawater desalination and municipal wastewater treatment has not been clearly addressed. This work presents a detailed economic analysis on capital and operational expenses (CAPEX and OPEX) for: i) a hybrid forward osmosis - low-pressure reverse osmosis (FO-LPRO) process, ii) a conventional seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination process, and iii) a membrane bioreactor - reverse osmosis - advanced oxidation process (MBR-RO-AOP) for wastewater treatment and reuse. The most important variables affecting economic feasibility are obtained through a sensitivity analysis of a hybrid FO-LPRO system. The main parameters taken into account for the life cycle costs are the water quality characteristics (similar feed water and similar water produced), production capacity of 100,000 m(3) d(-1) of potable water, energy consumption, materials, maintenance, operation, RO and FO module costs, and chemicals. Compared to SWRO, the FO-LPRO systems have a 21% higher CAPEX and a 56% lower OPEX due to savings in energy consumption and fouling control. In terms of the total water cost per cubic meter of water produced, the hybrid FO-LPRO desalination system has a 16% cost reduction compared to the benchmark for desalination, mainly SWRO. Compared to the MBR-RO-AOP, the FO-LPRO systems have a 7% lower CAPEX and 9% higher OPEX, resulting in no significant cost reduction per m(3) produced by FO-LPRO. Hybrid FO-LPRO membrane systems are shown to have an economic advantage compared to current available technology for desalination, and comparable costs with a wastewater treatment and recovery system. Based on development on FO membrane modules, packing density, and water permeability, the total water cost could be further reduced.

Lesiones etmoidales con extensión secundaria: estrategia quirúrgica y complicaciones / Ethmoidal lesions with secondary extension: surgical strategies and complications

Introduction: The removal of ethmoidal tumors with secondary extension to the cranial base and/or facial region involves a high complexity and it is associated to a high morbility. Objective: To determine the results of craniofacial surgery in patient with ethmoid extended tumors. Methods: It was carried out a traverse retrospective descriptive study. The sample was conformed by the patients intervened surgically of anterior cranial base lesions by means of a combined craneofacial surgery during the period: January of the 2009 to January of the 2012 in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology with a 2 year pursuit. Descriptive statistical variables were used. Results: 20 patients were intervened. The age average was of 44,8 years. It prevail the masculine sex (65 percent). Nasal obstruction constitutes the most frequent presentation. Adenocarcinoma and epidermoid carcinoma constituted the most frequent malignant lesions. Inside the benign lesions prevail the invertedpapiloma. The techniques more employees were the bilateral frontal craneotomy and total etmoidectomy. The most frequent complication was the cerebrospinal fluid leak. The 2 years overall survival in patients with malignant lesions was 35 percent. Conclusions: A high number of complications was identified but they didn’t affect the survival neither the quality of life. An acceptable rate of survival was achieved in malignant lesions.

Introducción: La remoción de lesiones etmoidales con extensión secundaria a la base cranealy/o región facial, entraña una elevada complejidad y se encuentra asociada a una elevada morbilidad. Objetivo: Determinar los resultados de la cirugía combinada craneofacial en pacientes con neoplasias etmoidales extendidas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por los pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de lesiones de base craneal anterior mediante un abordaje combinado craneofacial durante el período: enero de 2009 a enero de 2012 en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología con un seguimiento de 2 años. Se emplearon variables estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados: Fueron intervenidos 20 pacientes. El promedio de edad fue de 44,8 años. Predominó el sexo masculino (65 por ciento). La obstrucción nasal constituyó la presentación más frecuente. El adenocarcinoma y el carcinoma epidermoide constituyeron las lesiones malignas más frecuentes. Dentro de las lesiones benignas predominó el papiloma invertido. Las técnicas más empleadas fueron la craneotomía frontal bilateral y la etmoidectomía total. La complicación más frecuente fue la fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo. La supervivencia global a los 2 años en los pacientes con lesiones malignas fue del 35 por ciento. Conclusiones: Se identificó un elevado número de complicaciones pero no afectaron la supervivencia ni la calidad de vida. Se logró una aceptable tasa de supervivencia en lesiones malignas.

Signatures of the Giant Pairing Vibration in the 14C and 15C atomic nuclei.

Giant resonances are collective excitation modes for many-body systems of fermions governed by a mean field, such as the atomic nuclei. The microscopic origin of such modes is the coherence among elementary particle-hole excitations, where a particle is promoted from an occupied state below the Fermi level (hole) to an empty one above the Fermi level (particle). The same coherence is also predicted for the particle-particle and the hole-hole excitations, because of the basic quantum symmetry between particles and holes. In nuclear physics, the giant modes have been widely reported for the particle-hole sector but, despite several attempts, there is no precedent in the particle-particle and hole-hole ones, thus making questionable the aforementioned symmetry assumption. Here we provide experimental indications of the Giant Pairing Vibration, which is the leading particle-particle giant mode. An immediate implication of it is the validation of the particle-hole symmetry.

A simple flow cytometry method improves the detection of phosphatidylserine-exposing extracellular vesicles.

BACKGROUND: Plasma contains cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), which participate in physiopathological processes and have potential applications as disease biomarker. However, the enumeration of EVs faces major problems, due to their sub-micrometer size and to intrinsic limitations in methods of characterization, mainly flow cytometry (FCM). OBJECTIVES: Our objective is to enumerate EVs in plasma, by taking as the prototype the population of phosphatidylserine (PS)-exposing EVs, which constitute one of the major EV populations and are responsible for thrombotic disorders. METHODS: The concentration of PS-exposing EVs in platelet-free plasma (PFP) of healthy subjects was measured by FCM using either light scattering or fluorescence as the trigger and fluorescent Annexin-5 (Anx5) as the specific label. In addition, PS-exposing EVs were enumerated by electron microscopy (EM) after labeling with Anx5 gold nanoparticles and sedimentation on EM grids. RESULTS: We show that about 50× more Anx5-positive EVs are detected by FCM when detection is triggered on fluorescence as compared with light scattering. By fluorescence triggering, concentrations of 22 000-30 000 Anx5-positive EVs per µL PFP were determined, using two different flow cytometers. The limit of detection of the fluorescence triggering method was estimated at about 1000-2500 Anx5 molecules. Results from EM suggest that EVs down to 100-150 nm diameter are detected by fluorescence triggering. CONCLUSION: This study presents a simple method for enumerating EVs. We believe that this method is applicable in a general context and will improve our understanding of the roles of EVs in pathophysiological situations, which will open avenues for the development of EV-based diagnosis assays.

Helicobacter pylori vacA and cagA genotype diversity and interferon gamma expression in patients with chronic gastritis and patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main risk factor for the development of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. In H. pylori-infected individuals, the clinical result is dependent on various factors, among which are bacterial components, the immune response, and environmental influence. AIMS: To compare IFN-γ expression with the H. pylori vacA and cagA genotypes in patients with chronic gastritis and patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Ninety-five patients diagnosed with chronic gastritis and 20 with gastric cancer were included in the study. Three gastric biopsies were taken; one was used for the molecular detection and genotyping of H. pylori; another was fixed in absolute alcohol and histologic sections were made for determining IFN-γ expression through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No differences were found in the cells that expressed IFN-γ between the patients with chronic gastritis (median percentage of positive cells: 82.6% in patients without H. pylori and 82% in infected persons) and those with gastric cancer (70.5% in H. pylori-negative patients and 78.5% in infected persons). IFN-γ expression was 69% in chronic gastritis patients infected with H. pylori vacAs2m2/cagA⁻ it was 86.5% in patients infected with H. pylori vacAs1m2/cagA⁻, 86.5% in vacAs1m1/cagA⁻, and 82% in vacAs1m1/cagA⁺. Similar data were found in the patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ expression varied depending on the H. pylori vacA and cagA genotype, but not in accordance with the presence of chronic gastritis or gastric cancer.

Impact of organic nutrient load on biomass accumulation, feed channel pressure drop increase and permeate flux decline in membrane systems.

The influence of organic nutrient load on biomass accumulation (biofouling) and pressure drop development in membrane filtration systems was investigated. Nutrient load is the product of nutrient concentration and linear flow velocity. Biofouling - excessive growth of microbial biomass in membrane systems - hampers membrane performance. The influence of biodegradable organic nutrient load on biofouling was investigated at varying (i) crossflow velocity, (ii) nutrient concentration, (iii) shear, and (iv) feed spacer thickness. Experimental studies were performed with membrane fouling simulators (MFSs) containing a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane and a 31 mil thick feed spacer, commonly applied in practice in RO and nanofiltration (NF) spiral-wound membrane modules. Numerical modeling studies were done with identical feed spacer geometry differing in thickness (28, 31 and 34 mil). Additionally, experiments were done applying a forward osmosis (FO) membrane with varying spacer thickness (28, 31 and 34 mil), addressing the permeate flux decline and biofilm development. Assessed were the development of feed channel pressure drop (MFS studies), permeate flux (FO studies) and accumulated biomass amount measured by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total organic carbon (TOC). Our studies showed that the organic nutrient load determined the accumulated amount of biomass. The same amount of accumulated biomass was found at constant nutrient load irrespective of linear flow velocity, shear, and/or feed spacer thickness. The impact of the same amount of accumulated biomass on feed channel pressure drop and permeate flux was influenced by membrane process design and operational conditions. Reducing the nutrient load by pretreatment slowed-down the biofilm formation. The impact of accumulated biomass on membrane performance was reduced by applying a lower crossflow velocity and/or a thicker and/or a modified geometry feed spacer. The results indicate that cleanings can be delayed but are unavoidable.

Forward osmosis niches in seawater desalination and wastewater reuse.

This review focuses on the present status of forward osmosis (FO) niches in two main areas: seawater desalination and wastewater reuse. Specific applications for desalination and impaired-quality water treatment and reuse are described, as well as the benefits, advantages, challenges, costs and knowledge gaps on FO hybrid systems are discussed. FO can play a role as a bridge to integrate upstream and downstream water treatment processes, to reduce the energy consumption of the entire desalination or water recovery and reuse processes, thus achieving a sustainable solution for the water-energy nexus. FO hybrid membrane systems showed to have advantages over traditional membrane process like high pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration for desalination and wastewater treatment: (i) chemical storage and feed water systems may be reduced for capital, operational and maintenance cost, (ii) water quality is improved, (iii) reduced process piping costs, (iv) more flexible treatment units, and (v) higher overall sustainability of the desalination and wastewater treatment process. Nevertheless, major challenges make FO systems not yet a commercially viable technology, the most critical being the development of a high flux membrane, capable of maintaining an elevated salt rejection and a reduced internal concentration polarization effect, and the availability of appropriate draw solutions (cost effective and non-toxic), which can be recirculated via an efficient recovery process. This review article highlights the features of hybrid FO systems and specifically provides the state-of-the-art applications in the water industry in a novel classification and based on the latest developments toward scaling up these systems.

A system to measure isomeric state half-lives in the 10 ns to 10 µs range.

The Isomeric State Measurement System (SISMEI) was developed to search for isomeric nuclear states produced by fusion-evaporation reactions. The SISMEI consists of 10 plastic phoswich telescopes, two lead shields, one NaI(Tl) scintillation detector, two Compton suppressed HPGe γ-ray detectors, and a cone with a recoil product catcher. The new system was tested at the 8 UD Pelletron tandem accelerator of the University of São Paulo with the measurement of two known isomeric states: (54)Fe, 10(+) state (E = 6527.1 (11) keV, T(1/2) = 364(7) ns) and the 5/2(+) state of (19)F (E = 197.143 (4) keV, T(1/2) = 89.3 (10) ns). The results indicate that the system is capable of identifying delayed transitions, of measuring isomeric state lifetimes, and of identifying the feeding transitions of the isomeric state through the delayed γ-γ coincidence method. The measured half-life for the 10(+) state was T(1/2) = 365(14) ns and for the 5/2(+) state, 100(36) ns.

MCTP system model based on linear programming optimization of apertures obtained from sequencing patient image data maps.

PURPOSE: The authors present a hybrid direct multileaf collimator (MLC) aperture optimization model exclusively based on sequencing of patient imaging data to be implemented on a Monte Carlo treatment planning system (MC-TPS) to allow the explicit radiation transport simulation of advanced radiotherapy treatments with optimal results in efficient times for clinical practice. METHODS: The planning system (called CARMEN) is a full MC-TPS, controlled through aMATLAB interface, which is based on the sequencing of a novel map, called "biophysical" map, which is generated from enhanced image data of patients to achieve a set of segments actually deliverable. In order to reduce the required computation time, the conventional fluence map has been replaced by the biophysical map which is sequenced to provide direct apertures that will later be weighted by means of an optimization algorithm based on linear programming. A ray-casting algorithm throughout the patient CT assembles information about the found structures, the mass thickness crossed, as well as PET values. Data are recorded to generate a biophysical map for each gantry angle. These maps are the input files for a home-made sequencer developed to take into account the interactions of photons and electrons with the MLC. For each linac (Axesse of Elekta and Primus of Siemens) and energy beam studied (6, 9, 12, 15 MeV and 6 MV), phase space files were simulated with the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code. The dose calculation in patient was carried out with the BEAMDOSE code. This code is a modified version of EGSnrc/DOSXYZnrc able to calculate the beamlet dose in order to combine them with different weights during the optimization process. RESULTS: Three complex radiotherapy treatments were selected to check the reliability of CARMEN in situations where the MC calculation can offer an added value: A head-and-neck case (Case I) with three targets delineated on PET/CT images and a demanding dose-escalation; a partial breast irradiation case (Case II) solved with photon and electron modulated beams (IMRT + MERT); and a prostatic bed case (Case III) with a pronounced concave-shaped PTV by using volumetric modulated arc therapy. In the three cases, the required target prescription doses and constraints on organs at risk were fulfilled in a short enough time to allow routine clinical implementation. The quality assurance protocol followed to check CARMEN system showed a high agreement with the experimental measurements. CONCLUSIONS: A Monte Carlo treatment planning model exclusively based on maps performed from patient imaging data has been presented. The sequencing of these maps allows obtaining deliverable apertures which are weighted for modulation under a linear programming formulation. The model is able to solve complex radiotherapy treatments with high accuracy in an efficient computation time.