On the transition from partial wetting to complete wetting of methanol on graphite.

The transition from partial wetting to complete wetting for methanol adsorbed on a highly graphitized thermal carbon black, Carbopack F, over a range of temperature from the triple point at 185 K to 298 K, was investigated using Monte Carlo simulation and high-resolution experiments. At 190 K, (above the triple point) both the experimental and simulated adsorption isotherms cut the P/P0 axis at a finite loading; a feature of partial wetting that has not been recognized previously in the literature. This occurs because most O- and H-atoms in the second layer of the adsorbate point towards the adsorbent surface to form hydrogen bonds with molecules in the first layer and therefore the interface between the bilayer adsorbed film and the gas phase consists mainly of methyl groups, preventing the system from forming higher layers. At temperatures above 263 K, methanol adsorption increases with pressure and wets the surface as the pressure approaches the bulk coexistence pressure P0. This is because the O-H and O-CH3 bonds of methanol in the region above the second layer have random orientation, and adsorption in higher layers takes place via hydrogen bonding. From extensive simulations of methanol adsorption on adsorbents of different strength over a wide temperature range, a parametric map has been constructed which identifies the regions of non-wetting, partial wetting and complete wetting. For a given surface strength, wetting is favoured at higher temperatures, and at a given temperature there is a transition from non-wetting on weakly adsorbing substrates to either partial wetting or to complete wetting on strong adsorbents at temperatures below or above the roughening temperature Tr of 260 K.

Prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received erlotinib treatment and subsequent dose reduction due to skin rash.

BACKGROUND: Severe skin rash as toxicity of erlotinib has been reported in relation to better response and survival. However, some patients require dose reduction due to skin toxicities, and their prognosis remains uncertain. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving erlotinib at a reduced dose because of skin rash. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 76 patients treated with erlotinib, 55 patients who developed skin rash severer than grade 2 were divided into 2 groups: 24 patients treated with erlotinib with dose reduction because of skin rash (dose reduction group) and 31 patients without any dose reduction (non-dose reduction group). RESULTS: The median progression-free survival in the dose reduction and non-dose reduction groups was 341 and 70 days, respectively, and the median overall survival was 566 and 202 days, respectively (p < 0.001). In the dose reduction group, no smoking history, female sex, epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation, and grade 3 skin rash were significant baseline factors. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received erlotinib at a reduced dose following skin rash showed better survival than those without reduction. In cases of intolerable skin rash, patients may benefit from continuous treatment with a reduced dose of erlotinib.