Impact of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets for advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains a challenging malignancy with poor prognosis. The combination of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab has shown promising results in AGC treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on serum tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with AGC and to explore their potential as predictive biomarkers for treatment response. AIM: To investigate the impact of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on serum markers and T cell subsets in patients with AGC. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 60 patients with AGC. All patients received oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2, every 3 weeks) and trastuzumab (8 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks) for six cycles. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and cancer antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) were measured before and after treatment. T-lymphocyte subsets, including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+ /CD8+ ratios, were also evaluated. The clinical response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. RESULTS: After six cycles of treatment, the CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 serum levels significantly decreased compared to baseline levels (P < 0.001). The percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes decreased (P < 0.05). The CD4+/CD8+ ratio also significantly increased after treatment (P < 0.05). Patients with a higher decrease in serum tumor markers (≥ 50% reduction) and a higher increase in CD4+/CD8+ ratio (≥ 1.5-fold) showed better clinical response rates (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy effectively reduced serum tumor marker levels and modulated T lymphocyte subsets in patients with AGC. Combination therapy not only has a direct antitumor effect, but also enhances the immune response in patients with AGC. Serum tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for treatment response in patients with AGC receiving combination therapy.

HNO2 treatment of sludge: An alternative way of sludge usage as fertilizer.

The research was conducted to evaluate the sludge quality as fertilizer after heavy metal removal by using free nitrous acid (FNA, HNO2) solution. To meet up the Korean criteria of fertilizer, FNA treatment with the ultrasonic process was studied here. The sample was taken from a local wastewater and sewage treatment plants and FNA with FNA plus ultrasonic used to treat them. As and Cd concentrations were met the Korean criteria after FNA treatment. In contrast, Al of sludge from sewage treatment plant did not decrease down to the criteria, possibly suggesting that it may be related to the coagulants of the sludge during thickening and dewatering. FNA treatment showed satisfactory results in comparison with the other acidic treatment of citric acid, oxalic acid, HNO3 or HCl. Removal efficiency of the Fenton-like reaction was more effective than the FNA method. Despite this result, the FNA treatment may be better for sludge recycling as fertilizer because the Fenton-like process removed the necessary organic matter, nitrogen as well as metals. Moreover, the addition of ultrasound process has in conserving time and expenditure in metal removal and FNA with ultrasound became more effective in shorter reaction time. Therefore, FNA treated sludge could be a better option for sludge recycling as fertilizer. In conclusion, a proper plan of sludge management should be required for future work to use sludge as fertilizer.

Spatial distribution of heavy metal accumulation in the sediments after dam construction.

The sedimentary environment has been modified in the Geum River where an estuary dam and midstream dams were constructed. Furthermore, the Geum River tributaries deliver contaminants from the wastewater of an industrial complex. However, the influence of tributaries and dams on sedimentary metal deposition has not been extensively studied. The objectives of this study are to assess metal accumulation and to investigate the source of the metals. Sediments were collected in the main channel and two tributaries on October 2013. Abnormal accumulations of fine sediments were not observed above the midstream dams. Chromium, Ni, and Zn showed higher concentrations in above the midstream dam, but their concentrations were not related to grain size. Cadmium, Cu, Pb, and Hg were much higher upstream from the first midstream dam and came from one of the major tributaries. Arsenic was the only element found at higher concentrations downstream from the last midstream dam and was likely sourced from abandoned mines and/or agricultural activity. The pollution indexes indicated deposition of all metals, except Cr and Ni, may have been affected by anthropogenic activity. With respect to long-term accumulation of the metals, accumulation of Pb, Zn, and Cu by anthropogenic input largely increased, implying accumulation of these metals has continued due to anthropogenic activity since the estuary dam was constructed. Our results suggest that changes in river flow caused by the estuary dam and anthropogenic input from tributaries sources increased the accumulation of heavy metals (e.g., Pb, Zn, Cu, and As).