The presentation, management and outcome of inflammatory breast cancer cases in the UK: Data from a multi-centre retrospective review.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory Breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer. Its incidence and behaviour in the UK is poorly characterised. We collected retrospective data from hospitals in the UK and Ireland to describe the presentation, pathology, treatment and clinical course of IBC in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with IBC diagnosed between 1997-2014 at fourteen UK and Irish hospitals were identified from local breast unit databases. Patient characteristics, tumour pathology and stage, and details of surgical, systemic and radiotherapy treatment and follow-up data were collected from electronic patient records and medical notes. RESULT: This retrospective review identified 445 patients with IBC accounting for 0.4-1.8% of invasive breast cancer cases. Median follow-up was 4.2 years. 53.2% of tumours were grade 3, 56.2% were oestrogen receptor positive, 31.3% were HER2 positive and 25.1% were triple negative. 20.7% of patients had distant metastases at presentation. Despite trimodality treatment in 86.4%, 40.1% of stage III patients developed distant metastases. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 61.0% for stage III and 21.4% for stage IV patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest series of UK IBC patients reported to date. It indicates a lower incidence than in American series, but confirms that IBC has a high risk of recurrence with poor survival despite contemporary multi-modality therapy. A national strategy is required to facilitate translational research into this aggressive disease.

Methane oxidation in heavy metal contaminated Mollic Gleysol under oxic and hypoxic conditions.

Soils are the largest terrestrial sink for methane (CH4). However, heavy metals may exert toxicity to soil microorganisms, including methanotrophic bacteria. We tested the effect of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) on CH4 oxidation (1% v/v) and dehydrogenase activity, an index of the activity of the total soil microbial community in Mollic Gleysol soil in oxic and hypoxic conditions (oxia and hypoxia, 20% and 10% v/v O2, respectively). Metals were added in doses corresponding to the amounts permitted of Pb, Zn, Ni in agricultural soils (60, 120, 35 mg kg(-1), respectively), and half and double of these doses. Relatively low metal contents and O2 status reflect the conditions of most agricultural soils of temperate regions. Methane consumption showed high tolerance to heavy metals. The effect of O2 status was stronger than that of metals. CH4 consumption was enhanced under hypoxia, where both the start and the completion of the control and contaminated treatment were faster than under oxic conditions. Dehydrogenase activity, showed higher sensitivity to the contamination (except for low Ni dose), with a stronger effect of heavy metals, than that of the O2 status.

The structure and properties of the carbon non-wovens modified with bioactive nanoceramics for medical applications.

The paper presents the results of the manufacture of carbon fibers (CF) from polyacrylonitrile fiber precursor containing bioactive ceramic nanoparticles. In order to modify the precursor fibers two types of bio-glasses and wollastonite in the form of nanoparticles were used. The processing variables of the thermal conversion of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor fibers into carbon fibers were determined using the FTIR method. The carbonization process of oxidized PAN fibers was carried out up to 1000°C. The carbon fibers were characterized by a low ordered crystalline structure. The bioactivity tests of carbon fibers modified with a ceramic nanocomponent carried out in the artificial serum (SBF) revealed the apatite precipitation on the fibers' surfaces.

Microbial activity in the landfill soil.

The research objective was to determine the activity of microorganisms in the soil exposed to direct influence of a landfill, as well as in the soil beyond its influence. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity and respiration in the soil were determined. The highest number of cultivated bacteria was recorded at the site located within the zone of direct influence exerted by the landfill, whereas the least amount was found at a distance of 1000 metres from the landfill. In contrast, the largest numbers of molds were observed in the soil at a distance of 1000 m from the headquarters of the landfill. The highest FDA hydrolytic activity and biological oxygen demand (BOD5) were recorded in the soil by the headquarters of the landfill, and the least parameters were revealed at a distance of 1000 m from the landfill. It was found a high correlation between the number of bacteria and FDA hydrolytic activity of soil and BOD5 in the north-eastern of the landfill. However, in the same place, there is a low correlation between the number of molds, and FDA hydrolytic activity of soil and BOD5.

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of buspirone hydrochloride in solid state.

Stability of buspirone hydrochloride (BH) in solid state has been studied. The content of BH and changes in its concentration during preliminary kinetic studies of the stability of this drug in BUSPAR tablets and in substance were assessed by spectrophotometry in UV, after previous chromatographic separation lambda max = 239 nm (A1%1 cm = 502 in 50% aqueous methanol solution). Using thin layer chromatography several breakdown of buspirone were detected.

A protein cross-reacting with anti-spectrin antibodies is present in higher plant cells.

Proteins that react with anti-human spectrin antibodies raised in rabbit were found in pea seedlings and leaves. The immunoreactive proteins seem to be associated with the membranes and can be extracted with low ionic strength solutions.

Two enzymes which phosphorylate neomycin and kanamycin in Escherichia coli strains carrying R factors.

Two enzymes which phosphorylate neomycin and kanamycin have been detected in Escherichia coli strains carrying R factors. Neomycin-kanamycin phosphotransferase I can phosphorylate neomycin and kanamycin, but not butirosin. Neomycin-kanamycin phosphotransferase II can phosphorylate all three antibiotics. The enzymes also differ in their response to certain inhibitors of phosphorylation. Neomycin-kanamycin phosphotransferase II is found in certain strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.