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Abstract: Chemoradiotherapy (ChT-RT) followed by 12-month durvalumab is the new standard treatment for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Survival data for patients from everyday routine clinical practice is scarce, as well as potential impact on treatment efficacy of sequential or concomitant chemotherapy and the us-age of gemcitabine.Patients and methods. We retrospectively analysed unresectable stage III NSCLC patients who were treated with durvalumab after radical concurrent or sequential chemotherapy (ChT) from December 2017 and completed treat-ment until December 2020. We assessed progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity regarding baseline characteristic of patients.Results. Eighty-five patients with median age of 63 years of which 70.6% were male, 56.5% in stage IIIB and 58.8% with squamous cell carcinoma, were included in the analysis. Thirty-one patients received sequential ChT only, 51 patients received induction and concurrent ChT and 3 patients received concurrent ChT only. Seventy-nine patients (92.9%) received gemcitabine and cisplatin as induction chemotherapy and switched to etoposide and cisplatin during con-current treatment with radiotherapy (RT). Patients started durvalumab after a median of 57 days (range 12–99 days) from the end of the RT and were treated with the median of 10.8 (range 0.5–12 months) months. Forty-one patients (48.2%) completed treatment with planned 12-month therapy, 25 patients (29.4%) completed treatment early due to the toxicity and 16 patients (18.8%) due to the disease progression. Median PFS was 22.0 months, 12- and estimated 24-month PFS were 71% (95% CI: 61.2–80.8%) and 45.8% (95% CI: 32.7–58.9%). With the median follow-up time of 23 months (range 2–35 months), median OS has not been reached. Twelve- and estimated 24-month OS were 86.7% (95% CI: 79.5–93.9%) and 68.6% (95% CI: 57.2–79.9%).Conclusions. Our survival data are comparable with published research as well as with recently published real-world reports. Additionally, the regimen with gemcitabine and platinum-based chemotherapy as induction treatment was efficient and well tolerated.
Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, stage III, chemoradiotherapy, durvalumab, acute toxicity
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 371; Downloads: 96
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Abstract: Living organisms use both chemical and mechanical stimuli to survive in their environment. Substrate-borne vibrations play a significant role in mediating behaviors in animals and inducing physiological responses in plants, leading to the emergence of the discipline of biotremology. Biotremology is experiencing rapid growth both in fundamental research and in applications like pest control, drawing attention from diverse audiences. As parallels with concepts and approaches in chemical ecology emerge, there is a pressing need for a shared standardized vocabulary in the area of overlap for mutual understanding. In this article, we propose an updated set of terms in biotremology rooted in chemical ecology, using the suffix ‘-done’ derived from the classic Greek word ‘δονέω’ (pronounced ‘doneo’), meaning ‘to shake’.
Keywords: vibrational communication, chemical ecology, biotremology, semiophysicals, pherodones, allelodones, zoology
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 365; Downloads: 212
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Abstract: Native to the Nearctic region, Scaphoideus titanus Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) has become a major threat for grapevine production after being unintentionally introduced into Europe, where it became the main vector of flavescence dorée phytoplasma, being mainly associated with the genus Vitis. Scaphoideus titanus is a highly efficient vector of the most important phytoplasma affecting grapevine. For this reason, compulsory insecticide treatments have been introduced against this pest in many European countries. Moreover, the continuous expansion of its geographical distribution makes this leafhopper a serious threat for several non-European Countries. In this article, we review the current knowledge about its taxonomy, morphology, biology, ecology, and its role as a vector. Finally, we point out the main challenges for research aimed at reducing S. titanus and flavescence dorée expansion across Europe and avoiding spread of the disease outside the Old World.
Keywords: vector distribution, life cycle, morphology, taxonomy, feeding behaviour, entomology, insects
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 414; Downloads: 199
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Abstract: A hexagonal close-packed-structure WE43 alloy was extruded without any preheating of the initial billet using extrusion with an oscillating die to improve the corrosion and mechanical properties. The WE43 alloy was extruded at high ratios of R 1 5:1, R 2 7:1 and R 3 10:1. Electron back-scatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the microstructural properties of the alloys. The influence of the extrusion method and the extrusion ratios on the corrosion and mechanical properties were investigated. Electrochemical tests were performed, and the corrosion damage was inspected. Tensile tests were made using micro specimens. When compared to conventional extrusion, the microstructural changes obtained with the KoBo method at R 5:1 increased the corrosion resistance, which was not only due to the grain refinement, but also due to the intensity of the texture. A decline in the corrosion resistance of the alloys deformed at higher extrusion ratios was observed. This was a result of the massive plastic strain imposed by the KoBo die. The room-temperature mechanical properties of the KoBo-extruded alloys were improved. However, at higher temperatures the mechanical properties decreased due to the solutioning of tiny triple precipitates.
Keywords: WE43, several plastic deformation, microstructure, corrosion, mechanical properties
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 360; Downloads: 140
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Abstract: . The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of p16/Ki-67 dual immunostaining (p16/ Ki-67 DS) in cervical cytology and the number of positive p16/Ki-67 cells to diagnose high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) in colposcopy population. Subjects and methods. We performed an analysis on a subset cohort of 174 women enrolled within a large-scale randomised controlled human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling project organised as part of the population-based Cervical Cancer Screening Programme ZORA in Slovenia. This subset cohort of patients was invited to the colposcopy clinic, underwent p16/Ki-67 DS cervical cytology and had the number of p16/Ki-67 positive cells determined. Results. Among analysed women, 42/174 (24.1%) had histologically confirmed CIN2+. The risk for CIN2+ was increasing with the number of positive cells (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of p16/Ki-67 DS for detection of CIN2+ was 88.1%, specificity was 65.2%, positive predictive value was 44.6% and negative predictive value was 94.5%. Conclusions. Dual p16/Ki-67 immunostaining for the detection of CIN2+ has shown high sensitivity and high negative predictive value in our study, which is comparable to available published data. The number of p16/Ki-67 positive cells was significantly associated with the probability of CIN2+ detection. We observed a statistically significant and clinically relevant increase in specificity if the cut-off for a positive test was shifted from one cell to three cells.
Keywords: cervical cytology, high-grade dysplasia, p16/Ki-67 immunostaining
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 376; Downloads: 125
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